History MyRealDaddy / ComicBooks

* The character of ComicBook/JohnConstantine, who Moore created during his tenure with Swampy before being spun off into his own series, has this relationship with Creator/GarthEnnis. Jamie Delano and/or Creator/MikeCarey are also in the running for this.

* The ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' will always be defined by the immortal hundred-issue starting run of Creator/StanLee and Creator/JackKirby. Second place goes to Creator/JohnByrne, who wrote and drew the definitive ''modern'' FF.

* ''[[ComicBook/TheFlash Flash]]'' writers tend to have, appropriately enough, long runs. Cary Bates was ''the'' Barry Allen writer, with around 150 issues to his credit during his 13 years on the title. And although Wally West owes a lot to Bill Messner-Loebs, his Real Daddy is without a doubt Creator/MarkWaid. Waid added Jay Garrick and other speedsters to the supporting cast and established the Flash Family concept, brought an epic feel with the introduction of the Speed Force, and made Wally one of the most relatable heroes around; he brought ''The Flash'' back from B-list to A-list status, and the title has stayed there ever since. Noticeably, the Speed Force has made it to ''every'' adaptation of the Flash since its first appearance, and if the Flash inhabits a world where the LegacyCharacter concept exists, there ''will'' be a Flash family.

* ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey was created by Jordan B. Gorfinkel, but is primarily associated with Creator/GailSimone. She pulled the series out of the nosedive caused by Creator/ChuckDixon's departure and used it to make ComicBook/BlackCanary, ComicBook/{{Huntress}} and [[ComicBook/{{Batgirl}} Oracle]] three of the most well-developed heroines ever. In particular, Simone is ''the'' reason fans tend to like Barbara Gordon better as Oracle than as Batgirl. Simone also has this distinction for most of her ComicBook/SecretSix team, but especially Cat-Man. As well as the Six itself; few fans realize that several distinct teams predate hers, including one RealLife.

** Michelinie and Layton had ''two'' runs, the first of which contained "Demon In A Bottle," the second of which contained "Armor Wars." They got to define Iron Man, and then go back and ''re''define him a few years later.

** Even though Fabian Nicieza is largely seen as the definitive writer for ComicBook/{{Gambit}} (writing his original series), Claremont's take on Gambit is still considered by many to be the superior version as far as the fact that Claremont's Gambit was a happy-go-lucky thief as opposed to Nicieza's brooding, angsty version. It also helps that Claremont loved pairing ComicBook/{{Storm}} and Gambit up together as a platonic duo whereas Nicieza preferred pairing Gambit up with Rogue for wangst-fueled storylines.

** Creator/ChrisClaremont, pushing it from a failed [[MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] idea into the Franchise/MarvelUniverse's biggest cash cow. ComicBook/{{Magneto}} can especially be considered his "baby". While the character existed long before he came along (having been introduced in the very first issue), he was, in his original form, your typical over-the-top villain ''and then some''. It was Claremont who fleshed him out into the WellIntentionedExtremist we know him as today, before bringing him through an affecting HeelFaceTurn. (This turned out to be [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor the first of many, though]].) To the fans, he's known as the "Father of X(-men)". It was also during the Claremont era that the X-Men came to be seen as an allegory for the Civil Rights Movement and as a metaphor for minority rights.

** Dennis O'Neil has possibly the farthest-reaching influence on the character in his long history. It was him (with artists like Creator/NealAdams and Jim Aparo) who took Batman from the sci-fi and camp of the 50s and 60s (both [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks in print]] and [[Series/Batman1966 on screen]]) to the Dark Knight people recognize today. He also introduced Arkham Asylum, basically invented the idea of Batman's RoguesGallery being both mentally ill and [[{{Foil}} reflections of Batman's own psyche,]] and introduced a host of new and revived villains (including Ra's al-Ghul and Two-Face). Later, he would become the editor of the Batman line and be the central creative influence on post-Crisis Batman, including editing Creator/FrankMiller's era-defining work and 90s mega-events like ''Knightfall'' and ''No Man's Land''.

* ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}} was created by Creator/WillEisner, Chuck Cuidera, and Bob Powell, but the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Blackhawk is most often associated with artist Reed Crandall.

** Creator/EdBrubaker is credited with reinventing Captain America again for the modern comics world the same way Lee reinvented him for UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}. Typically, this isn't universal, and others might give that status to Creator/MarkGruenwald or Creator/MarkWaid for their own lengthy runs on the character - Brubaker himself credited Waid with bringing back [[ComicBook/Agent13 Sharon Carter]], saying that if Waid hadn't done it, he'd have had to.

* ComicBook/GreenArrow has had three major parental adoptions in his career: Dennis O'Neill and Neal Adams, whose teaming him with Green Lantern transformed him from a rip-off of ComicBook/{{Batman}} to the social conscience of the DC Universe. Mike Grell whose ''Longbow Hunters'' series made him an urban Myth/RobinHood fighting the villains of the 1980s. And Creator/KevinSmith, whose mini-series of him effectively removed all the detritus that had become attached to the character during UsefulNotes/{{the Dark Age|of Comic Books}}. His New 52 real daddy is by far Jeff Lemire, who managed to save his failing book and turn it into a major seller.

* [[http://www.vulture.com/2016/02/stan-lees-universe-c-v-r.html The creation of the "Marvel Method"]] in [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks the Silver Age]] actually left a lot of open paternity questions for many of Marvel's iconic characters.

** Depending on who you ask, Spidey's definitive artist is either co-creator Creator/SteveDitko or John Romita, Sr., and Spidey's definitive writer is either co-creator Creator/StanLee or J.M. [=DeMatteis=]. And then there's the endless debates over whether Creator/StanLee or his artists (primarily Ditko and Romita) deserve more credit for the original [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] stories. All three debates have a tendency to turn quite vicious. In any case, Ditko, as per Lee himself, came up with the costumes, design and looks of not only Spider-Man but his supporting cast and RoguesGallery, and did most of the plots near the end. John Romita, Sr. on the other hand redesigned the look of not only Peter Parker (giving him an ArtEvolution that has mostly been Peter's default look across cartoons and other media) but also created Peter's gang (making Harry Osborn his best friend, starting the LoveTriangle between Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane, and designing the classic looks of both characters). Romita's features more or less shows up across many adaptations, with Harry Osborn being retroactively made into Peter's best friend (as can be seen in the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''), relegating many of Ditko's run to EarlyInstallmentWeirdness.

** Mort Weisinger had a ''massive'' influence over what Superman would become during UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}} and UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}}. As Batman was his favorite character at the time because of how his enemies actually challenged him, Weisinger sought to give Superman the same sort of challenge by giving him opponents that could actually physically stand up to him. Weisinger also ramped up the ScienceFiction element of Superman by introducing foes such as Brainiac and revamping Lex Luthor into a MadScientist, and by introducing more technological elements such as Superman's high-tech Fortress of Solitude and the Bottle City of Kandor. As such, much of DC's later staff point to Weisinger as the one who would truly shape the concept of Superman after he was created by Siegel and Shuster.

** Creator/ElliotSMaggin for UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}} ComicBook/{{Superman}}. He was the only comic writer who also wrote novels about the character and tried to greatly expand the mythos of Superman.

** Creator/ChrisClaremont, pushing it from a failed [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] idea into the Franchise/MarvelUniverse's biggest cash cow. ComicBook/{{Magneto}} can especially be considered his "baby". While the character existed long before he came along (having been introduced in the very first issue), he was, in his original form, your typical over-the-top villain ''and then some''. It was Claremont who fleshed him out into the WellIntentionedExtremist we know him as today, before bringing him through an affecting HeelFaceTurn. (This turned out to be [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor the first of many, though]].) To the fans, he's known as the "Father of X(-men)". It was also during the Claremont era that the X-Men came to be seen as an allegory for the Civil Rights Movement and as a metaphor for minority rights.

