History Expy / Comicbooks

* Detective Gould from Matt Kindt's ''ComicBook/RedHanded'' is an expy of ComicStrip/DickTracy. He wears a very similar suit and hat, has an array of retro-futuristic gizmos, and is named after ''Tracy'' creator Chester Gould.* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'':
** Archie's ''Sonic'' series has Doctor Finitevus, an obvious Expy of Doctor Zachary from ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic''. Let's see. Is an villainous albino? Check. Has the "doctor" title attached to his name? Check. Is an echidna and one of Knuckles' people? Check. Has a fixation with Chaos Energy? Check. Has manipulated Knuckles (either by exploiting his character, or via brainwashing)? Check. Has had a powerful minion who was powered up by Chaos Energy? Check.

** From the pre-Moore era, Kid Supreme was a fairly direct take-off of [[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} Kon-El]] from DC Comics, with almost the exact same appearance and personality. His short-lived solo series, however, owed a lot more to the contemporaneous ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'' and ''ComicBook/{{Impulse}}'' series in its tone and status quo.* Being highly influential and popular, ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' spawned many expies in FrancoBelgianComics:

* An oft-mocked facet of early Creator/ImageComics was that every team seemed to have a ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} expy, who had blades on his hands, a bad attitude, and a mysterious past. And while it wasn't '''every''' team – ''ComicBook/Gen13'' and ''ComicBook/{{Stormwatch}}'' being the most notable exceptions – this was true for most of them: ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' had Troll '''and''' Cougar (though the latter was arguably more influenced by Beast), while spin-off series ''Bloodpool'' had Wylder; ''ComicBook/{{Cyberforce}}'' had Ripclaw; ''ComicBook/WildCATS'' had Warblade; ''ComicBook/{{Bloodstrike}}'' had Deadlock; and ''Codename: Strykeforce'' had Killrazor. Deadlock was probably the most obvious, since his first costume featured a mask nearly identical to Wolverine's.

** [[ComicBook/{{Steel}} Commander Steel]] was another Captain America Expy. ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' lampshaded this by having the second Steel mimic Cap's iconic shield throw.

* Creator/JohnByrne's college newspaper strip ''Gay Guy!'' had a villain called [[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/charisma.htm Charisma]], whom no man could resist except... well, guess. Byrne liked the character concept so much that [[http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/karisma.htm Karisma]] showed up on the ComicBook/FantasticFour's doorstep a decade and a half later.* ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} fought against a vampire lord named Vladimir Giurescu that was obviously modeled after Literature/{{Dracula}}, sharing traits such as having many vampire brides and a similar appearance to his real life inspiration. What is more is that before his plans were ruined by Witchfinder Edward Grey, Giurescu sought to install his own secret domain in Great Britain during the 1880s (more or less the same goal as Dracula and in the same time frame where the novel took place).

* DC's ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'' featured the Young All-Stars, who were meant to replace the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] versions of Superman (Iron Munro), Wonder Woman (The Fury), Batman (Flying Fox), Aquaman (Neptune Perkins, Tsunami), and Green Arrow (Tigress) Post-Crisis, because they, you know, weren't active back then anymore. Neptune Perkins was a very obscure pre-existing character, for what it's worth. They had Nazi-created evil counterparts called Axis Amerika to contend with, which were ''also'' retrofitted Expies of the vanished Earth-2 heroes: Ubermensch (Superman), Gudra the Valkyrie (Wonder Woman), Grösshorn Eule and Fledermaus (Batman ), Usil (Green Arrow) and Sea Wolf (Aquaman). Part of the reasoning was that, metaphysically speaking, iconic characters like Superman and Wonder Woman were "too big" to be replaced by just ''one'' new (and inevitably "lesser") character. The [[TokenMinority Token Japanese]] member of Axis Amerika, Kamikaze was an expy of Fawcett's ComicBook/{{Bulletman}}.

* Todd Ziller (hmmm, what happens if we change that "T" to a "G") appeared in ComicBook/TheAvengers. As a product of a kludge SuperSoldier program, Project Troubleshooter, which shoved everything they could get into him (including Pym Particles, Mutant Growth Hormone, and etc.). Naturally this [[GoneHorriblyRight worked but in a real messy way]] and he became something that looked like the brother to [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} a certain Toho monster]]. Mr. Ziller even has the code-name "American Kaiju".
** Another expy to show in ComicBook/TheAvengers, is the Shadow Colonel. He's a vampire in some very familiar black armour, German-style WWII helmet, a mask housing infra-red goggles with rebreather and a minigun. He's clearly influenced from [[VideoGame/KillZone Colonel Radec]] and Radec's own influence, the Manga/KerberosPanzerCop.
* The Colleen Coover character ''Webcomic/{{Bandette}}'' was inspired by the French costumed heroine Fantômette, sporting an extremely similar costume.
* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' has a few:
** Kirk "Man-Bat" Langstrom is to [[Franchise/SpiderMan Curt "The Lizard" Connors]]. Really, regardless of where each character ended up, the only difference between their origins is the specific ailment they were trying to cure and the specific animal they were working on.
** Batman Japan/Mr. Unknown from ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman, Inc.]]'' is an Expy of the original Series/KamenRider, right down to the motorcycle and ScarfOfAsskicking. His civilian name ("Jiro Osamu") is a ShoutOut to Creator/OsamuTezuka.
*** This might just be DC returning the favor since in Creator/ShotaroIshinomori's original manga, Kamen Rider was very much an Expy to Batman himself: a super-intelligent hero aided by his loyal butler who operated out of a high-tech laboratory beneath his family's mansion. However, most of these elements disappeared or were altered when the story was adapted for television.
** Creator/JephLoeb's miniseries, ''ComicBook/TheLongHalloween'' and ''ComicBook/DarkVictory'' did this to many characters, including pre-existing ones:
*** Carmine Falcone from ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'' is made into one of Vito Corleone from ''Film/TheGodfather'' and introduces Falcone's family, who was similar expies for the Corleone children: his daughter, Sofia Gigante, is a {{Gender Flip}}ped Sonny, while his sons, Alberto and Sonny are respectively ones for Fredo and Michael.
*** Calendar Man is used in a similar way to Franchise/HannibalLecter, especially with Batman and Gordon going to him for help on the Holiday murders in ''The Long Halloween'' as Clarice Starling did with Hannibal on the case Buffalo Bill case in ''Literature/TheSilenceOfTheLambs''.
*** For one in the same property, Julia Lopez is one for ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' CanonImmigrant Renee Montoya, including being an honest cop Gordon trusts, though it's implied she'd have a higher rank [[spoiler: as the story implied she'll replace O'Hara as chief]].
** [[ComicBook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] was initially written as one of [[Franchise/SpiderMan Peter Parker]]. It's no secret that Chuck Dixon based Tim Drake's adventures on the first 50 issues of ''[[Franchise/SpiderMan The Amazing Spiderman]]''. Fans used to compare him to the iconic Marvel superhero, calling him the Peter Parker of Gotham.
** The Batman Who Laughs from the ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'' crossover is inspired both visually and in motif by [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd Judge Death]] — a heinous monster who slaughters his entire universe simply because he can, and is inspired to bridge the gap to other worlds just to be able to do it all again.
* The Kali Corporation from ''ComicBook/BatwomanRebirth'' is one of [[Franchise/JamesBond SPECTRE]] (down to the similar meanings of their logos), with a dash of [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3 Cobra Unit]] thrown in as well.

