🗝 The Top 100 Key Issues from The Modern Age Comic Books published from 1993 - Present
Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.
Key Facts
According to Tom Brevoort, Senior Vice President of publishing at Marvel, this issue includes Stan Lee's final published story, 'Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge'
Stan Lee's first published story for Marvel was a two-page text feature in Captain America Comics #3 (May 1941) of the same name
Stan Lee adapted the two-page text story from 1941 into a traditional comic script 73 years later and Bruce Timm illustrated the panels
Stan Lee's first published story was also his last
Key Facts
According to Tom Brevoort, Senior Vice President of publishing at Marvel, this issue includes Stan Lee's final published story, 'Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge'
Stan Lee's first published story for Marvel was a two-page text feature in Captain America Comics #3 (May 1941) of the same name
Stan Lee adapted the two-page text story from 1941 into a traditional comic script 73 years later and Bruce Timm illustrated the panels
Stan Lee's first published story was also his last
Key Facts
1st appearance of Old Man Logan
1st appearance of Old Man Hawkeye
Key Facts
1st appearance of Old Man Logan
1st appearance of Old Man Hawkeye
Key Facts
1st appearance of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel
Carol doesn't officially accept the codename until Captain Marvel #1 2012
Key Facts
1st appearance of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel
Carol doesn't officially accept the codename until Captain Marvel #1 2012
Key Facts
1st appearance of Doctor Aphra
1st appearance of 0-0-0 aka Triple Zero, a droid
1st appearance of BT-1, an assassin droid
Key Facts
1st appearance of Doctor Aphra
1st appearance of 0-0-0 aka Triple Zero, a droid
1st appearance of BT-1, an assassin droid
Key Facts
1st cover appearance of the War Machine armor, worn by Tony Stark
⚠ Misconception: cited by many as the first appearance of War Machine. "War Machine" is splashed across the IRON MAN title in reference to the armor’s incredible armaments but the name is not official. The armor, (piloted by Tony Stark in this issue, not James Rhodes) actually debuts in the previous issue, Iron Man #281. In Iron Man #284, James Rhodes suits up in the War Machine armor but does so as Iron Man and does not officially assume the War Machine codename until West Coast Avengers #94, though he is referred to as War Machine in X-Force #21 but as Iron Man in X-Force #20
Key Facts
1st cover appearance of the War Machine armor, worn by Tony Stark
⚠ Misconception: cited by many as the first appearance of War Machine. "War Machine" is splashed across the IRON MAN title in reference to the armor’s incredible armaments but the name is not official. The armor, (piloted by Tony Stark in this issue, not James Rhodes) actually debuts in the previous issue, Iron Man #281. In Iron Man #284, James Rhodes suits up in the War Machine armor but does so as Iron Man and does not officially assume the War Machine codename until West Coast Avengers #94, though he is referred to as War Machine in X-Force #21 but as Iron Man in X-Force #20
Key Facts
1st appearance of Spider-Gwen, Gwen Stacy in an alternate universe (Earth-65)
1st appearance of Em Jay Watson (Earth-65) who later bonds with the Carnage symbiote
1st team appearance of the Mary Janes: Em Jay Watson, Betty Brant, Glory Grant
Key Facts
1st appearance of Spider-Gwen, Gwen Stacy in an alternate universe (Earth-65)
1st appearance of Em Jay Watson (Earth-65) who later bonds with the Carnage symbiote
1st team appearance of the Mary Janes: Em Jay Watson, Betty Brant, Glory Grant
Key Facts
A small Alaskan town is invaded by vampires during a naturally occurring, month-long absence of sunlight
First traditional comic book published by IDW
Copies ordered by retailers: 3,791
Key Facts
A small Alaskan town is invaded by vampires during a naturally occurring, month-long absence of sunlight
First traditional comic book published by IDW
Copies ordered by retailers: 3,791
Key Facts
Premiere issue of a series created by Brian K. Vaughn about the last man on a female populated Earth
Key Facts
Premiere issue of a series created by Brian K. Vaughn about the last man on a female populated Earth
Key Facts
1st team appearance of Birds of Prey: Black Canary and Oracle
