Line #27 Main/SpiritualCrossover


1	[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/TheAvengers https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rco001_1476150914_3.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Totally not {{evil knockoff}}s of the ComicBook/JusticeLeague, we swear!]]
3
4	->''"In this classic tale, [[Literature/ArseneLupin Lupin]] comes up against the only man who may be able to stop him . . . no less than the great British gentleman-detective [[Literature/SherlockHolmes Herlock Sholmes]]! Who will emerge triumphant?"''
5	-->-- Blurb for ''Arsène Lupin versus Herlock Sholmes'', by Maurice Leblanc
6
7	There are some crossovers that are blindingly obvious, but can never quite get off the ground. Maybe one of the creators didn't like the idea, maybe the characters are owned by different companies that can't make a deal, maybe it just got stuck in DevelopmentHell somewhere along the way. Regardless, one side of the crossover still wants to do it enough that they're willing to bend the rules a little bit to make it happen. After all, what does it matter if it's not ComicBook/{{Superman}} that's punching ComicBook/CaptainAmerica in the face for [[LetsYouAndHimFight the vaguest of reasons]], but [[CaptainErsatz Duperman]]?
8
9	A Spiritual Crossover is what happens when a FakeCrossover [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] SpiritualAdaptation. The characters created as a result may [[PutOnABus vanish]] after fulfilling their crossover purpose, or they may stick around, since they're owned by the same company and there are thus no restrictions to their use.
10
11	This may involve a CastOfExpies, in case there are several individual characters copied from a different work or works instead of just one. Also, do not be surprised if these newly-made characters are made [[CorruptedCharacterCopy a little more villainous]] than their original versions just to [[TakeThat pour some more salt on the wound]].
12
13	Compare[=/=]Contrast CaptainErsatz and {{Expy}}, which are about individual clones of another company[=/=]writer's character that aren't necessarily involved in any sort of {{Crossover}} plot. Do not confuse with the aforementioned FakeCrossover, which is [[NonIndicativeName actually about genuine crossovers]] that don't count in the chronology of one or both franchises involved.
14	----
15	!!Examples:
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17	[[foldercontrol]]
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19	[[folder:Comic Books]]
20	* The Champions of Angor, a team of Ersatzes of ComicBook/TheAvengers, battled the ComicBook/JusticeLeague the ''exact same month'' that the ComicBook/SquadronSupreme (a team of Justice League copycats) fought the Avengers in their book. This was done because the writers on both books were friends. So if you bought a copy of Justice League in February of 1971, you got to see them LetsYouAndHimFight with the Avengers, but not really, and fans of the Avengers had the opposite experience. Future incarnations of the Champions would take on new names such as "Justifiers", "Retaliators" and the "Meta Militia", this last one being a pastiche of ComicBook/TheUltimates.
21	* Another simultaneous example from Marvel and DC were the Crusaders. In the late seventies, DC's ComicBook/{{Freedom Fighters\|DCComics}} battled a team by that name based on Marvel's [[ComicBook/TheInvadersMarvelComics Invaders]], whilst the Invaders faced off with another team with the same name in their book, but based on the Freedom Fighters. More information can be found in their respective [[https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Crusaders_(Earth-616) wiki]] [[https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Crusaders_(Earth-One) pages]].
22	* [[RuleOfThree Yet another pastiche]] of a rival company's team are the Shi'ar Imperial Guard from Marvel, who most often fight the ComicBook/XMen. In their inception, they were patterned after the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperheroes, as at the time, they had a level of popularity akin to the X-Men's and a crossover between the two was proposed, but never materialized. However, with the Guard becoming prominent characters, Marvel has {{downplayed\|Trope}} the similarities over time, even introducing members that aren't based on any Legion character, [[AuthorsSavingThrow somewhat distancing their more recent appearances from this trope]].
