When it comes to movies and TV shows based on comic book characters from theMarvelandDCuniverses, producers, writers, and directors seemingly have an endless amount of source material to pull from to bring the characters to life. But sometimes, they can hit a wall in the direction they want to take the characters. This can sometimes lead to new characters being created, including agent Phil Coulson, fromAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.and X-23 from the X-Men universe. But other studios also join the fray, bringing us characters like the extremely marketable Power Rangers franchise, and thePowerpuff Girls.
Some of these characters went on to develop a huge fan base andstar in hit TV showsand blockbuster movies. But others don’t get the same amount of love from the studios that fans believe they deserve. Here are the most iconicsuperheroesthat were originally created for television.
10Harley Quinn
First Appeared in Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
Let’s address this right from the start: yes,Harley Quinnis more of an anti-hero than an actual superhero. But given her flip-flopping history of doing the right thing and occasionally saving the world, we are going to let her status as supervillain slide. Now for those complaining about why she isn’t higher on this list, again, she is notalwaysa true superhero.
Quinn was originally created to be one of the Joker’s henchmen in an episode ofBatman: The Animated series. But fans almost immediately wanted more from Quinn. As time passed, she became a character fans adored,landing her own TV Show, Harley Quinn, becoming a fully-fledged member of the Bat-family, and starring in movies likeSuicide SquadandBirds of Prey.
Why Do Fans Love Harley Quinn?
Quinn is unpredictable and one of the more entertaining characters in a superhero universe that, for the most part, has a darker tone than others. So by throwing a jokester like Harley Quinn into the mix, the character was going to stand out. But it’s Quinn’s loveable and twisted nature that charms viewers.
We would also be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge a huge part of Quinn’s likability: Arleen Sorkin, who originally voiced the character inBatman: The Animated Series. According to Paul Dini, who created Harley Quinn, Arleen not only provided the voice of the character, but she herself was the inspiration. In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment,Dini said that Sorkin “has that personality of the very snappy, wisecracking, bubbly blonde.“Sorkin also gave the character’s Brooklyn accent and workshopped some of Quinn’s early catchphrases like calling the Joker “Mr. J” and “Pudding.” Iconic.
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9Wonder Twins
First Appeared in The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977)
Hanna-Barbera may be known for iconic cartoon characters like Fred Flinstone and Yogi Bear, but in the late ’70s they decided to dip their toes into the superhero world, and poof, the Wonder Twins were born. During their time onThe All-New Super FriendsHour, the dynamic duo teamed up with some of the biggest superheroes in the DC Universe, including Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. While their role on the show slowly diminished over the years, the Wonder Twins were such a memorable duo they continued to resurface in TV shows likeJustice League UnlimitedandSmallville.
Why Do We Love the Wonder Twins?
Unlike other superheroes, the Wonder Twins need each other to activate their powers. Once together, Jayna can transform into animals, while her twin brother, Zan, can transform into any shape or form of water. OK, so these aren’t the most creative powers in the DC Universe, but they’re fun and send a good message to kids about the importance of teamwork.
So what does the future have in store for this heroic duo? Not much, ever sincetheir movie in 2022 was canceled. At the end of the day, the Wonder Twins are a whimsical addition to the DC Universe that can generate some good laughs as they help members of the Justice League save the day.
First Appeared in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981)
Firestar almost didn’t get to joinSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends.The original line-up was going to include the web-slinger, Iceman, and the Human Torch. But lawyers got in the way. Due to legal issues, The Human Troch was unable to join the show, so the creators decided to create a new character with fire powers. Which worked in Marvel’s favor, because ever since Firestar joined the team, she has been a favorite among superhero fans.
Why Do We Love Firestar?
Firstar is a trailblazer for female superheroes. After joiningSpider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she helped bring a larger audience to the show, and comic book culture. But sadly, Firestar hasn’t received much love from Marvel. The character has only made appearances in animated TV shows, with no immediate plans to bring her into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Which is a shame, because Firestar has more than paid her dues to land her own TV show or movie.But if the fans can keep showing their support,who knows? There’s always the possibility that Marvel Studios can do the right thing and put some respect on Firestar’s legacy.
