He was created by writer Len Wein and illustrator Dave Cockrum.
His first appearance was in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in May of 1975.
Rasputin, a Russian mutant, is one of the most physically strong members of the X-Men due to his ability to transform into an organic steel form. He has to transform his entire body; he cannot choose to only transform a certain part.
After his transformation he doubles in weight and comes in around 7’7” tall, versus his already physically imposing stature of 6’7”.
In his metallic state he possess superhuman strength, stamina and durability. While in this state he requires no food, water or oxygen to sustain himself.
He is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, acrobatics and sword fighting.
He is portrayed as a quiet, honest and innocent man. He reluctantly agrees to use his powers in combat because he feels that it is responsibility to use his powers for the betterment of humans and mutants.
Rasputin was born on a Soviet collective farm called the Ust-Ordynski Collective near Lake Baikal in Sibera. He lived there with his mother, father and sister. He also had an older brother who had been a Soviet cosmonaut and died in a rocket accident.
His powers manifested when he was a child. This happened while he was saving his sister Illyana from a runaway tractor. Soon after he was contacted by Professor Charles Xavier to join the X-Men.
Colossus has appeared in several television shows and movies. The most recent portrayal of him is in Marvel’s Deadpool in which his CGI form was voiced by Stefan Kapicic.
