History MythologyGag / Comics

->''Feels like someone turned the symbolic homage up to eleven.''
-->-- '''Rocket Raccoon''' discovering Captain America's shield frozen in a block of ice in ''Comicbook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy #2''
!! Comic books with their own pages:
[[index]]
* ''MythologyGag/UltimateSpiderMan''
[[/index]]
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!! Examples:
* The ''Franchise/XMen'' movies and comics do these gags toward each other:
** In the [[Film/XMen1 first movie]], Logan isn't thrilled by his black leather Comicbook/XMen costume. Comicbook/{{Cyclops}} taunts him, asking if he'd prefer yellow spandex -- Wolverine's traditional costume in the comics.
** The comics Rogue has a poster of The Piano (in which Creator/AnnaPaquin, movie-Rogue, appeared.) and Nightcrawler puts down Brainchild's fake English accent (as Scottish actor Alan Cumming was put down for the fake German accent he used with movie Nightcrawler.)
** In an issue of ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'', Wolverine and Storm go to see the Broadway production of ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers''. Wolverine comments that the lead actor reminds him of himself; it was Creator/HughJackman.
** Additionally, in an issue of ''X-Treme X-Men'', Storm is at one point complimented on a recent Film/JamesBond movie, having evidently been mistaken for Creator/HalleBerry, who played both Storm in the ''X-Men'' movies and Jinx in the then most recent James Bond film, ''Film/DieAnotherDay''.
** ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' has a line from Magneto: "When will these people learn how to fly?" which, according to [[WordOfGod the screenwriters]], was supposed to be a subtle TakeThatUs at the movieverse Rogue and Storm (and to a lesser extent, Jean), who of course can fly in the comics.
** A comic-to-comic Mythology Gag: For those who remember the original Phoenix Saga, in which the alien Shi'ar Empire sentence Comicbook/JeanGrey to death (not to mention the recent story where they wipe out her entire family, just to be on the safe side), there's something very ironic about ComicBook/UltimateMarvel's human "Church of Shi'ar Enlightenment" funding the X-Men because they ''want'' Jean to manifest the Phoenix. All the same players (more or less), very different game.
** In an issue of X-Men, shortly after the Grey massacre by the Shi'ar Death Commandos, Scott enters his daughter Comicbook/RachelSummers' room and finds several rented movies on her bed. The films all star cast members of the X-Men film series, such as Swordfish, which featured Creator/HalleBerry and Creator/HughJackman, who played Storm and Wolverine in the X-Men trilogy, respectively.
** There was an issue where Beast says, "In the words of my favorite TV psychiatrist, I'm listening." Dr. Series/{{Frasier}} Crane's catch phrase, played by Creator/KelseyGrammer, who also played Beast in the movies.
* In the standard ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' BackStory, Bruce Wayne is inspired by a bat that flies in through an open window while he's trying to come up with a motif that will strike fear into the hearts of evil-doers. In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm'', TheMovie of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', a FlashBack to the early days of Wayne's crimefighting career shows him trying to come up with a motif that will strike fear into the hearts of evil-doers... but it's raining, and all the windows are closed. (He eventually does have the bat inspiration, but later and under different circumstances.)
** In the movie, the bat can be briefly seen before flying away.
** Similarly, in ''WesternAnimation/TheBatmanVsDracula'', he has a nightmare that starts with the window ''closed'', and the bat ''crashes through it and dies''.
*** The bat crashing through the window is canon in modern continuity (or at least it ''was''): The bat was deafened by a scientific experiment done by Kirk Langstrom, who would become Man-Bat. Seriously.
** In the {{Elseworld}} ''[[ComicBook/BatmanDetectiveNo27 Detective No. 27]]'', in which Bruce Wayne becomes the World's Greatest Detective without donning a costume, he is interrupted in his reverie by the arrival of Lee Travis (the Crimson Avenger) inviting him to join the Secret Society of Detectives. So he shuts the window and leaves the study, and doesn't even look round when something "thunk"s against it.
*** Heck, the title itself is a Mythology Gag. Tell me, what comic and issue number does Batman debut in?
*** Similarly, in ''In Darkest Knight'' (where Bruce becomes Franchise/GreenLantern instead), the bat is scared off by a projection of Abin Sur, who crashed on Bruce's property.
** It's now semi-canon (in that it's made appearances in multiple video-games and a few comics) that there's a neighborhood of Gotham named [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Otisburg]].
* ''ComicBook/ScoobyApocalypse'':
** Daphne is still working for the news industry.
** Fred attacks Velma under the impression she was [[WesternAnimation/APupNamedScoobyDoo Mole-man.]]
* The TV and movie adaptations of DC's ''Comicbook/{{Superman}}''/''ComicBook/{{Superboy}}'' characters have provided a rich treasure trove for fans of the Mythology Gag.
** In Creator/RichardDonner's ''Film/SupermanTheMovie'' (1978), there is a scene where Clark desperately needs to become Superman. He runs to the nearest pay phone, then stops -- apparently expecting an old-style phone booth and ending up with a then-new phone-on-a-post instead.
*** That joke was foreshadowed in the 1975 inter-company crossover ''Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man'', only there it happened to Spider-Man.
** ''Film/SupermanReturns'' comes a close second for {{Mythology Gag}}s, referencing both the comic book version ''and'' the 1978 Richard Donner movie.
*** It also recreates on film an iconic image from the cover of the first issue of ''Action Comics,'' which featured Superman dashing the front end of a car into the ground -- albeit that the film version inverts it as part of Superman's successfully lowering the out-of-control car to the ground. The image even reappears ''as'' a photograph of Superman later on in the film.
*** It gave a (parodic) nod to a CatchPhrase from the early ''Superman'' radio serials and later [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] comics ("Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"): Lois Lane, Perry White, and Jimmy Olsen are looking over some blurry photographs of something flying in the skies over Metropolis. Lane says the shape is a bird. White disagrees and says it's a plane. Jimmy Olsen begins to say "It's--" but is cut off by a knock on the door as Clark Kent enters, saying to White "You wanted to see me?"
*** The original ''Superman'' movie also subtly parodies the CatchPhrase. As Superman flies through the air in his first public appearance to rescue Lois Lane, a couple of reporters with a camera remark on camera "What the hell's ''that''?"
