# The 16 Most Important Comic Book Issues Ever Published

> First appearances, deaths that changed the rules, and a black-and-white parody that grew into an empire. Which issue shifted comics the most?

*By YPB Team · Published September 23, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-16-most-important-comic-book-issues-ever-published*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Action Comics #1** — score 1000/1000
   June 1938, the first appearance of Superman and the start of the superhero genre.
2. **All Star Comics #8** — score 999/1000
   December 1941, the first appearance of Wonder Woman.
3. **Fantastic Four #1** — score 800/1000
   November 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's launch of the Marvel Age.
4. **Captain America Comics #1** — score 709/1000
   March 1941, Captain America punching Hitler on the cover a year before Pearl Harbor.
5. **Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1** — score 709/1000
   May 1984, a self-published parody that became a global franchise.
6. **The Amazing Spider-Man #121** — score 600/1000
   June 1973, the death of Gwen Stacy and the end of comics' innocence.
7. **Watchmen #1** — score 600/1000
   September 1986, the first of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' twelve issues.
8. **The Incredible Hulk #181** — score 600/1000
   November 1974, the first full appearance of Wolverine.
9. **Detective Comics #27** — score 466/1000
   May 1939, the first appearance of Batman, by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.
10. **Showcase #4** — score 466/1000
   October 1956, Barry Allen's Flash and the start of the Silver Age.
11. **Crisis on Infinite Earths #7** — score 466/1000
   October 1985, the death of Supergirl in DC's first universe reset.
12. **The Dark Knight Returns #1** — score 466/1000
   February 1986, Frank Miller's aging Batman, which ends in a fight with Superman.
13. **Amazing Fantasy #15** — score 0/1000
   August 1962, the debut of Spider-Man in what was meant to be a cancelled anthology.
14. **Marvel Comics #1** — score 0/1000
   October 1939, Timely's first issue, introducing the Human Torch and Namor.
15. **Giant-Size X-Men #1** — score 0/1000
   May 1975, the international X-Men team with Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler.
16. **Superman #75** — score 0/1000
   January 1993, the death of Superman, which sold millions of copies in polybags.

Tags: superheroes, comics, comic books