Comic Book Hall of Fame
The most important, trend-setting comics of all time.

1897-1932

Yellow Kid in McFadden's Flats, The, 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)

Blackberries, The, 1901, R.H. Russell (Ties as 4th comic book)

Foxy Grandpa, 1901, F.A. Stokes Co. (Ties as 4th comic book)

Pore Li'l Mose, 1902, Cupples & Leon (1st satire book) (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 distr. comic)

Happy Hooligan, 1903, Hearst's New York American (1st comic book app.)

Katzenjammer Kids, 1903, Hearst's New York 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. (Ties as 1st Winsor McCay book)

Little Sammy Sneeze, 1905, New York Herald Co. (Ties as 1st Winsor McCay book)

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 more than one character)

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 publ.)

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)

Adventures of Detective Ace King, 1933, Humor Publ. Co. (along with Detective Dan, helped bridge the gap between the PA and GA)

1933-May 1938

Funnies On Parade #nn, 1933, Eastern Color (1st GA comic book)

Century Of Comics #nn, 1933, Eastern Color (2nd GA comic book, 1st 100 pgs.)

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 in comics)

New Fun Comics #6, 10/35, DC (1st Siegel & Shuster work in comics)

More Fun Comics #14, 10/36, DC (1st Superman prototype at DC, 1st in color)

Detective Comics #1, 3/37, DC (1st issue of title that launched Batman)

June 1938-1945

Action Comics #1, 6/38, DC (1st Superman and Lois Lane)

Funny Pages #V2#10, 9/38, Centaur (1st Arrow, 1st costumed hero)

Jumbo Comics #1, 9/38, Fiction House (1st Sheena, 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 Wonderman, 1st Superman imitator)

Superman (#1), Summer/39, DC (1st issue, 1st hero to get his own book)

Adventure Comics #40, 7/39, DC (1st conceived Sandman story)

Marvel Comics #1, 10/39, Timely (1st newsstand Sub-Mariner, 1st Human Torch, 1st Marvel comic)

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 science fiction comic book)

More Fun Comics #52, 2/40, DC (1st Spectre)

Whiz Comics #2 (#1), 2/40, Fawcett (1st Captain Marvel & Spy Smasher, 1st Fawcett comic book)

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 (Donald Duck), 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 (1st issue of DC's 2nd most important character; 1st 2 Joker stories; 1st Catwoman)

More Fun Comics #55, 5/40, DC (1st Dr. Fate)

The Spirit #1, 6/2/40, Will Eisner (1st Spirit app. in weekly newspaper strip)

All American Comics #16, 7/40, DC (1st Green Lantern)

Blue Bolt #3, 7/40, Fox (1st Simon & Kirby story art)

Marvel Mystery Comics #9, 7/40, Timely (1st superhero battle; key battle issue)

Red Raven #1, 8/40, Timely (Early Kirby art)

Special Edition Comics #1, 8/40, Fawcett (1st comic book devoted to 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 (1st issue of early Marvel star)

Walt Disney's Comics & Stories #1, 10/40, Dell (1st funny animal comic book 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 (1st issue of Fawcett's top character)

Sub-Mariner Comics #1, Spring/41, Timely (1st issue of Marvel's important character)

Adventure Comics #61, 4/41, DC (1st Starman)

All Flash #1, Summer/41, DC (1st issue of top DC character)

Daredevil #1, 7/41, Lev Gleason (1st issue of top character)

Military Comics #1, 8/41, Quality (1st Blackhawk)

Famous Funnies #100, 10/41, Eastern (1st comic book to reach issue #100)

Green Lantern #1, Fall/41, DC (1st issue of top DC character)

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 (Mickey Mouse) #16, 1941, (1st comic book devoted to Mickey Mouse)

All Star Comics #8, 12-1/41-42, DC (1st Wonder Woman)

Animal Comics #1, 12-1/41-42, Dell (1st Pogo by Walt Kelly)

