Will E Worm
Conspiracy...
10 Comic Book Characters That Didn't Debut in Comic Books
The brightly colored world of the 1960s Batman TV series is coming to comic books this summer with Batman '66, a digital-first series written by Jeff Parker and illustrated by Jonathan Case.
Yet this isn't the first time that elements unique to that TV show have crossed over into the world of comic books. While comic books have clearly influenced TV and movies over the decades, these live-action and animated adaptations have in turn resonated in the comic books themselves, as seen recently with S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson -- played on screen in multiple Marvel Studios by Clark Gregg -- making his Marvel Universe presence felt in the currently ongoing Secret Avengers. Comic books have picked up several major characters thanks to the other media that they've inspired, creating something of an infinite feedback loop of heroes, villains and supporting characters.
We present to you 10 of the best in this list -- think we missed some? Let us know via the social networking links below.
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10. PHIL COULSON
S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, first debuted in a minor role in 2008's original Iron Man film, the start of the Marvel Studios era.
He was subsequently seen -- and increasingly featured on-screen -- in Iron Man 2, Thor and last year's The Avengers, which both provided his juiciest part and seemingly (spoiler alert, but come on, you've seen it) killed him off, as he died heroically while opposing Loki.
And yet, Coulson lives. Not only is he headlining the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show, currently in the pilot stage at ABC, he's now a full-fledged part of the classic Marvel Universe of the comic books, first appearing in the Battle Scars miniseries, and now a key part of the Marvel NOW! Secret Avengers cast.
9. '60S BATMAN TV CHARACTERS
Barbara Gordon -- you also know her as Batgirl -- was initially conceived as a collaboration between DC Comics and the producers of the '60s Batman TV series, as the latter were looking to inject some new life into the third season of the show.
So while Batgirl was created with the TV show in mind, technically her first appearance was in the comic books a few months before she showed up on the small screen.
So if you don't want to count Batgirl, hey, we get it. But how about Chief O'Hara, who was created for the 1966-debuting TV show, and showed up later that year in World's Finest Comics #159? Or King Tut, another product of the show, who didn't make it into comics until 2009's Batman Confidential #26?
With the Batman '66 comic on the way, it's distinctly possible that more characters unique to the show -- like Egghead or Louie the Lilac -- could be making their comic book debut soon.
8. FIRESTAR
1981's Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends remains one of the most famous comic book-based cartoons of all time, often played on repeats and serving as a source of inspiration for the "Marvel Mash-Up" segments during the current Sunday morning Marvel Universe programming block.
In the series, Spider-Man teamed with original X-Men member Iceman, plus new character Firestar, real name Angelica Jones (or "Miss Angelica Jinx," as crueler folks dubbed her.)
The character was introduced to the mainstream Marvel Universe a few years later in 1985's Uncanny X-Men #193, then went on to star in her own miniseries. She became an original member of the New Warriors, an Avenger and most recently co-starred in the Young Allies series.
Not to be outdone, Aunt May's Ms. Lion, also an Amazing Friends original, showed up in comic books a few years back in Marvel's Pet Avengers miniseries.
7. BEBOP AND ROCKSTEADY
The long-running -- seriously, it lasted for nine years and 193 episodes -- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series introduced plenty of characters not seen in the original comic books, from disembodied alien conqueror Krang to frumpy secretary Irma. (Clearly, the show encompassed a wide spectrum.)
Among the most memorable and enduring were Bebop and Rocksteady, Shredder's mutated henchmen named after musical genres. They weren't the swiftest villains around, but they provided comic relief and were a constant fixture in the cartoon -- which led to appearances in Archie's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures series, until they retired from a life of crime to live in a paradise planet. (The comic went to some unexpected places.)
Their comic book careers didn't stop there, as they've appeared, in human form, in IDW's current TMNT comics.
6. MERCY GRAVES
How's this for influence: Mercy Graves first appeared in the 1990s Superman animated series, then the comic books, then inspired a live-action character in Smallville.
Mercy Graves -- voiced by House's Lisa Edelstein -- was Lex Luthor's bodyguard, and though that's not the splashiest role, she made enough of an impression to be introduced to DC's comic book continuity during the "No Man's Land" story arc, and later became a superhero in her own right as part of Infinity Inc.
In the later seasons of Smallville, Tess Mercer, played Cassidy Freeman, was introduced, acting as a hybrid of Mercy Graves and Eve Teschmacher from the original Superman film.
