History Main / CorporateSponsoredSuperhero

* Out of all the heroes in ''Series/{{Dogengers}}'', Yamashiron is the more obvious example of this, who represents Yamashiro Gas Co. Ltd from Saga Prefecture. Same goes for Ohgaman, Ohga Pharmacy's company hero.

[[caption-width-right:350:Captain Amazing just got a bid for his [[IncrediblyLamePun ab-space]].]]

Enter the CorporateSponsoredSuperhero! Captain BlandNameProduct is here to save the day, and tell you about all the great deals you can get [[HeroInsurance on insurance to cover the damage incurred by your rescue]]!

* In ''Season'' 8 of ''ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', the slayers are being supported by donors, and the occasional bank robbery.
* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Possibly deconstructed; one of the side notes in the comic mentions one of the earlier heroes was a bank-sponsored hero named Dollar Bill, who had to wear a garish costume as one of the conditions of his sponsorship. Perhaps not so ironically, the cape was caught in a revolving door, tripping him up long enough for a crook to shoot him dead as he tried to stop a bank heist.

* ''ComicBook/IronMan'', when Tony Stark isn't filling the role. [[Comicbook/WarMachine Jim Rhodes]] wore the armor for a while under the employ of Stark and a few of Stark's other employees have worn variations of the armor briefly. Part of Iron Man's SecretIdentity was that he was sponsored by Stark Enterprises as Tony's bodyguard.
** One back-up feature in a 90s annual was a news article about how many other companies were trying to FollowTheLeader with their own coroporate-backed heroes; none of them were doing so well, though.

* Creator/DCComics also had Aztek, who was sponsored by [[ComicBook/LexLuthor LexCorp]] so that they could have their own member on the [[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]].

* The entire team from ''All-New ComicBook/XFactor'' is sponsored by Serval Industries. It's implied they recruited former [[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avenger]] ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} to add a sense of legitimacy to the group.

* {{Invoked}} and PlayedForLaughs in ''[[Franchise/SpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man]]'' #550. When the Blue Shield attempts to apprehend Spider-Man for the Initiative, Spidey's first quip is to ask how he can get a better deal on his health insurance premiums [[note]]Blue Cross Blue Shield is the name of a major American health insurance company[[/note]].
** Played straight during the titles ''ComicBook/AllNewAllDifferentMarvel'' relaunch, which takes a cue from Iron Man and makes Spider-Man the "mascot" of Parker Industries.

* The post-''Comicbook/{{Secret Wars|2015}}'' relaunch of ''Comicbook/{{New Avengers|2015}}'' revolves around the A.I.M. corporation assembling and sponsoring their own team of Avengers.
* The Marvel Universe's version of the Greek gods have a front company called the Olympus Group that bails them out when they have problems with mortal authorities, which would thus technically make ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules and ComicBook/{{Ares}} corporate-sponsored heroes.
* In ''ComicBook/TheRedTen'', the Alliance is a corporate-backed {{expy}} of the Justice League. The plot is kicked off when [[spoiler: one of the members is murdered to cover up the dirty secrets she'd discovered and protect the corporation's image]].

** Both [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] and {{Reconstruction}} in Creator/GeorgePerez's run on ''ComicBook/{{Wonder Woman|1987}}'' - one of Diana's most... ''distinctive'' supporting characters was Myndi Mayer, a brassy, loud-mouthed publicist who turned Wonder Woman into a celebrity and merchandising juggernaut shortly after her debut in Man's World. Diana was rarely ''directly'' involved in said merchandising or its proceeds, but she did (reluctantly) give Myndi's company exclusive rights to her superhero name and emblem. While her image took a blow, the money also went to support plenty of worthy causes, especially feminist ones, meaning that Diana was achieving a lot more than she could've sans her help. [[TearJerker Unfortunately, Myndi would end up dying from what was to believed to be gunshots, only for it to be revealed that she overdosed because of her cocaine addiction. The entire thing was a painful wake-up call to Diana, who was still pretty naive to the world.]]
* Prior to Flashpoint the most recent user of the ComicBook/{{Guardian}} title was The Manhattan Guardian, who was sponsored by a newspaper that had bought the rights to the name and costume from Cadmus.
* A planned Marvel comic series would feature Comicbook/TheAvengers teaming up with a [[https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-marvels-canceled-promo-comic-for-defense-contract-1819898744 superhero group run by real-life military contractor Northrup Grumman]]. The sheer backlash from readers outraged about promoting the military-industrial complex to children caused it to be canceled before it was even released.
* In one run of ''Comicbook/TheOutsiders'', the team under Nightwing's leadership accepted sponsorship from a multimedia company called Optitron. The team has some doubts about the potential issues that could arise, but the funding is too good to pass up. Turns out they had good reason to be suspicious about the offer: [[spoiler:they discover that Optitron is actually a shell company owned by '''Wayne Industries'''. Dick is pretty pissed that Bruce went behind his back like this.]]
* ''ComicBook/TheBoys'' is about a group of enhanced vigilantes that hunt down and kill corporate-sponsored superheroes who in this universe are hedonistic, immature, egocentric assholes who commit atrocities and suffer no consequences for them, this being the purpose of the formation of the titular team. It goes further: sometimes, the ''sponsors themselves'' will order the death of any super that becomes a liability and whose behavior begins to hurt the bottom line. [[spoiler: The G-men are a perfect example of this. Despite them being one of the most profitable team working for [[MegaCorp Vought American]], the defense contractor ordered them to be wiped out after leader and Professor X stand-in John Goldokin's M.O. of kidnapping and abusing runaway children to make them part of his group was endangering the company's business]].
* ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' has media companies paying most of the LongLived but senile clinets' bills in the OldSuperhero retirement homes incase their TV or movie franchises become profitable again.

* ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' has this to a degree in the World of Freedom setting. Not only are there companies and heroes that do go this route, but the country of France actually requires heroes to have a sponsor. The reason France does so is that the sponsor is liable for any damage the superhero causes. As such while it's easy to get government sponsorship corporations are more hesitant unless the hero in question isn't likely to cause any serious collateral damage they need to worry about. "Free agent" supers in France are considered illegal vigilantes. Naturally they don't try and enforce this law on any visiting foreign heroes, but they strongly encourage to leave matters happening in France to French heroes.

* The ''ComicBook/WildCATS'' from ''Creator/{{Wildstorm}}'' were sponsored by different companies and entrepreneurs in the past.

* The Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive were brought together and equipped by Andrew Hartford, head of Hartford Industries. Though the Rangers have little to do with his business ventures - Andrew's an AdventurerArchaeologist on the side and needs Rangers to help deal with a mess of trouble he stirred up on one of his treasure hunts.

* Duffman, the corporate mascot for ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'''' Duff beer. His utility belt holds six cans of beer.

* Just like in the comics, in ''Series/TheBoys'', the SuperTeam known as "the Seven" (plus a number of other Supes) are employed by Vought Industries. The Seven's HQ is at the same building as the Vought HQ. Vought has a sophisticated analytical division that predicts and locates high-profile crimes for the Seven to make an appearance (hopefully with cameras standing by). The Seven are required to wear costumes designed by Vought and to promote Vought-approved viewpoints depending on the demographics Vought targets. Most of the Seven are [[SlaveToPR more concerned with their popularity]] (most notably on {{social media|Is Bad}}) and merchandising sales than with crime-fighting.

* Just like in the comics, in ''Series/TheBoys'' series, the SuperTeam known as "the Seven" (plus a number of other Supes) are employed by Vought Industries. The Seven's HQ is at the same building as the Vought HQ. Vought has a sophisticated analytical division that predicts and locates high-profile crimes for the Seven to make an appearance (hopefully with cameras standing by). The Seven are required to wear costumes designed by Vought and to promote Vought-approved viewpoints depending on the demographics Vought targets. Most of the Seven are [[SlaveToPR more concerned with their popularity]] (most notably on {{social media|Is Bad}}) and merchandising sales than with crime-fighting.

* Just like in the comics, in ''Series/TheBoys'' series, the SuperTeam known as "the Seven" (plus a number of other Supes) are employed by Vought Industries. The Seven's HQ is at the same building as the Vought HQ. Vought has a sophisticated analytical division that predicts and locates high-profile crimes for the Seven to make an appearance (hopefully with cameras standing by). The Seven are required to wear costumes designed by Vought and to promote Vought-approved viewpoints depending on the demographics Vought targets. Most of the Seven are [[SlaveToPR more concerned with their popularity]] (most notably on social media) and merchandising sales than with crime-fighting.

* Just like in the comics, in ''Series/TheBoys'' series, the SuperTeam known as "the Seven" (plus a number of other Supes) are sponsored by Vought Industries. The Seven's HQ is at the same building as the Vought HQ. Vought has a sophisticated analytical division that predicts and locates high-profile crimes for the Seven to make an appearance (hopefully with cameras standing by). The Seven are required to wear costumes designed by Vought and to promote Vought-approved viewpoints. Most of the Seven are more concerned with their popularity and merchandising sales than with crime-fighting.

