* Early Influences:
* Newspaper Comics: Comic strips like "The Yellow Kid" (1895) and "Mutt and Jeff" (1907) paved the way.
* Early Comic Books: Some historians point to "The Katzenjammer Kids" (1897) as the first comic strip published in a standalone booklet format, predating the term "comic book."
* The "Golden Age":
* 1930s: "Famous Funnies" (1934) is considered the first modern comic book, a collection of pre-existing comic strips.
* "Action Comics" (1938), featuring Superman's debut, cemented the superhero genre and its popularity.
* "Detective Comics" (1937) introduced Batman.
* "Marvel Comics" (then known as "Timely Comics," 1939) launched the Marvel Universe with characters like Captain America.
Key Figures:
* Max Gaines: Credited for publishing "Famous Funnies" and popularizing the comic book format.
* Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster: Created Superman.
* Bob Kane and Bill Finger: Created Batman.
* Joe Simon and Jack Kirby: Created Captain America.
* Stan Lee and Jack Kirby: Developed the Marvel Universe and many of its iconic characters.
It's more accurate to say that the comic book evolved as a medium, with contributions from many creators who helped shape its form and content.