23	* At one point Marvel and DC had a special type of crossover in mind: one character of each company would be stranded, for a year, in the universe of the other company, that would use it for a year as they saw fit. The project fell into DevelopmentHell and was never done. So both companies did it on their own. Marvel had the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel universe (an UltimateUniverse of the Marvel universe) and the ComicBook/SupremePower universe (an UltimateUniverse of the aforementioned Squadron Supreme, and so based on DC Comics to some degree). There was a crossover between both in "Ultimate Power", and after it Nick Fury was moved to the Supreme Power universe and Zarda to the Ultimate Marvel one. DC did a similar plot arc which had the main DC Universe's ComicBook/CaptainAtom swapped over with the Creator/{{Wildstorm}} universe character [[Characters/WildCATSMrMajestic Majestic]] for a time.
24	* ''ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}'': In ''ComicBook/DeathstrokeRebirth'', Deathstroke briefly teams up with a mental patient named Devon, who fashions an elaborate costume resembling Deathstroke, breaks the fourth wall while directly alluding to the first time Deadpool did so, and then admits "[[LampshadeHanging it would be freaking ironic if they sued us]]". The storyline was written by Creator/{{Christopher Priest\|Comics}}, who has a celebrated run on Deadpool and established the character's meta nature for the first time.
25	* ''ComicBook/InferiorFive'': The comic has featured characters such as Man-Mountain (The Hulk), The Egg's Men (The X-Men), The Kookie Quartet (The Fantastic Four, using a [[ComicBook/CapsKookyQuartet nickname for one of the Avengers' lineups]]) and the Cobweb Kid (Spider-Man) as antagonists for the satirical superteam. Though they didn't have to worry about renaming Thor, [[OddNameOut who just stayed Thor]]. Cobweb Kid was sent to find him by "[[Creator/StanLee Stanley]]" due to Thor shirking his contract with their comics company because he didn't want to shave his beard, and then ran into the titular Five.
26	* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational'': The "Old Glory" five-issue arc was all about the League (well, mostly [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]]) meeting a ComicBook/CaptainAmerica expy and having to deal with the fallout from his reappearance in the modern world, mainly involving a BigBadFriend of the General's and an aging Nazi supervillain. The Capt- er, that is, the General stuck around, becoming a roommate for Guy Gardner and providing hokey golden age wisdom. He would also end up on the receiving end of this trope with a ComicBook/{{Youngblood\|ImageComics}} expy team called "Wildblood", albeit briefly and only as [[ShowWithinAShow a story in comic books inspired by the real General's life]].
27	* ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'': Though it's already a MassivelyMultiplayerCrossover of several public domain characters and novels, the series ran into this when Creator/AlanMoore tried to add more contemporary characters. [[Franchise/JamesBond Jimmy Bond]], an incompetent and [[StrawMisogynist mysogynistic]] agent of the British Secret Service, was introduced in ''The Black Dossier'' as an antagonist, and ''Volume 3: Century'' had [[Franchise/HarryPotter The Antichrist]], an orphan with magical powers who studied at a secret school for wizards go on a killing spree after discovering his destiny and killing many of his supporting cast ([[AdaptationalVillainy though they were all satanists here]], [[AssholeVictim so who cares]]). Needless to say, many people were ''pissed off'' at these.
28	* ''ComicBook/MarshalLaw'': This is Marshal Law's entire ''gimmick'' - he's a HeroKiller and oftentimes his victims are parodies of established superheroes, whether owned by whatever company is publishing him or otherwise. He does do actual crossovers sometimes, having encountered ComicBook/TheMask when he was at Creator/{{Dark Horse\|Comics}}, for instance, but mostly just faces {{Captain Ersatz}}es. There was also an Franchise/{{Alien}} crossover that would start with the xenomorphs attacking a pastiche of the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperheroes - basically a spiritual crossover mixed with actual crossover - but the plans fell through, as they often do, [[EnforcedTrope and the aliens were disguised at the last minute, as well]].
