When you think of the 10 iconic superhero hallmarks that define our favorite caped crusaders, you probably picture comic panels. Yet, some of the most beloved quirks actually sprang from movies, TV shows, or even radio dramas. From a romance that only the big screen could cook up to a lasso that learned to tell the truth on television, these ten traits proved that great ideas can leap out of any medium.

10 Tony Stark and Pepper Potts’s Romance Is Thanks To The MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on Tony Stark and Pepper Potts (portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow) gave the duo a relationship arc that culminated in marriage and a daughter—something rarely seen in the comics. In the original pages, their connection is mostly professional, with Pepper often serving as Stark’s trusted confidante rather than his soulmate.

Historically, Pepper’s most consistent love interest in the comics was Happy Hogan, Stark’s loyal chauffeur and bodyguard (played by Jon Favreau in the films). While Pepper and Tony occasionally flirted in the comics, she also shared romances with characters like Janet Van Dywe (The Wasp), She‑Hulk, and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow).

9 Harley Quinn Was Created for Batman: The Animated Series

Batman: The Animated Series, which aired from 1992 to 1995, left a lasting imprint on the Dark Knight’s mythos. Its star contribution was Harley Quinn, the Joker’s mischievous partner and love interest. She quickly transitioned from the animated world into the comics, debuting in 1993’s The Batman Adventures #12, and has since become one of DC’s most celebrated characters, even topping Halloween costume rankings in 2016.

The series also reshaped existing characters. A prime example is Mr. Freeze, who was granted a tragic backstory involving his wife Nora’s terminal illness, giving him a poignant motivation to pursue villainy.

8 Star‑Lord’s Playful Personality Came From Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Before James Gunn’s 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy film, Star‑Lord (Peter Quill) was portrayed as a hardened soldier with a serious demeanor. Chris Pratt’s portrayal reimagined him as a charismatic, Han‑Solo‑style rogue with a witty edge. The film’s success prompted Marvel Comics to rewrite Star‑Lord’s persona to match Pratt’s breezy charm.

The comic version retained this lighter tone for years, until writer Al Ewing attempted to blend the serious and silly sides in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 6 (2020). Though the comics now balance both aspects, Pratt’s playful Star‑Lord remains the definitive incarnation.

7 Toad Got a Prehensile Tongue and Acidic Spit Thanks To X‑Men (2000)

Originally introduced in 1964’s X‑Men comics as a hunchbacked mutant with super‑leg strength, Toad’s abilities were limited to leaping. The 2000 live‑action X‑Men film amplified his menace by adding a long, prehensile tongue and corrosive spit.

Ray Park’s portrayal (also famed as Darth Maul) inspired the comics to explain these new powers as the result of a secret project—Project Black Womb—stunting his mutation. Once the storyline unlocked his full potential, Toad’s signature tongue and acidic saliva became part of his comic book arsenal.

6 Wonder Woman’s Lasso Became the Lasso of Truth in the ’70s TV Show

When William Moulton Marston first introduced Wonder Woman’s magical lasso in Sensation Comics #6, its primary function was control—anyone bound would obey her commands, occasionally leading to whimsical outcomes like making foes stand on their heads. The lasso’s truth‑extracting power emerged later.

The transformation occurred thanks to Lynda Carter’s 1970s Wonder Woman television series, which frequently showcased the lasso compelling honesty. This portrayal convinced DC to officially rename it the “Lasso of Truth” in the 1987 reboot by George Perez and Greg Potter (second issue).

5 Blade as a Leather‑Clad Half‑Vampire Was Solidified in Blade (1998)

Blade debuted in 1973’s Tomb of Dracula #10 as a human vampire hunter sporting yellow sunglasses and a bright green coat. The 1998 Wesley Snipes film redefined him with a sleek black leather look and introduced the half‑vampire “Daywalker” concept.

