ComicBook selected five key heroes deemed by the authors to have driven the development of DC's Golden Age, focusing on the year 1940. Doctor Fate, the original Atom, Uncle Sam, Dick Grayson's Robin, and Alan Scott's Green Lantern all made their first appearances that year.
Doctor Fate debuted in More Fun Comics #55, published on March 29. The first story did not reveal his origin, instead directly depicting him stopping Wotan from murdering Inza Cramer. The authors believe this arrangement left room for later expansions of lore involving the Lords of Order and the Helmet of Nabu.
Dick Grayson's Robin first appeared in Detective Comics #38, published on March 6. After his parents were murdered, he was taken in by Bruce Wayne and became Batman's partner. The authors regard this character as a significant beginning to the superhero tradition of "teen sidekicks." Uncle Sam debuted in National Comics #1, published on April 14, as a personification of the American spirit, thwarting a coup attempt by a villain allegorically representing Hitler in his first story.
Alan Scott's Green Lantern appeared in All-American Comics #16, published on May 17. The authors also emphasize that, within the relevant continuity, he was an early protector of Gotham. The original Atom, Al Pratt, debuted in issue #19 of the same series, published on August 21. After being mocked for his short stature, he trained under boxing coach Joe Morgan, later rescuing a kidnapped girl and becoming one of the founding members of the Justice Society of America.