Comic Book Firsts

Below is a chronological list of the first appearances of many comic book characters and concepts. The dates given are the cover dates of the issues in which the character first appeared, which are generally two to three months later than the date that the magazine was actually released. (Cover dates are like the expiration dates on milk cartons. They tell the store owner when to take the magazine off the stands, not when the magazine came out.)

JUNE 1938
Superman
Lois Lane
Zatara
OCTOBER 1938
Crimson Avenger

MAY 1939
Batman
Commissioner Gordon
Wonder Man
JUNE 1939
Ultra-Humanite
JULY 1939
Sandman (Wesley Dodd)
AUGUST 1939
Blue Beetle (Dan Garret)
SEPTEMBER 1939
Amazing Man
OCTOBER 1939
Human Torch (android)
Sub-Mariner
DECEMBER 1939
Doll Man

JANUARY 1940
The Flash (Jay Garrick)
Hawkman (Carter Hall)
Shiera Sanders (later became Hawkgirl)
Johnny Thunder
The Shield
FEBRUARY 1940
Captain Marvel
Dr. Sivana
Ibis the Invincible
The Spectre
MARCH 1940
Hourman
Master Man
APRIL 1940
Robin the Boy Wonder
SPRING 1940
The Joker
Catwoman (as The Cat)
MAY 1940
Bulletman
Dr. Fate
Luthor
JUNE 1940
Clayface (Basil Karlo)
Congo Bill
The Spirit
JULY 1940
Green Lantern (Alan Scott)
Red Bee
Uncle Sam
AUGUST 1940
Hydroman
SEPTEMBER 1940
Daredevil (Bart Hill)
The Ray
OCTOBER 1940
The Atom (Al Pratt)
NOVEMBER 1940
Red Tornado (Ma Hunkel)
WINTER 1940
Justice Society of America

JANUARY 1941
Paul Kirk (becomes Manhunter in 1942)
MARCH 1941
Captain America and Bucky
APRIL 1941
Dr. Mid-Nite
Starman
JUNE 1941
Hawkgirl (Shiera Sanders)
AUGUST 1941
Blackhawk
Human Bomb
Phantom Lady
Plastic Man
SEPTEMBER 1941
Johnny Quick
The Three Lieutenant Marvels
Shining Knight
Star-Spangled Kid and Stripesy
OCTOBER 1941
The Tarantula
Classic Comics (later renamed Classics Illustrated)
NOVEMBER 1941
Aquaman
Green Arrow and Speedy
The Vigilante
Jimmy Olsen
DECEMBER 1941
Archie Andrews
Betty Cooper
Jughead Jones
Captain Marvel Jr.
The Penguin
Sandy the Golden Boy
Wonder Woman

JANUARY 1942
Mr. Terrific
Wildcat
FEBRUARY 1942
Air Wave
MARCH 1942
Manhunter (Dan Richards)
APRIL 1942
Manhunter (Paul Kirk)
The Guardian
Newsboy Legion
Robotman
JUNE 1942
Boy Commandos
AUGUST 1942
The Prankster
Two-Face
NOVEMBER 1942
Airboy
DECEMBER 1942
Hoppy the Marvel Bunny
Kid Eternity
Mary Marvel

MARCH 1943
Mr. Mind
APRIL 1943
Alfred (Bruce Wayne's butler)
MAY 1943
Liberty Belle
SEPTEMBER 1943
The Toyman
OCTOBER 1943
Uncle Marvel

OCTOBER 1944
Mr. Mxyztplk
NOVEMBER 1944
Solomon Grundy

JANUARY 1945
Superboy (Superman as a boy)
DECEMBER 1945
Black Adam
Georgia Sivana

JANUARY 1946
Sivana Jr.
JUNE 1946
Johnny Peril

JANUARY 1947
Tommy Tomorrow
Eerie Comics (considered the first horror comic)
JUNE 1947
Tomahawk
AUGUST 1947
Black Canary
SEPTEMBER 1947
The Harlequin (Molly Mayne)
Young Romance (considered the first romance comic)
OCTOBER 1947
The Icicle
DECEMBER 1947
Mr. Tawny

JANUARY 1948
Funnyman
OCTOBER 1948
The Riddler
Vicki Vale

NOVEMBER 1949
Roy Raymond
DECEMBER 1949
Green kryptonite (first appearance in the comics; actually first appeared in the Superman radio series)

