History Main / StoryBreakerTeamUp

* Whenever Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} is involved in a crossover, he often has to be weakened or somehow disabled for the plot to work. The best ones simply [[PlotTailoredToTheParty gave the guest stars something to do in the story that Superman could not do]], but this is not always done elegantly. Like [[https://web.archive.org/web/20060409001039/http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics41.html the time he met the Quik Bunny]] or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_%26_Bugs_Bunny the entire DC verse crossover with the]] WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.
** ''Comicbook/SupermanBatman'' can be considered a case study in successfully teaming up very different heroes. Both are on equal grounds, and they face challenges each can contribute to solving, making a team far more effective than the sum of its parts. However, this trope was fully in force in their first crossover, where Batman's contribution consists of confirming that the only man on the cruise ship hiding a gun in his pocket is suspicious and having Superman throw Batman at the escaping helicopter because he was busy towing the disabled cruise ship back to port.
** In his second intercompany crossover with [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Spider-Man]], Spidey saves the day with his Spider-Sense (while Supes is busy holding a massive explosive gizmo together with his bare hands).
* Yes, the above ''ComicBook/ArchieMeetsThePunisher'' cover is real. But it's probably easy to guess that it was mostly PlayedForLaughs. If you were wondering, the plot involves the Punisher hunting [[CriminalDoppelganger a criminal with a marked resemblance to Archie]]... who happens to be hiding in Riverdale. The original pitch had Archie hiring The Punisher to avenge the murder of his parents. It didn't have the right tonal balance, to say the least.
** Averted by ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator''. None of the ''Archie'' cast know how to fight, and the Predator in question is quick to violently kill many of them. [[spoiler:He also managed to kill ComicBook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch.]]
* Likewise, ''Eminem/Punisher''. [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/05/eminem-teams-with-marvels-punisher Yes,]] Music/{{Eminem}}.
* Some of Comicbook/ThePunisher's adventures in the mainstream Franchise/MarvelUniverse feature him loading his gun with rubber bullets out of respect for his temporary partner's sensibilities. Others take the conflict between his deadly force policy and theirs and make a plot point of it, such as the TV adaptation of ''Series/{{Daredevil|2015}}'' which made him an outright antagonist, albeit a [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-meaning]] one. And a few crossovers deal with it simply by picking a villain who's [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]] so the Punisher's guns [[FiveRoundsRapid aren't up to the task anyway]].
* A comic book actually featured a character from ''Series/GuidingLight'' who had become a superhero, team up with Spider-Man and ''ComicBook/IronMan'', inspired by an episode where she gained [[HowUnscientific superpowers from an accident involving Halloween decorations.]]
* Addressed during ''Comicbook/{{Civil War|2006}}'' when Punisher shows up to [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]]'s resistance movement. Cap gives him a chance and when he steps out of line, clocks him and tells him to leave.
* Addressed when [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Spider-Man]] teams up with the original cast of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''. Spidey does all the heroing, while the comedians have the less spectacular (but still vital) task of keeping the audience from realizing anything's wrong.
* [[Franchise/StarTrek James T. Kirk]]'s ''Enterprise'' has been on both sides of this equation. In their brief team-up with the ComicBook/XMen, the latter's mutant powers were clearly no match for Federation technology (and, in the only one-on-one fight between the teams, Spock took out Wolverine effortlessly). When they crossed over with DC Comics instead, the ''Enterprise'' was helpless against a pack of [[ComicBook/GreenLantern hostile Red, Orange, and Yellow Lanterns]], and the crew had to receive power rings of their own to even compete.

* ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'': InUniverse. Spot (Superdog) is a SupermanSendup with FlyingBrick powers who Peanut insists on playing in the grounded {{Xenofiction}} world of ''Pridelands''. Putting him in the place of a character slated to be sacrificed ruins the story, as there's no reason he can't just break his bindings and save everybody, which he does. Later, when they reach the scene that was a great battle in canon, Spot effortlessly fights off the bow-wielding warriors and ruins the tension.

* The plot of ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations'' involves time being rewritten and past and present to be in the same place resulting in two Sonics, one modern, one classic. Problem is Sonic has gained a few powers and skills since the old days, resulting in modern Sonic easily outperforming his classic counterpart. The plot gets around this by having both Sonics have their own stages and bosses. Still it can feel a little patronizing when Classic Sonic has bosses and stages that Modern Sonic could easily defeat, and Classic Sonic could not do anything if he went up against Modern Sonic's bosses. In fact, given that only the "Classic Era" has bosses from Classic games, Classic Sonic only has 1 boss fight and 1 rival fight (not counting the Time Eater since both Sonics fight that in their super forms) in the entire game, Death Egg Robot (3DS version has Big Arm instead) and Metal Sonic. The rest of the bosses and rivals are fought by Modern Sonic.