Screenwriter David S. Goyer envisioned Blade as a mythic hybrid—part human, part vampire—adding a thirst that set him apart. Although Blade briefly appeared as a half‑vampire in the 1995 Spider‑Man: The Animated Series (season two), the film’s popularity cemented the dark, leather‑clad Daywalker image, later reinforced in comics by having him bitten by Morbius.

4 Batman’s Black Outfit Came From Batman Movie

Prior to Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, the Caped Crusader’s costume typically featured gray and blue (or gray and black) spandex with bright yellow accents and even Superman‑style underwear. Michael Keaton’s onscreen Batman introduced a black, armored suit with subtle yellow highlights, reshaping the character’s visual identity.

Jim Lee, DC’s current president, noted that artists were captivated by this design, prompting a shift away from the classic trunks. Burton’s film also darkened Gotham City’s aesthetic, leading to a gothic, shadow‑filled skyline that has endured in subsequent portrayals.

3 Spider‑Man’s Organic Web‑Shooters Were Established in Spider‑Man (2002)

For decades, Spider‑Man relied on mechanical wrist‑mounted web‑shooters. Sam Raimi’s 2002 Spider‑Man film introduced organic webbing, reasoning that if a radioactive spider granted him enhanced strength and reflexes, it might also bestow the ability to produce silk.

The concept originated from James Cameron’s unproduced treatment, which influenced the final movie. While later film adaptations reverted to mechanical shooters, the idea gained traction in comics, resurfacing in storylines like Spectacular Spider‑Man (2004), The Other (2005‑06), and even in alternate versions such as Spider‑Man Noir.

2 Kryptonite: Superman’s Main Weakness Was Created to Give His Radio Performer a Break

Kryptonite—green, poisonous to Kryptonians—was not a comic‑book invention but a practical solution for the 1940s Adventures of Superman radio show. To give voice actor Bud Collyer a respite, writers introduced Kryptonite in 1943, temporarily incapacitating the Man of Steel.

The material entered comics six years later, first appearing as red Kryptonite in 1949’s Superman #61, with the iconic green version debuting in 1951’s Action Comics #161. The radio series also birthed other staples like editor Perry White and photographer Jimmy Olsen.

1 Superman Being Able to Fly Was Also Established in the Radio Show

The same radio program bestowed Superman with the ability to fly—something absent from his original comic powers, which were limited to extraordinary leaping. The iconic opening line, “Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” introduced his soaring capability, further cemented by the 1941 Fleischer cartoons.

While a 1941 comic panel hinted at hovering, true flight became canon thanks to the radio show, despite an earlier 1939 UK cover of Triumph magazine depicting Superman airborne. The medium’s influence solidified flight as a core power.

Why These 10 Iconic Superhero Traits Matter

Understanding how these ten iconic superhero hallmarks migrated from screen, radio, or animation into the comic book world reveals the fluid nature of storytelling. Each adaptation not only refreshed a character’s image but also enriched the broader mythos, proving that great ideas can originate anywhere.

When you hear the phrase 10 bizarre claims, you probably expect out‑of‑this‑world ideas. Well, buckle up, because we’re about to tour the most outlandish suggestions that humans might not be native Earthlings after all. From alleged prison‑planet conspiracies to mysterious extra genes, each claim offers a wild twist on our origins.

10 So, What Is The Prison Planet Theory?

Like the name suggests, the prison planet theory and others like it speculate that human beings are not the product of evolution alone. It’s important here, right away, to clarify that these theories are not suggesting that evolution doesn’t exist, or is wrong, but that, at some point in our collective past, we were subject to some kind of outside manipulation. In fact, more than that, the prison planet theory suggests that we are, in fact, the descendants of prisoners from an alien world who were brought here in antiquity, eventually spreading, multiplying, and, as our history attests, setting out to dominate the planet, most likely shortly after arrival.

