History Main / MichaelHackson

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': The appropriately named [[TheAce "Ace"]], is a mysterious biker AntiHero who exuded urban cool and tangled with Spider-Man in a couple of annual stories in TheEighties and was described by editor [[Creator/ChristopherPriestComics Christopher Priest]] as "what if Michael Jackson were more masculine?" However, Ace was less based on Jackson the real-life musician, and more on the characters Jackson "played" in videos and movies.

* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': Hazama not only has a fighting style that resembles Michael Jackson's dance moves, he also dresses very similarly to him. This has not gone unnoticed by the fanbase, who gave him the nickname "The Smooth Criminal" in reference to the song of the same name.

* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': Hazama not only has a fighting style that resembles Michael Jackson's dance moves, he also dresses very similarly to him. This has not gone unnoticed by the fanbase, who gave him the nickname "The Smooth Criminal" in reference to the King of Pop.

* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': Hazama not only has a fighting style that resembles Michael Jackson's dance moves, he also dresses very similarly to him. This has not gone unnoticed by the fanbase, who gave him the nickname "The Smooth Criminal".

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'': [[{{Superboss}} Tyrannosaurus Wrecks]] was a powerful monster [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away]] centuries ago by the Supreme Sage who wished to destroy the world, and is the second strongest Grotto boss in the game. His bestiary entry mentions that he was the wickedest member of a group called the Hackson Five. The only other mention of the Hackson Five is in DLC boss Tyrannosaurus Wrecks' bestiary entry, which also states that she killed her siblings Tyrannosaurus Wrocks and her younger siblings Wracks and Wrucks.

* ''[[VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies Plants vs. Zombies]]'': The original version had the Dancing Zombie resemble Michael Jackson, with his fashion and dance being taken from the music video for "Thriller". Complaints from Jackson's estate led to the Dancing Zombie's appearance being changed to a more generic disco design in later versions.

[[caption-width-right:1000:''[[{{Catchphrase}} "Shamone!"]]'']]

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'': [[{{Superboss}} Tyrannosaurus Wrecks]] was a powerful monster [[SealedEvilInACan sealed away]] centuries ago by the Supreme Sage who wished to destroy the world, and is the second strongest Grotto boss in the game. His bestiary entry mentions that he was the wickedest member of a group called the Hackson Five. The only other mention of the Hackson Five is in DLC boss Tyrannosaura Wrecks' bestiary entry, which also states that she killed her siblings Tyrannosaurus Wrocks and her younger siblings Wracks and Wrucks.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': In Ep 211 ({{filler}} arc "Recap/FairyTailEclipseCelestialSpiritArc"), when Cancer gives Gray the power to dance, Gray ends up channeling the King of Pop Music, specifically his moves from Smooth Criminal right down to the fedora hat.

And yet, he also was a man of great [[OvershadowedByControversy controversy and speculation]]. His changing appearance resulted in concerns about his physical health, MoralGuardians abhorred him as a toxic influence on children, and his legacy was permanently hampered as a result of allegations that he molested a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch, which would result in heavy scrutiny until his tragic death in 2009 made him [[PosthumousPopularityPotential even more endearing as a musical artist to many fans]].

SubTrope of FountainOfExpies and StockParodies. Compare AbbeyRoadCrossing, ElvisImpersonator, SgtPeppersShoutOut, and WeDidntStartTheBillyJoelParodies for other music shout-outs. While it is related to MoonwalkDance and MichaelJacksonsThrillerParody, those tropes involve his dances rather than Jackson himself.

* The music videos for the Beatfreakz songs [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh8_4qqX5bo "Somebody's Watching Me"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrA2o7QcDVI "Superfreak"]] feature a dancer dressed like the Michael Jackson zombie from Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller, named "Mekill Hacksaw".

And yet, he also was a man of great [[OvershadowedbyControversy controversy and speculation]]. His changing appearance resulted in concerns about his physical health. MoralGuardians abhorred him as a toxic influence on children, and his legacy was permanently hampered as a result of allegations that he molested a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch, which would result in heavy scrutiny until his tragic death in 2009 made him [[PosthumousPopularityPotential even more endearing as a musical artist to many fans]].

* ''VideoGame/BattleArenaToshinden 3'' has an assassin who goes by the codename of Ten Count who serves as a MovesetClone of longtime ''Toshinden'' deuteragonist Kayin Amoh. His physical appearance and mannerisms are reminiscent of Michael Jackson from his "[[Music/{{Bad}} Smooth Criminal]]" music video, including shouting high-pitched "Whoos" during his special moves and grabbing his crotch during his taunt.

* ''[[Videogame/SpaceChannel5]]'' has the most egregious example with Space Michael, though it's more of a cameo, considering he's voiced by Michael Jackson himself. Sega seemed to have quietly retired Space Michael out of respect, with Space Michael not appearing in any other media including Space Channel 5 VR: Kinda★Funky News Flash.