MAY 1950
Superbaby (Superman as a baby)

AUGUST 1950
Chris KL-99
Darwin Jones
SEPTEMBER 1950
Lana Lang
OCTOBER 1950
Tales From the Crypt (EC)
DECEMBER 1950
Marvel Boy

APRIL 1951
Knights of the Galaxy
MAY 1951
Trigger Twins
JUNE 1951
Captain Comet

JANUARY 1952
Rex the Wonder Dog
AUGUST 1952
Detective Chimp

SEPTEMBER 1953
Richie Rich
Three Dimension Comics

APRIL 1954
Fighting American
AUGUST 1954
Space Cabby
NOVEMBER 1954
Captain Flash
Tomboy

FEBRUARY 1955
The Avenger
MARCH 1955
Krypto the Superdog
JUNE 1955
Bat-Hound
AUGUST 1955
Silent Knight
Viking Prince
NOVEMBER 1955
Manhunter From Mars

MARCH 1956
Nature Boy
MAY 1956
Sugar and Spike
JULY 1956
Batwoman
SEPTEMBER 1956
Flash (Barry Allen)
OCTOBER 1956
Bizarro

JANUARY 1957
Challengers of the Unknown
MAY 1957
Captain Cold

APRIL 1958
Legion of Super-Heroes (Cosmic Boy, Lightning Boy, Saturn Girl)
JULY 1958
Brainiac
Bottle city of Kandor
Space Ranger
SEPTEMBER 1958
Red kryptonite
NOVEMBER 1958
Adam Strange

JANUARY 1959
Congorilla
FEBRUARY 1959
Mr. Zero (later renamed Mr. Freeze)
Mirror Master
APRIL 1959
Sgt. Rock
Gorilla Grodd
Pied Piper
MAY 1959
Bat-Mite
Lori Lemaris
Space Museum
Supergirl
Rip Hunter
AUGUST 1959
Beppo the Super-Monkey
Mark Merlin
Mr. Mxyzptlk (spelling change)
SEPTEMBER 1959
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)
Suicide Squad
NOVEMBER 1959
Martian Manhunter begins operating openly
DECEMBER 1959
Lightning Boy renamed Lightning Lad
Kid Flash
Weather Wizard

FEBRUARY 1960
Aqualad
Streaky the Super-Cat
Justice League of America
MARCH 1960
Captain Atom
APRIL 1960
Elongated Man
JUNE 1960
Atomic Knights
The Trickster
JULY 1960
Guardians of the Universe
AUGUST 1960
Chameleon Boy
Colossal Boy
Invisible Kid
OCTOBER 1960
Blue kryptonite
DECEMBER 1960
Captain Boomerang
White kryptonite

JANUARY 1961
Pete Ross
FEBRUARY 1961
Hawkman (Katar Hol)
Hawkgirl (Shayera)
MARCH 1961
Star Boy
Hector Hammond
APRIL 1961
Bat-Girl (Betty Kane)
MAY 1961
Bouncing Boy
Brainiac 5
Phantom Girl
Shrinking Violet
Sun Boy
Triplicate Girl
JUNE 1961
Mon-El
The Top
JULY 1961
Wonder Girl (Wonder Woman as a girl)
Sinestro
SEPTEMBER 1961
The Atom (Ray Palmer)
NOVEMBER 1961
Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Thing, Human Torch)
DECEMBER 1961
Clayface (Matt Hagen)

JANUARY 1962
Hank Pym (before becoming Ant-Man)
FEBRUARY 1962
Abra Kadabra
Comet the Super-Horse
MARCH 1962
Metal Men
MAY 1962
The Hulk
JUNE 1962
Dr. Doom
Dr. Light
Plant Master (Jason Woodrue)
JULY 1962
Sonar
Ultra Boy
AUGUST 1962
Gold kryptonite
Thor
Spider-Man
SEPTEMBER 1962
Ant-Man
OCTOBER 1962
Dr. Solar
Loki
Phantom Zone
Chronos
Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris)
NOVEMBER 1962
Puppet Master
Alicia Masters
DECEMBER 1962
Matter-Eater Lad
Nightwing and Flamebird

