History TakeThat / ComicBooks

* Issue #2 of ''[[ComicBook/TheGreenLantern Green Lantern: Blackstars]]'' features another series of meta-jabs from Creator/GrantMorrison, with the Superman of the altered timeline essentially roasting the state of the modern DC Universe. These observations include the way Batman's villains have abandoned clever, entertaining crimes in favor of repeated attempts to attack him on a personal level (referencing the City of Bane storyline from Creator/TomKing's ''ComicBook/{{Batman|Rebirth}}'' run, as well as the various other times this plot point has been rehashed in recent years), Wonder Woman having become a sword-swinging BloodKnight who favors violence and aggression over love and compassion (a dig at the ''ComicBook/{{New 52}}'' reboot of the character, especially as she was characterized by Creator/GeoffJohns), the Justice League's encounters with beings from "The Depressoverse" (an allusion to the Dark Multiverse from Creator/ScottSnyder's various books, such as ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'' and ''ComicBook/{{Justice League|2018}}''), an "odd effect" Superman has begun noticing in his own dialogue (a gag about Creator/BrianMichaelBendis' trademark use of MametSpeak in his ''[[ComicBook/BrianMichaelBendisSuperman Superman]]'' run), and an admission that the heroes of the DC Universe have been "struggling to change with the times" (a nod to DC's repeated attempts to revamp and reimagine its heroes to appeal to modern audiences, usually with mixed results). Being a good sport, Morrison also threw in a line about [[LegacyCharacter the number of times Batman has been replaced]], a slam on his own ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman and Robin]]'' run.

* Ever since Creator/BrianMichaelBendis got his hands on ComicBook/{{X23}}, his ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen'' started taking jabs at the last comic she was in, ''ComicBook/AvengersArena''. First Jean Grey reads from Laura's mind what happened to her and says "it's awful". Then a member of [[FantasticRacism Purrifers]] decides to show that EvenEvilHasStandards by calling Arcade's game "popcorn for morons".

* Ever since Creator/BrianMichaelBendis got his hands on ComicBook/X23, his ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen'' started taking jabs at the last comic she was in, ''ComicBook/AvengersArena''. First Jean Grey reads from Laura's mind what happened to her and says "it's awful". Then a member of [[FantasticRacism Purrifers]] decides to show that EvenEvilHasStandards by calling Arcade's game "popcorn for morons".

* Ever since Creator/BrianMichaelBendis got his hands on ComicBook/{{X 23}}, his ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen'' started taking jabs at the last comic she was in, ''ComicBook/AvengersArena''. First Jean Grey reads from Laura's mind what happened to her and says "it's awful". Then a member of [[FantasticRacism Purrifers]] decides to show that EvenEvilHasStandards by calling Arcade's game "popcorn for morons".

* A common running joke over at DC has been to mock the [[NinetiesAntiHero EEEEEXTREMEEE heroes]] who spun out of ''Bloodlines'' crossover from the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90's]]. For instance, the ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]/ComicBook/{{Hitman|1993}}''[[note]]Hitman himself being a product of the crossover, yet far more successful than any of the other debuts[[/note]] crossover had Franchise/TheFlash claim that the Bloodlines heroes were a bunch of buffoons who nobody else in the superhero community wanted to team-up with. He then chalked up their [[CListFodder infamously high mortality rate]] to a general lack of competence on their part. This happened as early as the months after the storyline ended. During the ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' storyline, Jean-Paul Valley encounters two of them in the main titles. He tells one of them to get out of Gotham or he's going to get killed and the other quickly leaves town after his adventure with them is over. Many of them end up getting killed by ComicBook/SuperboyPrime later on down the line.

* During Creator/RogerStern's run on ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'', a construction worker asked why heroes don't use {{phone booth}}s to change or shout "UpUpAndAway" anymore. ComicBook/SheHulk coyly responded by saying [[Franchise/{{Superman}} such things]] went out of style in TheSixties. The same run had an issue where ComicBook/MonicaRambeau, while reading mail from various politicians requesting that the Avengers relocate to their city, stated "Detroit? They've gotta be kidding!" This was a dig at the [[DorkAge reviled]] Detroit-era ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' that was still being published at the time.

* A Polish comic book series ComicBook/TytusRomekIAtomek in book XXV when one of the main heroes Tytus de Zoo visits hell. Satan recognize Tytus and explains that he heard about Him from Editors of “Horyzonty” who are boiling in hell from sins they committed during PRL (communistic era in Polad). “Horyzonty” is the publishing company which publish few of the Tytus books. Apperantly they and the creator didn't get along...

* In Creator/JasonAaron's ''Avengers'', the US government superteam is a version of the ComicBook/SquadronSupreme. Nighthawk suspects that the other members of the team (but not himself, obviously) are having their personalities manipulated, noting that the romantic relationship between Hyperion and Power Princess (the SupermanSubstitute and WonderWomanWannabe) feels forced and artifical. This reflects common criticism of the actual Clark/Diana relationship in the ''ComicBook/New52'', which DC had already realised wasn't working and retconned away.

* ''101 ways to end ComicBook/TheCloneSaga'' is dedicated mostly to SelfDeprecation, but it has its moments: First Creator/PeterDavid spends the entirety of his part in the story detailing the {{Continuity Snarl}}s brought about by the Clone Saga, then Creator/TomDeFalco threatens the Marvel writing staff with being sent to a PlaceWorseThanDeath: [[DoubleEntendre DC!]] Finally, there's a dig at the (shockingly similar) {{Kudzu Plot}}s that have happened with the ComicBook/XMen:

** ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'':
*** An early comic featured a robot called the "ComicBook/{{Spawn}}mower". It acted much like the [[DarkerAndEdgier dark and edgy]] real-life comic hero it was named after, in that it stopped to make a dramatic pose every few seconds. Sonic was able to defeat it without too much trouble.
%% *** In a similar vein to this, Sonic the Hedgehog #4's cover boasted Sonic as a "grittier! Darker!" chimney sweeper.

* The Dark Horse comic ''ComicBook/BarbWire'' took a shot at Creator/JohnByrne's ''Babe'', a StatuesqueStunner blonde whose character was considered pure FanService, by having BikerBabe Barb snarl, "[[http://www.toonopedia.com/barbwire.jpg Don't call me BABE.]]" However, this became HilariousInHindsight when the [[Film/BarbWire film adaptation]] had Creator/PamelaAnderson growl the same line, despite, as [[Series/SiskelAndEbert Gene Siskel]] said, the most drama came from whether Anderson's enormous chest was going to topple out of her AbsoluteCleavage. The hypocrisy was obvious and delicious.

* An old issue of ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' had ComicBook/AntMan watching an episode of the maligned [[WesternAnimation/FantasticFour 90's Fantastic Four cartoon]] and then proclaiming it to be awful. Editorial was not pleased.

* [[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsActionComics Grant Morrison's run]] on ''ComicBook/ActionComics'' featured an issue about a [[TheMultiverse Multiverse]] version of Superman who started off as a creation of a group of young comic creators, only to end up being co-opted by a big corporation who screwed over the writers. The story has some pretty obvious similarities to that of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, who created Superman and whose relatives are involved in a bitter legal dispute with DC Comics over the profits gained from the character. It is also briefly mentioned that the corporation had tried to make their Superman more appealing to a modern audience by making him DarkerAndEdgier, which has been a common complaint about the Comicbook/{{New 52}} Superman and the ''Film/ManOfSteel'' movie. Morrison briefly mentions a LighterAndSofter version of Superman from another Earth called "Optiman" who failed to stop the rampaging antihero version mentioned above. As Morrison was making fun of the DarkerAndEdgier stance towards Superman, he was also mocking the idea that a "cutesy-pie" Superman is the only alternative to a darker Superman.
* An early example of DC and Marvel taking shots at one another occurred in a Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes story from ''Adventure Comics'' #350 back in 1966. After transforming into a giant spider in order to web up a monster, Chameleon Boy had this to say:

* Comicbook/AnimalMan thinks to himself while experimenting with the abilities of a spider: "Of course I wouldn't want ''only'' spider powers... that'd make me a [[Franchise/SpiderMan third-rate super-hero]]."

--->'''[[LawyerFriendlyCameo Legally-distinct-parody]]-of [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk The Hulk]]:''' Comics are for retards.\\\

** ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' even had an episode that showed what would happen if the titular heroes, which Comicbook/TheAuthority is patterned loosely after, were to suddenly decide that [[KnightTemplar they knew better than everyone else]]. It's not clear if it was a deliberate TakeThat or just exploring the concept of the League becoming evil, but it's often regarded as one of the show's best-written episodes.

