Here's a breakdown:
* Early Precursors: You could argue that ancient cave paintings, hieroglyphics, and even illuminated manuscripts served as early forms of visual storytelling, which could be considered a predecessor to comics.
* First "Comic Strips": The first modern comic strips are generally considered to be "The Yellow Kid" by Richard Outcault, which appeared in 1895 in the New York World newspaper.
* Early Comic Books: The first true comic book, "The Funnies" by Max Gaines, was published in 1933.
So, depending on how you define "comics," the answer could be as early as ancient times or as late as the late 19th century or early 20th century.