History EnsembleDarkhorse / ComicBooks

* ''ComicBook/OneHundredBullets'' author Brian Azzarello expresses dismay at the popularity of amoral sociopathic hitman Lono in [[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=75284 this interview]]:
-->''He's the most despicable character; a real shitbag. He enjoys [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]], and readers can't get enough," said Azzarello. "In one of Lono's earliest appearances, he had a woman tied to a bed and raping her! I figured that should solidify him as 'the bad guy'. But I guess not.''

* Bug from the ''ComicBook/{{Micronauts|MarvelComics}}'' was originally just the PluckyComicRelief on the team but as time went on, he became a more sympathetic three dimensional character. Along with his own one shot comic, he also got to appear in non-Micronaut titles such as ''Comicbook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and according to WordOfGod, he came very close to being in the [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy movie]].

* Bug from the ''ComicBook/{{Micronauts}}'' was originally just the PluckyComicRelief on the team but as time went on, he became a more sympathetic three dimensional character. Along with his own one shot comic, he also got to appear in non-Micronaut titles such as ''Comicbook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and according to WordOfGod, he came very close to being in the [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy movie]].

* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' has had several over the years.
** ''ComicBook/NikolaiDante'' was, by a fairly wide margin, voted to appear on the cover of prog 2000, in spite of the series only having run for three years at the time and pushing aside long time fan favorites like [[ComicBook/ABCWarriors Hammerstein]] and {{ComicBook/Slaine}}.
** ''ComicBook/SinisterDexter'' was hugely popular during its run, sometimes running twice in the same prog, and the ending of the series made prog 1139 the first prog since prog 2 that did not have any ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' in it.