The villain Livewire also made the journey from the Superman cartoon to comic books, though neither her nor Mercy have yet appeared in the revamped world of The New 52.
5. MORPH
OK, so this one is kind of a technicality, but stick with us.
Morph was introduced as a new character in the 1990s X-Men cartoon, apparently perishing in the pilot before resurfacing in a much less stable incarnation, thanks to Mister Sinister's manipulation.
The character was based on old-school X-Men character Changeling, but clearly had a personality of his own. During Age of Apocalypse, a new Morph was introduced -- an alternate timeline version of Changeling, but called Morph and with a similar sense of humor as the animated series character. He later went on to have many subsequent adventures as part of the reality-hopping Exiles.
So: Does that count? Seeing as how Changeling and Morph are effectively two different characters with the latter clearly inspired by the animated series, we're going with yes. If that doesn't work for you, though, well, pretend that we gave Ms. Lion her own entry.
4. RENEE MONTOYA
The seminal Batman: The Animated Series introduced lots of new characters to the Dark Knight's world, from villains like Lock-Up to a certain associate of the Joker you might see later in this countdown.
One of the biggest is Detective Renee Montoya, frequently partnered with Harvey Bullock and a welcomed female presence within the ranks of Gotham's PD (not to mention often an ally of Batman).
She was brought into the comics the same year B: TAS debuted, and later starred as one of the main characters of the acclaimed Gotham Central series, where she was outed, framed and kidnapped by Two-Face. But she wasn't destined to stay a cop, eventually becoming the new version of vigilante hero The Question in 2006-2007's weekly series 52. Her status in The New 52 is currently vague (though her existence was acknowledged in Batwoman), but it'll likely not be too long before the character appears again.
3. X-23
X-Men: Evolution followed up on the earlier X-Men cartoon by presenting younger versions of Marvel's mutants and focusing on the school setting.
The show introduced a young female equivalent to Wolverine named X-23, with one less claw on each hand but an extra one on each foot. She soon became part of the comic books via NYX, as one of several wayward, homeless mutants. She later starred in her own solo ongoing series, became a part of the X-Men and X-Force,was an Avengers Academy student, and is now one of the unlucky few fighting to survive in Avengers Arena.
A female clone of Wolverine, X-23's history has been fleshed out in a big way in the comics, including the revelation of time spent as a teenage prostitute -- not typical Saturday morning cartoon fare.
2. JIMMY OLSEN
Yep, that's right -- bow tie-sporting photographer Jimmy Olsen, one of the most recognizable elements of the Superman mythos, didn't debut in comic books.
The character is actually a product of radio show The Adventures of Superman in 1940, though a Jimmy-like character (not specifically named as such) was seen in the comics before that. Jimmy then showed up in the comics a year later, and the rest is four-color history.
Since then, Jimmy has become a constant fixture in practically every version of Superman as his loyal "pal," down to his latest reinvention in DC's New 52. He's also had many of his own, solo adventures, including once turning into a giant turtle once. (It happens.)
Jimmy isn't the only famous Daily Planet staffer who debuted in the radio serial: Same goes for Perry White, who picked up his "Great Caesar's ghost" and "don't call me chief" catchphrases in his portrayal by actor John Hamilton.
1. HARLEY QUINN
Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel worked at Arkham Asylum as a psychiatrist, treating Batman's rogue's gallery of insane villains. While treating the Joker, she fell madly in love with the psychotic clown, and adopted the personality of Harley Quinn, a harlequin jester (get it?), becoming his sidekick, his lover, and a breakout star on Batman: The Animated Series, which was of course featured earlier in our countdown as well.
Her first comic book appearance didn't actually establish her in the DCU, as it took place in the DCAU. Mad Love told Harley's origin in the universe, and won an Eisner for Paul Dini and Bruce Timm (also the creative heads of B: TAS, for the uninitiated).
Later, though, she came into the DCU, even carrying her own ongoing series for 3 years. She became a key character in many Batman (and especially Joker) stories, teamed up with Poison Ivy and Catwoman in an antihero version of the Birds of Prey called Gotham City Sirens, and appears front-and-center in The New 52's Suicide Squad.
Harley's popularity (and Dini's involvement) carried her into the video game world with the award-winning Batman: Arkham Asylum, and gave her a continued role in 2011's Batman: Arkham City. In fact, the game's final DLC was titled "Harley's Revenge" and centered entirely around the high-pitched queen of crime. That makes her not just a character that carried over from TV to comics, but from TV to comics to video games. And that makes her our best character in comics from another medium.
