8) The Phantom
Even older than The Spirit is The Phantom – one of the original comic book superheroes. Created in 1936 by Lee Falk, he predates Superman by two years. In fact, it’s generally thought that he’s the second mainstream superhero to have been created, after Mandrake the Magician.
The Phantom is also the first legacy superhero. The identity is one passed down through the generations of the Walker family, who have sworn to protect innocents from evil – the original Phantom fought pirates – from their base in the fictional African country of Bangalla. Kit Walker is the 21st Phantom and relies on his strength, wits and the supernatural reputation around him – the world believes the Phantom’s immortal – to defeat his enemies. Plus, he has a wolf called Devil, just to prove how badass he is. Unfortunately, his bright purple skintight suit is a bit goofy to our modern eyes.
Also, if you’re wondering why other early superheroes like The Shadow and The Green Hornet aren’t on this list, that’s because only The Spirit and The Phantom initially debuted in the medium of comics.