[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/institute_saga_icon_small_7026.png]]
[[caption-width-right:200:Iconic.]]

The Institute Saga is a set of crossover stories of ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' and ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' by [[Creator/TheBeardedOne [=TheBeardedOne=]]] (who also wrote [[Fanfic/HarryTano Harry Tano]] and [[FanFic/InvisibleFox Invisible Fox]]). It has several mainline stories, a pair of secondary stories which have been re-purposed by the author to act as a crossover and even partially crosses over with a story written by a different author entirely.

[[https://archiveofourown.org/series/2022046 The mainline stories]] are the prequel [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27653846 General Zod]], [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27654046 The Institute Saga I]], [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27655610 The Institute Saga II]], [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27659536 The Institute Saga III]], [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27665917 Shield Reforged]], [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27666259 The Institute Saga IV]] while there are a [[https://archiveofourown.org/series/2022299 collection of side-stories,]] a pair of parallel Justice League AU stories [[https://archiveofourown.org/series/4043617 Shields Of Gotham]], a short story called [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27657353 So You're Dating A Superhero]] (a small set of guidelines, and explanations for them, as written by Mystique), a companion short story to that, called [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27657536 So You Want To Be A Superhero]] (as written by Superman), and both a set of [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27657719 shorter short stories]] and a collection of [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/36957436 "artwork and datafiles"]] from the world of the main stories.

The partially-linked story is [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9098069/1/Harry-Romanoff-Barton Harry Romanoff Barton]] by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4537529/Eternity-sword Eternity Sword]].

There is [[http://honorablebaldy.deviantart.com/gallery/49829060/Institute-Saga an art gallery]] which may contain spoilers.

Although the story starts out similar to the ''Fanfic/TheLastSon'' series, it is not a full Marvel/DC crossover as the only DC imports (outside crossover sub-stories) are Superman and a few other Kryptonian characters such like [[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} his cousin Kara]].

The stories are mirrored [[https://m.fanfiction.net/u/4011588/ here,]] but the Archive Of Our Own account is the author's primary posting site.

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!!This series provides examples of:

* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: For Brainiac, Superboy, Supergirl and Power Girl.
** Brainiac is a Kryptonian civic computer system that stabbed Zod in the back and fled Krypton after lying disgracefully about how long the planet had left, and later heads to Earth to effectively finish 'cataloguing' the soon to be extinct Kryptonian race.
** Both Superboy and Supergirl are two of the few survivors of a partially failed attempt to protect the last survivors of Argo City when Krypton blew up, who were both saved by Superman.
** Power Girl is a half-human clone of Supergirl [[spoiler: whose human half is ''Magneto'']]
* AdaptationNameChange: Several cases.
** Rogue becomes Anna Kent after Superman adopts her into his family.
** X-23 takes the superhero name "Kunoichi", and is formally adopted by Wolverine.
** Power Girl's original name is Galatea.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Brainiac in the prequel story.
* AirborneAircraftCarrier:
** The Helicarrier from the Avengers movie features and even gets an upgrade near the end of the first story.
** Another three are introduced near completion in the Institute Saga III [[spoiler: and are promptly stolen by Apocalypse.]]
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: Averted with Kara, she struggles to learn English until she gets caught up in [[PowerIncontinence Jean's]] [[BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind power surge]]. Jean gains the ability to effectively download languages to Kryptonians as a result.
* AllThereInTheManual: The art gallery includes several plot-relevant images, checkov's guns and background details, such as the cross-section of the [[http://honorablebaldy.deviantart.com/art/Moonbase-Tunnels-500588526 moonbase tunnels]].
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents: Amanda Sefton is very grateful that she inherited her Dad's sense of humor.
* AntiMagic: Kryptonians are immune to direct applications of X-gene powers. [[SplashDamageAbuse Indirect attacks]] can still affect them, though.
* ApocalypseHow: Magneto almost initiates an ''accidental'' version while trying to create a MassSuperEmpoweringEvent.
* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: [[spoiler: A reformed Juggernaut ends up ruling Genosha because he ended the civil war there.]]
* BadassCape: Magneto's is actually made of metal!
* BigDamnHeroes: General Zod [[spoiler: when he and his allies aid in the fight against Apocalypse.]]
* BigFancyHouse:
** The Xavier Institute [[spoiler: which gets the Fortress of Solitude as its basement!]]
** The [[ComicBook/IronMan Stark Tower]] may also count
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Deadpool talks to the readers a couple of times.
** He even manages to (briefly) hijack an Author's Afternote before [[BoundAndGagged being restrained]].
* ClarkKenting: Superman relies on no-one connecting his super-hero identity with a part-time teacher at Bayville Academy. It works surprisingly well.
* ClothingDamage: Superman's suit gets shredded by Comicbook/SquirrelGirl and her [[DeathOfAThousandCuts Squirrel Avalanche!]]
--> "Squirrel ''what''?"
* ContinuityNod: In a game of chess against Xavier, Clark is playing black and moves his [[{{Franchise/Batman}} knight]].
* CoolPlane: The Blackbird gets upgraded with Kryptonian tech.
* CoolStarship: The successor to the Blackbird, the Javelin, is a plane that uses [[AppliedPhlebotinum Reality Engines]] to fly through space.
* CrashIntoHello: How [[MesACrowd one of the students]] meets Supergirl. Bonus points since he was running from another girl who he had also [[FunbagAirbag bumped into the same way!]]
* {{Crossover}}: Mr Black from [[Fanfic/MakeAWish Make A Wish]] makes an appearance during which he demonstrates that he himself is overseeing a crossover with [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9754636/1/The-Contract Naruto]].
* CursedWithAwesome: Rogue's powers mean that she cannot touch anyone who isn't a Kryptonian, until she finally gets a [[PowerLimiter special bracelet]].
* DatingCatwoman: Clark ends up dating, and later marrying, Mystique.
* DeathOfAChild: [[spoiler:The Bio-Sentinels arc explicitly states many children died at the hands of the Bio-Sentinels when they detected the X-Gene in them.]]
* DesertedIsland: An artificial one is created via [[Franchise/StarTrek Holodeck-style]] technology and is used to help [[spoiler: rehabilitate X-23]]. It is later used to [[spoiler: help Wanda Maximoff learn to control her powers]].
* DomedHometown: [[spoiler: Israel gets moved to Venus by means of forcefield-bubbles that cover the cities like domes]]
* DontAskJustRun: Rule 7 of the booklet "So You're Dating A Superhero" is "If he tells you to run, RUN!"
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Clark relocates the Fortress of Solitude [[spoiler: to underneath the Xavier Institute.]]
* EnemyMine: Juggernaut helps to prevent Magneto's plans from [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt ending Humanity]].
* TheEmpire: The Kree, Skrull and Shi'ar are all mentioned or feature in the prequel.
* ExactWords: Clark tells ComicBook/CaptainAmerica that no matter how well [=SHIELD=] searches Antarctica, they'll never find the Fortress of Solitude. [[spoiler: Admittedly, it's because it's underneath the Xavier Institute instead.]]
* FastballSpecial: Supergirl does a ''double'' one using ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and Juggernaut as projectiles.
