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This special feature of the Comics Department lists the comic book characters you love, and the name of their creators. Search by character to find out, "Who Created Who?".
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Aquaman (DC Comics)
Created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, 1941.
First Appearance: "More Fun Comics" #73
B
Batgirl II, Barbara Gordon Version/Oracle (DC Comics)
Created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, 1967.
First Appearance: "Detective Comics" #359 as Batgirl
First Appearance: "Suicide Squad" #23 as Oracle (January, 1989)
Kim Yale and John Ostrander adapted Barbara Gordon to the Oracle character. The Batgirl character was shot, and paralyzed, by villain Joker in the DC Comics mini-series, "Batman: The Killing Joke" (1988). Bound to a wheelchair, she could no longer be Batgirl. However, she continued her crime-fighting career as a non-costumed heroine of sorts. Some people loved the change to Oracle, some still hate it. Put me in the latter category. I'm all for handicapped heroes, but they should have created a new character, and not messed with the Batgirl character that so many people loved. It's never been the same.
Batman (DC Comics)
Created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger, 1939.
First Appearance: "Detective Comics" #27
Bob Kane is the only one who receives official credit. He was the artist and came up with the basic concept, but it was writer Bill Finger who shaped Batman's story.
Black Cat (Harvey Comics)
Created by Alfred Harvey, 1941.
First Appearance: "Pocket Comics" #1
Alfred Harvey is generally credited as the creator of Black Cat, although there has been great question on the subject. Harvey's family confirms it, but there is no evidence. Al Gabrielle was the first illustrator, so maybe he had some involvement with the creation of Black Cat.
Black Cat (Marvel Comics)
Created by Marv Wolfman and Keith Pollard, 1979.
First Appearance: "Amazing Spider-Man" #194
This character has no relationship to the Harvey Comics character of the same name.
Bucky (Marvel Comics)
Created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, 1941.
First Appearance: "Captain America Comics" #1
In 2005, Bucky was brought back from the dead after a long absence from comics. He was last, regularly published as Captain America's sidekick in 1954. 51 years hence, he reemerged as the hero Winter Soldier in "Captain America (Series 5)" #1. In 2008, Bucky, now Winter Soldier, made another unbelievable leap forward as the NEW Captain America, replacing the previous Cap, Steve Rogers, who had died. This happened in "Captain America (Series 5)" #34.
Writer Stan Lee, who became head writer of Captain America soon after his inception, hated the Bucky character. Jack Kirby, when asked in 1990 about resurrecting the character, said that he loved the Bucky character and didn't oppose to him being brought back.
C
Captain America (Timely Comics, later Marvel Comics)
Created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, 1941.
First Appearance: "Captain America Comics" #1
Captain Confederacy (Steeldragon Press, later Marvel Comics/Epic Comics)
Created by Will Shetterly and Vince Stone, 1986.
First Appearance: "Captain Confederacy (Series 1)" #1
Captain Marvel (Fawcett Comics, later DC Comics)
Created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, 1940.
First Appearance: "Whiz Comics" #2
This is not to be confused with the Captain Marvel superhero from Marvel Comics.
Captain Marvel I, Mar-Vell Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee & Gene Colan, 1967.
First Appearance: "Marvel Super-Heroes" #12
This is not to be confused with Fawcett/DC's earlier, and more popular, superhero Captain Marvel.
Catwoman (DC Comics)
Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, 1940
First Appearance: "Batman" #1
D
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee, Bill Everett, and Jack Kirby, 1964.
First Appearance: "Daredevil" #1
Darkseid (DC Comics)
Created by Jack Kirby, 1970.
First Appearance: "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" #134
Death Metal (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Dan Abnett & Dell Barras, 1993.
First Appearance: "Death 3" #1
Death Wreck (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Craig Houston & Stewart "Staz" Johnson, 1993.
First Appearance: "Death 3" #1
Deathlok I, Luther Manning Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Rich Buckler and Doug Moench, 1974.
First Appearance: "Astonishing Tales" #25
Deathlok II/Siege, John Kelly Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Dwayne McDuffie and Gregory Wright, 1990
First Appearance: "Marvel Comics Presents" #62 as Deathlok II
First Appearance: "Deathlok" #19 as Siege (1992)
Gregory Wright, alone, is credited for recreating the character as Siege.
