Talk:List of superhero debuts

Chronology?
I notice that the appearances of the various characters are divided into sections for each decade, then supsections for that various medias, and then arranged by year, and alphabetically within each year.

Wouldn't it make more sense, in a chronology, for all of the characters to be listed chronologically by first appearance, regaurdless of media or alphabetical order? Someone would have to do some research and find release dates, boadcast dates, etc, which are missing from the list as it currently exists, but it would provide valuable data for anyone wanting to know how characters influenced the creation of other characters in the short term, and who was "first" for characters introduced in the same year.

We could start by filling in day and month information in the existing list.--Drvanthorp 04:07, 21 September 2006 (UTC)

Where's Nelvana?
8/2/05 Nelvana was added 8/2/05, under 1940's.  Thanks for the suggestion!

8/2/05 Possibility - split this page into 2 pages:   Print and Media  ???

8/3/05

Hi Everyone,

What do you all think about the tables? If you love them or hate them, please leave a note here.

Thanks!

Hi! Thanks for visiting. Please also visit Supervillain Chronology.

Dawn22 19:08, 14 August 2005 (UTC)

How about introducing publicaton month of appearance? Roygbiv666 02:42, 18 September 2006 (UTC)

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Mockingbird is missing from the list Mockingbird (Marvel Comics) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.158.101.11 (talk) 06:06, 6 March 2014 (UTC)

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Hi, me again. Well, it appears there are a butt load of superhero debuts currently missing. Who's in charge of this page? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.158.101.11 (talk) 23:50, 7 March 2014 (UTC)

Storyarcs?
I've noticed that the list from the 1970s and earlier is solely focused on character first appearences, but in the 80s, 90s, and 200s, certain key story arcs are included. I'm not opposed to this, but it seems to lack consistency with the first half of the article. To balance, perhaps the things like "First superhero team-up" or some such should also be included in the golden and silver age sections? Elijya 16:24, 8 May 2006 (UTC)

No, they don't belong. The article was defined as listing first appearances. Story arcs aren't first appearances.

Multiple debuts
Should each character's first appearance in every medium be listed? Maybe. I'm not sure. The Shadow should be listed twice (not three times, although I know an argument could be made) because the printed Shadow differed significantly from the radio Shadow. Each debut introduced him in very different ways. I've read the novels. I've listened to the radio shows. They're not the same. And they mattered historically in different ways. Some people were introduced to the Shadow via radio, others via pulp novels. The world met Superman through comics. Okay, I first saw him in a cartoon, but cartoon Superman equaled comic book Superman. I'm not exactly offering an opinion here, just contemplating. Doczilla 06:48, 21 September 2006 (UTC)

Wonderman Debut
Regarding this revert, the link for "Wonder Comics" for the Fox Wonderman to Wonderman is incorrect. The 1939 character did not debut in the Marvel Comics character. So I'm changing it back. Roygbiv666 (talk) 17:07, 3 October 2008 (UTC)

Refocusing this article
This article, as it is, is an open ended list that could potentially contain tens of thousands of names. I have suggested at Wikiproject: Comics that this list be pared down to the early history of this character type, possibly ending in the year 1941, by which time most of the major seminal early characters had been created (after this time, the population of such characters explodes). However, I would not want to undo the work done my many well-intentioned contributors, so I proposed that the latter part of the article be split into a separate list, with a possible eventual goal of creating a series of pages similar to the "List of years in film" wikipedia entries.--Drvanthorp (talk) 05:10, 9 July 2011 (UTC)

Rocketeer
The Rocketeer did not debut with his film. He debuted several years earlier in comics. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.250.146.130 (talk) 15:26, 3 March 2013 (UTC)

The first superhero... Penny Dreadful??
Wow, can someone tell me why there are so many names on here that aren't actual superheroes? The first superhero ever created and written about was Superhero, not some Penny Dreadful from 1850. What makes him/her a "superhero?" "Superhero" was a term specifically coined when the first ones, such as Superman and Batman came around. So why is it messed up like this? O.o EDIT: If I am wrong, why do everyone tell us otherwise? Why do everyone tell us that Supes was indeed the very first one when there were also others, such as Dr Occult? This just doesn't make sense in any way. EDIT: I just read up on it again. And Superman is indeed the first superhero, and the other DC heroes before him is actually not considered "super"heroes. Maybe they were later. Maybe it is fitting to call them that now...? This is definitely confusing... Luka1184 (talk) 20:24, 19 June 2013 (UTC)

Because the 'Penny Dreadfulls' inspired the superheroes which followed, much the same as 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley inspired the Science Fiction that followed. UrbanTerrorist (talk) 22:44, 8 August 2014 (UTC)

Refocusing this article again
The excellent definition of superhero given on this page is a fictional character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest." This definition is then expanded, in the text, to include costumed crime-fighters. It is implied, but not stated, that unprecedented mental prowess, e.g. creating hypnotic illusions, also qualifies.

