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Prototype

Quality Oct 1940

Smash Comics #17

Smash Comics #17
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Prototype of Plastic Man
In the story Wun Cloo, the protagonist drinks a can of Super Putty, gaining the ability to manipulate his body into impossible shapes, including that of a giant frog
Jack Cole, the creator of Plastic Man, wrote the Wun Cloo story featured in this issue, published nine months before the first appearance of Plastic Man in Police Comics #1
Marvel Jul 1953

Marvel Tales #116

Marvel Tales #116
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Story titled Werewolf By Night, published nearly two decades before Marvel Spotlight #2 but not connected to the character beyond the title alone
Marvel Apr 1970

Chamber of Darkness #4

Chamber of Darkness #4
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$90
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1st appearance of Starr the Slayer, a Conan the Barbarian prototype introduced to test market interest in a sword and sorcery property
First cover collaboration of artists Marie Severin and Bill Everett who signed their artwork as "7EV" a combination of their last names
Glamour May 1993

Dime Press #4

Dime Press #4
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Prototype of Hellboy
Print run: 2,000 estimated copies
Hellboy shares the cover with a character named Nathan Never, an Italian comic book character
Marvel Apr 1962

Amazing Fantasy #11

Amazing Fantasy #11
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$400
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Prototype of Doctor Octopus, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, published fifteen months before The Amazing Spider-Man #3, the first appearance of Doctor Octopus - character does not take human form in story
DC Sep 1958

Challengers of the Unknown #3

Challengers of the Unknown #3
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Prototype of the Fantastic Four
Written and illustrated by Jack Kirby who co-created the Fantastic Four with Stan Lee three years later
In this story, one of the characters returns from space with four distinct abilities: fire projection, ice projection, size manipulation, invisibility
Marvel Jun 1973

FOOM Magazine #2

FOOM Magazine #2
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$40
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Prototype of Wolverine, published 1.5 years prior to Wolverine's first appearance
Andy Olsen, a comic fan, created an original character concept of The Wolverine who had regenerative abilities, a metal exoskeleton and was the product of experimentation
There is some question as to whether the Wolverine briefly introduced in Hulk #180 was inspired by this concept though Andy Olsen was never credited or compensated
DC Oct 1957

Blackhawk #117

Blackhawk #117
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1st appearance of Mr. Freeze, a prototype of the Batman villain with an almost identical weapon
Blackhawk #117 preceded Batman #121 by nearly two years
Marvel Jun 1962

Strange Tales #97

Strange Tales #97
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Prototype of Peter Parker's aunt and uncle, also named Aunt May and Uncle Ben
Cross-promotion text teaser for The Incredible Hulk #1, released one week later
Timely Sep 1965

Two-Gun Kid #77

Two-Gun Kid #77
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$55
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Prototype of the Black Panther, the suit design is similar although worn by a white villain named Dr. Elixir who used the code name, The Panther
Published ten months prior to the Black Panther’s introduction in Fantastic Four #52 this issue was also written by Stan Lee
Story reprinted in Two Gun Kid #119, but The Panther prototype character was recolored red
Marvel May 1976

Comic Media News #26

Comic Media News #26
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$1
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$2
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$5
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Prototype of Captain Britain in a British fanzine
Cover appearance of 'an unknown British superhero' according to interior notes
Preceded the first appearance of Captain Britain in Captain Britain #1 (October 1976)
Skywald Jul 1971

Hell-Rider #1

Hell-Rider #1
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$12
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1st appearance of Butterfly, the first super-powered black female in comic books
1st appearance of Brice Reese, a vigilante with a customized motorcycle that included a flamethrower
Prototype of Ghost Rider, also created by Gary Friedrich

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