* In ''ComicBook/TheRedTen'', the Alliance is a corporate-backed {{expy}} of the Justice League. The plot is kicked off when [[spoiler: one of the members is murdered to cover up the dirty secrets she'd discovered and protect the corporation's image]]

* In ''ComicBook/TheRedTen'', the Alliance is a corporate-backed {{expy}} of the Justice League.

* ''ComicBook/TheRedTen'' has the Alliance sponsored by [=LearCorp=]. The plot is kicked off when one of the members is murdered [[spoiler: to cover up the dirty secrets she'd discovered and protect the corporation's image]].

* Out of all the heroes in ''Series/{{Dogengers}}'', Yamashiron is the more obvious example of this, who represents Yamashiro Gas Co. Ltd from Saga Prefecture.

Related to LawEnforcementInc and HeroesRUs. May overlap with PunchClockHero if they view heroics as nothing more than a 9 to 5 job to pay the bills. See also CelebritySuperhero.

** Both [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] and {{Reconstruction Reconstructed}} in Creator/GeorgePerez's run on ''ComicBook/{{Wonder Woman|1987}}'' - one of Diana's most... ''distinctive'' supporting characters was Myndi Mayer, a brassy, loud-mouthed publicist who turned Wonder Woman into a celebrity and merchandising juggernaut shortly after her debut in Man's World. Diana was rarely ''directly'' involved in said merchandising or its proceeds, but she did (reluctantly) give Myndi's company exclusive rights to her superhero name and emblem. While her image took a blow, the money also went to support plenty of worthy causes, especially feminist ones, meaning that Diana was achieving a lot more than she could've sans her help. [[TearJerker Unfortunately, Myndi would end up dying from what was to believed to be gunshots, only for it to be revealed that she overdosed because of her cocaine addiction. The entire thing was a painful wake-up call to Diana, who was still pretty naive to the world.]]

** Both [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] and [[Reconstruction Reconstructed]] in Creator/GeorgePerez's run on ''ComicBook/{{Wonder Woman|1987}}'' - one of Diana's most... ''distinctive'' supporting characters was Myndi Mayer, a brassy, loud-mouthed publicist who turned Wonder Woman into a celebrity and merchandising juggernaut shortly after her debut in Man's World. Diana was rarely ''directly'' involved in said merchandising or its proceeds, but she did (reluctantly) give Myndi's company exclusive rights to her superhero name and emblem. While her image took a blow, the money also went to support plenty of worthy causes, especially feminist ones, meaning that Diana was achieving a lot more than she could've sans her help. [[TearJerker Unfortunately, Myndi would end up dying from what was to believed to be gunshots, only for it to be revealed that she overdosed because of her cocaine addiction. The entire thing was a painful wake-up call to Diana, who was still pretty naive to the world.]]

** Both [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] and [[ReconstructedTrope Reconstructed]] in Creator/GeorgePerez's run on ''ComicBook/{{Wonder Woman|1987}}'' - one of Diana's most... ''distinctive'' supporting characters was Myndi Mayer, a brassy, loud-mouthed publicist who turned Wonder Woman into a celebrity and merchandising juggernaut shortly after her debut in Man's World. Diana was rarely ''directly'' involved in said merchandising or its proceeds, but she did (reluctantly) give Myndi's company exclusive rights to her superhero name and emblem. While her image took a blow, the money also went to support plenty of worthy causes, especially feminist ones, meaning that Diana was achieving a lot more than she could've sans her help. [[TearJerker Unfortunately, Myndi would end up dying from what was to believed to be gunshots, only for it to be revealed that she overdosed because of her cocaine addiction. The entire thing was a painful wake-up call to Diana, who was still pretty naive to the world.]]

* The aborted ''[[Series/WonderWoman2011Pilot Wonder Woman]]'' 2011 reimagined the heroine as a sort of Superman/Batman hybrid; juggling her duties as CEO of Themyscira Industries with a lonely single life. The company funds its crime-fighting activities by shilling [[TheMerch merch]], including a busty Wonder Woman figurine (which Diana objects to).

* In ''WesternAnimation/Ducktales2017'' Gizmoduck is temporarily owned by the company Waddle in his first appearance.

* ''WebComic/OnePunchMan'' generally averts this trope, since the heroes are part of a government organization and therefore get a salary. However, there are still a few "heroes" who are only in it for the money, and will gladly try to tear down other heroes in order to raise their own standings (and paychecks). The closest to this trope is the number one A-Class hero Amai Mask, who spends much more time acting and producing pop music than he does actually fighting evil. [[spoiler:He's also a colossal scumbag who has a twisted BeautyEqualsGoodness worldview and values image much more than actual heroics.]]