Ace This Quiz on the History of Comic Books

Before becoming a global multimedia, multi-billion-dollar corporation, Marvel had humble beginnings. In 1939, the company was launched as Timely Comics. Their first issue, "Marvel Comics No. 1," introduced the Human Torch and Sub Mariner, and later, the brand launched Captain America. In 1951, Timely Comics became Atlas Magazines, and finally in the early 1960s, it rebranded to Marvel Comics.

Created by legendary cartoonist Will Eisner, the Spirit first appeared on newsstands on June 2, 1940, as the main feature of a 16-page comic book. The title masked vigilante fights crime by night but began life as detective Denny Colt. The original run of the Spirit lasted until 1952 and was continued in small installations from the '60s through the 2000s.

Blonde Phantom, a Stan Lee creation, first appeared in 1946 as a crime-fighting assistant to detective Mark Mason. Another Stan Lee hero of the Golden Age, the Human Top, was the spinning superhero alter ego of David Cannon. In 1940, the android Dynamic Man was introduced as another Marvel creation meant to fight the forces of evil. The Slippery Eel is not a superhero ... yet.

In 1939, Batman made his debut in "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" in "Detective Comics #27." Drawn by Bob Kane and written by Bill Finger, the story introduced the caped crusader as uninteresting socialite Bruce Wayne by day turned merciless crimefighter by night. The story was only six pages long but proved popular enough to continue the character. He's still fighting crime more than 80 years later.

Before Marvel Comics launched Captain Marvel in 1967, the original character first appeared in 1939's "Whiz Comics No. 2" by Fawcett Comics. In the character's early days, Captain Marvel was the superhero alter ego of Billy Batson, who could transform into "Earth's mightiest mortal" upon speaking the magic word "Shazam!" During the peak of his popularity, Captain Marvel sold more comics than Superman.

Plastic Man, the silly, shape-shifting superhero, has the ability to stretch and morph his body into any shape he desires including a table, a countertop, and even a woman's dress. In 1941, Plastic Man made his debut in the premiere issue of "Police Comics" and has been a minor member of the DC universe since they bought him in 1966.

In June 1938, DC Comics released the first issue of their anthology series, "Action Comics." The comic book featured stories about Tex Thompson, Zatara Master Magician, and Scoop Scanlon the Five Star Reporter, but is most famous for including the first appearance of Superman. Most historians cite "Action Comics #1" as kicking off the Golden Age of Comic Books.

First appearing in the December 1941 edition of "All Star Comics," Wonder Woman has gone on to become one of the most famous and resourceful superheroes of the Golden Age. The Amazonian Princess has a variety of weapons and tools that help her fight the forces of evil, including an invisible jet, indestructible bracelets, and a Lasso of Truth.

In 1940, the Green Lantern first appeared in issue No. 16 of "All-American Comics." In the comic, construction engineer Alan Scott survived an explosion —thanks to the powers of a mystical green lantern. He forms a ring from part of the magic lamp and uses it to bend reality. In 2011, the Green Lantern made his Hollywood debut in a movie starring Ryan Reynolds.

In December 1941, M.L.J. Magazines — who primarily published superhero comics — went a different route and released "Pep Comics #22," which introduced the world to average teens Archie Andrews, Jughead Jones and Betty Cooper, and their relatable hijinks. Veronica Lodge would appear four issues later and together the gang would become M.L.J.'s most popular characters. In 1946, the company changed its name to Archie Comics.