Deathlok III, Michael Collins Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Gregory Wright, and Jackson Guice, 1990.
First Appearance: "Deathlok" #1
Death's Head (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Simon Furman & Geoff Senior, 1987.
First Appearance: "High Noon Tex", a single page strip in Marvel UK titles. Also, "Transformers UK" #113
Death's Head II (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Dan Abnett & Liam Sharp,1992.
First Appearance: "Death's Head II" #1
Deathstroke, the Terminator (DC Comics)
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, 1980.
First Appearance: "The New Teen Titans (Series 1)" #2
Delta Tenn (TE Comics, Big City Publishing)
Created by Mark Marderosian.
First Appearance: "Delta Tenn" #1
Doctor Strange (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, 1963.
First Appearance: "Strange Tales" #110.
F
Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1961.
First Appearance: "The Fantastic Four" #1
Flash I, Jay Garrick Version (DC Comics)
Created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, 1940.
First Appearance: "Flash Comics" #1
Flash II, Barry Allen Version (DC Comics)
Created by Robert Kanigher, John Broome, and Carmine Infantino, 1956.
First Appearance: "Showcase" #4
G
Galactus (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1966.
First Appearance: "The Fantastic Four" #48
Ghost Rider, Rex Fury Version (Magazine Enterprises)
Created by Dick Ayers, 1949
First Appearance: "Tim Holt" #11
Rex Fury was originally known as a Western hero called The Calico Kid in "Tim Holt" #6. The reason for the switch to Ghost Rider has never been explained. Dick Ayers was definitely the artist for Ghost Rider, and it's assumed he also created the character. This is the granddaddy of all comic book characters named Ghost Rider. He is the direct inspiration to Marvel's very first interpretation of the Ghost Rider character. The look between ME's and Marvel's Ghost Rider is essentially the same, mostly because he was drawn by the same artist: Dick Ayers. Yep, Dick went to work for Marvel after ME folded.
AC Comics, in the 1990s, started publishing the now public domain comic stories of ME's Ghost Rider. However, due to the fact that Marvel holds the rights to the name of Ghost Rider, AC changed the character's name to The Haunted Horseman.
Marvel, after they released their first biker version of Ghost Rider in 1972, changed the original Ghost Rider's name to Night Rider first, then Phantom Rider, which has been in Marvel's continuity ever since. There is no longer ANY Western hero with the name of Ghost Rider from any comic publisher.
Ghost Rider I, Carter Slade Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Dick Ayers, 1967.
First Appearance: "Ghost Rider (Series 1)" #1
This was indeed Marvel's first Ghost Rider character, set in the Old West. The first series lasted only seven issues, and the character bounced around in other Western titles after that. When the new, modern-day, supernatural Ghost Rider character came out in 1972, the name of THIS Ghost Rider was changed to Night Rider so as not to cause confusion. He was known by this name in a 1974-75 reprint series, but it was quickly dropped when it was learned that "Night Rider" was a term that referred to Ku Klux Klan members in the South. He was then renamed to Phantom Rider, which has stuck to this day. At least four different men took up the mantle of Phantom Rider since Carter Slade's death in the comics.
Ghost Rider II, Johnny Blaze Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, and Mike Ploog, 1972.
First Appearance: "Marvel Spotlight" #5
Ghost Rider III, Danny Ketch (Marvel Comics)
Created by Howard Mackie and Javier Saltares, 1990.
First Appearance: "Ghost Rider (Series 3)" #1
Green Lantern I, Alan Scott Version (DC Comics)
Created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell, 1940.
First Appearance: "All-American Comics" #16
Green Lantern II, Hal Jordan Version/Parallax/The Spectre (DC Comics)
Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, 1959.
