List of superhero debuts
The following is a list of the first known appearances of various superhero fictional characters and teams.
A superhero (also known as a super hero or super-hero) is a fictional character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest."[1] Since the debut of the prototypal superhero Lee Falk's The Phantom in 1936 followed by Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas — have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other media. A female superhero is sometimes called a superheroine or super heroine.
By most definitions, characters need not have actual superhuman powers to be deemed superheroes, although sometimes terms such as costumed crimefighters[2] are used to refer to those without such powers who have many other common traits of superheroes.
For a list of comic book supervillain debuts, see List of comic book supervillain debuts.
1850-1900
Penny Dreadful
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Spring Heeled Jack | 1867 | George A. Sala or Alfred Burrage as "Charlton Lea" | Spring-Heeled Jack, the Terror of London |
The folkloric Spring Heeled Jack came to be featured in a series of Penny Dreadfuls, first as a villain, then as a crime-fighter with a disguise, secret lair, and gadgets, hallmarks of superheroes.[3]
1900-1909
Play
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
The Scarlet Pimpernel | 1903 | Baroness Emmuska Orczy | The Scarlet Pimpernel |
Often cited as perhaps the earliest superhero akin to those to become popularized through American comic books.[4][5][6][7]
1910s
Magazine
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
John Carter of Mars | 1911 | Edgar Rice Burroughs | A Princess of Mars |
Tarzan the Apeman | 1912 | Edgar Rice Burroughs | Tarzan of the Apes |
The Night Wind | 1913 | Varick Vanardy[8] (Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey) | Alias the Night Wind |
The Scarecrow | 1915 | Russell Thorndike | Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh |
Zorro | 1919 | Johnston McCulley | "The Curse of Capistrano" All Weekly Story |
1920s
Notable non-superhero characters that influenced the superhero genre
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Creator/s | Media | First appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Red Shadow | 1926 | Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach, and Frank Mandel | Play | The Desert Song |
Buck Rogers | January 7, 1929 | Philip Francis Nowlan | Newspaper Comic | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century A.D adapted from the story "Armageddon 2419 A.D." (Amazing Stories, August, 1928). |
1930s
Radio
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
The Shadow (as announcer voice) | 1930 (July 31) | Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson) | Detective Stories |
The Lone Ranger | 1933 (January 30) | George W. Trendle | The Lone Ranger |
Tonto | 1933 (February 25) | Fran Striker | The Lone Ranger |
The Green Hornet and Kato | 1936 (January 31) | George W. Trendle and Fran Striker | The Green Hornet |
Pulp fiction
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
The Shadow (as character) | 1931 (April) | Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson) | "The Living Shadow" The Shadow Magazine #1 |
Conan the Barbarian | 1932 (December) | Robert E. Howard | "The Phoenix on the Sword" Weird Tales |
Doc Savage | 1933 (March) | Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) | The Man of Bronze |
The Avenger | 1939 (September) | Kenneth Robeson (Paul Ernst) | "Justice, Inc."The Avenger Magazine #1 |
Newspaper comics
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | Series |
---|---|---|---|
Mandrake the Magician | 1934 (June 11) | Lee Falk | Mandrake the Magician |
The Phantom Magician[9] | 1935 (April 15) | Mel Graff | The Adventures of Patsy[10] |
The Phantom | 1936 (February 17) | Lee Falk | The Phantom |
Other media
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Creator/s | Media |
