10 Iconic DC/Marvel Characters Who Originated Outside The Comics

The sheer amount of influence that comic books have had on pop culture over the last several decades is undeniable. Countless films and television shows based on comic book characters have dominated cinema discourse for years now, with the vast majority proving to be financial successes as well.

Naturally, most of these adaptations are based on properties from either Marvel or DC Comics (they're called the big two for a reason, after all). And some of their most iconic characters have been given the big screen and small screen treatments (some several times over), which has only made them that much more popular than they already were.

However, every once in a while, something interesting happens. Sometimes, one of these many adaptations gives life to a brand-new character, one that resonates with fans and/or creators in such a way that the two biggest comic book companies in the world have no choice but to bring them to their own pages themselves.

After all, when you license your fictional worlds to countless creative writers and artists, they're bound to build on them in some way.

While Smallville certainly had its ups and downs, there's no denying that it could make great use of its characters, including its original ones. The most notable of these was Chloe Sullivan, who was introduced in the show's pilot.

While Chloe was initially seen as a stand-in for Lois Lane, she soon became a fan favorite in her own right, developing her own unique personality and making new waves in the Superman Lore.

In Smallville's continuity, it was her who first introduced Clark Kent to the world of journalism (which would lead to his eventual day job at the Daily Planet). She was also one of Clark's early allies as a superhero, and was romantically involved with both Jimmy Olsen and Oliver Queen.

Unfortunately, while Chloe would eventually make her way onto the pages of DC comics, her tenure was rather short lived. She was brought into the main DC universe shortly before The New 52 took hold, and hasn't been seen again since the infamous reboot, with her last appearance being in 2011's Jimmy Olsen #1.

Here's hoping the beloved journalist makes a return in the future.