!!Marvel

* ComicBook/{{Ares}}, Greek god of war, had been since UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks nothing more than a lesser enemy of [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules Hercules]] and [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]] who nobody cared about. Then he got a mini-series in 2004 that strongly revamped his character, and later joined the Avengers. Since then multiple writers in multiple titles were working hard to make him win the fans' love. They succeeded so much that [[spoiler: his death caused a backlash much stronger than the death of Wasp, founding Avenger.]]
* Bob, Agent of ComicBook/{{HYDRA}} became quite popular for no particular reason when he first appeared in ''ComicBook/CableAndDeadpool'' and has gone on to become a fan favorite. Fan reaction to his appearance in Deadpool's solo title can be summed up as, "OMG, IT'S BOB!"
* Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger from Comicbook/IronMan. Between his debut in issue 163 and death in issue 200, he stands as one of the villains that managed to mentally screw up Tony Stark. You'd have to be a Darkhorse if you're the BigBad of the [[Film/IronMan1 first movie]], despite your rather short time in the series.
* Kid Loki from ''ComicBook/JourneyIntoMystery'' is pretty popular. Even after it's revealed that his entire life was essentially a ShaggyDogStory, and his older self takes control of his body, he remained a very popular character. This lead to Loki gaining a role in ''Young Avengers'', where the Kid Loki persona haunts Loki's subconscious. This, combined with MCU Loki's popularity, led to Loki getting his own ongoing series, Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard.
* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':
** ComicBook/{{Mysterio}} was initially thought of as a ridiculously dumb villain for his fish bowl head and silly get up. Still, his popularity grew over the years culminating in his (in)famous ''ComicBook/OldManLogan'' appearance. Mysterio has become a BreakoutVillain and fans were eager to see Creator/BruceCampbell portray him before Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 was cancelled. They were mollified as Creator/JakeGyllenhaal took up the role in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome''.
** Shocker while regard as a silly for many years has also become pretty popular due his unique (quilted) design, personality, and weapons.
** Rodrick Kingsley is considered to be the true Hobgoblin and readers were quite pleased to see his return.
** Toxin is also quite popular; a pity that Patrick Mullgan died and that Toxin is now bonded to Eddie Brock.
** Mania from the Venom book is also quite surprising popular due to her background and design.
** Mr. Negative and Overdrive are the only Brand New Day villains to stay.
** Karn, the only good member of the Inheritors that is actually liked by fans largely for his tragic backstory, fun design, and especially for [[HeelFaceTurn betraying the]] [[KickTheSonOfABitch other Inheritors.]]
** A lot of the new supporting cast members introduced by Dan Slott but especially Max Modell (for being a great Smart Guy for the Spiderfamily) and Anna Maria Marconi (for being [[NiceGirl really nice]] and her dwarfism being treated with impeccable good taste.
** Sophia Sanduval from the Marvel Adventure Spider-Man. Generally down to earth, sweet, supportive of Peter/Spidey and a generally likable and entertaining companion a lot of people consider her one of Peter's best love interests behind only Mary Jane and Black Cat. So much so that when the series was eventually cancelled the biggest lament was that there would be no more Chat.
* People really seem to love Comicbook/{{Ultimate|SpiderMan}} Jessica Drew, Peter's {{Opposite Sex Clone}}. She's appeared relatively only a few times in the ComicBook/{{Ultimate Marvel}} Universe. Yet fans tend to go "oh no!" whenever something bad happens to her or squeal whenever something good happens to her.
* Batroc the leaper was treated as a joke villain and dated [[CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys French stereotype]] in his earlier Comicbook/CaptainAmerica comic book appearances. However fans have begun to appreciate what a MemeticBadass Batroc actually is and he’s even held in reverence by ComicBook/GwenPool, Batroc’s kick ass live action portrayal by Georges St-Pierre in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' helps too.