First Appearance: "Showcase" #22 as Green Lantern
First Appearance: "Green Lantern (Series 3)" #50 as Parallax (Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks)
First Appearance: "Day of Judgment" #5 as The Spectre (Created by Geoff Johns and Matthew Dow Smith)
The experiments with the Hal Jordan character caused some of the greatest upsets in comic book history! In 1994, DC decided to make Hal Jordan a villain! Their idea was to make a younger, hipper Green Lantern to attract younger readers; enter Kyle Rayner. Hal Jordan dropped the Green Lantern moniker and became the supervillain Parallax. NOBODY liked this, although the Kyle Rayner version of Green Lantern was fairly well-received. Hal Jordan, as Parallax, sacrificed his life in the crossover event "Final Night" (1996) to save the world. In 1999, his "soul" was brought back to host the newest version of The Spectre superhero. This happened in "Day of Judgment" mini-series. EVERYBODY wanted Hal Jordan back as Green Lantern, so he was, in "Green Lantern: Rebirth", a mini-series from 2004. It was written that Hal Jordan was released from control of The Spectre, and became a living being and Earth's Green Lantern once again. Currently, as of 2009, Hal Jordan is still Green Lantern. The saddest part about all of this is that Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern was a decent character, but never stood a chance due to the fact that DC nearly destroyed a character so many people loved for decades.
Green Lantern III, Kyle Rayner Version (DC Comics)
Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, 1994.
First Appearance: "Green Lantern (Series 3)" #48
Kyle Rayner was introduced as an attempt to gain younger readers by making Green Lantern young and hip. He was a great Green Lantern character, but DC trashed the beloved Hal Jordan Green Lantern character in the process. At first, Hal was made into a hated supervillain known as Parallax. Then he killed himself to save the world. Hal's soul was then made as the newest version of The Spectre superhero. But people wanted Hal back as the Green Lantern ever since he was dropped back in 1994. In 2004, readers got their wish, and Hal Jordan has been Earth's Green Lantern ever since. So what happened to Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern? He was still well-liked, although not a fair match-up to the previous Green Lantern character due to the circumstance. When Hal was brought back as GL, Kyle Rayner was retooled as a godlike hero called Ion. He went from Ion to a member of the Green Lantern Corps team a few times over, but is primarily just another Green Lantern. He was promoted to Honor Guard status in the Green Lantern Corps, so he's a bigshot in the team. Basically, it was a way for DC to save themselves from another onslaught of angry readers like they had with the Hal Jordan incident. The character of Rayner was made totally confusing and, ultimately, ruined. They might as well have killed him off. It's a shame, because he started out great.
H
Hulk (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1962.
First Appearance: "The Incredible Hulk" #1
The Huntress I, Helena Wayne Version (DC Comics)
Created by Paul Levitz and Joe Staton, 1977
First Appearance: "All-Star Comics" #69
I
Iron Man (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby, 1963.
First Appearance: "Tales of Suspense" #39
K
L
Lobo (DC Comics)
Created by Roger Slifer & Keith Giffen, 1983.
First Appearance: "Omega Men" #3
M
N
Namor, the Sub-Mariner (Marvel Comics)
Created by Bill Everett, 1939
First Appearance: "Motion Picture Funnies Weekly" [unreleased]
First Public Appearance: "Marvel Comics" #1
Namorita (Marvel Comics)
Created by Bill Everett, 1972
First Appearance: "Sub-Mariner" #50
P
The Punisher (Marvel Comics)
Created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr., and Ross Andru, 1974.
First Appearance: "The Amazing Spider-Man" #129
R
Robin (DC Comics)
Created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson, 1940.
First Appearance: "Detective Comics" #38
S
She-Hulk (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, 1980.
First Appearance: "Savage She-Hulk" #1
Silver Surfer (Marvel Comics)
Created by Jack Kirby, 1966.
First Appearance: "The Fantastic Four" #48
Sleepwalker (Marvel Comics)
Created by Bob Budiansky, 1991.
First Appearance: "Sleepwalker" #1
Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, 1962.
First Appearance: "Amazing Fantasy" #15
Spider-Woman I, Jessica Drew Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Archie Goodwin, Sal Buscema, and Jim Mooney, 1977.
First Appearance: "Marvel Spotlight" #32
Spider-Woman II, Julia Carpenter Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck, 1984.
First Appearance: "Secret Wars" #6
Super Soldiers (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Michael W. Bennent, Lee Stevens, and Andrew Currie, 1993.