29	* ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'': The comic has characters from the DCU deal with not only characters from [[Creator/MarvelComics Major Comics]], but also the likes of [[ComicBook/{{Spawn}} Spore]] and [[ComicBook/SavageDragon Dino-Cop]]. The concept of the series is that all the comics in our world are doors to parallel universes, so it seems Creator/GrantMorrison felt they had to be in there one way or another to complete the {{Kayfabe}}. The Earths shown to include pastiches are as follows: Earth-7 (Ultimate Marvel), Earth-8 (Mainstream Marvel) Earth 25 (Nedor Comics), Earth-34 (Astro City), Earth-35 (Awesome Comics), Earth-36 (Big Bang Comics), Earth-41 (Image Comics) and Earth-48 (a mishmash of the original Earth-6 and the ComicBook/TopTen characters by Alan Moore).
30	* ''ComicBook/NotBrandEchh'': The comic had an entire issue dedicated to this, though this being Brand Echh, both sides were comprised of {{Captain Ersatz}}es: [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Spidey-Man]] battled [[ComicBook/{{Batman}} Gnatman]] And [[ComicBook/{{Robin}} Rotten]], The [[ComicBook/IronMan Ironed Man]] dueled with [[ComicBook/MagnusRobotFighter Magnut, Robot Biter]] and [[ComicBook/NickFury Knock Furious, agent of S.H.E.E.S.H.]] fought the [[ComicBook/ThunderAgents Blunder Agents]]. And it was glorious.
31	* ''ComicBook/PowerManAndIronFist'': A strange issue had the pair interacting with a very blatant expy of ''Franchise/DoctorWho'' named Professor Gamble, a former member of the [[TimePolice Time Variance Authority]] who used a time machine able to camouflage itself according to its surroundings (it ''usually'' takes a form less conspicuous than a phone booth, though). Luke and Danny end up having to defend an actor playing Gamble in a broadway production from the "Dredloks" (the Daleks, but saying "Incinerate!" instead of 'Exterminate!"). It should be noted Marvel did have the rights for the Doctor at the time, so this instance was most likely done so they didn't have to worry about [[ScrewedByTheLawyers not being able to reprint the story later]]. Gamble remained a (minor) part of the Marvel universe thereafter. Oh, and that Broadway play? It was called "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E1DayOfTheDaleks Day of the Dredloks]]".
32	* ''ComicBook/{{Quasar}}'': In issue #17, several characters with SuperSpeed competed on a race to the moon, organized by the Runner, one of the Elders of the Universe. One such character was "Buried Alien", a speedster who suddenly appeared on the track in a [[StealthPun flash]] of lightning, amnesiac but with the feeling he was no longer in [[ComicBook/DCUniverse his own universe]]. It's heavily implied that this is [[ComicBook/TheFlash Barry Allen]], having been thrown into the Marvel universe after his seeming sacrifice in the ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths, albeit in a CaptainErsatz way. Regardless, fellow speedster Makkari brought him back to wherever he originally came from, and Buried Alien [[PutOnABus hasn't returned to Earth-616 since]].
33	-->'''Runner:''' Well, Buried, how does it feel to be the ''fastest man alive''? \
34	'''Buried:''' It feels... [[MythologyGag right]].
35	* ''ComicBook/SavageDragon'': A very [[TakeThat mean-spirited]] version happened with [[{{Tuckerization}} Johnny Redbeard]]'s 'Nixed Men'. Every single one of them was based on a Marvel or DC character that Creator/JohnByrne had reinvented in the past, and as such were all Ersatzes: Sensation (ComicBook/SheHulk), Fade (the ComicBook/InvisibleWoman), Sub-Human (ComicBook/SubMariner), Super-X (ComicBook/{{Superman}}) and Lightning Bug (ComicBook/{{Storm\|MarvelComics}}). Of these, the only one who survived was Sensation, who managed to become Savage Dragon's DistaffCounterpart, She-Dragon. The name of the team may ''seem'' like a reference to the ComicBook/XMen, but it is in fact a dig at a team Byrne created for Creator/DarkHorse... the ComicBook/NextMen.
