GLAMORGLAMOR
Real Name: Glynis Zarkov
Identity/Class: Human paranormal (source of
abilities unrevealed; see comments)
apparently some magical
abilities;
nationality unrevealed (see
comments)
Occupation: Stage magician, jewel thief
Group Membership: Partner of
Illusion
Affiliations: Captain
America (Steve Rogers), Crystal (Crystalia
Amaquelin; the Crystalia Maximoff), Doctor
Strange (Stephen Strange), the Great Santini, Holly
LaDonna, Lizzie (pet cat), Magneto (Max Eisenhardt; then known as
Magnus), Luna Maximoff, Namor
the Sub-Mariner, Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man),
Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff), Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), Vision
("Victor Shade"), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne), Norm
Webster, Martha Williams, Wonder Man (Simon Williams), William
and Thomas; later Wiccan/Billy Kaplan and Speed/Thomas Shepherd); unidentified manager; unidentified Chinese fence;
indirectly Agatha Harkness
Enemies: Countess D'Arcy and others from whom they stole,
Hellphyr
(hosted by Andrew Kale), Satan
(Marduk Kurios), "Spec" Spector, Bernie, Charlie, Fred;
indirectly Samhain;
Known Relatives: Illy Zarkov (Illusion; husband,
deceased)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
worked out of the Magic Mansion, Manhattan, New York;
lived in Leonia, New Jersey
First Appearance: Vision and Scarlet Witch II#4 (January, 1986)
Powers/Abilities: Glamor can mentally control the
molecules of her body.
She can reduce her density to become
virtually intangible, passing through solid objects and battling someone
who is similarly intangible (see
comments).
She could also increase her density,
which granted her enhanced strength and durability, although the top
levels of her density, durability and strength remain unrevealed.
She can separate her body into multiple fragments (at least ten) and then rejoin them without injury.
She can render her body virtually liquid and fit through tiny spaces such as keyholes.
She can change the color and texture of
her body, appearing to be fully clothed even when wearing nothing. She
can shift the appearance of her clothes at will.
She could presumably alter her physical
appearance to mimic the appearance of others, although her skill at
doing so is unrevealed.
While not necessarily at an athletic level of abilities, she had the strength, speed, agility, reflexes and endurance of a woman of her age, height and build who engaged in regular exercise.
She had no compunctions against stealing to enhance her own wealth and lifestyle.
At least later in her career, she
apparently had some degree of clairvoyance/precognition, facilitated by
dealing cards, perhaps Tarot.
History:
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#4 (fb) - BTS / Vision and Scarlet Witch II#5 (fb) - BTS)
- Secretly able to control the molecules of her own body, Glynis years
ago partnered with her also superhumanly-powered husband, Ilya Zarkov,
as the stage magicians Glamor and Illusion. They owned and worked out of
the Magic Mansion in Manhattan, New York, using their powers with great
success to secretly accomplish feats that their audience assumed to be
performed with sleight-of-hand tricks. They kept their powers secret due
to concerns regarding fear and prejudice against superhumans.
They had their home in Leonia, New Jersey where they enjoyed the peace and quiet.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#6 (fb)
- BTS) - The mutant speedster Quicksilver was familiar with Glamor and
Illusion, and he long-admired their sleight-of-hand displays.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#11 (fb)
- BTS) - Peter Parker (aka the super hero Spider-Man) enjoyed Glamor and
Illusions shows for years.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9 (fb)
- BTS) - Every year, Glamor and Illusion left their club in their
manager's hands while they traveled to New Orleans to perform during
Mardi Gras, the final day of Carnival, which is a varying date somewhere
from February to March.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9 (fb)
- BTS) - Glamor sometimes slipped away during their shows, stealing
jewelry or other objects of value, which they sold to enhance their
wealth and maintain their lifestyle.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#5 (fb)
- BTS) - Glamor and Illusion did not use their
powers heroically, nor did they socialize with super heroes.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#4) - After
the Vision and Scarlet Witch moved into a home in Leonia, Glamor and
Illusion discovered a group of local men -- including "Spec" Spector,
Charlie, Bernie and Fred -- who plotted to burn down their new house
(after having burned down their old house). Wishing to protect their
paranormal neighbors and considering that they themselves could be
targeted as well, Glamor made arrangements to be absent from their club
that night -- allowing the Great Santini to perform in their stead --
while they planned to monitor the men and prevent them from succeeding
in their actions.