*** There's also a scene where Superman utters the line "Well, I hope this experience hasn't put you off flying. Statistically speaking, it's still the safest way to travel." In the first movie, it's said to Lois. In ''Returns'', it's said to the plane full of passengers that Supes has just saved. For bonus points, Lois was one of the passengers in the latter film.
*** Also in the movie, Superman's first heroic deed upon returning is saving a space shuttle. In the comics, his first Post-Crisis appearance was also saving a spaceplane.
*** Not to mention the entire plot being Superman foiling a real estate scheme by Lex Luthor that will kill millions.
*** BILLIONS!
** Going the other way, ''JLA: Earth-2'' had the League burst into [[MegaCorp LexCorp]], and Luthor say into his intercom "Miss Tessmacher, hold my calls." Not a CanonImmigrant, because she doesn't actually ''appear'', but...
** During his time as PresidentEvil, Luthor also had a bumbling PA called Nathaniel "Mac" Mackelveny, who was clearly modeled on Otis from ''The Motion Picture'' right down to calling him "Mr ''Lew''-thor". He was eventually revealed to be the Martian Manhunter.
** In at least three continuities (''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'', ''Superman: The Dark Side'', and ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''), the Man of Steel goes evil (or at least benevolent dictator): two of those involved service to ComicBook/{{Darkseid}}. Somewhat similarly, Lex Luthor aspires to, or becomes, the US President in as many continuities (''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'', ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', and the pre-''Flashpoint'' DCU): only in ''Red Son'' is he remotely successful.
** In the ''Comicbook/ForeverEvil'' tie in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #23.3 / ''ComicBook/LexLuthor'' #1, much is made in the first few pages of Lex's loathing for his prison jumpsuit, which he states he never intends to wear again, and has burnt because there's nothing about that he wants to remember. This is a reversal of UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} Luthor's reaction to Superman sending him to prison, which was that he would ''always'' wear the uniform to remind himself how much he hated Superman.
** In ''Comicbook/KryptoniteNevermore'', Superman has temporarily lost his flying power but he is still "able to leap over the mountain with a single bound!"
* There are tons of little references in ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' ''[[Comicbook/SupergirlRebirth Rebirth #1]]'':
** One of the bases of the DEO is called Ghost Site 252, a nod to Supergirl making her debut in ''Comicbook/ActionComics #252''.
** Kara's secret identity is again a brunette girl.
** Kara fights the Kryptonian werewolf Lar-On, who first appeared in ''World's Finest #256'' way back in 1979.
** Kara's rocket is fitted with a Phantom Drive and a Regeneration Matrix, lifted right from ''Comicbook/TheManOfSteel''.
** The Phantom Drive opening up a rift to the PhantomZone is also similar to ''The Man of Steel''.
** A Zone portal opening up accidentally, and the fight eventually taking all fighters to the sunny side of the planet, is reminiscent of Lar-On's first appearance in ''World's Finest #256''.
** The bedrock of Kara's DoomedHometown - Argo City - is Red Kryptonite. In the Silver Age it was Green K.
** Director Chase says "Then it's a job for Supergirl" at the end of the first issue.
* In #5 of the comic book spin-off of the ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}'' TV series, Winn says his internet handle is "Supergirl_in_action_252". ''Action Comics'' #252 was Supergirl's first appearance.
* In the first issue of ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 1972}} Supergirl Vol 1]]'', Supergirl picks up a car and lifts it overhead.
* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' story ''Comicbook/YoungLove'''s first half shows several scenes of the life of Linda Danvers: her arrival on Earth (Action Comics #252), Dick Wilson - later Malverne - taking a picture of her accidentally (Action Comics #256), Linda and Dick meeting again after several years (''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 1982}} Supergirl Vol 2]]'' #23)…
* In ''Comicbook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Ma Kent makes Supergirl's uniform... right like she made Superman's costume.
* In ''ComicBook/ElseworldsFinestSupergirlAndBatgirl'':
** In two different flashback scenes, ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' and ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}'' show up with their original costumes.
** ''Comicbook/LexLuthor'' calls himself “The Man of Tomorrow”.
** Lex has a Kryptonite ring like his post-Crisis incarnation.
** One of Barbara's books narrates how Batgirl captured Killer Moth. Killer Moth was the first villain encountered and fought by pre-Crisis Batgirl in ''Detective Comics #359''.
** Several of the reporters harassing Lex work for the Daily Planet and WGBS.
* In the French series {{Comicbook/AchilleTalon}}, one gag features Achille Talon (Walter Melon), the main character, searching the phone number of his foe Lefuneste in a directory. He reads to himself the names that he comes across before he can find Lefuneste. Among the names is Lefunèbre, which the author once intended to be Lefuneste's name until he decided that Lefuneste was funnier.
** Additionally, it's coupled with "GettingCrapPastTheRadar" as another name in the directory near Lefuneste and Lefunèbre is [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Lefuhrer]] ("the furrier").
* The late 1980s-early 1990s NOW Comics adaptations of ''Franchise/TheGreenHornet'' featured a number of {{Mythology Gag}}s referring to both ''The Green Hornet'' and ''Franchise/TheLoneRanger'' (another property created by the creator of ''The Green Hornet''). In the entire series (an ambitious reconciliation of the Hornets of the radio series, 1940s film serials, and the TV series), the second Kato (partner of the TV series Hornet) is named "Hayashi Kato", a reference to actor Raymond Hayashi, the first actor to play Kato in the radio series. In the comic book ''[[Franchise/TheGreenHornet Green Hornet: Dark Tomorrow]]'', the Green Hornet of the future, is named Clayton Reid. This is a reference to the actor Clayton Moore, best known for playing the Lone Ranger, who is often claimed as the Hornet's ancestor. Also, a family tree feature giving the genealogies of the Reid and Kato families gave Clayton Reid's father the name "Gordon Reid" (a nod to actor Gordon Jones, who played Britt Reid/The Green Hornet in the 1940 film serial) and stated that a future Kato would be named "Luke" (a nod to actor Keye Luke, who played Kato in both the 1940 and 1941 film serials).
