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31 Unexpected Origin Stories of Beloved Pop-Culture Staples

Pop-culture origin stories are just as good as superhero origin stories

31 Unexpected Origin Stories of Beloved Pop-Culture Staples

November 20, 2023

A lot of pop-culture staples have fascinating stories behind their creation. Did you know, for example, that Harley Quinn was originally intended to just be a one-off joke? More on that and 30 other fascinating pop-culture origin stories below…

31

Spider-Man: Homecoming FLASH THOMPSON went from jock to nerd. Often portrayed as a blond, athletic dude who picks on nerds, the MCU has re-imagined Flash as a scrawny, smart kid. (He's still a jerk, though, and likely to engage in cyber-bullying.) CRACKED.COM — CinemaBlend

30

Snake Plissken from Escape From New York went on a failed spy mission. In the novelization, he and his squad were supposed to be captured in WWIII and feed Russia bad intel -- but the Russians didn't fall for it. CRACKED.COM — DenOfGeek

29

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

THE TeenAGe MUTANT NINJA TURTLES ARe LOVABLE GOOFBALLS. BUT THEY STARTeD OUT AS TRAINED execuTioneRs. TIME FOR YOU TO ac TOLO OF THE MISSION FOR WHICH HAVE TRAINED THESE PAST YOU THISTRAN YEARS YOU WILL LEARN OF CITY LIFE AND HOW YOU CAME TDX BE NOW HAVE AM OLD You AND THERE is ATASK THAT WOULD DE BC ILLAADE THIS LIFE NOW NO DEING MUST ASM YOU ID DO THAT WHICH SHOULD LASK THE YOU EN YOSHI, ASK OF ANOTHER OF SKEN AND TO CHALL ENGO AND KILL THE 2 ORDKU SAKI... THE SHREDDER! In the first issue of Teenage — 21 Horrifying Origin Stories Of Famous Characters

28

Alright, Alright, Alright Prior to shooting Dazed and Confused, McConaughey was listening to a live audio track of the Doors where Jim Morrison says alright four times. CRACKED.COM — The Wrap

27

Tamatoa MOANA CRACKED.COM Tamatoa is a Maori word for trophies, which makes sense for a crab that loves shiny things. Also, the word Aloha means both hello and goodbye! I learned that from a mug at my aunt's beach house. — ScreenRant

26

CRACKED.COM DOCTOR WHO Time Lords were given the ability to regenerate because of the First Doctor's illness. When William Hartnell began developing heart issues, the production team made up the ability as a way for the actor to make his exit without killing the show. — 26 Origins Of Characters' Signature Traits

25

WHISCASH IS NAMAZU GRACKED.COM The giant, subterranean catfish Namazu is said to live under the islands of Japan, guarded by a god. When the god lets down his guard, Namazu thrashes around and causes earthquakes. Whiscash has a similar legend in the games, being known to cause massive tremors when they go on a rampage. — The Gamer

24

DK EXIT When Donkey Kong was a baby, he was kidnapped from his home by evil villains. CRACKED.COM — Origin Stories That Are Over-The-Top Dark (For No Reason)

23

Wonder Girl

Wonder Girl was the result of the writer not reading Wonder Woman comics. When DC writer Bob Hanes was putting together Teen Titans, a comic book about superhero sidekicks teaming up, he included Wonder Girl as Wonder Woman's sidekick - but she was actually a young Wonder Woman, and the two only met in the same comic thanks to time travel. CRACKED.COM — 6 Shockingly Dumb Reasons People Invented Famous Characters

22

Nicolas Cage CRACKED.COM A young actor named NICOLAS KIM COPPOLA kept getting razzed by his castmates on his first gig, because of his famous uncle: Francis Ford Etc. Не vowed to change his name, become a star on his own merit, and have his body locked away in a pyramid when he dies. (That's true, he owns a pyramid-shaped mausoleum!) — 15 Wild Origin Stories Of Celebrity Stage Names

21

CRACKED.COM The Jungle Book BALOO did teach Mowgli to be responsible, not to loaf around. Does the word serious come to mind when you think of Baloo? That's how Rudyard Kipling's book describes the bear - who is a Teacher of the Law, not some slacker. — The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling (via Project Gutenberg)

20

In the Kong: Skull Island novelization, Mason's dad's death shaped her work. S RINING GNS FROM WAS Не always had super high standards that she failed to live up to--and, after he died, she used her photography as a way of searching for meaning. CRACKED.COM — CBR

19

SUPERMAN AND LOIS LAne ARe A TimeLess Romance. AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE SHe REMINDS HIM OF HIS MOTHER. LEX LANA LUTHOR LORI LEMARIS LANG LUMA LYNAI BRAZEN HUSSY! IT'S ONLY SURE, LARA! 'NO N THE PITCH-DARK THAT I SEE YOU BOTH TOR-EL WOULD THINK YOU GETHER UNDER RE PRETTIER THAN I LIGHT OF THE TR AM! MOONS... LOIS LINDA LEE LI LANE CHOKE! THAT PREDICTO BE RIGHT:GROAN!ALL MY FATE HAS BEEN WE CONNECTED WITH PEC WHOSE INITIALS ARE ، Superman's mother back on Krypton was called Lara Lor-Van. His childhood girlfriend in Smallville was Lana Lang, his college sweetheart was Lori — 21 Horrifying Origin Stories Of Famous Characters

18

Did I Do That? Before the audience went crazy for the iconic line, the writers tried to create other catchphrases for Urkel, including stealing I've fallen, and I can't get up. CRACKED.COM — Entertainment Weekly

17

Teen Wolf (Again)