While most dismiss this idea, as speculative as it is, without any further investigation, an intriguing argument can be made as to its relevance. After all, human beings, for all their obvious flaws and faults, are far, far, more advanced than other living things on the planet. For example, why do other animals not invent, philosophize, organize politically, or aim to build machines to explore the world and, indeed, the stars? Incidentally, it would seem that only humans have such a fascination with the stars and what might lie beyond in the reaches of space. Perhaps this is an indicator of a subconscious calling?

9 Humans Have Persistent Chronic Illness

The prison planet theory suggests that most human beings, even those of us who are extremely healthy, suffer from chronic “illnesses,” albeit ones that are trivial when isolated. Think about it—when was the last time you felt truly “good?” No little niggles or twitches. No headache, or hay fever, or any manner of small annoyances that are barely significant enough to mention but seemingly plague each one of us.

Perhaps we should also look at humans’ reaction to the Sun, one of the main keys to our existence. Many other animals can sit out in the sunlight all day long with no effect to their health (generally speaking). However, humans will be sunburned within hours, while long‑term exposure can sometimes result in a variety of skin cancers. We also squint our eyes in reaction to the Sun, unlike other animals. Even the fact that we have only a tiny auditory frequency range and can only see a very tiny sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum could be indicators of a home planet other than Earth.

8 Constant Back Pain

Perhaps the “niggle” which affects the greatest number of people is back pain. Most of us will have suffered a “bad back” at some point in our lives. And for many of us, that pain is a constant on‑off, “good days/bad days” battle of fending off increasing aches, spasms, and, at worst, a complete locking up of this region of the body that’s so critically important for our functioning.

So why is this? Well, according to those who believe the prison planet theory, it’s due to a lower level of gravity on our “real” home planet. This higher‑than‑we‑were‑designed‑for gravity on Earth is (taking into account the relative tallness of humans) what causes so many people’s backs so much strain. Such researchers as Ellis Silver, as trivial as this point is, believe this to be one of the main indicators that Earth is not our natural home. He argues, for example, that our flat feet should suggest a much shorter being (relatively speaking) than the average human. Needless to say, his suggestions are not entertained by most.

7 Humans Are Actually Better‑Suited To A 25‑Hour Day

As is corroborated by the research of sleep experts, the human body clock is much more in sync with a 25‑hour day as opposed to the 24‑hour one that our bodies have to work with. Quite a few sleep problems are blamed on this. There could be many reasons for the disparity, including that the Earth’s natural rotation speed has decreased a very tiny bit over the course of humanity’s collective time on the planet.

However, some researchers suggest that our “real” home planet very much had a rotational period of 25 hours, and the fact that our own natural body clock is still set at this would suggest that we came from somewhere else in the solar system, or even the universe. We will look at possible destinations of our potential cosmic ancestors in our last entry on our list. Our next entry, however, will look at the function most crucial to life—any life, wherever it is—reproduction, as well as why, for humans, this natural and required function is perhaps one of the hardest things their bodies are ever asked to do.

6 The Many Complications Of Human Childbirth

One of the main focuses of Ellis Silver in particular (but other researchers as well) is the truly traumatic experience that childbirth is for women. He claims that this is not replicated anywhere else in the animal kingdom, where births tend to be routine, uncomplicated, and, for want of a better phrase, easy (as much as that might be a little bit of a simplistic take on the issue).

While childbirth, at least for women in developed parts of the world with modern hospitals and medicine, is rarely a life‑threatening experience, even today, there are a plethora of complications that can arise, and unfortunate women still lose their lives. When we think back to the times before modern medicine, death in childbirth was much more commonplace. Like many of the examples on this list, this appears to be something completely unique to human beings. And, as we will look at next, it isn’t just childbirth but the first several years of human development that would appear to unique, albeit for the wrong reasons.

5 Slower Development Of Human Offspring

Childbirth isn’t the only thing of interest in terms of the prison planet theory. Even the development, or lack thereof, of human offspring is strange to some. For example, many young of the animal kingdom can walk within days, if not less. Human babies, on the other hand, are entirely helpless and remain that way for years.