* In ''ComicBook/{{Marvel 1602}}'', a man named [[Franchise/SpiderMan Peter Parquah]] keeps ''nearly'' getting bitten by a spider.
** Also, [[spoiler:Rohjaz/Captain America]] is referred to as "the Forerunner", and is basically the universe's trigger to kick off the age of superheroes; the character in question was one of Marvel's first superheroes, predating most of the other characters' publications by two decades.
* The return of the Injustice League in the 2006 ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' run contains huge amounts of references to the Franchise/{{DCAU}}. For example:
** On the cover of the book, Toyman appears as he does in the DCAU, rather than as in the comic itself.
** John Stewart jokes that Black Lightning's newly shaved head isn't a good look for him, but says that he, on the other hand, [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague could definitely pull it off, especially if he added a Goatee.]]
** Lex Luthor's plan appears to be, when he first reveals it, exactly what Grodd planned for the New Secret Society / LegionOfDoom in WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague, a protection racket for supervillains (he eventually reveals that it is something else). Later on, Grodd and Luthor have a conversation where Luthor gives orders and Grodd begrudgingly relents, apparently planning to overthrow Luthor, a reversal of the WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague relationship.
* Yet another "Legion" example: Most of the characters in the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks Dark Age]] SpacePolice comic ''L.E.G.I.O.N.'' were callbacks (or callforwards?) to characters from ''ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}}'': Vril Dox and Lyrissa Mallor were distant ancestors of Brainiac 5 and Shadow Lass; Lar Gand and Phase were time-displaced versions of Mon-El and Phantom Girl; Strata, the Durlan, and Dagon-Ra were the same species as Blok, Chameleon Boy, and Element Lad; and so on.
** The 2009 ''R.E.B.E.L.S.'' series continues this, with Dox's new recruits including Wildstar, who comes from the same planet as Dawnstar and combines Dawny's powers and name with those of her love interest Wildfire; and Bounder, who wears an inflatable armoured suit that duplicates Bouncing Boy's powers.
* Back in UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, Comicbook/{{Superman}}'s pal ComicBook/JimmyOlsen had an unfortunate tendency to turn into a giant rampaging Turtle Boy from time to time. ComicBook/PostCrisis, this was sent up when Jimmy briefly got a job donning a costume to play Turtle Boy for a kids' show.
** In the ComicBook/{{New 52}} reboot (''Action Comics'' v2 #10), Jimmy drags Clark along to a screening of fictional movies "The Giant Turtle Man" and "The Human Porcupine".
** In ''ComicBook/CountdownToFinalCrisis'', Jimmy's strange transformations are all the famous [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] ones. Which leads to [[spoiler: [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Turtle Boy Jimmy vs DARKSEID!]]]]
*** Probably counts double considering [[spoiler:Darkseid debuted in ''Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen'']].
** Another early ComicBook/PostCrisis Superman story had Supes accosting what looked like ComicBook/LexLuthor in his pre-Crisis PoweredArmor... but which was revealed on the next page to be a robot the CorruptCorporateExecutive version of Luthor sent after him.
** And given that it wasn't even an especially memorable story, it's amazing how many ways ComicBook/PostCrisis continuity found to refer to Superman getting a big, red ant-head. In one case, a squad of "Super-Ants" were created by an insectoid alien who based her human form on ComicBook/LanaLang, ''another'' Mythology Gag, because pre-Crisis Lana was an occasional super-heroine called Insect Queen.
** Speaking of Lana, a couple more pop up in ''ComicBook/{{Superwoman}}'': [[spoiler:Lana's initial powers and costume are those of the late '90s Superman Red, and an Insect Queen costume makes an appearance in issue #2]].
** In #12 of the ComicBook/{{New 52}} ''Action Comics'', Superman is given a vision of a "perfect world", which is basically the pre-Flashpoint universe: his parents are still alive; he started working at the Planet with Jimmy and Lois from his first day in Metropolis; the League headquarters is a moonbase; and he's married to Lois. [[ShipSinking That last one is when he realises this doesn't make sense]].
** ''Superman'' v3 #50, the conclusion of the ''ComicBook/SupermanTruth'' storyline, ends with Clark, Lois and Jimmy eating at the World's Finest cafe (referencing the title of the original pre-Crisis Batman/Superman team-up comic), at the corner of Siegel and Shuster.
* SelfDemonstrating/{{Deadpool}}, notable [[NoFourthWall breaker of the fourth wall]], once commented, "And the Boy Scout branch made a big show of cooperating, by having Spider-Man reveal his identity on national TV... as if we hadn't seen the movies already and didn't know it was dreamy doe-eyed Tobey Maguire under the mask!" Maguire, of course, played Spider-Man in the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''.
** It should be noted that Deadpool does things like this frequently. In the third issue of his own series, he sings the theme song from the 1960s Hulk cartoon.
** When he was being controlled by the Hypno Hustler in Avenging Spider-Man, the trigger word to free Deadpool from his trance was "Ryan Reynolds." Reynolds portrayed Deadpool in X-Men Origins and was cast as him for the Deadpool [[Film/{{Deadpool}} solo movie]].
* In the first issue of Greg Rucka's ''ComicBook/QueenAndCountry,'' SIS agent Tara Chace comments, "the last time I was this cold, I was in Antarctica," which is a nod to Lily Sharpe, the SIS agent in the writer's first comic, ''ComicBook/{{Whiteout}}.'' Rucka originally intended to use Sharpe as the lead for ''Q&C,'' but in the course of development, Chace became more of a SpiritualSuccessor.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'', Walter Kovacs was sent to the [[Creator/CharltonComics Charlton]] Home for Orphans.
** Also, [[Film/{{Watchmen}} The Movie]] has something of a cross between this and a DiscontinuityNod in the codename of Ozymandias's movie-changed plan, seen on a computer in one scene. The name? [=S.Q.U.I.D.=] -- which refers to the fan nickname for the comic's ''original'' method.
* The out-of-continuity ''Strange Adventures'' strip in ''ComicBook/WednesdayComics'' includes a scene where ComicBook/AdamStrange has a conversation with ComicBook/DoctorFate about his psychological block on finding the Zeta Beam. Dr Fate tries to help but points out that, like Strange, he's a [[NotThatKindOfDoctor doctor of archeology]], and psychology isn't his forte. In Franchise/TheDCU, the [[LegacyCharacter then-current Doctor Fate]], grand-nephew of the archeologist, was a psychoanalyst.