* Phil Noto's unused cover for ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl|2009}}'' #3 shows Stephanie Brown looking over concepts for potential Batgirl costumes. As an in-joke, the Batgirl design sported by Creator/AliciaSilverstone in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' can be seen crossed out with the words "definitely not" scrawled over it.
* In Creator/GailSimone's ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl|2011}}'' run, the Ventriloquist enters a talent show that's a clear parody of ''Series/AmericanIdol''. The villainess proceeds to violently kill the obvious Simon Cowell [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed clone]], and leaves the Music/PaulaAbdul wannabe BoundAndGagged between two rotting corpses. Only the Randy Jackson analogue escapes unscathed.
* ''[[Comicbook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman Incorporated]]'' features tons of take thats against DC Comics for the DC Universe reboot as far as Morrison openly ignoring the reboot and outright referring to things (the existence of the Outsiders, the opening arc of Morrison's ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsJLA JLA]]'' run and references to the original Justice League International era JLA, which Metamorpho was a member of, Batwing's original origin, Talia being part of the Secret Society of Super-Villains and the reveal that Talia was part of Alexander Luthor's scheme to bring back the Multiverse, Jason Todd and his partnership with Scarlet, and the entire Final Crisis/Black Glove storyline) that DC explicitly erased from canon.
* The {{Elseworld}}s comic ''Comicbook/BatmanWhiteKnight'' reveals that the original Creator/PaulDini / Creator/BruceTimm version of Comicbook/HarleyQuinn and the DarkerAndEdgier / HotterAndSexier Comicbook/{{New 52}} Harley are two separate people, with the former having been replaced after she abandoned the Joker when he [[MoralEventHorizon crossed the line by killing Jason Todd]]. When the original Harley returns, she kicks her replacement in the face and then insults her {{Stripperiffic}} outfit. It may also double as a TakeThatAudience aimed at the fans who think the Joker is sexy and wish to live vicariously through Harley:
-->'''Original Harley:''' Get it straight, sister. You love Joker. I love Jack. You loved his flaws. I loved him ''despite'' his flaws.
* An issue of ''ComicBook/BloodSyndicate'' had the titular team of antiheroes transformed into parodies of the Comicbook/XMen franchise. In addition to [[{{Wangst}} CONSTANTLY talking about how they had to defend a world that hated and feared them]], they had redesigned outfits with a [[NinetiesAntiHero LOT of pouches]] and names with "[[XtremeKoolLetterz cool]]" misspellings like "Kwiklash", "Brique" and "Retenshyn".
* ''Comicbook/TheBraveAndTheBold'' #74 had a scene of Batman swinging from a flagpole and claiming ''he'' did it first.

* ''DC Universe: Rebirth'' #1, the kickoff for the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' event, takes a dig a comic writers who do unironic DarkerAndEdgier superheroes by revealing that [[spoiler:Dr. Manhattan of ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' is the cause of the New 52, essentially saying "If you're using ''Watchmen'' as a guide to writing mainstream superhero comics, you've missed the point entirely"]]. The basic premise could be seen as a Take That at the ComicBook/{{New 52}} as a whole, with Wally West talking about how the new continuity robbed its heroes of their history and legacy. This view was enforced by Creator/GeoffJohns, the writer of the ''Rebirth'' one-shot, giving an interview where he claimed that the New 52 rendered certain characters unrecognizable.[[note]]Such as Wally himself, to the point that the New 52 version was retconned to be a different person with the same name.[[/note]] [[spoiler: And of course the revelation of the issue is that the New 52 is a perversion of the previous continuity created by a madman with the power of a god.]]

** There's a scene in ''Comicbook/TheLazarusContract'' where a H.I.V.E. scientist says that physicists being able to film an electron leaving an atom almost makes up for Creator/JJAbrams' ''Film/StarTrek2009'' reboot.

** In issue #938 from the ''Comicbook/DetectiveComicsRebirth'' renumbering, Spoiler gets in a dig at Red Robin's costume from Creator/ScottLobdell's New 52 ''Teen Titans'' run.

* ''Comicbook/FinalCrisis: Rogues' Revenge'' has this thinly-veiled meta-commentary on Marc Guggenheim's run on Franchise/TheFlash and its misuse of [[FriendlyEnemy the Rogues]], as well as the quality issues of certain big events such as ''ComicBook/AmazonsAttack'' and ''Comicbook/CountdownToFinalCrisis''.

'''Captain Cold:''' No. This is for one $%@#$@-up year.

* Issue #2 of ''[[Comicbook/TheGreenLantern Green Lantern: Blackstars]]'' features another series of meta-jabs from Creator/GrantMorrison, with the Superman of the altered timeline essentially roasting the state of the modern DC Universe. These observations include the way Batman's villains have abandoned clever, entertaining crimes in favor of repeated attempts to attack him on a personal level (referencing the Bane storyline from Creator/TomKing's ''[[Comicbook/BatmanRebirth Batman]]'' run, as well as the various other times this plot point has been rehashed in recent years), Wonder Woman having become a sword-swinging BloodKnight who favors violence and aggression over love and compassion (a dig at the ''Comicbook/{{New 52}}'' reboot of the character, especially as she was characterized by Creator/GeoffJohns), the Justice League's encounters with beings from "The Depressoverse" (an allusion to the Dark Multiverse from Creator/ScottSnyder's various books, such as ''Comicbook/DarkNightsMetal'' and ''Comicbook/{{Justice League|2018}}''), an "odd effect" Superman has begun noticing in his own dialogue (a gag about Creator/BrianBendis' trademark use of MametSpeak in his ''[[Comicbook/BrianMichaelBendisSuperman Superman]]'' run), and an admission that the heroes of the DC Universe have been "struggling to change with the times" (a nod to DC's repeated attempts to revamp and reimagine its heroes to appeal to modern audiences, usually with mixed results). Being a good sport, Morrison also threw in a line about [[LegacyCharacter the number of times Batman has been replaced]], a slam on his own ''[[Comicbook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman and Robin]]'' run.

** Issue #7 had a scene where the real Thor from Norse mythology was mortified after the Five shaved his trademark beard and dyed his red hair blond, causing him to resemble his [[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Marvel counterpart]]. The same issue also had an appearance from a parody of [[Comicbook/SubMariner Namor the Sub-Mariner]] called "Nabob the Sub-Moron", complete with a mangling of Namor's patented "Imperius Rex!" BattleCry.

** Issue #10 brough back Nabob and introduced "[[Comicbook/SpiderMan Cobweb Kid]]" and "[[Comicbook/FantasticFour The Kookie Quartet]]," all of whom ended up thoroughly humiliated by the end of the story.

* The trade paperback collection for the DC event ''ComicBook/{{Invasion}}'' had the tagline "Secret No More!", a jab at Marvel's ''Comicbook/SecretInvasion''. [[labelnote:*]]Both storylines were alien invasion stories, but while ''Secret Invasion'' dropped the ball on any long-term effects, ''Invasion!'' didn't, the biggest one being the revelation of the meta-gene.[[/labelnote]]

* James Robinson's final issue of the 2006-2011 ''Justice League'' series has a number of potshots directed at the Comicbook/{{New 52}} reboot that resulted in the title's cancellation, including the favoritism shown towards [[Comicbook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batwing]] over a number of already-established African-based heroes, Dick Grayson's return to the Nightwing identity and Donna Troy's apparent lack of appearance in the reboot. It also took shots at the ''Justice League'' fans who criticized Robinson's run, with Grayson stating that he didn't care whether or not his iteration of the League would be remembered fondly by the public, and that he and his team did their best despite what the detractors said. How subtle.
* ''Comicbook/JusticeLeagueInternational'':
** The New 52 volume seemingly got in a dig at Comicbook/BlueBeetle Jaime Reyes (who some JLI fans don't like) when the people recruiting the new JLI reacted negatively when Jaime was suggested as a potential member of the team, arguing he was too inexperienced. In the final issue of the series, Jaime ''did'' join the team, which caused Guy Gardner to quit on the spot when Jaime asked if [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Superman and Wonder Woman]] were also part of the group.
** The original ''Justice League International'' volume from the 80s took a lighthearted jab at Comicbook/TheAvengers in its eleventh issue. After Comicbook/CaptainAtom yells out "[[AvengersAssemble Justice League assemble]]!" during a fight, a bemused Comicbook/MartianManhunter says the Justice League doesn't need a BattleCry. Captain Atom then gets snapped at again when he refers to the team as "The Mighty Justice League" (a play on "The Mighty Avengers") a short time later.
* ''Justice League Quarterly'' #16 was a series of in-universe comic books featuring General Glory, DC's then-current CaptainErsatz Captain America. For the most part these were [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parodies]] of fifties monster comics (as "General Glory's Really Scary Stories", a parody of ''Captain America's Weird Tales''), Silver Age superheroes (and more SelfDeprecation on DC's Silver Age than Cap's return at Marvel) and even ''Comicbook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' (as "Return on a Dark Night"). The final story, however, is "The Power ... And The Platitude!" by Indulgence Comics in which the "Wildbloods" free an insane General Glory and Ernie from suspended animation in a vicious parody of Creator/ImageComics in general and ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' freeing John Prophet in particular. In the [[FramingDevice Framing Story]], the real Glory calls it "downright pointless", and the guy he's showing the comics to says "General Glory should ''stand'' for something. He shouldn't be involved in meaningless violence for its own sake."
* Subversion: [[https://web.archive.org/web/20091123073045/http://www.4thletter.net/2009/11/okay-now-im-getting-mad/ this page]] from ''[[Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA]]'' created some backlash, because it was seen as a TakeThatCritics against everybody who criticized oversexualised costumes for superheroines, but [[https://web.archive.org/web/20091203212140/http://www.4thletter.net/2009/11/boobgate-nine-days-later/ this response from Jen Van Meter]] explains it was never intended to be take that.