Sensation Comics #1, 1/42, DC (1st series to star Wonder Woman)

Crime Does Not Pay #22, 6/42, Gleason (1st Crime comic series)

Sensation #6, June, 1942, DC, (1st app. Wonder Woman's magic lasso)

Wonder Woman #1, Summer/42, DC (1st issue of top DC character)

Four Color (Donald Duck) #9, 8/42 Dell (1st Barks work 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, (Begins Mr. Mind serial)

Plastic Man #1, Summer/43, Quality (1st issue of top Quality character)

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)

1946-1956

Romantic Picture Novelette #1, 1946, ME (one shot)(1st love comic theme)

All Winners #19, Fall/46, Timely (1st All Winners Squad, 1st Marvel group)

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 (Classic cover issue-good girl 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, EC horror)

Haunt Of Fear #15 (#1), 5-6/50, EC (1st issue of EC horror, trend-setting)

Weird Fantasy #13 (#1), 5-6/50, EC (1st issue of EC science fiction, trend-setting)

Weird Science #12 (#1), 5-6/50, EC (1st issue of EC science fiction)

Strange Tales #1, 6/51, Marvel (1st issue of top Marvel title)

Mad #1, 10-11/52, EC (1st satire comic)

Journey Into Mystery #1, 6/52, Marvel (1st issue of top Marvel title)

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, (1st issue of top DC title)

My Greatest Adventure #1, 1-2/55, DC (1st issue of top DC fantasy title)

Brave And The Bold #1, 8-9/55, DC (1st issue of top 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 (1st issue of top DC fantasy title)

Showcase #1, 3-4/56, DC (1st issue of top DC title)

Sugar & Spike #1, 4-5/56, DC (1st issue of top title by Sheldon Mayer)

Batman #100, 6/56, DC (Landmark issue)

Detective Comics #233, 7/56, DC (1st Batwoman)

Sept. 1956-1969

Showcase #4, 9-10/56, DC (1st Silver Age book) (The Flash)

House Of Secrets #1, 11-12/56, DC (1st issue of top DC horror title)

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 (1st issue of top character)

Adventure Comics #247, 4/58, DC (1st Legion of Superheroes)

Challengers Of The Unknown #1, 4-5/58, DC, (1st issue of 1st Silver Age group)

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 (1st issue of top fantasy title)

Tales To Astonish #1, 1/59, Marvel (1st issue of top fantasy title)

Flash #105 (#1), 2-3/59, DC (1st issue of top DC title)

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 Silver Age 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 (1st issue of top Archie title)

Showcase #22, 9-10/59, DC (1st Silver Age Green Lantern)

Flash #110, 12-1/59/60, DC (1st Kid Flash)

Brave And The Bold #28, 2/3/60, DC (1st Justice League of America)

Green Lantern #1, 7-8/60, DC (1st issue of top DC character)

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 (1st issue of top DC title)

Showcase #30, 1-2/61, DC (Spotlights Silver Age Aquaman)

Brave And The Bold #34, 2-3/61, DC (1st Silver Age Hawkman)

Amazing Adventures #1, 6/61, Marvel (1st Dr. Droom, the 1st Marvel-Age superhero)

Flash #123, 9/61, DC (1st G.A. Flash in Silver Age)

Showcase #34, 9-10/61, DC (1st Silver Age Atom)

Fantastic Four #1, 11/61, Marvel (1st Fantastic Four)

Amazing Adult Fantasy #7, 12/61, Marvel (1st issue of title that leads to 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 Silver Age Sub-Mariner)

Incredible Hulk #1, 5/62, Marvel (1st Hulk)

Mystery In Space #75, 5/62, DC (Early JLA cross-over in Adam Strange story)

Fantastic Four #5, 7/62, Marvel (1st Dr. Doom)

Journey Into Mystery #83, 8/62, Marvel (1st Thor)