** While we're on Doctor Fate, the psychoanalyst grand-nephew of the archeologist was the last Doctor Fate before the ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' CosmicRetcon. The ComicBook/{{New 52}}'s first Doctor Fate, a medical student, [[spoiler:also turned out to be a grand-nephew of the archeologist.]]
* Creator/KevinSmith's ''Franchise/{{Batman}}: The Widening Gyre'' opens with a FlashBack to the days when Dick Grayson was Robin, as they try to stop a Neo-Nazi supervillain stealing an ancient copy of the Torah. Robin makes his entrance shouting "Holy scrolls, Batman!"
* Being a time traveling superhero, this comes with the territory for ComicBook/BoosterGold, as he makes references to events and people in Franchise/TheDCU during his heroics through time. For instance, [[spoiler:in an effort to keep Sinestro from meeting Guy Gardner early, Booster inspired the naming of the Sinestro Corps.]]
* ComicBook/ElfQuest -- the second series titled ''Wavedancers'' features one insane and deformed character whose delusions apparently are based on the first ''Wavedancers'' series, which was removed from the canon because of differences with the team that made that.
* In one Marvel ''ComicBook/WhatIf'' story, [[ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} Logan]] is an {{Expy}} of ComicBook/ThePunisher and takes on the Chicago mob in the Roaring Twenties. He never pops his signature claws, but when we get to see Al "Scarface" Capone from the front, the mob boss has a scar suspiciously reminiscent of the wounds that 616-Wolverine would cause.
* In one ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' story, they rescue a pair of amateur filmmakers from aliens, and Reed refers to them as "wannabe Roger Cormans." Creator/RogerCorman made the unreleased 1994 ''[[Film/TheFantasticFour Fantastic Four]]'' movie.
* In a [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel]] UK ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers Generation 1]]'' comic, Optimus Prime mentions that Swoop was known as Divebomb on Cybertron. When the toys were originally being released, Divebomb was considered as a name for the toy that ended up being named Swoop.
** In a movie tie-in comic, Optimus has been recently found out to be a Prime. He makes a comment saying it might not be important, comenting along the line of "For all we know, Prime could mean 'records clerk' or something." In the Dreamwave comics Optimus was a records clerk before he became Prime.
** In one Dreamwave comic Megatron basically beats the ever living slag out of and kills Cy-Kill the Gobot (not sure if that's a mythology gag or a shout out though).
** At the end of the IDW Transformers storyarc ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersAllHailMegatron All Hail Megatron]]'', as the defeated Deceptions flee into space, Starscream ponders on what to do with the badly injured, near dead Megatron, saying at one point "I'd unceremoniously toss him out the air lock if I didn't have a nagging suspicion that he'd somehow return, more powerful than ever." This is exactly what Starscream did in the original animated movie, which ended with Megatron becoming the more powerful Galvatron and returning to kill Starscream in revenge.
** There's also a reference to the animated movie in ''ComicBook/TheTransformersAutocracy''. Megatron uses Hot Rod as a HumanShield while threatening Orion Pax. However, instead of this resulting in Orion getting shot (as happened to Optimus in the movie), Hot Rod simply transforms into his alt-mode and drives off while Orion shoots Megatron in the chest and nearly kills ''him.''
** [[RunningGag Another reference]] to this occurred in ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMonstrosity''. Scorpionok betrayed Megatron and left him for dead in order to assume control of the Decepticons himself. Just as he was doing so, Megatron came storming in, complaining that it was "bad comedy." Scorpionok looked up to see the strange (Megatron had repaired himself using Junkion tech) 'Con standing at the end of the room.
-->'''Scorpionok:''' Megatron? Is that you?
-->'''Megatron:''' Here's a hint! (Shoots Scorpionok in the chest)
** In issue 54 of ''ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' we get another reference to the animated movie, this time courtesy of Ultra Magnus. When Rewind wants to discuss something with him during a battle, his response is "I'm sorry, Rewind, [[MemeticMutation I can't deal with that right now]].''
* The ''[[ComicBook/HackSlash Hack/Slash]]'' and ''[[Film/ReAnimator Re-Animator]]'' crossover ends with Doctor West being approached by government agents, who tell him the president is dead and the country needs him, a nod to the unmade ''House of Re-Animator''.
* In ''[[Franchise/{{Halloween}} Halloween: The First Death Of Laurie Strode]]'', the Silver Shamrock masks from ''Film/HalloweenIIISeasonOfTheWitch'' appear for one panel in a store.
* ComicBook/MarvelAdventures often references the main Marvel verse with these. For instance, when [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk Bruce Banner]] tells the Avengers to eject him from their rocket if he hulks out mid-flight, ComicBook/IronMan responds [[ComicBook/PlanetHulk "Oh please Bruce, that's just silly. Like we would ever throw Hulk into space."]]
** Comicbook/{{Quicksilver}} has a thing for [[BrotherSisterIncest redheads with green eyes]].
* The two-issue ''Franchise/{{Batman}}: Orphans'' miniseries opens with a dead kid in a Robin costume. The boy is revealed to be [[Film/BatmanForever Chris]] [[Series/{{Batman}} Ward]], the estranged son of industrialist [[Creator/AdamWest Adam Ward]].
* Characters from ''ComicBook/SonicTheComic'' cameoed in a non-canon ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehog'' issue.
** There's a subtle one in the introduction of the handheld supercomputer Nicole: In [[WesternAnimation/SonicSatAM the cartoon]], Sonic develops a bit of a habit of shaking her when the words she uses get too big for him. It's funny, but more than a little uncomfortable. In the comic, it's the first thing Sonic tries with her until she ''fights back'' by shocking him.
--->'''Sally:''' That wasn't very ''nice,'' Nicole!
--->'''Nicole:''' [[AC:Neither was nearly shaking me to pieces!]]
* The one-shot all-humor 1982 comic "The Fantastic Four Roast" does a little zig-zagging. When Dr. Doom takes the podium, he says that he became Dr. Doom after being upset that Reed Richards and his college brothers didn't invite him to go on a panty raid.