* Everett K. Ross from Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}}'s ''ComicBook/BlackPanther'' was heavily based off of [[Series/{{Friends}} Chandler Bing]]. In fact, according to Priest, the character was even called "Chandler" in the early pre-production phase before they settled on an actual name.
** Likewise, White Wolf was inspired by Creator/KevinSpacey's character from ''Film/MidnightInTheGardenOfGoodAndEvil'', even bearing an [[ComicBookFantasyCasting uncanny resemblance to Spacey]] and wearing a similar white business suit.
** [[http://digitalpriest.com/legacy/comics/crew/kasper.htm According to Priest's website]], Kasper Cole and his supporting cast were all designed to be intentional Expies of ComicBook/SpiderMan and his supporting cast, just with a [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructive]] slant. Kasper is a [[TheEveryman relatable Everyman]] like Peter Parker, but is even more of a screw-up. His father, "Black Jack" is an Uncle Ben-like figure Kasper looks to for advice, except he's a corrupt cop in jail for drug possession. His mother Ruth is a double Expy, serving as both a stereotypical JewishMother version of Aunt May '''and''' the Marvel equivalent of Doris Roberts' character from ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''. Finally, Kasper's girlfriend Gwen is the requisite Gwen Stacy/Mary Jane-type character (right down to even being '''named''' after the former), except she's Korean and their relationship is completely dysfunctional, with Gwen constantly nagging and annoying him instead of being a source of emotional support.
* ComicBook/{{Cable}}, who originally started as a Franchise/{{Terminator}} Expy, has at least two AlternateCompanyEquivalent characters at DC: The Linear Man and [[ComicBook/KingdomCome Magog]]. The latter was meant to symbolize everything wrong with UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.

* ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #421 saw Superman battle Captain Strong, the DC universe's equivalent to ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}: a balding, rough-and-tumble sailor who gets incredible super-strength by eating a green plant (in this case "sauncha", a strain of seaweed infested with alien spores of unknown origin). DC ran with it, and subsequent appearances Strong gained a supporting cast of Expies to Olive Oyl, Bluto, Wimpy, Poopdeck Pappy, and the Sea Hag.
** The connection got a sly nod in one of his subsequent appearances: Superman was forced to fight a sea monster while still in civilian clothes, but Captain Strong saw him in the act. In order to protect his identity, Clark retrieved a can of spinach and draped it over his body, pretending it was another strain of sauncha. For the rest of the trip Strong would use the "sauncha" to pull off incredible feats, all while a beleaguered Superman did the real work from the shadows.
* ''[[ComicBook/LukeCage Power Man]] and [[ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]]'' introduced Captain Hero, a FlyingBrick who was actually a young boy [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull with the ability to transform into an adult superhero]]. He was essentially Marvel's attempt at doing ComicBook/{{Shazam}}.
* In the ''ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}'' story "Selina's Big Score", Stark is a blatant Expy of Parker, VillainProtagonist of a series of crime novels by Richard Stark. He also [[ComicBookFantasyCasting looks like]] Lee Marvin, who played Parker (renamed Walker) in the film adaptation of the first novel, ''Film/PointBlank''. (Darwyn Cooke, who wrote and drew the story, later went on to officially adapt the Parker novels to the comic medium.)
* ''ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian'': Janissa the Widowmaker for ComicBook/RedSonja in the most recent Creator/DarkHorseComics series.
* The ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' villainess [[DistaffCounterpart Lady Bullseye]] is a deliberate Expy of Manga/LadySnowblood, [[WordOfGod according to]] Creator/EdBrubaker.
* [[ComicBook/TheUltimates Monica Chang]] is an expy of Maria Hill, after a fashion. Both are hardcore female S.H.I.E.L.D. agents known for their biting attitude that replaced Nick Fury as the head of the organization at one point or another.
* The 2014 ''Deathlok'' series stars new character Henry Hayes, who is very blatantly modeled after the Mike Peterson version of Deathlok from the ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' TV series. Not surprisingly, the ''ComicBook/AgentsOfSHIELD'' comic book later used Hayes as part of the cast, having him fill a similar role to the one held by Peterson in the TV show. Why Marvel didn't simply have Mike become an outright CanonImmigrant is unknown.
* Red Lion from ''ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}'' is an Expy of ComicBook/BlackPanther. Both are the respective rulers of an African nation, use an identity patterned after a big cat, and wear (''very'' similar-looking) costumes made from [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper nearly-invulnerable]] metals, complete with AbsurdlySharpClaws built into the gloves. The key difference is that while Black Panther is a just ruler and a hero, Red Lion is a cruel dictator and a mass murderer. Given that Red Lion was created by Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}}, Black Panther's most famous writer, the similarities are definitely not a coincidence.

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom was initially one to Silver Age Lex Luthor: EvilGenius who despises the hero because they blame them for their disfigurement (Lex blaming Superman for causing his baldness was canon at the time). Of course, Lex was eventually {{retool}}ed from a mad scientist into a CorruptCorporateExecutive and Superman's connection to his baldness was dropped, [[DivergentCharacterEvolution while Doom remained the same]]. These days, you're more likely to hear people compare Lex to ComicBook/TheKingpin than anyone else.
* Creator/MarvelComics' Donyell Taylor, originally codenamed Bandit, is an Expy of Marvel's own Gambit, a fact exploited shamelessly by an issue of Gambit's eponymous series when Bandit turns out to be romantically involved with Gambit's ex-wife Belladonna.
** Night Thrasher (Bandit's brother and the leader of the ComicBook/NewWarriors) was also an Expy of Franchise/{{Batman}}, complete with the same basic origin and CrimefightingWithCash m.o.
* ComicBook/ElongatedMan was created because Creator/DCComics didn't realize they already owned ComicBook/PlasticMan.
* Lee, the main character of Creator/PeterDavid's ''ComicBook/FallenAngel'' is an Expy of Linda Danvers, protagonist of David's previous run on ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}''. In fact, David did his best to fuel speculation that the characters were one and the same until the book's second volume, in which he chronicled Lee's origins. Later on, he introduced Lin, yet another expy of Linda Danvers, who can in fact be considered Linda in everything but name. Likewise, the God figure in the series is a small girl dressed in a tennis motif and carrying a tennis racket, which makes her an expy of Wally, the god figure in David's ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' who was a young boy who carried a baseball bat.

