List of superhero debuts

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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) 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 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.

Contents

[edit] 1850-1900

[edit] 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, halmarks of superheroes.[3]

[edit] 1900-1909

[edit] Play

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
The Scarlet Pimpernel 1903 Baroness Emmuska Orczy The Scarlet Pimpernel

The Scarlet Pimpernel is often cited as perhaps the earliest superhero akin to those to become popularized through American comic books.[1][2][3][4]

[edit] 1910s

[edit] Magazine

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
The Night Wind 1913 Varick Vanardy[5](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

[edit] 1930s

[edit] 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

[edit] Pulp fiction

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
The Shadow(as character) 1931 (April 1) Maxwell Grant (Walter B. Gibson) "The Living Shadow"The Shadow Magazine #1
Doc Savage 1933 (March) Kenneth Robeson (Lester Dent) The Man of Bronze
The Avenger 1939 (September 1) Kenneth Robeson (Paul Ernst) "Justice, Inc."The Avenger Magazine #1

[edit] Newspaper comics

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s Series
Mandrake the Magician 1934 (June 11) Lee Falk Mandrake the Magician
The Phantom Magician[6] 1935 (April 15) Mel Graff The Adventures of Patsy[7]
The Phantom 1936 (February 17) Lee Falk The Phantom

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Doctor Occult (Doctor Mystic) 1935 (October) Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster New Fun Comics #6
The Clock 1936 (November) George Brenner Funny Pages #6 orFunny Picture Stories #1
Sheena, Queen of the Jungle 1937 Will Eisner and S.M. "Jerry" Iger Wags #1
Superman 1938 (June) Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster Action Comics #1
Zatara 1938 (June) Fred Guardineer Action Comics #1
Arrow 1938 (September) Fred Guardineer Funny Pages vol. 2 #10 (or #21)
Crimson Avenger 1938 (October) Jim Chambers Detective Comics #20
Namor the Sub-Mariner 1939 (April) Bill Everett Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
Batman 1939 (May) Bob Kane, Bill Finger Detective Comics #27
Wonder Man (Fox) 1939 (May) Will Eisner Wonder Comics #1
The Flame (Gary Preston) 1939 (June) Will Eisner Wonderworld Comics #3
The Sandman 1939 (July) Gardner Fox, Bert Christman World's Fair Comics #1
Blue Beetle (Dan Garret) 1939 (August) Charles Nicholas Mystery Men Comics #1
Bozo the Iron Man 1939 (August) George Brenner Smash Comics #1
Amazing Man (Centaur Publications) 1939 (September) Bill Everett Amazing-Man Comics #5
The Angel 1939 (October) Paul Gustavson Marvel Comics #1
The Human Torch (original) 1939 (October) Carl Burgos Marvel Comics #1
Shock Gibson 1939 (October) Maurice Scott Speed Comics #1
Doll Man 1939 (December) Will Eisner Feature Comics #27

[edit] Other media

Character / Team Year Debuted Creator/s Media
Ôgon Batto (the Golden Bat) 1930 Takeo Nagamatsu Kamishibai
(Japanese scroll show)