First Appearance: "Super Soldiers" #1
Superboy I, Clark Kent Version (DC Comics)
Created by Jerry Siegel, 1938 (November)
First Appearance: "More Fun Comics" #101 (Jan.-Feb., 1945)
This has sparked a lot of controversy and a big, decades-long legal battle between the family of Jerry Siegel and DC Comics. Siegel first pitched the idea to DC (then known as Detective Comics, Inc.) and was shot down. He continued to push the idea but was rejected. While Siegel was away in WWII, fighting for our country, DC took it upon themselves to publish a Superboy story without his consultation or permission. Of all things, his old partner Joe Shuster did the artwork! Don Cameron helmed the project. This further widened the growing rift between Siegel and DC, and was probably the biggest reason he left the company. The first public appearance of the Superboy character had many similarities to Siegel's original concept.
Superman (DC Comics)
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, 1938.
First Appearance: "Action Comics" #1
T
Teen Titans (DC Comics)
Created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, 1964 (original team concept)
First Appearance: "The Brave & the Bold (Series 1)" #54
In their first appearance, the team was called "The Junior Justice League". Its members were Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), and Aqualad. They were not known as the Teen Titans until "The Brave & the Bold (Series 1)" #60.
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, 1962.
First Appearance: "Journey Into Mystery" #83
U
V
Vampirella (Warren Publishing, later Harris Publications)
Created by Forrest J. Ackerman, Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, and Tom Sutton, 1969.
First Appearance: "Vampirella" #1
W
Wolverine (Marvel Comics)
Created by Len Wein and John Romita, Sr., 1980.
First Appearance: "The Incredible Hulk" #180
Wonder Woman (DC Comics)
Created by William Moulton Marston, 1941.
First Appearance: "All-Star Comics" #8
William Moulton Marston used the pen name of Charles Moulton in the early years of the character. It was a combination between his middle name and the middle name of Max Gaines, then publisher of National Periodicals (later DC Comics).
X
X-Men (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1963 (original team concept: Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, Angel).
First Appearance: "The X-Men" #1
It's important to note that the series was NOT called "Uncanny X-Men" at this time.
Aquaman (DC Comics)
Created by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris, 1941.
First Appearance: "More Fun Comics" #73
B
Batgirl II, Barbara Gordon Version/Oracle (DC Comics)
Created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, 1967.
First Appearance: "Detective Comics" #359 as Batgirl
First Appearance: "Suicide Squad" #23 as Oracle (January, 1989)
Kim Yale and John Ostrander adapted Barbara Gordon to the Oracle character. The Batgirl character was shot, and paralyzed, by villain Joker in the DC Comics mini-series, "Batman: The Killing Joke" (1988). Bound to a wheelchair, she could no longer be Batgirl. However, she continued her crime-fighting career as a non-costumed heroine of sorts. Some people loved the change to Oracle, some still hate it. Put me in the latter category. I'm all for handicapped heroes, but they should have created a new character, and not messed with the Batgirl character that so many people loved. It's never been the same.
Batman (DC Comics)
Created by Bob Kane & Bill Finger, 1939.
First Appearance: "Detective Comics" #27
Bob Kane is the only one who receives official credit. He was the artist and came up with the basic concept, but it was writer Bill Finger who shaped Batman's story.
Black Cat (Harvey Comics)
Created by Alfred Harvey, 1941.
First Appearance: "Pocket Comics" #1
Alfred Harvey is generally credited as the creator of Black Cat, although there has been great question on the subject. Harvey's family confirms it, but there is no evidence. Al Gabrielle was the first illustrator, so maybe he had some involvement with the creation of Black Cat.
Black Cat (Marvel Comics)
Created by Marv Wolfman and Keith Pollard, 1979.
First Appearance: "Amazing Spider-Man" #194
This character has no relationship to the Harvey Comics character of the same name.
Bucky (Marvel Comics)
Created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, 1941.
First Appearance: "Captain America Comics" #1
In 2005, Bucky was brought back from the dead after a long absence from comics. He was last, regularly published as Captain America's sidekick in 1954. 51 years hence, he reemerged as the hero Winter Soldier in "Captain America (Series 5)" #1. In 2008, Bucky, now Winter Soldier, made another unbelievable leap forward as the NEW Captain America, replacing the previous Cap, Steve Rogers, who had died. This happened in "Captain America (Series 5)" #34.