7Tommy Oliver
First Appeared in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993)
There may be a lot of readers up in arms thinking Jason Lee, the Red Ranger, or Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, should be representing theMighty Morphin Power Rangers. They are both original members of the team and have been fan favorites for decades. Honestly, we could put any member of the originalMighty Morphin Power Rangershere, and we could make a solid argument to justify the decision. But when it comes to Power Rangers, Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger, is a different beast.
Why Do Fans Love Tommy Oliver?
While most Power Rangers get one color during their career, Tommy Oliver got to sport four colors in the five differentPower Rangersseries he’s appeared in. But what made Oliver stand out from the start was his green suit, which was not only different in color, but it also included golden armor around his chest. Also, unlike other rangers,Oliver was originally a villain, who was being controlled by their nemesis, Rita Repulsa. But once he gets some sense knocked into him, he joins the Power Rangers and eventually becomes their new leader.
Oliver also had more unique weapons than the other Power Rangers, including the Sword of Darkness and the Dragon Dagger, which doubles as a magical flute (which sounds like a trumpet) that he uses to summon the Dragonzord.Power Rangersis wild. Going back to his color schemes, Oliver is also known as the White Ranger in theMighty Morphin Power Rangers, the Red Ranger inPower Rangers Turboand Zeo, and the Black Ranger inPower Rangers Dino Thunder.
First Appeared in The Powerpuff Girls (1998)
While Bubbles, voiced by Tara Strong, can come off as annoying or a crybaby to some viewers, most know just how gosh darn adorable she is, and how strong she can be when she is angry. Before gaining their powers from Chemical X,The Powerpuff Girlswere made from three main ingredients; sugar, spice, and everything nice. Bubbles is mostly made up of sugar, which explains why she is considered the sweetest of the crime-fighting trio.
So Why Do Fans Love Bubbles?
Like the Power Rangers, you could plug Bubbles, Blossom, or Buttercup here, and we can make a case for each of them. But on top of being freaking adorable and funny, it’s the subtle things about Bubbles that set her apart from her sisters; throughout the show we learn that Bubbles is a vegetarian, and can speak multiple languages, including Spanish, Japanese and, like Kronk fromThe Emporer’s New Groove, she can speak squirrel. That would be an amazing conversation to watch.
But if we’re talking about pure strength, Bubbles is the only member of the group to take down their nemesis, Mojo Jojo, all by herself. Bubbles helped propelThe Powerpuff Girlsto become one of the best primetime animated series of all time. Put some respect on the name.
5Claire Bennet
First Appeared in Heroes (2006)
A fan favorite from the hit TV showHeroes, Claire Bennet, played by Hayden Panettiere, is not your typical blond high school cheerleader. It’s funny to think that this role almost went to Emma Stone. In an interview with Vanity Fair, theLa La Landstar said that she auditioned to play Bennet, butthe producers allegedly had already made up their minds.
“I could hear, that in the other room, a girl had just gone in and they were saying, ‘You are our pick… on a scale of 1 to 10 you are an 11,'” Stone said. The girl who walked out of the room was Hayden Panettiere. Whether or not that was the right call is up for debate, but Panettiere is widely considered the breakout star of the series, so it’s safe to say she was a hit with fans.
Why Do We Love Claire Bennet?
Bennet can take a bigger hit than any of the football players she cheers for thanks to her regenerative tissue power. You can throw Bennet off a roof or trap her in a burning building, and she will just dust herself off and go about her day. There’s also a scene involving the kitchen sink garbage disposal that makes a lot of first-time viewers squirm.
Bennet was so popular with fans that many were upset when she was killed off inHeroes Reborn. Hayden Panettiere’s performance is also a factor in the character’s popularity, and it also helps that Bennet appears in most episodes throughout the original series. But Bennet’s journey and struggle as a teenager who gains a superpower is an engaging story to follow, which justifies the number of appearances.
First Appeared in Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997)
Team Angel or Team Spike is a question manyBuffy The Vampire Slayerfans wrestle with to this day. Considering Angel got a spin-off series, it’s safe to say he was slightly more popular than Spike. Even though show creator Joss Whedon did have plans for a Spike movie, that sadly never came to fruition. Plus, Angel is more of a superhero than Spike, which is why we are featuring him on this list.