[edit] 1940s

[edit] 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

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Flash 1940 (January) Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert Flash Comics #1
Hawkman 1940 (January) Gardner Fox Flash Comics #1
Johnny Thunder 1940 (January) John W. Wentworth, Stan Asch Flash Comics #1
The Shield (Archie) 1940 (January) Harry Shorten, Irv Novick Pep Comics #1
Captain Marvel (DC Comics) 1940 (February) C. C. Beck, Bill Parker Whiz Comics #2
Electro (comics) 1940 (February) Steve Dahlman Marvel Mystery #4
The Spectre 1940 (February) Jerry Siegel More Fun Comics #52
Hourman 1940 (March) Ken Fitch, Bernard Bailey Adventure Comics #48
Black Marvel 1940 (March) Stan Lee, Al Gabriele Mystic Comics #5
Blazing Skull 1940 (March) Mystic Comics #5
Robin, the Boy Wonder 1940 (April) Bill Finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson Detective Comics #38
Bulletman and Bulletgirl 1940 (May) Bill Parker Nickel Comics #1
Doctor Fate 1940 (May) Gardner Fox, Howard Sherman More Fun Comics #55
Uncle Sam (Quality Comics) 1940 (July) Will Eisner National Comics #1
Green Lantern 1940 (July) Martin Nodell, Bill Finger All-American Comics #16
Red Tornado 1940 (November) Sheldon Mayer All-American Comics #20
Justice Society of America 1940 (Winter) Gardner Fox All Star Comics #3
Daredevil (Gleason Publications) 1940 Jack Binder Silver Streak #6
Quicksilver 1940 Jack Cole, Chuck Mazoujian National Comics #5
The Red Bee 1940 Toni Blum, Charles Nicholas Hit Comics #1
Scarlet Avenger 1940 Harry Shorten, Irv Novick Zip Comics #1
Doc Strange 1940 Richard E. Hughes, Alexander Kostuk Thrilling Comics #1
Sargon the Sorcerer 1941 (May) John B. Wentworth, Howard Purcell All American Comics #26
Mr. America(Americommando) 1941 (June) Action Comics #33
711 1941 (August) George Brenner Police Comics #1
Aquaman 1941 (November) Mort Weisinger, Paul Norris More Fun Comics #73
The Atom 1941 Ben Flinton, Bill O'Conner All-American Comics #19
Blackhawk (comics) 1941 Will Eisner, Chuck Cuidera Military Comics #1
Black Terror 1941 Richard E. Hughes, Don Gabrielson Exciting Comics #9
Captain America 1941 Joe Simon, Jack Kirby Captain America #1
Captain Flag 1941 Joe Blair, Lin Streeter Blue Ribbon Comics #16
Captain Marvel, Jr. 1941 Ed Herron, Mac Raboy Whiz Comics #25
Catwoman 1941 Bill Finger, Bob Kane Batman #1
Green Arrow and Speedy 1941 Mort Weisinger, Greg Papp More Fun Comics #73
The Human Bomb 1941 Paul Gustavson Police Comics #1
Johnny Quick 1941 Mort Weisinger, 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
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
Seven Soldiers of Victory 1941 Mort Weisinger Leading Comics #1
Starman (Ted Knight) 1941 Gardner Fox, Jack Burnley Adventure Comics #61
The Whizzer 1941 Writer unknown; Al Avison & Al Gabriele, artists USA Comics #1
American Crusader 1941 (August) Writer and artist unknown Thrilling Comics #19
Liberator (Nedor) 1941 (December) Writer and artist unknown Exciting Comics #15
Air Wave 1942 (February) Murray Boltinoff or Mort Weisinger, and Lee Harris Detective Comics #60
Johnny Canuck (as superhero) 1942 (February) Leo Bachle Dime Comics #1
Manhunter (Dan Richards) 1942 (March) Police Comics #8
Manhunter (Paul Kirk) 1942 (April) Jack Kirby, Joe Simon Adventure Comics #73
Yank 1942 (July) Wow Comics #6
Captain Commando [8] 1942 (August) S.M. "Jerry" Iger, Alex Blum Pep Comics #30
Kid Eternity 1942 Otto Binder, Sheldon Moldoff Hit Comics #25
Mister Terrific (comics)(Terry Sloane) 1942 Chuck Reizenstein, Hal Sharp Sensation Comics #1
Mary Marvel 1942 Otto Binder, Marc Swayze Captain Marvel Adventures #18
Robotman 1942 Jerry Siegel, Leo Nowak Star-Spangled Comics #7
Superboy 1942 Don Cameron, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster More Fun Comics #101
Wildcat (comics) 1942 Bill Finger, Irwin Hasen Sensation Comics #1
Wonder Woman 1942 Charles Moulton(William Moulton Marston), H. G. Peter All Star Comics #8 / Sensation Comics #1
Canada Jack 1943 (March) George Menendez Rae Canadian Heroes Vol. 1, #5 [9]
Miss America (Marvel Comics) 1943 (November) Otto Binder, Al Gabriele Marvel Mystery Comics #49
Grim Reaper (Nedor) 1944 (May) Author unknown, artist Al Camy Wonder Comics #1
All-Winners Squad 1946 (Fall) Martin Goodman, Bill Finger All Winners Comics #19
Black Canary 1947 (August) Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino Flash Comics #86
Moon Girl 1947 (Fall) Gardner Fox, Sheldon Moldoff The Happy Houligans #1

[edit] Other media

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Maximo 1940 Victor Appleton Maximo, the Amazing Superman(Big Little Book)

