🗝 The Top 100 Key Issues from The Cooper Age Comic Books published from 1985 - 1992
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Key Facts
1st full appearance of Mr. Sinister
[July 2022 - Mr. Sinister rumored to be a villain in the X-Men reboot]
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Mr. Sinister
[July 2022 - Mr. Sinister rumored to be a villain in the X-Men reboot]
Key Facts
1st appearance of The Mask, as Masque
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1st appearance and origin of Barbara Minerva as the third Cheetah
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1st appearance and origin of Barbara Minerva as the third Cheetah
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Kraven's Last Hunt story arc part 5
Death of Kraven the Hunter, by self-inflicted gunshot wound
Key Facts
Kraven's Last Hunt story arc part 5
Death of Kraven the Hunter, by self-inflicted gunshot wound
Key Facts
1st cover and second appearance of Angel as the Horseman, Death
In X-Factor #38, Beast gives Warren Worthington III the new codename Archangel
Worthington appears in full as the Horseman, Death in X-Factor #23 and in multiple cameos leading up to the issue
Key Facts
1st cover and second appearance of Angel as the Horseman, Death
In X-Factor #38, Beast gives Warren Worthington III the new codename Archangel
Worthington appears in full as the Horseman, Death in X-Factor #23 and in multiple cameos leading up to the issue
Key Facts
Premiere issue of John Constantine's first ongoing titled series
1st appearance of Papa Midnite
Key Facts
Premiere issue of John Constantine's first ongoing titled series
1st appearance of Papa Midnite
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Iconic cover art by Todd McFarlane
Key Facts
1st cameo appearance of Venom, creeping over Eddie Brock's hands
First cover art by Todd McFarlane on the Amazing Spider-Man title
1st team appearance of the Life Foundation led by Carlton Drake
1st appearance of Carlton Drake who discovered there were five symbiote seeds that could be extracted from the Venom symbiote
Key Facts
1st cameo appearance of Venom, creeping over Eddie Brock's hands
First cover art by Todd McFarlane on the Amazing Spider-Man title
1st team appearance of the Life Foundation led by Carlton Drake
1st appearance of Carlton Drake who discovered there were five symbiote seeds that could be extracted from the Venom symbiote
Key Facts
Special edition, limited to 5,000 numbered copies
Key Facts
Special edition, limited to 5,000 numbered copies
Key Facts
The Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon, she later becomes Oracle
First printing: neon green text and $3.50 cover price
Key Facts
The Joker shoots and paralyzes Barbara Gordon, she later becomes Oracle
First printing: neon green text and $3.50 cover price
Key Facts
1st team appearance of Excalibur: Captain Britain, Meggan, Rachel Summers as Phoenix, Kitty Pryde, Lockheed, Nightcrawler
Back cover appearance of Widget who is later introduced in Excalibur #1 Note: there are two first print versions: the version pictured here is more scarce and doesn't display a price on the cover. The other shows a price of $3.25
Everything $3.50 and above are later printings
Key Facts
1st team appearance of Excalibur: Captain Britain, Meggan, Rachel Summers as Phoenix, Kitty Pryde, Lockheed, Nightcrawler
Back cover appearance of Widget who is later introduced in Excalibur #1 Note: there are two first print versions: the version pictured here is more scarce and doesn't display a price on the cover. The other shows a price of $3.25
Everything $3.50 and above are later printings
Key Facts
2nd cameo appearance of Venom
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Todd McFarlane explains in an interview that he considers The Amazing Spider-Man #299 the first full appearance of Venom but various comic book resources cite The Amazing Spider-Man #300
The Amazing Spider-Man #299 was used as a prop in the film, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Key Facts
2nd cameo appearance of Venom
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Todd McFarlane explains in an interview that he considers The Amazing Spider-Man #299 the first full appearance of Venom but various comic book resources cite The Amazing Spider-Man #300
The Amazing Spider-Man #299 was used as a prop in the film, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Key Facts
Harris begins publishing Vampirella magazine
Key Facts
10-issue series about a bleak future where a mysterious anarchist known as V, opposes the British government wearing a Guy Fawkes mask
Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated on November 5th in remembrance of the night in the year 1605 when he and his co-conspirators attempted to jumpstart a political/religious revolution by blowing up the Houses of Parliament
[November 2025 - an HBO Max series is in development with James Gunn executive producing]
Key Facts
10-issue series about a bleak future where a mysterious anarchist known as V, opposes the British government wearing a Guy Fawkes mask
Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated on November 5th in remembrance of the night in the year 1605 when he and his co-conspirators attempted to jumpstart a political/religious revolution by blowing up the Houses of Parliament
[November 2025 - an HBO Max series is in development with James Gunn executive producing]
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Venom
Peter Parker returns to his classic red-and-blue costume
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Venom
Peter Parker returns to his classic red-and-blue costume
Key Facts
Premiere issue of Wolverine's first ongoing solo series
Debut of black Wolverine costume - preview in Marvel Age Annual #4
Key Facts
Premiere issue of Wolverine's first ongoing solo series
Debut of black Wolverine costume - preview in Marvel Age Annual #4
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Death of Kid Miracleman
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1st appearance of the Crow
[April 2022 - Bill Skarsgard will play Eric Draven in the Crow reboot]
Key Facts
1st appearance of the Crow
[April 2022 - Bill Skarsgard will play Eric Draven in the Crow reboot]
Key Facts
1st appearance of Dream aka Morpheus
1st appearance of Unity Kincaid
1st appearance of Roderick Burgess
1st appearance of Ethel Cripps
Key Facts
1st appearance of Dream aka Morpheus
1st appearance of Unity Kincaid
1st appearance of Roderick Burgess
1st appearance of Ethel Cripps
Key Facts
"A Death in the Family" part 3
Death of Robin, Jason Todd, killed by the Joker
Batman #427 ended on a cliffhanger that placed Jason Todd in the blast zone of an exploding warehouse
DC set up a poll for readers to cast their vote of whether Jason Todd should survive the blast by calling one phone number, or die by calling another
10,614 phone calls were made with Todd's death having been decided by only 72 votes more than the opposite outcome where he would've survived
DC had prepared both scenarios to go to print (tap cover and swipe to view unpublished pages)
Key Facts
"A Death in the Family" part 3
Death of Robin, Jason Todd, killed by the Joker
Batman #427 ended on a cliffhanger that placed Jason Todd in the blast zone of an exploding warehouse
DC set up a poll for readers to cast their vote of whether Jason Todd should survive the blast by calling one phone number, or die by calling another
10,614 phone calls were made with Todd's death having been decided by only 72 votes more than the opposite outcome where he would've survived
DC had prepared both scenarios to go to print (tap cover and swipe to view unpublished pages)
Key Facts
2nd appearance of the Crow
First solo series featuring the Crow
First, second and third printings are identical to one another but can be differentiated by the date printed on the inside front cover (First printing - February 1989)
Key Facts
2nd appearance of the Crow
First solo series featuring the Crow
First, second and third printings are identical to one another but can be differentiated by the date printed on the inside front cover (First printing - February 1989)
Key Facts
1st appearance of Jubilee, a Chinese-American teenager with the ability to emit fireworks from her fingers
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1st appearance of Jubilee, a Chinese-American teenager with the ability to emit fireworks from her fingers
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3rd appearance of Venom
1st full cover appearance of Venom - head appears in and inset of issue #315
Key Facts
3rd appearance of Venom
1st full cover appearance of Venom - head appears in and inset of issue #315
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1st full appearance and cover of John Walker as U.S. Agent, appeared briefly in West Coast Avengers #44
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1st full appearance and cover of John Walker as U.S. Agent, appeared briefly in West Coast Avengers #44
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1st appearance of Tim Drake, later becomes Robin
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1st appearance of Death, Dream’s sister
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First published artwork on the X-Men title by Jim Lee
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First published artwork on the X-Men title by Jim Lee
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1st full team appearance of the New Warriors: Firestar, Kid Nova, Marvel Boy, Namorita, Night Thrasher and Speedball
1st full appearance of Night Thrasher
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1st full team appearance of the New Warriors: Firestar, Kid Nova, Marvel Boy, Namorita, Night Thrasher and Speedball
1st full appearance of Night Thrasher
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First cover art by Alex Ross
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1st full appearance of Cable
1st full team appearance of the Mutant Liberation Front: Stryfe, Wildside, Reaper, Fourarm, Thumbelina, Strobe, Tempo, Zero
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Cable
1st full team appearance of the Mutant Liberation Front: Stryfe, Wildside, Reaper, Fourarm, Thumbelina, Strobe, Tempo, Zero
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1st appearance of Daniel Ketch as the second Marvel Ghost Rider, possessed by Noble Kale
