Comic Book Key Issues & First Appearances (192 keys)

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X-Men (70)

X-Men #1 (1963)First appearance of Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and 7 more
X-Men #2 (1963)First appearance of Colonel Hendershoot, Frederick Duncan and Vanisher
X-Men #3 (1964)First appearance of Blob
X-Men #4 (1964)First appearance of Mastermind, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and 1 more
X-Men #5 (1964)First appearance of Elaine Grey and John Grey
X-Men #7 (1964)First appearance of Bernard the Poet and Cerebro
X-Men #8 (1964)First appearance of Unus the Untouchable
X-Men #9 (1965)First appearance of Lucifer
X-Men #10 (1965)First appearance of Ka-Zar, Maa-Gor and Zabu
X-Men #11 (1965)First appearance of Stranger
X-Men #12 (1965)First appearance of Juggernaut and Kurt Marko
X-Men #14 (1965)First appearance of Bolivar Trask, Kathryn Worthington and Warren Worthington, Jr.
X-Men #15 (1965)First appearance of Edna McCoy, Master Mold and Norton McCoy
X-Men #17 (1966)First appearance of John Thomas
X-Men #19 (1966)First appearance of Mimic, Ronald Rankin and Vera Cantor
X-Men #20 (1966)First appearance of Supreme One
X-Men #21 (1966)First appearance of Dominus
X-Men #22 (1966)First appearance of Colosso
X-Men #24 (1966)First appearance of Locust and Ted Roberts
X-Men #25 (1966)First appearance of El Tigre, Kukulkán, Ramon Dantas and 1 more
X-Men #27 (1966)First appearance of Defender
X-Men #28 (1967)First appearance of Banshee, Factor Three and Ogre
X-Men #31 (1967)First appearance of Candy Southern and Cobalt Man
X-Men #33 (1967)First appearance of Outcast
X-Men #35 (1967)First appearance of Kevin Sydney
X-Men #36 (1967)First appearance of Andrew Regal and Mekano
X-Men #37 (1967)First appearance of Mutant Master
X-Men #39 (1967)First appearance of Living Diamond
X-Men #41 (1968)First appearance of Grotesk, Ingar and King Krono
X-Men #44 (1968)First appearance of Judy Harmon, Madeline Drake, Red Raven and 1 more
X-Men #49 (1968)First appearance of Mesmero, Polaris and Robert McCoy
X-Men #50 (1968)First appearance of Conquistador
X-Men #54 (1969)First appearance of Havok and Living Monolith
X-Men #57 (1969)First appearance of Judge Chalmers and Larry Trask
X-Men #59 (1969)First appearance of Sauron
X-Men #60 (1969)First appearance of Tanya Anderssen
X-Men #62 (1969)First appearance of Amphibius, Barbarus, Brainchild and 4 more
X-Men #63 (1969)First appearance of Lorelei
X-Men #64 (1970)First appearance of Sunfire
X-Men #94 (1975)First appearance of Dragonfly
X-Men #96 (1975)First appearance of Kierrok, Michael Rossi, Moira MacTaggert and 3 more
X-Men #97 (1976)First appearance of D'Ken, Eric the Red, Lilandra Neramani and 1 more
X-Men #98 (1976)First appearance of Amanda Sefton and Betsy Wilford
X-Men #99 (1976)First appearance of Black Tom Cassidy and Mikhail Kutuzov
X-Men #101 (1976)First appearance of Eamon O'Donnell and Phoenix Force
X-Men #102 (1976)First appearance of Achmed el-Gibar and David Munroe
X-Men #104 (1977)First appearance of Angus MacWhirter, Ch'od, Corsair and 2 more
X-Men #105 (1977)First appearance of K'rk 'N'Kazaii and S'lar
X-Men #107 (1977)First appearance of Astra, Electron, Fang and 18 more
X-Men #108 (1977)First appearance of Jahf, Katherine Summers, Modt and 1 more
X-Men #109 (1978)First appearance of Araki, Gary Cody and Guardian
X-Men #112 (1978)First appearance of Nanny
X-Men #114 (1978)First appearance of Fahe and Nereel
X-Men #117 (1979)First appearance of Shadow King
X-Men #118 (1979)First appearance of Mariko Yashida
X-Men #119 (1979)First appearance of Proteus
X-Men #120 (1979)First appearance of Alpha Flight, Aurora, Northstar and 3 more
X-Men #122 (1979)First appearance of Maelen
X-Men #125 (1979)First appearance of Kyras Shakati
X-Men #127 (1979)First appearance of Joseph MacTaggert
X-Men #129 (1980)First appearance of Carmen Pryde, Donald Pierce, Emma Frost and 5 more
X-Men #130 (1980)First appearance of Dazzler
X-Men #132 (1980)First appearance of Sage
X-Men #133 (1980)First appearance of Cole, Macon, Reese and 1 more
X-Men #135 (1980)First appearance of Eluke and Juber
X-Men #136 (1980)First appearance of Sara Grey-Bailey
X-Men #137 (1980)First appearance of Bel-Dann, Earthquake, Hussar and 3 more
X-Men #138 (1980)First appearance of Paul Bailey
X-Men #139 (1980)First appearance of Stevie Hunter and Vindicator
X-Men #141 (1981)First appearance of Avalanche, Colossus, Cyclops and 10 more