JANUARY 1963
Zook
FEBRUARY 1963
Chlorophyll Kid
Fire Lad
Stone Boy
MARCH 1963
Iron Man
APRIL 1963
Element Lad
The Watcher
MAY 1963
Lightning Lass
Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos
JUNE 1963
Doom Patrol (Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, Chief)
Dr. Octopus
Dr. Polaris
Heat Wave
JULY 1963
Dr. Strange
Eclipso
SEPTEMBER 1963
Avengers
X-Men (Cyclops, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey, Angel, Beast, Iceman, Professor X)
Magneto
Mera
NOVEMBER 1963
Ant-Man (Hank Pym) becomes Giant-Man
Legion of Substitute Heroes (introduced Night Girl, Polar Boy)

FEBRUARY 1964
Dream Girl
Light Lass (formerly Lightning Lass)
MARCH 1964
Jewel kryptonite
Quicksilver
Scarlet Witch
APRIL 1964
Daredevil (Matt Murdock)
Enchantress (June Moone)
Idol Head of Diabolu
MAY 1964
Batman (new look: yellow oval around bat-emblem)
JUNE 1964
Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)
Teen Titans (not yet named)
JULY 1964
Green Goblin
SEPTEMBER 1964
Hawkeye
OCTOBER 1964
Green Glob
Zatanna
NOVEMBER 1964
Mento
DECEMBER 1964
Timber Wolf
Metamorpho

JUNE 1965
Teen Titans (first appearance by name)
Wonder Girl (Wonder Woman's 'sister')
JULY 1965
Mark Merlin becomes Prince Ra-Man
SEPTEMBER 1965
Animal Man (no costume)
Aquababy
OCTOBER 1965
Krona
Lana Lang becomes Insect Queen
NOVEMBER 1965
Beast Boy
THUNDER Agents (Dynamo, Noman, Menthor)
Ultra the Multi-Alien
Dial "H" for Hero (Robby Reed)
DECEMBER 1965
Inhumans
Lobo (first comic book starring an African-American hero)

JANUARY 1966
Thunderbolt (Peter Cannon)
FEBRUARY 1966
Triplicate Girl becomes Duo Damsel
MARCH 1966
Galactus
Silver Surfer
APRIL 1966
Captain Marvel (android hero from M.F. Enterprises)
Lightning (THUNDER Agent)
MAY 1966
Giant-Man (Hank Pym) renamed Goliath
Inferior Five (Awkwardman, Blimp, Dumb Bunny, Merryman, White Feather)
JUNE 1966
Poison Ivy
JULY 1966
Animal Man (first appearance in costume)
Black Panther
Marco Xavier (J'onn J'onzz)
Princess Projectra
Ferro Lad
Karate Kid
Nemesis Kid
AUGUST 1966
The Parasite
SEPTEMBER 1966
Archie Andrews becomes Pureheart
Raven (THUNDER Agent)
NOVEMBER 1966
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)
The Question
DECEMBER 1966
White Witch

JANUARY 1967
Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)
Element Girl
MARCH 1967
The Creeper
MAY 1967
Aquagirl (Tula)
JUNE 1967
Controllers
JULY 1967
Hawk and the Dove (Hank & Don Hall)
OCTOBER 1967
Deadman
DECEMBER 1967
Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell)

FEBRUARY 1968
Shadow Lass
MARCH 1968
Guy Gardner (not yet a Green Lantern)
Mr. Freeze (formerly Mr. Zero)
APRIL 1968
Secret Six (Mike Tempest, August Durant, Carlo DiRienzi, Lili deNeuve, King Savage, Crimson Dawn)
AUGUST 1968
Bat Lash
Chemical King
Red Tornado (android)
SEPTEMBER 1968
Angel and the Ape
OCTOBER 1968
The Vision (android)
Brother Power (the Geek)
DECEMBER 1968
Hank Pym (Goliath) becomes Yellowjacket

APRIL 1969
Clint Barton (Hawkeye) becomes Goliath
SEPTEMBER 1969
The Falcon
Vampirella

OCTOBER 1970
Conan the Barbarian
NOVEMBER 1970
Darkseid

FEBRUARY 1971
Forever People (Beautiful Dreamer, Big Bear, Moonrider, Serifan, Vykin)
APRIL 1971
Mr. Miracle
New Gods (Lightray, Highfather, Orion)
MAY 1971
Man-Thing
JUNE 1971
Swamp Thing
JULY 1971
Rás al-Ghul
DECEMBER 1971
Green Lantern (John Stewart)

