The Star Wars expanded universe does this kind of all the time. Not only is a backstory provided for every character who appeared onscreen in the movies (and even some of the Faceless Goons), but you also get stories that explain exactly what a "nerf herder" is.
Nevada - Courtesy The Other Wiki [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_(comics)]: "The origin of the character is to be found in a Howard The Duck story that contained a "mandatory fight scene" between a Las Vegas chorus girl, an ostrich and a standing lamp. Neil Gaiman said he'd like to see that story. So when Gerber was asked to come with something original by Vertigo editor Karen Berger, he created Nevada."