[edit] 1950s

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Captain Comet 1951 (June) John Broome, Carmine Infantino Strange Adventures #9
Phantom Stranger 1952 (August-September) John Broome, Carmine Infantino, Sy Barry Phantom Stranger #1
Marvelman (later Miracleman) 1954 (February 3) Mick Anglo Marvelman #25
Martian Manhunter 1955 (November) Joseph Samachson, Joe Certa Detective Comics #225
Flash (Barry Allen) 1956 (October) Robert Kanigher, Carmine Infantino Showcase #4
Challengers of the Unknown 1957 (February) Jack Kirby Showcase #6
Legion of Super-Heroes 1958 (April) Mort Weisinger, Otto Binder Showcase #17
Adam Strange 1958 (November-December) Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky Adventure Comics #247
Lady Blackhawk 1959 (February) Jack Schiff and Dick Dillin Blackhawks #133
Supergirl 1959 (May) Otto Binder, Al Plastino Superman #123
The Fly (Archie Comics) 1959 (June) Joe Simon, Jack Kirby The Double Life of Private Strong #1
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) 1959 (October) Julius Schwartz, John Broome, Gil Kane Showcase #22

[edit] Television

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Captain Video 1955 (April 1) Captain Video

[edit] 1960s

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Captain Atom 1960 (March) Joe Gill, Steve Ditko Space Adventures #33
Elongated Man 1960 (May 12) John Broome, Carmine Infantino The Flash vol. 1 #112
Justice League 1960 (Feb.-March) Gardner Fox The Brave and the Bold #28
Fantastic Four 1961 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby The 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, Jack Kirby The Incredible Hulk #1
Ant-Man 1962 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Tales to Astonish #27
Spider-Man 1962 Stan Lee, Steve Ditko Amazing Fantasy #15
Thor 1962 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Journey into Mystery #83
Wonder Wart-Hog 1962 Gilbert Shelton Bacchanal
Doctor Strange 1963 Stan Lee, Steve Ditko Strange Tales #110
Doom Patrol 1963 Bob Haney, Arnold Drake, Bruno Premiani My Greatest Adventure #80
Iron Man 1963 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Don Heck Tales of Suspense #39
Magnus, Robot Fighter 1963 Chase Craig, Russ Manning Magnus Robot Fighter 4000 A.D. #1
Nick Fury 1963 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1
X-Men 1963 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Uncanny X-Men #1
The Avengers 1963 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers Avengers #1
Daredevil 1964 Stan Lee, Bill Everett Daredevil #1
Metamorpho 1964 Bob Haney, Ramona Fradon The Brave and the Bold #57
Teen Titans 1964 Robert Haney, Bruno Premiani The Brave and the Bold #54
Wonder Man 1964 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Avengers #9
Zatanna 1964 Gardner Fox, Murphy Anderson Hawkman #4
Judomaster 1965 Joe Gill, Frank McLaughlin Special War Series #4
Mighty Crusaders 1965 Jerry Siegel, Paul Reinman Fly-Man #31
Animal Man 1965 Dave Wood, Carmine Infantino Strange Adventures #180
Black Panther 1966 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Fantastic Four #52
Nightshade 1966 Joe Gill, Steve Ditko Captain Atom #82
Silver Surfer 1966 Stan Lee, Jack Kirby Fantastic Four #48
Batgirl 1967 Gardner Fox, Carmine Infantino Detective Comics #359
Carol Danvers (a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, Binary, Warbird) 1968 Roy Thomas, Gene Colan Marvel Super Heroes #13
The Creeper 1968 Steve Ditko Showcase #73

[edit] 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

[edit] 1970s

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Squadron Supreme 1971 Roy Thomas, Sal Buscema The Avengers #85-86
Big Barda 1971 Jack Kirby Mister Miracle #1
The Defenders 1971 Roy Thomas Marvel Feature #1
The Forever People 1971 Jack Kirby The Forever People #1
Mister Miracle 1971 Jack Kirby Mister Miracle #1
New Gods 1971 Jack Kirby New Gods #1
Swamp Thing 1971 Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson House of Secrets #92
Luke Cage a.k.a. Power Man 1972 Archie Goodwin, George Tuska Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1
Shang-Chi 1972 Steve Englehart, Jim Starlin Special Marvel Edition #15
Iron Fist 1974 Roy Thomas, Gil Kane Marvel Premiere #15
Man-Thing 1974 Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Gray Morrow Savage Tales #1
Punisher 1974 Gerry Conway, Ross Andru The Amazing Spider-Man #129
Wolverine 1974 Len Wein, Herb Trimpe Incredible Hulk #180
Captain Canuck 1975 Richard Comely, Ron Leishman Captain Canuck #1
Colossus 1975 Len Wein, Dave Cockrum Giant-Size X-Men #1
Storm 1975 Len Wein, Dave Cockrum Giant-Size X-Men #1
Nightcrawler 1975 Len Wein, Dave Cockrum Giant-Size X-Men #1
Power Girl 1975 Gerry Conway All-Star Comics #58
Captain Britain 1976 Chris Claremont, Herb Trimpe Captain Britain Weekly #1
Black Lightning 1977 Tony Isabella, Trevor von Eden Black Lightning #1
Captain Kremmen 1977 Kenny Everett Corgi Publishing
3-D Man 1977 Roy Thomas Marvel Premiere #35
Spider-Woman 1977 Archie Goodwin, Jim Mooney Marvel Spotlight #32
Firestorm 1978 Gerry Conway, Allen Milgrom Firestorm #1
Black Cat 1979 Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard Amazing Spider-Man #194

