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Revision as of 06:36, 21 September 2006
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The following is a list of the first known appearances of various superhero fictional characters and teams.
1930s
Pulp heroes
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Shadow | 1931 (April 1) | Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson) | The Living Shadow |
| Doc Savage | 1933 | Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) | The Man of Bronze |
| The Avenger | 1939 | Kenneth Robeson |
Newspaper comics
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s |
|---|---|---|
| Mandrake the Magician | 1934 | Lee Falk) |
| The Phantom Magician | 1934 | Mel Graff |
| The Phantom | 1936 | Lee Falk |
Comic book
| Character / Team | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Clock | 1936 | George Brenner | Funny Pages #6 |
| Captain Desmo | 1938 | Adventure Comics #32 | |
| Superman | 1938 | Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster | Action Comics #1 |
| Crimson Avenger | 1938 | Jim Chambers | Detective Comics #20 |
| Zatara | 1938 | Fred Guardineer | Action Comics #1 |
| Batman | 1939 | Bob Kane and Bill Finger | Detective Comics #27 |
| Blue Beetle | 1939 | Charles Nicholas | Mystery Men Comics #1 |
| Bozo the Iron Man | 1939 | George Brenner | Smash Comics #1 |
| Doll Man | 1939 | Will Eisner | Feature Comics #27 |
| Namor the Sub-Mariner | 1939 | Bill Everett | Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 |
| The Human Torch (original) | 1939 | Carl Burgos | Marvel Comics #1 |
| The Angel | 1939 | Paul Gustavson | Marvel Comics #1 |
| The Sandman | 1939 | Gardner Fox and Bert Christman | World's Fair Comics #1 |
| Wonderman (Fox) | 1939 | Will Eisner | Wonder Comics #1 |
Radio shows
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s |
|---|---|---|
| The Shadow | 1931 (September) | Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson) |
| The Lone Ranger | 1933 (January 30) | George W. Trendle) |
| The Green Hornet | 1936 (January 31) | Mel Graff |
1940s
Newspaper comics
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s |
|---|---|---|
| The Spirit | 1940 (June 2) | Will Eisner |
| Invisible Scarlet O'Neil | 1940 (June 3) | Russell Stamm) |
Comic book
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulletman and Bulletgirl | 1940 | Bill Parker | Nickel Comics (originally published by Fawcett Comics) |
| Captain Marvel (DC Comics) | 1940 | C.C. Beck and Bill Parker | Whiz Comics #2 (originally published by Fawcett Comics) |
| Daredevil (Golden Age) | 1940 | Jack Binder | Silver Streak #6 |
| Flash (comics) | 1940 | Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert | Flash Comics #1 |
| Doctor Fate | 1940 | Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman | More Fun Comics #55 |
| Green Lantern | 1940 | Martin Nodell and Bill Finger | All-American Comics #16 |
| Hourman | 1940 | Ken Fitch and Bernard Bailey | Adventure Comics #48 |
| Johnny Thunder | 1940 | John W. Wentworth and Stan Asch | Flash Comics #1 |
| Justice Society of America | 1940 | Gardner Fox | All Star Comics #3 |
| Quicksilver | 1940 | Jack Cole and Chuck Mazoujian | National Comics #5, |
| Robin, the Boy Wonder | 1940 | Bill Finger and Bob Kane | Detective Comics #38 |
| The Red Bee | 1940 | Hit Comics #1 | |
| Scarlet Avenger | 1940 | Harry Shorten & Irv Novick | Zip Comics #1 |
| The Shield (Archie) | 1940 | Harry Shorten and Irv Novick | Pep Comics #1 |
| The Spectre | 1940 | Jerry Siegel | More Fun Comics #52 |
| The Spirit | 1940 | Will Eisner | |
| Doc Strange | 1940 | Richard E. Hughes and Alexander Kostuk | Thrilling Comics #1 |
| Aquaman | 1941 | Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris | More Fun Comics #73 |
| The Atom | 1941 | All-American Comics #19 | |
| Blackhawk (comics) | 1941 | Will Eisner and Chuck Cuidera | Military Comics #1 |
| Black Terror | 1941 | Richard E. Hughes and Don Gabrielson | Exciting Comics #9 |
| Captain America | 1941 | Joe Simon and Jack Kirby | Captain America #1 |
| Captain Flag | 1941 | Joe Blair & Lin Streeter | Blue Ribbon Comics #16 |
| Captain Marvel, Jr. | 1941 | Ed Herron and Mac Raboy | Whiz Comics #25 |
| Catwoman | 1941 | Bill Finger and Bob Kane | Batman #1 |
| Green Arrow and Speedy (comics) | 1941 | Mort Weisinger and Greg Papp | More Fun Comics #73 |
| Hawkman | 1941 | Gardner Fox | Flash Comics #1 |
| The Human Bomb | 1941 | Paul Gustavson | Police Comics #1 |
| Johnny Quick | 1941 | Mort Weisinger and Chad Grothkopf | More Fun Comics #71 |