The Amazing Spider-Man (37)

The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963)First appearance of Chameleon, J. Jonah Jameson and John Jameson
The Amazing Spider-Man #2 (1963)First appearance of Dr. Cobbwell, Eleonore Brant, Mysterio and 2 more
The Amazing Spider-Man #3 (1963)First appearance of Charles Buchanan, Doctor Octopus and Dr. Otto Octavius
The Amazing Spider-Man #4 (1963)First appearance of Andrew Davis, Betty Brant and Sandman
The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (1963)First appearance of Billy Connors, Lizard and Martha Connors
The Amazing Spider-Man #8 (1964)First appearance of Charlie Murphy and Living Brain
The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (1964)First appearance of Electro and Nicholas Bromwell
The Amazing Spider-Man #10 (1964)First appearance of Fancy Dan, Frederick Foswell, Montana and 1 more
The Amazing Spider-Man #11 (1964)First appearance of Blackie Gaxton and Crime-Master
The Amazing Spider-Man #14 (1964)First appearance of Norman Osborn
The Amazing Spider-Man #15 (1964)First appearance of Anna Watson and Kraven the Hunter
The Amazing Spider-Man #17 (1964)First appearance of Wilson Allan
The Amazing Spider-Man #18 (1964)First appearance of Ned Leeds
The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (1964)First appearance of Mac Gargan
The Amazing Spider-Man #20 (1965)First appearance of Farley Stillwell
The Amazing Spider-Man #22 (1965)First appearance of Precious and Princess Python
The Amazing Spider-Man #23 (1965)First appearance of Lucky Lobo
The Amazing Spider-Man #25 (1965)First appearance of Mary Jane Watson and Spencer Smythe
The Amazing Spider-Man #26 (1965)First appearance of Crime-Master
The Amazing Spider-Man #27 (1965)First appearance of Barney Bushkin
The Amazing Spider-Man #28 (1965)First appearance of Doris Allan and Molten Man
The Amazing Spider-Man #30 (1965)First appearance of Cat Burglar
The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (1965)First appearance of Gwen Stacy, Harry Osborn and Jackal
The Amazing Spider-Man #36 (1966)First appearance of Looter and Sally Green
The Amazing Spider-Man #37 (1966)First appearance of Max Young and Mendel Stromm
The Amazing Spider-Man #38 (1966)First appearance of Joe Smith
The Amazing Spider-Man #41 (1966)First appearance of Rhino
The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (1967)First appearance of Shocker
The Amazing Spider-Man #48 (1967)First appearance of Blackie Drago
The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (1967)First appearance of Flint and Kingpin
The Amazing Spider-Man #51 (1967)First appearance of Robbie Robertson
The Amazing Spider-Man #56 (1968)First appearance of George Stacy
The Amazing Spider-Man #67 (1968)First appearance of Randy Robertson
The Amazing Spider-Man #68 (1969)First appearance of Josh Kittling, Louis Wilson and Martha Robertson
The Amazing Spider-Man #70 (1969)First appearance of Vanessa Fisk
The Amazing Spider-Man #73 (1969)First appearance of Man Mountain Marko and Silvermane
The Amazing Spider-Man #129 (1974)First appearance of Punisher

