This section is a chronological listing of noteworthy or historically significant comics
printed since 1897. The comic book
timeline is essentially broken down into various "ages." Starting with the earliest, they are
the Platinum Age (1897-1932); pre-Golden Age (1933-May 1938: prior to
Superman's appearance in Action #1); Golden Age (June 1938-1945); Atom (Atomic)
Age (1946-Aug 1956: prior to the Flash's re-emergence in Showcase #4); Silver
Age (Sept 1956-1969); Bronze Age (1970-1979); Modern Age (1980-present).
Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats - 1897, Dillingham Co. (1st
comic book)
Funny Folk - 1899, E.P. Dutton (2nd comic book)
Vaudeville and Other Things - 1900, Blandiard Co. (3rd comic
book)
Pore Li'l Mose - 1902, Cupples & Leon (1st
Cupples & Leon book)
Alphonse & Gaston & Leon - 1903, Hearst's New York American
Buster Brown and His Resolutions - 1903, F.A. Stokes Co. (1st
nationally distributed comic)
Happy Hooligan - 1903, Hearst's NY American (1st comic
book app.)
Katzenjammer Kids - 1903, Hearst's NY American (1st
comic book app.)
Brown's Blue Ribbon Book of Jokes and Jingles - 1904, Brown
Shoe Co. (1st comic book premium)
Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend - 1905, Doffield & Co. (1st
Winsor McCay book/tie)
Little Sammy Sneeze - 1905, New York Herald Co. (1st
Winsor McCay book/tie)
Buster Brown - 1906, Cupples & Leon (1st C&L series comic)
Little Nemo - 1906, Doffield & Co. by Winsor McCay
3 Funmakers - 1908, Stokes (1st comic to feature multiple characters)
Mutt & Jeff - 1910, Ball Publ. (1st comic book app.)
Comic Monthly - 1922, Embee Dist. Co. (1st monthly newsstand
comic)
Funnies, The - 1929, Dell Publ. Co. (1st four-color comic
newsstand publication)
Mickey Mouse Book - 1930, Bibo & Lang (1st Disney licensed
book)
Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye - 1931, Sonnet Publ. Co. (1st
Popeye book)
Detective Dan - 1933, Humor Publ. Co. (1st comic w/original art
& 1st on newsstand)
Funnies On Parade #nn - 1933, Eastern Color (1st GA comic
book)
Century Of Comics #nn - 1933, Eastern Color (2nd GA comic
book & 1st 100 page comic)
Famous Funnies-Carnival Of Comics - 1933, Eastern Color (3rd
GA comic book)
Famous Funnies-Series 1 - 1934, Eastern Color (1st 10 cent
comic)
Famous Funnies #1 - 7/34, Eastern Color (1st newsstand comic
book)
New Fun Comics #1 - 2/35, DC (1st DC comic book)
Big Book Of Fun Comics #1 - Spr/35, DC (1st annual)
New Fun Comics #6 - 10/35, DC (1st Siegel & Shuster)
More Fun Comics #14 - 10/36, DC (Superman prototype)
Detective Comics #1 - 3/37, DC (Title that
launched Batman)
Action Comics #1 - 6/38, DC (1st Superman & Lois Lane)
Funny Pages #V2#10 - 9/38, Centaur (1st costumed
hero: Arrow)
Jumbo Comics #1 - 9/38, Fiction House (1st Sheena app. & 1st
FICTION HOUSE comic book)
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 - 1939, First Funnies Inc.
