Characters & first appearances
What is the first appearance of the Avengers?
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read
Short answerThe 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.
The issue
Unlike the Fantastic Four or X-Men, the Avengers were assembled from heroes who already had their own features, which is why the first issue needs no origins — just Loki's scheme to trap Thor and the Hulk being blamed for a train wreck. The Hulk quit in #2.
Avengers keys in the store
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers #1 | September 1963 | First appearance and formation |
| Avengers #4 | March 1964 | Captain America joins; first Silver Age Cap |
| Avengers #48 | January 1968 | First Dane Whitman as the Black Knight |
| Avengers #57 | October 1968 | First Vision |
| Avengers #87 | April 1971 | Origin of the Black Panther |
| Avengers #100 | June 1972 | Every Avenger to date assembles; Barry Windsor-Smith art |
Other early keys
- Avengers #8 (September 1964) — first Kang the Conqueror.
- Avengers #16 (May 1965) — the new line-up of Captain America, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.
- Avengers #52 (May 1968) — Black Panther joins.
Collecting Avengers #1
A first-rank Silver Age key. High-grade copies are scarce; mid- and low-grade copies are the norm. It was reprinted in Marvel Milestone Edition (1993) and as a facsimile.
See the Avengers character page, and Avengers #4 explained and First appearance of the Vision for two of the keys above.
Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
