Marvel Comics has been around for nearly eight decades, and over the years it has given birth to countless memorable characters. From superheroes to villains, the Marvel Universe is populated with an incredibly diverse and dynamic cast of characters, each with their own unique powers, personalities, and backstories.
In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the oldest Marvel characters, tracing their origins back to the early days of the company.
15 Oldest Marvel Characters are as follows:
1. Namor the Sub-Mariner (1939)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Created by writer-artist Bill Everett, Namor the Sub-Mariner made his debut in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939, which also featured the first appearance of the Human Torch. Namor is the ruler of Atlantis, a half-human, half-Atlantean who possesses incredible strength, speed, and agility, as well as the ability to breathe underwater. He has been both a hero and a villain over the years, and his complicated relationship with the surface world has been a constant theme in his stories.
2. Human Torch (1939)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
The original Human Torch was an android created by scientist Phineas Horton, who debuted in Marvel Comics #1 alongside Namor. The Torch was capable of generating flames from his body, and could fly by heating up the air around him. He was one of the founding members of the superhero team known as the Invaders, and later became a member of the Fantastic Four.
3. Ka-Zar (1939)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Ka-Zar was created by writer-artist Bob Byrd and made his debut in Marvel Comics #1, the same issue that introduced Namor and the Human Torch. Ka-Zar is a jungle lord who lives in the Savage Land, a hidden prehistoric world located in Antarctica. He possesses incredible strength and agility, and is skilled in hunting and fighting. He has been a member of various superhero teams over the years, including the Avengers and the X-Men.
4. Angel (1939)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Angel, also known as Thomas Halloway, was created by writer-artist Paul Gustavson and made his debut in Marvel Comics #1. He was a wealthy man who fought crime as the costumed vigilante known as the Angel. He possessed no superhuman powers, but was skilled in hand-to-hand combat and was an expert marksman.
5. Black Widow (1940)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
The original Black Widow, also known as Claire Voyant, was created by writer George Kapitan and artist Harry Sahle and made her debut in Mystic Comics #4 in 1940. She was a supernatural vigilante who made a deal with the devil to avenge her husband’s murder. She possessed various mystical abilities, including the power to sense evil and to curse her enemies.
6. Captain America (1941)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Captain America was created by writer Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby and made his debut in Captain America Comics #1 in 1941. He was Steve Rogers, a scrawny young man who was transformed into a super-soldier by a top-secret government project. He possesses incredible strength, speed, and agility, as well as an unbreakable shield made of vibranium.
7. Bucky Barnes (1941)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Bucky Barnes was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and made his debut in Captain America Comics #1 alongside Captain America. He was Steve Rogers’ sidekick, a young man who fought alongside Cap against the Nazis during World War II. Bucky was later presumed dead, but was eventually revealed to have been brainwashed by the Soviets and transformed into the Winter Soldier.
8. Red Skull (1941)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Red Skull, also known as Johann Schmidt, is a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe and one of the oldest characters created by the company. He was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby and made his debut in Captain America Comics #1 in 1941. Schmidt was originally a bellhop in a hotel in Germany, until he was recruited by Adolf Hitler to become the ultimate Nazi soldier. Through the use of the super-soldier serum, he gained immense strength, speed, and agility, making him a formidable opponent for Captain America.
9. Vision (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
The original Vision was created by Timely Comics (the predecessor to Marvel Comics) in the 1940s, making him one of the oldest Marvel characters. He was an android who possessed superhuman strength, speed, and durability, as well as the ability to control his density. He was a member of the superhero team known as the Invaders, and later joined the Avengers.
10. Toro (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Toro, also known as Thomas Raymond, was the sidekick of the original Human Torch. He possessed the same powers as the Torch, including the ability to generate flames from his body and fly. He was a member of the superhero team known as the Invaders, and later became a member of the Liberty Legion.
11. Miss America (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Miss America, also known as Madeline Joyce, was created by writer Otto Binder and artist Al Gabriele and made her debut in Marvel Mystery Comics #49 in 1943. She was a superheroine who possessed superhuman strength, speed, and agility, as well as the ability to fly. She was a member of the All-Winners Squad, a superhero team that included Captain America and Bucky.
12. Whizzer (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Whizzer, also known as Robert Frank, was created by writer Al Avison and artist Al Gabriele and made his debut in USA Comics #1 in 1941. He possessed superhuman speed, and was a member of the All-Winners Squad. He was later revealed to be the father of the superheroine known as Quicksilver.
13. Union Jack (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Union Jack, also known as Lord James Montgomery Falsworth, was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Frank Robbins and made his debut in Invaders #7 in 1976. He was a British superhero who fought alongside Captain America and Bucky during World War II. He possessed no superhuman powers, but was a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and was highly trained in espionage.
14. Blue Diamond (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Blue Diamond, also known as Elton T. Morrow, was created by writer Paul Gustavson and artist Syd Shores and made his debut in Daring Mystery Comics #7 in 1941. He was a superhero who possessed superhuman strength, and was a member of the All-Winners Squad. He later became a private detective and continued to fight crime without his superhero identity.
15. Thunderer (1940s)
Oldest Marvel Character Detail:
Thunderer, also known as John Aman, was created by writer Bill Everett and artist Paul Gustavson and made his debut in Daring Mystery Comics #7 in 1941. He was a martial arts master who possessed incredible strength and agility. He was one of the earliest Asian superheroes in comic book history.
These 15 characters represent some of the oldest and most iconic creations in the Marvel Universe. From the earliest days of Timely Comics to the present day, Marvel has continued to create new and exciting characters that have captured the imagination of readers around the world. Whether they’re heroes, villains, or somewhere in between, these characters continue to inspire and entertain fans of all ages.