It is suggested by some researchers sympathetic to the work of people like Silver that the human gestation period should be much longer. It’s an interesting theory, although one hard to prove to any level beyond speculation. And even then, such speculation is pushing the limits of common sense, at least to some.

However, some people, particularly those who subscribe to the ancient astronaut theory, will tell you that this “abnormality” in the human gestation period is down to some kind of “interference” with the human genome long ago in the distant past that has resulted in this “premature” birthing of human young. And human genes are the subject of our next entry.

4 Extra DNA In Human Beings

A study published in Nature concluded that humans have an extra 223 genes, acquired during our evolution from bacteria. What if they’re not from bacteria? Might those genes be the reason for the absolute advancement of human beings by comparison to all other living creatures? And what about non‑coding DNA, colloquially referred to as “junk DNA?” Might it be leftover DNA from an alien world and alien ancestors? It’s a wild thought, for sure.

It should be noted that other researchers did not fully accept the finding of 223 extra genes and publicly challenged it. Whether their challenge is legitimate or whether it is another case of mainstream academia looking to silence any voices that go against accepted thinking is perhaps open to debate.

3 General Anxiety

Although it is hard to see how completely “accurate” records of such a claim are kept and analyzed, another apparent consequence of our purported cosmic provenance is a constant feeling of anxiety throughout humanity. While you could make a pretty solid argument that our fellow humans—particularly those in power—give us all plenty to be anxious about without having to bring alien ancestry into the equation, it is certainly an interesting speculation.

There are also increasing rates of depression and suicide (itself an act almost unique to humans) taking over many parts of the world. Again, there are many grim and legitimate reasons for this, such as increasing poverty and pressures at work (and their implicit threat of poverty), as well as more indirect factors, such as political and social division, that make many people feel utterly helpless, in a hopeless situation over which they have no control. This, in some people, leads to feelings of detachment and “not belonging.”

Might it be down to a subconscious longing for a “home” many light years away and an existence just as far away, at least figuratively? Unlikely as it might be, it is an interesting notion.

2 How Likely Is It? Just Look At Our Own Examples!

So, taking away the logistics of such an operation for a moment, how likely is it that an alien mission to banish undesirables to Earth would go ahead? Well, if we assume a space‑faring extraterrestrial race has the ability to visit other planets, either in their own solar system or elsewhere, then why wouldn’t they transplant the unsavory elements of their society to a world far away?

After all, look at the many examples through history where we ourselves have banished prisoners to secluded locales, sometimes literally on the other side of the world (think Australia), or to gulags in the most dismal and uninhabitable terrain, as happened regularly in the Soviet Union. And, while it is a little different in it’s only a small island in the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was, for all intents and purposes, a prison island.

1 The Asteroid Belt Connection

An offshoot of the prison planet theory revolves around all the points raised above; the only difference is that our theoretical ancestors were not prisoners but cosmic refugees escaping a destroyed planet. While many argue that this planet was Mars (and point to the theory that life could have existed there long ago), others suggest it to be a planet that once resided where the asteroid belt is today.

Might our potential cosmic ancestors have escaped a dying planet or one that was struck by a huge cosmic body? Might some of the population have managed to escape and settled on another world nearby? (Namely Earth.) Might this even offer a partial explanation for the plethora of ancient texts that speak about “beings who came from the stars?” Might these be accounts of our origins that have, over time, become twisted and misinterpreted into the equally ambiguous and suggestive writings we have today?

Perhaps this would also explain the 25‑hour default setting in our internal body clocks? Might this planet—if we accept for the sake of this argument that it was a planet—have had such a rotational period? Might it also have had a lower level of gravity which would better suit us, even today?

Whether the suggestion is that we’re descended from prisoners from another world or survivors of an extraterrestrial race seeking sanctuary from their ruined planet, the idea that we, as a species, may share those cosmic roots is certainly food for thought.

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).