* In ''ComicBook/MegaMan'', the first issue's ''Short Circuits'' had Mega Man asking if he was now a [[WesternAnimation/MegaMan Super Fighting Robot]]. As it turns out, he was upgraded into [[spoiler: the infamously bad cover art from the first Mega Man game]].
* ''Graphics Classics: Creator/HPLovecraft'': "Literature/SweetErmengarde" is a comedy rather than cosmic horror, but for this product, it was illustrated as a play put on by humans for an audience of {{Eldritch Abomination}}s. The front row of the audience includes a Deep One, Herbert West (with a severed head and a syringe), Keziah Mason and Brown Jenkin, referencing "Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth", ''Literature/HerbertWestReanimator'' and "Literature/TheDreamsInTheWitchHouse".
* The ''Franchise/StarTrek[=/=]ComicBook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'' comic, the Trek part of which is firmly ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' continuity, rather than [[Film/StarTrek the 2011 movie]], nonetheless has Uhura refer to having an [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Orion]] roommate at the Academy.
** Which makes sense. If the destruction of the Kelvin didn't affect her up until then she likely was in the Academy at that point anyway.
* The ''ComicBook/DCOneMillion 80-Page Giant'' included the first meeting of Superman 1M and Batman 1M, in which they both disguised themselves as villains to infiltrate a meeting of the [[LegionOfDoom Superman and Batman Revenge Squads]]. The meeting took place on an interdimensional freighter called the ''Varania'', which also happens to be the name of the cruise ship where Clark and Bruce first learnt each others' identities in pre-ComicBook/{{Crisis|on Infinite Earths}} continuity.
* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' #607, the members of the Superman Squad of transtemporal Man of Steel descendants include "Kan and Leyna, the Super Twins who defend the planet Nexxor". Not only is this a Kryptonian play on [[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends Zan and Jayna, the Wonder Twins from the planet Exxor]], but Kan and Leyna's costumes and appearance are clearly based on the possible-future versions of ComicBook/{{Superboy}} (Kon-El) and ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} seen in a single panel of ''ComicBook/KingdomCome''.
* ''ComicBook/StarTrekTheNextGenerationDoctorWhoAssimilation2''. When the TARDIS crew explores San Francisco, they come across Tom's Bakery on 4th Street. Creator/TomBaker, of course, played the [[Series/DoctorWho Fourth Doctor]].
* IDW's Franchise/{{Godzilla}} series.
** Kingdom of Monsters had the president ask what would happen if they dropped a nuke on Godzilla with the supposed consequence giving him laser eyes.
** Battra coiling around the Eiffel Tower harkens back to Mothra.
** The way Godzilla, Anguirus and Rodan are introduced are very much in line to how they were introduced in their respective movies.
** Godzilla Legends, full-stop. Issue one, we have cameos by King Ghidorah and Gigan, issue three has the [[spoiler: retro style [=MechaGodzillas=]]] and issue four has a cat seen in the sludge covered remains of a city and a quip about Godzilla flying.
** Godzilla Gangsters and Goliaths: the fairies of Mothra are referred to briefly as the Shobijin, the Cosmos and finally, as they're called in the comic itself, the Elias.
** Godzilla: The Half-Century War is chock full of these. In issue one, it's a POVSequel of Godzilla 1954. There's also a building with a squid logo resembling Gezora. Issue 2, Anguirus doing his spike move from the Showa series (in that he turns around and launches himself backwards). Issue 3 has a guy named Dr. Deverich (it also counts as a TakeThat to Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin). Issue 4 is a narrowed down WholePlotReference to the original script of Godzilla vs. [=SpaceGodzilla=] but with a container that was supposed to be used in Godzilla vs. [=MechaGodzilla=] II's original script. Issue 5 is a homage to Godzilla vs. Gigan and is set in Antarctica just like Final Wars, At World's End and Godzilla Raids Again.
** In issue 11 of the ongoing Godzilla comic, Godzilla uses his breath ray to propel himself upward like a rocket to escape the ravine he gets trapped in during his battle against Hedorah.
** In the Rulers of Earth series, just the very preview pages are full of [=MGs=]. Zilla's arrival is almost like the 1998 film and the Yahlen boat from Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep, not to mention a cameo by Shockirus. There's also an appearance of the [[Film/{{Atragon}} the Gotengo]] as a model, Godzilla's Japanese name and the fact Lucy's hotel room is called 1954, a not so subtle reference to the first film.
* In the first issue of Roger Langridge's ''Comicstrip/{{Popeye}}'' comic, when Castor Oyl asks Popeye if he'll help them "round up a critter", Popeye quips "Round up? Ja t'ink I'm a cowboy?", a nod to his first line from the original ''Thimble Theater'' strip that introduced him.
* In ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' v5 #27, [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] Jr. is shown to be a big fan of Music/{{Elvis|Presley}}. In real life, Elvis based his look on that of Captain Marvel Jr.
* ''ComicBook/TeenTitansGo'', being a RecursiveAdaptation, makes a few rifts to the [[ComicBook/TeenTitans comic]] the [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans cartoon]] was based on:
** Issue #18 has Larry put the Titans "all back the way you should be:"
*** Starfire acquires her mainstream version's hair and exclaims "X'Hal!"
*** Beast Boy gets his old Doom Patrol costume.
*** Robin gets an older version of his costume. [[UnderwearOfPower With no real pants.]]
** Raven gets a [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] hung on her more goth like appearance.
** There's also the Terror Titans of Issue #48, three of whom are Red Robin, Arsenal, and Tempest -- the same names used by certain older versions of Robin, Speedy, and Aqualad. As their team name indicates, they're decidedly twisted versions.
** That same issue features Raven opening doors to various alternate realities, including the original flavor ''Teen Titans'' from the Silver Age, and in a blink and you'll miss it peek, Secret and Lobo of ''ComicBook/YoungJustice.''
** In Issue #39, a Valentine's Day issue, Speedy and Cheshire get hit by an arrow, and fall in love. In the comics, they briefly fell in love, and had a child together.
** The 36th issue has Robin work together with Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl. In the original comics, they were the members of the first Teen Titans.
* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'':
** Not only do we get a LawyerFriendlyCameo of ''the'' G1 pony Firefly, on the same page there's a building that says "Est. 1982", the same year the first ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' toys came out.
** The emo/goth pony seen during the news interview montage in ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyMicroSeries'' Issue #2? She's actually the [[http://www.toyark.com/news/san-diego-comic-con-58/my-little-pony-convention-exclusive-comic-con-2011-4332/ 2011 Comic Con Special Edition Pony!]]
** During the "Zen and the Art of Gazebo Repair" arc, we see Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity relating an adventure involving giant bees and a Sun Stone, a nod to the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'' arc "The End of Flutter Valley".
** Cheerilee has a twin sister named "Cherry Blossom". In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyG3'' Cheerilee was a unicorn until the "[[FanNickname Core 7]]" soft-reboot made her a CompositeCharacter with the unrelated "Cherry Blossom" character.
* The DC {{Elseworlds}} story, ''Franchise/{{Superman}}[=/=]WonderWoman: Whom Gods Destroy'', written by Creator/ChrisClaremont, is set in a universe where Artemis and Athena transform ComicBook/LoisLane into Wonder Woman, while turning Lana Lang into the Oracle of Delphi so that they may join with Superman in battle against Ares and his followers. The story ends with Lois, Lana and Superman in a [[{{Polyamory}} polyamorous relationship]]. In real life, William Moulton Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman, had a deeply committed polyamorous relationship with his wife and another woman.
** In the same story, there's an easy-to-miss glimpse of "Otisburg" on a map of Germany, referring to the map joke from ''Film/SupermanTheMovie''.
* In ''Red Robin'' 19, Tim Drake, a former Robin, trapped in the Unternet, wakes up and wonders where he is, but then states, "Well that answers that", saying it's a nightmare. Next page reveals that he is looking at a Silver Age Batman and Robin fighting Silver Age bad guys to which Red Robin responds, "Holy make believe". This same statement also doubles as an answer to a riddle by the Riddler.
* Batwing's costume looks a lot like the imaginary African-American Batman (aka "Bat-Wings") in the seventies comic "The Batman Nobody Knows". Only less seventies.
* In the zero issue of IDW's ''Comicbook/DungeonsAndDragons'' comic, halfling rogue Bree attempts to pry the ruby from the left eyesocket of a [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/09/PlayersHandbook8Cover.jpg familiar looking statue]]. (The gem in the right socket has already gone, of course.)
* The fourth issue of IDW's ''The New ComicBook/{{Ghostbusters}}'' has a subtle nod to Louis Tully from the movies combined with a ShoutOut to ''{{Franchise/Scooby Doo}}'' when Egon says the group has to split up:
-->'''Ron Alexander:''' Do you guys also have a talking dog?
-->'''Ray:''' Not since our accountant left New York.
* In the ''ComicBook/{{Armageddon 2001}}'' crossover event, one of Superman's alternate timelines is basically a more tragic version of the ''Film/SupermanIVTheQuestForPeace'' storyline, sans Nuclear Man, and with Superman using force instead of diplomacy and the goodwill of the nations to eradicate nuclear weapons, adding a bit of the ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' finale as part of its ending.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Superboy}}'' [[ComicBook/{{New52}} Volume Six]] [[spoiler: Jon Lane Kent, the son of Superman and Lois from a possible future and template for Superboy, wears a costume that looks a lot like the 90s Superboy costume]].
** Adding on to that, [[spoiler: Superboy's status as an opposite morality clone of another Superboy makes him the Nu52 version of [[EvilKnockoff Match]]. Jon Kent and the Post-Crisis Superboy were emotional and extroverted teenagers, while Match and Nu52 Superboy are their stoic and technically superior clones. Jon Kent was even mentioned as having genetic issues, a common problem for the first version of Kon-El.]]
* In ''[[Comicbook/GreenLantern Red Lanterns]]'' #28, the spherical Red Lantern Zillius Zox gets squashed in a battle with Shadow Thief, making him taller and narrower (but still basically [[{{Cephalothorax}} a head with arms and legs]]). He looks a lot like the [[Film/GreenLantern movie]] version of his fellow Noc'sagian [[http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Galius_Zed_%28Green_Lantern_Movie%29 Galius Zed]].
* In the ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' SpinOff ''FF'', the adult members of the Future Foundation include Darla Deering, a pop singer wearing the Thing-suit Reed invented one of the times Ben lost his powers. Later, Ant-Man improves it so she can summon the suit by touching two rings together - a reference to Benjy Grimm and his Thing Ring from the ''WesternAnimation/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing'' cartoon series.
* ''Web of Comicbook/SpiderMan'' #75 includes multiple cameos as various heroes deal with the villain causing a snow storm in New York, but makes a point of having Spidey interact with Iceman and Firestar, as a reference to the animated series ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends''.
* Referencing ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManAndHisAmazingFriends'' is also the whole point of the ''Comicbook/UltimateSpiderMan'' arc "Amazing Friends", in which Gwen Stacy [[CompositeCharacter becomes Firestar]], and she, Human Torch and Iceman all end up staying at Aunt May's.
** In another issue where everyone holds a memorial for Peter Parker, Iceman has an ImagineSpot that references both Amazing Friends, and the then current Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, featuring Spidey leading a team consisting of Firestar, Iceman, Nova and White Tiger.
* ''Comicbook/TheBeano'' dated 5th April 2014 includes a flashback to when [[Comicbook/DennisTheMenaceUK Dennis]]'s Gran was a little girl. Her dad (Dennis's great-granddad) looks just like Dennis's Dad did before the 2012 revamp of Dennis's parents.
* The opening scene of Boom Studios' ''Muppet Snow White'' comic introduces Gonzo and Rizzo as Creator/TheBrothersGrimm. Not only is their dialogue closely based on the opening scene of ''Film/TheMuppetChristmasCarol'', which introduces Gonzo as Creator/CharlesDickens and Rizzo AsHimself, but Rizzo {{lampshades}} the unlikeliness of them being brothers by saying "I'm a rat and you're a ... whatever", the same thing he said in ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'', when talking about him and Gonzo being Jim's family. Gonzo replies that it worked for [[Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper Kermit and Fozzie]].
