Summary
- Some of the most well-known DC characters actually originated in TV shows or other media, not comic books.
- Characters like King Tut and John Diggle made their way from TV shows.
- Popular characters like Harley Quinn and Jimmy Olsen gained popularity and recognition through their TV appearances before transitioning to the comics.
With a library of characters as extensive as those available to DC Comics, most readers would assume that there is no longer any room for any new ones. However, even the likes of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman need their cast of supporting players expanded every now and again.
6 Best Versions Of Aquaman In Media
Aquaman is one of the best DC Comics superheroes, and he has seen many revisions to his character throughout the decades.
Many of the characters that currently appear in DC Comics did not first debut in those comic pages. Instead, many readers will be shocked to learn that even some of the most well-known DC characters originated in TV shows or other media, not comic books.
7 King Tut
- First Appearance: Batman "The Curse of Tut" (1966)
- First Comic Appearance: Batman Confidential #26 (2009)
A show like Batman from the 1960s was the perfect place for a campy villain like King Tut. Originally an Egyptologist, the character suffered a bump on the head during a student protest and has suffered the delusion that he is the famed Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, ever since.
Given that King Tut does not have any superpowers, it made sense that he stayed out of the comics for a while. However, King Tut made his return to the pages of DC Comics in 2009. The character is mainly used to pay homage to other villains who came before, but King Tut has stood the test of time nonetheless.
6 John Diggle
- First Appearance: Arrow "Pilot" (2012)
- First Comic Appearance: Green Arrow #24 (2013)
John Diggle appeared in the pilot episode of CW's Arrow in 2012 as Oliver Queen's bodyguard. He then went on to become Oliver's best friend and chief confidant, even wearing the Green Arrow outfit at times to bail out his friend. Eventually, the ex-soldier was given his own superhero alter-ego as Spartan, and he stayed a part of the show for all eight seasons.
Since Diggle had become so intrinsically linked to Oliver Queen on the show, it only made sense that the DC writers made him a part of Green Arrow comic canon. As such, John Diggle started appearing in the Green Arrow comics just after the first season of Arrow had finished airing.
5 Terry McGinnis
- First Appearance: Batman Beyond "Rebirth Part 1" (1999)
- First Comic Appearance: Superman/Batman #22 (2005)
There was a hole left in fans' hearts when Batman: The Animated Series came to an end in 1995. Fortunately, a spin-off series was in the works, and Batman: Beyond first aired in 1999. This era of Batman saw a retired Bruce Wayne in the future training a new, futuristic ward in Terry McGinnis. Of course, this new version of Batman wasn't as capable as the original, but that gave Bruce a reason to remain a part of the show.
Ever since the idea of this futuristic Gotham was introduced, Terry McGinnis has always been in the cowl whenever the comics go to this future point in time. He may not be Bruce Wayne, but fans have welcomed Terry McGinnis as another person fit to wear the Batsuit in the distant future.
4 Harley Quinn
- First Appearance: Batman: The Animated Series "Joker's Favor" (1992)
- First Comic Appearance: Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (1999)
The Joker has been Batman's arch-nemesis since he first appeared in the 1940s. All fans know this, which is why the creators of Batman: The Animated Series decided to add a wrinkle to the character. The result was an equally devious girlfriend, and Harley Quinn debuted as part of the TV show in 1992.
DC: 35 Most Iconic Female Villains In The Comics
DC Comics is home to countless heroes and villains; however, these female villains from the franchise stand out as iconic.
The character has grown substantially since this origin and has even been the lead of several of her own comics, TV shows, and movies. There aren't many people alive today who do not instantly recognize Harley Quinn, but that popularity didn't start until her first TV debut.
3 Music Meister
- First Appearance: Batman: The Brave and the Bold "Mayhem of the Music Meister!" (2009)
- First Comic Appearance: DC Pride #1 (2022)
Batman: The Brave and the Bold was a cartoon that aired in the 2000s, and offered a brand-new look for a lot of Batman's villains with a return to camp. However, when it came time to write a musical episode for the show, the writers realized they needed a new villain who could be behind the musical goings-on in Gotham. The result was the Music Meister, who was voiced by the brilliant Neil Patrick Harris.
DC: Best Super Villain Teams
The iconic DC Comics superheroes have their work cut out for them when faced against the most evil DC super villain teams.
The Music Meister's second appearance wasn't until the musical episode of Supergirl, although the character did eventually wind up as part of the comics when DC released their Pride series in 2022.
2 Wonder Twins
- First Appearance: The All-New Super Friends Hour "Joy Ride" (1977)
- First Comic Appearance: Super Friends #7 (1977)
The Super Friends were a group of animated DC characters created for TV by Hannah-Barbera in the 1970s. Many of those who appeared on the show were fan favorites like Batman, while others were new creations like The Wonder Twins. Almost everyone has heard their iconic catchphrase before, as the twins used their magical rings to transform into whatever they imagined, even scary things.
Sadly, The Wonder Twins were slowly removed from the show as more prominent DC characters joined the group. That didn't stop DC from rescuing these twins, and they were folded into their comics universe soon after the show got rid of them.
1 Jimmy Olsen
- First Appearance: The Adventures of Superman Radio Show (1940)
- First Comic Appearance: Superman #13 (1940)
It is hard for fans to imagine Superman without his friend Jimmy Olsen by his side. However, there was a time when one existed without the other. Despite many readers claiming that Jimmy Olsen can be seen in the background in Action Comics #6, Jimmy Olsen didn't appear as the character known today until he was written as a part of The Adventures of Superman Radio Show in the 20th Century.
Jimmy Olsen got his first speaking role in the Superman comics a few after this initial appearance, and the rest is history.