* ''Music/SilvaGunner'': One of the competitors in the King For A Day competition is "Weird Al" Yankovic who was the first competitor to lose the competition. In the King For Another Day, he returns with a stand named BEAT IT(which is based on Jackson's appearance in Smooth Criminal). The stand's power allows Weird Al to tap into the powers of the deceased King of Pop, which also expands Al's sources to include rips involving Micheal Jackson's music catalogue and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' due to Jackson's rumoured involvement in that game's soundtrack.

* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFuckboys'': During the Save Import Scenario, Freddy Fuckboy and his archenemy [[BigBad Balloon Boy]] travel back to 1987. After 80s B.B opens the presents, Lord Micheal arrives and proceeds to fight Freddy and his party. Lord Micheal is a direct reference to the King of Pop, with two of his attacks referencing his iconic dance moves [[note]] Moonwalk is self-explanatory whereas his Anti-Gravity Lean references the dance move from Smooth Criminal[[/note]]. After being defeated, Lord Micheal opens the presents himself and [[OneWingedAngel transforms into the stronger Mecha Jackson]] who is a direct reference to Film/{{Moonwalker}}, which had Micheal Jackson transform into [[EleventhHourSuperpower Robo-Jackson.]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Concrete}}'': The protagonist becomes a bodyguard for an eccentric rock star in one of the earlier stories set in TheEighties and the character is very reminiscent of Michael Jackson and Prince.
* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Jaxon Prince is a 20th-century pop star who was cryogenically frozen at his own request, then revived over a century later for his comeback show. As his name suggests, he's a parody of both Michael Jackson and Music/{{Prince}}. Unfortunately, Jaxon's suffered severe brain damage from the primitive cryogenics, leaving him a shambling, slurring wreck who [[MadnessMantra endlessly repeats]] the only lyric he can remember (implied to be "Thriller"). Despite this, the crowd loves his show.
* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': The appropriately named [[TheAce "Ace"]], is a mysterious biker AntiHero who exuded urban cool and tangled with Spider-Man in a couple of annual stories in TheEighties and was described by editor [[Creator/ChristopherPriestComics Christopher Priest]] as "what if Michael Jackson were more masculine?" However, Ace was less based on Jackson the real-life musician, and more in the characters Jackson "played" in videos and movies.

* Although it's not confirmed that is based on him, many fans agree than [[BigBad Muzan Kibutsuji]] from ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'' was based on Michael Jackson, mostly for [[https://www.mundodeportivo.com/alfabeta/hero/2022/08/Muzan-Kibutsuji-parece-Michael-Jackson.jpg the resemblance of him with his suit outfit]] that reminds of ''Film/{{Moonwalker}}'' look and in specific with "[[Music/{{Bad}} Smooth Criminal]]" music video. This is far from official, but that didn't stop fans to make {{fanart}}s and photoeditions of him, and isn't rare to see Muzan {{cosplay}}ers in events that make stuff like the MoonwalkDance.

* ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'': Played for SurrealHorror in the infamous episode "Teddy Perkins." Teddy is a bizarre Jackson Expy with a strange mask-like face, living in a dark mansion with his piano-player brother Benny Hope. He shares Jackson's high pitched voice and apparent plastic surgery addiction, as well as his DaddyIssues (even proclaiming he wants to add Joe Jackson to a musuem of "great fathers"). The episode deals with Darius trying to buy Benny's piano from Teddy and dealing with his unpleasant eccentricities; [[spoiler:Eventually it's revealed that Teddy has been holding Benny prisoner, and intends to murder him and Darius and stage it as a home invasion turned deadly]].
* ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'': [[Recap/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnitS5E19Sick "Sick"]] is about a billionaire toymaker, Billy Tripley, an EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette who lives in an enormous mansion full of toys and other kid-specific stuff and views himself as OneOfTheKids. He throws lavish parties for children, and has molested multiple children, including J.J., whose family took an enormous bribe from him in exchange for signing an [=NDA=] and denying that he had been abused. Billy is also the target of a PedoHunt that turns out to be false, as an attention-seeking ploy from an abusive grandmother, and allows him to go free and abuse other kids. Needless to say, this is an [[UnfortunateImplications ''extremely'']] controversial example.
* One of the characters of the Chilean comedy Show ''Morande con Compania'' was "[[https://twitter.com/MCCoficial/status/1046091194730713089 Maikel Perez Jackson]]," a MJ impersonator that believes he was the real MJ and make comical routines as he was taken this seriously, as well talking with an EffeminateVoice all the time. The case is, this character balances between been a parody and a real MJ impersonator, since he could mimify all the looks MJ had in his history (in music videos and even concerts) and also makes various of the poses and dances, including the MoonwalkDance