* Creator/MarkWaid's ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'' series is essentially a middle finger to the 90's [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks era of comics]]. The irresponsible hero Magog (who causes the death of thousands of civilians) is an obvious parody of the X-Men character Comicbook/{{Cable}}, a popular character during that time period. Additionally, many of the DC heroes introduced in the 90's such as Kyle Rayner (who the artist Alex Ross has gone on record as saying he hates), Bart Allen (who was co-created by Waid) and Tim Drake were completely ignored, while others like Kon-El appeared in the background as part of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the comic. Amusingly, Ross also designed Magog as a jab at the notorious Creator/RobLiefeld, by modeling Magog after two characters that he designed: Comicbook/{{Cable}} and Comicbook/{{Shatterstar}}. Magog resembles Cable with a version of Shatterstar's helmet. Ironically, since Waid wrote Magog as a three dimensional character who was an apologetic WellIntentionedExtremist who learned from his mistake, he ended up being a favorite character of the creators.
* Back during the 90s, fans had clamored for Franchise/{{Batman}} to be DarkerAndEdgier akin to Comicbook/ThePunisher. To that end, they used ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' to phase Bruce Wayne out in favor of AntiHeroSubstitute [[ComicBook/{{Azrael}} Jean-Paul Valley]], who proceeds to tear through villainy in a Punisher-like style, yet never coming close to taking a life before, finally, culminating with him finally taking a life and Bruce Wayne coming back to kick his ass and take back his name. Interesting, he's told by four different people, including Franchise/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/TheJoker that he's not the real Batman. At one point, Commissioner Gordon asks Robin when the ''real'' Batman will be returning, referring to [=AzBats=] as "that punk" in Batman's costume.
* A bunch of defectors from Marvel (Byrne included), snuck in an epic TakeThat into the DC series ''Comicbook/{{Legends}}'', where [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]] beat the crap out of Sunspot, a transparent {{Expy}} of Marvel's Star Brand (the over-hyped headlining book of Marvel's ''[[ComicBook/TheNewUniverse New Universe]]'' which spectacularly failed to take off and bore a suspicious resemblance to Marvel Editor Creator/JimShooter). Guy doesn't even break a sweat, and Sunspot ends the fight by shooting himself in the foot while ranting about why the New Universes he tries to create keep exploding. Viewable [[http://daveslongbox.blogspot.com/2006/10/guy-gardner-vs-jim-shooter.html here]].

** The most distinguishing feature of Earth-8, based on Creator/MarvelComics, on the interactive map is that its heroes "fight with each other as much as they fight the bad guys". Notably, the Behemoth (its version of the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk) [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/7/73/David_Dibble_%28Earth_8%29.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/350?cb=20141228205445 transforms into a raging, giant, blue baby]] instead of a jade titan when aggravated.

''Thunderworld #1'' also comes off as a TakeThat to the New 52 as a whole, seeing how its lack of DarkerAndEdgier elements seems to be what allowed it to repel the Gentry's invasion in the first place. It goes to show that you don't need hyper-realism and grim elements to create a good story, and that the optimism and fun of Pre-New 52 DC still has a place in comics. And, given how well-received ''Thunderworld'' has been, it's something that hasn't been lost on the general comic-book readership either. Captain Marvel even [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] how silly the darker and edgier stories are when it comes down to it, and asks just what's wrong with a happy ending.

* In ''Comicbook/NewGods'', Creator/JackKirby left some careful hints that the series was a StealthSequel to ''Comicbook/TheMightyThor'', taking place long after Asgard was destroyed during [[{{Gotterdammerung}} Ragnarok]]. In one issue, a character finds Thor's helmet in the ruins of Asgard, and remarks that the Asgardians ([[LawyerFriendlyCameo who are not explicitly named as such]]) must've destroyed themselves because they were stupid savages obsessed with combat. Note that Kirby left Marvel on ''very'' bad terms with Creator/StanLee and the company in general...

* Around the early [[TheNewTens New Tens]], there was a prolific message board poster known as Herald, who would often complain about DC's current editorial practices. Creator/DanDidio eventually wrote Herald into ''[[Comicbook/BatmanAndTheOutsiders The Outsiders]]'' as an annoying and effeminate fanboy with the real name "[[PunnyName Harold Winer]]," and then proceeded to have him get humiliated by Looker and roughed up by her security detail.
* While writing her ''Comicbook/PoisonIvy'' mini-series, Amy Chu included a scene where Ivy kills a sleazy coworker who tries to blackmail her into having sex with him. This was a dig at the issue's editor, Eddie Berganza, who had developed a reputation for sexually harassing his female coworkers and employees.

* ''ComicBook/SecretOrigins'' v2 #19 recounts how the Guardian got his trademark shield from a costume shop. While in the shop, he sees a replica of Comicbook/CaptainAmerica's triangular shield, and decides to see which one is tougher by banging both shields together. Cap's shield is easily wrecked, while the Guardian's remains pristine and undamaged.
* Robinson's ''Comicbook/{{Starman}}'' run had the members of the [[WestCoastTeam Justice League Europe]] violently killed by the Mist. A later issue had other villains mocking the Mist and claiming that killing the JLE didn't give her any credibility [[CListFodder since they were all obscure D-listers anyway]].

* An issue of ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} mocked the much-maligned ''Justice League: The Rise of Arsenal'' mini-series. The original mini featured a widely-mocked scene where a doped up Arsenal hallucinates that a dead cat is his daughter Lian. An issue of ''ComicBook/{{Bizarrogirl}}'' featured a Bizzaro version of Arsenal... whose gimmick was a quiver full of dead cats which he used as projectile weapons.

* ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'':
** At the height of the popularity of the ''Comicbook/MarvelZombies'' franchise, there was a ''Teen Titans'' issue where Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} bluntly stated that zombies were lame.
** The first issue of the Comicbook/{{New 52}} ''Teen Titans'' series opens with [[Franchise/TheFlash Kid Flash]] accidentally burning down [[ComicBook/XMen a mansion in Westchester]]. This was of course written by Creator/ScottLobdell, a writer who had a lengthy tenure on Marvel's X-books before jumping ship and moving to DC.
** The New 52 ''Teen Titans'' later ended up on the other end of a TakeThat in the ''Comicbook/DCRebirth'' relaunch of the title. Turns out Damian has the same opinion of Red Robin's Teen Titans that a lot of the fans did, saying that they epitomized everything wrong with modern teen heroes, and didn't deserve to call themselves a team.

* ''Comicbook/TinyTitans'' #4 has a montage of Comicbook/{{Robin}} trying on new costumes given to him by his friends. At one point he puts on the rubber Robin costume from ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' and immediately rejects it for being "too snug". He then quips [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall about how it looks like something out of a movie]].
* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'': Comicbook/TheQuestion sez [[https://web.archive.org/web/20090310022854/http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=4448 Rorschach sucks]]. [[MisaimedFandom There's a good chance Alan Moore would agree.]]