* Moonstone was just another villain until ''Comicbook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' reinvented her as a ManipulativeBastard {{Jerkass}}. Then she had her own comic, was a part of the Comicbook/DarkAvengers team and sat at the right hand of Norman Osborn. Same with Songbird (helps that her hair tastes like strawberries).
* ''Comicbook/XMen'':
** Several of the background characters at the Xavier Institute developed fanbases despite having no or few lines, thanks to neat visuals or powers. Notable amongst these are Pixie, a girl with fairy wings and the ability to disperse a hallucinogenic powder (and who got a miniseries); and Anole, a lizard-like mutant with superhuman camouflage powers and a long tongue.
*** Both of these were introduced in ComicBook/NewMutants vol.2, which also has a different case - the initial cast were Wind Dancer, Prodigy, Elixir and Wallflower, who were later joined by Surge. After the book's relaunch as ''New X-Men: Academy X'', they got a rival team in the new Hellions. Once Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost took over the series, they decided to focus on the most popular characters. Which were Surge and two thirds of the Hellions.
** Under the hand of Creator/PeterDavid, Shatterstar has been the subject of extensive online debate, beaten up The Thing, kissed almost as many people as the rest of the cast put together, been featured prominently in at least three different covers, made himself a very likely candidate for a limited series, and just generally stolen the spotlight both in-universe and out; all this in, what, ten issues or so? Not bad for a character who the writer refused to allow anywhere near the book for quite some time.
** Peter David took a ''bunch'' of nobodies, and made them into a team in the much beloved ''X-Factor'' series, specifically the one centering around X-Factor Investigations. The biggest examples would be Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, and Layla Miller, who went from TheScrappy of the ''ComicBook/HouseOfM'' event to one of the series' most popular characters.
** Among ''Comicbook/XStatix'''s frequently rotating cast, few stood out as much as the team's teleporter, U-Go Girl, a cute blue-skinned SouthernBelle with a TearJerker of a backstory and probably the most functional moral compass among the UnscrupulousHero team. Writer Peter Milligan was well aware of her popularity and chose to herald a major turning point in the story by [[KillTheCutie killing her off]] - years later, reflecting on the series, he considered doing that his biggest mistake. But with ''ComicBook/JonathanHickmansXMen'' gaining the means to bring mutants BackFromTheDead, it's only a matter of time until U-Go Girl makes her long-awaited return.
** Speaking of Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men ''House of X'' has brought Cypher (whose often been regarded as one the lamest X-Men by far due his near useless {{Omniglot}} powers) newfound popularity. Thanks to Cypher being the one who can speak and translate for the living island [[TravelingLandmass Krakoa]] where all Mutants residing [[TookALevelInBadass making him one of the most important Mutants]] alongside [[ComicBook/ProfessorX Xavier]], ComicBook/MoiraMacTaggert and ComicBook/{{Magneto}}. Cypher even appeared following comics teaming up the likes of Nightcrawler and Magik.
* ComicBook/YoungAvengers
** Miss America Chavez. Despite her rather minor role, her new CivvieSpandex outfit became popular with cosplayers before the series even started and towards the end of the series even Creator/KieronGillen admitted that from fandom output and the way she somehow worked her way into the center of later covers, he feels like she is the character his run will be remembered for the most.
** Tommy is consistently the least developed member of the team, but is well liked by most of the fans, to the point that his lack of development is something of a sour point for many. He's also Kate's most popular hetero pairing, despite the two not actually officially hooking up (though had quite a lot of ShipTease and appeared to hook up at the end of Vol 2).
* Broo, a mutant member of the Brood Alien race that causes problems for the X-Men. After a small appearance, he vanished until ''WesternAnimation/WolverineAndTheXMen'' [[ComicBook/WolverineAndTheXMen came onto the comic book scene]], where he ended up being one of the series' most popular characters, and one of their most popular students. Kid Gladiator, another alien, also gets a lot of love.

