When you think of the phrase 10 comic book heroes and villains, you probably picture iconic capes and panels. Yet, a handful of beloved figures actually debuted outside the printed page and later migrated into comics, becoming permanent fixtures. Below, we count down ten of these cross‑media pioneers, from TV legends to video‑game stars.
10 Batgirl (DC: Batman titles)
For comic‑book historians, April 14, 1954, marked a watershed. That was the day Fredric Wertham unleashed Seduction of the Innocent, a pamphlet warning that the overt violence and hidden references to sex and drugs in comics could spur criminal activity among youngsters. While the work is often portrayed as a moral crusade, a 2012 study revealed Wertham had twisted and even falsified data to suit his theories. A week after the pamphlet’s release, Wertham testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency, a hearing televised nationwide. He warned that comics posed a greater menace to youth than Hitler did to the world. The nation panicked; parents began canceling subscriptions and tossing comic books into the trash. That summer, fifteen comic‑book publishers folded, and the survivors created the Comics Code Authority to salvage their reputations and sales.
Sales for Detective Comics—better known as DC Comics—suffered a hard blow after Wertham claimed Superman was a fascist, Wonder Woman a lesbian, and Batman and Robin gay lovers. In 1956, to repudiate the latter claim, DC introduced a love interest for Batman: Kathy Kane, a wealthy circus performer who became Batwoman. By 1961, feeling Robin—a perpetual teenager for two decades—was left out, DC added Betty Kane, Kathy’s niece, as Robin’s love interest. Betty idolized Batwoman and fashioned her own costume and gadgets, becoming Bat‑girl (with a hyphen). However, Bat‑girl never truly caught on, and when legendary editor Julius Schwartz took the helm of the Batman titles in 1964, he dropped Bat‑girl along with other oddities such as Bat‑mite and Bat‑hound.
In 1966, the live‑action Batman series premiered on television, rekindling interest in the comics and perhaps even rescuing them. By the third season, ratings slipped, and producer‑narrator William Dozier conceived adding a female hero to broaden appeal to women. He approached Schwartz, requesting a heroine who would be the daughter of an established figure—Commissioner James Gordon. Schwartz, together with Gardner Fox (creator of the Justice Society and Justice League), birthed Barbara Gordon: a daytime librarian who becomes Batgirl by night. Artist Carmine Infantino designed her look.
ABC executives needed convincing that Batgirl was essential for the show, so Dozier crafted an eight‑minute short where Batgirl rescues Batman and Robin from the villain Killer Moth. Batgirl wasn’t allowed to punch Killer Moth—too “un‑lady‑like”—so she kicked him instead. Dozier then urged Schwartz to introduce Batgirl in the comics to generate buzz for the upcoming season. Consequently, Batgirl debuted in Detective Comics #359 (January 1967), but only after her television creation. Since that debut, multiple women have donned the Batgirl mantle, and she remains a regular in the Batman titles, occasionally receiving her own series. A Batgirl movie is already in development.
9 Firestar (Marvel: X‑Men titles)
Spider‑Man and His Amazing Friends aired as a Saturday‑morning cartoon beginning in 1981 on NBC, running three seasons. The series took an unusual tack: it placed Peter Parker, a college student at Empire State University, alongside two superhero roommates—Bobby Drake (Iceman) and Angelica Jones (Firestar). The producers originally wanted a fire‑and‑ice theme, aiming for Iceman from the X‑Men and the Human Torch from the Fantastic Four. However, Universal Studios had optioned the Human Torch for a potential solo film that never materialized, rendering the character unavailable. Consequently, the creators invented Firestar, granting her the power to manipulate microwave radiation, enabling flight and flame projection.
Early brainstorming yielded names such as Heatwave, Firefly, and Starblaze. Writer Dennis Marks christened the heroine’s civilian name—Angelica Jones—after an old girlfriend. In the cartoon, Firestar is presented as a former X‑Man alongside Iceman, yet when her backstory was fleshed out in the comics, she emerged as a trainee at the Hell Fire’s Club, initially confronting the X‑Men. Later, she joined the New Warriors, earning her own miniseries and cementing her status as a hero.
8 Jimmy Olsen (DC: Superman titles)
Imagining Superman without his buddy Jimmy Olsen feels impossible, yet the intrepid photographer actually vanished for a chunk of Superman’s 83‑year saga. Shortly after Superman’s debut in the summer of 1938, Action Comics #6 featured an anonymous red‑haired, freckle‑spotted youth gazing at a billboard proclaiming Metropolis the “Home of Superman!” He mused, “I’m going to get a job and live in Metropolis. Gee, wouldn’t it be wonderful if I met Superman! But I won’t have that luck.”
Later, DC retconned that nameless figure as Jimmy Olsen. In reality, the character didn’t appear until April 15, 1940, on the radio program The Adventures of Superman, where he served as a cub reporter for the Daily Planet. The radio shows leaned heavily on dialogue and sound effects, and Jimmy—and editor Perry White—were created as conversational foils. His popularity spurred a comic‑book debut in the November/December 1941 issue of Superman #13.
