History AnimalMotifs / ComicBooks

** The Creator/ScottSnyder run on the comics attempted to give the Joker a motif of his own; [[FliesEqualsEvil Flies.]]

* Psychic operatives in ''[[ComicBook/{{Casanova}} Matt Fraction's Casanova]]'' all seem to have differing animal totems that manifest when they use their powers. The protagonist had spiders then upgraded to crows and his villainous sister had snakes.

** ''ComicBook/Marvel1602'': Spiders appear as a motif, usually around Peter Parquagh. Given who his [[Comicbook/SpiderMan modern counterpart]] is, spiders seem to be a symbol for destiny (perhaps a reference to the web of Fate).

** Dogs for Dog Logan introduced in ''ComicBook/Origin|2001}}''.

*** [[ComicBook/HerculesUnbound Heracles]] is usually wearing the Nemean Lion skin, and even when he's not his girdle and greaves are engraved with lions.
*** Hermes is still connected to hawks, and even takes on hawk like attributes like talons in some manifestations.

*** ''ComicBook/WonderWomanHistoriaTheAmazons'' double downs on the trope with the Gods having their signature animals accompany them, wears clothing that evokes them, but also in some cases are part-animal themselves thanks to [[VoluntaryShapeshifter voluntaty shapeshifting]]. Demeter has snakes on her person, Athena, naturally, has a giant owl that accompanies her, Artemis is seen with both stags and boars while Hera is accompanied by and wears clothing that evokes peacocks. As for the male gods, Ares is accompanied by vulture and his cape can turn into vulture-like wings, Zeus has ram horns growing out of his head along with a giant pet eagle at his side, Poseidon has the lower body of a Pegasus, and Dionysus rests with panthers by his side.

** ''ComicBook/{{Hunted}}'', the first story event from ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer'' {{Lampshades}} this when Spider-Man points out that it's "not hard to see the theme here" among the many animal-themed rogues being rounded for Kraven the Hunter's latest evil scheme. Two of the bad guys doing the rounding up, Taskmaster and Black Ant actually discuss in a dark comedic way whether Hammerhead, the mob boss with a metal plate in his skull fits given the shark name but they decide that he hadn't committed, i.e. actually dress up and use gadgets which fit his animal gimmick. When all the rounding up is done, Taskmaster gloats to Black Ant, when he betrays him, that hey an ant is also an animal.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' decided to take up [[AnimalThemedSuperbeing bat-themed crimefighting]] after a bat crashed through his window, which he interpreted as an omen. He strikes from the shadows, wears a costume that makes him look like a giant bat, and has a variety of occasionally-used gadgets that can simulate things like sonar. The similarities pretty much end there, since bats don't punch things very often.

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' is arguably the TropeCodifier since many of his villains are distinctly patterned on animals:
** Spiders appear as a motif in ''ComicBook/Marvel1602'', usually around Peter Parquagh. Given who his [[Comicbook/SpiderMan modern counterpart]] is, spiders seem to be a symbol for destiny (perhaps a reference to the web of Fate).
** Many Franchise/SpiderMan foes also have animal motifs. Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManJMichaelStraczynski run]] posited that Spidey is being assaulted by envious pretenders who subconsciously realize that he is a true totemic champion. ''Literature/SpiderManTheDarkestHours'', a book by Creator/JimButcher based on this run, introduces the siblings of Morlun, an ImplacableMan and [[VampiricDraining Energy Vampire]] who feeds on this type, and it turns out that ''every'' AnimalThemedSuperbeing has this connection even if it's not obvious. Black Cat is a BadassNormal; she wasn't bitten by a radioactive cat and given feline powers. Yet, if she wasn't cat enough to be delicious and nutritious to the likes of Morlun, she'd never have chosen the name. That's why Spidey, Cat, and [[EnemyMine even the Rhino]] must team up when [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Mortia, Thanis, and Malos]] come to town.
** ''ComicBook/{{Hunted}}'', the first story event from ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManNickSpencer'' {{Lampshades}} this when Spider-Man points out that it's "not hard to see the theme here" among the many animal-themed rogues being rounded for Kraven the Hunter's latest evil scheme. Two of the bad guys doing the rounding up, Taskmaster and Black Ant actually discuss in a dark comedic way whether Hammerhead, the mob-boss with a metal plate in his skull fits given the shark name but they decide that he hadn't committed, i.e. actually dress up and use gadgets which fit his animal gimmick. When all the rounding up is done, [[spoiler:Taskmaster gloats to Black Ant, when he betrays him, that hey an ant is also an animal]].

** [[ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] is a ClassyCatBurglar, and dresses the part too. She's clever, elusive, pulls of heists wearing a mask that resembles cat ears, and is associated with black cats in particular. She also literally keeps cats around her apartment like a old lady.

* [[HornyDevils Cubi]] from ''ComicBook/FinePrint'' are associated with [[PrettyButterflies Butterflies]], having massive butterfly wings and often heralded by a kaleidoscope of them.

* ''Loki'' developed certain associations with magpies in [[Comicbook/JourneyIntoMysteryGillen some]] [[Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard stories]], maybe not surprisingly for someone who is generally [[MagpiesAsPortents trouble and bad news]], not to mention [[ThievingMagpie a thief]] and [[CleverCrows conman]].