* A running joke throughout ''Comicbook/YoungJustice'' was that ComicBook/{{Impulse}} really, really, REALLY hated Music/{{Hanson}}, a BoyBand that was popular during the period the comic was published.
* When Creator/DwayneMcDuffie recycled the old, tossed out idea of superhero Black Power, who has access to his powers in [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]] style -- transformation after saying certain word -- and from white man turns into black one, he made his white form look like ''[[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]]'' writer Creator/BrianMichaelBendis, and his black form very similar to Comicbook/{{Luke Cage|HeroForHire}}, Bendis' favorite character. This may have been more of a ShoutOut though.

* A common running joke over at DC has been to mock the [[NinetiesAntiHero EEEEEXTREMEEE heroes]] who spun out of ''Bloodlines'' crossover from the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90's]]. For instance, the ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]/Comicbook/{{Hitman|1993}}'' crossover had Franchise/TheFlash claim that the Bloodlines heroes were a bunch of buffoons who nobody else in the superhero community wanted to team-up with. He then chalked up their [[CListFodder infamously high mortality rate]] to a general lack of competence on their part. This happened as early as the months after the storyline ended. During the ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' storyline, Jean-Paul Valley encounters two of them in the main titles. He tells one of them to get out of Gotham or he's going to get killed and the other quickly leaves town after his adventure with them is over. Many of them end up getting killed by Superboy-Prime later on down the line.

* [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115337-Robama-Wants-You-to-Buy-American This ad,]] funded by DC, is already a petty jab at {{Manga}}, but takes it a few steps further by saying "[[UsefulNotes/BarackObama Robama]] (who is just Comicbook/{{Cyborg}}) [[UnfortunateImplications wants you to buy American!]]" The [[PatrioticFervor overly patriotic tone]] doesn't help.

* In ''Comicbook/AllNewWolverine'' issue 12, [[Comicbook/{{X 23}} Wolverine]] delivers one to Marvel's recent string of GoodVersusGood conflicts (''Comicbook/CivilWar'', ''Comicbook/AvengersVsXMen'', ''Comicbook/{{Axis}}'', and now ''Comicbook/CivilWarII''), with many readers finding her KirkSummation mirroring their own thoughts on such events.

* During Creator/RogerStern's run on ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'', a construction worker asked why heroes don't use {{phone booth}}s to change or shout "UpUpAndAway" anymore. Comicbook/SheHulk coyly responded by saying [[Franchise/{{Superman}} such things]] went out of style in TheSixties. The same run had an issue where Comicbook/MonicaRambeau, while reading mail from various politicians requesting that the Avengers relocate to their city, stated "Detroit? They've gotta be kidding!" This was a dig at the [[DorkAge reviled]] Detroit-era ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' that was still being published at the time.
* In Creator/JasonAaron's ''Avengers'', the US government superteam is a version of the Comicbook/SquadronSupreme. Nighthawk suspects that the other members of the team (but not himself, obviously) are having their personalities manipulated, noting that the romantic relationship between Hyperion and Power Princess (the SupermanSubstitute and WonderWomanWannabe) feels forced and artifical. This reflects common criticism of the actual Clark/Diana relationship, which DC had already realised wasn't working and retconned away.
* The first page of ''Comicbook/AvengersAcademy'' #34 features Hazmat and Mettle complaining about how the [[ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen battle between the X-Men and the Avengers]] [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall has been dragging on way too long]].

* ''Comicbook/TheAwesomeSlapstick'' is built on {{Shout Out}}s and {{Take That}}s, having things like "[[Comicbook/ThePunisher The Overkiller]], mutant murderizer" and "[[Franchise/{{Batman}} Skulker-Arounder]], dark, gritty, realistic avenger of evil".

* ''Comicbook/BlackPanther'':
** In issue #17, Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}} took a dig at Steve Englehart's controversial {{retcon}} of Comicbook/TheFalcon's origin, which established that the character [[UnfortunateImplications had been a pimp prior to becoming a superhero]]. Specifically, he pointed out the implausibility of this revelation:

** An issue of the Reginald Hudlin run has a team-up with Comicbook/ShangChi, and features some digs at [[Comicbook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]], Marvel's other big martial arts superhero. It's implied that Shang-Chi is the better fighter of the two, and that Iron Fist is so insecure about this that he never even mentions Shang to his friends.
* One of the first issues of Creator/PeterDavid's ''Comicbook/CaptainMarVell'' (not [[Comicbook/{{Shazam}} that other guy]]) started with this dialogue:
-->'''Guy:''' I have here an entire box of ''Comicbook/{{Youngblood}} [[Creator/RobLiefeld #1]]'' special collector's editions. How much'll you give me?\\

* When Matt Murdock needs to make everyone forget he's been publicly outed as Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} ([[RecycledScript ...again]]), he goes to ComicBook/DoctorStrange, and Stephen point blank says he can't help. Then Damien Hellstorm offers to contact ComicBook/{{Mephisto}}, but Matt decides he's not ''that'' desperate. These are, of course, jabs at Spider-Man's DealWithTheDevil in ''Comicbook/OneMoreDay'' and the resulting retcon in ''Comicbook/OneMomentInTime''.

* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}/GLI Summer Special'' has a Comicbook/SquirrelGirl subplot, which is a massive jab at the trend of making all comics DarkerAndEdgier. It starts with her outright saying she misses times comics worlds were "places to escape to, not from", then she goes to convince [[ComicBook/NewWarriors Speedball]] to stop being [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} Penance]], which ends with him smashing his head against the wall and yelling he's deep now.
* In ''Comicbook/DeadpoolVsThePunisher'' #5, Deadpool decides to stop the fight [[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice after mistakenly coming to believe the Punisher's mom is named Martha]].

* In ''Despicable Deadpool'' #298, Deadpool sarcastically tells Comicbook/{{Taskmaster}} and a wheelchair-bound man that they should make a play for the cancelled ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'' TV show's time slot.
* In ''[[Comicbook/TheDefenders Fearless Defenders]]'', the team meets Warrior Woman, the queen of the Amazons. Comicbook/{{Valkyrie|Marvel Comics}} immediately launches into a tirade about [[Franchise/WonderWoman how badly Amazons suck and how they're nothing but pathetic Norse wannabes]].
* An old issue of ''Comicbook/FantasticFour'' had Comicbook/AntMan watching an episode of the maligned [[WesternAnimation/FantasticFour 90's Fantastic Four cartoon]] and then proclaiming it to be awful. Editorial was not pleased.
* The ''Comicbook/GreatLakesAvengers'' mini-series has a TakeThat at ''Comicbook/IdentityCrisis'' when Monkey Joe's remains are examined, revealing a footprint that says -eebok.
* Tom Brevoort mentioned that ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} and Comicbook/{{Mockingbird}}'' was "Guaranteed to have 100% less heroin use and impotence than [[Comicbook/GreenArrow the average comic starring an archer]]".
* Brian Bendis wrote a few take thats towards ''Comicbook/OneMoreDay'', not only having Franchise/SpiderMan reveal his secret identity to the Comicbook/NewAvengers as soon as he could and having ComicBook/SpiderWoman, who never has any [[NoFourthWall fourth wall breaking moments]], asking if Peter wasn't married.
* During the nineties period, somebody gave the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk a fin to wear on his head that resembled Comicbook/TheSavageDragon's. Hulk pointed out that despite this "ingenious disguise" everyone who saw him would think, "Hey there goes Hulk with a fin on his head."
** There was also the ongoing feud between Creator/PeterDavid and Erik Larsen. In the 90's, Larsen wrote a Sinister Six story where Comicbook/DoctorOctopus ''beat the fuck'' out of the Hulk without even trying, which pissed off David. David responded by writing a story where the Hulk subjected Doc Ock to a CurbStompBattle and effortlessly humiliated him without even trying. Hulk then explained that last time they fought, [[WorfHadTheFlu he only lost because he was holding back.]] The issue also mocked Larsen and the other Marvel creators who left to form Creator/ImageComics.

* ''Comicbook/TheIncredibleHercules'' arc "Love & War" was more or less a massive Take That at DC's ''ComicBook/AmazonsAttack''. And by that, we mean it was completely awesome.
* ''Comicbook/IronMan'':

** Writer David Michelinie started writing ''Iron Man'' after resigning from DC when he found out that Rich Buckler, his artist on ''Star Hunters'', had stolen a starship design from the cartoon ''WesternAnimation/SpaceSentinels''. Michelinie wound up doing a storyline featuring a crooked Comicbook/{{SHIELD}} agent named Buck Richlen, who, when arrested, tried to blame the whole thing on his assistants (much like Buckler did when his plagiarism was discovered).