* Creator/AlanMoore:
** He was not the first or the last comics writer to work on ''ComicBook/SwampThing'', but virtually everyone regards his run as the definitive one.

* ''ComicBook/AnimalMan'' isn't much talked about where Creator/GrantMorrison isn't involved. They made the previously flat and generic superhero into one of the best examples of MetaFiction and Postmodernism in comic book history.
** Nor is ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol''. It was Morrison who really turned the team into "The world's strangest heroes", making them battle some of the weirdest villains ever put to paper. They also created some of the most famous characters in the series, like Crazy Jane, Rebis and [[BreakoutCharacter Mr.]] [[EnsembleDarkHorse Nowhere]]. They also wrote what's arguably a turning point in the franchise: [[spoiler: The revelation that the Chief was the mastermind behind the accidents that turned the team into freaks.]]
** And the ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica. Suffice to say, if you call them the [[ComicBook/JLA1997 JLA]] (and not [[InitialismTitle for the sake of expediency]]), you're a Morrison fan. If you call them the Justice League, it's the DCAU or others.

* Peter Milligan for ''ComicBook/ShadeTheChangingMan''. He completely reinvented Creator/SteveDitko's character, and now hardly anyone remembers what the original was like.

* Bill Mantlo is this for ComicBook/AlphaFlight as he took the {{flat character}}s that Creator/JohnByrne created and gave them depth.

* ''ComicBook/SuicideSquad'' has John Ostrander, who took the idea of a team of {{Boxed Crook}}s and made it ''work''. And even among the ranks of the Squad, ComicBook/{{Deadshot}} stands out as the character whom Ostrander most redefined, to the extent that all subsequent versions of Deadshot are basically riffs on his.

* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' have Roy Thomas; Creator/StanLee and Creator/JackKirby may have created the title, but Thomas created the definitive original Avengers character, ComicBook/TheVision, and two of his major recurring villains -- the Grim Reaper and Ultron -- and introduced a number of ideas, characters, and tropes to the franchise that are used to this very day. Even the 2003 redefinition by Creator/BrianMichaelBendis calls back to the Thomas era fairly often.

** Before Johns, Jerry Ordway was Adam's Real Daddy during the 1990s. He revamped Teth-Adam's origins during ''ComicBook/ThePowerOfShazam'' and elevated Adam into Billy's most powerful and dangerous foe (displacing Dr. Sivanna from that perch). The beginnings of Adam's HeelFaceTurn (which Johns would complete) also occurred during Ordway's run.

** ComicBook/JusticeNewUniverse has Peter David, who delivered a ''huge'' WhamEpisode at the start of his run and then turned the character into the terrifying vigilante that became the iconic version.
** ComicBook/PsiForce has Fabian Nicieza, who introduced foes like Rodstvow and the Medusa Web, raising the stakes from the original "psychic teens on the run" and making the main cast much more interesting.
* ComicBook/{{Nova}} was a forgotten B-list (at best) hero before Creator/DanAbnett and Andy Lanning ([=DnA=]) took over the character for the original ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}'' crossover. They effectively transformed what was a ComicBook/GreenLantern {{expy}} into a deep and interesting character, taking him from guilt-ridden survivor all the way to becoming a grizzled war veteran and even later on the social conscience and oftentimes OnlySaneMan of the cosmic side of the Marvel universe.

