10 Iconic Superhero Hallmarks That Didn’t Originate in Comics
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Superheroes are frequently reimagined in comic books and film, but they typically share a few distinguishing characteristics. For example, the standard portrayal of Spider-Man is as a teenage boy, Peter Parker, who gets bitten by a radioactive spider. Miles Morales’s classic red and blue suit is modified to red and black, but Spider-Gwen’s costume is still recognisable with its distinctive web design.Typically, comic book pages establish these iconic details, but sometimes mythos-defining elements originate elsewhere. These ten characteristics and plots were not developed in the comic books.
10 Tony Stark and Pepper Potts’s Romance Is Thanks to the MCU
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, experience a tumultuous romantic journey that eventually leads to them being together and having a daughter. This portrayal deviates from their comic book counterparts, where they are more commonly depicted in a professional rather than a romantic relationship. In the comics, Pepper’s primary romantic interest is often Happy Hogan, Stark’s chauffeur, bodyguard, and personal assistant, played by Jon Favreau in the movies. The comic versions of Pepper and Happy even go on to get married. While Pepper and Tony occasionally share a romantic connection in the comics, she is just one among many of Stark’s love interests, including characters like Janet Van Dyne (The Wasp), She-Hulk, and Natasha Romanov (Black Widow).
9 Harley Quinn Was Created for Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series, which ran from 1992 to 1995, had a significant influence on subsequent Batman narratives. The Joker’s love interest and go-between, Harley Quinn, is perhaps its most famous creation. She appeared in The Batman Adventures #12 in 1993 and immediately became a mainstay in animated series as well as comic books. She is now one of DC’s most adored characters, and in 2016 she even had the most popular Halloween costume.Characters that had previously been established and made canon were likewise altered in Batman: TAS. For example, Mr. Freeze’s tragic origin tale began with his wife Nora being diagnosed with a fatal illness, which led him to turn villainous in an effort to save her.
8 Star-Lord’s Playful Personality Came from Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Before James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy movie came out in 2014, Star-Lord, also known as Peter Quill, was a stern and tough character akin to a military. The character as portrayed by Chris Pratt is quite different; he seems more like a humorous rouge in the vein of Han Solo. Marvel Comics updated Star-Lord to reflect Pratt’s casual persona following the movie’s popularity.For a considerable amount of time, Star-Lord in comic books maintained this character until creator Al Ewing attempted to balance the two personas in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 6, which debuted in 2020. Even though the comic book character now strikes a mix between humour and seriousness, Pratt’s lighthearted interpretation of Star-Lord is still the best.
7 Toad Got a Prehensile Tongue and Acidic Spit Thanks to X-Men (2000)
Toad is a villain that is a member of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in the X-Men comics. Like his namesake, he debuted in 1964 as a hunchback with extraordinary leg strength that allowed him to leap large distances. He received an upgrade in the 2000 live-action X-Men movie, which gave him an acidic spit and a long, prehensile tongue, making him more terrifying.The comic books were soon impacted by the live-action portrayal of Toad, portrayed by Ray Park (well remembered for his role as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I–The Phantom Menace, 1999). It was incorporated by stating that Project Black Womb was the reason Toad’s mutation had been stunted. Once his entire range of mutant abilities was unlocked, comic book Toad developed his now-famous tongue and spit.
6 Wonder Woman’s Lasso Became the Lasso of Truth in the ’70s TV Show
In the sixth issue of Sensation Comics, Wonder Woman was first given her magical lasso by William Moulton Marston, which was more for controlling her than for getting the truth out of people. Wonder Woman was informed by Aphrodite and Athena that “Whomsoever thy magic lasso binds must obey thee!” Wonder Woman had the power to make anyone do anything she wanted, which sometimes included telling the truth, but it also resulted in her, among other things, making people stand on their heads.The Wonder Woman TV series, which starred Lynda Carter and was primarily focused on her using the lasso to force people to be honest, is largely responsible for the lasso’s association with truth. Wonder Woman was revived in 1987 by Greg Potter and George Perez. In the subsequent
5 Blade as a Leather-Clad Half-Vampire Was Solidified in Blade (1998)
Blade made his debut in Tomb of Dracula #10 in 1973, initially portrayed as a human vampire hunter armed with daggers and stakes. His early costume featured yellow sunglasses and a bright green coat, a departure from the iconic black leather ensemble established in the 1998 film led by Wesley Snipes. In the 1980s, Blade’s origin story was expanded, revealing that his mother had been attacked by a vampire during childbirth, granting him immunity to vampire bites.
When David S. Goyer took on the task of writing the live-action adaptation, he aimed to elevate Blade to a mythic status. Goyer envisioned Blade as a hybrid, akin to Hercules, being both half human and half god but rejected by both worlds. While the comics didn’t originally depict Blade as half-vampire, Goyer decided to imbue him with this status, introducing a vampiric element and exploring the theme of the character being afflicted by the thirst for blood.
