Megaton

Few characters can claim to be the very foundation of an independent publisher's universe, but Megaton is exactly that — the title character of Big Bang's 1983 debut, brought to life by Gary Carlson, Butch Guice, and James Cassara right at the tail end of the Bronze Age. With a publishing history stretching an extraordinary four-plus decades and three key collector issues to their name, this is a character whose staying power speaks for itself. Megaton's adventures have played out across Megaton, Big Bang Comics, and Big Bang Adventures, sharing pages with figures like Ultragirl and The Knight Watchman in a universe that wears its love of classic comics on its sleeve. If you're drawn to independent publishing history and characters who helped build something from the ground up, Megaton is absolutely worth your time.