** Creator/FrankMiller's run in the 80s is still to this day a reference. It transformed Daredevil into the Noir-inspired Marvel version of Batman; gave him a religious identity as a conflicted Roman Catholic; made [[Characters/MarvelComicsTheKingpin the Kingpin]], previously a minor Silver Age Spider-Man villain, into Daredevil's BigBad as well as one of ''the'' most influential villains in comics in TheEighties (inspiring the post-Crisis version of Lex Luthor and post-resurrection Norman Osborn); introduced characters like ComicBook/{{Elektra}}, the Hand, and others; elevated Bullseye from a minor villain to Daredevil's ''other'' {{ArchEnemy}} as the psychotic assassin obsessed with ruining Matt's life; and, generally, elevated Daredevil from C-List to one of Marvel's most important characters.

* Superboy-Prime has Creator/GeoffJohns. During the ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar, Superboy-Prime was one of the scariest, most sympathetic and yet unforgivable villains. He actually came across as a person who was so lost he might never be found. He was also the villain who you WANTED to see killed by the real Superman. Notably, he's actually considered damn near unreadable whenever anyone else is writing him.
* Also, Hank Henshaw, under Creator/GeoffJohns' capable stewardship (Also part of the Sinestro Corps War), is one of the best villainous tearjerkers EVER.

** Roger Stern's run is also considered to be a big highlight of the character's history, namely for raising up Peter's SuperStrength and battle skills. He also created the Hobgoblin -- the most prominent villain and storyline developed during his run -- is considered to not only be a fan favorite character, but one of the last great Spider-Man villains. Stern also made Felicia Hardy Peter's sidekick and anti-hero girlfriend and built up the third romance after Gwen and MJ. Stern also conceptualized part of Mary Jane's past with Tom [=DeFalco=] who later wrote the issues explaining that she had known Peter was Spider-Man and then describing her past.

* It is also fairly common for some of Marvel's recurring super-villains. :

** Viper/Ophelia Sarkissian was created by Stan Lee and Jim Steranko in 1969, but they only used her for a single story arc and killed her off. Steve Englehart turned her into a recurring character, removed her from HYDRA's ranks, and redefined her character and motivations. Chris Claremont then gave her a love life, a new partner-in-crime in the Silver Samurai, and turned her into a recurring foe for Spider-Woman and the X-Men. Viper's nihilism, her mass-killing tendencies (which tend to disturb other villains), and her habitual use of opium were then all introduced by J. M. DeMateis in 1983.

** Rose/Richard Fisk was created by Stan Lee in 1970, merely as the Kingpin's son who hated his father and schemed against him. He was reintroduced by Gary Friedrich in 1972, as a super-villain in his own right. His Rose persona was introduced by Tom DeFalco in 1984, who turned the character into a memorable and distinctive crime-lord.

** Shatterstar might be his most triumphant example. Added to the X-Factor roster because ''nobody else would want him'', he went from being a throwaway Creator/RobLiefeld creation, to an adorably LargeHam EnsembleDarkHorse bisexual interested in AnythingThatMoves, but determinedly forging a relationship with his teammate Rictor.

* Creator/MarkMillar is this to ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'' as the team's glory days were during his run, but it's an arguably less benign example as the team collectively TookALevelInJerkass, growing more arrogant; no longer being reluctant but willing to resort to lethal force, but ''willingly'' defaulted to using it; and they began acting unilaterally in world affairs without a care for the valid concerns of others or a plan for the aftermath -- and even after Millar left, these personality changes were kept in place, as the team overthrew the U.S. government for a few years and even after they gave up control and tried to [[TookALevelInKindness take a level in kindness]], they reverted to the behavior of the Millar days. The ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' story "ComicBook/WhatsSoFunnyAboutTruthJusticeAndTheAmericanWay" and its AnimatedAdaptation, ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'', owe their existence as a response to Millar's run.

* Franchise/{{Batman}}'s status as [[LongRunners Long-Runner]] owes itself greatly to the ability of several artists to adapt him and take him to different directions:
** Starting right at the beginning, Creator/BillFinger actually did ''far'' more to create Franchise/{{Batman}} himself than his more famous boss, Creator/BobKane (who ''did'' come up with the name). It was Finger who invented the idea of Batman as a detective, the design of the costume, the Bruce Wayne identity and origin, Robin and the RoguesGallery: Catwoman, the Joker and the name "Gotham City". The number of {{Unbuilt Trope}}s in the original comics, Joker's original unfunny characterization, greater violence, Batman's overall harshness, means that it remains a touchstone for later writers, with Finger's stories being ArmedWithCanon by Creator/AlanMoore and Creator/GrantMorrison. Finger finally started to get credited by DC in late 2015.