** Spiders appear as a motif in ''ComicBook/{{Marvel 1602}}'', usually around Peter Parquagh. Given who his [[Comicbook/SpiderMan modern counterpart]] is, spiders seem to be a symbol for destiny (perhaps a reference to the web of Fate).
** Many Franchise/SpiderMan foes also have animal motifs. Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's [[ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan run]] posited that Spidey is being assaulted by envious pretenders who subconsciously realize that he is a true totemic champion. ''Literature/SpiderManTheDarkestHours'', a book by Creator/JimButcher based on this run, introduces the siblings of Morlun, an ImplacableMan and [[VampiricDraining Energy Vampire]] who feeds on this type, and it turns out that ''every'' AnimalThemedSuperbeing has this connection even if it's not obvious. Black Cat is a BadassNormal; she wasn't bitten by a radioactive cat and given feline powers. Yet, if she wasn't cat enough to be delicious and nutritious to the likes of Morlun, she'd never have chosen the name. That's why Spidey, Cat, and [[EnemyMine even the Rhino]] must team up when [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Mortia, Thanis, and Malos]] come to town.
** ''ComicBook/{{Hunted}}'', the first story event from ''ComicBook/NickSpencersSpiderMan'' {{Lampshades}} this when Spider-Man points out that it's "not hard to see the theme here" among the many animal-themed rogues being rounded for Kraven the Hunter's latest evil scheme. Two of the bad guys doing the rounding up, Taskmaster and Black Ant actually discuss in a dark comedic way whether Hammerhead, the mob-boss with a metal plate in his skull fits given the shark name but they decide that he hadn't committed, i.e. actually dress up and use gadgets which fit his animal gimmick. When all the rounding up is done, [[spoiler:Taskmaster gloats to Black Ant, when he betrays him, that hey an ant is also an animal]].
* Comicbook/{{Wolverine}}, a short, stocky, violent, foul-smelling Canadian with a talent for surviving tough conditions.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'': The Greek pantheon keeps some of their ties to their sacred animals, usually whittled down to one animal to correlate to each deity, and some gods with no sacred animals in the original mythology gain animal motifs in the comics:
** Aphrodite wears an oversized shirt with a dove on it in ''ComicBook/WonderWomanRebirth'', and is accompanied by other dove related imagery when she wants to make a big entrance.
** Apollo's ravens show up with less frequency than many of the other god's related animals but they are there.
** Ares maintains his tie to both serpents and dogs, mostly visible through his sons Phobos and Deimos who accompany him on the battlefield in the guise of monstrous dogs, and Phobos sometimes manifesting his head as writhing cobras.
** Artemis will occasionally manifest with slender deer antlers.
** Athea is almost always seen with her owl, except for that time she was an anthropomorphic owl herself.
** Dionysus is tied to foxes in ''[[ComicBook/WonderWoman2011 The New 52]]'', unusual as his sacred animals in mythology were panthers, bulls and serpents.
** Hades remains fond of dogs, and is often accompanied by Cerberus.
** Hera has multiple articles of clothing heavily decorated with peacock feathers, and her diadem has a very simplified peacock centerpiece.
** [[ComicBook/HerculesUnbound Heracles]] is usually wearing the Nemean Lion skin, and even when he's not his girdle and greaves are engraved with lions.
** Hermes is still connected to hawks, and even takes on hawk like attributes like talons in some manifestations.
** Zeus is tied to eagles, best seen in ComicBook/TheNew52 with his feathered cape.
** In the Elseworld ''ComicBook/WonderWomanWarbringer'' Phobos's helmet is adorned with a relief of Medusa's head with the serpents arched and ready to strike, his chariot also has a snake motif and his teeth are like many thin curved viper fangs. His twin Deimos has a helmet adorned with a relief of a roaring lion, chariot with a lion motif and lion-like teeth and lips.
** Wonder Woman has an eagle motif. Her "W" insignia resembles and eagle, she uses a golden eagle-shaped armor, and she's known to be brave and inspirational like the animal.
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': During the Golden and Silver Ages Diana herself had an eagle motif, with an eagle embroidered in gold across her chest in her superhero costume and an eagle even showing up to help her fight [[DemBones Artemis]].
** ''ComicBook/WonderWomanHistoriaTheAmazons'' double downs on the trope with the Gods having their signature animals accompany them, wears clothing that evokes them, but also in some cases are part-animal themselves thanks to [[VoluntaryShapeshifter voluntaty shapeshifting]]. Demeter has snakes on her person, Athena, naturally, has a giant owl that accompanies her, Artemis is seen with both stags and boars while Hera is accompanied by and wears clothing that evokes peacocks. As for the male gods, Ares is accompanied by vulture and his cape can turn into vulture-like wings, Zeus has ram horns growing out of his head along with a giant pet eagle at his side, Poseidon has the lower body of a Pegasus, and Dionysus rests with panthers by his side.

* ''Loki'' developed certain associations with magpies in [[Comicbook/JourneyIntoMystery some]] [[Comicbook/LokiAgentOfAsgard stories]], maybe not surprisingly for someone who is generally [[MagpiesAsPortents trouble and bad news]], not to mention [[ThievingMagpie a thief]] and [[CleverCrows conman]].