Early appearance vs First appearance

[PhoKing]

So what is the difference?

 

Example:

 

Strange Tales #128 states Quicksilver and Starlet Witch early appearance while X-Men #4 is their 1st appearance.

 

 

[PT]

 

1st appearance is the first time they ever appeared in a comic, early appearance is for other appearances after the first while they were still 'new' characters.

 

Though ToS 40,41 have '2nd appearance of Iron man' and '3rd appearance of Iron Man', so not entirely sure why these would be noted as specifics and not 'early' appearances.

 

Not sure there is a hard and fast rule here?

[mysterio]

1st appearance is the first time they ever appeared in a comic, early appearance is for other appearances after the first while they were still 'new' characters.

 

Though ToS 40,41 have '2nd appearance of Iron man' and '3rd appearance of Iron Man', so not entirely sure why these would be noted as specifics and not 'early' appearances.

 

Not sure there is a hard and fast rule here?

 

I've gotten the impression after seeing several of these that "early appearance" will tend to show up for crossover appearances, while "2nd" or 3rd" will be designated in the character's own title (like Iron Man and TOS) or for villains in a flagship title (like Green Goblin or Kraven in ASM).