Amazing Fantasy #15, 8-9/62, Marvel (1st Spider-Man)

Tales To Astonish #35, 9/62, Marvel (2nd Antman, 1st in costume)

Strange Tales #101, 10/62, Marvel (1st S.A. Human Torch solo story)

Amazing Spider-Man #1, 3/63, Marvel (1st Spider-Man in own title)

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 Silver Age Captain America)

Daredevil #1, 4/64, Marvel (1st Daredevil)

Detective Comics #327, 5/64, DC (New Batman) (Silver Age/ Bronze)

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 which instigated the direct sales market)

1970-1979

Green Lantern #76, 4/70, DC (Begins Green Lantern/Green Arrow series by Denny O'Neil & Neal Adams)

Detective Comics #400, 6/70, DC (1st Man-Bat)

Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #133, 10/70, DC (1st Silver Age 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 app. Swamp Thing by Bernie Wrightson)

Amazing Spider-Man #101, 10/71, Marvel (1st Morbius the Living Vampire)

Marvel Feature #1, 12/71, Marvel (Origin and 1st app. Defenders)

All Star Western #10, 2-3/72, DC (1st Jonah Hex)

Tomb of Dracula #1, 4/72, Marvel (1st app. Dracula)

Marvel Spotlight #2, 6/72, Marvel (1st app. Werewolf by Night)

Marvel Spotlight #5, 8/72, Marvel (Origin and 1st app. new Ghost Rider)

Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth #1,10/72, DC (Origin/1st Kamandi)

Iron Man #55, 2/73, Marvel (1st. app. Thanos & Drax the Destroyer)

Shazam #1, 2/73, DC (1st revival of Captain Marvel since mid 50s)

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 story app. of Wolverine)

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 app. Cerebus)(B&W)

X-Men #108, 12/77, Marvel (1st important Byrne work)

Daredevil #158, 5/79, Marvel (Frank Miller begins work on Daredevil; his 1st important work)

1980-Present

X-Men #137, 9/80, Marvel (The story that started comicdom's "Death Craze")

Daredevil #168, 1/81, Marvel (1st Elektra)

Gobbledygook #1, pre 6/84; Mirage, (1st app. 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 (Beginning of Frank Miller's landmark revision of Batman)

Maus, 1986, Pantheon Books (1st comic book to win the Pulitzer Prize) (Depicts the horrors of the Holocaust through the eyes of artist Art Spiegelman's father)

The Man of Steel #1, 6/86, DC (Beginning of John Byrne's update of the Superman mythos)

Watchmen #1, 10/87, DC (Beginning of Alan Moore's revisionist look at superheroes)

Batman: The Killing Joke, 1988, DC (Batgirl Barbara Gordon is crippled by the Joker)

Amazing Spider-Man #300, 5/88, Marvel (1st Venom) (full app & story)

Sandman #1, 1/89, DC (1st app. new Sandman)

X-Men #1, 10/91, Marvel (1st comic to reach a print run of 8 million copies)

Youngblood #1, 4/92, Image (1st Image comic)

Spawn #1, 5/92, Image (1st app. Spawn)

Superman (2nd Series) #75, 1/93, DC (Death of Superman) (Huge Media Coverage)

Deathmate Black, 9/93, Valiant/Image (1st Gen13 story)

Starman #0, 10/94, DC (1st app. of Modern Age Starman)

Strangers in Paradise #1, 11/94, Antarctic (1st issue of Terry Moore's series)

DC Vs. Marvel #1, 1996, DC (1st issue of landmark company crossover)

Kingdom Come #1-4, 1996, DC (Fully painted Elseworlds series about the future DC universe)

Superman: The Wedding Album, 12/96, DC (Marriage of Clark Kent and Lois Lane)

Heroes, 12/01, Marvel (Pinup tributes to the rescue workers of the Sept. 11 tragedy; art and text by various. The first of many tribute books from the comic industry.)