Unofficial team appearance in Showcase 96 #3
Key Facts
1st team appearance of Birds of Prey: Black Canary and Oracle
Unofficial team appearance in Showcase 96 #3
Key Facts
First Gotham City Sirens title featuring Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Poison Ivy
Key Facts
First Gotham City Sirens title featuring Harley Quinn, Catwoman and Poison Ivy
Key Facts
Premiere issue of the second standalone Batman title
1st appearance of Lincoln March
1st cameo appearance of Harper Row, later becomes Bluebird
Key Facts
Premiere issue of the second standalone Batman title
1st appearance of Lincoln March
1st cameo appearance of Harper Row, later becomes Bluebird
Key Facts
1st appearance of Moon Girl, Lunella Lafayette
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Knull,the creator of the Symbiote alien race
Knull's first cameo appearance is in Thor: God of Thunder #6
The spiral emblem associated with Knull is a reference to Chthulhu mythology
Knull was the first being that existed in nothingness that preceded the creation of the current Marvel Universe
[September 2024 - the latest Venom trailer revealed Knull to be a villain in the film]
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Knull,the creator of the Symbiote alien race
Knull's first cameo appearance is in Thor: God of Thunder #6
The spiral emblem associated with Knull is a reference to Chthulhu mythology
Knull was the first being that existed in nothingness that preceded the creation of the current Marvel Universe
[September 2024 - the latest Venom trailer revealed Knull to be a villain in the film]
Key Facts
1st appearance of X-23, Laura Kinney
Laura Kinney debuted in the animated series X-Men: Evolution (2003)
Key Facts
1st appearance of X-23, Laura Kinney
Laura Kinney debuted in the animated series X-Men: Evolution (2003)
Key Facts
First solo series featuring Venom
1st cameo appearance of General Orwell Taylor
Key Facts
First solo series featuring Venom
1st cameo appearance of General Orwell Taylor
Key Facts
1st appearance and origin of Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes
Key Facts
1st appearance and origin of Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes
Key Facts
1st appearance of Elsa Bloodstone, daughter and successor of the famous monster hunter, Ulysses Bloodstone
1st appearance of Nosferatu in the Marvel Universe
Key Facts
1st appearance of Elsa Bloodstone, daughter and successor of the famous monster hunter, Ulysses Bloodstone
1st appearance of Nosferatu in the Marvel Universe
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Quasar, Adam Warlock, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer and Groot
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Quasar, Adam Warlock, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer and Groot
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Batwoman, Kate Kane
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Damian Wayne, in final panel
1st appearance of Jezebel Jet
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Damian Wayne, in final panel
1st appearance of Jezebel Jet
Key Facts
1st appearance of Miss America aka America Chavez
Copies ordered by retailers: 25,873
Key Facts
1st appearance of Miss America aka America Chavez
Copies ordered by retailers: 25,873
Key Facts
1st appearance of Angela
later acquired by Marvel as Thor's half sister
1st appearance of Medieval Spawn
1st appearance of Cogliostro
Cover inspired by Wonder Woman #72
Key Facts
1st appearance of Angela
later acquired by Marvel as Thor's half sister
1st appearance of Medieval Spawn
1st appearance of Cogliostro
Cover inspired by Wonder Woman #72
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Doomsday, mostly obscured by a containment suit with one arm bound behind his back as he wreaks havoc across the countryside
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Doomsday, mostly obscured by a containment suit with one arm bound behind his back as he wreaks havoc across the countryside
Key Facts
Written by Gerard Way, frontman of My Chemical Romance
Free Comic Book Day 2007 giveaway
1st team appearance of the Umbrella Academy: The Monocle (Sir Reginald Hargreeves), Spaceboy (Luther), Kraken (Diego), The Rumor (Allison),The Séance (Klaus), The Horror (Ben), Vanya
1st appearance of The Murder Magician