[edit] 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"

[edit] 1980s

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Dazzler 1980 Tom DeFalco, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern Uncanny X-Men #130
She-Hulk 1980 Stan Lee, John Buscema Savage She-Hulk #1
Omega Men 1981 Marv Wolfman, Joe Staton Green Lantern #136
Alpha Flight 1983 Chris Claremont, John Byrne Uncanny X-Men #120
New Mutants 1983 Chris Claremont The New MutantsMarvel Graphic Novel #5
Outsiders 1983 Mike Barr, Jim Aparo The Brave and the Bold #200
American Flagg 1983 Howard Chaykin American Flagg #1
Beowulf 1984 Jerry Bingham
Femforce 1984 Bill Black, Stephanie Sanderson, Mark Heike Femforce Special
Northguard 1984 Mark Shainblum, Gabriel Morrisette New Triumph featuring Northguard #1
West Coast Avengers 1984 Roger Stern, Bob Hall West Coast Avengers (Vol. 1) #1
Zot 1984 Scott McCloud Zot! #1
Fleur de Lys 1985 Mark Shainblum, Gabriel Morrisette New Triumph featuring Northguard #5
X-Factor 1985 Bob Layton, Jackson Guice, Josef Rubinstein X-Factor #1
Booster Gold 1986 Dan Jurgens Booster Gold #1
Watchmen 1986 Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons Watchmen #1
Excalibur (comics) 1988 Chris Claremont, Alan Davis Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn
New Warriors 1989 Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz Thor #411

[edit] Television

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Ralph Hinkley 1981 (March) The Greatest American Hero

[edit] 1990s

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Bishop (comics) 1991 Whilce Portacio Uncanny X-Men #282
Darkhawk 1991 Danny Fingeroth, Mike Manley Darkhawk #1
Next Men 1991 John Byrne
X-Force 1991 (April) Rob Liefeld The New Mutants #100
Supreme 1992 Rob Liefeld Youngblood #3
Eternal Warrior 1992 Solar: Man of the Atom #10
Jesse Quick (daughter of Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle) 1992 Len Strazewski, Mike Parobeck Justice Society of America (vol. 2) #1
Spawn 1992 Todd McFarlane Spawn #1
Hellboy 1993 Mike Mignola Next Men #21
Stormwatch 1993 (March) Jim Lee Stormwatch #1
Generation X 1994 Scott Lobdell, Chris Bachalo Uncanny X-Men #318
Static (superhero) 1993 Dwayne McDuffie, John Paul Leon Static #1
Starman (Jack Knight) 1994 James Robinson, Tony Harris Starman #0
X-Man 1995 Jeph Loeb, Steve Skroce X-Man #1
The Thunderbolts 1997 Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley The Incredible Hulk #449
The Authority 1999 Warren Ellis, Bryan Hitch The Authority vol. 1 #1

[edit] Movies

[edit] 2000 and beyond

[edit] Comic book

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
Ultimate Marvel characters 2001 various Ultimate Spider-Man #1
X-Statix 2001 Peter Milligan, Mike Allred X-Force #116
X-Treme X-Men 2001 Chris Claremont X-Treme X-Men #1
Runaways 2002 Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona Runaways vol. 1 #1
Invincible 2002 Robert Kirkman,Cory Walker Noble Causes: Family Secrets #3
Super Buddies 2003 Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, Kevin Maguire, Joe Rubinstein Formerly Known as the Justice League #1
Araña 2004 Fiona Avery, Mark Brooks Amazing Fantasy (vol. 2) #1
Young Avengers 2005 Allan Heinberg, Jim Cheung Young Avengers #1

[edit] Movies

Character / Team / Series Year Debuted Creator/s First Appearance
The Incredibles, Frozone 2004 Brad Bird The Incredibles
Sky High students and graduates 2005 Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley, Mark McCorkle Sky High

[edit] Sources

[edit] Books

  • Daniels, Les. The Golden Age of DC Comics: 365 Days. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2004.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links