* The ComicBook/MarvelAdventures line of comics, featuring traditional Marvel heroes with stories aimed at a younger audience, has been known to take what can only be seen as deliberate snubs at the main line of Marvel Comics. Sadly, it is because of this that ExecutiveMeddling got involved and canceled the comic.
** During the height of ''Comicbook/WorldWarHulk,'' where almost all of Marvel's superheroes were defeated by the Hulk, Marvel Adventures released an issue where the Avengers, including Bruce Banner and Iron Man, need to go into space. After considering the dangers of turning into the Hulk and killing the crew by accident Banner tells them that they have permission to eject him into space if he becomes a danger. Iron Man and the Avengers share a good-hearted laugh and Tony smiles at Banner and says, "Don't be silly. We'd ''never'' shoot the Hulk into space." Wolverine then shot Hulk into space...
** Lately in the main line continuity, Tigra has been repeatedly crapped on by writer Creator/BrianMichaelBendis, who writes the two Avengers titles. Marvel Adventures Avengers had Tigra join the team.

** In issue #35 Of Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man, Venom offers to help Spidey and become his sidekick, proclaiming that they'll be known as Venom: Lethal Protector! Spider-Man calls it the dumbest idea ever. (Though he technically was reacting to sidekick idea.)
** During a brief team-up, Wolverine asks Alex Power of Comicbook/PowerPack if he's ever considered "movin' up to the big leagues". Alex replies that he has once or twice, but "it turns out I'm pretty happy with the team I'm on." This is likely a reference to the change the character underwent in the '90s when he ''stole his siblings' powers'' not once but ''twice'' so he could fight without his siblings as one of the New Warriors.
** The Avengers poked fun at the infamous Captain America direct to video movie (where Cap wore rubber ears on his mask) by having Franchise/{{Wolverine}} sarcastically ask him "Are those ears real?!"
* One of the supporting characters in Creator/MarkMillar's ''ComicBook/Marvel1985'' is an obnoxious {{Hipster}} who keeps talking about how stupid people who like superhero comics are, and how the only ''good'' comics are indie fare like ''Comicbook/{{Cerebus|TheAardvark}}'' and ''Comicbook/LoveAndRockets''. Accordingly, you can imagine how humiliated he is when Comicbook/IronMan saves his ass near the end of the book.
* ''Comicbook/{{Marville}}'' was a diss towards ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' and the Franchise/{{Superman}} mythos, as well as comic book culture in general. At least before it went from bad to ''bizarrely bad''.

-->'''Moonstone:''' I'm Moonstone again? I've been [[Comicbook/InfiniteCrisis "reality-punched"]]? That's the stupidest @#%* thing I've ever heard of.
* Similarly, there's a ''ComicBook/MiniMarvels'' strip where Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}} adopts his costume from ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersUnitedTheyStand'', only for his friends to repeatedly tell him how stupid he now looks.

** The second issue of Creator/KurtBusiek's ''Avengers'' run has a similar gag, where Hawkeye mocks the brown costume he wore during the maligned ''Comicbook/HeroesReborn'' reboot.
* ''[[Comicbook/CarolDanvers Ms. Marvel]]'':

** Issue #4 of the 2006 run by Brian Reed had Carol's publicist book her a hotel room under the alias "[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} Linda Danvers]]," saying "nobody would be interested in that name."
* In ''Comicbook/{{Nova}}'', Ego the Living Planet was lobotomized and turned into the base of Nova Corps. [[ComicBook/TheThing Ben Grimm]] said that it's good he's not a member, because nobody would be stupid enough to recruit a planet to the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Corps]].

** In the second issue of Vol. 7, the Comicbook/{{Champions|2016}} try to get Richard up to speed on what happened in the Marvel Universe while he was dead. He expresses surprise at a lot of the changes (such as there now being a new [[Comicbook/MsMarvel2014 Ms. Marvel]] and [[Comicbook/MilesMorales Spider-Man]]), but doesn't really take the news negatively. Then he finds out that [[Comicbook/AllNewXMen the original five X-Men have been brought to the present]] and that Comicbook/{{Cyclops}} [[Comicbook/DeathOfX has died after becoming a villain and declaring war on the Inhumans]]. His only response to that little tidbit?

* ''ComicBook/ThePulse'', the sequel / SpiritualSuccessor to ''Comicbook/{{Alias}}'', opens with the murder of a reporter named Terri Kidder. Kidder's name is a combination of Creator/TeriHatcher and Creator/MargotKidder, two actresses best known for portraying Creator/DCComics' Comicbook/LoisLane.

* Comicbook/ThePunisher and Franchise/{{Wolverine}} occasionally traded jabs. Creator/GarthEnnis repeatedly wrote Punisher issues where Frank dealt Wolverine horrible injuries. Wolverine's writers responded by writing an issue where Logan defeats Frank and then implies that Frank is gay. Ennis responded by writing a Punisher comic where Frank shoots Logan in half with a rocket. It goes on like this.
** In another story, ComicBook/MisterFantastic mentions how he's almost never wrong. When Comicbook/NickFury asks him why he's ''almost'' never wrong, Mr. Fantastic replies by saying he thought ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' would be a better show.

* The first issue of ''Comicbook/{{Quasar}}'' featured a pretty blatant CaptainErsatz of [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] as a test pilot who Comicbook/{{SHIELD}} assigned to wear the Cosmic Bracelets. The poor guy ended up being vaporized as soon as he put the damn things on, allowing the title character to use them instead. Another issue featured a LawyerFriendlyCameo from Franchise/TheFlash, who had died in ''Comicbook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' just a few years earlier. Marvel [[WritingAroundTrademarks got around trademark issues]] by claiming he couldn't remember his name, but thought it was something like "Buried Alien" (a [[PunnyName play on "Barry Allen"]]). Buried Alien showed up in a later issue, where he stated he had no desire to return to his old universe since his comrades [[DorkAge had all become]] [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks dark]] [[NinetiesAntiHero perversions]] of their former selves.

* ''Comicbook/{{Runaways}}'':
** At the time Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger was elected Governor of California, a few comic took jabs at him. An issue of ''Runaways'' called him "musclebound mullox", who was only elected thanks to dark magic and implied he was in [[BigBad The Pride's]] pocket. And when ''Comicbook/{{Exiles}}'' visited Franchise/MarvelUniverse, they read about his election in newspaper and immediately decided this Earth is another CrapsackWorld.
** Creator/JossWhedon ''hates'' Comicbook/ThePunisher, and has said he considers him to be nothing more than a mass-murdering fascist. It should come as no surprise that while writing ''Runaways'', Whedon intentionally depicted the Punisher in a ''very'' unflattering manner, including a scene where Frank casually admitted to [[WouldHurtAChild having shot underage criminals in the past]]. Whedon then had the Punisher dispatched in a humiliating manner by [[SuperStrongChild 11-year-old]] Molly Hayes, who took him out with a single punch.
* During ''Comicbook/XMenSecondComing'', while confronted by one of the Nimrod Sentinels, Fantomex quips "[[Film/{{Watchmen}} I'm not trapped in here with you... You're trapped in here with me]]." He then starts shooting while saying "Ha ha. That film was stupid."
* A caption in ''Comicbook/SecretAvengers'' vol. 3 #5 refers to Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}} as "Sort of like [[Comicbook/GreenArrow that green guy]] [[Series/{{Arrow}} on TV]], but more fun." Along those same lines, there's an episode of Marvel's official web-series, ''Marvel Super Heroes: What The--?!'', where Hawkeye asks Santa (actually Comicbook/{{Thanos}} [[MuggedForDisguise in disguise]]) for numerous {{Trick Arrow}}s, but immediately dismisses the idea of a boxing glove arrow (Green Arrow's trademark weapon) as too stupid.
* Dan Slott's last issue of Comicbook/SheHulk dealt with alternate universe doppelgangers of Marvel characters from "Earth A" being responsible for various OutOfCharacter moments. Ostensibly, the dialogue is Jen getting angry at the duplicates for committing identity theft, but it was also Slott's [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall response]] to continuity errors that could easily be avoided if writers stopped ignoring character history and editors paid more attention.

* ''Comicbook/SpiderManDeadpool'' #6 shows a [[http://media.comicbook.com/2016/06/cmjkkgbwiaqnlfg-188077.jpg poster]] for a movie called ''[[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice Nighthawk v. Hyperion: Yawn of Boredom]]'', which has the tagline "You won't believe their mothers share a first name."