(1st printed app. Sub-Mariner)
Movie Comics #1 - 4/39, DC (1st movie comic)
New York World's Fair 1939 - 4/39, DC (1st published Sandman
story)
Detective Comics #27 - 5/39, DC (1st Batman)
Wonder Comics #1 - 5/39, Fox (1st Superman imitator: Wonderman)
Superman (#1) - Summer/39, DC (1st hero to get his own book)
Adventure Comics #40 - 7/39, DC (1st conceived Sandman
story)
Marvel Comics #1 - 10/39, Timely (1st MARVEL comic book) (1st
newsstand Sub-Mariner & 1st Human Torch)
Silver Streak #1 - 12/39, Lev Gleason (1st GLEASON comic book) (1st
Claw)
Flash Comics #1 - 1/40, DC (1st Flash, Hawkman, & Johnny
Thunder)
Pep Comics #1 - 1/40, MLJ/Archie (1st app. Shield & 1st
patriotic hero)
Planet Comics #1 - 1/40, Fiction House (1st all sci-fi comic)
More Fun Comics #52 - 2/40, DC (1st Spectre)
Whiz Comics #2 (#1) - 2/40, Fawcett (1st FAWCETT comic book)
(1st Captain Marvel & 1st Spy Smasher)
Adventure Comics #48 - 3/40, DC (1st Hourman)
More Fun Comics #53 - 3/40, DC (Part II of 1st Spectre story)
Four Color Ser. 1 #4 - 3/40, (1st four color
Donald Duck)
Action Comics #23 - 4/40, DC (1st Lex Luthor)
Detective Comics #38 - 4/40, DC (1st Robin)
Batman #1 - Spring/40, DC
More Fun Comics #55 - 5/40, DC (1st Dr. Fate)
The Spirit #1 - 6/2/40, Will Eisner (1st Spirit in weekly
news strip)
All American Comics #16 - 7/40, DC (1st Green Lantern)
Blue Bolt #3 - 7/40, Fox (1st Simon & Kirby)
Marvel Mystery Comics #9 - 7/40, Timely (1st superhero
battle)
Red Raven #1 - 8/40, Timely (Early Kirby art)
Special Edition Comics #1 - 8/40, Fawcett (Captain Marvel)
Silver Streak #6 - 9/40, Lev Gleason (1st Daredevil)
Batman #3 - Fall/40, DC (1st Catwoman in costume)
Human Torch #2 (#1) - Fall/40, Timely
Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #1 - 10/40, Dell (1st funny
animal series)
All American Comics #19 - 10/40, DC (1st Atom)
All Star Comics #3 - Winter/40-41, DC (1st superhero group)
Adventure Comics #72 - 3/41, DC (1st Simon & Kirby Sandman)
Captain America Comics #1 - 3/41, Timely (1st Captain
America)
Captain Marvel Adventures #1 - 3/41, Fawcett
Sub-Mariner Comics #1 - Spring/41, Timely
Adventure Comics #61 - 4/41, DC (1st Starman)
All Flash #1 - Summer/41, DC
Daredevil #1 - 7/41, Lev Gleason
Military Comics #1 - 8/41, Quality (1st Blackhawk)
Famous Funnies #100 - 10/41, Eastern (1st 100th issue)
Green Lantern #1 - Fall/41, DC
Looney Tunes #1 - Fall/41, Dell (1st Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig &
Elmer Fudd in comics)
More Fun Comics #73 - 11/41, DC (1st Aquaman & 1st Green
Arrow and Speedy)
Pep Comics #22 - 12/41, MLJ/Archie (1st Archie)
Whiz Comics #25 - 12/41, Fawcett (1st Captain Marvel Jr.)