Similarly, another potential problem is their [[SuperWeight relative power]]. If one is vastly more powerful, the other will become TheLoad, so one or both character may have to undergo PowerCreepPowerSeep to avoid one being [[OvershadowedByAwesome made irrelevant]] while the other [[StoryBreakerPower becomes a god]]. This doesn't just happen when there's a wide difference on the scale of a character with the SuperpowerLottery and a {{Muggle|s}} teaming up; even a simple power like one way {{Telepathy}} can cripple a crossover. Imagine how ''Literature/MurderOnTheOrientExpress'' (or any other detective story) would go if Literature/HerculePoirot was teamed up with a Telepath.

* ''WebVideo/PoohsAdventures'' runs on this trope. The main character, Franchise/WinnieThePooh, crosses over with people like Batman, the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'', the ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', and many others dipping into either a very high SuperWeight (even for a stuffed animal) or the [[DarkerAndEdgier darkest part of town]], or even both. Then there's the allies Pooh has, although not a lot of them could affect the plot, some ''do'' with just a few super powers.

** In his second intercompany crossover with [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Spider-Man]], Spidey saves the day with his Spider-Sense (while Supes is busy holding a massive explosive gizmo together with his bare hands).

* Addressed when [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Spider-Man]] teams up with the original cast of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''. Spidey does all the heroing, while the comedians have the less spectacular (but still vital) task of keeping the audience from realizing anything's wrong.

* Whenever Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} is involved in a crossover, he often has to be weakened or somehow disabled for the plot to work. The best ones simply [[PlotTailoredToTheParty gave the guest stars something to do in the story that Superman could not do]], but this is not always done elegantly. Like [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics41.html the time he met the Quik Bunny]] or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_%26_Bugs_Bunny the entire DC verse crossover with the]] WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.

* Addressed during ''Comicbook/CivilWar'' when Punisher shows up to [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]]'s resistance movement. Cap gives him a chance and when he steps out of line, clocks him and tells him to leave.

* [[Franchise/StarTrek James T. Kirk]]'s ''Enterprise'' has been on both sides of this equation. In their brief team-up with the X-Men, the latter's mutant powers were clearly no match for Federation technology (and, in the only one-on-one fight between the teams, Spock took out Wolverine effortlessly). When they crossed over with DC Comics instead, the ''Enterprise'' was helpless against a pack of hostile Red, Orange, and Yellow Lanterns, and the crew had to receive power rings of their own to even compete.

* Oddly averted with crossovers between the anime universes of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', and ''Anime/{{Bakugan}}'', which often ignore that canonically, the power levels of the three are very far apart.

* ''Fanfic/XCOMRWBYWithin'': Discussed in the author's note at the start of the story, which comments on the fact that bringing Team WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} into the world of ''VideoGame/XCOMLongWar'' with all their supernatural abilities at full strength would fall afoul of this trope to the point of [[BoringInvincibleHero making the story boring to read]]... [[DefiedTrope So that's not going to happen in this story]], and the girls are BroughtDownToNormal as a consequence of being TrappedInAnotherWorld. [[spoiler:Temporarily.]]

* The Muppets from ''Series/SesameStreet'' never broke character which created problems when Big Bird appeared on ''Series/MisterRogersNeighborhood''. Rogers wanted Carroll Spinney to break character, but he refused so they compromised by only having Big Bird appear in the Land Of Make Believe segments and Spinney himself appear in the regular segments.

* It's also very hard for ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' to have a genuine crossover with anything (except perhaps the other works of Creator/MikeJudge). It is arguably the most realistic animated show ever made and the inclusion of goofy looking cartoon characters would stick out like a sore thumb. The characters appeared for mere seconds in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''. Even WordOfGod implied this was just a gag and there's no way to have a genuine crossover with the show.