---|---|---|---|
Ôgon Batto (the Golden Bat) | 1930 | Takeo Nagamatsu | Kamishibai (Japanese scroll show) |
Notable non-superhero characters that influenced the superhero genre
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Creator/s | Media |
---|---|---|---|
Dan Dunn | 1933 | Norman Marsh | Original Comic Book Character |
Dick Tracy | 1931 (October 4) | Chester Gould | Newspaper Comic |
Flash Gordon | 1934 (January 7) | Alex Raymond | Newspaper Comic |
Comic book
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Company | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Doctor Occult (Doctor Mystic) | 1935 (October) | DC | Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster | New Fun Comics #6 |
The Clock | 1936 (November) | Comics Magazine Co | George Brenner | Funny Pages #6 or Funny Picture Stories #1 |
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle | 1937 | Fiction House | Will Eisner and S.M. "Jerry" Iger | Wags #1 |
Superman (Clark Kent) | 1938 (June) | DC | Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster | Action Comics #1 |
Zatara | 1938 (June) | DC | Fred Guardineer | Action Comics #1 |
Arrow | 1938 (September) | Centaur Publications | Paul Gustavson | Funny Pages vol. 2 #10 (or #21) |
Crimson Avenger (Lee Travis) | 1938 (October) | DC | Jim Chambers | Detective Comics #20 |
Namor the Sub-Mariner | 1939 (April) | Marvel/Timely | Bill Everett | Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 |
Batman (Bruce Wayne) | 1939 (May) | DC | Bob Kane, Bill Finger | Detective Comics #27 |
Wonder Man (Fox) | 1939 (May) | Fox Publications | Will Eisner | Wonder Comics #1 |
The Flame (Gary Preston) | 1939 (June) | Fox Publications | Will Eisner | Wonderworld Comics #3 |
The Sandman (Wesley Dodds) | 1939 (July) | DC | Gardner Fox, Bert Christman | World's Fair Comics #1 |
Blue Beetle (Dan Garret) | 1939 (August) | Fox Publications | Charles Nicholas | Mystery Men Comics #1 |
Bozo the Iron Man | 1939 (August) | Quality Comics | George Brenner | Smash Comics #1 |
Amazing Man (Centaur Publications) | 1939 (September) | Centaur Publications | Bill Everett | Amazing-Man Comics #5 |
The Angel (Thomas Halloway) | 1939 (October) | Marvel/Timely | Paul Gustavson | Marvel Comics #1 |
The Human Torch (Jim Hammond, original) | 1939 (October) | Marvel/Timely | Carl Burgos | Marvel Comics #1 |
Shock Gibson | 1939 (October) | Brookwood Publications | Maurice Scott | Speed Comics #1 |
Doll Man | 1939 (December) | Quality Comics | Will Eisner | Feature Comics #27 |
1940s
Newspaper comics
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | Series |
---|---|---|---|
The Spirit | 1940 (June 2) | Will Eisner | The Spirit |
Invisible Scarlet O'Neil | 1940 (June 3) | Russell Stamm | Invisible Scarlet O'Neil |
1940s
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Company | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Flash (comics) (Jay Garrick, original) | 1940 (January) | DC | Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert | Flash Comics #1 |
Hawkman (Carter Hall, original) | 1940 (January) | DC | Gardner Fox | Flash Comics #1 |
Johnny Thunder | 1940 (January) | DC | John W. Wentworth, Stan Asch | Flash Comics #1 |
The Shield (Archie) | 1940 (January) | MLJ/Archie | Harry Shorten, Irv Novick | Pep Comics #1 |
Captain Marvel (DC Comics) | 1940 (February) | Fawcett Comics/DC | C. C. Beck, Bill Parker (comics) | Whiz Comics #2 |
Electro (comics) | 1940 (February) | Marvel/Timely | Steve Dahlman | Marvel Mystery #4 |
Spectre (comics) (Jim Corrigan) | 1940 (February) | DC | Jerry Siegel" Jerry Siegel | More Fun Comics #52 |
Doc Strange | 1940 (February) | Nedor Comics | Richard E. Hughes, Alexander Kostuk | Thrilling Comics #1 |
Hourman (Rex Tyler) | 1940 (March) | DC | Ken Fitch, Bernard Bailey | Adventure Comics #48 |
Black Marvel (Daniel Lyons) | 1940 (March) | Marvel/Timely | Al Gabriele and unknown writer | Mystic Comics #5 |