Four Color Ser. 1 #16 - 1941 (Mickey Mouse)
All Star Comics #8 - 12-1/41-42, DC (1st Wonder Woman)
Animal Comics #1 - 12-1/41-42, Dell (Pogo by Walt Kelly)
Sensation Comics #1 - 1/42, DC (Wonder Woman series)
Crime Does Not Pay #22 - 6/42, Gleason (1st Crime comic)
Sensation #6 - June, 1942, DC (Wonder Woman's magic lasso)
Wonder Woman #1 - Summer/42, DC
Four Color (Donald Duck) #9 - 8/42 Dell (1st Carl Barks on
Donald Duck)
Air Fighters Comics V1 #3 - 12/42, Hillman (1st app. of the
Heap & 1st swamp creature in comics)
Archie Comics #1 - Winter/42-43, MLJ/Archie (1st Teenage
comic)
Capt Marvel Adventures #22 - 3/43, Fawcett (Mr. Mind
serial)
Plastic Man #1 - Summer/43, Quality
Big All-American Comic Book #1 - 1944, DC (1st annual of
All-American Comics)
More Fun Comics #101 - 1/2/45, DC (1st Superboy)
Molly O'Day #1 - 2/45, Avon (1st AVON comic)
Terry-Toons Comics #38 - 11/45, Timely (1st Mighty Mouse)
Romantic Picture Novelette #1 - 1946, ME (1st love
comic theme)
All Winners #19 - Fall/46, Timely (1st Marvel Group: All
Winners Squad)
All Winners #21 - Winter/46-47, Timely (2nd All Winners Squad)
Eerie #1 - 1/47, Avon (1st horror comic)
Young Romance Comics #1 - 9-10/47, Prize (1st romance
series)
Four Color (Uncle Scrooge) #178 - 12/47, Dell (1st Uncle
Scrooge)
Phantom Lady #17 - 4/48, Fox (Good Girl cover art)
Adventures Into The Unknown #1 - Fall/48, ACG (1st horror
series)
Moon Girl #5 - Winter/48, EC (1st EC horror story)
Casper #1 - 9/49, St John (1st Baby Huey)
Crime Patrol #15 - 12-1/49-50, EC (1st Crypt Keeper)
War Against Crime #10 - 12-1/49-50, EC (1st Vault Keeper)
Howdy Doody #1 - 1/50, Dell (1st TV comic book)
Archie Annual #1 - 1950, Archie (1st Archie annual)
Crypt Of Terror #17 - 4-5/50, EC (1st issue of Crypt Keeper
tales)
Haunt Of Fear #15 (#1) - 5-6/50, EC (1st EC horror series)
Weird Fantasy #13 (#1) - 5-6/50, EC (1st EC fantasy series)
Weird Science #12 (#1) - 5-6/50, EC (1st EC sci-fi series)
Strange Tales #1 - 6/51, Marvel (Title that launched Marvel
prototypes)
Mad #1, 10-11/52 - EC (1st satire comic)
Journey Into Mystery #1 - 6/52, Marvel (Title that launched Marvel
prototypes) (Later becomes "Thor")
Little Dot #1 - 9/53, Harvey (1st Richie Rich)
Young Men #24 - 12/53, Marvel (Revival of Capt. America,
Human Torch & Sub-Mariner)
World's Finest Comics #71 - 7-8/54, DC (1st Superman/Batman
team issue)
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #1 - 9-10/54, DC
My Greatest Adventure #1 - 1-2/55, DC
Brave And The Bold #1 - 8-9/55, DC (Showcase title)
Superman #100 - 9-10/55, DC (Landmark issue)
Detective Comics #225 - 11/55, DC (1st Martian Manhunter)
Tales Of The Unexpected #1 - 2-3/56, DC
Showcase #1 - 3-4/56, DC
Sugar & Spike #1 - 4-5/56, DC
Batman #100 - 6/56, DC (Landmark issue)
Detective Comics #233 - 7/56, DC (1st Batwoman)
Showcase #4 - 9-10/56, DC (1st Silver Age book) (1st SA Flash)
House Of Secrets #1 - 11-12/56, DC
Showcase #6 - 1-2/57, DC (1st Silver Age group: Challengers)
Showcase #9 - 7-8/57, DC (1st Lois Lane book)
Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #1 - 3-4/58, DC
Adventure Comics #247 - 4/58, DC (1st Legion of Superheroes)
Challengers Of The Unknown #1 - 4-5/58, DC
Showcase #15 - 7-8/58, DC (1st Space Ranger)
Showcase #17 - 11-12/58, DC (1st Adam Strange)
Tales Of Suspense #1 - 1/59, Marvel (Title that launched Marvel
prototypes) (Later becomes "Captain America")
Tales To Astonish #1 - 1/59, Marvel (Title that launched Marvel
prototypes) (Later becomes "Incredible Hulk")
Flash #105 (#1) - 2-3/59, DC (Origin of SA Flash)
Our Army At War #83 - 6/59, DC (1st Sgt. Rock by
Kubert/Kanigher)
Action Comics #252 - 5/59, DC (1st Supergirl)
Showcase #20 - 5-6/59, DC (1st Rip Hunter)
Double Life Of Private Strong #1 - 6/59, Archie (1st SA Shield &
1st Fly)
Mystery In Space #53 - 8/59, DC (1st Adam Strange)
Tales Of The Unexpected #40 - 8/59, DC (1st Space Ranger in
own title)
Adventures of the Fly #1 - 8/59, Archie
Showcase #22 - 9-10/59, DC (1st SA Green Lantern)
Flash #110 - 12-1/59/60, DC (1st Kid Flash)
Brave And The Bold #28 - 2/3/60, DC (1st JLA)
Green Lantern #1 - 7-8/60, DC
Showcase #27 - 7-8/60, DC (1st Sea Devils)
Brave And The Bold #31 - 8-9/60, DC (1st Cave Carson)
Justice League Of America #1 - 10-11/60, DC
Showcase #30 - 1-2/61, DC (Spotlights SA Aquaman)
Brave And The Bold #34 - 2-3/61, DC (1st SA Hawkman)
Amazing Adventures #1 - 6/61, Marvel (1st Marvel-Age superhero: Dr.
