Characters & first appearances
What is the first appearance of Nick Fury?
Published Sep 14, 2026 · Updated Sep 14, 2026 · 1 min read
Short answerNick 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.
Sgt. Fury #1
Lee and Kirby's war comic introduced Sergeant Fury and his squad — Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Izzy Cohen, Dino Manelli, Reb Ralston and Junior Juniper — fighting in Europe. Lee later said the title was launched partly to prove Marvel's style could sell any genre. Gabe Jones was one of the first Black characters in a regular lead role in a mainstream comic.
Strange Tales #135
Two years later, Fury was reintroduced as a present-day spy chief in the first half of Strange Tales. Kirby's story introduced S.H.I.E.L.D., its Helicarrier, the Life Model Decoy and Hydra in a single issue. The feature ran until Strange Tales #168 and then in Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 (June 1968), the series famous for Jim Steranko's art.
Which is the key?
- Sgt. Fury #1 is the true first appearance and the scarcer book in high grade.
- Strange Tales #135 is the first S.H.I.E.L.D. and the one the film audience knows; its price has risen with the character's screen role.
Both are in the store: Sgt. Fury #1 CGC 4.0 and Strange Tales #135 CGC 7.0. See also Strange Tales #135 and the first S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Nick Fury character page.
Written by the Rare Comics Collectors grading team. Spotted an error or have a question this guide does not answer? Tell us.