* Creator/JohnByrne's college newspaper strip ''Gay Guy!'' had a villain called [[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/charisma.htm Charisma]], whom no man could resist except... well, guess. Byrne liked the character concept so much that [[http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/karisma.htm Karisma]] showed up on the ComicBook/FantasticFour's doorstep a decade and a half later.
* ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis: Superman Beyond 3D'' features Captain Adam, an alternate universe version of ComicBook/CaptainAtom who's a clear Expy of Dr Manhattan, sporting his blue skin, detached nature, and even a similar emblem on his forehead. This is fitting since Manhattan was originally an Expy of Captain Atom to begin with.
* ComicBook/GhostRider villain Skinbender is plainly designed to heavily resemble [[Manga/CodenameSailorV Sailor Venus]]; true to this inspiration, she falls in love with Ghost Rider when they meet.
* During the Golden Age, ComicBook/GreenArrow was given many similarities to Franchise/{{Batman}}, right down to the Arrow-Car, Arrow-Cave, an arrow signal, and a teen sidekick in Speedy (who is really just like Robin [[NeverLiveItDown only a junky]]). On top of that, he's a rich orphan too. Decades of DivergentCharacterEvolution (and [[FromClonesToGenre teen sidekicks becoming standard for a DC hero]]) have turned him from straight up "Batman but with arrows!" to his own person but he was very much the same character once.
** After season one of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' ended, Oliver was revealed to have a younger half-sister in the New 52, named Emiko, who is based on Thea Queen, his sister in ''Arrow'', though Thea herself is an Expy of Mia Dearden. Both are experienced archers and have similar abilities, though Emiko is a teenager and Thea is an adult in addition to different racial backgrounds (Emiko is Eurasian [half-Caucasian/half-Japanese] and Thea is Caucasian) and different relation (Emiko is Oliver's paternal half-sister in the comics with her father being Oliver's father Robert Queen and mother being Shado, while Thea is Oliver's maternal half-sister in the show with her father being Malcolm Merlyn and her mother being Oliver's mother Moira Queen). This becomes ExpyCoexistence when Emiko appeared in the seventh season of ''Arrow''.
* ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} fought against a vampire lord named Vladimir Giurescu that was obviously modeled after Literature/{{Dracula}}, sharing traits such as having many vampire brides and a similar appearance to his real life inspiration. What is more is that before his plans were ruined by Witchfinder Edward Grey, Giurescu sought to install his own secret domain in Great Britain during the 1880s (more or less the same goal as Dracula and in the same time frame where the novel took place).
* In ''ComicBook/HowardTheDuck'' vol 3, there is Suzi Pazuzu, wielder of the Doucheblade (Sara Pezzini, ''ComicBook/{{Witchblade}}''), villains Ian Whippingham (Ian Nottingham) and Kenneth Flogg (Kenneth Irons), Cain and Abel of the Boarding House of Mystery, and the guests Splatter Gomorrah (Spider Jerusalem), Anthrax (Wesley Dodds, ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''), Hellboozer (John Constantine, ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}''), The Interminable (The Endless, ''ComicBook/TheSandman''), and Utah and Ravel (Nevada and Bolero, ''Nevada'').
** Creator/SteveGerber's creator-owned character "Leonard the Duck" was an expy of ComicBook/HowardTheDuck, also created by Gerber, but owned by Creator/MarvelComics. In fact, Leonard's introduction was a complicated situation where Gerber tied a ComicBook/SpiderMan and Howard crossover he was writing for Marvel with a ComicBook/SavageDragon and ComicBook/DestroyerDuck crossover he was writing for Creator/ImageComics, suggesting that Leonard ''actually is'' Howard under an assumed name, and the Howard the Duck who's appeared in Marvel Comics since then is a clone. The issue also mentions a Franchise/SpiderMan expy, Spider-Crab.

* ''ComicBook/TheInvisibles'':
** Ragged Robin is similar to Crazy Jane from Creator/GrantMorrison's Crazy Jane from his run on ComicBook/DoomPatrol. According to Morrison himself, they're the same person in a different universe. More of this on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Jane#Relation_to_Ragged_Robin The Other Wiki]]. Alhough Ragged Robin does diverge from Crazy Jane and he invented a completely new {{Backstory}} for her.
** King Mob's imaginary (probably) alter ego Gideon Stargrave is a blatant Expy of Creator/MichaelMoorcock's protagonist [[Literature/TheCorneliusChronicles Jerry Cornelius]]. Right down to the narrative caption boxes mimicking the typical chapter titles and prose styles of the Cornelius stories. It later turns out that the Cornelius stories exist in-universe and King Mob was consciously imitating them.
** Lewis Brodie, the Outer Church agent who captures Fanny and King Mob in "She-Man", is a parody of Bodie from ''Series/TheProfessionals'', who was played by Lewis Collins.
** All of the "Division X" characters are Expies of figures from 1970s British police series:
*** Paddy Crowley is George Cowley from ''Series/TheProfessionals''.
*** George Harper and Jack Flint are George Carter and Jack Regan from ''Series/TheSweeney''.
*** Jon Six is Series/JasonKing from ''Series/DepartmentS'' and later his own eponymous show.
* There was one issue of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' written in 2000 by Creator/GregWeisman, in which the League travels to Paris and meets a clan of gargoyles living in Notre Dame cathedral, all of whom are clear {{Exp|y}}ies of the main cast of Weisman's cult classic TV show ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''. There's the leader, "Behemoth" (Goliath), his ex-lover "Diabolique" (Demona), his daughter "Angelique" (Angela), his second-in-command "Montmarte" (Brooklyn), Angelique's lover "Montparnasse" (Broadway), the diminutive [[TheSmartGuy smart guy]] "Champs-Élysées" (Lexington), the team mentor "Seine" (Hudson), the TeamPet "Left Bank" (Bronx), and Behemoth's EvilTwin "[[SdrawkcabName Thomeheb]]" (Thailog).
* When the teen supervillain Kid Karnevil attempted to infiltrate the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, he did so by posing as a patriotic superhero named the All-American Kid. All-American Kid's costume and backstory were extremely similar to those of Bucky, the sidekick of ComicBook/CaptainAmerica.

