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Where the characters come from: first appearances, creators and the issues that matter.
Characters
Superman first appeared in Action Comics #1, cover-dated June 1938 and on sale in April 1938, created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster and published by Detective Comics, Inc., the company that became DC Comics. It is the first superhero comic and the most valuable comic book in the world: a CGC 8.5 copy sold for 6 million dollars in April 2024.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27, cover-dated May 1939, in a six-page story titled “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate”, created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and published by Detective Comics, Inc. (DC). Finger, who wrote the story and shaped the costume, was officially credited by DC as co-creator from 2015. A CGC 8.0 copy sold for 1.5 million dollars at Heritage Auctions in January 2022.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Captain America first appeared in Captain America Comics #1, cover-dated March 1941 and on sale in December 1940, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby for Timely Comics, the company that became Marvel. The issue is famous for its cover of Cap punching Adolf Hitler, published a year before the United States entered the Second World War, and it also introduced Bucky and the Red Skull. A CGC 9.4 copy sold for 3.12 million dollars at Heritage Auctions in April 2022.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
The original Captain Marvel — Billy Batson, who says “Shazam!” — first appeared in Whiz Comics #2, cover-dated February 1940, created by writer Bill Parker and artist C. C. Beck for Fawcett Publications. The issue is numbered #2 on the cover because Fawcett had prepared unpublished ashcan editions as #1; there is no regular Whiz Comics #1. During the 1940s Captain Marvel outsold Superman.
Updated Oct 9, 2026
Characters
Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8, cover-dated December 1941 – January 1942, in a nine-page origin story by William Moulton Marston (writing as Charles Moulton) and artist H. G. Peter, published by All-American Publications, one of the companies that merged into DC. Her first cover appearance and first regular feature followed in Sensation Comics #1 (January 1942), and her own title began with Wonder Woman #1 in Summer 1942.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
The Fantastic Four first appeared in Fantastic Four #1, cover-dated November 1961, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics. The issue introduced Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm, told their origin, and introduced the Mole Man as their first villain. It is regarded as the start of the “Marvel Age” of comics and is Marvel's most important Silver Age key after Amazing Fantasy #15.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
The Hulk first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1, cover-dated May 1962, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In this first issue the Hulk is grey, not green — the colour was changed from issue #2 because the grey printed inconsistently. The issue also introduces Bruce Banner, Rick Jones, General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Betty Ross. The original series was cancelled after six issues.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
Spider-Man first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15, cover-dated August 1962, in an 11-page origin story by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko with a cover by Jack Kirby and Ditko. It was the final issue of the anthology. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 followed in March 1963. Amazing Fantasy #15 is the most valuable Silver Age comic: a CGC 9.6 copy sold for 3.6 million dollars at Heritage Auctions in September 2021.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Marvel's Thor first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83, cover-dated August 1962, in a story plotted by Stan Lee, scripted by Larry Lieber and drawn by Jack Kirby. Dr. Don Blake finds a walking stick in a Norwegian cave, strikes it, and becomes Thor. The Thor feature took over the anthology, and Journey into Mystery was renamed The Mighty Thor with issue #126 in March 1966.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Iron Man first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39, cover-dated March 1963, in a story plotted by Stan Lee, scripted by Larry Lieber, drawn by Don Heck, with a cover by Jack Kirby. Tony Stark builds the first, grey armour to escape captivity in Vietnam. The armour turned gold in #40 and became the familiar red and gold in #48 (December 1963), designed by Steve Ditko.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Doctor Strange first appeared in Strange Tales #110, cover-dated July 1963, in a five-page backup story by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The story also introduced Nightmare and the Ancient One. The feature grew into a full series within Strange Tales; the title was renamed Doctor Strange with issue #169 in June 1968.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
The X-Men first appeared in The X-Men #1, cover-dated September 1963, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The issue introduced Professor X and the original five — Cyclops, Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), Beast, Angel and Iceman — and their first enemy, Magneto. It shares its cover date with Avengers #1, published the same month.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
The Avengers first appeared in The Avengers #1, cover-dated September 1963, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The founding line-up was Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, the Wasp and the Hulk, brought together against Loki. Captain America joined in Avengers #4 (March 1964), which was also his first Silver Age appearance.
Updated Oct 9, 2026
Characters
Nick Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1, cover-dated May 1963, a Second World War combat series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. His modern-day identity as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. began in Strange Tales #135 (August 1965), which is also the first appearance of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra. Collectors treat both issues as Fury keys for different reasons.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
The Silver Surfer first appeared in Fantastic Four #48, cover-dated March 1966, the first part of the Galactus Trilogy by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby; Galactus makes his first (partial) appearance in the same issue. Kirby added the Surfer to the story unasked, as a herald for Galactus. The Surfer's own series began with Silver Surfer #1 in August 1968, with art by John Buscema.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
The Black Panther, T'Challa of Wakanda, first appeared in Fantastic Four #52, cover-dated July 1966, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and his origin was told in #53. He was the first Black superhero in mainstream American comics. He joined the Avengers in Avengers #52 (May 1968), his origin was retold in Avengers #87 (April 1971), and his first solo feature ran in Jungle Action from #5 (July 1973).
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
The Vision first appeared in The Avengers #57, cover-dated October 1968, by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, created by Ultron to destroy the Avengers and joining them by the end of the story. He is not the first Marvel character with the name: a Golden Age Vision, the alien Aarkus, debuted in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 (November 1940) by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Mephisto first appeared in Silver Surfer #3, cover-dated December 1968, by Stan Lee and John Buscema, tempting the exiled Surfer with a return to Zenn-La and his beloved Shalla-Bal. The issue is the most valuable in the 1968 Silver Surfer run after #1, and demand grew sharply in the early 2020s on speculation about the character's screen debut.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
Morbius, the Living Vampire, first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #101, cover-dated October 1971, by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane; his origin is told in #102. The story is the six-armed Spider-Man arc, and #101 was the first issue of Amazing Spider-Man not written by Stan Lee. Morbius was created as a scientific vampire to get around the Comics Code's ban on the supernatural kind.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
The Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #5, cover-dated August 1972, created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich and Mike Ploog. The stunt rider who sells his soul to save his mentor and becomes a flaming-skulled spirit of vengeance was an immediate success, and Ghost Rider #1 followed in September 1973. An earlier, unrelated Western character called Ghost Rider appeared at Magazine Enterprises in 1949 and at Marvel in 1967.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Blade first appeared in The Tomb of Dracula #10, cover-dated July 1973, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan as a vampire hunter with wooden knives and a grudge against Dracula. The character's 1998 film made the issue a major Bronze Age key, and demand has stayed high since.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Characters
The Punisher first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #129, cover-dated February 1974, created by writer Gerry Conway with artists Ross Andru and John Romita Sr., who designed the skull costume. The issue also introduced the Jackal. Hired to kill Spider-Man, the Punisher was intended as a one-off antagonist and became one of Marvel's most popular characters.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Wolverine's first full appearance is The Incredible Hulk #181, cover-dated November 1974, by Len Wein and Herb Trimpe, with the costume designed by John Romita Sr. He is seen first in a one-panel cameo on the last page of Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974). Hulk #181 is the most valuable comic of the Bronze Age.
Updated Oct 11, 2026
Characters
Moon Knight first appeared in Werewolf by Night #32, cover-dated August 1975, created by writer Doug Moench and artist Don Perlin as a silver-clad mercenary hired to capture the werewolf Jack Russell. He returned in #33, was given his own backup and try-out stories, and starred in Moon Knight #1 in November 1980 with Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz.
Updated Oct 11, 2026