Helia

Born in the very first issue of Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson's landmark Kurt Busiek's Astro City in 1996, Helia is part of the rich tapestry of original heroes that made that series an instant touchstone of the Modern Age. She inhabits a world alongside luminaries like Winged Victory, the Confessor, and Jack-in-the-Box — a roster that signals just how thoughtfully populated Astro City's universe truly is. Though her appearances in the catalog are select rather than sprawling, her debut pedigree is impeccable: issue #1 of one of the most celebrated creator-owned superhero series of its era is about as strong an entrance as comics can offer.