History Main / CanonWelding

* The ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' fic “[[https://m.fanfiction.net/s/3010722/1/Just-Folk-Now Just Folk Now]]” does a weld where Mal was Caleb from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Zoe was Jasmine and Jayne was Adam, both from ''{{Series/Angel}}'' and Inara was Adria from ''{{Series/StargateSG1}}''. As the title says, they’re all just normal humans now, living in the ‘verse. Fans actually weld Whedonverse canons quite often in fanfiction.

*** In ''Webcomic/Homestuck2'', Problem Sleuth actually ends up being involved with the events of the story, helping Dad Crocker and Diamonds Droog while the former is in Midnight City.

* ''Film/SpiderMan2'': A stunt double of [[Creator/ThomasJane Thomas Jane]] made a [[LawyerFriendlyCameo Cameo]] at the end of the movie. According to the DVD Commentary, this is supposed to be [[Film/ThePunisher2004 Frank Castle]].

%%* Creator/JackKirby is the TropeCodifier.
* The [[Franchise/TheDCU DC]] and Franchise/{{Marvel|Universe}} universes were born from this trope; originally, the titles published by each company did not overlap, but over time, cameos, {{Crossover}}s, and inside references combined to form the comic books into one big, interconnected web. That's not even counting the Amalgam universe. Since ''DC vs. Marvel'' in 1996, it's revealed all crossovers were canonical -- [[MetaphoricallyTrue more or less]]. [[note]]The different universes and realities occasionally touch, causing them. Access' job is to make sure they don't stick.[[/note]]
** Mind you, Marvel started this with the first issue of ''ComicBook/SpiderMan''. And even before that, Marvel started this 21 years earlier in the Timely Comics era, when Human Torch faced off against Namor the ComicBook/SubMariner for the first time. They teamed a few more times over the next few years, and some of the less prominent characters occasionally got involved. Then, in 1946, Timely launched the All-Winners Squad, teaming up existing characters like ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner (among others).
** DC started it in All-Star Comics #3 with the Justice Society's first meeting. To this day, it's generally accepted that the Justice Society is the first-ever example of a super hero team lasting longer than a single issue in comics history.
** DC has also historically made a habit of assimilating the characters of other comics companies into their multiverse - Quality Comics (Uncle Sam and the ComicBook/{{Freedom Fighters|DCComics}}, ComicBook/PlasticMan, ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}), Creator/FawcettComics ([[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Shazam, Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family]]), Creator/CharltonComics (ComicBook/CaptainAtom, ComicBook/BlueBeetle, ComicBook/TheQuestion), Creator/WildStorm (ComicBook/TheAuthority, ComicBook/WildCATSWildStorm), Creator/MilestoneComics (ComicBook/{{Icon}}, ComicBook/{{Hardware|1993}}, ComicBook/{{Static}}) and Creator/ArchieComics' Red Circle superhero characters. Generally, these characters start off in alternate universes, and then some sort of universal crisis reboots the DC Universe yet again, merging the universes. That said, sometimes the welding isn't permanent, as with the Red Circle characters, who eventually returned to Archie.
** ComicBook/DCRebirth saw the welding of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' and the DC multiverse.
** Interestingly, it's suggested that they are all interconnected through... ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries''. The final issue to the 1996 comic series ''X-Men Adventures'', which is set in that animated universe, revealed that universe was the universe that gave way to the main Marvel Universe (thus making Galactus a CanonImmigrant retroactively). Even more, the Living Tribunal is shown watching the creation of this world, temporarily holding back the brothers who would cause the aforementioned ''DC vs. Marvel'' event and even mentions needing to talk to his [[ComicBook/TheSpectre his hooded spectorial counterpart]].
* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' and ''Kid Eternity'' are a particularly interesting example. DC acquired the rights to both from separate comic companies. Eventually, they realized that ''Shazam'''s Freddy Freeman and the [[NoNameGiven nameless]] Kid had remarkably similar back stories--both were [[RaisedByGrandparents raised by a grandfather]] who died in a boating accident caused by Nazis, which also resulted in the grandson getting superpowers activated [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull by saying a magic phrase]]. As a result, Freddy and "[[GivenNameReveal Kit Freeman]]" were revealed to be brothers.
* Creator/JackKirby's ''ComicBook/TheEternals'' clearly took place in a separate continuity at first, but later writers integrated the characters (most notably the Celestials) into the wider Marvel Universe.

