Oldest MCU Characters By First Comics Appearance

Debut:October 1939

Bill Everett, a comics icon, created Namor. Namor first appeared in a planned giveaway comic that never happened. That deal fell through, so he swam into the pages ofMarvel Comics#1 shows Namor fighting humans for entering his seas (surprise, surprise) in "The Sub-Mariner," which also gives a brief, early origin story for him. Also,Marvel Comics#1 also debuts the original Human Torch. Namor's righteous anger makes Tenoch Huerta proud in his first appearance.

Debut: August 1940

Before Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff, Claire Voyant was the first person to take the Black Widow role. George Kapitan and Harry Sahle created her, and she debuted incomic book namesGeorge Kapitan and Harry Sahle created the first person to hold the Black Widow mantle. This debut happened in Mystic Comics#4 shows this Black Widow is not a super-spy. She is a medium who speaks to the dead and follows the red guy downstairs. Her touch is deadly, so avoid shaking her hand. That costume looks rad, though?

Debut: November 1940

Before the Vision became everyone's favorite android in Marvel Comics, another character with a chromedome and cape used the same name. This character debuted inMarvel Mystery Comics#13. Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created this Vision, an alien space cop from Smokeworld. He acts like Marvel's version of the Green LanternAbin Surand fights to protect the universe. Even then, he looks similar to Paul Bettany's version of the character.

Debut: March 1941

Captain America ComicsIssue #1 marks the debut of America's favorite Hitler-punching son. That issue also introduces his best friend, Bucky Barnes, and his main enemy, Red Skull. The story is titled "The Riddle of the Red Skull"" suggests the villain meets his maker at the end—which does not stick in continuity. Joe Simon and Jack Kirby created all three characters. It is hard to say if he had “America's A**” then...

Debut: November 1960

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber created the tree creature Groot. Groot debuted inTales to Astonish#13. In this issue, Groot is not the lovable Guardians of the Galaxy member who only says three words. Instead, he is a huge monster from Planet X seeking chaos and destruction. He also speaks in full sentences. But heisan alien tree named Groot, so he still counts...

Debut:November 1961

While the original Human Torch debuted earlier, Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four debuted alongside the updated Torch in Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four#1. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created this series. The first issue shows how members got their powers. It also features their first fight with the Mole Man, who sounds like stale bread. He doesn't look like John Krasinski, does he?

Debut:January 1962

Fun fact: Aunt May appeared in Marvel Comics before Peter Parker. Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created May and Ben Parker in "Goodbye to Linda Brown," which appears inStrange Tales#97. May and Ben watch a young girl with a wheelchair named Linda Brown. The story ends with the girl becoming a mermaid who swims to Atlantis. May already looked after superpowered people before her nephew got bitten by a spider.

Debut:January 1962

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber created Henry Pym. Henry Pym doesn't wear the Ant-Man costume inTales to Astonish#27. This issue tells the origin story of the doctor who finds a shrinking serum. He falls into an anthill and finds ants aren't so bad. Pym flushes the serum down the drain when he returns to normal size. This is the comic book version ofHoney, I Shrunk the Kids, folks. We will watch a reboot of that franchise with Michael Douglas directing.

Debut:May 1962

The Hulk smashed his way into Marvel Comics inThe Incredible Hulk#1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This issue shows how Dr. Bruce Banner gets caught in a G-Bomb explosion and turns into the smashing machine. The main difference is that Hulk speaks like Banner, and he is gray.

Debut:August 1962

Thor, as a Norse god, appeared before Marvel Comics. A different version of the character showed up in the 1950s, believe it or not. However, our God of Thunder first shows his Asgardian stuff inJourney into Mystery#83. Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber created Dr. Donald Blake. He flees from aliens, uses a stick to hit a boulder, and becomes the God of Thunder. Look for a stick and a boulder on your next trip into the wilderness…

Debut: August 1962

Peter Parker entered popular culture through the pages ofAmazing Fantasy#15 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. This issue has the origin story most fans know. Pete gets bitten by a radioactive spider, loses Uncle Ben, and chooses to be a hero balancing great power and great responsibility. We are unsure about the odd circular cut-outs in his mask eyes, though… Keep those out of the MCU, Tom Holland.

Debut: October 1962

Thor without Loki is like ice cream without chocolate chips; it lacks something natural. Two months after Thor debuted, Loki appeared inJourney into Mystery.#85, created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber. Loki appears first not as Thor's brother, but as the God of Mischief who causes trouble and hates the God of Thunder. His helmet has an awesome ponytail that should still count as canon today.

Debut:November 1962.

After Thor and Loki debuted, everyone expected Odin to appear soon. He first shows up inJourney into Mystery.#86. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created this issue. Odin debuts by helping Thor learn to use Mjolnir for time travel. This is wild. Had Thor known time travel in the MCU beforeEndgame., things could have been very different for Thanos.

Debut:March 1963.

Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby created Tony Stark's first Marvel Comics appearance inTales of Suspense.#39. This issue shows Iron Man's origin story, loosely adapted for the MCU (with creative changes, of course). The character got his own solo title two months after appearing inTales of Suspense..

Debut:May 1963.

Before leading S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury led a different life. As a US Army Ranger, Fury debuts inSgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.#1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Fury still likes his cigars here. Two years later, Fury returned as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s leader in Marvel continuity.

Debut: May 1963.

Most fans see Doctor Octopus or Green Goblin as Spider-Man's biggest enemies, but the Vulture is one of his first villains. He debuted inThe Amazing Spider-Man.#2 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Adrian Toomes is a crook who uses his artificial wings to swoop in and cause trouble. Spidey stops the old buzzard.

Debut: July 1963.

Strange Tales.#110 by Steve Ditko showed the good doctor appearing. This was not an origin story for Stephen Strange; instead, it put the audience in a story where Doctor Strange was already the master of black magic. His origin is shown five issues later. Still, he looked super cool right away.