1st appearance of Deathwatch, a demonic entity
1st appearance of Barbara Ketch, the sister of Daniel who later becomes the Spirit of Violence
1st appearance of Stacy Dolan, a former cop and friend of the Ketch family
Key Facts
1st appearance of Daniel Ketch as the second Marvel Ghost Rider, possessed by Noble Kale
1st appearance of Deathwatch, a demonic entity
1st appearance of Barbara Ketch, the sister of Daniel who later becomes the Spirit of Violence
1st appearance of Stacy Dolan, a former cop and friend of the Ketch family
Key Facts
1st appearance of Gambit
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue is often cited as a cameo of Gambit which would imply that the appearance is brief although he appears in 15 panels throughout the book with at least 10 instances of dialogue
This includes a full page-and-a-half interaction with Storm where she addresses him by name and refers to him as a thief (see images by tapping cover and swiping left)
Later Gambit appears in his classic suit and then again in an X-Men uniform
This issue went on sale June 19th whereas X-Men #266 went on sale July 10th
Uncanny X-Men #266 was written as if it were to be published prior to the annual
CGC recognizes this issue as a cameo appearance of Gambit and Uncanny X-Men #266 as his first full appearance
Key Facts
1st appearance of Gambit
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue is often cited as a cameo of Gambit which would imply that the appearance is brief although he appears in 15 panels throughout the book with at least 10 instances of dialogue
This includes a full page-and-a-half interaction with Storm where she addresses him by name and refers to him as a thief (see images by tapping cover and swiping left)
Later Gambit appears in his classic suit and then again in an X-Men uniform
This issue went on sale June 19th whereas X-Men #266 went on sale July 10th
Uncanny X-Men #266 was written as if it were to be published prior to the annual
CGC recognizes this issue as a cameo appearance of Gambit and Uncanny X-Men #266 as his first full appearance
Key Facts
Thanos gathers the Infinity Gems from the Elders of the Universe
Gem 1: Soul Gem taken from The In-Betweener
Gem 2: Power Gem taken from The Champion of the Universe
Gem 3: Time Gem taken from The Gardener
Key Facts
Thanos gathers the Infinity Gems from the Elders of the Universe
Gem 1: Soul Gem taken from The In-Betweener
Gem 2: Power Gem taken from The Champion of the Universe
Gem 3: Time Gem taken from The Gardener
Key Facts
2nd appearance and first cover of Gambit
1st chronological appearance of Gambit in-story / in-continuity
X-Men Annual #14 went on sale three weeks before this issue and is often considered the first cameo appearance of Gambit
This would imply that his appearance is brief though he appears in 15 panels throughout X-Men Annual #14 with at least 10 instances of dialogue
Tap cover and swipe left to view images where Gambit is the main or partial focus of the sequence in X-Men Annual #14
Uncanny X-Men #266 was written as if it were to be published prior to the annual, therefore #266 would be the first chronological appearance of Gambit in-story (or in-continuity)
CGC, the grading certification company for comic books, recognizes Uncanny X-Men #266 as the first full appearance of Gambit
[January 2024 - Gambit rumored for the X-Men MCU reboot according to a casting grid]
Key Facts
2nd appearance and first cover of Gambit
1st chronological appearance of Gambit in-story / in-continuity
X-Men Annual #14 went on sale three weeks before this issue and is often considered the first cameo appearance of Gambit
This would imply that his appearance is brief though he appears in 15 panels throughout X-Men Annual #14 with at least 10 instances of dialogue
Tap cover and swipe left to view images where Gambit is the main or partial focus of the sequence in X-Men Annual #14
Uncanny X-Men #266 was written as if it were to be published prior to the annual, therefore #266 would be the first chronological appearance of Gambit in-story (or in-continuity)
CGC, the grading certification company for comic books, recognizes Uncanny X-Men #266 as the first full appearance of Gambit
[January 2024 - Gambit rumored for the X-Men MCU reboot according to a casting grid]
Key Facts
Premiere issue of the fourth ongoing Spider-Man series
Todd McFarlane begins including images of Felix the Cat in the interior art of many issues after meeting someone suffering from post-traumatic stress who carried around a Felix the Cat doll
The man told McFarlane that he was not a fan of superhero books, therefore he didn't purchase Spider-Man comics, McFarlane asked if he would start reading them if Felix the Cat was drawn into them and the man said, "yes"
Key Facts
Premiere issue of the fourth ongoing Spider-Man series
Todd McFarlane begins including images of Felix the Cat in the interior art of many issues after meeting someone suffering from post-traumatic stress who carried around a Felix the Cat doll
The man told McFarlane that he was not a fan of superhero books, therefore he didn't purchase Spider-Man comics, McFarlane asked if he would start reading them if Felix the Cat was drawn into them and the man said, "yes"