* Eiichiro Oda re-used Ryuuma, a character from his one-shot manga ''Monsters'', as a (zombified) villain in ''Manga/OnePiece'' and his home country was mentioned to be part of the New World (the second half of the Grand Line). He later confirmed that ''Monsters'' was incorporated into the backstory of the setting.

** Pepsi Convoy is made of sentient metal, the substance that makes up ''VideoGame/{{Pepsiman}}''.

* The fanfic ''Fanfic/SpiderNinja'' specifically states that it's story takes place in a part of the Spider-Verse where a [[GenderFlip Gender Flipped]] Peter Parker was adopted by Master Splinter after her birth family was killed. The story technically does this trope to both franchises, as Petra Parker (while getting her powers [[InSpiteOfANail the same way Peter Parker did]]) lives a [[ForWantOfANail completely different life]] from most Spider-Man incarnations. Similarly, the story welds together the 2003 series (using the same locations and characterizations) and the 1987 series (Splinter is the mutated Hamato Yoshi and April is a reporter).

* Before ''Literature/HighSchoolDXD'', Ishibumi wrote the first iteration of SLASHDØG which flopped and never went past the first volume. However, he did bring in Tobio Ikuse first as a CanonImmigrant in Volume 15 in 2013, a year later he went and rewrote SLASHDØG and properly placed it in the same universe as ''[=DxD=]'', bringing along Grauzauberer and Akeno's extended family and properly developed it into TheVerse by adding a character from his first and most obscure work, ''Denpachi''.

** Doctor Ver and Finé are now eco-terrorists who want humanity to stop fighting and give earth back to the kaiju

* In ''Series/GranHotel'', Detective Ayala, played by Pep Antón Muñoz, investigates crime around a [[BigFancyHouse big fancy hotel]] during the first decade of the twentieth century. In ''Series/AltaMar'' (set in the 1940s), Doctor Ayala, also played by Muñoz, boards the Barbara de Braganza and tells the head of ship's security that his father was a criminal investigator. Confirmed by WordOfGod that the characters are meant to be father and son.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Young Justice|2010}}'' has one with ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternTheAnimatedSeries'' [[spoiler: In the episode "Encounter Upon the Razor's Edge!", Razer makes his return weilding the Blue Lantern Ring that came to him at the series finale. At the end of the episode, Razer combines both his Blue ring and his old Red ring into a new form where he wields the powers of both Rage and Hope before returning to his quest to find Aya.]]

* The fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Spider-Ninja}}'' specifically states that it's story takes place in a part of the Spider-Verse where a [[GenderFlip Gender Flipped]] Peter Parker was adopted by Master Splinter after her birth family was killed. The story technically does this trope to both franchises, as Petra Parker (while getting her powers [[InSpiteOfANail the same way Peter Parker did]]) lives a [[ForWantOfANail completely different life]] from most Spider-Man incarnations. Similarly, the story welds together the 2003 series (using the same locations and characterizations) and the 1987 series (Splinter is the mutated Hamato Yoshi and April is a reporter).

* The fanfic ''Fanfic/{{Spider-Ninja}}'' specifically states that it's story takes place in a part of the Spiderverse where a [[GenderFlip Gender Flipped]] Peter Parker was adopted by Master Splinter after her birth family was killed. The story technically does this trope to both franchises, as Petra Parker (while getting her powers the same way Peter Parker did) lives a completely different life from most Spider-Man incarnations. Similarly, the story welds together the 2003 series (using the same locations and characterizations) and the 1987 series (Splinter is the mutated Hamato Yoshi and April is a reporter).
** Also, Doctor Curt Connors went to college with Baxter Stockman [[spoiler: and Otto Octavius]].

* The 1970s Creator/{{ITV}} relaunch of Creator/TheBBC sitcom ''The Rag Trade'' had Peter Jones and Mirian Karlin reprising their roles from the sixties series, confirming they were in the same continuity ... and also added Olive from the same creators' ''Series/OnTheBuses''. (The character of Reg Turner [[TheDanza played by]] Creator/RegVarney wasn't in the relaunch, so Olive didn't wonder why he [[YouLookFamiliar looked like her brother Stan]].)

** The events of both ''Series/BlackLightning2018'' and ''Series/Lucifer2016'' are established to have happened on Earth-1 (the Arrowverse). Ironically, Black Lightning ''would'' end up being incorporated into the Arrowverse, but not as part of Earth-1[[note]]until ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'', and that series also established ''Lucifer'' was set on Earth-666.[[/note]]

** ''New Charges'', set on Earth-1, has Black Lightning becoming a mentor to both ComicBook/MilesMorales and WesternAnimation/StaticShock.

