Spawn

The creator of Spawn, Todd McFarlane, was upfront about his real-life sources of inspiration in the beginning. A previous employee named Al Simmons served as the inspiration for Al Simmons, the fictitious revenant from Hell. When the comic was published, the latter consented. He didn't have to, though; he was flattered. He established himself as a staple at the Image Comics table at Comic Con, donning a striking black and red outfit to match his namesake. The Art of Being Spawn, a book that Simmons actually wrote. But this was a step too far.

After the book was published in 2012, McFarlane sued Simmons for appropriating his intellectual property. Additionally, he used the internet to delete all prior mentions that Simmons served as the character's inspiration. To be honest, it might have just been a name. In addition, McFarlane modeled Spawn's spouse and best buddy Terry after his own wife Wanda and Terry.

Publisher: Image Comics
First appearance: Spawn #1(May 1992)
Created by: Todd McFarlane