36	* ''ComicBook/SheHulk'': She-Hulk teamed up with a GenderBender-fied ComicBook/{{Batman}} (in his [[Film/Batman1989 first movie form]]) expy called "Nosferata the She-Bat" in issues #19 and #20 of ''ComicBook/TheSensationalSheHulk'', in a story titled "[[ComicBook/BatmanYearOne Year Zero]]". In fact, the entire city of Gotham was expied as the city of Visigoth, [[ShownTheirWork down to Hamilton Hill becoming Hieronymous Hill]].
37	* ''ComicBook/SquadronSupreme'': Shown above is the Squadron Sinister, the first incarnation of the Squadron Supreme, who debuted in ComicBook/TheAvengers as analogues of the ComicBook/JusticeLeague. Their heroic counterparts would appear later and were even better examples of this trope: A superhero team from another dimension brainwashed into fighting the Avengers by a supervillain ([[RecycledScript again and again]]). It really sounds like a lazy script for a crossover that never got made. [[ComicBook/JLAAvengers Then it]] ''[[ComicBook/JLAAvengers did]]'' [[ComicBook/JLAAvengers get made]], and this is what ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} had to say about the Justice League:
38	--> '''Hawkeye''': Oh, right - now I got it! These losers [[{{Irony}} are nothing more than a bunch of Squadron Supreme wannabes]]! Five gets you ten they're mind-controlled.
39	* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
40	** ''ComicBook/{{Superman\|1939}} #276 starts with a young kid named Willie (as opposed to Billy) Creator/{{Fawcett\|Comics}} being transported 20 years into the future and meeting Superman. Willie is secretly Captain Thunder, a superhero from a bygone era, who gained his powers from a wizard who lived in a cave. Upon rubbing his magical belt buckle and saying "Thunder[[note]][[FunWithAcronyms Standing for]] the power of a '''T'''ornado, the speed of a '''H'''are, the bravery of '''U'''ncas, the wisdom of '''N'''ature, the toughness of a '''D'''iamond, the flight of the '''E'''agle and the tenacity of a '''R'''am[[/note]]!", he is transformed into his alter ego with a "Sha-Boom!" sound to fight evildoers! However, the Monster League of Evil somehow made Thunder [[FaceHeelTurn turn heel]] and help criminals instead of stopping them (to facilitate LetsYouAndHimFight with Superman, naturally). Criminals call him a "[[CaptainErsatz cheap imitation]]" of Superman, and Supes refers to him as "Big Red" at one point. Superman defeats him by tricking him into saying "Thunder" again and changing back. In case you still haven't figured it out, Captain Thunder is ComicBook/{{Shazam}}; the whole story was created to see if readers would be interested in reading about the real thing, as DC had just acquired the character. [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/f/f5/William_Fawcett_%28Earth-T%29_001.png/revision/latest?cb=20200907184120 Seriously, just look at him!]]
41	** Superman also had ''ComicBook/ActionComics #579'' to his name, in which him and Jimmy Olsen travel back in time to a coastal Gaulish village, surrounded by Roman garrisons which they keep at bay thanks to the druid Geta... sorry, Pictorix, and his magic potion that gives the drinker SuperStrength. Other major characters include Columnix, a portly, jolly fighter who gets into a brawl with Superman himself, or Prolifix, a soothsayer with dark ambitions. All in all, the issue is just one big excuse for an unauthorized Superman/''Franchise/{{Asterix}}'' crossover, though one with strangely melancholy undertones. The CaptainErsatz of Asterix himself is mysteriously missing (though Jimmy is given his clothes to fit in) and it's revealed that it's been ''centuries'' since the original comics and Pictorix keeps the entire place in a time bubble out of sheer sentimental value.
