History PlayingWith / WolverinePublicity

** The popular character is also the SeriesMascot: he's there to represent the greater franchise, not to contribute to the story.

* '''Reconstructed''': The character doesn't realize, however, that by running around and warning people he is in fact [[NiceJobBreakingItHero doing the herald's job for them]].

** Thr popular character is a CreatorsPest to the writer, whom is contractually obliged to include them in the work. Rather than sabotage themselves and the franchise with a RevengeFic, the writer merely downplays their role in the story wherever they can.

** The production team behind the ShowWithinTheShow are flooded with complaints from fans of the popular character, accusing them of [[CoversAlwaysLie deceptive]] [[NeverTrustATrailer practices]]. The show languishes as a result, with the prominent characters collectively bring considered a ReplacementScrappy to the popular character.

* '''Justified''': Because the character is so powerful, he is considered the most powerful character in his respective universe and so other characters frequently go to him for help.

* '''Enforced''': The most common: A comic or series is losing viewership, and as a last ditch attempt to boost sales, a popular, well-known character is brought in as a guest star.

* '''Deconstructed''': In a multi-story crossover event, the popular character has to warn ''every single character'' that a super-villain is going to attack, and appears at length in all their comics to tell them, and sometimes, to ward off the villain's {{Mooks}}.

* '''Downplayed''': He does appear in the latest issue of a comic book, but only as a background character in a big crowd scene, and it's not drawn attention to in the ads.

* '''Discussed''': "Ever notice how Captain Bob appears in, like, every comic these days? Even the stories he's not in, if you look at the credits he made cupcakes for the team or something!"
* '''Conversed''': "Captain Bob? What are you doing here?" "I'm contractually obligated to show up in everybody's comics. Yup, time's up."

* '''Zig Zagged''': ???

** A character gets visibly aggravated when they see the well-publicized character, because [[LyingCreator the writer said they weren't gonna do that]].

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Deconstructed''': In a multi-story crossover event, the popular character has to warn ''every single character'' that a super-villain is going to attack, and appears at length in all their comics to tell them, and sometimes, to ward off the villain's {{Mooks}}.
* '''Reconstructed''': The character doesn't realize, however, that by running around and warning people he is in fact [[NiceJobBreakingItHero doing the herald's job for them]].

** Alternatively: Powers or no powers, the popular hero has his limits, and he's wearing himself out trying to be everywhere at once. By the time he gets home, he's battered and exhausted... And his ArchEnemy is there waiting for him.

%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste:'''

* '''Exaggerated''': The popular character has a starring role in a series that has nothing to do with him, in a story that has nothing to do with the series he is in.

* '''Inverted''': All of the character's team are called to help the main character of another book, except for the popular character.

* '''Parodied''': When the character can't show up physically in the comic, there is a large poster of him in the background.

* '''Invoked''': The heroes have the character on speed dial, because, due to his [[GoodIsNotNice nasty personality]], he needs to team up with lots of heroes so that the public won't mistake him for a villain.

* '''Played For Drama''': The character feels he is being taken for granted by the superhero community, and finally throws it in the faces of all the other characters that, without him, they could never have gotten anywhere. This causes the character to become an outcast from the community, and, sometimes, hunted by them.

* '''Straight''': Any random villain is fighting any random hero. At a loss for how to beat him, the hero calls on {{Wolverine}}, and the two of them beat the villain together ([[CoversAlwaysLie as advertised by the cover]]).
* '''Exaggerated''': {{Wolverine}} has a starring role in a series that has nothing to do with him, in a story that has nothing to do with the series he is in.
** {{Wolverine}}, {{Superman}}, {{Batman}}, {{Spider-Man}}, The Hulk, {{Squirrel Girl}}, {{Deadpool}}, [[DoctorWho The Doctor]], {{Aquaman}}, {{Wonder Woman}}, [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]], and Goku all appear on a comics cover but none of them are in it.
** Wolverine makes a cameo in a series where superheroes play no part in the plot and may not even exist. (Anything from ''Castle'' to ''Ouran High School Host Club'' would fit the bill.)
* '''Justified''': Because Wolverine is [[GodModeSue just so powerful]], he is considered the most powerful character in his respective universe and so other characters frequently go to him for help.
* '''Inverted''': All of the {{X-Men}} are called to help the main character, except Wolverine.
** Alternatively, Obscure Man shows up in Wolverine's comic.
** Or: Any random hero is fighting any random villain... And then Doctor Doom shows up.
** Or: Wolverine is conspicuously absent from an issue of his own book.
* '''Subverted''': The heroes go to great lengths to contact Wolverine, only to find he's not home.

* '''Parodied''': When Wolverine can't show up physically in the comic, there is a large poster of him in the background.