After a few early appearances, Jimmy disappeared from the Golden Age titles throughout the 1940s. He resurfaced in 1952 via the television series Adventures of Superman, revitalizing interest. From 1954 onward, he headlined his own series, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, which ran for nearly two decades. The title is remembered for bizarre transformations—Jimmy became a giant turtle, a genie, a human porcupine, a six‑armed octopus (a “sextapus”), and Elastic Lad, a precursor to the Elongated Man. Notably, the series introduced Darkseid, the New Gods, and the Fourth World’s cast.
7 Phil Coulson (Marvel: Avengers titles)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) now boasts 25 films, a dozen‑plus series, and several podcasts. Yet the most screen‑time‑rich character isn’t a superhero at all—it’s Agent Phil Coulson, portrayed by Clark Gregg. He first appeared in the inaugural MCU movie, Iron Man (2008), playing a minor but memorable role that annoyed Pepper Potts and Tony Stark before aiding them in thwarting Obadiah Stane’s murderous plot. Though brief, Gregg maximized the part.
When Iron Man 2 (2010) arrived, both Coulson and Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury appeared. A year later, as the MCU geared up for its first ensemble film, writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz were scrambling to finish the Thor script. With Fury’s contract still under negotiation, they turned to Coulson to anchor S.H.I.E.L.D.’s involvement. This decision propelled Coulson into a pivotal role in Avengers (2012) and later as the lead of the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which launched in 2014.
Coulson’s popularity earned him a comic‑book debut in Battle Scars #6 (2011‑12), where his backstory revealed him as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan, saving the life of Marcus Johnson—Nick Fury’s son. In the comics, Coulson’s expertise stems from his obsessive collection of super‑human memorabilia and deep study of their abilities, making him uniquely adept at handling personalities like Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Wade Wilson (Deadpool).
6 Sakura Kasugano (UDON: Street Fighter titles)
At first glance, it may not seem extraordinary that Sakura Kasugano never started in comics. Most fans first meet her in Capcom’s Street Fighter franchise, debuting in 1994. In 2017, when the series celebrated its 30th anniversary, Capcom surveyed fans to rank the most popular of the 109 playable fighters across mainline games and spin‑offs. Over 150,000 votes placed Sakura at the top, while her mentor‑boyfriend Ryu landed ninth. Among the original arcade roster, characters like Sagat, Ken, and Gen fell far lower in the poll.
Creator Akira Yasuda gave Sakura a distinctive look: a Japanese school‑girl uniform with a mini‑skirt, sailor blouse, yellow scarf tied at the front, red sneakers, red combat gloves, and a white headband gifted by Ryu. Her personality was crafted to be relatable—a teenage, slightly awkward yet proficient practitioner of Ryu’s Shotokan style. Sakura has appeared in at least 21 video games, most as a playable fighter, and has also featured in anime, American animated series, a direct‑to‑home live‑action movie, a manga series, and roughly 70 issues of Street Fighter comics.
5 Rocksteady and Bebop (IDW Comics: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles titles)
Within the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) rogues gallery, Shredder and Krang reign supreme, but the fan‑favorites are the hulking warthog Bebop and the rhino Rocksteady. When Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman launched the original TMNT comics in 1984, they drew inspiration from Marvel’s Daredevil, the New Mutants, and Frank Miller’s Ronin. The turtles, like Daredevil, had a ninja mentor; their arch‑enemy, the Foot Clan, echoed Daredevil’s Hand. The comics were gritty, featuring adult themes such as domestic violence, drug smuggling, and murder—leaving little room for comic relief characters.
In 1987, while negotiating a toy line with Playmate Toys, Eastman and Laird were asked to flesh out additional characters. Laird conceived Bebop and Rocksteady, naming them after musical genres—Bebop (jazz) and Rocksteady (reggae). The following year, the animated Saturday‑morning series premiered, shifting the tone to kid‑friendly adventures. Bebop and Rocksteady were portrayed as dim‑witted, clumsy henchmen, instantly becoming fan‑favorites despite Laird’s personal dislike. This animosity contributed to their omission from the 1991 sequel film, which introduced new foes Tokka and Rahaz instead. Their comic debut arrived in 1988 via Archie Comics, and the titles later migrated to IDW Comics in 2011.
4 Isis (DC: Shazam titles)
Much like Marvel’s Thor, Isis draws from ancient mythology—specifically Egyptian lore. She is the daughter of the earth god Geb and sky goddess Nut, sister to Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. In myth, Isis married her brother Osiris; Seth, driven by jealousy, murdered Osiris and dismembered him. Isis reassembled her husband’s body—minus, oddly, his organ—wrapping him in bandages and resurrecting him as a mummified, somewhat impotent figure, before bearing their son Horus.
