What was the first comic ever?

It's hard to definitively say which comic was the *absolute* first, as early forms of storytelling through images existed long before the modern comic book.

However, a strong contender for the first modern comic book is "The Yellow Kid", a comic strip created by Richard F. Outcault in 1895.

Here's why it's significant:

* First use of color: "The Yellow Kid" was one of the first comics to be printed in color, making it visually striking and attracting attention.

* First serialized comic strip: Outcault's strip was published regularly in newspapers, establishing the format of serialized comic strips that became a major feature of comics.

* Influenced later comics: The success of "The Yellow Kid" paved the way for other comic strips and eventually the development of the modern comic book.

While other contenders exist, "The Yellow Kid" stands out as a landmark in the evolution of comics, making it a strong candidate for the first modern comic book.