** Franchise/{{Batman}} fans tend to be divided over which 'reboot' of the character best redefined him for the new generation; Creator/FrankMiller's bleak near-{{Deconstruction}} ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightReturns'', Creator/TimBurton's gothic films -- ''Film/Batman1989'' and ''Film/BatmanReturns'' -- which introduced the idea of Gotham City being a blend of {{Bizarrchitecture}}, and gave Batman a Grappling Hook and Line Launcher leading to Creator/BruceTimm and Alan Burnett's more family-friendly but still FilmNoir-flavored ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', which kicked off the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse. It can honestly be said that Timm, Burnett, and Creator/PaulDini were Mr. Freeze's daddies for giving him a tragic backstory, and in this vein, also Mike Mignola, who designed Mr. Freeze for the animated series.

* ComicBook/{{Nova}} was a forgotten B-list (at best) hero before Creator/DanAbnett and Andy Lanning ([=DnA=]) took over the character for the original ''ComicBook/{{Annihilation}}'' crossover. They effectively transformed what was a Franchise/GreenLantern {{expy}} into a deep and interesting character, taking him from guilt-ridden survivor all the way to becoming a grizzled war veteran and even later on the social conscience and oftentimes OnlySaneMan of the cosmic side of the Marvel universe.

* Dick Grayson was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger shortly after his mentor in 1940, and he was well-defined in his "ComicBook/{{Robin}}" persona until he was turned into ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} during Marv Wolfman and Creator/GeorgePerez's successful run on Franchise/TeenTitans in 1984. He struggled to find a niche after that, but it is Creator/ChuckDixon's run on the 1996 ''Nightwing'' series that is considered to be the defining run that codified the character ever since.

* ''[[Franchise/TheFlash Flash]]'' writers tend to have, appropriately enough, long runs. Cary Bates was ''the'' Barry Allen writer, with around 150 issues to his credit during his 13 years on the title. And although Wally West owes a lot to Bill Messner-Loebs, his Real Daddy is without a doubt Creator/MarkWaid. Waid added Jay Garrick and other speedsters to the supporting cast and established the Flash Family concept, brought an epic feel with the introduction of the Speed Force, and made Wally one of the most relatable heroes around; he brought ''The Flash'' back from B-list to A-list status, and the title has stayed there ever since. Noticeably, the Speed Force has made it to ''every'' adaptation of the Flash since its first appearance, and if the Flash inhabits a world where the LegacyCharacter concept exists, there ''will'' be a Flash family.

** And the Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica. Suffice to say, if you call them the [[ComicBook/JLA1997 JLA]] (and not [[InitialismTitle for the sake of expediency]]), you're a Morrison fan. If you call them the Justice League, it's the DCAU or others.
* ComicBook/GreenArrow has had three major parental adoptions in his career: Dennis O'Neill and Neal Adams, whose teaming him with Green Lantern transformed him from a rip-off of Franchise/{{Batman}} to the social conscience of the DC Universe. Mike Grell whose ''Longbow Hunters'' series made him an urban Myth/RobinHood fighting the villains of the 1980s. And Creator/KevinSmith, whose mini-series of him effectively removed all the detritus that had become attached to the character during UsefulNotes/{{the Dark Age|of Comic Books}}. His New 52 real daddy is by far Jeff Lemire, who managed to save his failing book and turn it into a major seller.
* Creator/GeoffJohns is undoubtedly this for the entire Franchise/GreenLantern mythos. This is especially true for Hal Jordan and Sinestro, who Johns had turned into one of the most complex and prominent villains in the DCU.

