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Every first appearance here links to the page that says so
A short list, checked by hand. Each row was read from the cited page on the date shown. The list carries no prices or values, because those move and need a different kind of source.
| Character | First appearance | Cover date | Publisher | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superman | Action Comics #1 | 1938 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: ACTION COMICS #1 (1938) |
| Batman | Detective Comics #27 | 1939 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: DETECTIVE COMICS #27 (1939) |
| Hawkman | Flash Comics #1 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: FLASH COMICS #1 (1940) |
| The Flash DC's profile covers every Flash under one name (it lists Barry Allen, Jay Garrick and Wally West). The issue shown is the one DC gives as the debut of the name. |
Flash Comics #1 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: FLASH COMICS #1 (1940) |
| Green Lantern DC's profile covers the name, not one holder (it lists Hal Jordan as the alias). Check which Green Lantern a given issue introduces before you buy on it. |
All-American Comics #16 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: ALL-AMERICAN COMICS #16 (1940) |
| Joker | Batman #1 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: BATMAN #1 (1940) |
| Catwoman | Batman #1 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: BATMAN #1 (1940) |
| Robin DC's profile lists four people who used the name. The issue shown is the first appearance DC gives for the name. |
Detective Comics #38 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: DETECTIVE COMICS #38 (1940) |
| Lex Luthor | Action Comics #23 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: ACTION COMICS #23 (1940) |
| Shazam | Whiz Comics #2 | 1940 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: WHIZ COMICS #2 (1940) |
| Wonder Woman | All-Star Comics #8 | 1941 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: ALL-STAR COMICS #8 (1941) |
| Aquaman | More Fun Comics #73 | 1941 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: MORE FUN COMICS #73 (1941) |
| Green Arrow | More Fun Comics #73 | 1941 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: MORE FUN COMICS #73 (1941) |
| Black Canary | Flash Comics #86 | 1947 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: FLASH COMICS #86 (1947) |
| Martian Manhunter | Detective Comics #225 | 1955 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: DETECTIVE COMICS #225 (1955) |
| Supergirl | Action Comics #252 | 1959 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: ACTION COMICS #252 (1959) |
| Spider-Man The Library of Congress page gives the issue and the August 1962 date, and says it holds Steve Ditko's 24 original drawings for the issue. |
Amazing Fantasy #15 | August 1962 | Marvel Comics | Library of Congress, Treasures Gallery: Spider-Man's Origin Story read 2026-11-01. Page says: Spider-Man makes his debut in Amazing Fantasy No. 15. ... In this August 1962 issue |
| Zatanna | Hawkman #4 | 1964 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: HAWKMAN #4 (1964) |
| Poison Ivy | Batman #181 | 1966 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: BATMAN #181 (1966) |
| Swamp Thing | House of Secrets #92 | 1971 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: HOUSE OF SECRETS #92 (1971) |
| Cyborg | DC Comics Presents #26 | 1980 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: DC COMICS PRESENTS #26 (1980) |
| Raven | DC Comics Presents #26 | 1980 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: DC COMICS PRESENTS #26 (1980) |
| Deathstroke | The New Teen Titans #2 | 1980 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: THE NEW TEEN TITANS #2 (1980) |
| Nightwing This row follows DC's profile, which gives #43. Wikipedia's Nightwing article, read the same day, gives #44 as the issue where Dick Grayson takes the name, so check which one a listing means. |
Tales of the Teen Titans #43 | 1984 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #43 (1984) |
| Bane | Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 | 1993 | DC Comics | DC official character profile read 2026-11-01. Page says: BATMAN: VENGEANCE OF BANE #1 (1993) |
No rows match.
Cover date is given as precisely as the source gives it. DC's profiles state a year only. A character's first appearance is a fact about a story, and some names have had several holders, so the notes call that out where the source does.
First appearances as stated by the cited page. Cover date is given at the precision the source gives it (DC's profiles state a year only). No prices or values.
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