* ''Fanfic/KnightsOfTheOtherworld'' combined ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'' (superheroes fighting dangerous monsters from a mirror dimension) with ''Toys/EverAfterHigh'' (comedic SliceOfLife show about the school attended by the kids of famous FairyTale characters). As might be guessed, this meant that ''Ever After High'' was mostly used as a backdrop with the author's new characters being the only ones who got anything done. When it was rebooted, the story went a step farther by making it so people in ''EAH's'' world weren't mentally equipped to fight these monsters, requiring teens from Earth to come and be their saviors.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' has the [[Franchise/WinniethePooh 100 Acre Wood]] world, which is devoid of heartless and the worst conflict that arises is Pooh getting stuck in a hole in the wall. [[Franchise/KingdomHearts The franchise]] in general qualifies, bringing together characters from the Franchise/FinalFantasy games and the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon (along with a few outside of canon). For the most part, the two have pretty separate audiences and fanbases, Final Fantasy going for teenagers and young adults while Disney aims for everyone else. Final Fantasy characters also run distinctly more toward the cynical end of the scale than most of the Disney franchises, which necessitated the Final Fantasy characters lighten up--though on the Disney end, that most of the Disney universes were facing a [[ApocalypseHow far darker, bleaker problem]] than their characters are used to (or, in cases like Winnie the Pooh and the WesternAnimation/OneHundredAndOneDalmatians, cannot even comprehend) is a major element in the plot.

->''They're a crime-fighting duo, doo-doo-doo, doo doo-oh yeah!"''

->''They're a crime-fighting duo, doo-doo-doo, oh yeah!"''

The above can get complicated if one hero (like ComicBook/ThePunisher above) routinely deals with his "RoguesGallery" by [[GottaKillThemAll killing them on sight]], while the other [[ThouShaltNotKill firmly refuses to kill]] or [[NonActionGuy doesn't even fight at all]] (like ComicBook/{{Archie|Comics}} above)[[note]]In [[ComicBook/ArchieMeetsThePunisher the crossover that provides the page image]], the Punisher makes a deal with the government that requires him to ''apprehend'' the suspect instead of killing him, and it's only because of Andrews' innocence that he allows his quarry to live[[/note]]. If the relative pacifist has favor, the militant hero will be [[InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality severely]] [[NonLethalWarfare nerfed]]; whereas if the militant one is shown right, it may risk invalidating the other's morals or making them seem irrelevant.

* Likewise, ''Eminem/Punisher''. [[https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/05/eminem-teams-with-marvels-punisher Yes]], Music/{{Eminem}}.

* ''Fanfic/XCOMRWBYWithin'': Discussed in the author's note at the start of the story, which comments on the fact that bringing Team WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} into the world of ''VideoGame/XCOMLongWar'' with all their supernatural abilities at full strength would fall afoul of this trope to the point of [[BoringInvincibleHero making the story boring to read]]... [[DefiedTrope So that's not going to happen in this story]], and the girls are BroughtDownToNormal as a consequence of being TrappedInAnotherWorld. [[spoiler: Temporarily.]]

* In ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', the LegionOfDoom consists of a time-traveling speedster (Eobard Thawne) and two trained assassins (Malcolm Merlyn and Damian Darhk). Thawne has no problem treating the other two like lackeys, outright bragging that he could kill them faster than they could blink. They eventually join forces to coerce him into an actual partnership - with a little "help" from [[spoiler: the [[ClockRoaches Clock Roach]] hunting Thawne]].

%%Image kept on page per IMage Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16638980590.66174400

* Occurs repeatedly in ''LightNovel/ISavedTooManyGirlsAndCausedTheApocalypse''. After getting sucked into multiple stories at the same time (starting with SummonEverymanHero and SpaceOpera), the protagonist frequently abuses resources from one story to solve problems in another (such as shooting the [[MaouTheDemonKing Demon King]] with a DisintegratorRay, and {{teleport|ation}}ing the [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield Sword in the Stone]] out of its resting place).

* In ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'', the LegionOfDoom consists of a time-traveling speedster (Eobard Thawne) and two trained assassins (Malcolm Merlyn and Damian Darhk). Thawne has no problem treating the other two like lackeys, outright bragging that he could kill them faster than they could blink. They eventually join forces to coerce him into an actual partnership - with a little "help" from [[spoiler: the Clock Roach hunting Thawne]].

* This issue comes up fairly often in crossovers between ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/KamenRider'', since Sentai teams fight [[MakeMyMonsterGrow giant monsters]] every episode with their HumongousMecha while Riders usually only fight human-sized foes[[note]]The few Riders that do deal with bigger enemies, like [[Series/KamenRiderDenO Den-O]] and [[Series/KamenRiderKiva Kiva]], use special vehicles that don't quite qualify as mecha[[/note]].

** Series/KamenRiderGaim and Series/ResshaSentaiToQger's crossover did the opposite as ''Decade''/''Shinkenger'', having one of ''Gaim'''s monsters grow (something they never did before or since) so the [=ToQgers=] could defeat it with their robot.