* Creator/JuddWinick didn't create Jason Todd, but he did bring him BackFromTheDead as the Red Hood while writing for ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'', and made him [[TookALevelInBadass badass]] and [[TearJerker sympathetic]]. It's generally agreed upon that every interpretation of Jason afterwards, including Grant Morrison's, is inferior to Winick's -- to the extent that most fans ignore everything done with Jason after that iconic storyline.

* Even though Neil Gaiman created the version of [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] from ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', it's Creator/{{Mike Carey}}'s run on the spin-off ''{{ComicBook/Lucifer}}'' that really defined the character.

* For ''Creator/MarvelComics'' as a whole, most comic fans and the general audience view Creator/StanLee as this for the company. Marvel had been around since the late 1930s and did have previous success with ''Comicbook/CaptainAmerica'', but it was under Stan Lee's leadership starting in 1961 as writer & later as lead editor that truly began the "Marvel Revolution". It was largely Stan Lee, along with Creator/JackKirby and Creator/SteveDitko, who created the [[ClassicAntiHero "flawed hero"]] archetype that is still the standard for virtually every Marvel Superhero to this day. In fact, while other writers & creators under Marvel, as seen on this page alone, could still be considered the "Real Daddies" of their respective characters, it was still Stan's approach that served as the bedrock as to how these characters were handled. It was also under Stan's leadership that Marvel transformed from a small magazine company into the single largest American Comic Book Publisher as it is known for today.

** Barbara Gordon was created for the [[Series/Batman1966 1960s show]] and was paralyzed in the pages of ComicBook/TheKillingJoke but didn't really become a hero in her own right until the late 80s. John Ostrander and his late wife Kim Yale got their hands on her on the aforementioned run of ''Suicide Squad'' and gave her the name Oracle. This take on the character was the definitive one until the ''{{ComicBook/Flashpoint}}'' reboot where she was made [[ComicBook/Batgirl2011 Batgirl]] again.

** Creator/ElliotSMaggin for UsefulNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}} Franchise/{{Superman}}. He was the only comic writer who also wrote novels about the character and tried to greatly expand the mythos of Superman.

* The team of Marv Wolfman and Creator/GeorgePerez didn't create ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'', but their much-celebrated run is responsible for the title as we know it today. The duo revamped the series with their run on ''The New Teen Titans'', creating a more diverse cast by adding characters such as Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg and creating their most iconic adversary Deathstroke. Wolfman and Perez' run was one of the most successful series that DC Comics had seen in the while, setting the standard for all subsequent Teen Titans comics and becoming the basis of the just as beloved [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans animated version]].

* Franchise/WonderWoman was created by William Marston, but for the modern take on the character, Creator/GeorgePerez and his ComicBook/PostCrisis recreation of the character is definitive to the point that director Creator/PattyJenkins, creator of the ''[[Film/WonderWoman2017 Wonder Woman]]'' feature film, considers his work on par with Marston himself. A number of fans also put Creator/GregRucka on a similar level, due to his modernizing of the Greek Gods and the increased presence of Diana on the political stage.

* For Creator/MarvelComics as a whole, most comic fans and even general audience view Creator/StanLee as this for the company. Marvel had been around since the late 1930s and did have previous success with Comicbook/CaptainAmerica, but it was under Stan Lee's leadership starting in 1961 as writer & later as lead editor that truly began the "Marvel Revolution". It was largely Stan Lee, along with Creator/JackKirby and Creator/SteveDitko, who created the [[ClassicAntiHero "flawed hero"]] archetype that is still the standard for virtually every Marvel Superhero. In fact, while other writers & creators under Marvel, as seen on this page alone, could still be considered the "Real Daddies" of their respective characters, it was still Stan's approach that served as the bedrock as to how these characters were handled. It was also under Stan's leadership that Marvel transformed from a small magazine company into the single largest American Comic Book Publisher as it is known for today.