Writer Stan Lee, who became head writer of Captain America soon after his inception, hated the Bucky character. Jack Kirby, when asked in 1990 about resurrecting the character, said that he loved the Bucky character and didn't oppose to him being brought back.
C
Captain America (Timely Comics, later Marvel Comics)
Created by Joe Simon & Jack Kirby, 1941.
First Appearance: "Captain America Comics" #1
Captain Confederacy (Steeldragon Press, later Marvel Comics/Epic Comics)
Created by Will Shetterly and Vince Stone, 1986.
First Appearance: "Captain Confederacy (Series 1)" #1
Captain Marvel (Fawcett Comics, later DC Comics)
Created by C.C. Beck and Bill Parker, 1940.
First Appearance: "Whiz Comics" #2
This is not to be confused with the Captain Marvel superhero from Marvel Comics.
Captain Marvel I, Mar-Vell Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee & Gene Colan, 1967.
First Appearance: "Marvel Super-Heroes" #12
This is not to be confused with Fawcett/DC's earlier, and more popular, superhero Captain Marvel.
Catwoman (DC Comics)
Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, 1940
First Appearance: "Batman" #1
D
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee, Bill Everett, and Jack Kirby, 1964.
First Appearance: "Daredevil" #1
Darkseid (DC Comics)
Created by Jack Kirby, 1970.
First Appearance: "Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen" #134
Death Metal (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Dan Abnett & Dell Barras, 1993.
First Appearance: "Death 3" #1
Death Wreck (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Craig Houston & Stewart "Staz" Johnson, 1993.
First Appearance: "Death 3" #1
Deathlok I, Luther Manning Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Rich Buckler and Doug Moench, 1974.
First Appearance: "Astonishing Tales" #25
Deathlok II/Siege, John Kelly Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Dwayne McDuffie and Gregory Wright, 1990
First Appearance: "Marvel Comics Presents" #62 as Deathlok II
First Appearance: "Deathlok" #19 as Siege (1992)
Gregory Wright, alone, is credited for recreating the character as Siege.
Deathlok III, Michael Collins Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Gregory Wright, and Jackson Guice, 1990.
First Appearance: "Deathlok" #1
Death's Head (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Simon Furman & Geoff Senior, 1987.
First Appearance: "High Noon Tex", a single page strip in Marvel UK titles. Also, "Transformers UK" #113
Death's Head II (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Dan Abnett & Liam Sharp,1992.
First Appearance: "Death's Head II" #1
Deathstroke, the Terminator (DC Comics)
Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, 1980.
First Appearance: "The New Teen Titans (Series 1)" #2
Delta Tenn (TE Comics, Big City Publishing)
Created by Mark Marderosian.
First Appearance: "Delta Tenn" #1
Doctor Strange (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, 1963.
First Appearance: "Strange Tales" #110.
F
Fantastic Four (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1961.
First Appearance: "The Fantastic Four" #1
Flash I, Jay Garrick Version (DC Comics)
Created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, 1940.
First Appearance: "Flash Comics" #1
Flash II, Barry Allen Version (DC Comics)
Created by Robert Kanigher, John Broome, and Carmine Infantino, 1956.
First Appearance: "Showcase" #4
G
Galactus (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1966.
First Appearance: "The Fantastic Four" #48
Ghost Rider, Rex Fury Version (Magazine Enterprises)
Created by Dick Ayers, 1949
First Appearance: "Tim Holt" #11
Rex Fury was originally known as a Western hero called The Calico Kid in "Tim Holt" #6. The reason for the switch to Ghost Rider has never been explained. Dick Ayers was definitely the artist for Ghost Rider, and it's assumed he also created the character. This is the granddaddy of all comic book characters named Ghost Rider. He is the direct inspiration to Marvel's very first interpretation of the Ghost Rider character. The look between ME's and Marvel's Ghost Rider is essentially the same, mostly because he was drawn by the same artist: Dick Ayers. Yep, Dick went to work for Marvel after ME folded.
AC Comics, in the 1990s, started publishing the now public domain comic stories of ME's Ghost Rider. However, due to the fact that Marvel holds the rights to the name of Ghost Rider, AC changed the character's name to The Haunted Horseman.