* ''ComicBook/LegendsOfTheDeadEarth'': In ''[[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes Legionnaires]]'' Annual #3, the imprisoned superheroes whom XS meets on Almeer-5 in the 100th Century are all inspired by major Creator/MarvelComics characters. The first two are {{Gender Flip}}ped expies: Ava / Avatar, who receives her powers from the Spear of Destiny, is based on [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] while Melissa Trask / Metallica, a brilliant electronics engineer who built an armored suit for herself, is based on ComicBook/IronMan. Bob Brunner, who was transmorphed into Behemoth due to an energy transfer accident, is based on the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk. He resembles a blue version of the Hulk but, unlike the Marvel Hero, retains his intelligence when he changes. Ultra-Man, a very powerful hero from an earlier time, is based on ComicBook/CaptainAmerica.
* The Maggia in the Creator/MarvelComics mythos was conceived as a [[PaperThinDisguise thinly-veiled]] substitute for TheMafia likely due to fears about actual Mafia families taking umbrage at them being depicted in a less-than-flattering light. It didn't help that distribution of periodicals and comics had at least some mob involvement either. Indeed, these fears were proven true years later when mob-led protests against ''Film/TheGodfather'' took place, and the film's producers settled with the Colombo family as a compromise.

* Violet Paige, the protagonist of ''ComicBook/MotherPanic'', is a Gotham City socialite, a half-orphan, and uses highly brutal techniques while operating as a vigilante. She is a skilled martial artist, works independently of Batman, has green eyes, and opts for a punk-esque aesthetic in her civilian identity. All these characteristics are shared by the second ComicBook/{{Batwoman}}, Kate Kane.
%%* Pat Mills's ''ComicBook/ThePunisher2099'' seemed a bit similar to ComicBook/JudgeDredd, an earlier character co-created by Mills, when he was introduced. When he was put in charge of the Punishment Police, this identification became certain.
%%** Boss Cage, [[ComicBook/LukeCageHeroForHire Luke Cage]]'s BadFuture grandson from ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers'', is another blatant tribute to Dredd. This is even {{Lampshaded}} during his encounter with the ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}, where Boomerang notes that Cage's helmet looks familiar.

* Detective Gould from Matt Kindt's ''ComicBook/RedHanded'' is an expy of ComicStrip/DickTracy. He wears a very similar suit and hat, has an array of retro-futuristic gizmos, and is named after ''Tracy'' creator Chester Gould.
* Marvel/Star Comics' ''ComicBook/RoyalRoy'' was basically an Expy of Harvey Comics' ''ComicBook/RichieRich'', back when the latter company wasn't publishing any books in the early 1980s. It was even handled by the same artist/writer team that created ''Richie Rich''. Royal Roy was however short-lived when Harvey Comics sued Marvel for copyright infringement, alleging that he was too similar to Richie Rich.
* When Creator/JackKirby and Joe Simon took over DC's ''Sandman'' book, they immediately made him more like their old assignment (Captain America) by turning him into a more traditional superhero, right down to redesigning his KidSidekick Sandy the Golden Boy into an Expy of ComicBook/{{Bucky|Barnes}}.
* ''ComicBook/TheSentry'' was originally an Expy of ComicBook/{{Hourman}} because [[WhatCouldHaveBeen he]] ''[[WhatCouldHaveBeen was]]'' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Hourman]], but was changed to be more like Superman so he could be a pastiche of Golden Age superheroes. His storyline in the first miniseries about his life falling apart because of an addiction to a SuperSerum is right out of Hourman's playbook. ''ComicBook/AgeOfTheSentry'' gives him two villainous expies to contend with - Cranio, an Expy of Lex Luthor (as well as the ComicBook/FantasticFour villain the Wizard), and the Void, here shown as an Expy of the Superman rogue Parasite.
* Dan Slott's run on ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer'' blatantly turns the Surfer into an Expy of [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]] if he unambiguously lived in the Marvel Universe, being a superbeing who wanders around fighting evil, and shows a young Earthwoman with whom he has UnresolvedSexualTension the wonders of the universe.
* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'':

** The ''Sonic'' Special issue crossing the book over with Creator/ImageComics also got away with two of the most blatant Expys in comic book history, [[Series/TheXFiles Wolf Scolder and Lana Mully]]. [[https://68.media.tumblr.com/aeb737f7e909334b39eacd4912b84daf/tumblr_oljbmkwBRv1w0yi0zo1_1280.jpg it has to be seen to be believed]]. It even includes something resembling a cross between a TakeThat and a dedication to Creator/ChrisCarter to make it unmistakable.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
** Not too long ago, during Marvel's Dark Reign event, the ''Sinister Spider-Man'' title (Mac Gargan's Venom posing as Spider-Man) introduced us to Doctor Everything, a pretty blatant expy of Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan, right down to his... [[FanDisservice disturbing penchant]] [[FullFrontalAssault for nudity]].
** ''Spider-Man'' villain Sergei Kravinoff a.k.a. Kraven the Hunter is an expy of General Zaroff of ''Film/TheMostDangerousGame''. While HuntingTheMostDangerousGame has become a widespread trope, it's no coincidence that the comic book villain shares the Russian aristocrat background of the original.
** In a probably deliberate example, since the character is a RedeemingReplacement for one of Spider-Man's worst enemies, Phil Urich the heroic Green Goblin is an expy of Peter Parker. Urich is an UnluckyEverydude who works for the Daily Bugle and has an Uncle Ben just like Peter (although Urich's doesn't get killed). In the ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl'' series, the two characters are close friends.
** This trope is lampshaded in full during ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' by Pavitr Prabhakar, the Spider-man of Earth-50101. During the events of the story, he comes to wonder whether he and the other Spider-Men are mere offshoots of Peter Parker after noticing all of the similarities between his own and Peter's backstories as well as the overwhelming number of alternate Peter Parkers as Spider-Totems, triggering a minor HeroicBSOD. Luckily, a quick peptalk from Billy Braddock, the Spider-Man of Earth-833, snaps him out of this, saying that Pavitr is just as much of a hero as Peter, and that the latter could be an expy of '''him'''.
* Dr. Aphra, of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' comics, has BT-1 and 0-0-0, assassin droids that look like an R2-D2/astromech and C-3PO/protocol droid respectively. Other than being jet black and brimming with weapons, of course.

* Pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} had a crush on Dick Malverne, a guy who liked Linda, suspected she was Supergirl, and was determined to prove it... right like ComicBook/LoisLane and ComicBook/LanaLang liked Superman/ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, suspected he was Clark Kent and were determined to prove it. Linda specifically tells Dick is her Lana Lang. A ''ComicBook/YoungLove'' short story revealed that Dick always knew, but after a while he decided to keep Linda's secret to himself.
* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'s best friend Thara Ak-Var is inspired by ComicBook/JeanGrey, being another female hero bonded with a firebird-shaped cosmic entity.
* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} is one to ComicBook/MaryMarvel. Both were created by Otto Binder. They're both KidHero {{Distaff Counterpart}}s to similar superheroes (ComicBook/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/{{Shazam}}) and they're both {{Long Lost Relative}}s to their {{Spear Counterpart}}s as well. Their classic costumes are also very similar looking.
* In Creator/JohnByrne's ComicBook/PostCrisis revamp of Franchise/{{Superman}}, he introduced Kitty Faulkner, a brilliant scientist [[FreakLabAccident who is caught by an explosion of a scientific device]] she created, and, as a result, she transforms into a huge, angry monster called Rampage. Just like [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]]. As Rampage doesn't talk, just growls, in her first appearance, it can be a nod to [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 Hulk's live-action series]] as well.