Key Facts
Iconic cover art by Jim Lee
Revealed that Wolverine, Black Widow and Captain America knew one another in World War II
Origin of the first meeting between Captain America and Wolverine
Key Facts
Iconic cover art by Jim Lee
Revealed that Wolverine, Black Widow and Captain America knew one another in World War II
Origin of the first meeting between Captain America and Wolverine
Key Facts
1st appearance of Madman, Frank Einstein
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First Madman in full color
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Debut of the Infinity Gauntlet
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1st appearance of the Professor Hulk personality (grey/green composite)
1st appearance of Guilt Hulk, a manifestation of Banner's guilt
Key Facts
1st appearance of the Professor Hulk personality (grey/green composite)
1st appearance of Guilt Hulk, a manifestation of Banner's guilt
Key Facts
1st appearance of Cletus Kasady, later becomes Carnage
1st full appearance of Cardiac, a doctor who vowed to find a cure for the ailment that caused the death of his brother
Key Facts
1st appearance of Cletus Kasady, later becomes Carnage
1st full appearance of Cardiac, a doctor who vowed to find a cure for the ailment that caused the death of his brother
Key Facts
1st appearance of Deadpool, a subject of the Weapon X program
1st appearance of Copycat, impersonating Domino
1st appearance of Gideon, a member of The Externals
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1st appearance of Deadpool, a subject of the Weapon X program
1st appearance of Copycat, impersonating Domino
1st appearance of Gideon, a member of The Externals
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1st appearance and origin of Darkhawk
Key Facts
"Infinity Gauntlet" Part 1
A popular six-issue limited series that effects the entire Marvel Universe
Thanos eliminates half of the world's population using the Infinity Gauntlet to impress the cosmic entity, Death
Key Facts
"Infinity Gauntlet" Part 1
A popular six-issue limited series that effects the entire Marvel Universe
Thanos eliminates half of the world's population using the Infinity Gauntlet to impress the cosmic entity, Death
Key Facts
1st appearance of Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, Smiley Bone, Thorn and The Rat Creatures in a standard comic book
Bone previously appeared in the comic strips of the Ohio State University newspaper, The Lantern which were collected in a TPB called 'Thorn: Tales from The Lantern’ and had a print run of 1,000 copies
[October 2019 - Netflix has secured the rights to Jeff Smith's Bone but development has been discontinued as of April 2022]
Key Facts
1st appearance of Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, Smiley Bone, Thorn and The Rat Creatures in a standard comic book
Bone previously appeared in the comic strips of the Ohio State University newspaper, The Lantern which were collected in a TPB called 'Thorn: Tales from The Lantern’ and had a print run of 1,000 copies
[October 2019 - Netflix has secured the rights to Jeff Smith's Bone but development has been discontinued as of April 2022]
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the X-Men Gold (team): Storm, Archangel, Colossus, Iceman and Jean Grey
1st team appearance of the X-Men Blue (team): Cyclops, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Psylocke and Beast
1st team appearance of The Acolytes: Fabian Cortez, Annie-Marie Cortez, Chrome, Nance Winters, Delgado
Best-selling comic of all-time with sales of 8.1 million copies
Interior pin-up by Jim Lee, 'A Villains Gallery'
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the X-Men Gold (team): Storm, Archangel, Colossus, Iceman and Jean Grey
1st team appearance of the X-Men Blue (team): Cyclops, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Psylocke and Beast
1st team appearance of The Acolytes: Fabian Cortez, Annie-Marie Cortez, Chrome, Nance Winters, Delgado
Best-selling comic of all-time with sales of 8.1 million copies
Interior pin-up by Jim Lee, 'A Villains Gallery'
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Bishop, a time-traveling mutant who can absorb and redistribute energy
1st appearance of the Gamemaster, a powerful mutant telepath
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Bishop, a time-traveling mutant who can absorb and redistribute energy
1st appearance of the Gamemaster, a powerful mutant telepath
Key Facts
Cover art deemed inappropriate referencing an allusion to sexual misconduct
Key Facts
Cover art deemed inappropriate referencing an allusion to sexual misconduct
Key Facts
Preview of Evil Ernie #1
1st cover appearance of Evil Ernie
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Preview of Evil Ernie #1
1st cover appearance of Evil Ernie
Key Facts
1st appearance of Lady Death
1st appearance of Evil Ernie
First published work in the comic book industry by Brian Pulido
Key Facts
1st appearance of Lady Death
1st appearance of Evil Ernie
First published work in the comic book industry by Brian Pulido
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