| Miss America (DC Comics) | 1941 | Quality Comics | Military Comics #1 |
| Professor Supermind and Son | 1941 | Dell Comics | Popular Comics #60 |
| Mr. America | 1941 | Action Comics #33 | |
| Nelvana of the Northern Lights | 1941 | Adrian Dingle | Triumph Comics #1 |
| Phantom Lady | 1941 | Arthur Peddy | Police Comics #1 |
| Plastic Man | 1941 | Jack Cole (artist) | Police Comics #1 |
| Sandy the Golden Boy | 1941 | Joe Simon and Jack Kirby | Adventure Comics #69 |
| Sargon the Sorcerer | 1941 | All American Comics #26 | |
| Seven Soldiers of Victory | 1941 | Mort Weisinger | Leading Comics #1 |
| Starman (DC Comics Golden Age) | 1941 | Gardner Fox and Jack Burnley | Adventure Comics #61 |
| The Whizzer | 1941 | Writer unknown; Al Avison and Al Gabrielle, artists | USA Comics #1 |
| American Crusader | 1941 | Writer and Artist unknown | Thrilling Comics #19 |
| 711 | 1941 | Police Comics #1 | |
| Air Wave | 1942 | Murray Boltinoff or Mort Weisinger, and Lee Harris | Detective Comics #60 |
| Captain Commando | 1942 | S.M. "Jerry" Iger & Alex Blum | Pep Comics #30 |
| Johnny Canuck | 1942 | Leo Bachle | Dime Comics #1 |
| Kid Eternity | 1942 | Otto Binder and Sheldon Moldoff | Hit Comics #25 |
| Manhunter (comics) | 1942 | Police Comics #8 | |
| Mister Terrific (comics) | 1942 | Chuck Reizenstein and Hal Sharp | Sensation Comics #1 |
| Mary Marvel | 1942 | Otto Binder and Marc Swayze | Captain Marvel Adventures #18 |
| Robotman | 1942 | Jerry Siegel and Leo Nowak | Star-Spangled Comics #7 |
| Superboy | 1942 | Don Cameron, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster | More Fun Comics #101 |
| Wildcat (comics) | 1942 | Bill Finger and Irwin Hasen | Sensation Comics #1 |
| Wonder Woman | 1942 | William Moulton Marston | All Star Comics #8 / Sensation Comics #1 |
| Canada Jack | 1943 | George Menendez Rae | Canadian Heroes Vol. 1, #5 |
| Miss America (Marvel Comics) | 1943 | Otto Binder and Al Gabriele | Marvel Mystery Comics #49 |
| Grim Reaper (Nedor) | 1944 | Wonder Comics #1 | |
| All-Winners Squad | 1946 | Martin Goodman (publisher) and Stan Lee? | All Winners Comics #19 |
| Black Canary | 1947 | Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino | Flash Comics #86 |
| Moon Girl | 1947 | Gardner Fox and Sheldon Moldoff |
Radio shows
- Superman (1940s)
Miscellaneous
1950s
Comic book
| Character / Team | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvelman (later Miracleman) | 1954 | Mick Anglo | |
| Martian Manhunter | 1955 | Joseph Samachson and Joe Certa | Detective Comics #225 |
| Flash | 1956 | Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino | Showcase #4 |
| Challengers of the Unknown | 1957 | Jack Kirby | Showcase (comic book) #6 |
| Adam Strange | 1958 | Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky | Adventure Comics #247 |
| Legion of Super-Heroes | 1958 | Mort Weisinger and Otto Binder | Showcase (comic book) #17 |
| Supergirl | 1958 | Otto Binder and Al Plastino | Superman #123 |
| The Fly (Archie Comics) | 1959 | Joe Simon and Jack Kirby | |
| Green Lantern | 1959 | Julius Schwartz, John Broome and Gil Kane | Showcase (comicbook) #22 (October 1959). |
| Lady Blackhawk | 1959 | ] | Blackhawks #133 |
Television
- The Adventures of Superman (1952-1957)
1960s
Comic book
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain Atom | 1960 | Joe Gill and Steve Ditko | Space Adventures #33 |
| Elongated Man | 1960 | John Broome and Carmine Infantino | The Flash (1st series) #112 |
| Justice League | 1960 | Gardner Fox | The Brave and the Bold #28 |
| Fantastic Four | 1961 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Fantastic Four #1 |
| Flygirl | 1961 | Robert Bernstein & John Rosenberger | Adventures of the Fly #13 |
| The Jaguar | 1961 | Robert Bernstein | The Adventures of the Jaguar #1 |
| The Hulk | 1962 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Incredible Hulk #1 |
| Ant-Man | 1962 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Tales to Astonish #27 |
| Spider-Man | 1962 | Stan Lee and Steve Ditko | Amazing Fantasy #15 |
| Thor | 1962 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Journey into Mystery #83 |
| Wonder Wart-Hog | 1962 | Gilbert Shelton | Bacchanal |
| Doctor Strange | 1963 | Stan Lee and Steve Ditko | Strange Tales #110 |
| Doom Patrol | 1963 | My Greatest Adventure #80 | |
| Iron Man | 1963 | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Don Heck | Tales of Suspense #39 |
| Magnus, Robot Fighter | 1963 | Chase Craig and Russ Manning | Magnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #1 |