[Adapted for a Netflix TV series, premiered February 2019]
Key Facts
Written by Gerard Way, frontman of My Chemical Romance
Free Comic Book Day 2007 giveaway
1st team appearance of the Umbrella Academy: The Monocle (Sir Reginald Hargreeves), Spaceboy (Luther), Kraken (Diego), The Rumor (Allison),The Séance (Klaus), The Horror (Ben), Vanya
1st appearance of The Murder Magician
[Adapted for a Netflix TV series, premiered February 2019]
Key Facts
1st appearance of the Sentry
1st appearance of The Void, the dark aspect of The Sentry
Key Facts
1st appearance of the Sentry
1st appearance of The Void, the dark aspect of The Sentry
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Bucky Barnes as the Winter Soldier
Key Facts
1st cover appearance of the Red Hulk, General 'Thunderbolt' Ross
Death of Abomination, initially suspected to have been shot to death by the Hulk but later revealed to be murdered by the Red Hulk
1st team appearance of a new Winter Guard roster: Red Guardian, Ursa Major, Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: the interior story is about a murder perpetrated by, who is believed to be the Hulk, Bruce Banner. Doc Samson as an investigator is piecing together what occurred and the panels depict a recreation of events from his point-of-view with the belief that it is Bruce Banner, the green Hulk who is the killer
Key Facts
1st cover appearance of the Red Hulk, General 'Thunderbolt' Ross
Death of Abomination, initially suspected to have been shot to death by the Hulk but later revealed to be murdered by the Red Hulk
1st team appearance of a new Winter Guard roster: Red Guardian, Ursa Major, Crimson Dynamo, Darkstar
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: the interior story is about a murder perpetrated by, who is believed to be the Hulk, Bruce Banner. Doc Samson as an investigator is piecing together what occurred and the panels depict a recreation of events from his point-of-view with the belief that it is Bruce Banner, the green Hulk who is the killer
Key Facts
1st team appearance of The Thunderbolts: Citizen V (formerly Baron Zemo), Atlas (formerly Goliath), Mach-1 (formerly Beetle), Songbird (formerly Screaming Mimi), Meteorite (formerly Moonstone II), Techno (formerly Fixer)
Key Facts
1st team appearance of The Thunderbolts: Citizen V (formerly Baron Zemo), Atlas (formerly Goliath), Mach-1 (formerly Beetle), Songbird (formerly Screaming Mimi), Meteorite (formerly Moonstone II), Techno (formerly Fixer)
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the Illuminati: Professor X, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Namor
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the Illuminati: Professor X, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Namor
Key Facts
1st appearance of Fantomex, Weapon XIII
1st team appearance of X-Corporation (Paris): Darkstar, Multiple Man, Rictor, Monet St. Croix, Cannoball, Siryn
Key Facts
1st appearance of Fantomex, Weapon XIII
1st team appearance of X-Corporation (Paris): Darkstar, Multiple Man, Rictor, Monet St. Croix, Cannoball, Siryn
Key Facts
1st appearance of Hellboy in color
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Jessica Cruz
Jessica Cruz chosen by Volthoom to become Power Ring
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Jessica Cruz
Jessica Cruz chosen by Volthoom to become Power Ring
Key Facts
1st appearance of Apollo
1st appearance of Midnighter
Key Facts
1st appearance of Apollo
1st appearance of Midnighter
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Silk, a Korean-American girl who was bitten by the same radioactive spider as Peter Parker
📖 Spider-Verse Reading Order: read The Amazing Spider-Man #4 and #5
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Silk, a Korean-American girl who was bitten by the same radioactive spider as Peter Parker
📖 Spider-Verse Reading Order: read The Amazing Spider-Man #4 and #5
Key Facts
1st cameo appearance of Riri Williams, later becomes Ironheart
1st appearance of Tomoe, an Inhuman who manipulates machinery through technopathy
Key Facts
1st cameo appearance of Riri Williams, later becomes Ironheart
1st appearance of Tomoe, an Inhuman who manipulates machinery through technopathy
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the Young Avengers: Kate Bishop, Patriot, Asgardian aka Wiccan, Hulkling, and Iron Lad, who is later revealed to be a young variant of Kang