It’s worth noting that Blade had previously embraced his half-vampire status in 1995 during his appearance in season two of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, although Goyer appeared to be unaware of this version. The success of the 1998 film prompted a revamp of the comic book Blade, aligning the character more closely with the Snipes portrayal of the sword-wielding Daywalker. This transformation was facilitated by Blade being bitten by Morbius, a genetically engineered vampire to whom Blade lacked immunity.
4 Batman’s Black Outfit Came from Batman Movie
Before the release of Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989, the traditional spandex outfit of the Caped Crusader typically featured gray and blue or gray and black, often with a touch of yellow and Superman-style underwear. However, Michael Keaton’s Batman donned a distinctive black armored ensemble, still incorporating touches of yellow, and this darker rendition of the outfit became the new standard look for Batman across both films and comics.
According to Jim Lee, the current DC Comics president, publisher, and CCO (and a former Batman artist), many artists were captivated by the costume design in Burton’s film. The influence was so profound that the iconic blue trunks temporarily disappeared from the DC Comics depiction of Batman due to the film’s significance.
Tim Burton’s Batman also had a lasting impact on the visual portrayal of Gotham City, ushering in a grittier aesthetic. Dan DiDio, who served as co-publisher alongside Lee until 2020, described the city as one characterized by shadows, gothic buildings, and gargoyles. Burton’s film brought these elements vividly to the forefront, shaping the interpretation of Gotham City in subsequent portrayals.
3 Spider-Man’s Organic Web-Shooters Were Established in Spider-Man (2002)
For the majority of Spider-Man’s history, he was portrayed as using mechanical web-shooters attached to his wrists. This changed in 2002 with Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man film, which introduced organic web-shooters. The rationale behind this alteration was that if the radioactive spider granted Spider-Man enhanced reflexes, increased strength, and the ability to climb walls, why not also the innate capability to produce webbing?
The concept of natural web-shooters was initially conceived by James Cameron, who intended to write and direct the film for Carolco Pictures. Although the project never materialized due to issues over screen rights, Cameron’s ideas influenced the 2002 film. Screenwriter David Koepp acknowledged Cameron’s contribution, particularly appreciating the introduction of organic web-shooters, a concept that garnered mixed reactions among fans.
While subsequent on-screen portrayals of Spider-Man reverted to the traditional mechanical web-shooters, the 2002 film undeniably left a lasting impact. Although organic web-shooters had appeared in the comics earlier—Spider-Ham (Peter Porker) in 1983 and Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O’Hara) in 1992—the concept gained more popularity after the success of Raimi’s film.
In 2004, a story arc in Spectacular Spider-Man depicted Peter developing organic webbing after being kissed by The Queen. He also briefly acquired this ability in “The Other,” a storyline that ran from 2005 to 2006. This narrative development also resulted in Kaine Parker having organic wrist shooters. Another notable Spider-Man variation with natural webbing is the Spidey from Spider-Man Noir.
2 Kryptonite: Superman’s Main Weakness Was Created to Give His Radio Performer a Break
Kryptonite, the iconic green crystalline substance harmful to Kryptonians, emerged not from artistic inspiration but from a practical need to provide Superman’s voice actor with breaks. The Adventures of Superman, a popular radio show that aired from 1940 to 1951, featured Bud Collyer as the voice of the Man of Steel. Given the demanding nature of starring in every episode, the creation of Kryptonite in 1943 served the purpose of temporarily incapacitating Superman, allowing Collyer much-needed time off without halting the entire show.
Although Kryptonite made its radio debut, it took six years before it appeared in the pages of the comics. In 1949, Superman #61 introduced a red version of Kryptonite, and the more familiar green variant was first showcased in Action Comics #161 in 1951. Notably, the radio show also played a role in introducing several now-standard characters, including Daily Planet editor Perry White and copyboy/photojournalist Jimmy Olsen.
While Kryptonite officially originated on the radio, its conceptual precursor was planned for the comics as early as 1940. Jerry Siegel, Superman’s co-creator, wrote a script titled “The K-Metal from Krypton,” which was rejected. This early version of Kryptonite, referred to as K-Metal, shared similar characteristics, described as glowing “with a penetrating green brilliance” and possessing the ability to poison Superman.
1 Superman Being Able to Fly Was Also Established in the Radio Show
The radio show also introduced the concept of flight for Superman. In the comics, Superman possessed the ability to leap incredible distances but did not originally have the power of flight. The radio show began with the iconic lines, “Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” The second episode, first aired on February 14, 1940, depicted the hero “hovering with his curious power above a quiet highway in Indiana” and later “wheels and turns in furious flight.” This marked a departure from Superman’s traditional leaping ability.
In 1941, the Fleischer Superman cartoons animated Superman in flight, contributing to the popularization of this power. While there is some debate about Superman possibly flying in the comics in 1941, as artist Leo Nowak introduced panels where Superman appears to hover, it remains a matter of interpretation.
Technically, Superman’s earliest depiction of flight was on the cover of Triumph magazine in the UK in 1939. The cover featured a reprint of Superman newspaper strips, showing Kal-El flying away from Earth. However, Triumph’s portrayal did not set the standard for Superman lore, and the acceptance of flight as one of Superman’s powers is largely attributed to the influence of the radio show.