!!DC

* Many of the characters who came to be reintroduced in mid-90s revival series also experienced this sort of status. Chief among them Comicbook/AnimalMan and the Comicbook/DoomPatrol (both reimagined by Creator/GrantMorrison), ComicBook/TheSandman (to the point where most people outside of comics don't even realize how deeply ingrained DC continuity is in this character's history), Kid Eternity and of course Comicbook/{{Starman}}.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':
** A lot of GCPD officers and detectives such as Renee Montoya, Harvey Bullock, Crispin Allen, and Jason Bard are extremely popular, sometimes even being considered part of the Batfamily.
** A bunch of the more obscure Batman Inc./Club of Heroes members are really popular with fans such as Batwing, El Gaucho, Nightrunner, and Batcow.
** Black Mask is frequently cited as an example of a great Batman villain who is woefully underused. Maybe it's his [[EvilIsCool cool look]] or maybe it's his [[ManipulativeBastard Xanatos-style intelligence]], but in any case fans seem to really like the guy. Him getting HijackedByGanon in ''Arkham Origins'' just caused much of the fanbase to clamor even harder for him to get a day in the limelight.
** Killer Croc is very well-loved when he's written as a NobleDemon. In the New 52, he got a big popularity boost after his sympathetic portrayals in ''ComicBook/BatmanEternal'' and ''ComicBook/GothamAcademy'', which paint him as someone who just wants to protect those he cares about.
* The New 52 revival of ''ComicBook/{{Dial H|ForHero}}'' saw two major popular characters. First was Boy Chimney, the first hero Nelson dialed in the first issue, an eccentric, lanky figure with a hide as tough as bricks and the ability to create and manipulate smoke. He would later be joined by Open Window Man, a superhero in his own right and one of the only members of the Dial Bunch to get any significant panel time (including an entire issue devoted to him). And that was at the point where the series was being cancelled. Two things helped Open Window Man: 1) he was the crime fighting partner of Boy Chimney [[spoiler:back when he was alive]], and 2) because his origin reveals that he's basically Batman but with a window theme.
* [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] example: The ComicBook/RedTornado was originally introduced as "Ma" Hunkel, a supporting character in "Scribbly the Boy Cartoonist," but was so outrageously silly that she completely overshadowed the title character. 60 years later, Ma was the curator of the ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' museum, and nobody remembers poor ol' Scribbly.
** Wildcat. A lot of modern fans don't realize that in the 40s, Wildcat was just barely a member of the JSA, participating in exactly '''two''' JSA stories of the time. He became more popular during the 70s JSA revival and ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'', and then really took off in the modern series. It helps that he's one of the few remaining living team members.
** This is similarly true of ''many'' JSA members of that era. ComicBook/{{Hourman}}, Dr. Mid-Nite and others were completely failed concepts that would likely have vanished forever if not for their JSA links - which allowed future writers to bring them back in future storylines. Both had further runs, and currently popular successors.
* ''Franchise/TheFlash'': The original Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. The guy doesn't develop much in his modern appearances, and he's largely a supporting character even within the beloved ''JSA'' series. But you'll find ''nobody'', from Flash fan to wider DC fan, who doesn't just love the old man. He's ''the'' CoolOldGuy in the DCU, and a father figure to several generations of heroes. He's also one of the nicest guys alive, and even fellow heroes love the guy.
* This has happened to a few members of the ''Franchise/GreenLantern'' Corps.
** In the 80s, it was Kilowog, who's still a fun character and a foil to the four Earth Lanterns. Recently, it's Mogo the living planet, who was introduced in the 80s and then rarely used until ''Green Lantern: Rebirth''. He's had a lot to do since then, including being a key being in ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' and the ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar storylines.
** [[Characters/GLOrangeLanternCorps Larfleeze]].
--> The fanbase is '''MINE'''!
** Hell, the [[Characters/GLRedLanternCorps Red Lantern]] Corps as a whole (especially the leader Atrocius, the TeamPet [[CatsAreMean Dex-Starr]] and the MsFanservice Bleez). They got their own series.
** Ganthet. The only non-LawfulStupid Guardian on all of Oa. Had the FridgeBrilliance moment of realizing that when a Lantern's hopeful, their will exponentially increases. Hence why he's the man.
** Arkillo has fast become one as well thanks in no small part to the massive amount of character development he received.
** Alan Scott is strikingly popular, despite having essentially nothing to do with the modern mythos and often not even existing in the same universe. Every comic he shows up in gets wide praise, and he seems to have little to no hatedom relative to the other human Lanterns.
* ComicBook/JonahHex of ''All Star Western''. His book was one of the highest rated books, and the lowest selling, of the New 52.
* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' started out as a one shot appearance in ''Comicbook/{{Superboy}}''. They caught on and eventually edged him out of his own comic. The Legion itself is not lacking in Darkhorses; in fact it's hard to find a character that doesn't have a solid fanbase, Chemical King and the Legion of Substitute Heroes most notably. The biggest example of an ensemble darkhorse for the Legion of Super-Heroes is Wildfire; originally a one-shot character who dies in his first appearance, [[FirstLawOfResurrection fan response to the character led to the writers bringing him back]] and make him team leader, after the fan-voted leadership election for the year he joined the team had him win. Though he's largely been absent from the book since the 1989 "Volume Four" reboot, he has a vocal fanbase that has kept the character at the forefront of the property. Like [[Franchise/StarWars that other faceless]] EnsembleDarkhorse, part of Wildfire's appeal is his unique design.