** From the pre-Moore era, Kid Supreme was a fairly direct take-off of [[ComicBook/{{Superboy}} Kon-El]] from DC Comics, with almost the exact same appearance and personality. His short-lived solo series, however, owed a lot more to the contemporaneous ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'' and ''ComicBook/{{Impulse}}'' series in its tone and status quo.
* ComicBook/{{Thanos}} was intentionally based off of ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} - large, bald, blue-haired cosmic alien conquerer with a brutal inevitabiltiy to his actions. According to Jim Starlin, Thanos was always going to be inspired by the ComicBook/NewGods - but originally he looked like the character Metron. [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/06/24/comic-book-legends-revealed-266/ Editor Roy Thomas told Starlin]]: "If you’re going to steal one of the New Gods, at least rip off Darkseid, the really good one!".
* Being highly influential and popular, ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' spawned many expies in FrancoBelgianComics:

* Volstagg of the Warriors Three from ''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' is heavily based on Creator/WilliamShakespeare's Falstaff.
* ComicBook/{{Ultron}} is an admitted Expy of [[https://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Captain-Video-3-June-1951-The-Indestructible-Antagonist-6-panel.jpg Makino]], an obscure villain from the ''Series/CaptainVideo'' comic published by Creator/FawcettComics. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/age-ultron-creator-roy-thomas-791320 According to Roy Thomas]], Makino's smiling faceplate and [[KillAllHumans hatred of humans]] directly inspired Ultron's design and personality.
* According to Creator/BrianBendis, the [[Characters/MilesMorales Bombshells]] from ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' were based on the question "What if the Series/GilmoreGirls had super powers?"
* The cast of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' was originally going to use characters DC had acquired from Creator/CharltonComics. After DC vetoed this idea, the cast became expys of those characters instead:
** Doctor Manhattan is ComicBook/CaptainAtom.
** Rorschach is ComicBook/TheQuestion.
** Nite Owl is ComicBook/BlueBeetle (specifically the Ted Kord version).
** Silk Spectre is Nightshade.
** The Comedian is the Peacemaker.
** Ozymandias is Peter Canon, Thunderbolt.
** As an homage to this, the sequel series, ''ComicBook/DoomsdayClock'', features an OutlawCouple by the name of Mime and Marionette, who are based on Charlton's own Punch and Jewelee.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'':
** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' villain Veronica Cale is a CorruptCorporateExecutive who is DrivenByEnvy of Wonder Woman and uses her [[MadScientist technological resources]] and [[TheChessmaster planning skills]] to challenge her, despite [[BadassNormal having no powers]]. The writers have confessed that she was explicitly designed to be an expy and DistaffCounterpart of Superman archfoe ComicBook/LexLuthor.
** Tom Tresser/Nemesis, as portrayed in ''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006'', was a 21st Century analogue of ComicBook/SteveTrevor; an attractive blonde, blue-eyed American spy who is Diana's love intrest.
* ComicBook/XMen:
** Happened all the way back during the creation of the ComicBook/XMen by [[Creator/StanLee Stan "The Man" Lee himself]]. When creating the original team of five, Lee decided he wanted to re-use the character of the ComicBook/HumanTorch, but with ice powers instead of fire. The youngest member of the team, and also the most irresponsible and hot-headed, with the opposite super power...say hello to ComicBook/{{Iceman}}!
** Kieron Gillen [[WordOfGod has said]] (on ''Podcast/HouseToAstonish'') that Teon from ''ComicBook/GenerationHope'' is a character from his ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' comic reinvented as a superhero.
** Abigail Brand's half-brother Lothi in the ''S.W.O.R.D'' spin-off has major similarities of appearance and personality to ComicBook/TankGirl's boyfriend Booga. Each character is a LovableRogue who isn't as cool as he tries to be and looks like a [[BeastMan humanised kangaroo]] (which Booga actually is). About the only difference is that he's green.

* The 2099 incarnation of the ComicBook/XMen has a lot of members who are clearly evocative of some member of the original team. The most obvious are Xi'an (the paternal mentor figure ala ComicBook/ProfessorX), Skullfire (the leader with energy blasting powers and PowerIncontinence, like ComicBook/{{Cyclops}}) and Bloodhawk (the mysterious, brooding loner with anger issues and claws, as in Wolverine).
* Detective Martin Soap, the comically unlucky cop from Creator/GarthEnnis's pre-MAX work on ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'', is an Expy for Detective Paul Bridges, a minor character from an early arc of ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}''.
* DC's Bumblebee is an obvious Expy of Marvel's [[ComicBook/TheWasp Wasp]], sharing everything from power set to costume. Bumblebee did not start out this way (she initially just had a suit of bee-themed PoweredArmor), but later writers added in the size shifting after ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' and ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' gave her that power.

%%* Dave from ''ComicBook/{{Circles}}'' is an expy of Davan from ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive''.
* Miss Martian is this to pre-Crisis ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}. ExecutiveMeddling prevented the writers from adding Kara into ''Teen Titans'', so the writers instead created a completely different bubbly teenage alien girl that they could use. Miss Martian is often considered an expy of Starfire as interpreted in the ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' cartoon, however that's probably unintentional.
* ''ComicBook/TeenTitansGo'':
** Ice Kate, Kid Cool, and Kwiz Kid are teenage versions of Golden Glider, Captain Cold, and the Riddler respectively.
** Gil Girl is a combination of Aquagirl and Lagoon Boy.
** Kitten becomes one of Duela Dent by masquarading as the daughters of different villains.
* Courtney Crumrin from ''ComicBook/CourtneyCrumrinAndTheNightThings'' is an expy of the similarly noseless and pointy-haired Mandy from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', published only a year after Grim Adventures first aired. Both characters have an affinity (and talent) for the occult, though Mandy seems to lean toward evil more than the justice-minded Courtney. Notably Mandy seems to be naturally talented whereas Courtney has to put in some hard work and training before she really comes into her powers.

* According to Creator/BrianBendis, the ComicBook/{{Bombshell}}s from ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' were based on the question "What if the Series/GilmoreGirls had super powers?"

