HISTORY: Mikhail Rasputin was a national hero of the former Soviet Union. An astronaut, the leader of the first Russian super team, the Soviet Super Soldiers, he was the first to step forward and challenge Apocalypse. Mikhail fought Apocalypse and his Horsemen in the streets of Moscow. He killed the Horseman known as War and forced the retreat of most of Apocalypse’s warriors. Intrigued by the strength and courage of this lone warrior, Apocalypse confronted Mikhail alone. During the battle, Apocalypse decided he had discovered his newest Horseman and captured him. After enduring months of experimental procedures and brainwashing, Mikhail took his place by his new master’s side.

As Apocalypse’s newest Horseman, Mikhail led a group of Infinite soldiers back to Moscow where he discovered Colossus was the new leader of the Soviet Super Soldiers. This group fought valiantly but were no match for their former leader and all but Colossus were killed. Despite the months of brainwashing, Mikhail could not bring himself to kill his brother. Colossus almost broke through Apocalypse’s brainwashing when the X-Men arrived, driving him away.

Mikhail went into seclusion, using his reality-warping powers on himself. He changed his flesh into a flesh-metal hybrid and opened up gateways in his own mind that gave him powers that even Apocalypse had never dreamed of. When Mikhail returned, Apocalypse placed him in charge of his Eurasian lands. In the final days of Apocalypse’s rule, Mikhail sensed a change coming, he disobeyed his master and planned to take Eurasia for himself. Mikhail traveled to London in an attempt to destroy the Human Council and take control of Europe. The plan did not go smoothly and a small group of humans were able to sabotage his plans. Dr. Donald Blake apparently killed Mikhail when he forced the two of them to plunge from the top of Big Ben.

HEIGHT: 6 ft. 5 in.
WEIGHT: 500 lbs.
EYES: White (formerly blue)
HAIR: None (formerly black)
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Mikhail changed his skin into a super-dense metal.

SUPERHUMAN POWERS: Mikhail is a mutant who possessed reality-warping abilities, the exact nature of which is unknown. It is rumored Mikhail is able to burrow holes into reality itself. He is also able to transmute flesh and used this process on himself, creating a dense armor around his body. In the end, after years of mutating himself, Mikhail did not fear even Apocalypse himself. Whether or not this bravado was warranted is unclear.