* In ''ComicBook/Batman66'' #3 (the comic based on the ''Series/{{Batman}}'' TV series) there's a character called the Red Hood, who looks a lot like the original Red Hood from regular continuity (that is, ComicBook/TheJoker before he became the Joker) and claims to be the Joker's greatest enemy. He turns out to be [[spoiler: the Joker's psychiatrist, possessed by the Joker's subconscious through his brainwave helmet and acting out a plan to free him]]. In the same story, one of the other psychiatrists at the Arkham Institute is [[Comicbook/HarleyQuinn Dr Quinn]], who refuses to call the Joker by his criminal name, and therefore refers to him as "Patient J".
* ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'':
** In ''Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World #1'', Vandal Savage is heavily implied to be [[BiblicalBadGuy Cain]], just as he was in that position during ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis''.
** ''Mastermen #1'':
*** Overman holds the dead body of Overgirl aloft in the exact same way Superman did Supergirl on the cover of ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths #7''.
*** Overman's wife is a self-focused redhead named Lena, whose maiden name is never given. In many continuities, Lex Luthor (who if he isn't bald has red hair) has a relative, either his sister or niece, named ''Lena''.
** In ''Pax Americana #1'', Blue Beetle (I) suggests "the Sentinels" and "the Law" as names for the Pax. ''Sentinels of Justice'' was a proposed Charlton superteam shortly before DC bought the characters, and ''The L.A.W.'' was the 90s DC version.
** At one point during ''Ultra Comics #1'', the titular hero encounters several other DC Comics characters who were also named "Ultra," including Ultra, the Multi-Alien and [[spoiler:Ultraa, who was originally Earth-Prime's sole superhero Pre-Crisis]].
* In ''ComicBook/TeenTitansEarthOne'', Garfield Logan wears a red hoodie with white stripes running down the arms, recalling the outfit his mainstream counterpart wore as ''Changeling'' during ''The New Teen Titans''.
* In the third issue of the crossover between the IDW versions of ''ComicBook/{{Ghostbusters}}'' and ''[[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'', both teams are riding in the former's van, and Michelangelo says he wants one and that they could get a full kitchen in there easily. Raphael sarcastically asks if he'll want a blimp next. Both are references to the [[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles 1987 cartoon]] and toy line.
* In ''Comicbook/GothamAcademy'' #17, ComicBook/KlarionTheWitchBoy is stuck in the sewers with Killer Croc, who he says "stopped being amusing after the second [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries rock story]]".
* In the 2015 reboot of ''ComicBook/{{Prez|2015}}'', written by Mark Russell, a series of improbable events results in teenager Beth Ross winding up as President of the United States despite having no political ambitions or experience. Her mentor in her new role is a congressman named Preston Rickard -- which is almost but not quite the name of the teen president in the original ''ComicBook/{{Prez|1973}}'', whom he is drawn to resemble. At her inauguration, the bible she's asked to swear on is clearly visible as a copy of Mark Russell's Bible-retelling graphic novel ''God Is Disappointed in You''.
* ''ComicBook/FutureQuest'':
** From Issue #1:
*** In the prologue, the unnamed captain who will become Space Ghost is wearing a uniform identical to what Jan and Jace wore during [[WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost the original series]], and is given his signature powerbands by a general who looks identical to the person who gave Space Ghost his equipment in the 2005 comic-book miniseries.
*** Zin's spiderbots appear identical to the ones from the ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' episode "The Robot Spy".
*** The signature "BIRDMAN!" scream appears as onomatopoeia when [[WesternAnimation/{{Birdman}} he]] transforms.
*** The portal that Jonny and Hadji look through appears to use stock art from the original shows.
* In the ''ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}'' issue of the "ComicBook/NightOfTheMonsterMen" BatFamilyCrossover, Alfred says that Hugo Strange's Monster Men formula (previously implied to be derived from "a quantity of Venom" Strange got from Bane) has similarities to patents by Dr Penelope Young and Dr Jackson Chappell. Young and Chappell both created Venom variants in other media; the Titan Project in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' and "slappers" in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''.
* ''ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel'' would make a few oblique references to the toys:
** In issue 86, the original G.I. Joe (later given the full name Joseph Colton) is introduced into the ARAH mythos, as the head of a secret SDI installation located in a New York skyscraper; the project director, Jane, was also the team nurse of Joe's original team. Upon the revelation, a stunned Muskrat quips, "I always thought you guys were... bigger," referencing the difference between the 3.75" ARAH toys and the original 12" action figures.
** Issue 123 introduces the Eco-Warrors sub-team, with veteran Flint assigned to lead a new group of Joes. One of them points out that their new {{Hazmat Suit}}s are made from recycled action figures.
* In ''Comicbook/WonderWoman '77'', a comic based on [[Series/WonderWoman the Linda Carter series]], one issue has Diana trapped in an imaginary world where someone else is Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. This reality's Wonder Woman looks like the Cathy Lee Crosby version from the failed 1974 pilot. In addition, Diana is told her real name is Donna Troy, the original Wonder Girl in the comics, and two people who look like Hippolyta and Drusilla introduce themselves as Julia Kapatelis and her daughter Vanessa, who were key members of Wonder Woman's supporting cast in the early ComicBook/PostCrisis comics.
* In ''[[Franchise/ArchieComics Archie]] vs. {{Film/Sharknado}}'', Melody Valentine is told she looks like April Wexler. The character's actress, Tara Reid, played her in the [[Film/JosieAndThePussycats 2001 film]].
* In ''Comicbook/TheRay'' oneshot that precedes ''Comicbook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRebirth'', Ray fights an alt-right militia called the Sons of Liberty. In pre-''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}'' continuity the Sons of Liberty were a government conspiracy in ''Superman'' who funded the right-wing superhero Agent Liberty ... who joined [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational Justice League America]] at the same time as the Ray.
* In the ''Killer Frost'' one-shot during ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil'', Caitlin Snow's predecessor as head of the S.T.A.R. Labs outpost was Louise Lincoln, the previous Killer Frost in pre-''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'' continuity.
* ''Comicbook/DetectiveComicsRebirth''
** In the storyline "Intelligence", Batwing is working on a suit of AI armour that will access Jean-Paul Valley's Comicbook/{{Azrael}} abilities without making him BrainwashedAndCrazy the way his regular suit does. And the obvious model is Batman, resulting in Jean-Paul temporarily reclaiming his [=AzBats=] persona from the previous continuity.
