Landmark Comic Book Issues

Action Comics is an American comic book/magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters.

The final 1960s issue, Amazing Fantasy #15 (cover-dated Aug. 1962), introduced the popular superhero Spider-Man who would go on to become one of the most famous superheroes of all time.

The first volume, published from 1937 to 2011 (and later continued in 2016), is best known for introducing the superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 (cover-dated May 1939).

While working on Zap #1, Crumb saw a Family Dog poster drawn by Rick Griffin which resembled a psychedelic version of a Sunday funnies page.

Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963).

The team debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 (cover-dated November 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium.

The character, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (cover dated May 1939).

Superman began as one of several anthology features in the National Periodical Publications comic book Action Comics #1 in June 1938.

The character first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (cover dated December 1941), later featured in Sensation Comics (January 1942) series and gaining her own solo title shortly after.

Characters introduced in the series include the Flash, Hawkman (Carter Hall), Hawkgirl and Black Canary.

Being in the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it was the character's first title, launching seven months after his introduction in the final issue of Amazing Fantasy.

Pep Comics introduced the superhero character The Shield, the first of the super-patriotic heroes with a costume based on a national flag (predating Captain America by over a year), as well as The Comet.