Droom)
Flash #123 - 9/61, DC (1st GA Flash in Silver Age)
Showcase #34 - 9-10/61, DC (1st SA Atom)
Fantastic Four #1 - 11/61, Marvel (1st Fantastic Four)
Amazing Adult Fantasy #7 - 12/61, Marvel (Title that
launched Spider-Man)
Tales To Astonish #27 - 1/62, Marvel (1st Antman)
Showcase #37 - 3-4/62, DC (1st Metal Men)
Fantastic Four #4 - 5/62, Marvel (1st SA Sub-Mariner)
Incredible Hulk #1 - 5/62, Marvel (1st Hulk)
Mystery In Space #75 - 5/62, DC (Early JLA x-over)
Fantastic Four #5 - 7/62, Marvel (1st Dr. Doom)
Journey Into Mystery #83 - 8/62, Marvel (1st Thor)
Amazing Fantasy #15 - 8/62, Marvel (1st Spider-Man)
Tales To Astonish #35 - 9/62, Marvel (2nd Antman, 1st in
costume)
Strange Tales #101 - 10/62, Marvel
Amazing Spider-Man #1 - 3/63, Marvel
Tales Of Suspense #39 - 3/63, Marvel (1st Iron Man)
Strange Tales #110 - 7/63, Marvel (1st Dr. Strange)
Justice League of America #21 - 8/63, DC (1st JLA/JSA
crossover)
Avengers #1 - 9/63, Marvel (1st Avengers)
X-Men #1 - 9/63, Marvel (1st X-Men)
Mystery In Space #87 - 11/63, DC (1st Hawkman in title)
Avengers #4 - 3/64, Marvel (1st SA Captain America)
Daredevil #1 - 4/64, Marvel (1st Daredevil)
Detective Comics #327 - 5/64, DC (25th anniversary of Batman)
(end of GA Batman and start of SA Batman?)
Brave and the Bold #54 - 6-7/64, DC (1st Teen Titans)
Amazing Spider-Man #14 - 7/64, Marvel (1st Green Goblin)
Strange Tales #135 - 7/65, Marvel (Origin & 1st app. Nick Fury)
Fantastic Four #48 - 3/66, Marvel (1st Silver Surfer)
Our Army at War #168 - 6/66, DC (1st Unknown Soldier)
Strange Adventures #205 - 10/67, DC (1st Deadman)
Zap Comix #1 - 11/67, Apex (Underground comic / Beginnings of the
direct market?)