Uncanny X-Men (27)

Uncanny X-Men #143 (1981)First appearance of Lee Forrester
Uncanny X-Men #144 (1981)First appearance of Jock Forrester
Uncanny X-Men #148 (1981)First appearance of Caliban
Uncanny X-Men #153 (1982)First appearance of Colleen and Colossus
Uncanny X-Men #155 (1982)First appearance of Brood, N'Rill'Iree and Skur'kll
Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982)First appearance of Haeg'Rill and Sikorsky
Uncanny X-Men #157 (1982)First appearance of Blackthorn, Kam'N'Ehar, Sea Spine and 3 more
Uncanny X-Men #160 (1982)First appearance of Earth-8280, Limbo, Nightcrawler and 2 more
Uncanny X-Men #161 (1982)First appearance of Daniel Shomron and Gabrielle Haller
Uncanny X-Men #166 (1983)First appearance of Lockheed
Uncanny X-Men #168 (1983)First appearance of Madelyne Pryor
Uncanny X-Men #169 (1983)First appearance of Callisto, Masque, Plague and 1 more
Uncanny X-Men #175 (1983)First appearance of Deborah Summers and Philip Summers
Uncanny X-Men #176 (1983)First appearance of Valerie Cooper
Uncanny X-Men #179 (1984)First appearance of Healer and Leech
Uncanny X-Men #181 (1984)First appearance of Amiko Kobayashi and Puff
Uncanny X-Men #184 (1984)First appearance of Forge and Naze
Uncanny X-Men #188 (1984)First appearance of Adversary, Amanda Sefton and Jaime Rodriguez
Uncanny X-Men #191 (1985)First appearance of Nimrod
Uncanny X-Men #193 (1985)First appearance of Firestar
Uncanny X-Men #194 (1985)First appearance of Andrea von Strucker and Andreas von Strucker
Uncanny X-Men #198 (1985)First appearance of Mjnari
Uncanny X-Men #199 (1985)First appearance of Jean Grey
Uncanny X-Men #200 (1985)First appearance of Gregori Suvorov, Michelle Deveraux and Neal Conan
Uncanny X-Men #204 (1986)First appearance of Judith Rassendyll
Uncanny X-Men #210 (1986)First appearance of Arclight, Harpoon, Malice and 6 more
Uncanny X-Men #211 (1986)First appearance of Cybelle

Fantastic Four (9)

Fantastic Four #1 (1961)First appearance of Giganto, Human Torch, Invisible Woman and 5 more
Fantastic Four #2 (1962)First appearance of Skrull
Fantastic Four #3 (1962)First appearance of Baxter Building, Lieutenant General Fredricks and Miracle Man
Fantastic Four #4 (1962)First appearance of Giganto
Fantastic Four #5 (1962)First appearance of Doctor Doom and Doombot
Fantastic Four #7 (1962)First appearance of Kurrgo and Kurrgo's Robot
Fantastic Four #8 (1962)First appearance of Alicia Masters and Puppet Master
Fantastic Four #11 (1963)First appearance of Impossible Man
Fantastic Four #12 (1963)First appearance of Wrecker

Incredible Hulk (6)

Incredible Hulk #1 (1962)First appearance of Betty Ross, Gargoyle, Hulk and 3 more
Incredible Hulk #2 (1962)First appearance of Toad King and Torrak
Incredible Hulk #3 (1962)First appearance of Griffin, Human Cannonball, Ringmaster and 2 more
Incredible Hulk #4 (1962)First appearance of Mongu
Incredible Hulk #5 (1963)First appearance of General Fang and Tyrannus
Incredible Hulk #6 (1963)First appearance of Metal Master

Amazing Adventures (4)

Amazing Adventures #1 (1970)First appearance of Ivan Petrovich
Amazing Adventures #2 (1970)First appearance of Anthony Scarola and Paul Hamilton
Amazing Adventures #5 (1971)First appearance of Astrologer, Joey and Roscoe
Amazing Adventures #6 (1971)First appearance of Lionel Dibbs

