List of superhero debuts

The following is a list of the first known appearances of various superhero fictional characters and teams.

A superhero (also known as a super hero) is a fictional character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest." ["National Periodical Publications v. Empire Comics", New York Court of Appeals, April 21, 1954.] Since the debut of the prototypal superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas — have dominated American comic books and crossed over into other media. A female superhero is sometimes called a superheroine or super heroine.

By most definitions, characters need not have actual superhuman powers to be deemed superheroes, although sometimes terms such as costumed crimefighters [Per [http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/mar/17/v_vendetta_s_subversive/?arts "Lawrence Journal-World" (March 17, 2006): "'V for Vendetta' is S for Subversive", by Jon Niccum] , [http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/00/04710246/0471024600.pdf "The Dark Knight: Batman — A NonSuper Superhero"] , [http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/ps2/previews/batman-begins-2bae56.html Gamespot: PS2 Games: "Batman Begins"] , http://members.fortunecity.com/srca1943/SpotlightComicsAnnual2.html "Spotlight Comics Annual" #2 (May 2002)] ; [http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Scarecrow_of_Romney_Marsh.html "The Religious Affiliation of Comic Book Characters: Rev. Dr. Christopher Syn, the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (one of the world's first masked crime-fighters)" (no date)] , and other sources.] are used to refer to those without such powers who have many other common traits of superheroes.

1850-1900

Penny Dreadful

1930s

Radio

Comic book

Comic book

Television

1970s

Comic book

Television

Movies

Sources

Books

*Daniels, Les. "The Golden Age of DC Comics: 365 Days". New York: H.N. Abrams, 2004.

ee also

*List of years in comics
*List of comic book supervillain debuts

Notes

External links

*Classic Comic Books [http://members.aol.com/MG4273/comics.htm]
*Comic Book Timeline [http://www.smccd.net/accounts/lawlora/timeline.htm]
*The History of Comic Books [http://www.collectortimes.com/~comichistory/Hist1.html] [http://www.collectortimes.com/~comichistory/Hist2.html] [http://www.collectortimes.com/~comichistory/Hist3.html] [http://www.collectortimes.com/~comichistory/Hist4.html] [http://www.collectortimes.com/~comichistory/Hist5.html]
*Guardians of the North [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/superheroes/]
*The History of Superhero Comic Books [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8580/Hist2.html] [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8580/Hist3.html] [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8580/Hist4.html] [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8580/Hist5.html] [http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/cmbk2fungold.html]
* [http://povonline.com/2001/News082601.htm POV Online]
*Internet Movie Database [http://www.imdb.com/]