Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos #1 (May 1963)

The first appearance of Nick Fury, long before he ran S.H.I.E.L.D. Kirby draws him as a torn-shirted World War II sergeant leading his unit out of an explosion, tommy gun in hand. The cover line pitches it as a war book from "the talented team that brings you the famous Fantastic Four," a reminder of how hard Marvel was pushing its new house brand by 1963.