** ''Kamen Rider'' crossovers within the franchise itself aren't immune to this trope either. The annual crossover between the current Rider and his immediate predecessor usually take place in winter, around the time of the new Rider's first major powerup, while the old one will be coming in with all of their endgame powers and combat experience. Depending on the movie, the solution may be to keep the old Rider from being able to use their full powers until late in the movie, to present the new Rider as a SuperiorSuccessor whose first upgrade is on par with the old Rider's final form, or to give them both a powerup unique to the movie so that they're on par.
** ''Series/KamenRiderZiO'', which crosses over extensively with other Riders, opts to present the past Riders as all being vastly stronger and more skillful than Zi-O early on, but subjects most of them to depowering until he has enough time to grow to where he can match them.

* Whenever Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}} is involved in a crossover, he often has to be weakened or somehow disabled for the plot to work. The best ones simply [[PlotTailoredToTheParty gave the guest stars something to do in the story that Superman could not do]], but SturgeonsLaw dictates that this is not always done elegantly. Like [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics41.html the time he met the Quik Bunny]] or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_%26_Bugs_Bunny the entire DC verse crossover with the]] WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.

* Made possible in ''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy'' by the ''Daemon Hunter'' sourcebook, which included rules for playing as a Grey Knight -- a super-soldier with psychic powers, armour that, combined with his natural toughness, will stop pretty much every weapon the rest of the team might be carrying, and a gun that can blow any normal enemy into chunky salsa. Unless the rest of the team is composed entirely of high-level psychics and tech-priests, pretty much every combat situation the team gets into will either be instantly settled by the Grey Knight, or instantly fatal for everyone ''but'' the Grey Knight. The best way to do it is have the regular team go through a whole campaign and get lots and lots of gear, then have a single Grey Knight join as reinforcements against whatever monstrosities accompanying the final boss.

* Whenever Franchise/{{Superman}} is involved in a crossover, he often has to be weakened or somehow disabled for the plot to work. The best ones simply [[PlotTailoredToTheParty gave the guest stars something to do in the story that Superman could not do]], but SturgeonsLaw dictates that this is not always done elegantly. Like [[http://www.misterkitty.org/extras/stupidcovers/stupidcomics41.html the time he met the Quik Bunny]] or [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_%26_Bugs_Bunny the entire DC verse crossover with the]] WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes.

** In his second intercompany crossover with Franchise/SpiderMan, Spidey saves the day with his Spider-Sense (while Supes is busy holding a massive explosive gizmo together with his bare hands).

** Averted by ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator''. None of the ''Archie'' cast know how to fight, and the Predator in question is quick to violently kill many of them. [[spoiler:He did also managed to kill ComicBook/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch]].
* Likewise, ''Eminem/Punisher''. [[http://comics.ign.com/articles/979/979917p1.html Yes]], Music/{{Eminem}}.

* A comic book actually featured a character from ''Series/GuidingLight'' who had become a superhero, team up with Franchise/SpiderMan and ''ComicBook/IronMan'', inspired by an episode where she gained [[HowUnscientific superpowers from an accident involving Halloween decorations.]]
* Addressed during ''Comicbook/CivilWar'' when Punisher shows up to Comicbook/CaptainAmerica's resistance movement. Cap gives him a chance and when he steps out of line, clocks him and tells him to leave.
* Addressed when Franchise/SpiderMan teams up with the original cast of ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''. Spidey does all the heroing, while the comedians have the less spectacular (but still vital) task of keeping the audience from realizing anything's wrong.

* ''FanFic/ADarkKnightOverSinCity'' has a mild example. Franchise/{{Batman}} and his rogues operate on a slightly different level than the ''ComicBook/SinCity'' characters. The [[AntiHero anti-heroes]] and villains in Sin City still serve important roles in the plot but when it comes to, say, explaining Scarecrow's weapons or Joker's toxin, they resort to BuffySpeak.

* The animations ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FywMOuMqNuI The Dark Knight Meets Superman]]'' and ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeT1t0lQn5Q&feature=fvwrel The Dark Knight Meets Superman Part 2]]'' do this intentionally for parody. First Franchise/{{Superman}} visits Gotham City during the events of ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. "Hey, bat-bro, I hope it's not a big deal, but while you were talking there, I went ahead and stopped crime. Like, all of it." Then this version of Batman stands in for Superman in Metropolis alongside the Franchise/{{Justice League|of America}}. It doesn't go that well.

