Who Came First: DC’s Superman or Marvel’s Captain Marvel? A Look Back at Superhero Origins
Superman debuted in 1938, Captain Marvel in 1940. Here's who truly came first and how the superhero rivalry shaped comic book history.
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With James Gunn’s Superman reboot set to release on July 11, 2025, featuring David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, excitement is at an all-time high. But one question still lingers among fans: Who came first — Superman or Captain Marvel?
The Origin of Superheroes in Pop Culture
The superhero genre, now a global pop culture phenomenon, took off in 1938 when Superman made his debut in Action Comics #1, published by DC (then known as National Allied Publications). Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Superman is widely credited as the world’s first modern superhero, laying the foundation for the entire comic book industry.
Captain Marvel, on the other hand, first appeared in 1940 in Whiz Comics #2, published by Fawcett Comics (not Marvel). This version of Captain Marvel — now known as Shazam in the DC Universe — was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Despite being younger by two years, Captain Marvel quickly gained massive popularity and was even outselling Superman for a time, leading to a long-standing rivalry and legal battle between the two publishers.
Superman vs Captain Marvel: The Legacy
Superman (1938)
Publisher: DC Comics
First Appearance: Action Comics #1
Powers: Super strength, flight, X-ray vision, invulnerability, more
Legacy: The original superhero icon, defining the genre for generations.
Captain Marvel (Shazam) (1940)
Publisher: Fawcett Comics (later DC)
First Appearance: Whiz Comics #2
Powers: Magic-based transformation, strength, speed, wisdom, lightning control
Legacy: A magical counterpoint to Superman, eventually folded into DC continuity.
Marvel Comics later introduced their own Captain Marvel character in 1967, leading to more legal battles and the eventual renaming of the original Captain Marvel as Shazam in DC’s lineup.
The Verdict
Superman predates Captain Marvel by nearly two years and is universally recognized as the first true superhero in comic book history. However, both characters have left indelible marks on the genre and continue to inspire fans across generations.
As DC and Marvel expand their cinematic universes, the legacy of these two heroes continues to evolve — but when it comes to who came first, Superman takes the crown.