** Creator/EdBrubaker is credited with reinventing Captain America again for the modern comics world the same way Lee reinvented him for UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}}. Typically, this isn't universal, and others might give that status to Mark Gruenwald or Creator/MarkWaid for their own lengthy runs on the character - Brubaker himself credited Waid with bringing back [[ComicBook/Agent13 Sharon Carter]], saying that if Waid hadn't done it, he'd have had to.

** Mother Night was introduced as a one-shot villain by Stan Lee in 1970. She was reintroduced in 1989 by Mark Gruenwald. He turned her into a recurring foe for Captain America, placed her into an abusive relationship with the Red Skull, used her as a surrogate mother (and former nanny) for Sin, and eventually redefined her as a love interest and morality pet for Cutthroat (a villain who felt great empathy for abused women). Few other writers bothered to even use the character.

* ComicBook/GreenArrow has had three major parental adoptions in his career: Dennis O'Neill and Neal Adams, whose teaming him with Green Lantern transformed him from a rip-off of Franchise/{{Batman}} to the social conscience of the DC Universe. Mike Grell whose ''Longbow Hunters'' series made him an urban RobinHood fighting the villains of the 1980s. And Creator/KevinSmith, whose mini-series of him effectively removed all the detritus that had become attached to the character during UsefulNotes/{{the Dark Age|of Comic Books}}. His New 52 real daddy is by far Jeff Lemire, who managed to save his failing book and turn it into a major seller.

* Christopher Yost was this for [[ComicBook/ScarletSpider Kaine]], previously a classic NinetiesAntiHero in the worst way and one of the worse products of the Clone Saga, before returning for a fairly well-received HeroicSacrifice in ''Grim Hunt'', then a return in ''ComicBook/SpiderIsland'' a year later. However, it was Yost who, in his [[ComicBook/ScarletSpider 2012 solo series]], made him a grumpy KnightInSourArmor ReluctantHero with a much darker version of Peter's [[DeadpanSnarker snark]], gave him a MoralityPet and a fun supporting cast, explored his past, his differences to Peter, his guilt over his past deeds, particularly his torment of Ben Reilly and his response to, effectively, having been given a second chance, as well as the mystical side-effects of his resurrection. While it was cancelled at issue #25, Yost carried him over to the reboot of ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'' and he remains popular enough to get a key role in ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' and a Scarlet Spider who is almost certainly him (or someone with Kaine's costume, powers and personality - the latter suitably toned down) has a starring role in Season 4 of ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012''.

** Though ComicBook/PoisonIvy has been around since the '60s, before Creator/NeilGaiman's ''Secret Origins'' issue about her she had little personality beyond being a FemmeFatale. Gaiman established her plant obsession and detachment from humanity, which have endured as her defining character traits, and been reworked into the film and animated versions.

* The team of Marv Wolfman and Creator/GeorgePerez didn't create ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'', but their much-celebrated run is responsible for the title as we know it today, and is the basis of the just as beloved [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans animated version]].

** Creator/FrankMiller's run in the 80s is still to this day a reference. It transformed Daredevil into the Noir-inspired Marvel version of Batman; gave him a religious identity as a conflicted Roman Catholic; made [[Characters/MarvelComicsTheKingpin the Kingpin]], previously a minor Silver Age Spider-Man villain, into Daredevil's BigBad as well as one of ''the'' most influential villains in comics in TheEighties (inspiring the post-Crisis version of Lex Luthor and post-resurrection Norman Osborn); introduced characters like ComicBook/{{Elektra}}, Bullseye and others; and, generally, elevated Daredevil from C-List to one of Marvel's most important characters.

* Although Marv Wolfman created ComicBook/{{Blade}} in 1973, David Goyer's film version of the character significantly altered his origin and mythos and helped popularize him. The comic was altered to better reflect film continuity.