* An oft-mocked facet of early Creator/ImageComics was that every team seemed to have a ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} expy, who had blades on his hands, a bad attitude, and a mysterious past. And while it wasn't '''every''' team – ''ComicBook/{{Gen 13}}'' and ''ComicBook/{{Stormwatch}}'' being the most notable exceptions – this was true for most of them: ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' had Troll '''and''' Cougar (though the latter was arguably more influenced by Beast), while spin-off series ''Bloodpool'' had Wylder; ''ComicBook/{{Cyberforce}}'' had Ripclaw; ''ComicBook/WildCATs'' had Warblade; ''ComicBook/{{Bloodstrike}}'' had Deadlock; and ''Codename: Strykeforce'' had Killrazor. Deadlock was probably the most obvious, since his first costume featured a mask nearly identical to Wolverine's.

* DC's ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'' featured the Young All-Stars, who were meant to replace the [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] versions of Superman (Iron Munro), Wonder Woman (The Fury), Batman (Flying Fox), Aquaman (Neptune Perkins, Tsunami), and Green Arrow (Tigress) Post-Crisis, because they, you know, weren't active back then anymore. Neptune Perkins was a very obscure pre-existing character, for what it's worth. They had Nazi-created evil counterparts called Axis Amerika to contend with, which were ''also'' retrofitted Expies of the vanished Earth-2 heroes: Ubermensch (Superman), Gudra the Valkyrie (Wonder Woman), Grösshorn Eule and Fledermaus (Batman ), Usil (Green Arrow) and Sea Wolf (Aquaman). Part of the reasoning was that, metaphysically speaking, iconic characters like Superman and Wonder Woman were "too big" to be replaced by just ''one'' new (and inevitably "lesser") character. The [[TokenMinority Token Japanese]] member of Axis Amerika, Kamikaze was an expy of Fawcett's {{Bulletman}}.

* Several of the "[[ScienceHero science heroes]]" of Alan Moore's ''Creator/AmericasBestComics'' are expies of pulp-era heroes: ComicBook/TomStrong is Franchise/DocSavage, Greyshirt is Comicbook/TheSpirit, and The Cobweb and Clarice are a [[GenderFlip genderflipped]] [[AmbiguouslyGay Ambiguously Lesbian]] [[Radio/TheGreenHornet Green Hornet and Kato]].

** [[Comicbook/RobinSeries Tim Drake]] was initially written as one of [[Franchise/SpiderMan Peter Parker]]. It's no secret that Chuck Dixon based Tim Drake's adventures on the first 50 issues of ''[[Franchise/SpiderMan The Amazing Spiderman]]''. Fans used to compare him to the iconic Marvel superhero, calling him the Peter Parker of Gotham.

** [[http://digitalpriest.com/legacy/comics/crew/kasper.htm According to Priest's website]], Kasper Cole and his supporting cast were all designed to be intentional Expies of Comicbook/SpiderMan and his supporting cast, just with a [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructive]] slant. Kasper is a [[TheEveryman relatable Everyman]] like Peter Parker, but is even more of a screw-up. His father, "Black Jack" is an Uncle Ben-like figure Kasper looks to for advice, except he's a corrupt cop in jail for drug possession. His mother Ruth is a double Expy, serving as both a stereotypical JewishMother version of Aunt May '''and''' the Marvel equivalent of Doris Roberts' character from ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond''. Finally, Kasper's girlfriend Gwen is the requisite Gwen Stacy/Mary Jane-type character (right down to even being '''named''' after the former), except she's Korean and their relationship is completely dysfunctional, with Gwen constantly nagging and annoying him instead of being a source of emotional support.
* Comicbook/{{Cable}}, who originally started as a {{Franchise/Terminator}} Expy, has at least two AlternateCompanyEquivalent characters at DC: The Linear Man and [[ComicBook/KingdomCome Magog]]. The latter was meant to symbolize everything wrong with UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.

* ''[[ComicBook/LukeCage Power Man]] and [[ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]]'' introduced Captain Hero, a FlyingBrick who was actually a young boy [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull with the ability to transform into an adult superhero]]. He was essentially Marvel's attempt at doing Comicbook/{{Shazam}}.

* ''Comicbook/ConanTheBarbarian'': Janissa the Widowmaker for Comicbook/RedSonja in the most recent Creator/DarkHorseComics series.
* The ''Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}'' villainess [[DistaffCounterpart Lady Bullseye]] is a deliberate Expy of Manga/LadySnowblood, [[WordOfGod according to]] Creator/EdBrubaker.

* The 2014 ''Deathlok'' series stars new character Henry Hayes, who is very blatantly modeled after the Mike Peterson version of Deathlok from the ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' TV series. Not surprisingly, the ''Comicbook/AgentsOfSHIELD'' comic book later used Hayes as part of the cast, having him fill a similar role to the one held by Peterson in the TV show. Why Marvel didn't simply have Mike become an outright CanonImmigrant is unknown.
* Red Lion from ''Comicbook/{{Deathstroke}}'' is an Expy of Comicbook/BlackPanther. Both are the respective rulers of an African nation, use an identity patterned after a big cat, and wear (''very'' similar-looking) costumes made from [[MySuitIsAlsoSuper nearly-invulnerable]] metals, complete with AbsurdlySharpClaws built into the gloves. The key difference is that while Black Panther is a just ruler and a hero, Red Lion is a cruel dictator and a mass murderer. Given that Red Lion was created by Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}}, Black Panther's most famous writer, the similarities are definitely not a coincidence.
* ComicBook/{{Diabolik}} had a major series of expies. Interestingly, these expies lost their readers and ended publication by staying true to ''Diabolik'''s initial noir while Diabolik and the only surviving expy ([[ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures Paperinik]]) moved to other genres (Diabolik to crime fiction and Paperinik to superhero).

* Comicbook/ElongatedMan was created because Creator/DCComics didn't realize they already owned Comicbook/PlasticMan.

* Comicbook/GhostRider villain Skinbender is plainly designed to heavily resemble [[Manga/CodenameSailorV Sailor Venus]]; true to this inspiration, she falls in love with Ghost Rider when they meet.

* ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} fought against a vampire lord named Vladimir Giurescu that was obviously modeled after {{Literature/Dracula}}, sharing traits such as having many vampire brides and a similar appearance to his real life inspiration. What is more is that before his plans were ruined by Witchfinder Edward Grey, Giurescu sought to install his own secret domain in Great Britain during the 1880s (more or less the same goal as Dracula and in the same time frame where the novel took place).
* In ''Comicbook/HowardTheDuck'' vol 3, there is Suzi Pazuzu, wielder of the Doucheblade (Sara Pezzini, ''Comicbook/{{Witchblade}}''), villains Ian Whippingham (Ian Nottingham) and Kenneth Flogg (Kenneth Irons), Cain and Abel of the Boarding House of Mystery, and the guests Splatter Gomorrah (Spider Jerusalem), Anthrax (Wesley Dodds, ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''), Hellboozer (John Constantine, ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}''), The Interminable (The Endless, ''ComicBook/TheSandman''), and Utah and Ravel (Nevada and Bolero, ''Nevada'').
** Creator/SteveGerber's creator-owned character "Leonard the Duck" was an expy of Comicbook/HowardTheDuck, also created by Gerber, but owned by Creator/MarvelComics. In fact, Leonard's introduction was a complicated situation where Gerber tied a Comicbook/SpiderMan and Howard crossover he was writing for Marvel with a Comicbook/SavageDragon and Comicbook/DestroyerDuck crossover he was writing for Creator/ImageComics, suggesting that Leonard ''actually is'' Howard under an assumed name, and the Howard the Duck who's appeared in Marvel Comics since then is a clone. The issue also mentions a Franchise/SpiderMan expy, Spider-Crab.
* An oft-mocked facet of early Creator/ImageComics was that every team seemed to have a ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} expy, who had blades on his hands, a bad attitude, and a mysterious past. And while it wasn't '''every''' team – ''Comicbook/{{Gen 13}}'' and ''ComicBook/{{Stormwatch}}'' being the most notable exceptions – this was true for most of them: ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' had Troll '''and''' Cougar (though the latter was arguably more influenced by Beast), while spin-off series ''Bloodpool'' had Wylder; ''ComicBook/{{Cyberforce}}'' had Ripclaw; ''ComicBook/WildCATs'' had Warblade; ''ComicBook/{{Bloodstrike}}'' had Deadlock; and ''Codename: Strykeforce'' had Killrazor. Deadlock was probably the most obvious, since his first costume featured a mask nearly identical to Wolverine's.
* ''Comicbook/TheInvisibles'':
** Ragged Robin is similar to Crazy Jane from Creator/GrantMorrison's Crazy Jane from his run on Comicbook/DoomPatrol. According to Morrison himself, they're the same person in a different universe. More of this on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Jane#Relation_to_Ragged_Robin The Other Wiki]]. Alhough Ragged Robin does diverge from Crazy Jane and he invented a completely new {{Backstory}} for her.

* There was one issue of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' written in 2000 by Creator/GregWeisman, in which the League travels to Paris and meets a clan of gargoyles living in Notre Dame cathedral, all of whom are clear [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of the main cast of Weisman's cult classic TV show ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}''. There's the leader, "Behemoth" (Goliath), his ex-lover "Diabolique" (Demona), his daughter "Angelique" (Angela), his second-in-command "Montmarte" (Brooklyn), Angelique's lover "Montparnasse" (Broadway), the diminutive [[TheSmartGuy smart guy]] "Champs-Élysées" (Lexington), the team mentor "Seine" (Hudson), the TeamPet "Left Bank" (Bronx), and Behemoth's EvilTwin "[[SdrawkcabName Thomeheb]]" (Thailog).

* ''ComicBook/LegendsOfTheDeadEarth'': In ''[[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes Legionnaires]]'' Annual #3, the imprisoned superheroes whom XS meets on Almeer-5 in the 100th Century are all inspired by major Creator/MarvelComics characters. The first two are [[GenderFlip Gender Flipped]] expies: Ava / Avatar, who receives her powers from the Spear of Destiny, is based on [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] while Melissa Trask / Metallica, a brilliant electronics engineer who built an armored suit for herself, is based on ComicBook/IronMan. Bob Brunner, who was transmorphed into Behemoth due to an energy transfer accident, is based on the ComicBook/IncredibleHulk. He resembles a blue version of the Hulk but, unlike the Marvel Hero, retains his intelligence when he changes. Ultra-Man, a very powerful hero from an earlier time, is based on ComicBook/CaptainAmerica.

* When Creator/JackKirby and Joe Simon took over DC's ''Sandman'' book, they immediately made him more like their old assignment (Captain America) by turning him into a more traditional superhero, right down to redesigning his KidSidekick Sandy the Golden Boy into an Expy of Comicbook/{{Bucky|Barnes}}.

* ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'':

* Comicbook/LanaLang essentially served as a teenaged Expy of ComicBook/LoisLane in the ComicBook/{{Superboy}} comics.
* Pre-Crisis Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} had a crush on Dick Malverne, a guy who liked Linda, suspected she was Supergirl, and was determined to prove it... right like Comicbook/LoisLane and Comicbook/LanaLang liked Superman/Comicbook/{{Superboy}}, suspected he was Clark Kent and were determined to prove it. Linda specifically tells Dick is her Lana Lang. A ''Comicbook/YoungLove'' short story revealed that Dick always knew, but after a while he decided to keep Linda's secret to himself.

** The ''Lefranc'' series recount the adventures of Guy Lefranc, a reporter for a newspaper. Like Tintin, he goes on various adventures and face off against terrorists, [[ThoseWackynazis remnant Nazis]], [[CorruptCorporateExecutive greedy businessmen]].Very much like Tintin, Lefranc doesn't have much flaws and is a humanist.

* According to Creator/BrianBendis, the Comicbook/{{Bombshell}}s from ''Comicbook/UltimateSpiderMan'' were based on the question "What if the Series/GilmoreGirls had super powers?"

** Doctor Manhattan is Comicbook/CaptainAtom.
** Rorschach is Comicbook/TheQuestion.
** Nite Owl is Comicbook/BlueBeetle (specifically the Ted Kord version).

** As an homage to this, the sequel series, ''Comicbook/DoomsdayClock'', features an OutlawCouple by the name of Mime and Marionette, who are based on Charlton's own Punch and Jewelee.
* ''Franchise/WonderWoman''

** Happened all the way back during the creation of the ComicBook/XMen by [[Creator/StanLee Stan "The Man" Lee himself]]. When creating the original team of five, Lee decided he wanted to re-use the character of the Comicbook/HumanTorch, but with ice powers instead of fire. The youngest member of the team, and also the most irresponsible and hot-headed, with the opposite super power...say hello to Comicbook/{{Iceman}}!

* Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/YoungbloodJudgmentDay'' run was full of this as well, as it was heavily inspired by the ''New Comicbook/TeenTitans'' and a number of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] teen hero books:
** Twilight is a BadassNormal who was once the [[KidSidekick child partner]] of a Batman-like hero named Professor Night, before striking out on her own after [[SidekickGraduationsStick outgrowing the whole sidekick thing]]. She's effectively the team's answer to Comicbook/{{Nightwing}}, and was even known by the nickname "The Girl Marvel" as a nod to Comicbook/{{Robin}} being called "The Boy Wonder."

** As a female, teenage version of the intentional Superman pastiche Comicbook/{{Supreme}}, Suprema is ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, specifically the innocent [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] version.