* Comicbook/SquirrelGirl is one huge TakeThat against the people who dismiss any whimsical event in comics as non-canon. This moment from ''ComicBook/GreatLakesAvengers'' says it all:

* When Creator/JohnByrne took over ''Star Brand'' back in the '80s, he proceeded to launch one TakeThat after another at the departing figure of ousted Creator/MarvelComics editor-in-chief Creator/JimShooter. ''Star Brand'' was one of the Shooter-initiated "[[Comicbook/TheNewUniverse New Universe]]" titles, and was the one that Shooter himself wrote personally. Byrne not only took ''ad hominem'' shots at Shooter personally, but had exposition characters [[LampshadeHanging hang lampshades]] on how implausible the events of Shooter's run was, and how [[IdiotBall stupid]] the hero had been. Early on in Byrne's run, the hero's girlfriend got StuffedInTheFridge; the hero later broke down and passed the titular Brand onto some other poor schmuck, ''destroying Pittsburgh in the process". Not coincidentally, the book's original hero [[AuthorAvatar bore a physical resemblance to Shooter]].

* During the 90's, ''[[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' started wearing a new costume after becoming part of a team known as the Godpack. Creator/WarrenEllis (like many people) thought the new look was stupid, so one of the first things he did when he started writing the book was have Thor stop wearing a costume altogether (instead opting for a shirtless look).

* This one line by Ultimate Comicbook/CaptainAmerica: ''"[[CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys Surrender? SURRENDER?! You think this letter on my forehead stands for France?]]"'' This led to a more subtle take that by Ed Brubaker in the pages of 616-verse Captain America, where Cap reflects on his time fighting with the French Resistance and chides the folks who dismiss the French as "cowards." To which another shout out was made in the pages of Comicbook/{{Nextwave}} -- When Elsa Bloodstone is assaulted by a Captain America-imitation, and he claims she is just a victim, she blows him ten ways to Sunday, then points at the Euro-symbol on her T-shirt, and exclaims: "''Victim''? You think this letter on my chest stands for ''America?!''"
* The Comicbook/UltimateMarvel version of the Comicbook/IronMan story arc ''Armor Wars'' has Iron Man mixing it up with other power armored soldiers [[Franchise/{{Halo}} who bear a striking resemblance to a certain Master Chief]]. Iron Man then proceeds to casually blow them out of the sky. [[WordOfGod The writer, Warren Ellis]] stated online that [[StealthParody he used the story as an excuse to have a little fun and throw in as many jokes as possible]] (including one about Tony Stark using his computers to browse 4Chan).
* After Creator/MarkMillar left Ultimate Comics, a continuation of his title Comicbook/TheUltimates was given to Creator/JephLoeb, who created the terrible ''Ultimates 3'' and the even worse ''Comicbook/{{Ultimatum}}''. After that Millar returned to writing comics in UltimateUniverse. The ''very first page'' of his ''[[Comicbook/TheUltimates Ultimate Avengers]]'' starts with Comicbook/NickFury looking at the mess caused by Ultimatum and saying "What the #$%^&? I leave for ten minutes and everything goes to hell." He gives another one towards Loeb (and possibly towards mainstream Marvel) in issue four of ''Ultimate Avengers vs. New Ultimates''. Tony Stark gives ten million dollars to charity in exchange for Thor promising to talk like a normal person again. He started using the whole "Faux Shakespearean" thing during Loeb's run.
* An issue of ''Ultimate Comics: Avengers 3'' features a dream sequence where Comicbook/{{Blade}} ''kills [[Literature/{{Twilight}} Edward Cullen]]'' in front of Bella Swan while quipping about how nauseating he finds the two of them:
-->'''Blade''': God, I hate you people. I've hated you since your first damn trailer.

* ''Comicbook/UltimateSpiderMan'':
** Creator/BrianBendis ''really'' likes to dress up female lunatics in the costumes of whatever super-heroine is making Crisis Crossover trouble for the Marvel Universe today and drag them by police officers screaming their new catch-phrase. It's mostly SelfDeprecation as the series had a girl dressed as Comicbook/ScarletWitch screaming [[ComicBook/HouseOfM "I'M NOT CRAZY! I'M NOT!"]] and one dressed as Spider-Woman yelling [[Comicbook/SecretInvasion "EMBRACE CHANGE! EMBRACE CHANGE!"]] and Creator/BrianMichaelBendis writes both USM and the cross-overs involved. However, one exception was the guy in the Speedball costume yelling [[ComicBook/CivilWar "NOT LIKE THIS! NOT LIKE THIS!"]] The actual Ultimate versions of Wanda and Jessica look completely different, so we know it wasn't meant to be them. Another issue had an obese prostitute dressed like ComicBook/PowerGirl being dragged into the station. Make of that what you will. When the book was relaunched as ''Spider-Man'', the joke continued:
--->'''Prostitute:''' What does [[Comicbook/DCRebirth Rebirth]] even mean? How can you be rebirthed?!
** Issue #15 has a scene where J. Jonah Jameson claims that Ben Urich's theory about Comicbook/DoctorOctopus "has more holes in it than a Creator/MichaelBay movie."
* ''Comicbook/UncannyAvengers Annual'' had Mojo being told by his producers that modern audiences prefer stories that, instead of having "structured character arcs" and "something to say" are "[[TrueArtIsIncomprehensible artsy and indecipherable]]", "[[TheChrisCarterEffect spinning an endless web of strange mysteries]]" that keeps the "feeble-minded viewers lost and guessing" and will get critical praise because "[[TakeThatCritics reviewers won't want to admit not understand it, even when there is nothing to understand]]". For many it appears to be jab at both ''Avengers'' [[Comicbook/JonathanHickmansAvengers books written at the time by Jonathan Hickman]] and [[TakeThatAudience fans who preferred them to]] ''Uncanny Avengers''.
** ''Uncanny Avengers'' itself received an epic diss in an issue of ''Comicbook/AllNewXMen'', where the team discussed Havok's now infamous speech where he claimed that using words like "mutant" was divisive, and that society would be much better off without labels. ComicBook/KittyPryde stated that her Jewish ethnicity is something she's proud of, and that it's the fault of racists, not minorities, if ignorant people can't handle marginalized groups taking pride in their heritage.
** And to make it a full circle, ''ComicBook/AllNewXMen'' received a diss in one of Hickman's series, ''ComicBook/NewAvengers''. During his WhatTheHellHero rant, Beast from the past tells his older counterpart exactly how stupid and petty it was to bring past versions of original five X-Men to the present (in other words, the entire premise of ''All-New X-Men'') just to spite Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}.

** ''Uncanny Avengers'' also has another scene where Comicbook/{{Rogue}} and [[Comicbook/AntMan Hank Pym]] have a short conversation after the latter returns from outer space.

** ''Comicbook/UncannyXMen'' #168 features a somewhat obscure (to modern readers at least) one: Kitty Pryde's bedroom has a poster that reads "The Legion eats quiche," which is both a shot at DC's ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' and a reference to the title of the popular 80s book ''Real Men Don't Eat Quiche''.
* In ''Comicbook/UncannyXMen Annual'' #1, a bad guy relates a story about how he was about to kill someone, [[Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice only to freeze up upon learning that both their moms were named "Martha."]] Domino then kills the bad guy in question.

** DC was hit with an ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' parody with Impossible Man turning evil and murdering [[StuffedIntoTheFridge Aunt Petunia]] for [[CListFodder being a character without a movie deal]] and then being killed by Identity Girl -- "a new character you've never heard of that's just watered down version of a bunch of characters you have heard of." It was also featuring ''What if DC would let us do Franchise/{{Batman}}[=/=]Comicbook/{{Daredevil}}'' by Brian Bendis and David Mack, which was a picture of frozen Hell.

* After Creator/JMichaelStraczynski got in an argument with Marvel editor Steve Wacker, Creator/MarkWaid posted on the web a long rant in which he called JMS on his behavior, which he concluded by saying he needs to take a walk. [[ComicBook/SupermanGrounded Long, boring, pointless walk across America. That he won't finish.]]

* In ''another'' Creator/PeterDavid example, an issue of the first volume of ''Comicbook/XFactor'' had someone telling Strong Guy his name sounded stupid. Strong Guy then retorted by asking how it sounded any stupider than something like oh, let's say, "[[LawyerFriendlyCameo Super Man]]".
* Also, after Liefeld complained about how Peter David revealed that Shatterstar is bisexual in ''Comicbook/XFactor'' because it was against [[SmallNameBigEgo his vision]] and that he was supposed to be like a Spartan warrior and Creator/RussellCrowe in ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', David promised he would add dialogue to that effect in the new issue. Which, he did:

** In the middle of ''Comicbook/XFactor'' #200, Jamie Madrox is narrating:

* Marvel marketed its ''Young Allies'' revival by mentioning the complaints about the decline in quality over in DC's ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' series.

