Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men, Deadpool, and countless others – the list of Marvel heroes is long. But who was actually the first Marvel superhero?
“The First Avenger” – under this title, the first MCU film featuring Captain America was released, and yes, Steve Rogers is also one of the oldest heroes in the Marvel universe.
In 1941, the first title featuring the hero was published, created by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, who would become an icon over the coming years.
However: Captain America was not the first comic hero from Marvel. In fact, there are other heroes who can claim this title – but who exactly it is remains debatable. What is particularly exciting is what has become of these heroes.
We introduce them to you here.
The first Marvel heroes – Who were they, who are they today?
Who was the first real Marvel hero? To answer this question, we need to travel back to 1939. In October of that year, Marvel Comics #1 was published – and a well-known hero is featured on its cover. Or is he?
The “Human Torch” is, so to speak, the headliner of this comic book and is also seen on the cover. Nevertheless, hardly anyone knows this hero today.
Because: This is not Johnny Storm from the Fantastic 4, brother of Sue Storm and brother-in-law of Mr. Fantastic, but Jim Hammond. Hammond was actually an android, so in essence hardly a “human” torch, but rather a robot. However, like Johnny Storm, Hammond could ignite himself and fight criminals and villains – at least after he was initially perceived as a danger and thus very critically by the public. Later, he took a position as a police commissioner and became a hero.
In later years, the Human Torch became increasingly irrelevant in the comics – at least in this form. Johnny Storm, on the other hand, became a true mainstream superhero as part of the Fantastic 4, who was portrayed like Captain America by Chris Evans in the cinema.
Accordingly, the torch still exists today. Just hardly anyone thinks of the Jim Hammond version when they hear the name.
In addition to the Human Torch, there are other candidates who could be called the first Marvel hero.
Namor, the Sub-Mariner: The King of Atlantis, who becomes a threat to Wakanda in the second Black Panther movie, is indeed one of the oldest characters in the Marvel universe. He is often an antagonist to Jim Hammond’s Human Torch.
Marvel Snap.
Just like Hammond, Namor appeared in the first issue of Marvel Comics – but even before that. The Sub-Mariner was actually introduced in the first issue of “Motion Picture Funnies Weekly,” which was released several months before Marvel Comics #1.
However, Namor was less of a hero and more of an anti-hero. Therefore, he cannot truly be called the first hero of the Marvel Comics.
Ka-Zar: Ka-Zar is another candidate for the title of the first Marvel hero. Ka-Zar is also featured in the first Marvel Comics issue, and the cover reads: “Featuring Ka-Zar The Great, 12 Pages of Jungle Adventures.”
Ka-Zar resembles Tarzan and is a jungle hero named David Rand – at least in the early comics. However, Ka-Zar made his debut even earlier, in 1936, in his own comic run that lasted only three issues, after which his story was adapted for Marvel Comics #1.
Later, a new version of Ka-Zar was published in the X-Men comics, this time under the name “Kevin Plunder.” In the Marvel card game “Marvel Snap”, you frequently encounter the hero:
Marvel Snap.
Today, Ka-Zar is no longer among the most popular heroes, and you also rarely encounter Jim Hammond. In contrast, Namor made his big cinematic appearance in Black Panther 2, albeit as a villain, and continues to play a role in the comics.
But of course, other names are today significantly more popular, such as Captain America, Spider-Man, and other MCU heroes. Meanwhile, the most beloved Marvel hero to this day is Spider-Man, who first appeared in 1962. And the crazy part: Spider-Man was once rejected and almost never appeared before he was supposed to make his debut in a comic.