FEBRUARY 1972
Jonah Hex
JUNE 1972
Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (later Power Man)
AUGUST 1972
The Demon (Etrigan)
OCTOBER 1972
Kamandi

JUNE 1973
Wildfire (as ERG-1)
JULY 1973
Blade
SEPTEMBER 1973
Prez
DECEMBER 1973
Howard the Duck

FEBRUARY 1974
The Punisher
SEPTEMBER 1974
OMAC
OCTOBER 1974
Wolverine
WINTER 1974
Sandman

MAY 1975
New X-Men (introduced Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus)
Green Team
AUGUST 1975
Manhunter (Mark Shaw)
NOVEMBER 1975
Warlord

JANUARY 1976
Power Girl
FEBRUARY 1976
Kobra
MARCH 1976
Starman (Mikaal Tomas)
APRIL 1976
Tyroc
MAY 1976
Secret Society of Super-Villains
OCTOBER 1976
Phoenix

FEBRUARY 1977
Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
APRIL 1977
Black Lightning
Dawnstar
JULY 1977
Shade the Changing Man
NOVEMBER 1977
The Huntress (Helena Wayne)

MARCH 1978
Firestorm the Nuclear Man

MAY 1979
Maxie Zeus
JULY 1979
Blok

JANUARY 1980
Kitty Pryde
Starman (Prince Gavyn)
FEBRUARY 1980
Dazzler
She-Hulk
OCTOBER 1980
Raven
Cyborg
Starfire
NOVEMBER 1980
Mongul
DECEMBER 1980
Deathstroke the Terminator

JANUARY 1981
Elektra
FEBRUARY 1981
Dial H for Hero (Chris King and Vicki Grant)
MAY 1981
Arisia
JULY 1981
Vixen

JANUARY 1982
Ch'p
FEBRUARY 1982
Salaak
APRIL 1982
The Rocketeer
JULY 1982
Monitor (in shadows)

APRIL 1983
Amethyst
JUNE 1983
Jon Sable
Lobo
JULY 1983
Outsiders (Halo, Katana, Geo-Force)
OCTOBER 1983
American Flagg
NOVEMBER 1983
Grimjack

MARCH 1984
Infinity Inc. (Silver Scarab, Fury, Jade, Obsidian, Northwind, Nuklon, Brainwave Jr.)
MAY 1984
Spider-Man (black costume)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
OCTOBER 1984
Justice League Detroit (Gypsy, Vibe, Steel [Hank Heywood III])

FEBRUARY 1985
Monitor (first seen)
MAY 1985
Anti-Monitor
JUNE 1985
John Constantine
NOVEMBER 1985
Hourman (Rick Tyler)

JANUARY 1986
'Mazing Man
FEBRUARY 1986
Booster Gold
MARCH 1986
Flash (Wally West)
JUNE 1986
Kilowog
SEPTEMBER 1986
Watchmen (Rorschach, Comedian, Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan)
NOVEMBER 1986
Amanda Waller

JANUARY 1987
Suicide Squad
SEPTEMBER 1987
Wild Dog

MARCH 1988
Checkmate
APRIL 1988
Venom
OCTOBER 1988
Starman (Will Payton)
Hawk and the Dove (Hank Hall & Dawn Granger)

JANUARY 1989
Hero Hotline (Microwavabelle, Mr. Muscle, Voice-Over, Private Eyes, Stretch, Diamondette, Hotshot)
Sandman (Dream of the Endless)

APRIL 1992
Carnage
MAY 1992
Spawn
OCTOBER 1992
Azrael
Darkstars

JANUARY 1993
Bane
APRIL 1993
Hardware
Blood Syndicate
MAY 1993
Icon
JUNE 1993
Superboy (clone)
Steel (John Henry Irons)
Cyborg Superman
Static
AUGUST 1993
Hellboy

JANUARY 1994
Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)
Xombi

JUNE 1994
Impulse (Bart Allen)
SEPTEMBER 1994
Starman (David Knight)

NOVEMBER 1997
Hourman (android)

FEBRUARY 2006
Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)