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (4)

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #1 (1984)First appearance of Beyonder
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #3 (1984)First appearance of Titania and Volcana
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #4 (1984)First appearance of Zsaji
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #6 (1984)First appearance of Julia Carpenter

Secret Wars II (4)

Secret Wars II #1 (1985)First appearance of Boromir and Stewart Cadwall
Secret Wars II #3 (1985)First appearance of Vinnie Corbo
Secret Wars II #5 (1985)First appearance of Tabitha Smith
Secret Wars II #7 (1986)First appearance of Bitterhorn

The Avengers (4)

The Avengers #1 (1963)First appearance of Avengers and Bill Bishop
The Avengers #2 (1963)First appearance of Avengers Mansion, Bill Segrist and Space Phantom
The Avengers #4 (1964)First appearance of Baron Zemo, D'Bari and Starhammer
The Avengers #5 (1964)First appearance of Jinku

The New Mutants (4)

The New Mutants #4 (1983)First appearance of Peter Bristow
The New Mutants #7 (1983)First appearance of Axe and Nina Da Costa
The New Mutants #8 (1983)First appearance of Magma
The New Mutants #9 (1983)First appearance of Lucius Aquilla, Marcus Domitius Gallio and Selene

Detective Comics (3)

Detective Comics #27 (1939)First appearance of Batman and Bruce Wayne
Detective Comics #36 (1939)First appearance of Hugo Strange
Detective Comics #38First appearance of Dick Grayson and Robin

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2)

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 (1965)First appearance of Xandu
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 (1968)First appearance of Finisher, Mary Parker and Richard Parker

X-Factor (2)

X-Factor #1 (1986)First appearance of Cameron Hodge, Emma la Porte and Rusty Collins
X-Factor #2 (1986)First appearance of Artie Maddicks and Tower

Action Comics (1)

Action Comics #1 (1938)First appearance of Clark Kent, Superman and Tigress

Amazing Fantasy (1)

Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962)First appearance of Aunt May, Baxter Bigelow, Bluebird and 10 more

Captain America Comics (1)

Captain America Comics #1 (1941)First appearance of Abraham Erskine, Betsy Ross, Bucky Barnes and 5 more

Dawn of the living dead (1)

Dawn of the living dead #1 (1986)First appearance of Groucho, Inspector Bloch and Xabaras

Doctor Strange (1)

Doctor Strange #169 (1968)First appearance of Asmodeus

For the Love of Coke and Fries (1)

For the Love of Coke and Fries #1 (2010)First appearance of Amalia and Bronjay

Giant-Size X-Men (1)

Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)First appearance of Alexandra Rasputina, Colossus, General Chasen and 6 more

Iron Man (1)

Iron Man #1 (1968)First appearance of Mordius

Knights of X (1)

Knights of X #1 (2022)First appearance of Knights of X

Marvel Premiere (1)

Marvel Premiere #1 (1972)First appearance of David Thomas, Ellie Roberts, Jason Grey and 1 more

Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos (1)

Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 (1963)First appearance of Dino Manelli, Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones and 5 more

Strange Tales (1)

Strange Tales #169 (1973)First appearance of Bambu, Brother Voodoo, Daniel Drumm and 1 more

Strength Man (1)

Strength Man #1 (2024)First appearance of Strength Man

Tales to Astonish (1)

Tales to Astonish #27 (1962)First appearance of Henry Pym

Thor (1)

Thor #126 (1966)First appearance of Seidring

X-Men: Red (1)

X-Men: Red #1 (2022)First appearance of Fisher King

FAQ

What is a key issue?

A key issue is a comic with lasting collector demand, most often because a major character, team or villain appears for the first time. Origins, deaths, first covers and famous artwork can also make an issue a key.

Are key issues always valuable?

No. Value depends on the exact printing, variant and condition, and on demand for the character. Scan your copy to see the dated cover price and community-reported prices.

Where does this list come from?

First-appearance data comes from Wikidata (CC0) and grows as the catalog grows. Spotted a missing key? Email hello@slabsta.com.

Key-issue and first-appearance data: Wikidata (CC0). Character and series names are trademarks of their owners; Slabsta is not affiliated with any publisher.