Scathach80 wrote:
Andy Hardy started as a play.

El Santo started as a wrestler's persona in the ring. One might as well count those western singers and cowboy film stars who played themselves (well, fictionalized versions of themselves) and had comic books based on them. In other words, I do not.

I would say that any character fictional or otherwise that is featured in a comic book named after him/her qualifies as a 'comic book hero.'

Just 'cause, literally, that is what that character is.

"There is a lot of money tied up in this film and people expect to hear a boom when something blows up, so I'll give them a boom."

George Lucas as quoted by Harlan Ellison's WATCHING