** Chris Kent does two in a fight against a giant spider, throwing X-23 and her father onto the spider's back.
** Heavily implied that this is how Superman delivered Juggernaut to where he was needed to stop Magneto's plan.
** [[spoiler: Superman does one to launch Logan and his Kryptonite-covered claws against Apocalypse.]]
* FlingALightIntoTheFuture: Clark is sent from [[DeathByOriginStory Krypton]] by his birth parents just as the planet explodes.
* FunWithAcronyms:
** BRAINIAC is an acronym for Benign Robotic Assistant Incorporating Nano-Infused Augmented Crystals.
** A targetting system is called BRAINIAC Linked Interstellar Tactical Enhancer, or BRAINIAC LITE.
** MODOK now stands for Mechanized Organism Designed to Outmaneuver Kryptonians.
* GodzillaThreshold: The Omega Protocols, by which the different superhero teams request the support of every supervillain, to fight off a threat to the entire world. [[spoiler:[=BRAINIAC=]'s arrival to Earth's orbit prompts Clark to make the call.]]
* HalfHumanHybrid: Doom's two clone-children are human/Kryptonian hybrids.
* HeelFaceTurn: Colossus [[spoiler: after his sister is cured of her IncurableCoughOfDeath (making it not so incurable).]]
** Mystique also defects after Magneto [[YouHaveFailedMe turns against her]]
** Gambit after being used by a third party to help release Apocalypse.
** David Xanatos joins forces with the Gargoyles to fight off crime.
** [[spoiler: Galatea]] after the technology controlling her is broken in battle.
** [[spoiler:Magneto and his Acolytes]] after [[spoiler:Brainiac's attempt to destroy Earth, and the New Kryptonians' heroic attack that resulted in the death of fourteen of them.]]
* HoldTheLine: When Galactus appears, every Hero able to go into space heads up to try and hold Galactus off while Earth begins an emergency evacuation to Venus/New Krypton.
* HumanPopsicle: Clark finds a number of Kryptonians in stasis. Reviving them proves problematic due to Kryptonite poisoning.
** ComicBook/CaptainAmerica was frozen when his [[DeadlyUpgrade enhancements]] started to break down. Clark revived and healed him.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: JobTitle-style, mainly OneWordTitle, in ''General Zod'': "Cadet", "Promotion", "Officer", "Veteran", "Flight Leader", "Rear Echelon", "Traitor", "Epilogue".
* InterspeciesRomance: In addition to Clark and Mystique, there is also Supergirl and ComicBook/CaptainAmerica and Superboy and [[ComicBook/{{X23}} Kunoichi]].
* {{Irony}}: Juggernaut of all people ends up being the one to bring Xavier's vision of mutants and ordinary humans living and working together into reality.
* KneelBeforeZod: A layered example. [[BigBad Apocalypse]] declares that he shall make Superman kneel before him, only to be [[DynamicEntry caught by]] [[BigDamnHeroes surprise]] when Zod decides to slap him down.
* KryptoniteFactor: Clark is prevented from directly participating in the Final Battle of the first story due to the sheer amount of Kryptonite that Magneto is using.
* LegacyCharacter: [[spoiler: After Angel's [[NeverFoundTheBody apparent]] [[NotQuiteDead death]], Samual Wilson (The Falcon) takes on the mantle as Angel II.]]
* LethalChef: Kitty Pryde. She manages to [[EpicFail burn a salad]] ''and'' [[BeyondTheImpossible set a saucepan of water on fire]].
* MegaCrossover: Apart from Superman and the Marvel Universe, it has already added ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' and even some mentions to [[Fanfic/MakeAWish other]] [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9754636/1/The-Contract fanfics]].
* MilitarySuperhero: The USA is noted to have formed an entire company of powered individuals, including two Serum-enhanced supersoldiers.
* MundaneSolution: X-23 ends up dating Superboy because he both can't be harmed by her and also he allows her to completely NoSell her killscent just through close contact, like hugging.
* {{Mutants}}: X-Men. What did you expect?
* MySisterIsOffLimits: After Kara is introduced, Clark makes quickly known how he feels about people perving on his young cousin.
-->"Deeeyaaaaamn, she's sexy." Roberto half-whispered. "Who do you think she is?"\\
"That's a nice outfit, I wonder if I can talk her out of it?" Ray snickered.\\
"I'd cut down a bit on the comments." Spyke advised as he walked up to stand beside the group of admiring teens. "Clark has super-hearing, remember? He can hear every word you've said. Heck, he can hear your heartbeats from here."\\
Ray paled. "Erm, Clark, I didn't mean it! It was a joke! Honest!"\\
Clark turned his head slightly and the grass at Ray's feet ignited, only to be put out by Bobby Drake.\\
"I think that was a warning to ''think'' before speaking." Spyke noted, seeing Clark nod his head in confirmation.
* MythologyGag: ComicBook/SquirrelGirl's penchant for defeating the biggest baddest [[BigBad Big Bads]] [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome while the narration is busy elsewhere]] is very much present here.
* NeverFoundTheBody: Angel has his wings snapped by Galatea and is thrown into the ocean to drown. A memorial service is held for him and The Falcon takes up his [[LegacyCharacter mantle]] [[spoiler: but no-one knew that Apocalypse rescued him and turned him into Archangel.]]
* NoSell: The Blob completely fails to overpower Superman. Clark uses the opportunity to [[{{Troll}} make fun of him]].
* OccupiersOutOfOurCountry: Palestine. After Israel [[spoiler: relocates to New Krypton]], Palestine becomes a country in its own right [[spoiler: until all the neighbors move in to grab the spoils.]]
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: [[spoiler:Squirrel Girl manages to take down Thanos ''while he is using the Infinity Gauntlet''!]]
* OhCrap: Clark's realization that Comicbook/SquirrelGirl wants to be on his team (even though he technically doesn't have one).