* The music videos for the Beatfreakz songs [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh8_4qqX5bo "Somebody's Watching Me"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrA2o7QcDVI "Superfreak"]] feature a dancer dressed like the the Michael Jackson zombie from Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller, named "Mekill Hacksaw".
* ''Music/SilvaGunner'': One of the competitors in the King For A Day competition is "Weird Al" Yankovic who was the first competitor to lose the competition. In the King For Another Day, he returns with a stand named BEAT IT(which is based off Jackson's appearance in Smooth Criminal). The stand's power allows Weird Al to tap into the powers of the deceased King of Pop, which also expands Al's sources to include rips involving Micheal Jackson's music catalogue and ''VideoGame/Sonic3AndKnuckles'' due to Jackson's rumoured involvement in that game's soundtrack.

* In the independent scene, there's [[https://instagram.com/santana.jackson7 Santana Jackson]], a MJ impersonator who also is a famous wrestler and mimicks the WhatIf MJ fights in a ring, having as SignatureMove the "Moonwalk DDT." He's actually working for Wrestling/{{GCW}}... in the times he doesn't make tribute shows in Las Vegas.
* A subversion (or aversion) also exists, since there's a wrestler who has nothing to do with this trope, but ''IT IS'' called as Michael Jackson, being his real name. His ring name is Mike Jackson (also called "Action" Mike Jackson) and he currently works for Wrestling/ImpactWrestling.

* ''WesternAnimation/BlackDynamite'': The episode "[[Recap/BlackDynamiteS1E1JustBeatItOrJacksonFiveAcrossYoEyes Just Beat It, or Jackson Five Across Yo Eyes]]" features a young Michael Jackson as the primary antagonist. Not only does he [[EnfantTerrible physically abuse his father and brothers]], but he's also revealed to also be a pale-skinned, tiny-nosed alien from the planet [[Music/{{Thriller}} Mamasay Mamasah Mamacoosa]].
* ''WesternAnimation/FanboyAndChumChum'': One of the recurring side characters is Michael Johnson, a kid whose clothing and hair resembles Michael Jackson's costume from the "Thriller" music video, and can often be seen moonwalking or saying phrases from Michael's songs like "Hee-hee!" and "Shamone!"

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'': Captain Sunshine's background and behavior are a mashup of a BatmanParody and Film/CaptainEO, with his white suit and light-based powers. He has a mansion full of toys and arcade games to spoil his sidekick Wonderboy with, and insists on having a SlumberParty with Hank when he spends the night. His behavior towards children is implied to be pedophilic at first, but it's revealed that it's a result of the trauma of being a FormerChildStar (or Former KidSidekick, more accurately).
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* ''Manga/OnePiece:'' While facially based on [[Music/{{Aerosmith}} Steven Tyler]], Michael Jackson is specifically credited as the inspiration for Django, a Marine who has a penchant for moonwalking while holding his hat in front of his face.

In RealLife, Music/MichaelJackson was one of the [[RenaissanceMan most accomplished entertainers of the 20th Century]]. His accolades alone from his four-decade career include 13 Grammys, 26 American Music Awards, 4 Video Music Awards, and a whopping ''40'' Billboard Music Awards. He singlehandedly popularized many dance moves we still gawk at today, in particular the MoonwalkDance.

And yet, he also was a man of great [[OvershadowedbyControversy controversy and speculation]]. His changing appearance resulted in concerns about his physical health. MoralGuardians abhorred him as a toxic influence on children, and his legacy was permanently hampered as a result of allegations that he molested a 13-year old boy at his Neverland Ranch, which would result in heavy scrutiny until his tragic death in 2009 made him [[PosthumousPopularityPotential even more endearing as a musical artist to many fans]].

Parodies of MJ in the 90s and 2000s, after his eccentricities became public knowledge and he was accused of child molestation, tend to depict him in a darker light:

* Being the target of a (real or unfounded) PaedoHunt, or otherwise being MistakenForPedophile

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'': Jaxon Prince is a 20th century pop star who was cryogenically frozen at his own request, then revived over a century later for his comeback show. As his name suggests, he's a parody of both Michael Jackson and Music/{{Prince}}. Unfortunately, Jaxon's suffered severe brain damage from the primitive cryogenics, leaving him a shambling, slurring wreck who [[MadnessMantra endlessly repeats]] the only lyric he can remember (implied to be "Thriller"). Despite this, the crowd loves his show.

* ''[[VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies Plants vs. Zombies]]'': The original version had the Dancing Zombie resemble Michael Jackson, with his fashion and dance being taken from the music video for ?Thriller?. Complaints from Jackson?s estate led to the Dancing Zombie?s appearance to be changed to a more generic disco design in later versions.