History ComicBook / AmalgamUniverse

* {{Jerkass}}: Lobo the Duck, given that his DC component is [[Characters/DCComicsLobo Lobo]], shamelessly cheats on his love interest Bevarlene (a fusion of Lobo's love interest Darlene Spritzer and Howard the Duck's significant other Beverly Switzler) and [[SpeakIllOfTheDead gloats that he's glad all the superheroes are dead]] after seeing that they have been killed.

-->'''Chronos-Tut:''' Don't you ''dare'' make light of my mother! My other was a ''saint''!

* IHaveAFamily: Parodied in ''Lobo the Duck'', where a self-aware RedShirt pleads that he ''might'' have a wife and kids just before getting a flamethrower to the face.

* ActionPolitician: Ben Grimm is a U.S. Senator in this continuity, as well as members of the Challengers of the Fantastic.

* AllThereInTheManual: See LettersToTheEditor. This includes also the CrisisCrossover mentioned below.

* BadassNormal: Most of the characters in the title ''Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'', Catsai from ''Assassins'', Trevor Castle from ''Bullets and Bracelets''. The whole eponymous team of ''Challengers of the Fantastic'' also qualify, although Rocky Grimm temporarily became an EmpoweredBadassNormal.

* PaletteSwap: A few of the amalgams, such as Beastling and Thanoseid, have the body of one component, and the color scheme of the other.

* SpacePolice: The Starbrand Corps that were mentioned in ''Iron Lantern''. They are suggested to be one due to being an amalgamation of ComicBook/TheNewUniverse's ComicBook/StarBrand and the ComicBook/GreenLantern Corps.
* SuperSoldier: Super-Soldier, natch.
* TrenchcoatBrigade: Bruce Banner

It seems that TheMultiverse of each company's main continuity was in fact the creation of two {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s known as "The Brothers". For eons, they were ignorant of each other until the first IntercontinuityCrossover brought them to each others' attention. Each wanting to be the singular AnthropomorphicPersonification of the Multiverse, they decided that in true Superhero fashion, the matter could only be settled with a FightScene. Or rather, a series of one-on-one battles between the most similar heroes. Some of these fights were between characters who would later be Amalgamated, such as Franchise/SpiderMan and ComicBook/{{Superboy}}. Some were matched by ability; the BadassNormal Franchise/{{Batman}} versus the BadassNormal ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, for example. The loser's universe would be destroyed, so both sides had plenty of motivation to kill each other. At the same time, a young man named [[AlliterativeName Axel Asher]], A.K.A. [[StevenUlyssesPerhero Access]], discovered that he was a [[CosmicKeystone shard of the original joined reality]]. This was apparently [[LegacyCharacter a mantle that was passed down from generations]] (he acquired the abilities from a homeless man who died soon after). Access could only stand by and watch as the two universes did battle. Marvel was ahead six to five, ''when suddenly''...

The PowersThatBe named the Living Tribunal and ComicBook/TheSpectre try to take the pressure off by merging both universes into an Amalgam where the iconic main characters of each world merge into single beings with aspects of each-- ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} and Franchise/{{Batman}} become Dark Claw, Franchise/{{Superman}} and Captain America become Super Soldier ([[SuperSoldier he really was one, too]]). Some were merged because they were [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent similar]] in powers or purpose, others because their names ''sounded'' alike (resulting in some awful {{punny name}}s) and still others for the heck of it (see the list below). Each had a "remembered" history that splits the difference between the merged characters-- there was a [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] Super Soldier who joined the All-Star Winners Squadron, a [[TheWildWest Wild West]] team of [[{{Mutants}} mutant "malforms"]] called Generation [[ComicBook/JonahHex Hex]], etc.

Turns out Access can't stay in one universe too long, or his powers go haywire and begin transposing inhabitants from one universe to another. And in the sequel ''All Access'', it turned out the Amalgam [[AWizardDidIt Sorcerer]] Doctor Strangefate had hidden himself in Comicbook/DoctorStrange's mind, and burst out to try to re-create his universe by merging the Big Two. So once again, cue fight music as the [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]] and Comicbook/XMen throw down, only to be saved by [[DeusExMachina the original Doctor Strange]] creating an independent ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse ''without'' affecting the original two (though based on the first one). This Amalgamverse was safely tucked away inside Access and again all is well. Except for a few whacky TimeTravel adventures in the ''Unlimited Access'' miniseries, but those had no plot effects and were apparently just for fun.

Several sets of Amalgam comics set in the merged universe have been published jointly by both companies. The titles include ''[[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bruce Wayne]]: Agent of ComicBook/{{SHIELD}}'', ''[[ComicBook/IronMan Iron]] [[Franchise/GreenLantern Lantern]]'', ''Bullets & Bracelets'', ''Justice League Avengers'', and many others.

** Two examples that really stand out here are Magneto and Will Magnus. As if it wasn't enough to make one character out of the [[Comicbook/XMen original]] [[ComicBook/MetalMen two]], they decided to make ''two'' characters, explain them as brothers and put them on opposite sides of the law. Even more interesting, the one who took the name Magneto ended up becoming a hero, while the one called Will Magnus became the villain (who, funnily enough, is a Donald Pierce-esque mutant persecutor), in a reversal of their namesakes' usual roles.

* CrisisCrossover: The Comicbook/{{Secret|Wars 1984}} Comicbook/{{Crisis|On Infinite Earths}} of Comicbook/{{the Infinity|Gauntlet}} [[Comicbook/ZeroHourCrisisInTime Hour]].