Blazing Skull (Mark Todd) | 1940 (March) | Marvel/Timely | Mystic Comics #5 | |
Catwoman (Selina Kyle) | 1940 (Spring) | DC | Bill Finger, Bob Kane | Batman #1 |
Robin (comics) (Richard Grayson, original) | 1940 (April) | DC | Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson | Detective Comics #38 |
Bulletman and Bulletgirl | 1940 (May) | Fawcett Comics/DC | Bill Parker (comics) | Nickel Comics #1 |
Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson & Nabu) | 1940 (May) | DC | Gardner Fox, Howard Sherman | More Fun Comics #55 |
Scarlet Avenger | 1940 (June) | Harry Shorten, Irv Novick | Zip Comics #1 | |
Uncle Sam (comics) | 1940 (July) | Quality Comics/DC | Will Eisner | National Comics #1 |
Green Lantern (Alan Scott, original) | 1940 (July) | DC | Martin Nodell, Bill Finger | All-American Comics #16 |
The Red Bee | 1940 (July) | Quality Comics/DC | Toni Blum, Charles Nicholas | Hit Comics #1 |
Daredevil (Gleason Publications) | 1940 (September) | Gleason Publications | Jack Binder (comics) | Silver Streak #6 |
Atom (Al Pratt) | 1940 (October) | DC | Ben Flinton, Bill O'Conner | All-American Comics #19 |
Vision (Timely Comics) | 1940 (November) | Marvel/Timely | Joe Simon, Jack Kirby | Marvel Mystery Comics #13 |
Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel) | 1940 (November) | DC | Sheldon Mayer | All-American Comics #20 |
Quicksilver (Max Mercury) | 1940 (November) | Quality Comics/DC | Jack Cole (artist), Chuck Mazoujian | National Comics #5 |
Justice Society of America | 1940 (Winter) | DC | Gardner Fox | All Star Comics #3 |
Black Terror | 1941 (January) | Nedor Comics | Richard E. Hughes, Don Gabrielson | Exciting Comics #9 |
Professor Supermind and Son | 1941 (February) | Dell Comics | Popular Comics #60 | |
Captain America (Steve Rogers) | 1941 (March) | Marvel/Timely | Joe Simon, Jack Kirby | Captain America #1 |
Starman (Ted Knight) (Ted Knight) | 1941 (April) | DC | Gardner Fox, Jack Burnley | Adventure Comics #61 |
Doctor Mid-Nite (Charles McNider) | 1941 (April) | DC | Charles Reizenstein, Stanley Aschmeier | All-American Comics #25 |
Sargon the Sorcerer | 1941 (May) | DC | John B. Wentworth, Howard Purcell | All American Comics #26 |
Tex Thompson (Americommando) | 1941 (June) | DC | Action Comics #33 | |
Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders Hall) | 1941 (July) | DC | Gardner Fox
Evelyn Gaines |
All-Star Comics #5 |
Whizzer (Robert Frank) | 1941 (August) | Marvel/Timely | Al Avison, Al Gabriele | USA Comics #1 |
American Crusader | 1941 (August) | Nedor Comics | Writer and artist unknown | Thrilling Comics #19 |
Blackhawk (DC Comics) | 1941 (August) | Quality Comics/DC | Will Eisner, Chuck Cuidera | Military Comics #1 |
Miss America (DC Comics) | 1941 (August) | Quality Comics/DC | Military Comics #1 | |
711 (Quality Comics) | 1941 (August) | Quality Comics/DC | George Brenner | Police Comics #1 |
Human Bomb | 1941 (August) | Quality Comics/DC | Paul Gustavson | Police Comics #1 |
Plastic Man | 1941 (August) | Quality Comics/DC | Jack Cole (artist) | Police Comics #1 |
Phantom Lady | 1941 (August) | Quality Comics/DC | Arthur Peddy | Police Comics #1 |
Nelvana of the Northern Lights | 1941 (August) | Hillborough Studios (Canada) | Adrian Dingle | Triumph Comics #1 |
Johnny Quick (Johnny Chambers) | 1941 (September) | DC | Mort Weisinger, Chad Grothkopf | More Fun Comics #71 |
Captain Flag | 1941 (September) | MLJ/Archie | Joe Blair, Lin Streeter | Blue Ribbon Comics #16 |
Fighting Yank | 1941 (September) | Nedor Comics | Richard Hughes, Jon Blummer | Startling Comics #10 |
Aquaman | 1941 (November) | DC | Mort Weisinger, Paul Norris | More Fun Comics #73 |
Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) and Speedy (comics) | 1941 (November) | DC | Mort Weisinger, Greg Papp | More Fun Comics #73 |
Sandy the Golden Boy | 1941 (December) | DC | Joe Simon and Jack Kirby | Adventure Comics #69 |
Seven Soldiers of Victory | 1941 (December) | DC | Mort Weisinger | Leading Comics #1 |
Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) | 1941 (December) | DC | William Moulton Marston, H. G. Peter | All Star Comics #8 / Sensation Comics #1 |
Liberator (Nedor) | 1941 (December) | Nedor Comics | Writer and artist unknown | Exciting Comics #15 |
Captain Marvel, Jr. | 1941 (December) | Fawcett Comics/DC | Ed Herron, Mac Raboy | Whiz Comics #25 |
Wildcat (comics) | 1942 (January) | DC | Bill Finger, Irwin Hasen | Sensation Comics #1 |
Mister Terrific (comics)(Terry Sloane) | 1942 (January) | DC | Chuck Reizenstein, Hal Sharp | Sensation Comics #1 |
Air Wave | 1942 (February) | DC | Murray Boltinoff or Mort Weisinger, and Lee Harris (illustrator) | Detective Comics #60 |
Johnny Canuck (as superhero) | 1942 (February) | [Canada] | Leo Bachle | Dime Comics #1 |
Manhunter (comics) (Paul Kirk) | 1942 (April) | DC | Jack Kirby, Joe Simon | Adventure Comics #73 |
Manhunter (comics) (Dan Richards) | 1942 (March) | Quality Comics/DC | Police Comics #8 | |
Robotman (Robert Crane) | 1942 (April) | DC | Jerry Siegel, Leo Nowak | Star-Spangled Comics #7 |
Commando Yank | 1942 (July) | Fawcett Comics/DC | Wow Comics #6 | |
Captain Commando | 1942 (August) | S.M. "Jerry" Iger, Alex Blum | Pep Comics #30 | |
Kid Eternity | 1942 (December) | Quality Comics/DC | Otto Binder, Sheldon Moldoff | Hit Comics #25 |
Mary Marvel | 1942 (December) | Fawcett Comics/DC | Otto Binder, Marc Swayze | Captain Marvel Adventures #18 |
Canada Jack | 1943 (March) | George Menendez Rae | Canadian Heroes Vol. 1, #5 | |
Miss America (Marvel Comics) | 1943 (November) | Marvel/Timely | Otto Binder, Al Gabriele | Marvel Mystery Comics #49 |
Grim Reaper (Nedor) | 1944 (May) | Nedor Comics | Author unknown, artist Al Camy | Fighting Yank #7 |
Superboy (Clark Kent) | 1945 (January) | DC | Don Cameron, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster | More Fun Comics #101 |
All-Winners Squad | 1946 (Fall) | Marvel/Timely | Martin Goodman (publisher), Bill Finger | All Winners Comics #19 |
Black Canary | 1947 (August) | DC | Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino | Flash Comics #86 |
Moon Girl | 1947 (Fall) | Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff | The Happy Houligans #1 | |
Golden Girl (Betsy Ross) | 1947 (December) | Marvel/Timely | Captain America #1 (As Betsy Ross); Captain America #66 (As Golden Girl) |
Other media
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Maximo | 1940 | Victor Appleton | Maximo, the Amazing Superman(Big Little Book) |
1950s
Comic book
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Company | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Captain Comet | 1951 (June) | DC | John Broome, Carmine Infantino | Strange Adventures #9 |
Phantom Stranger | 1952 (August) | DC | John Broome, Carmine Infantino, Sy Barry | Phantom Stranger #1 |
Marvelman (later Miracleman) | 1954 (February) | [U.K.] | Mick Anglo | Marvelman #25 |
Captain Flash | 1954 (November) | Mike Sekowsky (artist, writer unknown) | Captain Flash #1 | |
Martian Manhunter | 1955 (November) | DC | Joseph Samachson, Joe Certa | Detective Comics #225 |
Batwoman (Kathy Kane, 1st ver) | 1956 (July) | DC | Edmond Hamilton, Sheldon Moldoff | Detective Comics #233 |
Flash (Barry Allen, 2nd ver) | 1956 (October) | DC | Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino | Showcase #4 |
Challengers of the Unknown | 1957 (February) | DC | Jack Kirby | Showcase #6 |
Legion of Super-Heroes | 1958 (April) | DC | Mort Weisinger, Otto Binder | Adventure Comics #247 |
Super Girl (tryout version) | 1958 (August) | DC | Otto Binder, Al Plastino | Superman #123 |
Adam Strange | 1958 (November) | DC | Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky | Showcase Comics #17 |
Herbie Popnecker | 1958 (December) | Richard E. Hughes, Ogden Whitney | Forbidden Worlds #73 | |
Lady Blackhawk | 1959 (February) | DC | Jack Schiff and Dick Dillin | Blackhawks #133 |
