Steve Rogers

Few characters in comics history carry the weight — or the longevity — of Steve Rogers, a Golden Age original who first stepped onto the page in 1941, created by Carl Burgos, and has never really left. With over 3,600 catalogued appearances spanning an extraordinary 85 years, he is one of Marvel's most enduring presences, most at home in the pages of Captain America and The Avengers, where he keeps remarkable company alongside Iron Man, Thor, Spider-Man, and the rest of the Marvel universe's finest. A staggering 158 of those appearances are recognized as key issues — a testament to how often this character sits at the center of comics history rather than the margins. If you're building a serious Marvel collection, Steve Rogers isn't a chapter in the story; he practically is the story.