Duke

Duke, whose real name is Henry Duke, is a god-tier powerhouse introduced in IDW Publishing's bold superhero series The Intimates. Making his first appearance in The Intimates #1 (2005), Duke brought an imposing combination of divine origin, super strength, and invulnerability to a team book that aimed to shake up the conventions of the genre. His debut issue is a foundational key for collectors interested in IDW's early superhero universe-building efforts.

As a character of god or eternal origin, Duke occupies a rare space in the IDW superhero landscape — a being whose powers stem from something far beyond ordinary human experience. His raw physical might and near-indestructibility make him a cornerstone presence within the Intimates, a team whose dynamic relies heavily on the contrast between its godlike and street-level members. Duke's divine nature adds layers of storytelling potential that writers were able to mine for themes of power, responsibility, and identity.

The Intimates series itself was a passion project that blended superhero action with unconventional storytelling techniques, and Duke's presence grounded the book's more cosmic ambitions. His role within the team gave collectors a character worth tracking across the full run of the series, making complete sets of The Intimates a rewarding hunt for dedicated hobbyists.

For collectors, The Intimates #1 represents an affordable and historically interesting entry point into IDW's superhero catalog. Duke's god-tier power set, his unique eternal origin, and his status as a founding Intimates member make his key issues worth picking up — especially as interest in IDW's back catalog continues to grow among collectors looking for undervalued gems from the mid-2000s era of comics.