First appearance First appearances of popular heroes, villains and teams First appearances of popular heroes, villains and teams

| Characters_ | First_Appearance | Cover_Date | Publisher | Estimated_Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superman | Action Comics #1 | June 1938 | DC Comics | $2,100,000 |
| Batman | Detective Comics #27 | May 1939 | DC Comics | $475,000 |
| Sandman (Wesley Dodds) | Adventure Comics #40 | July 1939 | DC Comics | $60,000 |
| Namor the Sub-Mariner | Marvel Comics #1 | October 1939 | Timely Comics | $400,000 |
| Jay Garrick/Flash I ; Hawkman | Flash Comics #1 | January 1940 | All-American Pubs. | $95,000 |
| Captain Marvel | Whiz Comics #2 | February 1940 | Fawcett Comics | $90,000 |
| Robin | Detective Comics #38 | May 1940 | DC Comics | $75,000 |
| The Spectre | More Fun Comics #52 | February 1940 | DC Comics | $72,000 |
| Lex Luthor | Action Comics #23 | May 1940 | DC Comics | $8,025 |