Throughout Marvel's publishing history, the company has always been progressive and ahead of the curve, especially when it has come to new characters. In the early days of the industry, Black people's portrayal was poor and often controversial as they were depicted as in stereotypical roles and backgrounds.

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As publishers began to include more Black characters into their universes, these changes were often met with pushback, making it even more difficult for them to accept roles other than comedy relief, the heroes sidekick, or the villain. Marvel, however, successfully made their comic universe one that was integrated through the introduction of characters that are now cultural icons.

10 Fantastic Four #52 and 53: The Black Panther!/The Way It Began

 Black Panther FF 52 53

In Fantastic Four #52 and #53, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced readers to T'challa, the King of Wakanda, and the Black Panther. Following this introduction in 1966, Black Panther became the first mainstream superhero of African descent, following the 1963 appearance of Gabe Jones, who was part Sgt. Fury's Howling Commandos.

RELATED: Marvel: Ranking Black Panther's Rogues Gallery

Black Panther becoming a major superhero was part of Stan Lee's editorial directive during the mid-60s to include more African and African-American characters in Marvel Comics in both the spotlight and background scenes. Black Panther would star in the Jungle Action series, which included "Panther's Rage," the first self-contained, multi-issue story arc, "Marvel's first graphic novel," helping pave the way for Black Panther to become a comic and cultural icon.

9 Amazing Spider-Man #51 (1967) Introduces Robbie Robertson

ASM 51 Robbie Robertson

Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, the Daily Bugle's Editor-in-Chief and mentor to Peter Parker, was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. and made his first appearance in August 1967 in The Amazing Spider-Man #51. Robbie was not only the close friend and of the Bugle's hot-headed publisher J. Jonah Jameson, but also a voice of reason when it came to Jameson's ongoing campaign to discredit the heroics of Spider-Man. Robertson's character was one of the first serious Black supporting characters to serve in a role that was not comic relief. Over the years, creators would go on to explore his backstory, a move that readers embraced.

8 All-New Captain America: Sam Wilson #1 (2015)

Red Falcon

Samuel Wilson, better known as Falcon, was the first African-American superhero to appear in a mainstream comic when he first appeared in the pages of Captain America #117 in 1969. The creation of Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, Wilson, would be drawn into the superhero life after discovering a group of former Nazis, led by Red Skull, had taken over an island and enslaving the local inhabitants.

RELATED: 10 Times Sam Wilson Was A Better Captain America Than Steve Rogers

Sam would eventually return to New York City and fight alongside Captain America, do a brief stint with the Defenders, eventually joining The Avengers. In 2015 Sam would relinquish Falcon's mantle, taking up the role of Captain America, when Steve Rogers retired. Sam would return to his role as Falcon following the Secret Empire event, which restored Steve Rogers to the Captain America role.

7 Luke Cage, Hero For Hire (1972)

Luke Cage

Luke Cage, aka Power Man, is the first Black superhero to headline and star as the titular character in his own comic book, Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1 in 1972. Created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr., Cage resulted from the times' blaxploitation genre. While other heroes in the Marvel universe were dealing with supervillains, Cage's solo exploits were darker and took place in the crime-dominated parts of New York City. As the popularity of the blaxploitation and kung-fu genre lost popularity, Cage was paired with Iron Fist making the Luke Cage. As society's views evolved, Cage also shed many of the stereotypical tropes, further cementing him as a Black cultural icon.

6 Misty Knight in Marvel Premiere #21 (1975)

misty Knight

In recent years, Mercedes "Misty" Knight has become a key player in the Marvel Universe, thanks to her Marvel Netflix shows' appearances. Created by Tony Isabella and Arvell Jones in 1975, Knight debuted in Marvel Premiere #20. However, her origin would later be retconned in Marvel Team-Up #64 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, with an appearance as a Marvel Team-Up #1. While Misty remains a supporting character, she has continued to grow into a complex character, far from her blaxploitation and Kung Fu-based origin.

5 Storm Joins The X-Men In Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)

Storm

In 1975 Len Wein and Dave Cockrum replaced the original X-Men with a new roster, which included Ororo Munroe, the daughter of a Kenyan tribal princess and an African-American photojournalist, who would take the name Storm due to her mutant ability to control the weather. Storm also distinguishes being the first major African female character appearing during the Bronze Age when she appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1.

RELATED: X-Men: Storm's Best Costume Designs, Ranked

Since becoming part of the X-Men, Storm has and continues to be one of the more prominent X-Men and member of the Marvel Universe as a leader, queen, and member of other superhero teams.

4 Iron Fist And Misty Share A Kiss In Marvel Team-Up#64 (1977)

 Iron Fist Misty

Marvel Team-Up #64 is an important issue that deserves a read not because it introduces a new character but because of the groundbreaking panel that happens for the first time in a mainstream comic. In a story arc by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Iron Fist is left on the doorstep of death's door after an encounter with Steel Serpent. When Spidey, Misty, and Colleen Wing go after Steel Serpent, only to be saved by a revived Iron Fist. In the aftermath of the fight, Misty and Danny share the first on-panel interracial kiss after Iron Fist made her choose between their romance and a case she was pursuing in Iron Fist #13.

3 Monica Rambeau Joins The Avengers In Avengers #227 (1983)

Monica Rambeau

Before she appeared in the MCU's Captain Marvel and Wandavision on Disney+, Monica Rambeau made her comic book appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 in 1982. The creation of Roger Stern and John Romita Jr. was her second appearance as the first Black member of the Avengers during her stint as Captain Marvel that makes her an essential part of Marvel's publishing history. Monica would be a part of The Avengers for all of Stern's five-year run on the title, even serving as the team's leader. Even after leaving, Monica would continue to be a reserve member and adopt Spectrum's new moniker.

2 TRUTH: Red, White, & Black (2003)

The Truth

Truth: Red, White & Black was the 2003 limited series by Robert Morales and Kyle Baker that told Isaiah Bradley, the first Captain America. Using the Tuskegee Experiments' events as a jumping-off point, the story revisits the government's attempts to create the super-soldier serum that eventually transformed Steve Rogers into Captain America. Black soldiers' regiment was unwillingly forced to act as test subjects as the American scientists tried to duplicate the original serum.

RELATED: Marvel Comics: 10 Worst Things Captain America Has Ever Done, Ranked

Throughout the seven-issues, the story followed the many failures until Isaiah Bradley was the only one of the 300 African American soldiers experimented on to survive. The series not only challenged the myth Captain America myth but also examined the racism of the 1940s.

1 Marvel's First All Black Team, Black Panther & The Crew (2017)

The Crew

Black Panther #6 (2016) by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Chris Sprouse introduced the first all-Black team to the Marvel Universe. The team brought together by Black Panther included Manifold, Storm, Luke Cage, and Misty Knight as they joined forces to take out a barrage of street-level threats. Based on an earlier incarnation of The Crew, created by Christopher Priest, this team, initially formed out of self-interest, the team would inspire a higher calling by promising to protect Little Mogadishu residents, a dangerous no man's land in Brooklyn. The Crew would get a short-lived ongoing series, co-written by Coates and Yona Harvey, with art by Butch Guice. They went after villains funding dissent in Wakanda,  rescuing Shuri from the Djalia, before they disbanded, going their separate ways.

NEXT: 26 Of the Greatest Black Characters in Comic Book History