* A [=YouTuber=] named [=PopularMMOs=] has a series called ''The Crafting Dead''. In the third season, he puts Dr. Trayaurus, of [[LetsPlay/DanTDM TheDiamondMinecart]] fame into the series. Before him, he puts Captain Cookie, from Epic Proportions, another series by the [=YouTuber=], became part of the story.

** Schlatt retroactively confirms that [=SMPLive=] is at least ''partially'' canon to ''WebVideo/DreamSMP'' in an episode of Tales from the SMP. This indirectly connects it to ''WebVideo/BearSMP'' as well, and WebOriginal/MinecraftChampionship, both of which are canonical to ''Dream SMP''.
** It is also implied at some points during ''WebVideo/EpicSMP'' season 2 that it's canon to that server as well.

* In "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14114693/1/Gargoyles-and-Turtles-Unsung-Defenders Gargoyles and Turtles: Unsung Defenders]]", when [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles Splinter]] first meets [[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} the gargoyles]], he observes that he heard of gargoyles from tales told by his father of how feudal gargoyles would defend their territory alongside feudal samurai.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' has one with ''WesternAnimation/TheSecretSaturdays'' with the ''WesternAnimation/Ben10Omniverse'' episode titled TGIS where it was shown that Ben and Zak happen to be the same age. Previous hints had been dropped due to references made (mostly on Secret Saturdays) such as some of Ben's villains appearing in a criminal database in Secret Saturdays or Dr. Beaman frequently using the expression "Great Galvan Prime".
** Another episode of ''Ommiverse'' had {{exp|y}}ies of WesternAnimation/CowAndChicken appearing as customers of an interdimensional Mr. Smoothie. Creator/CharlieAdler reprised both roles.

* Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses likes this trope, finally creating an official merging of every TGWTG-involved character during the huge anniversary brawl, and again during ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}'', ''WebVideo/SuburbanKnights'' and ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee'', plus the millions of crossovers between producers. WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic took this a step further and incorporated Doug himself into the mix, crossing over with his vlogs.

* ''Fanfic/InfinityCrisis'' does this a lot.
** Both ''Series/BlackLightning2018'' and ''Series/Lucifer2016'' exist on the Earth-1 of the Arrowverse. (Ironically, Black Lightning ended up being incorporated into the Arrowverse, but not as part of Earth-1[[note]]until ''Series/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''[[/note]])
** ''New Charges'' has Black Lightning becoming a mentor to both ComicBook/MilesMorales and WesternAnimation/StaticShock.
** The MCU Earth is merged with the characters of the Film/XMenFilmSeries and later their version of the Comicbook/FantasticFour.

* Creator/{{Toho}}'s [[{{Kaiju}} giant monster]] movies ''Film/{{Godzilla|1954}}'' (1954), ''Film/{{Rodan}}'' (1956) and ''Film/{{Mothra}}'' (1961) were originally standalone films about unrelated monsters, but they all gradually became part of the loosely defined ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' universe over time. The {{crossover}} film ''Film/MothraVsGodzilla'' was the first step, but the mega-crossover ''Film/GhidorahTheThreeHeadedMonster'' took it a step further when Godzilla and Mothra teamed up with Rodan against King Ghidorah, and ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'' took it up a notch when it threw in Manda (from ''Film/{{Atragon}}''), Baragon (from ''Film/FrankensteinConquersTheWorld''), Varan (from ''Film/VaranTheUnbelievable''), and Gorosaurus (from ''Film/KingKongEscapes''), as well as the addition of Maser Cannons (from ''Film/WarOfTheGargantuas''). Later on, ''Film/GodzillaVsSpacegodzilla'' introduced Moguera (from ''Film/TheMysterians'') into TheVerse, while ''Film/GodzillaTokyoSOS'' gives Kamoebas (from ''Film/SpaceAmoeba'') a posthumous cameo. Two {{Continuity Reboot}}s later, the series' GrandFinale ''Film/GodzillaFinalWars'' even added the Godzilla from [[Film/Godzilla1998 the 1998 American remake]] (now renamed "Zilla")... who promptly [[TakeThat got his butt kicked by the original Japanese Godzilla]].[[note]] Similarly, the AlternateContinuity film ''Film/GodzillaMothraKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack'' acknowledges the existence of the American Godzilla, but establishes that he was a different monster who was mistaken by the americans. The english dub of said film also references ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries''. [[/note]] The animated film, ''Anime/GodzillaPlanetOfTheMonsters'', also slots Dagahra (from ''Film/RebirthOfMothra2'') and Dogora (from ''Film/{{Dogora}}'') into the mix.