[[AC: Other:]]

* ''Comicbook/ElfQuest - The Rebels'' has one against television in general. This is a planet-that-is-not-earth inhabited by humans. They have interplanetary space travel and Internet for information, news, and porn. At one point we see preparations for a live feed of a car race.

* One of the covers for the 2017 reboot of ''Fighting American'' takes a shot at [[ComicBook/NickSpencersCaptainAmerica Nick Spencer's controversial]] ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' run, proclaiming "[[Comicbook/SecretEmpire No secrets. No empires.]] Just an All-American hero."

* From issue #4 of the 2016 ''Comicbook/JosieAndThePussycats'' [[Comicbook/ArchieComics2015 reboot]]:

* In the mid-1990s, an environmental activist known as Swampy became well-known in the UK when he took part in a protest to stop the construction of an extension to the A30 motorway. ''Comicbook/JudgeDredd'' went on to feature a plot about an "eco-warrior" named Spawny, who protests the construction of a spaceport in the same way as the real-life Swampy (by digging underground tunnels.) What happens? The construction workers bury him alive under the concrete and carry on anyway ...
* Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' features his interpretation of TheAntiChrist by way of school shooters: a boy who learns what he's destined to be and proceeds to snap and murder/rape his way through his school, including his two best friends and worst enemy, other schoolmates and staff, then hide for the next few years doing nothing but down anti-psychotics with only the head of his former headmaster (and backer, [[GoneHorriblyRight the whole Anti-Christ thing was his idea]]) for company. When discovered, he grows into a multiple-eyed, lightning-pissing giant and kills [[spoiler:Allan]] before being [[spoiler:curbstomped by Literature/MaryPoppins, who might be {{God}}]]. Now, [[Literature/HarryPotter given that this school was only accessible by train, by going through a fake wall in King's Cross station...]]

* ''Comicbook/TheSavageDragon'':

** Another issue had ComicBook/LexLuthor and ComicBook/NormanOsborn discussing Dragon's constantly coming back to life, while they are served coffee by none other than Gwen Stacy. Larsen doesn't like Comic Book Deaths.
** Larsen has also taken a dig at fellow comics creator John Byrne with his villains "Johnny Redbeard's Nixed Men", a team composed of parodies of various characters Byrne has written. The long-winded introductory speech summarizing some of their backstories is a vicious critique of Byrne's "senseless revamping" of various comics, including ''Comicbook/SheHulk'' and ''ComicBook/SubMariner''. Redbeard is portrayed as a bad leader with a huge head who indiscriminately endows people with poorly conceived powers before eventually abandoning the mess he made of them. After the team's one appearance, where they beat up some homeless people and get their asses handed to them by the protagonist, the She-Hulk parody would later [[FaceHeelTurn reform]] and return to the series as the recurring She-Dragon.
** In the pages of Marvel Comic's ''Comicbook/IncredibleHulk'', Bruce Banner, who was walking around big and green and smart, was in a quandary. His friend was dying of AIDS and wanted a Hulk-blood transfusion in order to get Hulk-healing powers. Bruce, afraid of Hulk 2.0 smashing up crap (with good reason, since a gamma-contaminated transfusion from him had already been the origin of She-Hulk), declined. The same plot happened in Erik Larsen's Savage Dragon, but the Dragon said yes, saying, paraphrased, only an idiot would say no to the possibility. The friend who received Dragon's blood then exploded. So...um. [[InvertedTrope Yeah]].

*** An early comic featured a robot called the "Comicbook/{{Spawn}}mower". It acted much like the [[DarkerAndEdgier dark and edgy]] real-life comic hero it was named after, in that it stopped to make a dramatic pose every few seconds. Sonic was able to defeat it without too much trouble.

** ''Comicbook/SonicTheComic'':

* Creator/AlanMoore's ''Comicbook/{{Supreme}}'' had a gratuitous scene with the Televillain killing Courtney Cox's character on ''Series/{{Friends}}'' using his powers, thus showing that, in spite of his tacky feel, he was awesome.

** The core of ''Comicbook/YoungbloodJudgmentDay'' is a rejection of the gritty, "extreme" heroics of ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'', emphasized when the previous adventures of Youngblood were described by Shaft as "heroes motivated only by money or psychopathology stalked a paranoid, apocalyptic landscape of post-nuclear mutants and bazooka-wielding cyborgs". The climax of the story reveals [[spoiler:that the entire original series was basically a childish SelfInsertFic written by Sentinel]].
* The various ''Transformers'' comics over the years have tended to have a character named Cy-Kill show up, only to be killed immediately--often by Megatron. Why is this a {{take that}}? Because Cy-Kill is the BigBad from ''WesternAnimation/ChallengeOfTheGobots''. Fans eventually got ''really'' sick of this "gag" being done to death, and even the Transformers Wiki complains about it.

* ''Comicbook/{{Saga}}'' has a scene in issue 16 that seems to be a deliberate jab at the writing in most mainstream superhero titles, where main character Alana basically serves as a mouthpiece for the author, saying that most superhero stories are bad melodrama between people in ridiculous costumes, with no subtext.

* ''Comicbook/{{Wanted}}'' ends with the VillainProtagonist spouting a monologue [[TakeThatAudience about how your humdrum life of working for a living and not being awesome like him is pathetic and you should feel bad]], ending with a closeup of his angry mug saying "This is my face while fucking you in the ass". Said protagonist was modeled after Music/{{Eminem}}; take that little factoid as you will.

* The first issue of Creator/MarkMillar's ''Comicbook/{{Youngblood}}: Bloodsport'' has two members of the titular superhero team receiving oral sex from gay {{cosplay}}ers dressed as Franchise/{{Wolverine}} and Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}.
* Whilst Creator/AlanMoore's ''Comicbook/NineteenSixtyThree'' is more of an AffectionateParody of the characters and stories of UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|ofComicBooks}}, particularly those debuting in Creator/MarvelComics, it's more of a pointed Take That to the creators behind them; in the letters pages provided in the issue, it's made pretty clear that "Affable" Al Moore is an egotistical tyrant who shamelessly takes credit for the work and achievements of others.
* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'':

** An earlier prog featured Tharg encountering a young Earthlet who was a fan of [[Creator/MarvelComics Wonder Comics]], as shown by his "Here Comes the [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk Bulk]]" t-shirt. Other Wonder Comics characters apparently include [[Comicbook/CaptainAmerica a hero in a cowl with little wings and a letter on the front]] and [[Franchise/SpiderMan a hero in a full-face mask with a spider motif]]. Inevitably, it turns out Wonder Comics have left the boy totally unprepared for the true Thrill Power of ''2000 AD''.
* The Curtis', owners of the comic book company, Shanda Fantasy Arts, upset at the horrific [[ScrewedByTheNetwork screwing]] of ''Comicbook/CaptainCarrotAndHisAmazingZooCrew'' in their last mini-series where the team is exiled on the main [[Franchise/TheDCU DCU story world]] and trapped as ordinary animals unable to express their unchanged intelligence. In response, the Curtis', with aid of the series' original creator Roy Thomas, made a special comic book using their ''Atomic Mouse'' license, ''Atomic Mouse Meets Power Jack And The Lost Menagerie'' where the title character rescued a [[CaptainErsatz disguised version of the Zoo Crew]] who are suffering an equivalent fate. DC [[AuthorsSavingThrow fixed that editorial misdeed]] at the end of ''Comicbook/FinalCrisis'', so the hard feelings shouldn't be quite so much.

** Rosa's final installment in ''Comicbook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'', "The Richest Duck in the World," is partially devoted to dispelling the "[[DependingOnTheWriter supreme bit of absolute balderdash]]" that Scrooge's NumberOneDime is lucky.
* Creator/GarthEnnis has also been known to viciously parody the concept of TheCape. Ironically, he's clearly fond of Franchise/{{Superman}}; when Superman appeared in an issue of ''Comicbook/{{Hitman|1993}}'', the character was treated with complete respect, and a later issue had the AntiHero main character remark that Superman was the only superhero he had any time for.
* Creator/MarvelComics promoted their Comicbook/HeroicAge event and new [[Comicbook/TheAvengers Avengers]] titles by teasers with members of each team, their quote and words “I'm an Avenger/New Avenger/Secret Avenger/In Avengers Academy”. Creator/{{Image|Comics}} released their own teasers with members of new Guardians of the Globe roster, looking pretty similar to Marvel's – when the first one, with ''ComicBook/{{Invincible}}'' saying “I never really been much of a team player” was released, people thought Image's just stealing the idea. When the second, with Comicbook/{{Spawn}} saying “Todd lost a bet so he's loaning me out for this” came out, some realized something is wrong. Next ones? Rick from ''Comicbook/TheWalkingDead'' (“It makes no logical story sense for me to be here, but I suppose it will help sales.”), UsefulNotes/BarackObama (“I'm not as popular as I used to be. How much is Amazing Spider-Man 583 going for on eBay?”) and [[CaptainErsatz kid looking suspiciously similar to]] Literature/HarryPotter (“Okay, now this is getting [[{{Understatement}} a little ridiculous]]... and slightly illegal.”). Obviously, Image was just making fun at Marvel's policy on who is and who isn't in which team. Sadly, they later had to really rip the idea and release teasers with real members, because people thought they're really going to put those guys into one team.

