Hierarchy of the Top Golden Age Superhero Comics (2015 Edition)

[Chicago Boy]

Tommie Frazier has more hair than Danny Wuerffel....would you agree with that???

[Straw-Man]

the "cover" to as 8 is better than tec 33

 

disagree

 

I agree with Richard

 

not being a d.c. guy, i'm entirely objective on this point---'tec cover far superior. but, remember: original opinion above comes from guy who thinks florida beats nebraska in nat'l championship game back in '96 but for one bad call [62-24, huskers].

at the very least, the outcome, imo, would have been very different!

 

hit the hook hard!!!!! am i in trouble? are gators in season?

[VintageComics]

I didn't include Pep #22 on the list because it's a list of "superhero" books.

I get that its importance in solely due to Archie, but to say that Pep 22 isn't a "superhero" book doesn't work here. There are almost as many superhero stories in Pep 22 as there are in Action 1, Detective 27 and Whiz 1 COMBINED!

 

Pep #22 needs to be right up there with Action #1, Marvel #1, Whiz #1 and Detective #27 and in my opinion ahead of All Star #3 or 8. It's about as important a comic as has ever been introduced.

 

 

[Chicago Boy]

I think I would have to cave and find a place for Pep 22 but it wasn;t even on my radar (superhero blinders)

[Dark Knight]

But aren't we talking top influential Golden Age books, not just front covers? I'm not a huge fan of AS8 cover either (I like Sen1 much better), but if we're at least lending some weight to books with historical significance, Wonder Woman became a feminist icon and was considered a champion for gender equality. To me, the significance of her character and how it shaped the feminist movement across the country holds more weight than most other comic characters. I can't imagine not including Wonder Woman in any Top Ten list (especially in lieu of origin of Batman or first appearance of a sidekick).

 

This! I am in the same boat as you

[Dark Knight]

Yes, Pep 22 has to be a top 10 book

[kinzebac]

We should just turn this into a NU -UF thread

 

Tommie Frazier > Danny Wuerffel

 

Tom Osborne > Steve Spurrier

 

I will say this Danny W. was the most accurate passer I have ever seen watching college football. No one could put a ball where in the smallest spot where it had to be better than he could (unless he was playing the Cornhuskers of 96 after his first drive down the field to open the game)

wrong on both accounts

 

In G.A.tors defense, Danny did win the Heisman.

[Straw-Man]

so did torretta.

[kinzebac]

so did torretta.

 

and lets not forget Chris Weinke. What is with Florida, Florida State and Miami quarterbacks from the last 20 years.

[sfcityduck]

Yes, Pep 22 has to be a top 10 book

 

But not a top 10 "superhero comic." Look at the subject "re" line on top of all the posts. If we're talking books significant because of their non-superhero content, than it's a whole different ballgame.

[sfcityduck]

Speaking of ballgames, why is everyone talking about 4 or 5 loss college football team again? That Nebraska just poached its new HC from mighty Oregon State and Florida won a tight Birmingham Bowl for victory over East Carolina is exciting for sure, but not so exciting it should derail this fine thread.

[MrBedrock]

Danny did win the Heisman.

So did Johnny Football. He's still an Aggie though.

[Jaydogrules]

In past years, I've done hierarchy lists ranking "the top" Golden Age comic books. Naturally, lists of this nature are subjective and will vary depending on one's criteria. Are we talking historical significance, modern day relevance, scarcity, fair market value, coolness, story-telling, artwork, personal nostalgia, etc.? There are so many variables to consider with no real right or wrong answer. My criteria wasn't scientific, but I tried to consider elements from all the aforementioned areas.

 

Under each book listed, you will see a list of notable milestones contained in each issue. When drafting up my list, I tried to make a conscious effort to think about the books based on what they contained, regardless of the series or issue number. Those aspects were undoubtedly important, but for me, they came after.

 

Books that didn't make the cut...