42	** During the seventies, Cary Bates wanted to see what it would be like to have Superman fight ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}, so he created a more realistic-looking version of him named Captain Horatio Strong. In his debut, Strong gained superhuman strength from an alien seaweed called sauncha, which he tried to market as a superfood. When prolonged exposure to the sauncha made Strong go through SanitySlippage (not helped by almost being swindled by some greedy {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}}s), Superman had to stop him. Strong and Superman had several further adventures together, each one incorporating another element of Popeye's world[[labelnote: such as]]Olivia Tallow (Olive Oyl), Carnox the Caveman (Lummox the Caveman), Drxla (likely a take on the Martians of the original comic), J. Wellington Jones (Wimpy), the Sea Witch (The Sea Hag) and Pappy Strong (Poopdeck Pappy)[[/labelnote]]. Captain Strong later cameoed in DC Challenge and Kevin Smith's Green Arrow before showing up as a supporting character in ComicBook/HarleyQuinn, with the drug metaphor aspects of his 'sauncha' cranked up further.
43	* ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'':
44	** #20-25 had the titular heroes being transported to the world of [[ComicBook/TheUltimates The Maximums]], who wanted revenge after a brainwashed Superman/Batman killed one of their teammates, Skyscraper (Giant-Man). It was ultimately revealed that the plot was masterminded by ComicBook/TheJoker and Mr. Mxyzptlk, playing a cosmic game in exchange for gaining - or losing - their RealityWarper powers. This was, itself, a reference to similar plotlines involving the Squadron Supreme. The story culminated in many Supermen and Batmen [[FusionDance being combined into the Composite Superman-Batman]] and the Maximums being combined into The Maximum Maximum, and then they fought. [[QuirkyWork It's that kind of series]].
45	---> '''Maximum Maximum:''' Do your best, you Dirty Coward[[note]][[StealthPun Yes, he capitalized the D and the C in the original line, too]][[/note]]. This day will be won by the one true ''ComicBook/{{Ultimate\|Marvel}}'' warrior!
46	** The first annual for this series introduced us to the MirrorUniverse counterpart of ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}}, a fast-talking, easygoing merc with a HealingFactor who is hired to protect his universe's Bruce Wayne. [[RunningGag He keeps trying to say his name throughout the story but is always interrupted]], sometimes [[TakeThat violently]]. He is an ersatz of ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, but the story does imply he is still named Deathstroke, as aside from their childhoods, their lives are said to be identical. Ultimately, he's thrown into an interdimensional rift while being interrupted one last time.
47	* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'': In 1994, the ''ComicBook/New TeenTitans'' fought a team called the [=RECOMbatants=] (Aurora [Rainbow], Dreadnaught [Tank], Topaz [Amber], and Pseudos [Sham]) at the same time as ''ComicBook/TheDNAgents'' fought a team called Project Youngblood (Black Owl [Nightwing], Celestia [Starfire], Amazing Girl [Wonder Girl], Roboto [Cyborg], and Heartstring [Jericho]). The stories followed much the same beats, except that in both of them it was the expy team that made a HeroicSacrifice.
48	* ''ComicBook/{{Vampirella}}'': ''Vampirella vs Fluffy'' has Vampirella teaming up with a blatant {{Expy}} of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. Fluffy even had her own stand ins for Buffy's supporting cast: Xtanley (Xander), Sallow (Willow), Carmilla (Cordelia) and Miles (Giles).
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51	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
52	* ''Film/GodzillaVsMechagodzilla'': Godzilla teams up with King Caesar, the monstrous, but peaceful, guardian of a secluded island, whose natives can control with an ancient chant. Replace the word 'Caesar' with '[[Franchise/KingKong Kong]]' and that same description could apply to the Toho version of King Kong seen in ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'', released a decade earlier, down to even having the same roar (not even modified or anything). The homage is sent up in ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'', where Kong and Godzilla [[spoiler: join forces to defeat Mechagodzilla, the same kaiju that Godzilla and Caesar defeated in that movie]].