** Even still, he gets a little cartoon at the end saying "Obligatory Wolverine Cameo!"
** Yet another; Wolverine gets a [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment random scene]] featuring him getting a coffee that has nothing to do with the rest of the story. [[{{Deadpool}} The hero]] might even say "What the hell was that about?"
* '''Deconstructed''': In a multi-story crossover event, Wolverine has to warn ''every single character'' that a super-villain is going to attack, and appears at length in all their comics to tell them, and sometimes, to ward off the villain's {{Mooks}}.
** Alternatively: Wolverine's infamously volatile attitude is because he doesn't get any time to himself, ''ever''.
* '''Reconstructed''': Wolverine doesn't realize, however, that by running around and warning people he is in fact [[NiceJobBreakingItHero doing the herald's job for them]].
* '''Zig Zagged''': For whatever reason, The Hero is in a situation where he has to contact Wolverine. However, he fears Wolverine will [[BerserkButton lose it]] if he finds out what's going on, and chooses not to. The villain has also come to this conclusion, and goes to Wolverine's apartment, but the outcome of this venture is not shown. The hero finds out about this, and goes to visit the Wolverine's family, who state that (either sarcastically or simply [[TooDumbToLive naively]]) "Of course Wolverine is at his apartment, it's not as though people hunt after him or anything!" And then it turns out, they were right, he is home. Except "he" is really another character in disguise, so it's not ''really'' a Wolverine cameo...Or is it?
* '''Averted''': Wolverine does not show up for an entire book's run, nor do [[{{Spider-Man}} the]] [[IronMan usual]] [[CaptainAmerica suspects]].
* '''Enforced''': The most common: A comic or series is losing viewership, and as a last ditch attempt to boost sales, Wolverine or another popular, well-known character is brought in as a guest star.
* '''Lampshaded''': "This guy's pretty tough. Let's call Wolverine! He's used to being called up on a whim, anyway."
* '''Invoked''': The heroes have Wolverine on speed dial, because, due to his [[GoodIsNotNice nasty personality]], he needs to team up with lots of heroes so that the public won't mistake him for a villain.

* '''Defied''': "Hey, guys, let's call Wolverine, hyuk hyuk hyuk!" "No, you idiot! We ''never'' call Wolverine to do important missions!"
* '''Discussed''': "Ever notice how Wolverine appears in, like, every comic these days? Even the stories he's not in, if you look at the credits he made cupcakes for the team or something!"
* '''Conversed''': "Wolverine? What are you doing here?" "I'm contractually obligated to show up in everybody's comics. Yup, time's up."
* '''Played For Laughs''': Wolverine, after years of making cameos in everyone else's series, decides to quit making cameos. However, as he tries to avoid all the usual heroes, the battles somehow get taken to him. HilarityEnsues.
* '''Played For Drama''': Wolverine feels he is being taken for granted by the superhero community, and finally throws it in the faces of all the other characters that, without him, they could never have gotten anywhere. This causes Wolverine to become an outcast from the community, and, sometimes, hunted by them.
** Alternatively: Healing factor or no healing factor, Wolverine has his limits, and he's wearing himself out trying to be everywhere at once. By the time he gets home, he's battered and exhausted... And [[ArchEnemy Sabertooth]] is there waiting for him.

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** {{Wolverine}}, {{Superman}}, {{Batman}}, {{Spider-Man}}, The Hulk, [[Squirrel Girl]], {{Deadpool}}, [[DoctorWho The Doctor]], {{Aquaman}}, {{Wonder Woman}}, [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]], and Goku all appear on a comics cover but none of them are in it.

** Wolverine, Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, The Hulk, Squirrel Girl, Deadpool, The Doctor, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Optimus Prime, and Goku all appear on a comics cover but none of them are in it.

* '''Zig Zagged''': For whatever reason, The Hero is in a situation where he has to contact Wolverine. However, he fears Wolverine will [[BerserkButton lose it]] if he finds out what's going on, and chooses not to. The villain has also come to this conclusion, and goes to Wolverine's apartment, but the outcome of this venture is not shown. The hero finds out about this, and goes to visit the Wolverine's family, who state that (either sarcastically or simply [[TooDumbToLive naively]]) "Of course Wolverine is at his apartment, it's not as though people hunt after him or anything!" And then it turns out, they were right, he is home. Except "he" is really another character in disguise, so it's not ''really'' a Wolverine cameo...OrIsIt?

** Alternatively: Healing factor or no healing factor, Wolverine has his limits, and he's wearing himself out trying to be everywhere at once. By the time he gets home, he's battered ans exhausted... And [[ArchEnemy Sabertooth]] is there waiting for him.

** Or: Any random villain is fighting any random villain... And then Doctor Doom shows up.

* '''Invoked''': The heroes have Wolverine on speed dial, because, due to his [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk nasty personality]], he needs to team up with lots of heroes so that the public won't mistake him for a villain.

** Alternatively: Healing factor or no healing factor, Wolverine has his limits, and he's wearing himself out trying to be everywhere at once. By the time he gets home, he's battered ans exhausted... And [[ArchEnemy Sabretooth]] is there waiting for him.

* '''Reconstructed''': Wolverine doesn't realize, however, that by running around and warning people he is in fact [[WhatTheHellHero doing the herald's job for them]].