Staten Island’s First Appearance In The Marvel Universe: Collectors Confessions Column

Staten Island First Appearance in the Marvel Universe
By Chad Farley

Over the last few weeks, we have written several articles focused on Staten island’s connections to comic books and we got to thinking what was the first appearance of Staten Island in comic books.

It is well known that regarding most comic book collectors there tends to be a focus on the first appearance of a character, a team or a place. These first appearances are usually labeled key issues and command a premium price. So, what was the first appearance of Staten Island in Marvel Comics? Why Marvel you might ask? Well, unlike their DC Comics counterparts, Marvel has always taken place in the real world, meaning they occupy real cities. Many heroes in the Marvel universe actually live in New York City, more on that in a later column.

We had to go back, way back. All the way back in 1940, February to be exact. The comic was Mystic Comics and in issue number 2, Staten Island made its first appearance. Mystic Comics was an anthology series that ran for 8 issues; each issue contained multiple stories. Mystic Comics #2 is well known to comics collectors because it is considered by many to be the second ever comic in what would later become Marvel Comics. Along with Staten Island’s first appearance, the issue also features the second appearance of the Blue Blaze and the first appearance of Mastermind Excello.

The story in which Staten Island first appeared was titled “The Laboratory of Wheels.” In the story inventor Jim “Taxi” Taylor invents a modified Taxicab designed to help the United States fend off its enemies. Taylor lives on Staten Island, and his invention workshop is housed there. After being laughed at by the United States Government, Taylor shows its value by saving the US from a planned German attack.

You can grab a copy of Mystic Comics #2 for around $8,000 in Very Fine condition and the highest selling copy went for over $32,000. So, there you have it: the first appearance of Staten Island in Marvel comics. Anyone own a copy? Next time we will look at the first time Staten Island appeared in DC Comics.

 

Banner Image: Mystic Comics Issue # 2 featuring Staten Island. Image Credit – Marvel Comics