53	* ''Film/GodzillaVsMegalon'': Paying the folks at ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' back for Jirahs/Jirass (listed in Live-Action TV below), this movie introduced 'Jet Jaguar' to the Godzilla franchise, who was [[SpotlightStealingSquad the heroic focus of the movie]]. Said character [[UltramanCopy looks nearly identical to Ultraman and can change size just like him]]. The movie ends with a SoBadItsGood ThemeSong for Jaguar that sounds like it would be played in the opening for a Tokusatsu show. Interestingly, not only was his original design much less of a blatant copy (looking vaguely like a Anime/MazingerZ with a Ultraman-inspired color scheme), but [[WhatCouldHaveBeen he was originally meant to be the de facto star of the movie]], and Godzilla was only included to boost sales. Which was probably a good idea, since Jet Jaguar is much more famous now as "That guy they used to make it look like Godzilla was fighting Ultraman" than he would have been as "That blatant Ultraman ripoff Toho tried to steal our money with".
54	* ''Film/GodzillaTokyoSOS'': A version that uses a preexisting character, Godzilla has an offscreen CurbStompBattle fight against Kamoebas, a giant turtle kaiju with a spiky shell and tusks (who originated from the non-Godzilla {{kaiju}} movie ''Film/SpaceAmoeba''). [[Film/{{Gamera}}If that sounds familiar]], don't be surprised, because WordOfGod has confirmed this was an intentional TakeThat at Gamera, Godzilla's longtime cinematic rival/copycat.
55	* ''Film/FridayThe13thPartVIITheNewBlood'' could have easily been retitled "Jason vs. Literature/{{Carrie}}", as Tina Shepard, the FinalGirl who fights Jason at the end, is a teenage girl with telekinetic powers suspiciously similar to Carrie White, from the two of them having the same hair color to both of them having AbusiveParents (a [[MyBelovedSmother mother]] for Carrie, a father for Tina) [[spoiler:who they kill with their powers]]. The idea may have come from the fact that the producers originally wanted to do a ''real'' crossover with another popular horror franchise, ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', but ''Friday''[='=]s studio Creator/{{Paramount}} and ''Nightmare''[='=]s studio Creator/NewLineCinema couldn't reach an agreement.[[note]]That crossover did eventually come in 2003 in the form of ''Film/FreddyVsJason'', but only [[DevelopmentHell many years]] after New Line bought the rights to the series.[[/note]]
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Literature]]
59	* The creator of ''Literature/ArseneLupin'' really wanted his GentlemanThief to match wits with the greatest detective character of the time, Literature/SherlockHolmes. But Creator/ArthurConanDoyle objected, so instead Leblanc just went and swapped the initials. The UK version at least tried to soften the blow by renaming him to 'Holmlock Shears'. The story would be adapted into a german film serial, whose copyright laws allowed it to become a genuine crossover. And of course, after both authors were dead, the two characters would tangle many a time in the hands of other writers[[note]]including [[VideoGame/SherlockHolmesVersusArseneLupin in videogame form]][[/note]].
60	* ''Literature/TheCanaryTrainer'', essentially a published Sherlock Holmes AU fanfic, saw the world's greatest detective embroiled in the world of theatre and opera, and meeting up with [[Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera the Opera Ghost]] who haunted that particular opera house.
61	* The ''Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse'' loves this trope:
62	** The ''Literature/PastDoctorAdventures'' story ''The Indestructible Man'' focused on Dystopian versions of Creator/GerryAnderson's creations. In particular, the title character himself is obviously ''Series/{{Captain Scarlet\|AndTheMysterons}}''. The summary for the book outright calls him "[[MythologyGag a man destiny has made indestructible]]", and his name, Grant Matthews, {{tuckeriz\|ation}}es both the model for his appearance, Creator/CaryGrant, and his voice actor, Francis Matthews.
