Aquaman First Appearance: More Fun Comics #73 and How to Identify It

Aquaman first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 (cover date November 1941), published by DC, by Mort Weisinger, Paul Norris. The source puts it this way: "This book features the origin and first appearance of Aquaman, saving refugees whose ship was torpedoed by a Nazi submarine.".

• Cover art does NOT show Aquaman: the cover instead went to Doctor Fate (introduced the previous year), shown clad in blue and gold, fighting bad guys.
• Cover date on CGC census record: CGC's census record lists the cover date as 11/41.

• Indicia: the small print on the first page or inside cover gives the issue number, date and publisher; reprints usually say so there.
• Cover price and barcode: a price or barcode format that did not exist in the year printed means a later edition.
• Paper and staples: decades-old newsprint is tan at the edges; bright white pages on an old date are a warning sign.
• Restoration: color touch, trimmed edges and married covers are common on expensive keys; a grading service can detect them.

Shoot the front cover flat, straight on, in even light, then the indicia page and the back cover. Include the top edge and staples in one frame. The app reads the title, issue number and cover and matches it against the checks above; the indicia photo settles most reprint questions.