** [[spoiler: The leader of New Olympus has one when he realises who Apocalypse is.]]
* OhNoNotAgain: a gang of bank robbers exclaims this when they try to steal a bank and they find themselves caught by Supergirl, Superman and others. Who had arrested them in a previous bank robbery attempt.
* {{Omake}}: In Side Stories, there is an Omake based on the [[Literature/HarryPotter Goblet Of Fire]].
** And another based on the [[Literature/WearingTheCape Chicago Sentinels]] series.
*** Although the actual shout-out remains unconfirmed, in the above-mentioned series, one of the chapter openings (Ronin Games, Ch27) makes reference to the main character visiting four extra-reality realms, one of which is the super-heroic Universe Alpha...
* OurGargoylesRock: The {{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}} become allies to the X-Men.
* PortalCrossroadWorld: [[spoiler: Earth becomes this in an inter-reality basis, resulting in the other realities taking numbers based on which Dome their Gate is in while as the central reality, Earth becomes Universe Alpha.]]
* ARareSentence: Superman delivers this gem after bumping into Squirrel Girl:
-->"I've decided." Clark said firmly. "I was unsure whether to wait until I could revive all of them or just do them on an as and when basis, but with beings like ''her'' around, I'm going to need some Kryptonian backup. When we get back, I'm reviving Kara. ''After'' I re-design my outfit and everyone else's to make them squirrel-proof."\\
There was a long silence.\\
"I can't believe I just said that." Clark added with a sigh.
* RealPersonCameo: Sharon Rice-Weber (the wife of noted novelist Creator/DavidWeber) gave her permission to be included in the story. Her character shows up on the [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10580880/17/The-Institute-Saga-III bridge that Magneto relocates]] [[spoiler:and is the one who takes Magneto down]].
* ReedRichardsIsUseless: Averted. Clark slowly releases Kryptonian tech for its general use, such as healing pods [[spoiler:one of which heals Charles Xavier, allowing him to walk again.]]
* RunningJoke: Martha Kent's cookies. Everyone at the Institute (and elsewhere!) is addicted to them.
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Tyrone Dietz]] [[MurphysBullet falls victim to a stray bullet]] when the so-called [[FantasticRacism Friends Of Humanity]] attack Bayville High.
* SchmuckBait: Do '''''not''''' underestimate the power of the Squirrel Avalanche!
* SecretIdentity: Clark relies on no-one thinking that a part-time teacher could be a superhero and it works, right until he gets publicly outed by a politician hoping to use his fame against him. The result? The Bayville High gets ''swamped'' by transfer requests from people wanting to be taught by a genuine super-hero!
* ShootingSuperman: A bank robber tries this with predictable results.
* ShoutOut: There are several in the series.
** Beast pauses before eating a cookie to warn against [[Series/SesameStreet Sesame Street]] references, and, when asking for suggestions for a codename, ''specifically'' calls out someone for calling him 'Cookie Monster'.
** The use of highlighted plane hardpoints is taken from the [[Literature/WearingTheCape Chicago Sentinels]] series.
** Master Mold has the technology to [[Series/TheSixMillionDollarMan rebuild Trask]].
** Nick Fury recalls messed-up undercover missions where he had to face [[Film/SnakesOnAPlane serpents in an aircraft]] and [[Film/DieHardWithAVengeance defuse a bomb with 3 liters of water]].
** Two of the Kryptonians are called [[Literature/TheOdyssey Cast-Or and Poll-Ux]] and another, who is half-Skrull is called [[Anime/DragonballZ Nam-Ek]].
* SuperStrength: Several characters display this power, although Superman is the strongest of them all. Played for laughs when he takes Shadowcat's luggage away.
-->Kitty nodded, then her already-wide eyes seemed to bulge even more as Clark walked past her, carrying her heavy suitcases as if they were empty.\\
"...how?"\\
"Multiple powers." Clark smiled as he paused at the bottom of the ramp. "Super strength. You coming?"
* SuperWheelChair: Xavier eventually gets a modified Kryptonian Hover-chair.
* SupremeChef: Martha Kent. The superhero community seems to be addicted to her cookies. And her chocolate pudding (with sauce!) is good enough to get Wolverine ''to abandon a fight against Sabertooth''!
* TangledFamilyTree: Clark gets teased by Alex Masters over whether his adopted sister Rogue will remain so or become his daughter due to her once being Mystique's adopted daughter. Of course, he then claims to be glad that his family tree isn't as tangled - when he is part of the former TropeNamer.
* TranslationConvention: Kryptonian is shown in bold text with the # symbol replacing the quotation marks. On a few occasions, characters transition from Kryptonian to English (or vice-versa) mid-sentence.
* UnderwaterCity: Sanctuary, a domed refuge which the Morlocks move into, followed by the [[{{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}} Labrynth Clan]].
* TheUnmasking: Clark is outed as Superman online, meaning that it cannot be covered up. The response is for the school he teaches at to, in the words of the Principal, be "almost buried in transfer request slips".
* VillainousBreakdown:
** Quicksilver gets one after he realises that Superman is faster than him.
** Nick Fury apparently (to Professor X) has ''two'' when it's revealed that Wolverine can't beat Superman in a spar and that Superman ''holds'' back.
* XanatosGambit: David Xanatos himself pulls a small one of these when he teams up with Superman to revive three deceased gargoyles.