63	** The ''Literature/DoctorWhoMissingAdventures'' novel ''Burning Heart'' is an interesting example, making the Doctor interact with {{Exp\|y}}ies of ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' (Adjudicator Craator) who defends Habitat (Mega-City One). What makes it interesting is not the subject of the crossover, but rather that the publisher HAD the rights for the Judge Dredd character, but decided against an official crossover, thus {{enforc\|edTrope}}ing this.
64	** The Literature/EighthDoctorAdventures story ''The Crooked World'' had the Doctor land in an AlternateTooniverse filled with Creator/WarnerBros properties, such as [[Franchise/ScoobyDoo The Skeleton Crew]], a group of five mystery-solving teens (and their dog), as well as [[WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry Jasper and Squeak]].
65	* ''Literature/AStudyInEmerald'' by Creator/NeilGaiman centers around an [[TheWatson unnamed war veteran]] who teams up with a [[WritingAroundTrademarks just-as-unnamed]] [[Franchise/SherlockHolmes brilliant, yet misanthropic genius]] to combat a revolutionary and his partner who are trying to destabilize the peace brought by [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos The Old Ones]] to earth. The revolutionary's name? [[spoiler: Why, [[TomatoSurprise Sherlock Holmes]]. The narrator, [[BaitAndSwitch who we were led to believe]] was Watson, is in fact Sebastian Moran, [[TheDragon Dragon]] of Moriarty. The TwistEnding thus changes the story from this trope into an actual crossover of the two properties.]]
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
69	* ''Series/{{Community}}'': The episode "Regional Holiday Music" is an extended TakeThat to ''Series/{{Glee}}''. The episode has the study group facing off with a very blatant {{Expy}} of Mr. Schue, who tries to get them to join his glee club after the previous members had died. It's also revealed [[spoiler: [[CorruptedCharacterCopy he's responsible for that glee club's death.]]]]
70	* The tokusatsu show ''Series/GoGreenman'' had the episode Greenman vs [[WritingAroundTrademarks Gorilla]], the latter of whom is simply a reused King Kong suit from ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla''. The character itself is a generic monster of the day in pretty much all respects, but it would have been the real deal had Toho not lost the rights to Kong.
71	* ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'' had the titular character battle Jirahs/Jirass, expy of ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}''. Aside from the name itself sounding like a shortening of [[DubNameChange GoJIRA]], it was played by [[Creator/HaruoNakajima the same actor]] in an outfit cobbled together from separate Godzilla suits ([[ParodyAssistance on loan from Toho themselves]]) and given a neck frill, and had a modified Godzilla roar. Then Ultraman ''[[RefugeInAudacity rips the neck frill off]]''. It should be noted that this was something of an example of RealLifeWritesThePlot - Creator/EijiTsuburaya wanted to make a more original kaiju for episode 10, but budgetary constraints forced them to go with the lazy option. [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools It worked]] - Jirahs/Jirass is one of the most famous Ultraman monsters precisely because of its nature as a Godzilla expy.
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Video Games]]
75	* ''VideoGame/ConkersBadFurDay'' has its [[spoiler:final]] boss battle involving a [[Franchise/{{Alien}} Xenomorph]] so utterly undisguised that TheRemake had to change his color to light blue! [[FluffyTheTerrible Its name is Heinrich]].
76	* ''VideoGame/TheRevengeOfShinobi'' rather infamously included a total of four bosses based on cultural icons, namely [[Franchise/TheTerminator the T-800]], Franchise/{{Batman}}, Franchise/SpiderMan and Franchise/{{Godzilla}}. The [=Batman/Spider-Man=] DualBoss is of particular note: In the original version they were a shapeshifter who morphed into Batman and Spider-Man-like forms; starting with revision 2, the Batman boss was changed to look more like Franchise/{{Devilman}} and the Spider-Man boss, in contrast, was given an even greater resemblance to Spider-Man, with the transition even being altered so that instead of transforming into the other character, the "Devilman" ripoff simply flies into the screen after Spider-Man leaves. Apparently Sega wanted to show off their new acquisition of the Spider-Man license. ([[FridgeLogic Why is Spider-Man working for an evil organization]]? [[RuleOfFun Just go with it!]] Maybe it's a classic [[LetsYouAndHimFight Marvel Misunderstanding]].) As for the other bosses, Godzilla was later altered to a skeletal dinosaur and Terminator... uh, stayed exactly the same.
