Illusion is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe

Marvel Universe

The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...

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Publication history

Illusion first appeared in The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 (Jan 1986), and was created by Steve Englehart

Steve Englehart

Steve Englehart is an American novelist. In his earlier career he was a comic book writer best known for his work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics, particularly in the 1970s...

 and Richard Howell. The character subsequently appeared in Witches

Witches (Marvel Comics)

Witches is a supernatural comic book limited series that was published by Marvel Comics in 2004. Plotted by Bronwyn Carlton, with scripts by Brian Walsh, it featured art by Mike Deodato and Will Conrad.-Publication history:...

#1-2 (August 2004), in which he died.

Illusion received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe

The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...

#6.

Fictional character biography

Ilya Zarkov and his wife Glynis Zarkov

Glamor (comics)

Glamor is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Glamor first appeared in The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4 , and was created by Steve Englehart and Richard Howell...

 performed at the Magic Mansion in New York City. Unlike the other magicians, Ilya and Glynis had actual magical powers, but they made it seem like their performances were simple tricks. They kept it this way because of the fear civilians had for anyone with super-natural powers.

They lived in the quiet town of Leonia, New Jersey

Leonia, New Jersey

Leonia is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,937. It is located near the western approach to the George Washington Bridge....

, when the Vision

Vision (Marvel Comics)

The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...

 and Scarlet Witch

Scarlet Witch

The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...

 came to live there. Local bigots soon burned down the two Avengers

Avengers (comics)

The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...

' house. Determined to stay in the town, they bought another home. The Zarkov’s befriended and helped the superheroes, fearing that they might become targets too. The couple used their magical abilities to spy on the bigots and thwart their plan to burn down the new house.

He was killed by a demon in the 2004 storyline Witches

Witches (Marvel Comics)

Witches is a supernatural comic book limited series that was published by Marvel Comics in 2004. Plotted by Bronwyn Carlton, with scripts by Brian Walsh, it featured art by Mike Deodato and Will Conrad.-Publication history:...

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Powers and abilities

As Illusion, Ilya has the ability to control the molecules of anything he touches to levitate it, or rearrange the molecules to restore it. He can also control his own body’s molecules in the same manner.