As the would-be arsonists hung out some
distance from the Vision and Scarlet Witch's home, awaiting their
associate, Kevin, to briefly cut power to the house's alarm at 9:30 pm.
Illusion caused trees, leaves, owls and vines to assault them, causing
them to flee. Glamor complimented her husband, but they agreed to wait
there until 9:30 to make sure the group did not return.
Seeing the two costumed strangers lurking behind his property and detecting that the power in the neighborhood had just shut down, the Vision assumed them to be criminals and attacked them. The pair defended themselves, with Glamor demonstrating her power by kicking and then grappling with the Vision despite his otherwise intangible, low-density nature. When he turned solid to escape her, Illusion caused tree branches to restrain him, which paused him long enough for them to explain their natures and that they had been trying to help him. The Vision appreciated this as well as having neighbors who could understand his and Wanda's situation, and Glamor celebrated their friendship as they shook hands.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#4 - BTS) - After Spector and his group confronted the Scarlet Witch, she cast them into a tree and convinced them -- in part by revealing that she was pregnant -- to leave her and her family alone.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#5 (fb)
- BTS) - The Vision (and presumably the Scarlet Witch) showed only
kindness to Glamor and Illusion.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#5) - On All Hallow's Eve, Glamor and Illusion greeted the Vision as he came to see their Halloween spectacular show. After Glamor encouraged Vision to always call her Glynis, he told her that "Glamor" suited her better, and she appreciated the compliment, calling him a "silver-tongued devil" and noting that how she could not understand how anyone could ever have considered an emotionless android. He explained how his emotions were so much stronger since he had relatively recently removed the limiting control crystal. He further allayed their concerns that he and Wanda may have dismissed them for not having used their powers heroically. At Glynis' query, Vision explained that Wanda had stayed at home to be prepared for Halloween, when the barriers between Earth and the spirit world were thin.
Later, as Illusion prepared to saw
Glamor into 10 pieces on stage, the act was interrupted when the spirit
of Agatha Harkness manifested there -- assisted by the mood of those
present, despite the lack of true magic -- warning the Vision that Wanda
had been taken by "those who die but will not lie quiet" (specifically
Salem's Seven in association with Samhain). She further instructed him
to destroy the Druid Tome. Illusion announced the conclusion of their
show, and they accompanied the Vision back to his and Wanda's home where
they found her to be absent. After discussion with Illusion, the Vision
located Holly
LaDonna, whose ghost costume worn when the tome was burned, and
then returned with the costume. Using a speck of ash, Illusion gathered
the rest of the ashes from wherever they had been dispersed. Vision
subsequently used his solar beam at such intensity to reduce the book's
remains to free atoms.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#5 -
BTS) - Without the Druid Tome's power supporting
Samhaim, Agatha dispersed him into the remnants of Salem's Seven, and
Wanda was returned to her home.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#6) - Glamor and Illusion attended a Thanksgiving dinner at Vision and Wanda's home, where they met Captain America (Steve Rogers), Crystal (Crystalia Maximoff, nee Amaquelin), Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange), Magneto (Max Eisenhardt; then known as Magnus), Luna Maximoff, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Quicksilver (Pietro Maximoff), Norm Webster, Martha Williams (the mother of Simon Williams/Wonder Man, whose brain patterns were used in the Vision's creation), Wasp (Janet Van Dyne).