Fast‑forward to September 6, 1975, when Filmation introduced a live‑action superhero for the second half of the Shazam!/Isis Hour, part of CBS’s Saturday morning block. The series, later syndicated as The Secrets of Isis, made her the first female live‑action TV superhero, predating the Bionic Woman by four months and Wonder Woman by seven. The heroine, a high‑school teacher, discovered an amulet during an archaeological dig that granted her the powers of the god‑queen Isis. The show ran two seasons (22 episodes), featuring crossovers with Captain Marvel in Shazam!. She entered comics with Shazam! #25 (Sept‑Oct 1976) and soon received her own series, though she never achieved lasting popularity and faded from media by the early 1980s.
Isis resurfaced in 2006 during DC’s massive “52” reboot, portrayed as an Egyptian slave who becomes the consort of anti‑hero Black Adam in the fictional nation of Kahndaq (located on the Sinai Peninsula). Their marriage softened Adam’s temperament, but Isis later fell in battle, beginning a cycle of death and resurrection. She appeared in a 2010 episode of Smallville, the 2016 series Legends of Tomorrow, and is slated for the 2022 film The Black Adam.
3 Luis (Marvel: Ant‑Man titles)
The MCU has birthed a host of supporting characters, and while Phil Coulson is a prime example, Luis—portrayed by Michael Peña in Ant‑Man (2015)—has also captured fan affection. Though he never received a surname, Luis’s infectious grin and signature rambling storytelling—delivering a convoluted anecdote to convey a simple point—made him unforgettable. His popularity earned him comic‑book appearances, beginning with Astonishing Ant‑Man #1 (2015). Rumors swirl that Luis could don a superhero mantle in the forthcoming Ant‑Man 3, a role Peña has actively campaigned for since Ant‑Man 2.
2 X‑23 (Marvel: X‑Men titles)
Writers Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost introduced X‑23 in 2003 for the animated series X‑Men: Evolution. Marketed as a younger Wolverine, Laura Howlett is a HYDRA‑engineered clone of Wolverine, designed to be the ultimate assassin. Because the DNA sample from Wolverine was damaged, HYDRA introduced genetic variations—including changing the clone’s sex—resulting in a female. HYDRA subjected Laura to abuse to suppress emotions and moral development, training her in killing techniques and endowing her with adamantium‑reinforced claws: two per hand and one per foot.
X‑23 premiered in an August 2003 episode and quickly gained a fanbase. By December that same year, she entered the comics via NYX #3. Since then, she has appeared in over 2,000 X‑Men issues, evolving into Wolverine’s surrogate daughter, fighting alongside him, and eventually taking up his mantle. Her popularity led to a live‑action debut in 2017’s Logan, Hugh Jackman’s final outing as Wolverine. Plans for a solo X‑23 film have been discussed, though Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox left the project in limbo.
1 Harley Quinn (DC: Batman titles)
Harley Quinn stands out as one of the most popular female comic‑book figures, despite existing for less than three decades. She’s a chaotic, murderous, gleefully unscrupulous character who oscillates between a twisted romance with the Joker and a passionate partnership with Poison Ivy—her relationship with Ivy even acknowledged as more than friendship. Lacking conventional superpowers, Harley’s true strength lies in her unpredictable, joyous insanity, making her a wildly entertaining presence.
Her origin story began in 1987 when actress Arleen Sorkin, playing Calliope Jones on the soap Days of Our Lives, brought a flamboyant, “Noo‑Yawk”‑accented persona to the table. After watching The Princess Bride, Sorkin suggested a bedtime‑story segment featuring a court jester, which producers approved. She performed as a roller‑skating jester, delivering lame jokes and sporting a quarter‑moon‑shaped undergarment.
Fast‑forward to 1991: writer Paul Dini, freelancing for Batman: The Animated Series, sought a fresh character to accompany the Joker. Remembering Sorkin’s jester routine, he recalled the 1960s live‑action Batman series, where villains had henchwomen, and envisioned a female counterpart. Sorkin sent Dini a tape of her jester performance; he immediately connected the dots: the Joker’s card motif and a harlequin‑inspired female. Thus, Harleen Quinzel—Harley Quinn—was born.
Bruce Timm designed Harley’s iconic look: a black‑and‑red harlequin outfit with ruffles, a two‑pointed cap, and pom‑pom‑tipped tails. Sorkin voiced Harley, blending her Calliope mannerisms with inspiration from Ellen Green’s Audrey in The Little Shop of Horrors. She even practiced singing “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls to nail the voice. When Dini paired the animation with Sorkin’s performance, the chemistry with Mark Hamill’s Joker was undeniable, prompting Harley’s return for additional episodes.
Harley first appeared in comics with The Batman Adventures #12, part of DC’s Animated Universe. Her growing popularity led to integration into the mainstream DC universe, where she evolved into a darker, more tragic figure. She later joined the Suicide Squad, debuting on the big screen in Suicide Squad (2016), followed by Birds of Prey (2020) and The Suicide Squad (2021).