| Nick Fury | 1963 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 |
| X-Men | 1963 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Uncanny X-Men #1 |
| The Avengers | 1963 | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers | Avengers #1 |
| Daredevil | 1964 | Stan Lee and Bill Everett | Daredevil #1 |
| Metamorpho | 1964 | Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon | The Brave & the Bold #57 |
| Teen Titans | 1964 | Robert Haney and Bruno Premiani | The Brave and the Bold #54 |
| Wonder Man | 1964 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Avengers #9 |
| Zatanna | 1964 | Gardner Fox and Murphy Anderson | Hawkman #4 |
| Judomaster | 1965 | Joe Gill and Frank McLaughlin | Special War Series #4 |
| Mighty Crusaders | 1965 | Jerry Siegel & Paul Reinman | Fly-Man #31 |
| Animal Man | 1965 | Grant Morrison | Strange Adventures #180 |
| Black Panther | 1966 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Fantastic Four #52 |
| Nightshade | 1966 | Captain Atom #82 | |
| Silver Surfer | 1966 | Stan Lee and Jack Kirby | Fantastic Four #48 |
| Batgirl | 1967 | Detective Comics #359 | |
| Carol Danvers (also known as Ms. Marvel, Binary, Warbird, and Captain Marvel) | 1968 | Roy Thomas and Gene Colan | Marvel Super Heroes #13 |
Television
- Batman (TV-Series 1966-1968)
- Captain Nice (TV-Series 1967)
- Mr. Terrific (Tv-series 1967)
MOVIES
Batman (1966) Feature Film version of the TV series
1970s
Comic book
Television
- Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman (1972, 1978 and 1979)
- Super Friends (1973-1985)
- Shazam! (1974-1977)
- Spider-Man live action series (1977-1978)
- Wonder Woman (1976-1979)
- The Incredible Hulk (1979-1982)
Movies
- Superman: The Movie (1978)
Doc Savage: the Man of Bronze (1975)
1980s
Comic book
Beowulf 1984 Jerry Bingham First ComicsTelevision
- Super Friends (1973-1985)
- The Incredible Hulk (1979-1982)
- The Greatest American Hero (1981-1983)
- Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)
- Captain Kremmen (1984 - 1989)
- Superboy (1988-1992)
Movies
- Superman II (1980)
- Superman III (1983)
- Supergirl (1985)
- Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)
- Batman (film) (1989)
Internet
- Superguy (1989-)
1990s
Comic book
Television
- Superboy (1988-1992)
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)
- Batman Beyond (animated) (1999-2001)
- Lois & Clark (1993-1997)
The Flash (1991-92)
Movies
- Captain America (1991) direct to video
- The Rocketeer (1991)
- Batman Returns (1993)
- Meteor Man (1993)
- The Crow (film) (1994)
- Batman Forever (1995)
- Batman and Robin (1997 film)
- The Phantom (1996)
- Mystery Men (1999)
The Fantastic Four (1994)
The Shadow (1994)
Internet
- The Legion of Net.Heroes (1992-)
2000 and beyond
Comic book
| Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Marvel imprint | 2001 | ||
| X-Statix | 2001 | Peter Milligan and Mike Allred | X-Force #116 |
| X-Treme X-Men | 2001 | Chris Claremont | X-Treme X-Men #1 |
| Runaways | 2002 | Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona | Runaways |
| Marvel Age imprint | 2003 | ||
| Super Buddies | 2003 | Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire and Joe Rubinstein | Formerly Known as the Justice League #1 |
| Araña | 2004 | Fiona Avery and Mark Brooks | Amazing Fantasy (vol. 2) #1 |
| DC: The New Frontier | 2004 | Darwyn Cooke | |
| Identity Crisis | 2004 | Identity Crisis | |
| House of M | 2005 | ||
| Infinite Crisis | 2005 | ||
| Marvel Next imprint | 2005 | ||
| Young Avengers | 2005 | Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung | Young Avengers #1 |
Television
- Static Shock (animated series) (2000-2004)
- Justice League (animated series) (2001-2004)
- Smallville (TV series) (2001-)
- Birds of Prey (television series) (2002-2003)
- Teen Titans (animated series) (2003-)
- Justice League Unlimited (2004-)
Movies
- X-Men (2000)
- Spider-Man (2002)
- Daredevil (2003)
- X2 (2003)
- Hulk (2003)
- Catwoman (2004)
- Hellboy (2004)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- The Incredibles (2004)
- Elektra (2005)
- Batman Begins (2005)
- Fantastic Four (2005)
- Sky High (2005)
- Superman Returns (2006)
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Sources
Books
- Daniels, Les. The Golden Age of DC Comics: 365 Days. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2004.
Websites
- Classic Comic Books
- Comic Book Timeline
- The History of Comic Books
- Guardians of the North
- The History of Superhero Comic Books
- POV Online
- Internet Movie Database
- List of years in comics
- Superhero