Who was the first hero of the DCU?

[captain_unimpressive]

...Okay, let's put it this way. Since time travel and Elseworlds stories and Vandal Savage confuse things a bit, I'll say "Who was, chronologically, the first iconic hero of the DCU?" (It'd probably have to be post-1776, since all the great heroes are Americans, of course. (Sorry, Alpha Flight.)

[Person Man]

I think it's the Crimson Avenger, but I'm not sure.

[Gozwald73]

... since all the great heroes are Americans, of course. (Sorry, Alpha Flight.)

Spoken like a true American

[captain_unimpressive]

I think it's the Crimson Avenger, but I'm not sure.

Wasn't the Crimson Avenger just a Green Hornet/Spirit ripoff?
(Yes, I've been reading Jules Pheiffer's essay work lately.)

[Count Vertigo]

Crimson Avenger came in 1938 while the Spirit came in 1940

[Captain Atom]

First hero was Dr. Occult in 1935 Created by Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster

Captain Atom all the way, baby!!!

[Count Vertigo]

...Okay, let's put it this way. Since time travel and Elseworlds stories and Vandal Savage confuse things a bit, I'll say "Who was, chronologically, the first iconic hero of the DCU?" (It'd probably have to be post-1776, since all the great heroes are Americans, of course. (Sorry, Alpha Flight.)

Hmm.. Iconic? Id say Crimson Avenger and Batman since they provided inspiration for later mystery men.

[Joe Acro]

What do you mean by iconic? Because the Spectre has been around for a long time. I'm just not sure if he counts as an icon.

[Trademark]

In Pre-Crisis continuity, Superman was the first superhero until he was erased from history during COIE and then beaten to death during Infinite Crisis.

In Post Crisis continuity, Crimson Avenger is regarded as being the first of the 1940's mystery men. Whenever the Justice League inducts new members, they have a small ceremony involving the Crimson Avenger's hat. Likewise, Clark Kent once was writing a story about the history of superheroes and was researching the Crimson Avenger because in current continuity, the Crimson Avenger is regarded as the founding father of superheroes.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

As recently revealed in Seven Soldiers, a caveman transformed by the New Gods named Aurakles was the first super-hero of Earth.

[Agentum]

So there was other heroes than americans amazing:)

I know this is american comics but sometimes it all is so patriotic, north america with white people is a new country after all.

I think some in the thread missunderstood the question, i think he meant the first hero in DCU history not when the character was created in real time.