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Debatable Firsts

Featured in this category are comic books that are often debated, sometimes heatedly, with additional images to let you make the decision for yourself

Image Apr 2004

Invincible #11

Invincible #11
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Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$400
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Origin of Omni-Man
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Omni-Man is telling his son Mark, aka Invincible, about their planet of origin, Viltrum
The panels shown in issue #11 are reproduced in Invincible #102, but the story there is narrated by Grand Regent Thragg, who identifies himself, creating ambiguity as to whether the figure depicted in issue #11 is Thragg, since the original account is told by Omni-Man
Copies ordered by retailers: 5,610
DC Jun 1965

Brave and the Bold, The #60

Brave and the Bold, The #60
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Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$450
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First use of the team name 'Teen Titans'
2nd team appearance of the Teen Titans
1st appearance of Wonder Girl, Donna Troy
Wonder Girl joins the Teen Titans
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue could more appropriately be labeled the first official team appearance of the Teen Titans instead of Brave and the Bold #54 based on it being the first use of the name Teen Titans and Robin's explanation that the team was formed after events in Brave and the Bold #54
Marvel Mar 2008 Vol 2

Hulk #1

Hulk #1
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Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$55
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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
Marvel May 2021

Star Wars: The High Republic #5

Star Wars: The High Republic #5
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Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$8
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1st full appearance of Vernestra Rwoh
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue is labeled Vernestrah Rwoh’s first full appearance because the story breaks away from the action to focus primarily on her and provide insight into her character which is noticeably different than previous issues. If interested in determining the first full of Rwoh by the parameters of your choosing, use character search to view her earlier appearances. Tap the cover image of each issue and swipe to view the panels in which she appears
Marvel Jan 2022 Vol 5

Venom #4

Venom #4
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Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$4
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1st appearance of Carson as Spearhead
2nd cameo appearance of Bedlam, revealed to be Meridius
Debut of new Venom emblem
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Bedlam makes a cameo appearance in Venom #1 on one page. There is debate regarding Bedlam's appearance in this issue as the character appears on one splash page, a single image illustrated across two pages (tap cover and swipe to view both appearances)
Marvel Nov 1992

Spider-Man 2099 #1

Spider-Man 2099 #1
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$1
Mid
$2
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$10
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1st appearance and origin of Spider-Man 2099
5-page preview in Amazing Spider-Man #365 and an advertisement in Web of Spider-Man #90
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: many sources cite Amazing Spider-Man #365 as the first appearance of Spider-Man 2099 despite text on the cover of the issue that refers to it as a five-page preview promoting Spider-Man 2099 #1
Marvel Mar 2014 Vol 7

Moon Knight #1

Moon Knight #1
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Low
$1
Mid
$2
High
$10
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Marc Spector assumes the moniker of Mr. Knight
1st appearance of Ryan Trent, later becomes the second Black Spectre
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: some collectors consider Secret Avengers #19 the introduction of the Mr. Knight persona but it is only the debut of a similar costume design and not an identity
DC May 1984

Saga of the Swamp Thing #25

Saga of the Swamp Thing #25
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Low
$5
Mid
$20
High
$65
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1st cameo appearance of John Constantine, Hellblazer
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: it is widely accepted that this is the first cameo appearance of John Constantine but the character in question is not identified as such nor does he wear the classic trenchcoat that is seen when Constantine first appears in full, 12 months later, in Swamp Thing #37
Marvel Jun 1992

Iron Man #281

Iron Man #281
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Low
$1
Mid
$3
High
$12
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Debut of Tony Stark’s ‘War Machine’ armor, a heavy artillery suit
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Tony dons the armor but continues to refer to himself as Iron Man. James Rhodes does not appear in this armor until Iron Man #284 and later assumes the codename War Machine in West Coast Avengers #94
Marvel Dec 1987

X-Factor #23

X-Factor #23
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Low
$1
Mid
$5
High
$15
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1st full team appearance of the Horsemen of Apocalypse: Death, Famine, War, Pestilence
1st full appearance of Angel as the Horseman Death, later named Archangel in X-Factor #38
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: Angel's first appearance as Archangel is often cited as X-Factor #24. The Horseman Death, formerly known as Angel, becomes Archangel in X-Factor #38
Marvel Mar 1999 Vol 2

Inhumans #5

Inhumans #5
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Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$40
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1st appearance of Black Widow, Yelena Belova
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: it is disputed whether this is a full or cameo appearance. CGC labels this issue "1st appearance of the new Black Widow (Yelena Belova, face not shown)"
Marvel Apr 2015

Star Wars: Kanan - The Last Padawan #1

Star Wars: Kanan - The Last Padawan #1
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Low
$2
Mid
$8
High
$20
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1st cameo appearance of Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian warrior
1st cameo appearance of Ezra Bridger
1st cameo appearance of Hera Syndulla
1st appearance of Kanan Jarrus
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: CGC labels Kanan #1 the first appearance of the above listed characters without distinction of cameo or full. View additional images of the single panel appearance
📖 Reading Order: next read Kanan The Last Padawan #2, then read Darth Vader #1 (2017 series)
Marvel Apr 1988

Amazing Spider-Man #299

Amazing Spider-Man #299
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Low
$12
Mid
$45
High
$140
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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)
Marvel May 1990

X-Men Annual #14

X-Men Annual #14
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Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50
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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
Marvel Oct 1974

Incredible Hulk #180

Incredible Hulk #180
View Series Variants (4)
Low
$230
Mid
$800
High
$2.3K
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1st cameo appearance of Wolverine
2nd appearance of Wendigo
Marvel Value Stamp Series A #67 - Cyclops
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue, by far, is the most debated "cameo versus full" book and likely the main reason "cameo" became such a significant yet loosely defined term in comic book collecting
Theoretically, The Incredible Hulk #180 being labeled "cameo" of Wolverine was due to an oversight by Overstreet (see additional images)
In the 1980/1981 edition of Overstreet, Hulk#181 is labeled - 1st app of Wolverine and Hulk#180 is without a descriptor, commanding the same value as issues #151 - #176
In the 1981/1982 Overstreet, the description had been amended to read #180 - 1st app. Wolverine but mislabeled #181 and #182 - Wolverine cameo
Finally, in 1982/1983, Overstreet labeled Hulk #180 - 1st app. Wolverine (cameo) and #181 - Wolverine app. #182 - Wolverine cameo
In recent years, Marvel has taken a stance on Hulk #180 as the first appearance of Wolverine, wanting to eliminate the term "cameo" altogether, presumably to avoid this exact debate
But in years past, official Marvel guidebooks and trading cards would often trade-off which issue was given the coveted 1st (full) appearance designation (see additional images)
DC Mar 1983

Batman #357

Batman #357
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Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100
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1st cameo appearance of Jason Todd
2nd cameo appearance of Killer Croc
⚠️ Debatable Firsts: this issue is cited as the first full appearance of Killer Croc but there is no difference in his depiction as a gangster in a trenchoat and fedora as first seen in Detective Comics #523, released one month before #357. In Detective Comics #524, he is revealed to have crocodile features for the first time
It should also be noted that this version of Jason Todd is not visually accurate to later versions and his origin is retconned in Batman #408
CGC recognizes this issue as the first full appearance of both Killer Croc and Jason Todd

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