Editing First appearance (section)

==Reader interest in first appearances==
[[Comic book collecting|Collectors]] value first appearances for their rarity and historical value, while many regular readers are interested in viewing how their favorite characters were originally portrayed. Reprints of first appearances are often published, both as single comic books and in [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperbacks]], usually with other early appearances of the character. [[Marvel Comics]]' "Essential" line has become popular by giving readers an affordable glimpse into characters' early history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44295 |title=The A.V. Club's Weekly List |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |access-date=January 26, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060126234925/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44295 |archive-date=January 26, 2006 }}</ref>

Historically, first appearances tell the [[origin story]] for the character, although some, such as [[Batman]] and [[Green Goblin]], remained dubious figures for several issues. [[Modern Age of Comic Books|Modern]] writers prefer to tell a character's origin across an entire story arc or keep a newly introduced character mysterious until a "secret origin" issue. Some fans consider this a [[gimmick]] and prefer the older method.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com/2005/01/origin-stories.html|title=Yet Another Comics Blog: Origin Stories|first=Dave|last=Carter|date=January 20, 2005|website=yetanothercomicsblog.blogspot.com}}</ref>

The artistic merit of many first appearances is debatable. The events portrayed in most famous first appearances are continuously [[retcon]]ed, [[reboot (continuity)|rebooted]], or expanded upon by subsequent writers. Like many [[Golden Age of Comic Books|golden]] and [[Silver Age of Comic Books|silver]] age comics, first appearances often become dated and do not fit the modern portrayal of the character.

However, some first appearances are considered classics. 1990s-era [[Spider-Man]] writer [[Howard Mackie]] said that his favorite story featuring the character was his first appearance and origin story in ''[[Amazing Fantasy]]'' #15 (August 1962), stating that writer [[Stan Lee]] and artist [[Steve Ditko]] "gave us everything we needed, I wanted or could ask for in the least possible space. Every single person who retells the origin never improves on the original, they simply expand it."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spidermancrawlspace.com/interviews/mackie4.htm|title=Spider-Man Crawl Space Interview: Howard Mackie|website=www.spidermancrawlspace.com}}</ref>