The DC Universe has been ever-expanding since its creation in the 1930s, giving it a roster of colorful characters to rival the most expansive fictional worlds. DC's iconic comic book characters have received more exposure in other mediums including movies and television series, which reinterpreted the classic stories of these heroes and villains in new and exciting ways.
But, sometimes to better fit the stories they were telling, these other mediums were required to create all-new characters, the likes of which had never been seen before. Some of these proved to be a hit and found themselves incorporated into DC Comics. With this in mind here are 1o classic DC characters who weren't actually introduced in the comics first.
Isis
The ancient Egyptian artifact, The Tutmose Amulet, later known as the Amulet of Isis, gave humble school teacher Andrea Thomas the power of the Egyptian goddess Isis, allowing her to fly and instilling her with Superman-level strength.
Isis became one of the strongest heroes in the DC universe and made her debut on television in the 1975 live-action series, The Secrets of Isis, which marked the first live-action series lead by a female superhero. Since then, the Egyptian goddess has gone on to appear in DC comics and others have been instilled with her power.
Jimmy Olsen
Jimmy Olsen is a mainstay of Superman stories and has been around since the very beginning. However, although the character makes an anonymous cameo in Action Comics No. 6, his official first appearance was during The Adventures of Superman radio serial.
Jimmy gave Superman someone to talk to, which was vital for the serial. After appearing in the radio drama, Jimmy Olsen began to appear in Superman comics and continues to be featured regularly today.
Cinderblock
Cinderblock first appeared in the Teen Titans animated series, and his overpowering strength and huge physique made him one the toughest villains the teenage team fought. In addition to his strength, Cinderblock has the ability to reform himself after being broken, making him almost impossible to stop.
The character was incorporated into DC comics continuity after the events of Final Crisis. He continued to serve as an antagonist to the Teen Titans, however, unlike his cartoon counterpart, in the comics Cinderblock can speak.
Mercy Graves
Superman: The Animated Series featured the Man of Steel's iconic rogue's gallery, which pushed him to his limits. None more so than Lex Luthor, who served as his arch-nemesis and was assisted by Mercy Graves.
She was created for the series and serves as Luthor's bodyguard and chauffeur. She went on to appear in DC comics, in addition to making appearances in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and the Supergirl television series.
The Gray Ghost
Adam West lent his voice to The Gray Ghost in Batman: The Animated Series, and starred in the aptly titled episode "Beware the Gray Ghost." The Gray Ghost television serial was beloved by Bruce Wayne during his youth, and The Gray Ghost served as his childhood hero.
Batman's investigation led him to meet the actor who portrayed the character, who would go on to don his costume once more to save Batman's life. The original character was featured in a handful of comics after his debut and even appeared in LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
The Wonder Twins
The Wonder Twins are an unusual pair of alien siblings, that unleash their immense powers by joining hands and speaking their special phrase "wonder twins powers, activate!" This allows Jayna to become any animal and gives Zan the ability to became water in any form.
The extraterrestrial superheroes have featured throughout DC comics since their creation in the '70s and even served as members of the Justice League. However, they originally appeared in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon The All-New Superhero Hour where they appeared alongside classic DC characters and their space monkey companion Gleek.
King Tut
King Tut made his debut in the classic Adam West Batman television series, in the aptly titled episode "The Curse of Tut." Before turning to crime, Professor William Omaha McElroy taught Egyptology at Yale University until a blow to the head left him with amnesia and the belief that he was the reincarnation of King Tut.
His backstory made him one of the best bad guys to appear in the series and King Tut would go on to appear in cartoons and other television shows. But despite appearing in the '60s series, he was not be incorporated into DC comics proper until 2009.
Batman (Terry McGinnis)
Following the success of Batman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond saw Terry McGinnis take on the mantle of the caped crusader. Featuring an all-new high tech suit and futuristic setting, Batman Beyond reimagined the hero for a new generation.
The superhero was created for the television series and proved immensely popular, going on to appear in DC comics since his creation in 1999. Terry McGinnis would even go on to receive his own mini-series in 2010 where his world was explored and flesh-out even more.
Nora Fries
Before his appearance in Batman: The Animated Series Mr. Freeze was a far less complex character, and simply a one-note villain with a freeze-ray. However, the cartoon transformed the character into one of Batman's best adversaries by making him more three-dimensional.
This is largely due to the introduction of his wife Nora Fries, who was created for the series. Nora Fries along with Mr. Freeze's new backstory made their way into the comics and even the 1997's Batman and Robin movie as well as making appearances in the Arrowverse and the Harley Quinn animated series.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn has skyrocketed in popularity due to her appearance in big-budget films, but the classic comic book character actually made her first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series.
There's no doubt that she is the most successful character the show created and served as an engaging love interest for The Joker. Since then, she has become a mainstay in the comics where her backstory has been expanded upon and she has gone on to become more of an anti-hero than an outright villain.