* ''WebVideo/PoohsAdventures'' runs on this trope. The main character, Franchise/WinnieThePooh, crosses over with people like Franchise/{{Batman}}, the ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'', the ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', and many others dipping into either a very high SuperWeight (even for a stuffed animal) or the [[DarkerAndEdgier darkest part of town]], or even both. Then there's the allies Pooh has, although not a lot of them could affect the plot, some ''do'' with just a few super powers.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewScoobyDooMovies'' in which Mystery, Inc. teamed with people like Franchise/{{Batman}}, Series/TheAddamsFamily and Film/TheThreeStooges.

-->Most sketches involve [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot "mashups"]], a collision of two pop-cultural items (one innocent, and the other "mature") degenerating into chaos, like [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario and Luigi]] travelling to [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity Vice City]], WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHead joining the WesternAnimation/TeenTitans, the Scooby-Doo team encountering [[Franchise/FridayThe13th Jason Voorhees]], or ''Franchise/TheSmurfs'' doing their version of the movie ''Film/{{Se7en}}'' (Yes, all of these, even the last one, are actual sketches from the show).

** It also helps that Superman is weak to the sorcery used by most ''Mortal Kombat'' characters and that the DC cast is holding back because most of the heroes don't like to kill others anyways while the more 'mortal' ''Mortal Kombat'' characters show no mercy.

* ''Fanfic/TheDresdenFillies'' has the problem that, while [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]] is a match for any non-alicorn, the foe he's up against -- Discord -- can ''only'' be taken out by the Elements of Harmony. Harry has to [[EscortMission bodyguard]] the [[FanNickname Mane Six]] safely past his own rogue's gallery to that confrontation.

* ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonVsPhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' suffered from a bit of a balancing problem. The creator of Professor Layton [[WordOfGod admitted]] he basically took Phoenix Wright and made him better in every way to make the Professor. The only way for Phoenix to see any puzzle- or mystery-solving action in the game was for Professor Layton to be [[spoiler:turned into a golden statue]] for half the game.

* Subverted by ''ComicBook/ArchieVsPredator''. While it's obviously just as violent with an alien hunter stalking Riverdale, it was considerably better received than Archie's meet-up with Frank Castle.

* To a minor extent, ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' and [[VideoGame/MetalGear Snake]]. An M-rated character battles heroes who are perfectly OK for the entire family? Wave goodbye to his realistic firearms. He gets to keep explosive arms, though. Ironically, [[VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} Bayonetta]] gets to keep ''her'' guns... though she still gets heavily censored and has to keep her clothes on.

* Made possible in ''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy'' by the ''Daemon Hunter'' sourcebook, which included rules for playing as a Grey Knight -- a super-soldier with psychic powers, armour that, combined with his natural toughness, will stop pretty much every weapon the rest of the team might be carrying, and a gun that can blow any normal enemy into chunky salsa. Unless the rest of the team is composed entirely of high-level psychics and tech-priests, pretty much every combat situation the team gets into will either be instantly settled by the Grey Knight, or instantly fatal for everyone ''but'' the Grey Knight.

* ''Fanfic/XCOMRWBYWithin'': Discussed in the author's note at the start of the story, which comments on the fact that bringing Team {{RWBY}} into the world of ''VideoGame/XCOMLongWar'' with all their supernatural abilities at full strength would fall afoul of this trope to the point of [[BoringInvincibleHero making the story boring to read]]... [[DefiedTrope So that's not going to happen in this story]], and the girls are BroughtDownToNormal as a consequence of being TrappedInAnotherWorld. [[spoiler: Temporarily.]]

* The ''Website/PrettyCureFanficFeatures'', due to crossing over a ''ton'' of stories on varying points of the Scale, tend to do this. If ''[[Fanfic/PrettyCurePerfumePreppy Perfume Preppy]]'' is in a feature with a bunch of casts from series that are as child-friendly as [[Franchise/PrettyCure the source material]], no mention will be made of its various {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s and rather disgusting moments like [[spoiler:Ashley's cannibalistic mass murder spree]]. If ''[[Fanfic/PrettyCureHeavyMetal Heavy Metal]]'' is in there too, since it's even less child-friendly, the other fics in the pile will be made DarkerAndEdgier.

* [[Franchise/StarTrek James T. Kirk]]'s ''Enterprise'' has been on both sides of this equation. In their brief team-up with the X-Men, the latter's mutant powers were clearly no match for Federation technology (and, in the only one-on-one fight between the teams, Spock took out Wolverine effortlessly). When they crossed over with DC Comics instead, the ''Enterprise'' was helpless against a pack of hostile Red, Orange, and Yellow Lanterns, and the crew had to receive power rings of their own to even compete.