Angel, played by David Boreanaz, was written to be Buffy’s love interest early in season 1. A vampire in love with a vampire slayer, what could go wrong? But Angel isn’t your average vampire. He has a soul and is looking for redemption, leading him to team up with the Scooby Gang (Buffy’s crew for those who haven’t seen the show), creating some intense and dramatic television.
Why Do Fans Love Angel?
Again, Angel had a huge fan following, enough that Joss Whedon was able to get a self-titled spin-off series green-lit. InAngel, we learn more about this tortured character. Despite Angel’s feelings for Buffy, he can’t be with her because of his past life as Angelus, a sadistic vampire from Ireland, where he committed all kinds of terrible crimes over 200 years ago. After a Romanian curse gave him a soul, Angel now has to wander the earth, with the knowledge of the terrible things he’s done. If he starts to experience true happiness, like falling in love with Buffy, Angelus takes over. Which ultimately leads to his death in season 2 of the parent series.
Angel comes back to life in season 3 and then leaves Buffy without saying goodbye in the season finale, which left some fans split on the character. All this said, love him or hate him, Angel is considered one of thebest characters fromBuffy the Vampire Slayer, andAngelis considered to be one of the best spin-off series ever created.
3Hiro Nakamura
Hiro Nakamura is what I imagine Patton Oswald would be like if he discovered he had superpowers. Tickled pink with excitement, and champing at the bit to use and master his powers. It’s funny to think that Hiro almost didn’t get to be part of the hit TV showHeroes. According to an interview with Heroes creator Tim Kring,Hiro was basically an after-thought creation.
Why Do Fans Love Hiro Nakamura?
Hiro’s power is one that almost everybody can relate to because it answers a question everyone has asked at some point in their life: What would you do if you could go back in time? It’s an entertaining thought and even moreentertaining power to see unfold inHeroes.
Hiro’s nerdy personality may not be relatable for some viewers, but one aspect of his character almost anyone can relate to is how he used to feel trapped. Before Hrio got his powers, he was just another pencil pusher in an office, which for many is not a very fulfilling life. So being able to break free from that life inspires hope that one can pilot your own life and control their own destiny.
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2Terry McGinnis
First Appearance - Batman Beyond (1999)
One day, a group of producers from Warner Bros. and DC got together and agreed that Batman needed an edgy, cyberpunkreboot to inspire a new generation of Batman fans. Terry McGinnis inBatman Beyondwas the solution. McGinnis got to be trained by The Dark Knight himself to carry the torch for the work he started in Gotham City.
Why Do Fans Love Batman Beyond?
Batman Beyondgives us a look at a reality Batman fans have all thought: What happens when Bruce Wayne gets too old to fight crime? Wayne gives Terry McGinnis the keys to the kingdom and a master class in crime fighting in hopes that he will carry on his legacy and keep Gotham safe. McGinnis doesn’t just rise to the challenge, he knocks it out of the park.Batman Beyondwas a huge hit with fans. The new cyberpunk look served as a perfect passing of the torch series that has fans 25 years later stillbegging DC for a live-action adaptation.
First Appeared in X-Men: Evolution (2003)
X-23,also known as Laura Kinney, is the result of a secret experiment to recreate the Weapon X experiment that fused Wolverine’s skeleton with adamantium. Once Kinney’s mutant gene emerged, she was tortured and trained to be a deadly assassin. Eventually, she escapes Weapon X and goes on to be a strong ally for a number of X-Men, including Wolverine, Cyclops, and Gambit.
Why Do We Love X23?
Obviously, her powers are crazy cool, considering she is basically a clone of Wolverine. But X-23 is also debatably one of the best successors in comic book history, carrying on the good name of Wolverine after Logan’s death. X-23 has also become one of the most popular X-Men characters in recent years thanks to the actress Dafne Keen, who plays the character in Logan. Keen perfectly shows the wild and innocent nature of X-23 in her early days and is a huge reason for the character’s increased popularity since 2017.
Another thing about X-23 that resonates with fans is her journey of self-discovery. Almost everyone has had that moment in their life when they need to focus on themselves and discover their true calling in life. X-23’s popularity hasn’t led to a solo movie yet, but maybe after reappearing inDeadpool & Wolverine, the fan base can helpMarvel Studios get the ball rolling.