Supergirl (Kara Zor-El) | 1959 (May) | DC | Otto Binder, Al Plastino | Action Comics #252 |
The Fly (Archie Comics) | 1959 (June) | Archie Comics | Joe Simon, Jack Kirby | The Double Life of Private Strong #1 |
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) (Hal Jordan, 2nd ver) | 1959 (October) | DC | Julius Schwartz, John Broome, Gil Kane | Showcase #22 |
Kid Flash | 1959 (December) | DC | John Broome, Carmine Infantino | The Flash #110 |
Television
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Captain Video | 1955 (April 1) | Captain Video |
1960s
Comic book
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Company | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Justice League | 1960 (February) | DC | Gardner Fox | The Brave and the Bold #28 |
Captain Atom | 1960 (March) | Charlton Comics/DC | Joe Gill, Steve Ditko | Space Adventures #33 |
Elongated Man | 1960 (May) | DC | John Broome, Carmine Infantino | The Flash vol. 1 #112 |
Hawkman (Katar Hol, 2nd ver) | 1961 (February) | DC | Gardner Fox, Joe Kubert | The Brave and the Bold #34 |
Flygirl | 1961 (July) | Archie Comics | Robert Bernstein, John Rosenberger | Adventures of the Fly #13 |
The Jaguar | 1961 (September) | Archie Comics | Robert Bernstein | The Adventures of the Jaguar #1 |
The Atom (Ray Palmer, 2nd ver) | 1961 (October) | DC | Julius Schwartz, Gardner Fox, Gil Kane | Showcase #34 |
Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch (Johnny Storm), The Thing) | 1961 (November) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | The Fantastic Four #1 |
Ant-Man (Henry Pym) | 1962 (January) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Tales to Astonish #27 |
The Hulk (Bruce Banner) | 1962 (May) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | The Incredible Hulk #1 |
Spider-Man (Peter Parker) | 1962 (August) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Steve Ditko | Amazing Fantasy #15 |
Thor (Thor Odinson) | 1962 (August) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Journey into Mystery #83 |
Doctor Solar | 1962 (October) | Gold Key Comics | Paul S. Newman, Matt Murphy | Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1 |
Wonder Wart-Hog | 1962 | Underground | Gilbert Shelton | Bacchanal |
Magnus, Robot Fighter | 1963 (February) | Gold Key Comics | Chase Craig, Russ Manning | Magnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #1 |
Iron Man (Tony Stark) | 1963 (March) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck | Tales of Suspense #39 |
Doom Patrol (The Chief, Robotman (Cliff Steele), Elasti-Girl (Rita Farr), Negative Man) | 1963 (June) | DC | Bob Haney, Arnold Drake, Bruno Premiani | My Greatest Adventure #80 |
Wasp | 1963 (June) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Tales to Astonish #44 |
Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) | 1963 (July) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Steve Ditko | Strange Tales #110 |
X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Angel (Warren Worthington), Beast, Iceman, Marvel Girl) | 1963 (September) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | X-Men #1 |
The Avengers | 1963 (September) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers | Avengers #1 |
Quicksilver | 1964 (March) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | X-Men #4 |
Scarlet Witch | 1964 (March) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | X-Men #4 |
Black Widow | 1964 (April) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Don Rico, Don Heck | Tales of Suspense #52 |
Daredevil (Matt Murdock) | 1964 (April) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Bill Everett | Daredevil #1 |
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) | 1964 (July) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Don Heck | Tales of Suspense #57 |
Teen Titans | 1964 (July) | DC | Robert Haney, Bruno Premiani | The Brave and the Bold #54 |
Wonder Man | 1964 (October) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Avengers #9 |