* The ''Comicbook/NightOfTheOwls'' storyline introduced several Talons, assassins of the Court of Owls who attacked many members of the Bat Family. Most haven't been seen since and are in cold storage, but the one who attacked Batgirl, a victim of Japanese air balloon bombing in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, returned for the Batgirl Annual and has joined the ComicBook/BirdsOfPrey as Strix.
* In the '80s Will Payton version of Comicbook/{{Starman}}, his sister Jayne and mother Jo Marie were more popular with fans than Starman himself or any of the villains.
* Comicbook/{{Static}} maintains a lot of fans, despite his comic being one of the first Comicbook/{{New 52}} titles to be removed and his long absence from television. In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', he is one of the most hailed characters in the trailers. Strong fan love for fellow Creator/MilestoneComics characters Rocket, Comicbook/{{Icon}}, Comicbook/{{Xombi}} and Comicbook/{{Hardware}} is also this.
* Franchise/{{Superman}}: Lots over the years:
** Supergirl's Earth-2 counterpart ComicBook/PowerGirl also qualifies due to being one of the most [[BestKnownForTheFanservice well-known]] [[MsFanservice sex symbols]] in DC Comics (there is a good reason she is the trope image for the comic book sub-page), even though she is not considered a A-list superhero nor really focused or used much, but she still has her very devoted fanbase regardless.
** ComicBook/{{Bizarro}}. Only appears every once in a while and rarely plays a major role in the story, but beloved for his goofy and lovable personality, plus his at-times legitimately tragic nature. Notably, he ''died'' in his very first appearance, decades ago, but fan outcry resulted in him being reborn via AppliedPhlebotinum soon afterwards.
** Mr. Mxyzptlk, mainly for always being really funny whenever he shows up.
** Comicbook/KryptoTheSuperdog. Cheesy maybe, but the dog is so brave, loyal, and just plain fun that he'll always be a welcome part of the Superfamily.
* Terra from Franchise/TeenTitans. She lasted little more then a year in the comic, but is one of the most well-recalled characters in the series. A "different version" of her (who might or might not have been the original with amnesia) was brought in a few years later [[spoiler:only to eventually be killed off and replaced by a THIRD one, who became the best friend/sidekick to ComicBook/PowerGirl, then went on to befriend ComicBook/{{Starfire}}]].
* While the short-lived comic ''ComicBook/TheNewGuardians'' has been largely forgotten, [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3vmVS5HoNs review]] of the second issue gave special attention to one character: Snowflame, a CrazyAwesome one-shot villain who derives superhuman strength from snorting massive amounts of cocaine, which he verbosely revels in and ''hails as his god''. Two crack-addled rants and a beatdown later, he becomes Linkara's favorite character, and now commands a significantly larger fanbase than any of the heroes.
** And although he only made one comic appearance he lives on through frequent appearances in Atop The Fourth Wall and his own Webcomic.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
** ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfWonderWoman2016'' version of Etta Candy has become very popular and arguably the most well-known aspect of the already well-received miniseries. It helps that unlike most versions after the Golden Age, she is neither slim nor does she feel particularly insecure about her weight, being simply a modern take on her original BigFun ActionGirl version.
** ComicBook/{{Artemis}} of the Bana-Mighdall. Introduced as an AntiHeroSubstitute of Diana in [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 the '90s]], Artemis was killed off but resurrected due to her popularity as a {{Foil}} to Diana. She has since become the most focused and developed member of the Bana-Mighdall tribe and is considered one of the most iconic Wonder Woman supporting characters.
** Nubia has gained a bit of a following for being the first black Amazon character in the Wonder Woman universe and being the most prominent one next to Philippus.
** Ferdinand, Diana's minotaur chef, is the most memorable supporting character from Greg Rucka's run.
* Death from ''Comicbook/TheSandman''. She was originally meant to be a minor recurring character who might appear a handful of times, but her instant popularity with the audience -- helped no doubt by her {{perky|Goth}}, upbeat, kindhearted nature, a [[DontFearTheReaper sharp contrast]] to [[TheGrimReaper most personifications of Death]] -- was so strong that Gaiman made sure she'd get at least one appearance in all ten volumes. These appearances vary in size but always feel substantial, and their sparsity helps prevent the story from ever focusing on her too much. Not to mention she's become canon in the actual DC universe. Death has even made at least two cameos in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse where she’s [[InJoke inevitably and hilariously]] the fixation of ComicBook/{{Thanos}}‘s lust, much to her distaste.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' has a flock of these in the form of the Minutemen. Also a good deal of the villains that are mentioned offhandedly, most notably the Twilight Lady. Perhaps more notably, Rorschach is much, ''much'' more popular than Creator/AlanMoore intended.

** SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}}. Only appears every once in a while and rarely plays a major role in the story, but beloved for his goofy and lovable personality, plus his at-times legitimately tragic nature. Notably, he ''died'' in his very first appearance, decades ago, but fan outcry resulted in him being reborn via AppliedPhlebotinum soon afterward.

* While the short-lived comic ''ComicBook/TheNewGuardians'' has been largely forgotten, [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara's]] [[http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-guardians-2.html review]] of the second issue gave special attention to one character: Snowflame, a CrazyAwesome one-shot villain who derives superhuman strength from snorting massive amounts of cocaine, which he verbosely revels in and ''hails as his god''. Two crack-addled rants and a beatdown later, he becomes Linkara's favorite character, and now commands a significantly larger fanbase than any of the heroes.