What is missing in this definition, is that we commonly refer only to comic-book characters as superheroes. Also, it should be clarified that we typically only refer to costumed crime-fighters as superheroes, but not masked crime-fighters. I propose including this in a refined definition.

Using the existing definition of superhero, a list of the earliest examples of superheroes would include Gilgamesh, Hercules, and Beowulf. If this is not accurate, then the definition of superhero would need to be refined.

If the definition is not refined, then Tarzan, who acted often as a defender of many peoples, should be added to this list.

Masked crime-fighters like the Green Hornet, Zoro, and the Lone Ranger, are not commonly referred to as superheroes. Their physical prowess is indubitable, but not superhuman. Those characters probably should be removed from the list.

Batman is commonly referred to as a superhero. He meets the proposed definition of superhero due to his costume, appearance in comic-books, and the unprecedented prowess conferred by his super equipment (e.g. Batman's grapple gun and utility belt gadgets.)

I am not certain if the Shadow or Mandrake the Magician were commonly called superheroes before recent interest in them as the possible "first superhero". Perhaps the definition of superhero should be clarified to only include unprecedented physical, but not solely mental, prowess. There is also the question of whether a tuxedo meets the definition of a costume.

I wonder, does Dr. Quest (super inventor) from Jonny Quest belong on this list?

I agree with Drvanthorp that the scope of this page needs to be further narrowed or it will continue to grow until it is several thousand names long.

Mrrichardd (talk) 17:55, 18 August 2013 (UTC)

OK. If I read your definition one way, Ironman, Stingray, and Guardian aren't superheroes. If I read it another they are. I'd suggest trying to refine it a bit. UrbanTerrorist (talk) 22:46, 8 August 2014 (UTC)

Popeye
I know Popeye isn't a typical character but I think given that his appearance is very early on in the history of cartoon heroes. He gets superhero strength, skills and agility from eating spinach, is able to defeat enemies and save the girl. The story arc has many parallels with modern superhero stories, even if it is a little crude. It seems that he gained his superpower when he became animated as Popeye the Sailor in 1933? Bob dvd (talk) 09:02, 22 June 2014 (UTC)

He may by typical - we have heroes shouting 'Shazam', pounding their canes on the floor, and all sorts of weird plot devices (two thirds of which involve the bad guy attempting to steal the special item). UrbanTerrorist (talk) 22:55, 8 August 2014 (UTC)

"of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest." -- Popeye is the first cartoon superhero by definition. There's no legitimate argument that he wasn't a superhero. If we can count Bat-man, we can count Popeye. Hagrinas (talk) 15:16, 5 April 2021 (UTC)

Definitions and Captain Power
I was going to suggest adding Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, but from several comments I see we have an issue as to definitions. Take John Carter - he's only a normal human, but on Mars with its lighter gravity, he's a super hero. The Kree from the Marvel comics are the same. Then there's equipment - if Ironman is a superhero, so is Captain Power. But is Captain Power really a superhero? Conan of course isn't a superhero. He's a very talented killer, but that's all. So what really is a superhero? UrbanTerrorist (talk) 22:55, 8 August 2014 (UTC)

What?
What are more superhero debuts that you are talking about? Defendor Vs (film) The New Teen Titans Jumper (2008 film) The Specials (film) Mystery Men — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.160.161.113 (talk) 03:11, 21 September 2015 (UTC)
 * I already do the superhero debuts in Vs. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.160.161.113 (talk) 03:13, 21 September 2015 (UTC)

The Royal Family is missing
The Inhumans are a race of superhumans who appear in various American comic book series published by Marvel Comics; first appearing in the mid-1960s.

