Is Spider-Man the top book for introducing characters?

[Ben Smith]

As a kid, I was always amazed by how many characters first appearance was in a Spider-Man comic. Granted, I probably was biased, with Spider-Man being my favorite character. Spider-Man's amazing rogues gallery probably had a big part in this thinking, but how important are all of them outside of Spider-Man?

my question for the board is, which Marvel title has launched more characters that have become essential Marvel Universe-wide characters, not just important to a key "family" of titles?

(off the top of my head) feel free to add or subtract

Spider-Man
Punisher
Norman Osborn
Venom (arguable, but his inclusion in Dark Avengers sways me)
Cloak and Dagger
Captain Marvel III/Photon
Captain Britain
Aracade
Black Cat

Fantastic Four
Silver Surfer
Galactus
Dr Doom
the Inhumans
Black Panther
The Skrulls
Namor (Silver Age)

Avengers
Captain America (Silver Age)
Ultron
Vision
Wonder Man

[Ben Smith]

Kingpin!! How could I forget

[RDMacQ]

Once. But not anymore.

[Ben Smith]

Once. But not anymore.

Well, to be fair, there aren't many new characters being produced anymore by the big two.

[Mister Mets]

With the Fantastic Four, you also had...
Him (later to become Adam Warlock)
Post-World War 2 Nick Fury (his first appearance in the regular Marvel Universe was in Fantastic Four, revealing that the hero of the Howling Commandos comic would live until the 1960s)
The Microverse

The current Amazing Spider-Man does have spinoffs, including the upcoming Venom and Spider-Girl. Plus, Jonah and the Daily Bugle are ubiquitous presences in the Marvel landscape.

[RDMacQ]

Well, to be fair, there aren't many new characters being produced anymore by the big two.

It's not that. It's that the book has become more insular about it's impact in the Marvel U. and more focused on maintaining and reinforcing the notion of Spidey's as a "street level hero." He seems less like a character best suited to introduce a new character and more like a character that's designed to react to an already existing character.

[Mikey Brown]

I think it is THE book for introducing new characters, honestly. Granted, new characters don't get spun off as much these days, but just looking at your list Ben, kinda shows it did a fantastic job at it. Just look how big Kingpin and Punisher became in other books. Same could be said for Norman Osborn, being in Dark Avengers and the top cop of the Marvel Universe. It could still do it, I don't see why not really.

[Ben Smith]

With the Fantastic Four, you also had...
Him (later to become Adam Warlock)
Post-World War 2 Nick Fury (his first appearance in the regular Marvel Universe was in Fantastic Four, revealing that the hero of the Howling Commandos comic would live until the 1960s)
The Microverse

The current Amazing Spider-Man does have spinoffs, including the upcoming Venom and Spider-Girl. Plus, Jonah and the Daily Bugle are ubiquitous presences in the Marvel landscape.

Annihilus and Madrox in Fantastic Four as well.

The microverse wasn't first introduced in Micronauts?

Good point about Jonah and the Daily Bugle

Spider-Girl is a spin-off, but in terms of true importance to the entire Marvel universe, I suspect very little, so far

[Alan2099]

Fantastic Four is a good bok if you want to go to strange places and meet unusual people. Spider-man is the more down to earth book. Because the character himself is very down to earth and relatable (as far as superheroes go) he provides a nice "view point" to showcase new things.


It's not that. It's that the book has become more insular about it's impact in the Marvel U. and more focused on maintaining and reinforcing the notion of Spidey's as a "street level hero."
That's pretty much always been the case. Spider-man in the grand scheme of things is pretty much a nobody. He's not rich. He's not a super genious. He's not some hard hitting grim and gritty vigilante. He's never realy had an IMPACT on the marvel universe. That's one of the things that makes him such a great everyman character. And because he is the veryman, it's usually more fun seeing him react to new and strange things. If he's the "norm" then the newer character provide a better contrast against him.