Superheroes Timeline

There are plenty of “superhumans” in GWR 2018 – including many ordinary people who have done extraordinary
things. Below, however, we present a chronology of classic superheroes, ordered in terms of their first appearance

SUPERLATIVES
– whether that be in a comic book, a movie or elsewhere – and shown in their original costumes.

1936–40

1940
The Comet
1936
The Phantom Jan 1940 saw the
debut of The Comet
Created by Lee Falk (USA), 1938 in Pep Comics #1. In
the first superhero was Superman issue #17, he became
The Phantom, who debuted 1939 1939
the first superhero
in his own newspaper comic Batman Captain Marvel
The “Man of Steel” first to die, although the
strip on 17 Feb 1936. It character would go on
appeared in Action The creation of artist Bob Kane There are a number of Captain Marvels
recounted the adventures to be revived several
Comics #1, now the most and writer Bill Finger (both USA), in the Marvel Universe, but the one seen
of Kit Walker, who donned times from the
valuable comic. Superman the “Caped Crusader” debuted here debuted in Whiz Comics #2 (cover-
a mask and purple outfit to 1960s onwards.
was the first superhero with in Detective Comics #27. Kane’s dated Feb 1940) and is now owned by DC.
become The Phantom – aka
superpowers: out-of-this- early drafts for Batman’s costume He proved so popular in the 1940s that
“the ghost who walks”.
world abilities that enabled him involved a bright red tunic, wings and a sales of his comic books outsold those
The character’s whited-
to run faster than an express black eye mask; Finger made some key featuring Superman. He’s also known as
out eyes, with no visible
train and leap tall buildings in a suggestions to transform the outfit into “Shazam”, after the cry that changes the boy
pupils, became a feature
single bound. In later issues, he something altogether more threatening. Billy Batson into the mighty Captain Marvel.
of many later superheroes,
demonstrated X-ray vision, super
including Batman, Green
strength and the ability to fly.
Lantern and Green Arrow.

1940–41

1941
1940 1941 Aquaman
The Flash Captain America
1940 DC’s waterborne wonder
Created by artist Created by artists was created by Paul Norris
Harry Lampert and Fantomah/Woman in Red Joe Simon and and Mort Weisinger and
writer Gardner Jack Kirby, this star- debuted in More Fun
Fox, the “Scarlet Two comic-book spangled superhero Comics #73 from
Speedster” characters have a claim debuted in Captain
1940 Nov 1941. He went on
originally appeared to being the first female America Comics #1,
Justice Society of America to become one of the
in Flash Comics #1 superhero. Fantomah was cover-dated Mar 1941. founders of the Justice
(cover-dated Jan the first female superhero with Cap’s signature round
The first superhero team, the JSA were League of America.
1940). Initially, his alter superhuman powers to appear shield (inset) replaced
in print, in Jungle Comics #2 initially seen on the cover of All Star Comics #3
ego was Jay Garrick, (winter issue 1940–41). The founding members, the triangular version
although the character (Feb 1940). The first masked and in issue #2.
costumed superheroine (and of shown left to right above, were: The Atom,
has been through Doctor Fate, Green Lantern, Hawkman, The
several incarnations. “natural” birth), however, was
the Woman in Red, created by Flash, The Sandman, Hourman (then known
Richard Hughes and George as Hour‑Man) and The Spectre.
Mandel for Thrilling
Comics #2 (Mar 1940).

1941–62

1960
The Justice League
1941 1959 1961 1962
Wonder Woman Supergirl Also known as the Justice League of America (JLA), this Fantastic Four The Hulk
supergroup of DC stars debuted in Oct–Nov 1960. Batman and
DC Comics’ Amazonian Superman’s success inspired Superman, although part of the original line-up, seldom appeared Stan Lee and Jack Gamma radiation
heroine burst on to the DC to devise a female in the group’s adventures, while Martian Manhunter (below, far Kirby’s first co- turned Doctor
scene in All Star Comics counterpart – namely his right) ended his initial stint with the JLA in 1968. The quintet below production, The Robert Bruce
#8 (cover-dated cousin, Kara Zor-El. Created appeared on the cover of their first issue. Fantastic Four #1 Banner into a
Dec 1941), although by Otto Binder (writer) hit the shelves rampaging Green
she didn’t get her and Al Plastino (art), she in Nov 1961. They Goliath, and one of
own comic book first appeared in Action were Marvel’s first Marvel’s most enduring
until summer 1942. Comics #252 in May 1959. superteam and characters. The Incredible
contributed to the Hulk debuted in May 1962.
company’s meteoric
rise in the 1960s.

1962–74

1963 1971 1974

1963 The X-Men Swamp Thing Wolverine
Ironman
The X-Men #1 was Created by Len Wein First glimpsed in
Tales of Suspense published on 10 Sep (writer) and Bernie the last panel of
#39 (Mar 1963) saw 1963, but the denizens Wrightson (art), The Incredible Hulk
1962 the appearance of of Professor X’s School DC’s unsettling #180 (Oct 1974), the
Spider-Man Tony Stark’s super- for Gifted Youngsters character was clawed Canadian
powered alter ego. The were originally to be first seen was recruited
Marvel’s iconic web- six films to date starring known as “The Mutants”. in House as another of
slinger made his debut in Robert Downey Jr (USA) Marvel’s publisher, Martin of Secrets Professor X’s
Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug as the man in the iron Goodman, thought the #92 (Jul 1971) gifted youngsters
1962), while The Amazing suit have made him name might puzzle readers, before getting in 1975’s Giant-Size
Spider-Man appeared in the most successful so Stan Lee changed it. his own comic the X-Men #1.
Mar 1963. The character superhero actor. following year.
was devised by Stan Lee
and artist Steve Ditko.

1974–2004
2004
The Incredibles

1991 Produced by Pixar, the Incredibles (USA) movie

Deadpool premiered on 27 Oct 2004 and gave the company
what was then its highest opening-weekend gross.
Five years later, Boom! Studios began publishing
On the subject of 1993 a comic-book miniseries based on the film. A sequel
New Mutants, #98 Hellboy to the original movie is due to appear in Jun 2018.
(Feb 1991) saw the
appearance of the
Mike Mignola’s
“Merc with a mouth”.
demonic superhero
Initially a villain,
debuted – in
Deadpool morphed into
prototype form – on 1993
1984 an ambiguous antihero,
the cover of Italian Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and in 1993 got his
fanzine Dime Press
own miniseries, The
#4 (Mar 1993) The hit 1993 TV series gave rise to a number of
Circle Chase. The 2016
In May 1984, “heroes in a half shell” Michelangelo, before emerging Power Rangers comics published by Hamilton
movie Deadpool (USA) is
Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael got their own as a fully formed from Nov 1994. Marvel Comics subsequently
the highest-grossing
comic, published by Mirage Studios. An animated character in San published two series of their own. Mar 2016
R-rated movie.
TV series followed in 1987. The quartet was Diego Comic-Con saw a comic-book reboot by Boom! Studios,
initially created (by Kevin Eastman and Peter Comics #2 (Aug 1993). which referenced the original series.
Laird) as a satire of four hit comics of the time:
Ronin, Cerebus, Daredevil and New Mutants.

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