Black Bolt Medusa Karnak Gorgon Triton Crystal Lockjaw — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.158.101.11 (talk) 12:44, 16 February 2016 (UTC)


 * no longer, they've been added to the 1960s section — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.66.69.6 (talk) 16:32, 30 September 2020 (UTC)

Also is missing the royal family of Earth 6: Lord Volt, Lady Quark and Princess Fern (DC's Crisis on Infinity Earths).--Manfariel (talk) 22:35, 11 May 2019 (UTC)

Need to add
Sónoman, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B3noman --Manfariel (talk) 22:36, 11 May 2019 (UTC)

Iberia Inc.: Trueno, Lobisome, Melkart, Aquaviva, Drac de Ferro, Dolmen, Trasnu, and Traka. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberia_Inc. --Manfariel (talk) 03:31, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

El Hombre Atómico, https://articulo.mercadolibre.com.ar/MLA-609491782-el-hombre-atomico-suplemento-de-aventuras-de-doc-savage-n-1-_JM --Manfariel (talk) 02:40, 14 May 2019 (UTC)

Misterix, El Vengador Alado, Gorrión, Futureman. https://malditosnerds.com/Altos-en-el-cielo-10-superheroes-argentinos-t201705080003.html --Manfariel (talk) 19:34, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Forgotten superheroes
Super Friends, especially Apache Chief, Black Volcano and Samurai.--Manfariel (talk) 22:56, 11 May 2019 (UTC)

Looker, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looker_(comics)--Manfariel (talk) 14:30, 12 May 2019 (UTC)

General Glory, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Glory --Manfariel (talk) 21:27, 12 May 2019 (UTC)

Beefeater, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beefeater_(comics) --Manfariel (talk) 21:27, 12 May 2019 (UTC)

Congorilla, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congorilla --Manfariel (talk) 21:31, 12 May 2019 (UTC)

Detective Chimp, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detective_Chimp --Manfariel (talk) 21:31, 12 May 2019 (UTC)

Vibe, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_(comics) --Manfariel (talk) 03:51, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

Gypsy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsy_(comics) --Manfariel (talk) 03:51, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

Karma (Marvel), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma_(comics) --Manfariel (talk) 03:51, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

Karma (DC), https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Karma --Manfariel (talk) 03:51, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

Doctor Light (female), Beast Boy / Changelling, Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Vigilante (Adrian Chase), Aqualad, Wonder Girl, Mighty Mightor, Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo-Crew. --Manfariel (talk) 03:51, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

Halo (DC), The Thing (animated series), Mighty Man and Yuk, Samson & Goliath, Isis, Bat-Girl (Betty Kane), Deadman, Jade, Obsidian, Green Lantern Corps, all the characters of Big Bang Comics, Amalgam Comics, AC Comics and Tangent Comics. --Manfariel (talk) 15:01, 13 May 2019 (UTC)

The Hangman (Archie Comics < Pep Comics), Nightwing (Clark Kent), Flamebird --Manfariel (talk) 02:34, 14 May 2019 (UTC)

Red Rocket, Red Star, Iron Munro, Damage, Geo-Force, Neptune Perkins.--Manfariel (talk) 21:13, 25 May 2019 (UTC)

Miss Liberty, Lady Liberty. --Manfariel (talk) 01:56, 4 June 2019 (UTC)

Cyclotron.--Manfariel (talk) 04:09, 15 June 2019 (UTC)

Joe Public, Pagan, Argus. --Manfariel (talk) 23:41, 22 June 2019 (UTC)

Bwana Beast, Skyrocket, Black Alice, Red Robin, Arsenal, Warrior, Ion, Pantha (not Princess Pantha).--Manfariel (talk) 20:02, 23 June 2019 (UTC)

Gotham, Gotham Girl, Nature Boy, Captain Seattle and Raindrop. --Manfariel (talk) 00:13, 18 July 2019 (UTC)

Steam Man of the Prairies
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Steam_Man_of_the_Prairies

Jay Leno suggests Steam Man was the first American superhero from around 1870. The wiki page is already established. Does this belong on the list? 104.246.122.228 (talk) 16:12, 8 June 2022 (UTC)

Subsection Title Issues
The way things are currently formatted, no matter which decade someone edits, if they edit under a subsection title used multiple times it will link to the first one. For example, editing under 13.1 "Comic Book" under the 2020s section will link to the 4.6 "Comic Book" under 1930s. This can make it confusing when looking over previous edits, unless the editor specifies which decade's "Comic Book" they edited.

Should titles be changed to reflect which decade they are in for clarity? For example, "Comic Book (1930s)" and "Comic Book (2020s)"? This is obviously a non-issue for the casual reader, but might prove useful for editors. RingWraithsAnonymous (talk) 00:27, 13 October 2022 (UTC)