History Main / LastEpisodeNewCharacter

* ''WebAnimation/XionicMadness'': Enid, Xero's apprentice who is entrusted with finishing what he started, makes her first appearance in the last pre-credits scene of the final episode.

* In ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'', Hades' first Pre-Crisis appearance as an actual god was the very last issue of Wonder Woman before the reboot.

* Within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse's first MythArc, "The Infinity Saga", ComicBook/CarolDanvers only appears for the first time in her titular movie ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'', which is the penultimate movie of the entire slate (eleven years and twenty films) prior to the GrandFinale ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', where she also plays an important part.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', of all heroes, was introduced in the last issue of ''Amazing Adult Fantasy'' (re-titled ''Amazing Fantasy'').

* The final issue of the DCU version of The Web introduced Fly Girl and War Eagle, who were part of The Mighty Crusaders in their mini series!

* Although calling it the last "episode" is not quite accurate, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'''s story mode, The Subspace Emissary, VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog makes his first appearance at the last possible second, showing up in the cutscene immediately preceding the final boss.

'''This is an EndingTrope, so ''beware of unmarked spoilers!'''''

* The final issue of the DCU version of The Web introduced Fly Girl and War Eagle, who were part of The Mighty Crusaders in their mini series!

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', of all heroes, was introduced in the last issue of ''Amazing Adult Fantasy'' (re-titled ''Amazing Fantasy'').

* In ''Fanfic/NecessaryToWin'', Oarai's new Student Council is introduced in the last chapter.

-->'''Emu:''' Are you the real Samus Aran? ''The'' Samus Aran from Franchise/{{Metroid}}?
-->'''Samus:''' [[DeadpanSnarker You're looking at her.]]
-->'''Emu:''' [[FanBoy I'm a big fan!]] I used to play ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' when I was a kid, this what made me becoming a Genius Gamer today.
-->'''Samus:''' Appreciated.

[[folder:Films]]

* Within the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse's first MythArc, "The Infinity Saga", ComicBook/CarolDanvers only appears for the first time in her titular movie ''Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}'', which is the penultimate movie of the entire slate (eleven years and twenty films) prior to the GrandFinale ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', where she also plays an important part.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar'' is the GrandFinale of the [[WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse DCAMU]] but introduces Wallace West and the many members of the Green Lantern Corps in non-speaking cameos, while King Shark appears for the first time as a secondary character.

* In Book 40 of ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' (which, then, was Christopher Awdry's final book) the final story features a new engine, who is named "Ivo Hugh" on the last page. Unfortunately, the publishers scuppered the plans to publish any more Railway Series books (they did eventually do two more), meaning that Ivo Hugh hasn't had his personality developed.
* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' series, Dovepaw and Ivypaw are born at the ending of Sunrise (the last book in [[Literature/WarriorCatsPowerOfThree the third series]]), with Jayfeather realizing that [[spoiler:one of them is the third cat in the prophecy]]. Both of them are main characters in [[Literature/WarriorCatsOmenOfTheStars the fourth series]].
* ''City of Heavenly Fire'', the last book of ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' introduces Emma Carstairs, hero of the sequel trilogy, ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices''.
* Professor Moriarty, supposed to be THE nemesis for Literature/SherlockHolmes is introduced only in ''The Final Problem'', originally written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as the definitive series ending. Holmes got better, though.

* ''Literature/DyingOfTheLight'' has Kirak Redsteel. A poet unconnected to any of the main players, he is oft-mentioned but never seen until the last chapter when a white-bearded old man strolls up to muse on some long dead Old Kavalar poetry. And he's even nice enough to arrange duels.
* Theo Waitley was introduced into the Literature/LiadenUniverse in the final chapter of what seemed like the final novel of the series, as part of an AndTheAdventureContinues ending. After a break of several years, the authors found a new publisher for a couple of novels about Theo, and the series has been going strong ever since.

* ''Literature/TheShepherdsCrown'', the final ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel, introduces and is partly written from the perspective of an entirely new witch character. Of course, the afterword reveals that it wasn't ''intended'' as the final ''Discworld'' novel, because [[Creator/TerryPratchett Sir Terry]] simply didn't think that way, and indeed he had plans for even ''more'' new characters. Whether he also had plans to revisit this one will sadly never be known.
* The denouement of ''Literature/TheHandmaidsTale'' takes place as a DistantFinale after every other character has died in one way or another. As a result, the postmortem of Gilead is expressed through an entirely new character, Professor James Piexioto.