Danny Mahealani TEEN WOLF CRACKED.COM This Teen Wolf character's last name, Mahealani, is Hawaiian for full moon. Another Hawaiian television character whose name has a secret meaning: Johnny Tsunami's last name is actually a reference to his love for waves. — BuzzFeed

16

Wallace & Gromit

Wallace & Gromic Nick Park originally intended for Gromit to be a cat, but thought it was easier to make a dog with clay. As he put it, you can roll it into larger sausages. CRACKED CON — 26 Origins Of Characters' Signature Traits

15

LUDICOLO IS A KAPPA CRACKED.COM A semi-aquatic imp, the kappa is most known for the dish-like basin on their heads that collect water. Taking the water out of their basins results in harming and weakening the kappa. The Pokémon Ludicolo is a large, amphibious creature with a basin on its head, which it uses in-battle to fill with water during rain to restore health. — CBR

14

According to various collectible Sunken Scrolls found in Splatoon's maps, the game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have gone extinct due to rising sea levels. The characters you see in the game are sea life that have grown sapient over time, replacing humans. GRACKED.COM — Origin Stories That Are Over-The-Top Dark (For No Reason)

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13

Harley Quinn was just created for a random gag. who The Joker needed a female henchman for a joke in Batman: The Animated Series, so they came up with Harley Quinn. They got rid of the joke but kept her in the background, and viewers really liked her. CRACKED.COM — 6 Shockingly Dumb Reasons People Invented Famous Characters

12

Iggy Azalea CRACKED.COM When her dog was recovering from a snake bite, a young AMETHYST AMELIA KELLY got a necklace with his name on it: Iggy. She wore it so much that people she met assumed it was her name. Azalea is just the street she grew up on BOO BORING NEXT. — 15 Wild Origin Stories Of Celebrity Stage Names

11

CRACKED.COM Frankenstein FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER is highly intelligent, actually. Unlike the nearly mute brute from movies, the monster in Mary Shelley's novel quickly learns to speak and read - and does both at pretty much college professor level. — 5 Classic Characters Nearly Every Adaptation Gets Wrong

10

CRACKED.COM 30ROCK Frank Rossitano is a middle-aged writer for TGS, who has a lot of classic man-child qualities. This is mostly played for laughs throughout the series, until season 5 where the audience learns that Frank was a victim of statutory rape by his 8th grade teacher Lynn Onkman (played by Susan Sarandon). After they are reunited, Lynn is disturbed that Frank is still obsessed with childhood things. Frank comes to the realization that his life cemented at 14 because of the molestation and he was never able to truly grow up. — Origin Stories That Are Over-The-Top Dark (For No Reason)

9

Alan Moore

Alan Moore's Constantine was based on Sting. The artists who worked with Moore on Swamp Thing asked him to come up with a character based on Sting for the comic, so he obliged, and created a warlock who looked, well, just like Sting. CRACKED.COM — 9 Iconic Superheroes Who Were Based On Real People

8

Cliff from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actually might be a murderer. According to the novelization, he was accused of murdering his wife in the '60s --he claimed innocence, but nobody ever found out for sure. CRACKED.COM — CBR

7

THeRe WeRen'T ANY ReseRVOIRS OR DOGS in ReseRVOIR DOGS. THE nAme comes FROM QUENTIN TARANTINO MOCKING A FRenCH movie. Before making movies, Tarantino worked as a video store clerk. According to one story, he pronounced French film Au Revoir Les Enfants reservoir dogs out of spite. Another version of the story has Tarantino's girlfriend saying she wants to see the film, and Tarantino snapping back, I don't want to see no Reservoir Dogs. Whichever it was, Tarantino liked the phrase. CRACKED.COM Salman Rushdie, 2012. Step Across This Line: Collected Nonfiction 1992-2002 — 21 Horrifying Origin Stories Of Famous Characters

6

Stark and Lannister GAME OF THRONES CRACKED.COM Stark and Lannister are a nod to York and Lancaster, the two British houses involved in the War of the Roses. GoT isn't historically accurate, of course. It has way more dragons, and surprisingly, way LESS incest. — Cracked

5

SONIE HEDGEHOG THE Why is Sonic the Hedgehog a hedgehog? Originally they were going to have a rabbit, but as he went faster and faster, they realized it'd be better if he could roll into a ball so as to slam into enemies in ball form. Since a hedgehog can roll into a ball, making him a hedgehog was a natural choice. CRACKED.COM — 26 Origins Of Characters' Signature Traits

4

Pokemon

SNEASEL IS A KAMAITACHI GRACKED.COM Sickle clawed, dust-devil riding weasels called kamaitachi are said to be the work of an evil god, delivering swift but painless wounds with their sharpened appendages. Looking at Sneasel, it's not hard to see the connection, as they are known for their speed and slashing abilities. — CBR

3

BABAR As a child, the Elephant King witnesses his mother get shot to death by a hunter. CRACKED.COM — Origin Stories That Are Over-The-Top Dark (For No Reason)

2

Where the Wild Things Are

The monsters in Where the Wild Things Are were supposed to be horses. The original title of the book was Where The Wild Horses Are, but Maurice Sendak couldn't draw horses to save his life. So the title was changed to Where the Wild Things Are, and Sendak could draw whatever weird monsters he liked. CRACKED.COM — 6 Shockingly Dumb Reasons People Invented Famous Characters

1

Woody Allen GRACKED.COM SURPRISE--Woody Allen is a creep! According to a childhood friend, young ALLEN STEWART KONIGSBERG was obsessed with a girl whose dog's name was Woody. — 15 Wild Origin Stories Of Celebrity Stage Names

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