* Creator/StevenMoffat has welded a fair number of his series together over the years: ''Series/{{Chalk}}'' contained frequent references to ''Series/PressGang'', and was in turn referred back to by ''Series/{{Coupling}}''; ''Series/{{Jekyll}}'' also referred to ''Series/PressGang'' and ''Coupling'' has references to

** DC has also historically made a habit of assimilating the characters of other comics companies into their multiverse - Quality Comics (Uncle Sam and the [[ComicBook/FreedomFightersDC Freedom Fighters]], ComicBook/PlasticMan, ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}), Creator/FawcettComics ([[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Shazam, Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family]]), Creator/CharltonComics (ComicBook/CaptainAtom, ComicBook/BlueBeetle, ComicBook/TheQuestion), Creator/WildStorm (ComicBook/TheAuthority, ComicBook/WildCATSWildStorm), Creator/MilestoneComics (ComicBook/{{Icon}}, ComicBook/{{Hardware|1993}}, ComicBook/{{Static}}) and Creator/ArchieComics' Red Circle superhero characters. Generally, these characters start off in alternate universes, and then some sort of universal crisis reboots the DC Universe yet again, merging the universes. That said, sometimes the welding isn't permanent, as with the Red Circle characters, who eventually returned to Archie.

** His run on ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'' can be divided into two 'verses: the Marvel Knights one set after the "Angel Punisher" AudienceAlienatingEra where superheroes exist and regularly get in Frank's way, and the MAX universe that's basically [[CrapsackWorld our world but crappier]] (superheroes don't seem to exist and ComicBook/NickFury is an operative who started in WW 2 with no explanation for why he never ages). However, characters from the first verse (Jen Cooke, Yorkie Mitchell and the Russian) made cameo appearances in the MAX continuity.

** His run on ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'' can be divided into two 'verses: the Marvel Knights one set after the "Angel Punisher" AudienceAlienatingEra where superheroes exist and regularly get in Frank's way, and the MAX universe that's basically [[CrapsackWorld our world but crappier]] (superheroes don't seem to exist and ComicBook/NickFury is an operative who started in WW 2 with no explanation for why he never ages). However, villains from the first verse (the Russian and Elite's son) made cameo appearances in the MAX continuity.

* Creator/{{Toho}}'s [[{{Kaiju}} giant monster]] movies ''Film/{{Godzilla}}'' (1954), ''Film/{{Rodan}}'' (1956) and ''Film/{{Mothra}}'' (1961) were originally standalone films about unrelated monsters, but they all gradually became part of the loosely defined ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' universe over time. The {{crossover}} film ''Film/MothraVsGodzilla'' was the first step, but the mega-crossover ''Film/GhidorahTheThreeHeadedMonster'' took it a step further when Godzilla and Mothra teamed up with Rodan against King Ghidorah, and ''Film/DestroyAllMonsters'' took it up a notch when it threw in Manda (from ''Film/{{Atragon}}''), Baragon (from ''Film/FrankensteinConquersTheWorld''), Varan (from ''Film/VaranTheUnbelievable''), and Gorosaurus (from ''Film/KingKongEscapes''), as well as the addition of Maser Cannons (from ''Film/WarOfTheGargantuas''). Later on, ''Film/GodzillaVsSpacegodzilla'' introduced Moguera (from ''Film/TheMysterians'') into TheVerse, while ''Film/GodzillaTokyoSOS'' gives Kamoebas (from ''Film/SpaceAmoeba'') a posthumous cameo. Two {{Continuity Reboot}}s later, the series' GrandFinale ''Film/GodzillaFinalWars'' even added the Godzilla from [[Film/Godzilla1998 the 1998 American remake]] (now renamed "Zilla")... who promptly [[TakeThat got his butt kicked by the original Japanese Godzilla]].[[note]] Similarly, the AlternateContinuity film ''Film/GodzillaMothraKingGhidorahGiantMonstersAllOutAttack'' acknowledges the existence of the American Godzilla, but establishes that he was a different monster who was mistaken by the americans. The english dub of said film also references ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries''. [[/note]] The animated film, ''Anime/GodzillaPlanetOfTheMonsters'', also slots Dagahra (from ''Film/RebirthOfMothra2'') and Dogora (from ''Film/{{Dogora}}'') into the mix.