Marvel, after they released their first biker version of Ghost Rider in 1972, changed the original Ghost Rider's name to Night Rider first, then Phantom Rider, which has been in Marvel's continuity ever since. There is no longer ANY Western hero with the name of Ghost Rider from any comic publisher.
Ghost Rider I, Carter Slade Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas, and Dick Ayers, 1967.
First Appearance: "Ghost Rider (Series 1)" #1
This was indeed Marvel's first Ghost Rider character, set in the Old West. The first series lasted only seven issues, and the character bounced around in other Western titles after that. When the new, modern-day, supernatural Ghost Rider character came out in 1972, the name of THIS Ghost Rider was changed to Night Rider so as not to cause confusion. He was known by this name in a 1974-75 reprint series, but it was quickly dropped when it was learned that "Night Rider" was a term that referred to Ku Klux Klan members in the South. He was then renamed to Phantom Rider, which has stuck to this day. At least four different men took up the mantle of Phantom Rider since Carter Slade's death in the comics.
Ghost Rider II, Johnny Blaze Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, and Mike Ploog, 1972.
First Appearance: "Marvel Spotlight" #5
Ghost Rider III, Danny Ketch (Marvel Comics)
Created by Howard Mackie and Javier Saltares, 1990.
First Appearance: "Ghost Rider (Series 3)" #1
Green Lantern I, Alan Scott Version (DC Comics)
Created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell, 1940.
First Appearance: "All-American Comics" #16
Green Lantern II, Hal Jordan Version/Parallax/The Spectre (DC Comics)
Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, 1959.
First Appearance: "Showcase" #22 as Green Lantern
First Appearance: "Green Lantern (Series 3)" #50 as Parallax (Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks)
First Appearance: "Day of Judgment" #5 as The Spectre (Created by Geoff Johns and Matthew Dow Smith)
The experiments with the Hal Jordan character caused some of the greatest upsets in comic book history! In 1994, DC decided to make Hal Jordan a villain! Their idea was to make a younger, hipper Green Lantern to attract younger readers; enter Kyle Rayner. Hal Jordan dropped the Green Lantern moniker and became the supervillain Parallax. NOBODY liked this, although the Kyle Rayner version of Green Lantern was fairly well-received. Hal Jordan, as Parallax, sacrificed his life in the crossover event "Final Night" (1996) to save the world. In 1999, his "soul" was brought back to host the newest version of The Spectre superhero. This happened in "Day of Judgment" mini-series. EVERYBODY wanted Hal Jordan back as Green Lantern, so he was, in "Green Lantern: Rebirth", a mini-series from 2004. It was written that Hal Jordan was released from control of The Spectre, and became a living being and Earth's Green Lantern once again. Currently, as of 2009, Hal Jordan is still Green Lantern. The saddest part about all of this is that Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern was a decent character, but never stood a chance due to the fact that DC nearly destroyed a character so many people loved for decades.
Green Lantern III, Kyle Rayner Version (DC Comics)
Created by Ron Marz and Darryl Banks, 1994.
First Appearance: "Green Lantern (Series 3)" #48
Kyle Rayner was introduced as an attempt to gain younger readers by making Green Lantern young and hip. He was a great Green Lantern character, but DC trashed the beloved Hal Jordan Green Lantern character in the process. At first, Hal was made into a hated supervillain known as Parallax. Then he killed himself to save the world. Hal's soul was then made as the newest version of The Spectre superhero. But people wanted Hal back as the Green Lantern ever since he was dropped back in 1994. In 2004, readers got their wish, and Hal Jordan has been Earth's Green Lantern ever since. So what happened to Kyle Rayner's Green Lantern? He was still well-liked, although not a fair match-up to the previous Green Lantern character due to the circumstance. When Hal was brought back as GL, Kyle Rayner was retooled as a godlike hero called Ion. He went from Ion to a member of the Green Lantern Corps team a few times over, but is primarily just another Green Lantern. He was promoted to Honor Guard status in the Green Lantern Corps, so he's a bigshot in the team. Basically, it was a way for DC to save themselves from another onslaught of angry readers like they had with the Hal Jordan incident. The character of Rayner was made totally confusing and, ultimately, ruined. They might as well have killed him off. It's a shame, because he started out great.