Green Lantern #76 - 4/70, DC (Green Lantern/Green
Arrow series by Neal Adams begins)
Detective Comics #400 - 6/70, DC (1st Man-Bat)
Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133 - 10/70, DC (1st SA Newsboy Legion)
Forever People #1 - 2-3/71, DC (1st Forever People)
New Gods #1 - 3/71, DC (1st New Gods)
Mister Miracle #1 - 3/71, DC (1st Mister Miracle)
Savage Tales #1 - 5/71, Marvel (1st Man-Thing)
House of Secrets #92 - 6/71, DC (1st Swamp Thing by
Bernie Wrightson)
Amazing Spider-Man #101 - 10/71, Marvel (1st Morbius the
Living Vampire)
Marvel Feature #1 - 12/71, Marvel (Origin/1st Defenders)
All Star Western #10 - 2-3/72, DC (1st Jonah Hex)
Tomb of Dracula #1 - 4/72, Marvel (1st Dracula)
Marvel Spotlight #2 - 6/72, Marvel (1st Werewolf by
Night)
Marvel Spotlight #5 - 8/72, Marvel (Origin/1st new
Ghost Rider)
Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth #1 - 10/72, DC (Origin/1st
Kamandi)
Iron Man #55 - 2/73, Marvel (1st. Thanos & Drax the
Destroyer)
Shazam #1 - 2/73, DC (Revival of Captain Marvel)
Amazing Spider-Man #121 - 6/73 Marvel (Death of Gwen Stacy)
Amazing Spider-Man #122 - 7/73, Marvel (Death of Green
Goblin I)
Marvel Spotlight #12 - 10/73, Marvel (1st solo Son of Satan)
Marvel Special Edition #15 - 12/73, Marvel (1st Master of Kung
Fu)
Amazing Spider-Man #129 - 2/74, Marvel (1st Punisher)
Astonishing Tales #25 - 8/74, Marvel (1st Deathlok)
Incredible Hulk #181 - 11/74, Marvel (1st Wolverine; cameo in #180)
Giant Size X-Men #1 - Summer/75, Marvel (1st New X-Men;
intro Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus & Thunderbird)
X-Men #94 - 8/75, Marvel (New X-Men team begins)
All Star Comics #58 - 1-2/76, DC (1st Power Girl)
Marvel Spotlight #32 - 2/77, Marvel (1st Spider-Woman)
Black Lightning #1 - 4/77, DC (1st Black Lightning)
Cerebus #1 - 12/77, Aardvark-Vanaheim (1st Cerebus)
X-Men #108 - 12/77, Marvel (John Byrne work begins)
Daredevil #158 - 5/79, Marvel (Frank Miller work begins)
X-Men #137 - 9/80, Marvel (Death issue which began industry's "Death
Craze" and the eventual anti-hero craze)
Daredevil #168 - 1/81, Marvel (1st Elektra)
Gobbledygook #1 - 6/84; Mirage, (1st Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles)
Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-12 - 85/86, DC (1st appearance of
revamped Modern Age DC universe) (#7, Death of Supergirl)
(#8, Death of the Barry Allen Flash)
Batman: The Dark Knight #1 - 3/86, DC (Miller's landmark revision
of Batman)
Maus - 1986, Pantheon Books (1st comic book to win the
Pulitzer Prize)
The Man of Steel #1 - 6/86, DC (Byrne's landmark revision of
Superman)
Watchmen #1 - 10/87, DC (Alan Moore's revisionist take on
superheroes)
Batman: The Killing Joke - 1988, DC (Batgirl, Barbara Gordon, is
crippled by the Joker)
Amazing Spider-Man #300 - 5/88, Marvel (1st full Venom)
Sandman #1 - 1/89, DC (1st new Sandman)
X-Men #1 - 10/91, Marvel (Print run of 8 million copies)
Youngblood #1 - 4/92, Image (1st Image comic)
Spawn #1 - 5/92, Image (1st Spawn)
Superman (2nd Series) - #75, 1/93, DC (Death of Superman that
created a media frenzy)
Deathmate Black - 9/93, Valiant/Image (1st Gen13 story)
Starman #0 - 10/94, DC (1st Modern Age Starman)
Strangers in Paradise #1 - 11/94, Antarctic (Terry
Moore's series)
DC Vs. Marvel #1 - 1996, DC (Landmark company crossover)
Kingdom Come #1-4 - 1996, DC (Fully painted Elseworlds series
about future DC universe)
Superman: The Wedding Album - 12/96, DC (Marriage of Clark
Kent and Lois Lane)
Heroes A-D |
Heroes E-L |
Heroes M-R |
Heroes S-Z |
Villains A-L
Villains M-Z |
Super Groups |
Chronology |
Miscellaneous