10 Iconic DC/Marvel Characters Who Originated Outside The Comics
1. Barbara Gordon
While there are a lot of technicalities with this entry, it is an observable fact that Barbara Gordon (aka Batgirl and Oracle) as we know her today would not have existed in the DC comic books had it not been for the influence of a live-action DC adaptation.
Way back when, there was a character in the comics named Bat-Girl, but she was not Barbara Gordon and she (along with the original Batwoman), was abandoned by DC in 1964. Barbara Gordon's Batgirl, however, actually came about as a result of the 1960s Adam West Batman TV series.
The character was the brainchild of the show's producers, who wanted to add some more female representation in the third season to broaden the program's demographic. It was also their idea for the character should be commissioner Gordon's daughter, so they decided to reach out to DC in order to option the idea formally.
Barbara Gordon was then co-created by the show's executive producer (and narrator) William Dozier, DC editor Julius Schwartz, and artist Carmine Infantino. And while Batgirl did debut in the comics before Yvonne Craig donned the costume in the TV series, it was only by a few months (both happened in 1967).
The fact remains that, had it not been for the television show, the character, who has since become one of DC Comics' most enduring female protagonists, would not exist at all.
Know of any other characters who made the leap from other media to the comics themselves? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!