 

Classic covers, unremarkable content: Action Comics #7, #10, #13 -- Detective Comics #29, #31, #35

 

I love all of these books but to make this Top-10, content of historical significance was extremely important. Action #7's story isn't one of the best of the early Siegel and Shuster run. Tec #31 is actually more than a cover-only book as it does contain the 1st app. of Julie Madison, the Monk, the Batarang and the Bat-Gyro, but in the end, those notables weren't on-par with the other three Tecs that made the list.

 

1st appearances of lesser superheros: All-American #16, Flash #1, More Fun #52, and Adventure #40

 

I was tempted to include All-American #16 and Flash #1 as they both featured 1st appearances of characters that, through one incarnation or another, went on to become prominent pieces of the modern day DC Universe. At the end of the day, a Top-10 is a short list, so some books had to be left out.

 

Leaving out All-Star Comics #8

 

This was probably the most difficult book to cut from the list. Had Wonder Woman made the front cover, had the significance of her debut not been relegated to a back-story, this one probably would have made the list.

 

 

The Top-10:

 

 

1. Action Comics #1

 

*1st app. of Superman

*1st app. of Lois Lane

*Origin of Superman

*Birth of the "superhero" genre

*Birth of the "DC Superhero Universe"

*Classic cover

 

What more can be said about this book? The superhero genre as we all know it today might not even exist had it not been for the success of Superman, and the countless others that followed, borrowing from his archetype. His precursors are many, but Superman was a breakthrough. So much of what we know today from his universe was found in Action #1: his meek and mild alter-ego Clark Kent, the strong, brash Lois Lane, Clark's arrival from another planet, his work as a newspaper reporter, the fight against social injustice -- there was a lot of substance to Superman's debut. Coming out of the Great Depression, the world of 1938 needed a hero. Siegel and Shuster gave them one that would endure for ages.

 

 

2. Detective Comics #27

 

*1st app. of Batman

*1st app. of Jim Gordon

*Classic cover

 

Batman's debut didn't posses the same power, intensity or emotional impact as Superman's. There was no origin to be found and we didn't learn who the Bat-Man really was until the story's final page. But with that said, we were introduced to, arguably, comics most beloved character. Wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne, James Gordon -- the very beginning of a dynamic that would evolve over the decades. Ripped from the cloth of the Shadow, Batman had mystique, detective skills and a striking appearances that would terrify his enemies. It was raw, very raw, but it all started here.

 

 

3. Batman #1

 

*1st app. of the Joker

*1st app. of the Catwoman

*First issue of Batman's solo title

*Final Pre-Robin Tec story

*Classic cover

 

Besides the obvious debut of comicdom's most infamous villain, Batman #1 marked a turning point in superhero comics. Early Superman's greatest challenges were often situational. How to fight social injustice: domestic violence, corrupt government officials, munition sales, drunk driving, unsafe working conditions, etc. But Superman was in control. Superman fought these situations head on, brought solution, elicited change and stood tall. Early Batman tackled mysteries, using his detective skills to solve crimes, even if they be orchestrated by villains as fit for a horror film as they were for a Sherlock Holmes-esque adventure.

 

The Joker was different: psychological, anarchical, driven. Batman was steps behind this new breed of adversary, a villain who took the lives of four people in the story's first eight pages. Where was Batman? Plotting, waiting for his moment? Just as Heath Ledger perfected in 2008's The Dark Knight, this tale was that of the villain. Where previous bad guys were propped up as plot devices for the hero to foil, for the first time, Batman became the plot device needed to end the Joker's story.

 

When your backstories include the final Pre-Robin Tec tale and the 1st app. of the Catwoman, you know the book is in rarified air.

 

 

4. Captain America Comics #1

 

*1st app. of Captain America

*1st app. of the Red Skull

*1st app. of Bucky Barnes

*Classic cover

 

The significance of Captain America extends far beyond the early Timely Universe. Simon and Kirby created a hero for a world that desperately needed one. As the Nazi's continued to conquer countries, impose unthinkable laws and worse, Captain America led the fight against a real world threat that history will never forget.