H
Hulk (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1962.
First Appearance: "The Incredible Hulk" #1
The Huntress I, Helena Wayne Version (DC Comics)
Created by Paul Levitz and Joe Staton, 1977
First Appearance: "All-Star Comics" #69
I
Iron Man (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby, 1963.
First Appearance: "Tales of Suspense" #39
K
L
Lobo (DC Comics)
Created by Roger Slifer & Keith Giffen, 1983.
First Appearance: "Omega Men" #3
M
N
Namor, the Sub-Mariner (Marvel Comics)
Created by Bill Everett, 1939
First Appearance: "Motion Picture Funnies Weekly" [unreleased]
First Public Appearance: "Marvel Comics" #1
Namorita (Marvel Comics)
Created by Bill Everett, 1972
First Appearance: "Sub-Mariner" #50
P
The Punisher (Marvel Comics)
Created by Gerry Conway, John Romita Sr., and Ross Andru, 1974.
First Appearance: "The Amazing Spider-Man" #129
R
Robin (DC Comics)
Created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson, 1940.
First Appearance: "Detective Comics" #38
S
She-Hulk (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, 1980.
First Appearance: "Savage She-Hulk" #1
Silver Surfer (Marvel Comics)
Created by Jack Kirby, 1966.
First Appearance: "The Fantastic Four" #48
Sleepwalker (Marvel Comics)
Created by Bob Budiansky, 1991.
First Appearance: "Sleepwalker" #1
Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, 1962.
First Appearance: "Amazing Fantasy" #15
Spider-Woman I, Jessica Drew Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Archie Goodwin, Sal Buscema, and Jim Mooney, 1977.
First Appearance: "Marvel Spotlight" #32
Spider-Woman II, Julia Carpenter Version (Marvel Comics)
Created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck, 1984.
First Appearance: "Secret Wars" #6
Super Soldiers (Marvel Comics/Marvel UK)
Created by Michael W. Bennent, Lee Stevens, and Andrew Currie, 1993.
First Appearance: "Super Soldiers" #1
Superboy I, Clark Kent Version (DC Comics)
Created by Jerry Siegel, 1938 (November)
First Appearance: "More Fun Comics" #101 (Jan.-Feb., 1945)
This has sparked a lot of controversy and a big, decades-long legal battle between the family of Jerry Siegel and DC Comics. Siegel first pitched the idea to DC (then known as Detective Comics, Inc.) and was shot down. He continued to push the idea but was rejected. While Siegel was away in WWII, fighting for our country, DC took it upon themselves to publish a Superboy story without his consultation or permission. Of all things, his old partner Joe Shuster did the artwork! Don Cameron helmed the project. This further widened the growing rift between Siegel and DC, and was probably the biggest reason he left the company. The first public appearance of the Superboy character had many similarities to Siegel's original concept.
Superman (DC Comics)
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, 1938.
First Appearance: "Action Comics" #1
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Teen Titans (DC Comics)
Created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, 1964 (original team concept)
First Appearance: "The Brave & the Bold (Series 1)" #54
In their first appearance, the team was called "The Junior Justice League". Its members were Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West), and Aqualad. They were not known as the Teen Titans until "The Brave & the Bold (Series 1)" #60.
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, 1962.
First Appearance: "Journey Into Mystery" #83
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Vampirella (Warren Publishing, later Harris Publications)
Created by Forrest J. Ackerman, Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, and Tom Sutton, 1969.
First Appearance: "Vampirella" #1
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Wolverine (Marvel Comics)
Created by Len Wein and John Romita, Sr., 1980.
First Appearance: "The Incredible Hulk" #180
Wonder Woman (DC Comics)
Created by William Moulton Marston, 1941.
First Appearance: "All-Star Comics" #8
William Moulton Marston used the pen name of Charles Moulton in the early years of the character. It was a combination between his middle name and the middle name of Max Gaines, then publisher of National Periodicals (later DC Comics).
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X-Men (Marvel Comics)
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1963 (original team concept: Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast, Angel).
First Appearance: "The X-Men" #1
It's important to note that the series was NOT called "Uncanny X-Men" at this time.