First appearance

In American comic books and other stories with a long history, first appearance refers to the first issue to feature a fictional character. These issues are often highly valued by collectors due to their rarity and iconic status.

Reader interest in first appearances

Collectors value first appearances for their rarity and historical value, while many regular readers are interested in viewing how their favorite characters were originally portrayed. Reprints of first appearances are often published, both as single comic books and in trade paperbacks, usually with other early appearances of the character. Marvel Comics' "Essential" line has become popular by giving readers an affordable glimpse into characters' early history.[1]

Historically, first appearances tell the origin story for the character, although some, such as Batman and Green Goblin, remained dubious figures for several issues. Modern writers prefer to tell a character's origin across an entire story arc or keep a newly introduced character mysterious until a "secret origin" issue. Some fans consider this a gimmick and prefer the older method.[2]

The artistic merit of many first appearances is debatable. The events portrayed in most famous first appearances are continuously retconed, rebooted and/or expanded upon by subsequent writers. Like many golden and silver age comics, first appearances often become dated and do not fit the modern portrayal of the character.

However, some first appearances are considered classics. 1990s-era Spider-Man writer Howard Mackie said that his favorite story featuring the character was his first appearance and origin story in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), stating that writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko "gave us everything we needed, I wanted or could ask for in the least possible space. Every single person who retells the origin never improves on the original, they simply expand it."[3]

Monetary value of first appearance issues

First appearances of popular characters are among the most valuable comic books in existence. Of the "ten most valuable comic books" listed in the spring 2002 issue of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, seven are first appearances of popular superheroes.[4] Another, Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939), is the first appearance of the Golden Age Human Torch but is more noteworthy as the first comic book published by industry giant Marvel Comics.

It can take many years for a character to attain sufficient popularity after their first appearance to be considered "iconic." By the point a character reaches that level of popularity, it is common for few copies of their first appearance issues to remain. Furthermore, even fewer of those remaining copies will be in the pristine condition prized by collectors. What few remain can be worth thousands of dollars to interested collectors. For example, in 2004, a copy of Flash Comics #1 (January 1940), the first appearance of The Flash, was auctioned for $42,000[5] and a copy of Captain America Comics #1 (March 1941), the first appearance of Captain America sold for $64,400.[6] In 2010, another copy of Flash Comics #1 sold privately for $450,000.[7]

The first appearance of Superman, Action Comics #1 (June 1938), has been regarded as "holy grail" of comic books, due to its cultural significance and rarity (fewer than one hundred copies are thought to exist).[8] Superman is widely considered to have solidified, if not created, the superhero archetype; therefore, his first appearance is not only important to fans of the character but to fans of superheroes and comic books as a whole.[9] Well-preserved copies of Action Comics #1 have been sold at auction for record-breaking prices. A copy graded at 8.0 ("very fine") on the 10-point scale typically used by collectors was sold at auction for $1,000,000 in 2010.[10] Even a copy graded at a much lower 5.5 ("fine minus") sold for $956,000 in 2016.[8]

Shortly after the record-breaking million-dollar sale of Action Comics #1 in 2010, a copy of Detective Comics #27 featuring the first appearance of Batman was sold for $1,075,000 in a Heritage auction.[11]

Several factors determine the value of a first appearance. Note: All values are according to ComicsPriceGuide.com and are for editions certified by the Certified Collectibles Group (see below):

