List of superhero debuts
The following is a list of the first known appearances of various superhero fictional characters and teams.
A superhero is a fictional character "of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest." Since the debut of Superman in 1938 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, 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."
By most definitions, characters need not have actual superhuman powers to be deemed superheroes, although sometimes terms such as "costumed crimefighters" are used to refer to those without such powers who have many other common traits of superheroes.
For a list of comic book supervillain debuts, see List of comic book supervillain debuts.
came to be featured in a series of Penny Dreadfuls as a villain. However, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was reinvented as a crime-fighter with a disguise, secret lair, and gadgets, hallmarks of superheroes.
1900–1909
Newspaper comics
Despite its short run, it's seen as the earliest superhero fiction comic.Play
Often cited as perhaps the earliest superhero akin to those to become popularized through American comic books.1910s
Magazine
Novel
1920s
Notable non-superhero characters that influenced the superhero genre
1930s
Radio
Pulp fiction
Newspaper comics
Other media
Notable non-superhero characters that influenced the superhero genre
Comic book
1940s
Newspaper comics
Comic book
| Character / Team | Year Debuted | Creator/s | Media |
| Maximo the Amazing Superman | 1940 | Russell R. Winterbotham, Henry E. Vallely and Erwin L. Hess | Big Little Book |