KEY ISSUES — FIRST APPEARANCES

The most iconic and valuable first appearances in comic book history. Click any character to find listings on eBay.

High Grade First Appearances

Marvel Heroes

Spider-Man

Amazing Fantasy #15

Wolverine

Incredible Hulk #181

Iron Man

Tales of Suspense #39

The Hulk

Incredible Hulk #1

Miles Morales

Ultimate Fallout #4

Captain America

Captain America Comics #1

Thor

Journey into Mystery #83

Black Panther

Fantastic Four #52

Daredevil

Daredevil #1

Luke Cage

Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1

Black Widow

Tales of Suspense #52

Deadpool

New Mutants #98

Amazing Spider-Man Keys

Spider-Man Villains

Doctor Octopus

Amazing Spider-Man #3

Green Goblin

Amazing Spider-Man #14

Venom

Amazing Spider-Man #300

Kingpin

Amazing Spider-Man #50

Rhino

Amazing Spider-Man #41

Hobgoblin

Amazing Spider-Man #238

Lizard

Amazing Spider-Man #6

Carnage

Amazing Spider-Man #361

Kraven the Hunter

Amazing Spider-Man #15

Sandman

Amazing Spider-Man #4

Mysterio

Amazing Spider-Man #13

Punisher

Amazing Spider-Man #129

X-Men First Appearances

X-Men & Mutants

Sabretooth

Iron Fist #14

Omega Red

X-Men (vol. 2) #4

Apocalypse

X-Factor #6

Mister Sinister

Uncanny X-Men #221

Cable

New Mutants #87

Gambit

Uncanny X-Men #266

Rogue

Avengers Annual #10

Archangel

X-Factor #24

Juggernaut

X-Men #12

Lady Deathstrike

Alpha Flight #33

Sentinel

X-Men #14

Master Mold

X-Men #15

DC Golden Age First Appearances

Marvel Villains & Cosmic

Doctor Doom

Fantastic Four #5

Galactus

Fantastic Four #48

Thanos

Invincible Iron Man #55

Silver Surfer

Fantastic Four #48

Terrax

Fantastic Four #211

Gladiator

X-Men #107

Villain First Appearances

DC Comics

Harley Quinn

Batman Adventures #12

Bane

Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1

Ra's al Ghul

Batman #232

Darkseid

Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134

Swamp Thing

House of Secrets #92

Doomsday

Superman: Man of Steel #18

Bizarro

Superboy #68

Brainiac

Action Comics #242

Poison Ivy

Batman #181

Man-Bat

Detective Comics #400

Killer Croc

Detective Comics #524

Riddler

Detective Comics #140

Indie & Image Comics

Indie & Image

Red Sonja

Conan the Barbarian #23

TMNT

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

Usagi Yojimbo

Albedo Anthropomorphics #2

Spawn

Spawn #1

Violator

Spawn #2

Angela

Spawn #9

Walking Dead Key Issues

The Walking Dead

Rick Grimes

The Walking Dead #1

Michonne

The Walking Dead #19

The Governor

The Walking Dead #27

Negan

The Walking Dead #100

Andrea

The Walking Dead #2

Eugene Porter

The Walking Dead #53

What Are Key Issues?

Key issues are comic books that mark a significant moment in comics history — the first appearance of a beloved character, a shocking death, or the origin of a superhero. These issues are the most sought-after by collectors and typically command the highest prices.

From the debut of Venom in Amazing Spider-Man #300 to the first appearance of Spawn in 1992, every card on this page links directly to eBay listings where you can compare prices on raw copies, CGC graded slabs, and everything in between.