* ''ComicBook/AnimalMan'' isn't much talked about where Creator/GrantMorrison isn't involved.
** Nor is ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol''.

* The ''Spider-Man'' character ''ComicBook/{{Silk}}'' was created by Dan Slott, but it's hard to find a fan of the character that prefers his take on her. Under Slott, Silk got a lot of flak for basically having all of Spidey's powers but better, instantly becoming Spidey's new love interest thanks to said powers causing FantasticArousal, and was a smug KnowNothingKnowItAll who caused more problems than she fixed. It was her solo run under writer Robbie Thompson and artist Stacey Lee where the character [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap started developing a fanbase]]; they toned down her "superiority" to Peter by tweaking her into the FragileSpeedster of the Spiders, everything regarding the pheromones were immediately thrown out (changing her dynamic with Peter from love interest to LikeBrotherAndSister), and her personality was completely overhauled to being an {{adorkable}} {{Womanchild}} rookie with anxiety issues.

* James Robinson's ComicBook/{{Starman|DCComics}} put that name on the map. And note that that's ''multiple'' Starmen -- Robinson has stated that he believes he did more to develop Ted Knight's character in four issues of ''ComicBook/TheGoldenAge'' than anyone had in fifty years of history before that, and he's really not bragging; it's just the truth. He also gets credit for making Starman (and occasionally Flash) rogue ComicBook/{{The Shade|DCComics}} into the morally ambiguous immortal he is today.

** ComicBook/TheJoker's origin story in Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke''. Although Joker was already re-defined as we know him in the 70s, for example by Steve Englehart, the idea of Joker and Batman being mutual {{Shadow Archetype}}s of OrderVersusChaos (a dynamic transferred to the Franchise/{{DCAU}}, ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' and the VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries) comes from him. Likewise, one can say that Creator/HeathLedger was responsible for Joker's revival as an anarchist nihilist, with only minimal grounding in the clown and show-business motif that had typified him for decades.

* For the ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' comic, Steve Parkhouse's run on the Fifth and Sixth Doctors, particularly psychedelic epics "The Tides of Time" and "Voyager", is seen by many as the defining one; among other things, it introduced characters such as Shayde, Max, Dogbolter and [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins Frobisher]], and was the first to demonstrate that the Sixth Doctor could be RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap of his TV run. Scott Gray gives him a close run for his money, particularly for his epic run on the Eighth Doctor.

*** Jamie Madrox (Multiple Man) was originally a purely gimmicky background character, his power being that he could make multiple clones of himself. David actually bothered to take full advantage of this concept, as well as getting inside the head of a man who could never really be "alone", and turned Madrox into an interesting character. Specifically, he introduced Jamie's philosophical bent, his indecisiveness and his fascination with pop culture.
*** Layla Miller was originally the LivingMacGuffin in the ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'' CrisisCrossover. Under David, she moved from [[OracularUrchin knowing stuff]], to [[spoiler:[[SheIsAllGrownUp travelling to the future as a tweenager and returning an attractive young woman]] who is dealing with the fact that her power ''isn't'' knowing the future, but [[BlessedWithSuck the ability to bring beings back from recent death]], [[CameBackWrong but without a conscience]]]]. He also presented her as a creepy child and chessmaster.
*** Quicksilver was often considered to be, for a long time, the son of Magneto who often switches between wanting approval from his father and completely trying to distance himself from the super villain. David actually incorporated a reason for him to be so much of a dick, by revealing that he does everything at super sonic speed, including thinking, and it makes him frustrated that the world seems to be in slow motion for him, as well as secretly enjoying being a hero despite his disdain of everything.
*** Shatterstar might be his most triumphant example. Added to the X-Factor roster because ''nobody else would want him'', he went from being a throwaway Creator/RobLiefeld creation, to an adorably LargeHam EnsembleDarkHorse bisexual interested in AnythingThatMoves, but determinedly forging a relationship with his teammate Rictor.