The Stranger is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Publication history The Stranger first appeared in X-Men #11 (May 1965) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Fictional character biography The character is a cosmic entity and principally a scientist and surveyor of worlds, first visiting Earth out of curiosity. After an encounter with the X-Men and Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, who first think he is a powerful mutant, the entity departs, taking the supervillain Magneto and his servant Toad off-world for further study after encasing them in special cocoons. The same title depicts Magneto's escape and return to Earth using a spaceship he repairs when the Stranger leaves the planet (leaving Toad behind). However, the Stranger recaptures the villain after Professor X telepathically alerts the Stranger. The Stranger reappears in the title Tales to Astonish, becoming convinced that mankind is dangerous and sets out to destroy the Earth using the Hulk, allowing a better race of humanity to take over. He transports to Earth a machine that increases his mental power over the Hulk. The character is dissuaded from this course of action by the Hulk's alter-ego, Bruce Banner. However he takes the supervillain Abomination into space with him, thinking him truly evil. In the title the Silver Surfer, the Stranger again attempts to destroy the Earth, on this occasion using a powerful "Null-Life" bomb. After a battle with the Silver Surfer and learning that a human scientist sacrificed himself to defuse the bomb, the Stranger retreats. In the title Fantastic Four the Stranger aids the superhero team against the entity the Overmind, and in Thor watches as the Thunder God battles the character's servant of the time, the Abomination. The title The Avengers features a story in which the Toad impersonates the Stranger and battles the superhero team. The true Stranger encounters the Kree warrior Captain Marvel in the title of the same name, and in Marvel Team-Up encounters the hero Spider-Man when trying to obtain the Soul Gem from Adam Warlock. The Stranger also appears in the self-titled The Champions and aids the group to contain the reactivated Null-Life bomb left on Earth and in a Marvel Two-In-One Annual enlists the aid of the Thing and the Hulk to fight against the threat of the Olympian god Pluto. The character reappears in the third volume of the Silver Surfer,