77	** The T-800 also turns [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk green]] before revealing its robotic exoskeleton, for good measure.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Western Animation]]
81	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': The episode "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE23BewareTheCreeper Beware the Creeper]]" essentially uses the titular character as an {{expy}} of WesternAnimation/{{Freakazoid}}, making the episode into a strange blend of this and an actual crossover (ComicBook/TheCreeper is a preexisting Creator/DCComics hero). The fact that the showrunners for Batman also worked on Freakazoid, as well as how the show was cancelled only a year before this episode aired, might have had something to do with it. Their names are even both synonyms for "weirdo"!
82	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': "[[Recap/BatmanBeyondS1E8Heroes Heroes]]" centered around a new group of superheroes called "The Terrific Trio", ironically enough a name [[Series/Batman1966 once used for]] ComicBook/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/{{Robin}} and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}. They were scientists transformed by a FreakLabAccident and are clear references to the ComicBook/FantasticFour, but the personalities and roles have been flipped around somewhat. Further, General Norman is subbing in for [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk General Ross]], and the trio's ally Dr. Hodges is what Reed Richards would have been had the accusations ComicBook/DoctorDoom made about him been true: [[spoiler: sabotaging an experiment by his close friend out of petty jealousy, leading to an accident that scars both their bodies [[SanitySlippage and their minds]]]]. The Trio is eventually confronted by Batman, and let's just say [[DownerEnding it doesn't end well]].
83	* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'': The team of ComicBook/DoctorFate, ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}, [[Characters/GreenLantern1941 Solomon Grundy]], [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Hawkgirl]], ComicBook/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/WonderWoman battled the [[TentacledTerror octopoid]] [[EldritchAbomination abomination]] [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Icthultu]] in the episode "[[Recap/JusticeLeagueS2E15And16TheTerrorBeyond The Terror Beyond]]". Totally not Cthulhu, you see. [[ImplausibleDeniability Even though they literally call him an "old one" in the episode]]...[[note]]But you know what's even better? The team listed above were picked as an {{Homage}} to ComicBook/TheDefenders. So this is either some random members of the ComicBook/JusticeLeague fighting a Cthulhu {{expy}}, or it's a group of Defenders expies fighting a Cthulhu expy.[[/note]]
84	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'': One episode, [[Recap/TheRealGhostbustersS2E7TheSpiritOfAuntLois "The Spirit of Aunt Lois"]], features the Ghostbusters in a conflict with another ghost hunter, or so he claims to be one, named Dr. Bassingame who is an expy of Jake Kong, Jr. who is the protagonist of [[WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters a show called... Ghostbusters]]. Yes, you read that correctly. The Ghostbusters from the 1984 film had a spiritual crossover with Creator/{{Filmation}}'s unrelated 1975 series (of which also had a cartoon running in the 1980s at the same time of ''The Real Ghostbusters'') also called Ghostbusters. However, Dr. Bassingame is [[CorruptedCharacterCopy not a very flattering imitation]] of the Filmation character given that this episode was made to be a pointed TakeThat to the competing Filmation cartoon.
85	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'': In the third season episode, "The Darkness Within", the Ninja Turtles go up against a tentacled demonic EldritchAbomination known as "The Necromonster". In other words, it's basically the TMNT going up against Franchise/{{Cthulhu\|Mythos}}.
86	[[/folder]]

Context Main / SpiritualCrossover