  • The importance of the character(s) that debuted; the first appearance of Spider-Man in very fine condition is listed at $45,150; the first appearance of the less popular Iron Man, in the same condition, is listed at $3,837; and the first appearances of the vast majority of characters are not valued significantly higher than other comics published the same month.
  • The rarity of comic book itself; comics from the Golden Age are usually more valuable than later comic books because they are older and fewer copies survive. Spider-Man is more popular than The Spectre but Spider-Man's 1962 first appearance is valued at $45,150 while a copy of The Spectre's 1940 debut, in fine condition, is valued at $54,000. Also, first appearances often lack value if they are relatively recent issues of high-profile, best-selling titles. Except during a 1990s collector's bubble, the first appearances of several Image Comics characters and newer X-Men have not been as valuable as one may expect for such popular characters because those comics were widely produced.
  • Other reasons for historical importance; The Fantastic Four (November 1961) #1 is not only the first appearance of the eponymous group but also represents a turning point in the history of Marvel Comics and is the first issue of a long-running series.
  • Occasionally, a comic book is the first appearance of more than one important character. Usually the characters are related; X-Men #1 (September 1963) introduced the X-Men and their archenemy Magneto.[12] However, rarely a comic book is the first appearance of two unrelated, important characters. More Fun Comics #73 (November 1941) introduced both Green Arrow and Aquaman, who have little relation to one another.[13] This is also the case with Action Comics #1, which contained the first appearances of Zatara and Tex Thomson, as well as Superman.
  • Occasionally a first appearance will lack the value expected for a character of such stature because the debut was not splashy. Wonder Woman, an immensely popular and historically important hero, debuted in All Star Comics #8 (December 1941) in one of several stories and was not featured on the cover. This issue is valued at $30,000 in fine condition. Comparatively, the first appearances of equally (or even less) important peers Green Lantern and The Flash, boldly introduced on their covers, are worth $131,250 and $69,000, respectively. Arguably, the first appearance of Wonder Woman is worth much less because she did not make a flashy debut that lent the comic book an air of history.
  • As is the case with all collectibles, condition greatly affects the value of comic books, although considerable wear is expected for decades-old comics. Most comic books are worth more if their condition is certified and they are protectively packaged (or "slabbed") by the Certified Collectibles Group, a professional grading service involved in the sale of most high-value comic books, although some fans accuse the group of inflating the value of comics.[14]

Ambiguity of first appearance

While seemingly a simple concept, determining the first appearance may be complex. The following are instances in which a character's first appearance may be difficult to determine:

  • Those unfamiliar to comics may assume that Iron Man’s first appearance is The Invincible Iron Man #1 (May 1968). However, in the golden and early silver ages of comic books, few superheroes debuted in magazines carrying their names. More often a character first appeared in a generically titled anthology series. If the character proved popular, a new series was launched. For example, Iron Man first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963) and appeared regularly in that series for five years before Marvel launched a series properly named Iron Man. Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, The Mighty Thor and many others also first appeared in anthology series.
  • The first appearance of "all-star" teams is given as the first instance in which that team banded together regardless of whether or not it consists of previously existing characters. The first appearance of The Justice League of America is considered The Brave and the Bold #28 (May 1960), the issue in which they first operated as a group, although none of its members first appeared in that issue. Alternatively, X-Men #1 (September 1963) is both the first appearance of the X-Men and that of each of the team's original members.
  • Sometimes a character first appears in the last page of an issue, foreshadowing his or her greater role in the next issue. Arguments can ensue over whether the first appearance is the issue containing the final page cameo or the subsequent issue which more adequately introduced the character. Wolverine was first seen in the last page of The Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974) but makes a more full appearance in issue #181 (November 1974). Stricter fans may consider The Incredible Hulk #180 Wolverine's first appearance but most consider it #181. ComicsPriceGuide.com lists a copy of issue #180, rated very fine, at $149 and #181 at $2,075. Comparatively, The Incredible Hulk #179 (September 1974), which has no special importance, is listed at $11, so both types of first appearance add value to a comic book.
  • Retconning can also complicate first appearances. Initially, Cable was portrayed as a wholly new character, first appearing in The New Mutants #87 (March 1990). However, writers later changed his background, stating that Cable is an adult, time-traveling Nathan Summers, the son of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, first seen in Uncanny X-Men #201 (January 1986). Both issues could be given as the first appearance of Cable. Further complicating the matter, Cable was seen in a cameo at the end of The New Mutants #86 (February 1990).
  • Some superhero identities are used by more than one character. The original Green Lantern first appeared in All-American Comics #16 (April 1940). During the Silver Age, Green Lantern, like many DC heroes, was rebooted with a totally new identity. The second Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, debuted in Showcase #22 (October 1959). All-American Comics #16 is still considered the first appearance of Green Lantern, both of the original title-bearer and the superhero identity itself. To avoid confusion, Showcase #22 is called the first appearance of Hal Jordan, of Green Lantern II or of the Silver Age Green Lantern.
  • Occasionally, a character will appear in the background of a comic book before fully introduced. Spider-Man's early love interest Liz Allan is first addressed by name in Amazing Spider-Man #4 (September 1963). However, an unnamed character in Amazing Spider-Man #1 (March 1963) is, based on her appearance and dialogue, probably Allan. Plus, Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962), shows an unnamed, unspeaking character who looks exactly like Allan. Thus Allan's first appearance may be given as any of the three.
  • Some characters appear in more than one continuity. While the first appearance of Nightcrawler is Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May 1975), the first appearance of "Ultimate Nightcrawler" (Nightcrawler in the alternate Ultimate Marvel universe) is Ultimate X-Men #6 (August 2001).
  • Sometimes new characters are created for television or film adaptations of a franchise and are later added to the comic book continuity. The Batman adversary Harley Quinn debuted in the 1992 Batman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor". Her first appearance in comic format was the graphic novel The Batman Adventures #12, which took place in the continuity of Batman: The Animated Series. Her first appearance in the regular "DC Universe" was the 1999 one-shot Batman: Harley Quinn. Thus her first appearance is technically Joker's Favor, her first appearance in a comic book was The Batman Adventures #12 and her first appearance in the regular DC Comics continuity was Batman: Harley Quinn. Similarly, Firestar first appeared in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends #1, which adapted the first episode of the TV series. Her first Earth-616 appearance was in The Uncanny X-Men #193.
  • Rarely, a character debuts in a publisher's foreign branch and then appears in a domestic series. Psylocke first appeared in Captain Britain #8 (December 1976), an original series of Marvel UK not widely available outside Great Britain. Her debut in an American series was The New Mutants Annual #2 (1986). Her first appearance is sometimes given as either but more correctly it is Captain Britain #8 while The New Mutants Annual #2 is her first US appearance.
  • Some characters appear first in a normal supporting role before becoming a superhero or villain. For example, Roderick Kingsley first appeared as a minor supporting character in The Spectacular Spider-Man #43 (June 1980). However, he would later take on the villainous role of the Hobgoblin in The Amazing Spider-Man #238 (March 1983), becoming one of Spider-Man's most dangerous foes. The latter issue, featuring his first appearance as the Hobgoblin, is worth quite a bit more than his original debut.

Note: All values are according to Comics Price Guide. Prices given are for the best available editions. Thus prices of Golden Age comics are for editions in "fine" condition because editions in better condition for such old comics are either extremely rare or have never been confirmed to exist. Prices for Silver Age and subsequent comics are for "very fine" editions. Priced are also for editions graded by the Certified Collectibles Group. Data is correct as of January 25, 2006.

