History SelfDeprecation / ComicBooks

** The ''[[Characters/GLOrangeLanternCorps Larfleeze]]'' ongoing, aside from constant jokes about no one being interested in reading the comic, frequently has the credits snark on how Giffen, [=DeMatteis=] and artist Scott Kollins aren't nearly as good as they think they are and jokingly state that they're an unpleasant burden to work with, with the credits for the last issue stating that DC was finally able to get rid of them after finding a big enough broom.

* In the first issue of ''ComicBook/YoungJustice'', the PowerTrio have nightmares in which strange and irrational things happen to them ... things which strangely echo Creator/PeterDavid's work on ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'', ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' and ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk''. On that note, in the same issue, when Robin asks ComicBook/RedTornado how he knows of their history in spite of being deactivated, the latter explains he keeps over 1500 files on various superheroes constantly updated in his head. Then he says that 19 of those are for ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} [[ContinuitySnarl alone]].

* From Peter Milligan's ''ComicBook/XForce'' run:

* Creator/KurtBusiek and Erik Larsen's early 21st-century resurrection of ''ComicBook/TheDefenders'': In addition to portraying its principal characters as supreme {{Jerk Ass}}es who eventually decide to take over the world so it won't ''need'' to be defended (and, more importantly, so they won't have to deal with one another), the series invoked StylisticSuck via references to Marvel's incredibly goofy [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] giant monster comics, and one of its covers proudly boasted a Wizard Magazine quote proclaiming ''The Defenders'' to be "the worst comic ever produced."

** There was also the ''ComicBook/MarvelYearInReview'' series during UsefulNotes/TheNineties. Initially a mostly-serious comic, as UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks drew on and things looked bleaker and bleaker for not only the house of ideas but also for [[UsefulNotes/TheGreatComicsCrashOf1996 the industry as a whole]], it relied increasingly on BitingTheHandHumor as if writers were trying to say "Hey, don't shoot the messenger!" The page quote for the Dark Age comes from issue #3 of this series, in fact.

* During a ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' arc dealing with TheMultiverse, Johnathan Hickman wrote a scene where Beast claims that Multiversal and ForWantOfANail concepts tend to be the foundation of "Every piece of bad science fiction ever written".

* ''Comicbook/LaffALympics'': [[{{Crossover}} George]] [[WesternAnimation/TheJetsons Jetson]] describing his son in "The Toys from Tomorrow".

** The [[OverlyLongGag longest-running gag]] in the series: Whatever you do, don't talk to Franchise/SpiderMan about [[ComicBook/TheCloneSaga clones]]. Heck, even someone else showing up in the same costume as him will set him off!

** Even Spidey's supporting characters get in on it:

* The third issue of ''ComicBook/SpiderManUnlimited'' (The first volume, no relation to [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited the cartoon]]) starts with a newspaper editor explaining to his new employee about how they usually write obituaries in advance, which can lead to embarrassing retractions, what with the Marvel universe [[DeathIsCheap being the way it is]]. In the foreground of that panel, we see two filing cabinets, one with the label "[[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]]" with two stickers reading "dead" and "alive"... and another named "ComicBook/XMen", with so many of the dead/alive stickers that they go off-panel. This was in the early nineties, by the way, so Tony probably got a few more of those stickers added to his cabinet over the years.
* Creator/StanLee has remarked that ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' regular J. Jonah Jameson was based on how Lee imagined the fans viewed him: a cantankerous, money-hungry old man. Most comics fans today see Lee as an affable grandfather figure, so in this case the SelfDeprecation lost its relevance. Likewise, Jameson received multiple bits of character development over the years, painting him as harsh, aggressive, and sales-happy, but also honest, fair, and with a strong moral code. As a result, he ceased to be an effective parody.

* In Marc Guggenheim's ''Comicbook/{{Civil War|2006}}: Choosing Sides'', Mac Gargan is discussing selling his life story. He wants Guggenheim to do the movie, then says "No, the other Guggenheim, the one who wrote [[Film/{{Miracle}} that hockey movie]]", simultaneously putting down Marc himself, and giving a ShoutOut to his brother Eric.

* During a ''Comicbook/NewAvengers'' arc dealing with TheMultiverse, Johnathan Hickman wrote a scene where Beast claims that Multiversal and ForWantOfANail concepts tend to be the foundation of "Every piece of bad science fiction ever written".

* During Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's run on ''Spider-Man'', one comic included a security guard claiming he dislikes ''Series/BabylonFive'' because of its KudzuPlot. In another issue, he mocks his own {{Retcon}} of Spider-Man's origin by having the director of the "Lobster-Man" movie claim that said hero's origin via radioactive lobster bite is lame and orders the writers to change it to the hero being TheChosenOne of a "Lobster God".

-->'''Nighthawk:''' I don't get it! Clearly you guys are Comicbook/TheDefenders, but you're calling yourselves ComicBook/TheAvengers??? I mean, is it me? Am I the crazy one?

* Creator/BrianBendis actually makes a cameo appearance in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' storyline "Freaky" (where Spidey [[FreakyFridayFlip switches bodies]] with ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}), wherein he [Bendis] apologizes to the reader for coming up with such a hackneyed, ridiculous plot.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': Upon learning Brainiac is behind his fake corpse, Superman declares [[http://readcomiconline.to/Comic/Adventures-of-Superman-1987/Issue-519?id=29586#15 he's "getting real tired of everyone trying to do their version of "The Death of Superman!""]].

* The third issue of ''Spider-Man Unlimited'' (The first volume, no relation to [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited the cartoon]]) starts with a newspaper editor explaining to his new employee about how they usually write obituaries in advance, which can lead to embarrassing retractions, what with the Marvel universe [[DeathIsCheap being the way it is]]. In the foreground of that panel, we see two filing cabinets, one with the label "[[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]]" with two stickers reading "dead" and "alive"... and another named "ComicBook/XMen", with so many of the dead/alive stickers that they go off-panel. This was in the early nineties, by the way, so Tony probably got a few more of those stickers added to his cabinet over the years.

* ''Sergio Aragonés Stomps Star Wars'' stars Creator/SergioAragones himself, and he [[TheDitz isn't that bright]]. Also, fun of his English, Yoda makes. The earlier comics where he [[ComicBook/SergioAragonesDestroysDC Destroyed DC]] and [[ComicBook/SergioAragonesMassacresMarvel Massacred Marvel]] were similar.

* The recap page for the first issue of the 2022 revival of ''ComicBook/IHateFairyland'' refers to creator Skottie Young as a "baby-cover-drawing dirtbag" and makes disparaging references to ''ComicBook/{{Middlewest}}'' and ''The Me You Love in the Dark'', two other comics Young wrote for Creator/ImageComics.

* In ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: Saturday Morning Adventures'' issue #4, Donatello suggests to April O'Neil about [[FantasticVoyagePlot shrinking himself and the other Turtles to fight Mousers that are inside Splinter's body]], an idea inspired by a Termite Man comic book. April then goes on to say that no [[Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles good ideas]] are inspired by [[ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} a superhero from the '60s]].