Glamor thanked Quicksilver when he
shared that he had long admired their work, and Glamor enjoyed the young
Luna. Both she and Illusion tried to make small talk with Magneto, and
Glamor asked if he thought they would have a white Christmas, but he --
more concerned with his children's negative feelings about him due to
his past actions -- merely replied, "It is possible!" before wandering
away from them. They enjoyed the feast, during which Glamor sat next to
Dr. Strange, after which she took care of Luna while Crystal helped out
in the kitchen, and she had Illusion perform some tricks for her.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#6 (fb) - BTS) - Glamor and Illusion presumably departed before Magneto, Quicksilver and Vision slipped outside to fight off the Toad, who had used robot duplicates -- created from the technology he had gained from the Stranger -- of Magneto, Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde) and Quicksilver to attack them.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9 (fb) - BTS) - Glamor and Illusion convinced Vision and Wanda to accompany them to Mardi Gras. (Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9) - Glamor, Illusion, Vision and Scarlet Witch enjoyed fitting in with the crowd despite their costumes, and Glamor noted that it was nice to have friends along: "The more, the merrier for Mardi Gras." Glamor and Illusion expected Vision and Wanda to be seated front and center. (Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9 (fb) - BTS) - Vision was ensorceled by Amora the Enchantress, and Wanda went looking for him. (Vision and Scarlet Witch
II#9) - Glamor and Illusion were disappointed by their friends'
absence, but they went on with their show. As they introduced
themselves, Glamor noted that while glamor now meant beauty, it
used to mean fascination and enchantment. Illusion subsequently
bound Glamor in a straitjacket, placed her headfirst into a
canvas bag, dropped her in a water tank, locked a steel door at
its top, wrapped and locked steel mesh around it and then
covered it all with a large grocery sack. As Illusion entertained the
crowd, Glamor took a liquid form to slip out of her various
confinements. Returning to human form while changing the color
of her skin to appear to be wearing a different outfit and some
face paint, she subsequently passed through the lock of Countess
D'Arcy's door, opened her safe and stole the Eye of Rajpur
jewelry. She considered that this would bring her and Illusion
substantial wealth. Hiding a case containing the jewelry, Glamor slipped back inside the grocery sack as Illusion pretended to search for her. She emerged back in her costumed form, joking that Illusion had always said that she could not escape from a paper bag. The crowd gasped in shock, laughed and applauded. (Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9 (fb) - BTS) - Sent by Amora to steal the Eye of Rajpur for her, Vision found the safe empty, and his inability to perform her command snapped him out of her spell. He soon after found Wanda, and the two of them confronted Amora, who ultimately teleported away. (Vision and Scarlet Witch
II#11 (fb) - BTS) - Glamor and Illusion took a trip to Hong
Kong, where they sold the Eye of Rajpur to a fence for hefty
profit. (Vision and Scarlet Witch
II#11) - Glynis and Ilya encountered the Vision and Peter Parker
(who had been doing a photo shoot of his and Wanda's home for
the Daily Bugle). After Vision introduced them, Peter noted how
he had loved their shows for years and asked to get a picture of
them for Now Magazine. As Glynis was wearing a lot of jewelry,
Vision noted that they looked very prosperous, and she told them
that they had had a very lucrative date in Hong Kong. They posed
for a few pictures for Parker. |
|
Glynis asked Wanda if they had
picked out names, and Wanda shared their plans while explaining
some of the Vision's history as the reason for choosing Thomas
(after Phineas Thomas Horton, the creator of the android Human
Torch) as a boy's name. Glynis and Ilya remained silent as Wanda
suddenly sensed that she was going to go into labor that night
and have a son. Three days later, Glamor and Illusion joined Wanda, the Vision, there twin boys, as well as Holly LaDonna, Magneto, Martha Williams, Wonder Man at their home, where Wanda revealed them to be William/Billy and Thomas/Tommy, with no last name to match the Vision's lack of a last name.
. . (Witches#1) - Posing a Lou, caretaker of a
collection of rare books in the New York Library, Satan led Andrew
Kale to the Tome
of Zhered-Na, knowing that his contact with the book would
unleash the Hellphyr. Andrew Kale actually became the host to
the Hellphyr upon touching the Tome. Glamor and the magical-users associated with Earth all felt the mystic backlash caused by the coming of the Hellphyr. |
| . |
|
(Witches#2 (fb) - BTS) <Two days before the
main story> - Dealing (Tarot?) cards to predict her future,
Glamor drew card indicating chaos. (Witches#2) - Dealing her cards again in the late hours by candlelight, Glamor wondered what doom and gloom could come that day. Drawing the card for chaos, she was intrigued as she had drawn the same card two days ago. As the monstrous Hellphyr
approached from behind, she briefly wondered if it was Ilya
(Illusion) checking on her. Turning and seeing the monstrous
creature, she apparently only had time to scream "No!"
before the Hellphyr incapacitated her, holding her her in the
air by her hair and perhaps consuming her mystic power. It
subsequently cast her apparently lifeless body to the ground. Apparently hearing or otherwise
sensing the conflict, Ilya rushed in and found her on the
ground, checking her and asking her to tell him that she was OK.