* Although calling it the last "episode" is not quite accurate, in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'''s story mode, The Subspace Emissary, VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog makes his first appearance at the last possible second, showing up in the cutscene immediately preceding the final boss.
* While he's briefly mentioned early on, King Mickey Mouse never actually turns up until the ending sequence of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI''. Also, Roxas's first appearances were in {{The Stinger}}s for ''Kingdom Hearts I'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories''. A similar thing happened with many of the new ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' characters, first appearing in TheStinger for ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''.
* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'':
** The mobile port of the first game adds [[TheStinger an extra image after the credits]] showing a then-unnamed girl (Tsugumi Matsunae) who would ultimately go on to show up in ''VideoGame/NEOTheWorldEndsWithYou''.
** ''NEO'' itself has [[spoiler:the Angel]] Hazuki "Haz" Mikagi. He doesn't show up until the game's final day (and then doesn't appear again until [[spoiler:TheStinger of Another Day]]), but he manages to have [[SmallRoleBigImpact quite an impact]] on the plot in spite of this.
* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'': Death's Hand can be recruited 5/6 of the way through the game if you are a MagnificentBastard.
* [[spoiler:Brave Young Layna]] shows up in ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'' for only a few maps (storyline ones at least, not counting the random dungeons) when [[TheHero Revya]] and co. arrive in [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Drazil]].
* ''VideoGame/FateExtra'': Most of the game is spent focusing on the Holy Grail War, in which [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething Leo]] and his Servant [[KnightInShiningArmor Gawain]] are built up as the most powerful enemies the player has to face. It’s not until the end of the game that the audience is introduced to the hidden mastermind of the tournament, though [[FridgeBrilliance sharp-eyed players will remember seeing his name mentioned multiple times before]]: [[spoiler: [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Twice]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist H.]] [[FinalBoss Pieceman]], and his Servant, Saver]].

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', [[spoiler: The Catalyst]] plays this role.

* The final chapter/episode of ''VisualNovel/HarvestDecember'' ends with the introduction of the children of the two main heroines.
* The very last scene of ''VisualNovel/LiarLiar 2'' introduces Nao. She is a childhood friend of Yukari's that reveals [[spoiler:Yukari has always been AxCrazy and has killed everyone she's ever dated ''[[EnfantTerrible since elementary]]''.]]
* In ''VisualNovel/CrescendoJP'', there's a route that can only be unlocked ''after'' all the others have been completed. The girl in said route is [[spoiler: the local DelicateAndSickly girl, Miyu Shizuhara, who barely appears in the other paths.]]
* ''VideoGame/CopyKitty'': In the 12th and final world of Boki's Hard Mode (a continuation of the Normal campaign), during the 3rd stage, the game abruptly [[spoiler:cuts to static with two unseen characters tracking her progress and spying on the simulation.]] The next stage barely has time to load before a character named Isotope suddenly breaks into the simulation to challenge Boki to the most serious encounter in the game and Boki's TrueFinalBoss. The dialogue strongly suggests [[WeWillMeetAgain a future encounter]] between the two will take place.
* Averted with Alia and Signas from ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' - the game they debuted in (''VideoGame/MegaManX5'') was originally going to be the GrandFinale of the franchise, but the release of ''VideoGame/MegaManX6'' and its sequels caused them to have more appearances than originally intended.
* Valimar from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'' ends up being introduced right before the two final bosses of ''Cold Steel I'', complete with a [[TacticalRockPaperScissors brand new game mechanic]] introduced to players just for those two boss fights. Valimar fights end up being more prominent from the second game onward.
* ''VideoGame/GrandChaseDimensionalChaser'' has Lapis (who got her name after being released as a new playable character), who appears at the end of World 9, after Decanee's villainous story arc. After the Grand Chase heads back home after defeating Decanee, the scene changes to Nelia, with Veigas and another demon resembling Dio, only to be interrupted by someone coming in. That person is Lapis, asking "what propositions does she have for her", which is the very last scene in the ending.

* ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'':
** Shingo Yabuki, as well as the Orochi Team (Yashiro, Chris and Shermie) all debuted in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters97'', the final canonical entry of the Orochi Saga.
** Likewise, Ángel, K9999/[[spoiler:Krohnen]], the original Zero and Igniz made their first appearances in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters2001'', the end of the NESTS Chronicles.

* Dennis’s dad and Amy’s mom both debut in the final episode of ''VisualNovel/DoubleHomework''.
* The mastermind of the killing game in ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', [[spoiler: the real Junko Enoshima]], doesn’t appear in the flesh until the final trial, with [[spoiler: the Junko seen beforehand actually being her twin sister Mukuro disguised as her]].

** Season 4's last scene before the credits introduces the headmaster of Haven Academy, Professor Leo Lionheart. Not much of him is shown, [[spoiler:but his first onscreen appearance reveals that he's the informant Watts was ordered to meet at the beginning of the volume, and, according to Watts, he's been in league with Salem for a while now.]]

* In Book 40 of ''Literature/TheRailwaySeries'' (which, then, was Christopher Awdry's final book) the final story features a new engine, who is named "Ivo Hugh" on the last page. Unfortunately, the publishers scuppered the plans to publish any more Railway Series books until recently, meaning that Ivo Hugh hasn't had his personality developed.

* ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' introduces four new major characters in Bane, ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}, John Blake and Miranda Tate along with a slew of new minor characters.

* In the ''Series/Charmed2018'' comic continuation, the finale hinges on a [[ISeeDeadPeople medium]] named Amelia Desmots, who only appears in the last three issues. It's also a case of RememberTheNewGuy, because she clearly knows the sisters. There was going to be a canon tie-in book explaining how they met her, but it's been put on indefinite hiatus.
* The final issue of ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' introduces Pandora, with no fanfare or explanation of who she was.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'', of all heroes, was introduced this way, debuting in the last issue of ''Amazing Adult Fantasy'' (re-titled ''Amazing Fantasy'').