Zatanna | 1964 (November) | DC | Gardner Fox, Murphy Anderson | Hawkman #4 |
Metamorpho | 1965 (January) | DC | Bob Haney, Ramona Fradon | The Brave and the Bold #57 |
Hercules | 1965 (June) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Journey into Mystery Annual #1 |
Animal Man | 1965 (September) | DC | Dave Wood, Carmine Infantino | Strange Adventures #180 |
Mighty Crusaders | 1965 | Archie Comics | Jerry Siegel, Paul Reinman | Fly-Man #31 |
Silver Surfer | 1966 (March) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Fantastic Four #48 |
Black Panther | 1966 (July) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby | Fantastic Four #52 |
Nightshade | 1966 (September) | Charlton Comics/DC | Joe Gill, Steve Ditko | Captain Atom #82 |
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord, 2nd ver) | 1966 (November) | Charlton Comics/DC | Steve Ditko | Captain Atom #83 |
Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) | 1967 (January) | DC | Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino | Detective Comics #359 |
Banshee | 1967 (January) | Marvel | Roy Thomas, Werner Roth | X-Men #28 |
Question | 1967 (June) | Charlton Comics/DC | Steve Ditko | Blue Beetle #1 |
Black Knight | 1967 (December) | Marvel | Roy Thomas, John Buscema | Avengers #47 |
Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) | 1967 (December) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Gene Colan | Marvel Super Heroes #12 |
Carol Danvers (a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, Binary, Warbird) | 1968 (March) | Marvel | Roy Thomas, Gene Colan | Marvel Super Heroes #13 |
The Creeper | 1968 (March) | DC | Steve Ditko | Showcase #73 |
Vision | 1968 (October) | Marvel | Roy Thomas, John Buscema | Avengers #57 |
Polaris | 1968 (October) | Marvel | Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Werner Roth, Jim Steranko | X-Men #49 |
Havok | 1969 (March) | Marvel | Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Neal Adams | X-Men #54 |
Falcon (Sam Wilson) | 1969 (September) | Marvel | Stan Lee, Gene Colan | Captain America #117 |
Television
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Captain Nice | 1967 (January) | Buck Henry | Captain Nice |
Mister Terrific (Stanley Beamish) | 1967 (January) | Mr. Terrific | |
The Mighty Heroes
(Strong Man, Cuckoo Man, Tornado Man, Rope Man, Diaper Man) |
1966 | Ralph Bakshi | Mighty Mouse Playhouse |
Space Ghost | 1966 | Alex Toth
William Hanna & Joseph Barbera |
Space Ghost and Dino Boy |
Birdman | 1967 | Alex Toth
William Hanna & Joseph Barbera |
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio |
1970s
Comic book
Television
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
G-Force | 1972 | Kagaku ninja tai Gatchaman(Battle of the Planets) | |
Six Million Dollar Man | 1973 (March 7) | Martin Caiden | The Six Million Dollar Man movie(based on 1972 novel Cyborg) |
The Bionic Woman | 1975 (March 16) | Kenneth Johnson | The Six Million Dollar Manepisode: "The Bionic Woman" |
1980s
Comic book
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Company | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kitty Pryde | 1980 (January) | Marvel | Chris Claremont, John Byrne | Uncanny X-Men #129 |
Emma Frost | 1980 (January) | Marvel | Chris Claremont, John Byrne | Uncanny X-Men #129 |
Dazzler | 1980 (February) | Marvel | Tom DeFalco, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern | Uncanny X-Men #130 |
She-Hulk | 1980 (February) | Marvel | Stan Lee, John Buscema | Savage She-Hulk #1 |
Elektra | 1981 (January) | Marvel | Frank Miller | Daredevil #168 |
Omega Men | 1981 (January) | DC | Marv Wolfman, Joe Staton | Green Lantern #136 |
Rogue | 1981 (August) | Marvel | Chris Claremont, Michael Golden | Avengers annual #10 |
Monica Rambeau (a.k.a. Captain Marvel, Photon, Pulsar) | 1982 (December) | Marvel | Roger Stern, John Romita, Jr. | The Amazing Spider-Man annual #16 |