** When Red Robin returns, he discusses computer security with Batwing, using the same {{technobabble}} he spouted in ''Batman/Punisher''. Clayface refuses to believe they're real words.
** In the annual, Clayface's origin story is basically a riff on ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'''s version of Matt Hagan, an actor is disfigured in a accident and tries to restore his good looks with a chemical that gives him shapeshifting, but makes him lose cohesion and drives him mad. The chemical is even made by the Daggett Corporation, although in this version it's clearly labelled not for use on skin, rather than being intended for that purpose. And the film Basil Karlo is desperate to appear in is about a silent movie star seeking revenge on the creators of a talkie remake. This is the plot of ''Detective Comics'' vol 1 #40, "The Murders of Clayface", which introduced a (then non-powered) Basil Karlo.
* At a "Heroes and Villains" costume party in ''[[Comicbook/HarleyQuinn Harley]] and [[Comicbook/PoisonIvy Ivy]] Meet [[Franchise/ArchieComics Betty and Veronica]]'', the Gotham girls are "disguised" in their pre-Flashpoint costumes, and Archie is dressed as Pureheart, his SuperheroEpisode persona.
* In ''Comicbook/TheFlash (Rebirth)'', the MechaMook guards at Iron Heights are called the Pipeline, after an old wing of the prison which was notorious for its inhumane treatment of metas. In ''Series/TheFlash2014'', the Pipeline was a prison built into the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator, where Team Flash kept metacriminals before the courts and prison system developed ways to deal with them.
* In ''Comicbook/SuperSons'', Jon Kent somehow has a poster on his wall of the pre-Flashpoint Comicbook/{{Superboy}} and his "Ravers" team.
* In ''Comicbook/NightwingRebirth'', a flashback shows Dick, after retiring as Robin but before taking on the Nightwing identity, creating a temporary costume out of his workout clothes, which looks a lot like the original "disco" Nightwing costume.
* In ''Comicbook/MilesMorales Spider-Man'' #16, when Ganke can't use his real name for fear of giving away Miles's identity he calls himself "Ned". ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' had a character very similar to Ganke, but named after Ned Leeds.
----

* In ''Comicbook/MilesMoralesSpiderMan'' #16, when Ganke can't use his real name for fear of giving away Miles's identity he calls himself "Ned". ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' had a character very similar to Ganke, but named after Ned Leeds.

* All over the place in ComicBook/UltimateMarvel.
** One memorable RunningGag is in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'': whenever Spidey swings by the police station, the cops are taking away some screaming nut in a superhero costume who somehow references the latest CrisisCrossover in the main Marvel universe. So far we've seen "Scarlet Witch" claiming that she wasn't crazy (''ComicBook/HouseOfM''), "Speedball" yelling "Not like this! Not like this!" (''ComicBook/CivilWar''), and "Elektra"(?) asking who can you trust (''ComicBook/SecretInvasion'').
** We've also seen a female dressed suspiciously like a Green Lantern shouting, "Choose your side!! Choose your side!!", suggesting the comic has progressed to needling the Distinguished Competition (''Franchise/GreenLantern [[TheChosenMany Corps]]'' and its storyline ''ComicBook/BlackestNight'').
** And it continues in the new ''Comicbook/MilesMorales'' series, where a woman in a rabbit costume (Dumb Bunny from ''Inferior Five''?) is demanding to know how you can be "Comicbook/{{Rebirth}}ed".
** A girl dressed as Spider-Woman was seen during a story which marked Ultimate Mysterio's debut.
** After his [[spoiler:OppositeSexClone]] leaves, Peter muses on her organic web shooters before dismissing them as a silly idea. During this time, the main Marvel Universe Spider-Man still had organic web shooters.
** At one point in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', Sam Raimi is directing a Spider-Man movie starring Tobey Maguire with (judging from Spidey's "You were cool in Evil Dead" comment) Bruce Campbell involved somehow. Why does that sound familiar?
** Ultimate Beetle (who has an entirely different origin from 616's Abner Jenkins) wears an armoured suit that looks a ''little'' like the classic Beetle, and a lot more like Jenkins's later identity of [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} M.A.C.H.-V]].

** In the annual, Clayface's origin story is basically a riff on ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'''s version of Matt Hagan, an actor is disfigured in a accident and tries to restore his good looks with a chemical that gives him shapeshifting, but makes him lose cohesion and drives him mad. The chemical is even made by the Daggett Corporation, although in this version it's clearly labelled not for use on skin, rather than being intended for that purpose. And the film Basil Karlo is desperate so to appear in is about a silent movie star seeking revenge on the creators of a talkie remake. This is the plot of ''Detective Comics'' vol 1 #40, "The Murders of Clayface", which introduced a (then non-powered) Basil Karlo.

* In ''Comicbook/WonderWoman '77'', a comic based on [[Series/WonderWoman the Linda Carter series]], one issue has Diana trapped in an imaginary world where someone else is Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. This reality's Wonder Woman looks like the Cathy Lee Crosby version from the failed 1974 pilot. In addition, Diana is told her real name is Donna Troy, the original Wonder Girl in the comics, and two people who look like Hippolyta and Drusilla introduce themselves as Julia Kapatelis and her daughter Vanessa, who were key members of Wonder Woman's supporting cast in the early PostCrisis comics.

* In the ''Comicbook/DetectiveComicsRebirth'' storyline "Intelligence", Batwing is working on a suit of AI armour that will access Jean-Paul Valley's Comicbook/{{Azrael}} abilities without making him BrainwashedAndCrazy the way his regular suit does. And the obvious model is Batman, resulting in Jean-Paul temporarily reclaiming his [=AzBats=] persona from the previous continuity.

** Another reference to this occurred in ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMonstrosity''. Scorpionok betrayed Megatron and left him for dead in order to assume control of the Decepticons himself. Just as he was doing so, Megatron came storming in, complaining that it was "bad comedy." Scorpionok looked up to see the strange (Megatron had repaired himself using Junkion tech) 'Con standing at the end of the room.