Key Facts
1st team appearance of the Young Avengers: Kate Bishop, Patriot, Asgardian aka Wiccan, Hulkling, and Iron Lad, who is later revealed to be a young variant of Kang
Key Facts
September 11th, 2001 tribute issue depicting various Marvel teams and characters working alongside emergency services as New York native, Spider-Man narrates the experience
Key Facts
September 11th, 2001 tribute issue depicting various Marvel teams and characters working alongside emergency services as New York native, Spider-Man narrates the experience
Key Facts
1st appearance of Cosmic Ghost Rider, who was once the Punisher until he became a Herald of Galactus
1st appearance of King Thanos
Key Facts
1st appearance of Cosmic Ghost Rider, who was once the Punisher until he became a Herald of Galactus
1st appearance of King Thanos
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel in-story
1st appearance of Bruno Carrelli
1st appearance of Tanalth the Pursuer
1st appearance of Dawn Greenwood, an ally of the Silver Surfer
Copies ordered by retailers: 32,929
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel in-story
1st appearance of Bruno Carrelli
1st appearance of Tanalth the Pursuer
1st appearance of Dawn Greenwood, an ally of the Silver Surfer
Copies ordered by retailers: 32,929
Key Facts
1st appearance of Shuri, T'Challa's sister and future Black Panther
1st appearance of S'yan, the uncle of T'Challa who held the throne after T'Chaka's assassination
Key Facts
1st appearance of Shuri, T'Challa's sister and future Black Panther
1st appearance of S'yan, the uncle of T'Challa who held the throne after T'Chaka's assassination
Key Facts
1st appearance of Jason Todd as Red Hood
Key Facts
1st appearance, cover and origin of Bane
📖 Knightfall Reading Order: next Batman #484
[September 2024 - James Gunn’s DCU is developing a Bane and Deathstroke super-villain team-up film based on a script by Matthew Orton]
Key Facts
1st appearance, cover and origin of Bane
📖 Knightfall Reading Order: next Batman #484
[September 2024 - James Gunn’s DCU is developing a Bane and Deathstroke super-villain team-up film based on a script by Matthew Orton]
Key Facts
1st appearance of Jessica Jones
Key Facts
1st appearance of Squirrel Girl
Key Facts
Origin of Voyager
Revelation that the Hulk is immortal - many refer to this being the first appearance of the Immortal Hulk but as the story explains, the Hulk has always been immortal
Key Facts
Origin of Voyager
Revelation that the Hulk is immortal - many refer to this being the first appearance of the Immortal Hulk but as the story explains, the Hulk has always been immortal
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Carnage, spawned from the extraterrestrial parasite known as the Venom symbiote
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Carnage, spawned from the extraterrestrial parasite known as the Venom symbiote
Key Facts
1st appearance of Spawn
1st appearance of Sam & Twitch
1st appearance of Malebolgia
1st cameo appearance of Jason Wynn
Pin-up of Pitt.
Key Facts
1st appearance of Spawn
1st appearance of Sam & Twitch
1st appearance of Malebolgia
1st cameo appearance of Jason Wynn
Pin-up of Pitt.
Key Facts
1st full appearance of The Batman Who Laughs
Part of the Dark Multiverse, The Batman Who Laughs is an alternate version of Batman depicted as a hybrid of the Joker & Batman
Key Facts
1st full appearance of The Batman Who Laughs
Part of the Dark Multiverse, The Batman Who Laughs is an alternate version of Batman depicted as a hybrid of the Joker & Batman
Key Facts
Death of Superman
Death of Doomsday
Every page of this issue is a full or double-splash page
Six-million issues sold
Key Facts
Death of Superman
Death of Doomsday
Every page of this issue is a full or double-splash page
Six-million issues sold
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Omega Red, a Russian serial killer, captured and experimented on by the government
Key Facts
1st full appearance of Omega Red, a Russian serial killer, captured and experimented on by the government
Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!
By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.
Adjust the "Variants" search filter above for additional content:
- Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])
At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!