Mary Marvel predates a character from Marvel Comics.
Stephen Vincent Strange , M.D. is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . Created by artist Steve Ditko and writer Stan Lee , the character first appeared in Strange Tales # 110 ( cover-dated July 1963 ) . Mary Marvel . Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze , she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures # 18 ( cover-dated Dec. 1942 ) . Mary Marvel was one of the first female spin-offs of a major male superhero , and predates the introduction of Superman 's female cousin Supergirl ( also created by Otto Binder ) by more than a decade .