 

On a comic book level, Captain America became Timely's first truly breakthrough character. His origin story remains mostly unchanged, his sidekick Bucky Barnes (later to become the Winter Solider) was introduced and the two fought Timely's most infamous villain: the Red Skull. Kirby's cover epitomized the term "classic" -- leaving the image of Cap's debut permanently etched into the minds of comic collectors worldwide.

 

Strong arguments could be made to place Marvel Comics #1 ahead of this issue by virtue of it being the birth of the Marvel Universe, but that's something I'll touch on momentarily.

 

 

5. Marvel Comics #1

 

*Birth of the "Marvel Universe"

*1st app. of the Human Torch

*1st published app. of the Sub-Mariner

*Classic cover

 

The Marvel brand's success reaches far beyond the reach of it's flagship characters alone. For that reason, along with the fact that their No. 1 character (Spider-Man) didn't exist in the 1930's and 1940's -- Marvel Comics #1 ranks high. It was the birth of what would eventually become, arguably, the most beloved universe in all of fiction: the "Marvel Universe."

 

The concept of fire and water was unique and clearly -- Timely's heroes possessed a flavor all their own. Namor the Sub-Mariner was cooler than he's often thought to be, IMO anyway, and the cover of Marvel #1 is breathtaking. And while there's plenty to love about this issue, it lacks the most star-power of any book on this list.

 

Marvel #1 is in many respects, cherished for what came after more so than what it contains within. Because Marvel has reached unprecedented heights, it's beginning holds great value. But the cast featured in the book itself, in comparison to it's peers, pulls it below a select few others.

 

 

6. Superman #1

 

*First book dedicated to one superhero

*First issue of Superman's solo title

*Expanded origin of Superman

*1st app. of "Ma" and "Pa" Kent (Jonathan and Martha)

*Classic cover

 

Superman #1 is NOT just a collection of reprints. No doubt, it has more reprinted material than all of the other books on this list combined, but that doesn't mean we should look past the gold nuggets it contains within. The Man of Steel's expanded origin, the completion of Action #1's story and the introduction of Clark Kent's adoptive parents are all important. Superman was coming into his own and the significance of this being the first book devoted to a singular superhero character is a monumental milestone in the world of comics.

 

 

7. Detective Comics #33

 

*Origin of Batman

*1st app. of Thomas and Martha Wayne (Martha unnamed)

*1st app. of Joe Chill (unnamed)

 

When in the new series Gotham, David Mazouz dropped to his knees in terror at the sight of his slain patents -- the origin of the Batman, as originally told here in Tec #33, continued to live on. It is a story not only familiar, but it is perhaps, the most well known tale in the history of comics. Everyone knows why Batman became Batman. It started here, swipejob not withstanding.

 

 

8. Detective Comics #38

 

*1st app. of Robin

*Origin of Robin

*First superhero "sidekick" in comics

*Classic cover

 

While Robin-bashing may be popular amongst adult-aged comic collectors who find the Pre-Robin Batman to be too "cool" to be lightened up with the introduction of Robin -- history is worth revisiting. Not only were both Batman and Robin extremely violent during the Boy Wonder's earliest stories, but Batman himself had began to camp-up before Robin was introduced. One look at some of the artwork found in Tec #37 shows us that Batman already falling short of his "Avenger of Evil" status.

 

The introduction of the superhero sidekick was not only popular, but it gave superhero titles increased popularity, resulting in increased sales and possibly, greater longevity to survive through certain eras. Robin was arguably a Top-5 Golden Age superhero both in terms of recognizability and importance. This issue gave us his 1st appearence and origin.