New Mutants | 1982 (December) | Marvel | Chris Claremont | The New MutantsMarvel Graphic Novel #4 |
The Maxx | 1982 | Sam Kieth | Primer #5 (as Max the Hare), The Maxx #1 (as The Maxx) | |
The DNAgents | 1983 (March) | Eclipse Comics | Mark Evanier, Will Meugniot | The DNAgents #1 |
Lobo (DC Comics) | 1983 (June) | DC | Roger Slifer, Keith Giffen | Omega Men #3 |
Outsiders | 1983 (July) | DC | Mike Barr, Jim Aparo | The Brave and the Bold #200 |
American Flagg | 1983 (October) | First Comics | Howard Chaykin | American Flagg #1 |
Atari Force | 1984 (January) | DC | Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, Ross Andru | Atari Force #1 |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | 1984 (May) | Mirage | Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 |
Power Pack | 1984 (August) | Marvel | Louise Simonson, June Brigman | Power Pack (Vol. 1) #1 |
West Coast Avengers | 1984 (September) | Marvel | Roger Stern, Bob Hall | West Coast Avengers (Vol. 1) #1 |
Femforce | 1984 (September) | AC Comics | Bill Black, Stephanie Sanderson, Mark Heike | Femforce Special |
Julia Carpenter (a.k.a. Spider-Woman, Arachne) | 1984 (October) | Marvel | Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck | Secret Wars #6-7 |
Northguard | 1984 | [Canada] | Mark Shainblum, Gabriel Morrissette | New Triumph featuring Northguard #1 |
Zot | 1984 | Eclipse Comics | Scott McCloud | Zot! #1 |
Mr. Monster | 1984 | Michael T. Gilbert | Vanguard Illustrated #7 | |
Fleur de Lys | 1985 | [Canada] | Mark Shainblum, Gabriel Morrissette | New Triumph featuring Northguard #5 |
X-Factor | 1986 (February) | Marvel | Bob Layton, Jackson Guice, Josef Rubinstein | X-Factor #1 |
Booster Gold | 1986 (February) | DC | Dan Jurgens | Booster Gold #1 |
Savage Dragon | 1986 (February) | Erik Larsen | Megaton #3 | |
Watchmen | 1986 (September) | DC | Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons | Watchmen #1 |
Excalibur | 1987 | Marvel | Chris Claremont, Alan Davis | Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn |
Karatecha | 1988 | Compass Comics Group | Roljie Redondo | Kiss Comics #1 |
New Warriors | 1989 (December) | Marvel | Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz | Thor #411 |
Dawn | 1989 (December) | Sirius Entertainment | Joseph Michael Linsner | Cry for Dawn #1 |
Television
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Ralph Hinkley | 1981 (March) | The Greatest American Hero |
1990s
Comic book
Character / Team | Year Debuted | Company | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cable (comics) | 1990 (March) | Marvel | Louise Simonson, Rob Liefeld | The New Mutants #87 X-Men #201 (January 1986, as Nathan Summers) |
Gambit (comics) | 1990 (August) | Marvel | Chris Claremont, Jim Lee | X-Men #266 |
Darkhawk | 1991 (February) | Marvel | Tom Defalco, Mike Manley | Marvel Age #97 |
Deadpool | 1991 (February) | Marvel | Rob Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza | The New Mutants #98 |
X-Force | 1991 (April) | Marvel | Rob Liefeld | The New Mutants #100 |
Jesse Quick (daughter of Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle) | 1991 (April) | DC | Len Strazewski, Mike Parobeck | Justice Society of America (vol. 2) #1 |
Next Men | 1991 (September) | Dark Horse | John Byrne | Dark Horse Presents #54 |
Bishop (comics) | 1991 (November) | Marvel | Whilce Portacio Jim Lee | X-Men #282 |
Spawn | 1992 (May) | Image | Todd McFarlane | Spawn #1 |
War Machine | 1992 (June) | Marvel | Len Kaminski, Kev Hopgood | Iron Man #281 |
Eternal Warrior | 1992 (June) | Valiant Comics | Solar: Man of the Atom #10 | |
Supreme | 1992 (August) | Image | Rob Liefeld | Youngblood #3 |
Stormwatch | 1993 (March) | Image | Jim Lee | Stormwatch #1 |
Gen¹³ | 1993 (September) | Image | Jim Lee, Brandon Choi | Deathmate #Black |
Hellboy | 1993 (December) | Dark Horse | Mike Mignola | Next Men #21 |
Prime | 1993 | Malibu Comics | Gerard Jones, Len Strazewski, Norm Breyfogle | Prime #1 |