* DecompositeCharacter: In some cases, a single Marvel or DC character originated more than one amalgam: Marvel's Daredevil originated Dare (merged with Deathstroke, in ''Assassins'') and Deaddevil (merged with Deadman, in ''The Exciting X-Patrol''); DC's Batman originated the titular characters of ''Legends of the Dark Claw'' (merged with Wolverine) and ''Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' Meanwhile, Diana didn't become Wonder Woman, rather becoming the lead of ''Bullets & Bracelets'', while Ororo (Storm) became Wonder Woman. And ComicBook/{{Cable}} was merged into both [[Comicbook/DoomPatrol Niles Caulder]] (to form the heroic Niles Cable) and Manhunter (to form the [[AdaptationalVillainy villainous]] Wired). Additionally Clark Kent (who looks like Steve Rogers) and the baby in the rocket are two different people. The baby dies and its dna is used to empower Clark. Curt Connors and King Lizard (a the Lizard-King Shark amalgam) also exists separately, though in that case King Lizard's origin ''was'' still a Curt Connors/reptilian hybrid in origin, just one that grew specifically from Connors' (removed) arm. Finally, Jimmy Olsen has both an older version of himself who acts as Super Soldier's Ally, and has a composite of his younger self with Ben Urich as Jimmy Urich.

* FaceHeelTurn: Firebird, for whom some of [[Comicbook/{{Jean Grey}} Phoenix]]'s story was used, including Comicbook/{{the Dark Phoenix Saga}}.

* LettersToTheEditor: Some of the one-shots had faux letter columns with letters from portmanteaus of DC/Marvel creators (such as [[ComicBook/CaptainAmerica Simon]] [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Siegel]]) referencing [[NoodleIncident earlier issues of other comics in the Amalgam line]]. There were also other characters that were only mentioned in the letter pages.

* MythologyGag: Robin and Jubilee being combined to make Sparrow, aside from working due to both of them being protégés of the heroes that make up Dark Claw's being, is doubly cool due to part of Jubilee's look being inspired by the Carrie Kelly Robin from ''Comicbook/TheDarkKnightReturns''.

* DecompositeCharacter: In some cases, a single Marvel or DC character originated more than one amalgam: Marvel's Daredevil originated Dare (merged with Deathstroke, in ''Assassins'') and Deaddevil (merged with Deadman, in ''The Exciting X-Patrol''); DC's Batman originated the titular characters of ''Legends of the Dark Claw'' (merged with Wolverine) and ''Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' Meanwhile, Diana didn't become Wonder Woman, rather becoming the lead of ''Bullets & Bracelets'', while Ororo (Storm) became Wonder Woman. And ComicBook/{{Cable}} was merged into both [[Comicbook/DoomPatrol Niles Caulder]] (to form the heroic Niles Cable) and Manhunter (to form the [[AdaptationalVillainy villainous]] Wired). Additionally Clark Kent (who looks like Steve Rogers) and the baby in the rocket are two different people. The baby dies and its dna is used to empower Clark. Curt Connors and King Lizard (a the Lizard-King Shark amalgam) also exists separately, though in that case King Lizard's origin ''was'' still a Curt Connors/reptilian hybrid in origin, just one that grew specifically from Connors' (removed) arm.

* DecompositeCharacter: In some cases, a single Marvel or DC character originated more than one amalgam: Marvel's Daredevil originated Dare (merged with Deathstroke, in ''Assassins'') and Deaddevil (merged with Deadman, in ''The Exciting X-Patrol''); DC's Batman originated the titular characters of ''Legends of the Dark Claw'' (merged with Wolverine) and ''Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' Meanwhile, Diana didn't become Wonder Woman, rather becoming the lead of ''Bullets & Bracelets'', while Ororo (Storm) became Wonder Woman. And ComicBook/{{Cable}} was merged into both [[Comicbook/DoomPatrol Niles Caulder]] (to form the heroic Niles Cable) and Manhunter (to form the [[AdaptationalVillainy villainous]] Wired). Additionally Clark Kent (who looks like Steve Rogers) and the baby in the rocket are two different people. The baby dies and its dna is used to empower Clark.

* DecompositeCharacter: In some cases, a single Marvel or DC character originated more than one amalgam: Marvel's Daredevil originated Dare (merged with Deathstroke, in ''Assassins'') and Deaddevil (merged with Deadman, in ''The Exciting X-Patrol''); DC's Batman originated the titular characters of ''Legends of the Dark Claw'' (merged with Wolverine) and ''Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.'' Meanwhile, Diana didn't become Wonder Woman, rather becoming the lead of ''Bullets & Bracelets'', while Ororo (Storm) became Wonder Woman. And ComicBook/{{Cable}} was merged into both [[Comicbook/DoomPatrol Niles Caulder]] (to form the heroic Niles Cable) and Manhunter (to form the [[AdaptationalVillainy villainous]] Wired).

* DeathByAdaptation: Peter Parker did exist in here, and contributed genetic material for the creation of Spider-Boy (his own DNA and, probably, spider DNA), but since the experiment was rigged, he was killed in an explosion.

* CosmicRetcon: In ''Spider-Boy Team-Up'' the title character is saved moments before his death by the Legion of Galactic Guardians from 2099, who want to thank him for being such an inspiration before his death. However they are attacked by the Frightful Five who destroy Spider-Boy's only means of return home which risks a Chronal Collapse. He is taken five years into the future by the surviving members of the Legion who rebuilt the machine and try to send him back to his time. However the Chronal Collapse seemingly erases the original future and Spider-Boy arrives in a rebooted 2099 with an altered version of the Legion. This version has less members, with some pre-reboot characters being replaced or heavily altered like Invisible Girl (a DarkSkinnedBlond who becomes [[RaceLift a white woman]]) and Lady Bug (who seems to be human pre-reboot but looks like an alien post-reboot).