What is the first appearance of Black Panther?
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Oct 10, 2026 · 1 min read
Short answerThe 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).
Fantastic Four #52
The Panther invites the Fantastic Four to Wakanda and defeats them one by one as a test. Kirby's design — the full-face mask, the technologically advanced African kingdom — was complete from the first issue. Issue #53 gives the origin, the vibranium mound and Ulysses Klaw.
Key appearances
| Issue | Cover date | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four #52 | July 1966 | First appearance |
| Fantastic Four #53 | August 1966 | Origin; first Klaw |
| Avengers #52 | May 1968 | Joins the Avengers |
| Avengers #87 | April 1971 | Origin retold; in the store as a CGC 9.8 |
| Jungle Action #5 | July 1973 | First solo feature (a reprint of Avengers #62); #6 begins Don McGregor's "Panther's Rage" |
| Black Panther #1 | January 1977 | First solo title, by Kirby |
Collecting Fantastic Four #52
Demand rose sharply with the 2018 film and has remained strong. High-grade copies are scarce, and the issue is a frequent target for restoration; buy graded. See the Black Panther character page and the Fantastic Four character page.
Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
