Can you identify these beloved characters before they were on TV?

Before television, they were in comics, books and magazines.

Television has always looked to other entertainment media for ideas. The Odd Couple was a play and movie before becoming a classic sitcom. The Lone Ranger, like so many cowboys, was born on the radio. The Flying Nun and Gidget (both Sally Field characters) first lived in the pages of books.

Other iconic TV characters started out in comic books, newspaper strips, short stories and film.

See if you can recognize these characters as they originally appeared.
  1. She made her debut in All Star Comics No. 8 in December 1941.
    Image: DC Comics
  2. He made his debut solving "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" in May 1939.
    Image: DC Comics
  3. This radio cast started performing over the airwaves in 1952.
    Image: radioclassics
  4. This horse first appeared in Liberty Magazine in 1937.
    Image: avalon-collectibles / eBay
  5. This holiday-special favorite first appeared in papers on October 2, 1950.
    Image: United Feature Syndicate / Universal Uclick
  6. He first turned up in the funny pages in March 1951.
    Image: Fantagraphics Books
  7. This scientist made his debut in May 1962.
    Image: Marvel Comics
  8. The characters from this TV show first appeared in a 1968 novel, seen here in the 1969 paperback edition.
    Image: Pocket Books
  9. This crime solver first appeared in books in 1933. Here he is in a 1937 movie poster.
    Image: Warner Bros. Pictures
  10. These characters can trace their roots back to a cartoon in The New Yorker in 1938.
    Image: Tee & Charles A. Foundation
  11. This hero first turned up in a 1972 sci-fi novel.
    Image: Warner Paperback Library
  12. This hero dates all the way back to an issue of Amazing Stories from March 1929.
    Image: Wikimedia Commons

Can you identify these beloved characters before they were on TV?

Your Result...

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59 Comments

WilliamJorns 9 months ago
I got #3 wrong because the image jumped due to an ad loading just as I was clicking my mouse. I meant to click "Gunsmoke" instead of "The Rifleman." This happens a lot on this website whenever those stupid ads load up!!!
WILD 30 months ago
You got 12 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!

Easy.
Runeshaper 55 months ago
You got 11 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!
Rickey 56 months ago
You got 12 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!
ndebrabant 56 months ago

You got 12 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!
rycki1138 59 months ago
12 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!
WILD 59 months ago
What's with the British(the wrong) spelling of "recognize"?
RedSamRackham WILD 58 months ago
Or is British spelling & pronunciation correct before it became "Americanized" here? There's is the king's English! ☺
WILD RedSamRackham 30 months ago
The King was kicked out when the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.
WILD 59 months ago
You got 10 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!
LeeHarper 59 months ago
You got 12 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!

EllisClevenger 64 months ago
You got 12 out of 12
Nice work! You'd recognize these characters in any form!
Tresix 65 months ago
11/12. I didn't know Buck Rogers went back THAT far! I was also surprised to learn Mr. Ed appeared in a comic book before becoming a TV show.
CraigGustafson Tresix 59 months ago
Mr. Ed was in Liberty magazine, not a comic book. He appeared in series of short stories.
Terrence 65 months ago
Missed Question #9.........................................11/12
Siglund 65 months ago
Perry Mason is a crime solver AND lawyer. The hint did not mention that last part...
Bobbo 65 months ago
12/12 albeit with a few guesses!
Rebel 65 months ago
Re: #10; Gomez Addams looks impressive, wearing a beard.
Tresix Rebel 65 months ago
Isn't that Lurch?
jerischopp 65 months ago
11/12. The last one got me too!
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