Static | 1993 | DC | Dwayne McDuffie, John Paul Leon | Static #1 |
Purgatori | 1994 | Chaos! Comics | Brian Pulido, Steven Hughes | Lady Death #3 |
Generation X | 1994 | Marvel | Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo | X-Men #318 |
Starman (Jack Knight) | 1994 | DC | James Robinson, Tony Harris | Starman #0 |
Astro City | 1995 | Image | Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson | Astro City #1 |
Mr. Hero the Newmatic Man | 1995 | Neil Gaiman, James Vance, Ted Slampyak | Neil Gaiman's Mr. Hero, The Newmatic Man #1 | |
X-Man | 1995 | Marvel | Jeph Loeb, Steve Skroce | X-Man #1 |
The Thunderbolts | 1997 | Marvel | Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley | The Incredible Hulk #449 |
The Authority | 1999 | Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch | The Authority vol. 1 #1 |
Movies
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
The Rocketeer | 1991 | Dave Stevens | |
Meteor Man | 1993 |
Television
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
Power Rangers | 1993 | Haim Saban | Mighty Morphin Power Rangers |
VR Troopers | 1994 | Haim Saban | VR Troopers |
Masked Rider | 1995 | Haim Saban | Masked Rider |
Beetleborgs | 1996 | Haim Saban | Big Bad Beetleborgs |
Astralborgs | 1997 | Haim Saban | Beetleborgs Metallix |
Shaktimaan | 1997 | Mukesh Khanna | Shaktimaan |
2000s
Comic book
Movies
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance |
---|---|---|---|
David Dunn | 2000 | M. Night Shyamalan | Unbreakable (film) |
The Incredibles, Frozone | 2004 | Brad Bird | The Incredibles |
Catwoman (Patience Phillips, 2nd ver) | 2004 | Catwoman | |
Sky High students and graduates | 2005 | Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley, Mark McCorkle | Sky High |
Krrish | 2006 | Rakesh Roshan | Krrish |
Zenith Team (Captain Zoom, Concussion, Mega-Boy, Wonder, Houdini, Princess, Marsha Holloway) | 2006 | Adam Rifkin | Zoom |
John Hancock | 2008 | Vincent Ngo | Hancock |
Cutthroat, Charge, Shadow, The Wall | 2011 | Jason Trost | Vs |
Andrew Detmer, Matt Garetty, Steve Montgomery | 2012 | Max Landis, Josh Trank | Chronicle |
Television
Character / Team / Series | Year Debuted | Creator/s | First Appearance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Danny Phantom | 2004 | Butch Hartman | Danny Phantom | ||||
Ben Tennyson | 2005 | Man of Action (Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle) | Ben 10 | ||||
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight | 2009 | Steve Wang | Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight | ||||
Powell family | 2010 | Greg Berlanti, Jon Harmon Feldman | No Ordinary Family | ||||
The Cape | 2011 | Tom Wheeler | The Cape | ||||
Alphas | 2011 | Zak Penn, Michael Karnow | Alphas | Arrow | 2012 | The Flash (2014 TV series) | 2014 |
See also
References
- Daniels, Les. The Golden Age of DC Comics: 365 Days. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2004.
Notes
- ↑ National Periodical Publications v. Empire Comics, New York Court of Appeals, April 21, 1954.
- ↑ Per Lawrence Journal-World (March 17, 2006): "'V for Vendetta' is S for Subversive", by Jon Niccum, "The Dark Knight: Batman — A NonSuper Superhero", GameSpot: PS2 Games: Batman Begins, Spotlight Comics Annual #2 (May 2002); "The Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Characters: Rev. Dr. Christopher Syn, the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (one of the world's first masked crime-fighters)" (no date), and other sources.
- ↑ The Complete Spring Heeled Jack Page
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
External links
- Comic Book Timeline
- Guardians of the North
- "The Comic Book Villain, Dr. Fredric Wertham, M.D."
- The Silver Age and the Marvel Age at Web Cite
- The Bronze Age at Web Cite
- The Gimmick Age at Web Cite
- Coville, Jamie. "The History of Superhero Comic Books", "Part 1: Comic Strips Lead to a New Form"
- Evanier, Mark. "News from Me", POV Online, August 26, 2001