Character(s) First Appearance Cover Date Publisher Estimated Value
Superman Action Comics #1 June 1938 DC Comics $2,100,000
Batman Detective Comics #27 May 1939 DC Comics $475,000
Sandman (Wesley Dodds) Adventure Comics #40 July 1939 DC Comics $60,000
Namor the Sub-Mariner Marvel Comics #1 October 1939 Timely Comics $400,000
Jay Garrick/Flash I; Hawkman Flash Comics #1 January 1940 All-American Pubs. $95,000
Captain Marvel Whiz Comics #2 February 1940 Fawcett Comics $90,000
Robin Detective Comics #38 May 1940 DC Comics $75,000
The Spectre More Fun Comics #52 February 1940 DC Comics $72,000
Lex Luthor Action Comics #23 May 1940 DC Comics $8,025
The Joker; Catwoman Batman #1 Spring 1940 DC Comics $160,500
Green Lantern All-American Comics #16 July 1940 All-American Pubs. $131,250
Captain America Captain America Comics #1 March 1941 Timely Comics $125,250
Aquaman; Green Arrow More Fun Comics #73 November 1941 DC Comics $10,050
Wonder Woman All Star Comics #8 December 1941 All-American Pubs. $60,000
Barry Allen/Flash II Showcase #4 October 1956 DC Comics $48,000[15]
The Justice League of America The Brave and the Bold #28 May 1960 DC Comics $8,127
The Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four #1 November 1961 Marvel Comics $28,896
The Hulk The Incredible Hulk #1 May 1962 Marvel Comics $21,672
Dr. Doom The Fantastic Four #5 June 1962 Marvel Comics $4,154
Spider-Man Amazing Fantasy #15 August 1962 Marvel Comics $45,150
Iron Man Tales of Suspense #39 March 1963 Marvel Comics $3,837
Doctor Strange Strange Tales #110 July 1963 Marvel Comics $3,500
X-Men; Magneto X-Men #1 September 1963 Marvel Comics $13,545
The Avengers The Avengers #1 September 1963 Marvel Comics $5,148
Daredevil Daredevil #1 April 1964 Marvel Comics $3,160
Teen Titans The Brave and the Bold #54 July 1964 DC Comics $415
The Punisher The Amazing Spider-Man #129 February 1974 Marvel Comics $15,000[16]
Wolverine The Incredible Hulk #181 October 1974 Marvel Comics $1600
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 May 1984 Mirage Studios $2,400
gollark: It should be doable if I pretend I'm a plane or something.
gollark: Next I intend to make it automatically dodge lasers fired at me, which might be hard.
gollark: This is for my good* automated combat program for SwitchCraft.
gollark: The code says 1.5. I don't know if TPS affects it.
gollark: There.

See also

Notes
  • ^ Nicolas Cage's 9.0 graded Action Comics #1 sold in 2011.
  • ^ Batman #1, the first appearance of the Joker and Catwoman, is especially valuable since it is also the first issue of a long-running series and the first comic book to bear Batman's name as its title.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 26, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Carter, Dave (January 20, 2005). "Yet Another Comics Blog: Origin Stories". yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com.
  3. "Spider-Man Crawl Space Interview: Howard Mackie". www.spidermancrawlspace.com.
  4. Gemstonepub.com Archived February 7, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "CBR.com - The World's Top Destination For Comic, Movie & TV news". CBR.
  6. Heritagegalleries.com Archived February 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Edgar Church/Mile High Flash Comics #1 Sells for $450,000". itsalljustcomics.com. March 16, 2010.
  8. "Comic book containing Superman's debut sold for nearly one million dollars". The Telegraph. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  9. Holt, Douglas B. (2004). How Brands Become Icons: The Principles of Cultural Branding. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press. p. 1. ISBN 1-57851-774-5.
  10. "Action Comics No. 1 sale pushes Superman to new heights". Hero Complex - movies, comics, pop culture - Los Angeles Times. February 23, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  11. "Batman beats Superman (again) as his first comic appearance breaks $1-million mark". Hero Complex - movies, comics, pop culture - Los Angeles Times. February 26, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  12. Complete Marvel Reading Order
  13. geocities.com/mbrown123
  14. "TMe: CGC: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly". www.teako170.com.
  15. "Showcase #4 The Flash (DC, 1956) CGC NM+ 9.6 White pages.... Silver - Lot #91261 - Heritage Auctions". Heritage Auctions.
  16. Tosh, David (October 13, 2015). Comic Books: How to Pick Antiques Like a Pro. Picker's Pocket Guides. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-1440244988.
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