 

 

9. Whiz Comics #2 (#1)

 

*1st app. of Captain Marvel (Billy Batson)

*Origin of Captain Marvel

*Birth of the "Fawcett Universe"

*Classic cover

 

There was a time during the 1940s when Captain Marvel Adventures was the best selling title in comics. Did the character borrow a little too much from Superman? Probably. But Fawcett was able to take a great concept, add a unique flavor to it and in some cases, surpass it. Captain Marvel was big-time and with a 2019 feature film on the horizon featuring Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, there's a lot of potential for the big red cheese to shoot his way back into the limelight.

 

 

10. All-Star Comics #3

 

*1st app. of the Justice Society of America

*First superhero cross-cover in comics

*First meeting of National and All-American characters

*First superhero team in comics

*Birth of the "shared Universe" concept

*Classic cover

 

Where would the "DC Universe", the "Marvel Universe", be today without a sense of continuity? Although the development of the Justice Society came about, in part, to stimulate interest in less popular heroes, it laid the foundation for the invaluable concept of shared universe. Characters from both National and All-American Publications came together to form the first superhero "team" in comic book history. It was groundbreaking, it was cool and it splashed onto the scene with an unforgettable cover.

 

So there you have it. My list could change by the day depending on how much thought I give it.

I am interested to hear opinions from other collectors.

 

Great, well thought out and well reasoned list. I wouldn't change a thing. (thumbs u

 

-J.

[Straw-Man]

Danny did win the Heisman.

So did Johnny Football. He's still an Aggie though.

 

johnny highball, more like.

[Chicago Boy]

Tommie would have if they would have waited until after the bowl game (he came in 2nd) Eddie George would have been a third string running back on that Nebraska team and Frazier probably could have been a starter at tailback for Ohio State that year

[kinzebac]

Danny did win the Heisman.

So did Johnny Football. He's still an Aggie though.

 

Don't the Texans need a quarterback?

[MrBedrock]

Danny did win the Heisman.

So did Johnny Football. He's still an Aggie though.

 

Don't the Texans need a quarterback?

Even if Manziel were on the roster they would need a quarterback.

[kinzebac]

Danny did win the Heisman.

So did Johnny Football. He's still an Aggie though.

 

Don't the Texans need a quarterback?

Even if Manziel were on the roster they would need a quarterback.

 

 

[Big Moov]

Yes I already said a while back that it's me who's selling the Flash 1 ashcan....full disclosure . Yes he's Captain Thunder....and yes it's production materials....but it IS CLEARLY the missing Whiz #1. And they even call him Captain Thunder now at times. And look at him. So yes, it's Captain Marvel. I know this could open the door to things like the Superman family of ashcans....but

 

What's the provenance of your copy? Is it one of the copies that Stephen Fishler got from the CBS archives? (there are maybe one or two copies that surfaced elsewhere, I think?)

 

I actually think there's an excellent chance that there was a true Whiz 1 ashcan (that has the title Whiz but was done after Flash and Thrill versions. Whether a copy still exists today is another matter.

 

as far as I know, there's no ashcan appearance of Superman before Action #1. (If there is, let me know; I'd like a copy.)

 

I doubt we've heard the last word on this subject, but time will tell.

 

 

Yes, it IS one of the copies that Stephen Fishler got from the CBS archives.

 

As for a pre-Action1 Superman appearance in an ashcan....I wonder how much that would sell for?

 

I'm also real interested superheroes who didn't first appear in comics. Like the Phantom, Flash Gordon, etc. Do you have a list of first comic-strip appearances? And do you know if anyone actually owns stuff like this or it still exists? I've seen the Buck Rogers first appearance in a pulp, and I've seen the Spirit first appearance in a comic strip. Do you know of any others?

[markseifert]

Do you know of any others?

 

Not exactly superheroes, but outside of comics, important print-based adventure characters, super-heavyweights include:

 

 

 

You may not get a shot at a copy of the Beeton's (first Sherlock Holmes) anytime soon, though you could probably get the All-Story eventually, if you were willing to pay the price for it.

 

[Does anybody here have a Beeton's? Do you have one, Bookery?]