* The 2099 incarnation of the ComicBook/XMen has a lot of members who are clearly evocative of some member of the original team. The most obvious are Xi'an (the paternal mentor figure ala Comicbook/ProfessorX), Skullfire (the leader with energy blasting powers and PowerIncontinence, like Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}) and Bloodhawk (the mysterious, brooding loner with anger issues and claws, as in Wolverine).
* Detective Martin Soap, the comically unlucky cop from Creator/GarthEnnis's pre-MAX work on ''Comicbook/ThePunisher'', is an Expy for Detective Paul Bridges, a minor character from an early arc of ''Comicbook/{{Preacher}}''.
* DC's Bumblebee is an obvious Expy of Marvel's [[Comicbook/TheWasp Wasp]], sharing everything from power set to costume. Bumblebee did not start out this way (she initially just had a suit of bee-themed PoweredArmor), but later writers added in the size shifting after ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' and ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' gave her that power.

* Courtney Crumrin from ''ComicBook/{{Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things}}'' is an expy of the similarly noseless and pointy-haired Mandy from ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', published only a year after Grim Adventures first aired. Both characters have an affinity (and talent) for the occult, though Mandy seems to lean toward evil more than the justice-minded Courtney. Notably Mandy seems to be naturally talented whereas Courtney has to put in some hard work and training before she really comes into her powers.

%%
%%
%%
%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%
%%

** Marc Dacier is also a reporter going around the world like Tintin. He solve mysteries and foil criminals of all kind. He's also has [[IncorruptiblePurePureness high moral standards]] and believe in doing the right thing above else.

** Happened all the way back during the creation of the ComicBook/XMen by [[Creator/StanLee Stan "The Man" Lee himself]]. When creating the original team of five, Lee decided he wanted to re-use the character of [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Human Torch]], but with ice powers instead of fire. The youngest member of the team, and also the most irresponsible and hot-headed, with the opposite super power...say hello to Comicbook/{{Iceman}}!

* The 2099 incarnation of the ComicBook/XMen has a lot of members who are clearly evocative of some member of the original team. The most obvious are Xi'an (the paternal mentor figure ala Professor X), Skullfire (the leader with energy blasting powers and PowerIncontinence, like Cyclops) and Bloodhawk (the mysterious, brooding loner with anger issues and claws, as in Wolverine).
%%* Detective Martin Soap, the comically unlucky cop from Creator/GarthEnnis's pre-MAX work on ''Comicbook/ThePunisher'', is an Expy for Detective Paul Bridges, a minor character from an early arc of ''Comicbook/{{Preacher}}''.

** Happened all the way back during the creation of the ComicBook/XMen by [[Creator/StanLee Stan "The Man" Lee himself]]. When creating the original team of five, Lee decided he wanted to re-use the character of [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Human Torch]], but with ice powers instead of fire. The youngest member of the team, and also the most irresponsible and hot-headed, with the opposite super power...

* Cable, who originally started as a {{Franchise/Terminator}} Expy, has at least two AlternateCompanyEquivalent characters at DC: The Linear Man and [[ComicBook/KingdomCome Magog]]. The latter was meant to symbolize everything wrong with UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.

* In Creator/JohnByrne's ComicBook/PostCrisis revamp of Franchise/{{Superman}}, he introduced Kitty Faulkner, a brilliant scientist [[FreakLabAccident who is caught by an explosion of a scientific device]] she created, and, as a result, she transforms into a huge, angry monster called Rampage. Just like [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]]. As Rampage doesn't talk, just growls, in her first appearance, it can be a nod to [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk's live-action series]] as well.

* ''ComicBook/TheSentry'' was originally an Expy of ComicBook/{{Hourman}} because [[WhatCouldHaveBeen he]] ''[[WhatCouldHaveBeen was]]'' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Hourman]], but was changed to be more like Superman so he could be a pastiche of Golden Age superheroes. His storyline in the first miniseries about his life falling apart because of an addiction to a SuperSerum is right out of Hourman's playbook. ''ComicBook/AgeOfTheSentry'' gives him two villainous expies to contend with - Cranio, an Expy of Lex Luthor (as well as the ComicBook/FantasticFour villain the Wizard), and the Void, here shown as an Expy of the Supervillain rogue Parasite.

* Marvel/Star Comics' ''ComicBook/RoyalRoy'' was basically an Expy of Harvey Comics' ''ComicBook/RichieRich'', back when the latter company wasn't publishing any books in the early 1980s. It was even handled by the same artist/writer team that created ''Richie Rich''.

* DC's Bumblebee is an obvious Expy of Marvel's [[Comicbook/TheWasp Wasp]], sharing verything from power set to costume. Bumblebee did not start out this way (she initially just had a suit of bee-themed PoweredArmor), but later writers added in the size shifting after ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' and ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' gave her that power.

* DC's Bumblebee is an obvious Expy of Marvel's [[ComicbookTheWasp Wasp]], sharing verything from power set to costume. Bumblebee did not start out this way (she initially just had a suit of bee-themed PoweredArmor), but later writers added in the size shifting after ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' and ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' gave her that power.

** Twilight is a BadassNormal who was once the [[KidSidekick child partner]] of a Batman-like hero named Professor Night, before striking out on her own after [[SidekickGraduationsStick outgrowing the whole sidekick thing]]. She's effectively the team's answer to Comicbook/{{Nightwing}}, and was even known by the nickname "The Girl Marvel," as a nod to Comicbook/{{Robin}} being called "The Boy Wonder."

** Riptide's father Storybook Smith is based off UsefulNotes/{{the Golden Age|Of Comic Books}} hero Johnny Thunder, with whom he shares RealityWarper abilities and a fondness for tacky, green, checkered suits.

%%** Oddly enough, he received his own expy in the form of the Fighting Yank during his AC Comics series. The Fighting Yank was redesigned and given a costume almost identical to that of the Fighting American.
%%** Even more oddly, Captain America himself is an Expy of a now obscure character, The Shield, also developed by Jack Kirby, and Joe Simon.
%%** [[ComicBook/{{Steel}} Commander Steel]] was another Captain America Expy. ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' lampshaded this by having the second Steel mimic Cap's iconic shield throw.

* DC's Bumblebee is an obvious Expy of Marvel's Wasp. Everything from the power set, to her costume to the double-banger name (Janet Van-Dyne vs. Karen Beecher-Duncan). Karen did not start out this way but later writers added in the size shifting and after her marriage to [[ComicBook/{{Guardian}} Mal Duncan]] she hyphenated her name to seal the deal.

* When Creator/JackKirby and Joe Simon took over DC's ''Sandman'' book, they immediately made him more like their old assignment (Captain America) by turning him into a more traditional superhero, right down to giving him an Expy of Comicbook/{{Bucky|Barnes}} in "Sandy the Golden Boy."