Dr. Strange showed a vision of the Hellphyr with Glamor and Illusion to Satana, Jennifer Kale, Topaz and Wong, noting that the creature was one-by-one devouring the heart, mind and spirit of those of them with exceptional powers, and that the longer they waited the more difficult their task (defeating the Hellphyr) would become. (Witches#2 (fb) - BTS) - Although apparently
comatose, Glamor survived the attack. Ilya took her to a
hospital, where she was supported with various IV fluids and
kept on various monitors.
(Witches#2 (fb) - BTS) - As Ilya sat by Glynis' bedside, Doctor Strange appeared, telling Ilya that she was lucky to be alive. Ilya asked and then demanded Strange to tell him who did this and to let him help against it, but Strange refused warning Ilya that he would die if he got involved. (Witches#2 (fb) - BTS) - Illusion used a scrying
spell to trail the Hellphyr, which then appeared and slew him. |
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart and Richard Howell.
We don't know if
Glamor recovered, succumbed to her injuries and perished, or if she is
still comatose and hospitalized...
I had thought that
Glamor and Illusion were revealed to be mutants at some point, but I
don't recall finding that information in re-re-re-reviewing the stories
for this profile.
Given the fact that both she and Illusion sensed the
arrival of the Hellphyr and that it stalked and apparently slew her,
they both had to have some degree of magical powers. However, whether
that was the original source of their powers or whether they explored
magic after encountering the Scarlet Witch is unrevealed.
I would have thought
that even if Glamor could touch him, the Vision's superior strength
would have allowed him to easily counter her attack, but perhaps his
strength is markedly decreased in an intangible state, even in
comparison to another intangible being. Perhaps Glamor maintains a
significantly higher relative strength in her intangible state.
A little odd to me that Glamor and Illusion were initially always in their stage costumes, even when go to celebrate Thanksgiving at the home of a friends. They finally appeared in casual garb in Vision and Scarlet Witch II#11-12.
In Witches#2, Illusion referred to her as "Glamour." It is possible that she changed the spelling of her stage name, but more likely that that is just an error. Further, it's a little odd for them to be calling each other by their code names in their own home.Glynis is a name of Welsh origin, while Ilya is Greek or Russian
According to
myheritage.com:
The surname Zarkov has its roots in Eastern Europe,
particularly within Slavic regions, where it is believed to have
originated from a personal name or a geographical feature. The name
itself may derive from the Slavic word zarka, meaning bright or shining,
which could reflect characteristics valued in the communities where the
name first appeared. Historica
lly, surnames in this region often developed from occupations, locations, or notable traits of individuals, and Zarkov may have been associated with individuals who were known for their brightness of character or perhaps their roles in the community, such as leaders or skilled artisans. Over time, the surname has been documented in various forms, often linked to the social and cultural dynamics of the Slavic peoples.
This profile was
completed 09/19/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended
for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event to
represent the Vision's series and characters.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Glamor should be distinguished from:
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe II (Deluxe Edition) #5 (April, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer/producer), Peter Sanderson (writer/researcher), Eliot Brown (technical illustrator), Rich Howell (Glamor penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), David Wohl (editorial assistant), Howard Mackie (assistant editor)
Vision and Scarlet Witch II#9 (June, 1986) - Steve
Englehart (writer), Richard Howell (penciler), Frank Springer
(inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Vision and Scarlet Witch II#11-12
(August-September, 1986) - Steve Englehart (writer), Richard
Howell (penciler), Frank Springer (inker), Jim Salicrup
(editor)
First posted: 09/03/2026
Last updated: 06/19/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and � 1941-2099
Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you
should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#12) - Glynis
and Ilya visited the full-term pregnant
Wanda and Vision, and Ilya noted that as they traveled so much,
they had never wanted children. Regardless, Glynis assured them
that they would still be friends once their baby was born. 