** [[https://comicvine1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/scale_medium/3/31666/823367-jsa3.jpg the cover]] for ''[[ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA Classified]]'' #3 took a shot at the industry's over-dependence on big events in the 2000s as ComicBook/PowerGirl and ComicBook/{{Huntress}} couldn't remember which event they were in at the time.

** ''[[ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA Classified]]'' #3 took a shot at the industry's over-dependence on big events in the 2000s as ComicBook/PowerGirl and ComicBook/{{Huntress}} couldn't remember which event they were in at the time.

--->'''Power Girl''': So is this a ''ComicBook/VilliansUnited'' thing or an OMAC thing?

--->'''Power Girl''': So is this a ''ComicBook/Villians United'' thing or an OMAC thing?

** ''[[ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA Classified]]'' #3 took a shot at the industry's over-dependence on big events in the 2000s as ComicBook/PowerGirl and ComicBook/Huntress couldn't remember which event they were in at the time.

* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'': Comicbook/TheQuestion sez [[https://web.archive.org/web/20090310022854/http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=4448 Rorschach sucks]]. [[MisaimedFandom There's a good chance Alan Moore would agree.]]
* ''ComicBook/WonderWomanOdyssey'' takes a jab at Diana's romantic entanglement with Tom Tresser (Nemesis) whom she was dating for most of ''ComicBook/WonderWoman2006'' as the character named Nemesis in this volume is the BigBad.

** There's a jab at the violently misandrist New 52 Amazons, with Diana noting how they're all wrong.

** The comic itself later received a Take That in the form of the "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?" story arc of ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'', which was adapted into the DirectToVideo animated feature ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite''.

* Phil Noto's unused cover for ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl|2009}}'' #3 shows Stephanie Brown looking over concepts for potential Batgirl costumes. As an in-joke, the Batgirl design sported by Alicia Silverstone in ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' can be seen crossed out with the words "definitely not" scrawled over it.

-->'''Batman''': Here's one I did before anybody, including [[Comicbook/SpiderMan a certain web-spinning Peter-come-lately]]!

* Subversion: [[http://www.4thletter.net/2009/11/okay-now-im-getting-mad this page]] from ''[[Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica JSA]]'' created some backlash, because it was seen as a TakeThatCritics against everybody who criticized oversexualised costumes for superheroines, but [[http://www.4thletter.net/2009/11/boobgate-nine-days-later/ this response from Jen Van Meter]] explains it was never intended to be take that.
* Creator/MarkWaid's ''Comicbook/KingdomCome'' series is essentially a middle finger to the 90's [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks era of comics]]. The irresponsible hero Magog (who causes the death of thousands of civilians) is an obvious parody of the X-Men character Comicbook/{{Cable}}, a popular character during that time period. Additionally, many of the DC heroes introduced in the 90's such as Kyle Rayner (who the artist Alex Ross has gone on record as saying he hates), Bart Allen (who was co-created by Waid) and Tim Drake were completely ignored, while others like Kon-El appeared in the background as part of the Legion of Super-Heroes in the comic. Amusingly, Ross also designed Magog as a jab at the notorious Creator/RobLiefeld, by modeling Magog after two characters that he designed: Comicbook/{{Cable}} and Shatterstar. Magog resembles Cable with a version of Shatterstar's helmet. Ironically, since Waid wrote Magog as a three dimensional character who was an apologetic WellIntentionedExtremist who learned from his mistake, he ended up being a favorite character of the creators.
* Back during the 90s, fans had clamored for Franchise/{{Batman}} to be DarkerAndEdgier akin to Comicbook/ThePunisher. To that end, they used ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' to phase Bruce Wayne out in favor of [[ComicBook/{{Azrael}} Jean-Paul Valley]], who proceeds to tear through villainy in a Punisher-like style, yet never coming close to taking a life before, finally, culminating with him finally taking a life and Bruce Wayne coming back to kick his ass and take back his name. Interesting, he's told by four different people, including Franchise/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/TheJoker that he's not the real Batman. At one point, Commissioner Gordon asks Robin when the ''real'' Batman will be returning, referring to [=AzBats=] as "that punk" in Batman's costume.

* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'': Comicbook/TheQuestion sez [[http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=4448 Rorschach sucks]]. [[MisaimedFandom There's a good chance Alan Moore would agree.]]

* A common running joke over at DC has been to mock the [[NinetiesAntiHero EEEEEXTREMEEE heroes]] who spun out of ''Bloodlines'' crossover from the [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks 90's]]. For instance, the ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]/Comicbook/{{Hitman}}'' crossover had Franchise/TheFlash claim that the Bloodlines heroes were a bunch of buffoons who nobody else in the superhero community wanted to team-up with. He then chalked up their [[CListFodder infamously high mortality rate]] to a general lack of competence on their part. This happened as early as the months after the storyline ended. During the ''ComicBook/{{Knightfall}}'' storyline, Jean-Paul Valley encounters two of them in the main titles. He tells one of them to get out of Gotham or he's going to get killed and the other quickly leaves town after his adventure with them is over. Many of them end up getting killed by Superboy-Prime later on down the line.

* During Roger Stern's run on ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'', a construction worker asked why heroes don't use {{phone booth}}s to change or shout "UpUpAndAway" anymore. Comicbook/SheHulk coyly responded by saying [[Franchise/{{Superman}} such things]] went out of style in TheSixties. The same run had an issue where Comicbook/MonicaRambeau, while reading mail from various politicians requesting that the Avengers relocate to their city, stated "Detroit? They've gotta be kidding!" This was a dig at the [[DorkAge reviled]] Detroit-era ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' that was still being published at the time.

* The final issue of ''[[ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen AvX Versus]]'' had two strips that mocked the entire premise. One had ComicBook/SquirrelGirl and Pixie find figurines of the two teams and play with them, only for the Thing to walk in and take them away, mentioning that they were Puppet Master's dolls.
* ''Marvel: NOW What?!'' Is a big TakeThat to the ComicBook/MarvelNow relaunch, but particularly scathing is ComicBook/TheWatcher going through exposure therapy to cure him of his addiction to [[AlienNonInterferenceClause meddling with events]]. As another watcher bars him from interfering we see many things which the Watcher desperately tries to stop from happening: ComicBook/SpiderMan [[ComicBook/CivilWar revealing his identity to the world]], ComicBook/ScarletWitch [[ComicBook/HouseOfM saying "No more mutants"]], Creator/RobLiefeld's [[OffModel drawing of]] ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, a clapperboard for the ComicBook/NickFury movie with Creator/DavidHasselhoff, [[ReplacementScrappy H.E.R.B.I.E.]], ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'s bestial redesign from the late [[UsefulNotes/TheNineties 90's]], and more divisively, ComicBook/JeanGrey returning as The Phoenix and the introduction of the ComicBook/ScarletSpider.

* Comics from ''A+X'' series (about team-ups between members of Avengers and X-Men) had ComicBook/WonderMan and Beast pointing how horribly out of character other's recent actions, that all happened under writing of Creator/BrianMichaelBendis, are.

** An issue of the Reginald Hudlin run has a team-up with Comicbook/ShangChi, and features some digs at Comicbook/IronFist, Marvel's other big martial arts superhero. It's implied that Shang-Chi is the better fighter of the two, and that Iron Fist is so insecure about this that he never even mentions Shang to his friends.

* In the ComicBook/{{Carnage}} 5-part series that ran from 2010 to 2011, one of the main characters, who brings Cletus Kasady and the Carnage symbiote back to Earth, and subsequently uses both for experimentation, is named Michael Hall. Now maybe it's a coincidence, but actor Michael C. Hall does play a red-haired serial killer on ''Series/{{Dexter}}'' and Cletus Kasady is a serial killer with short red hair. The series ended with Cletus taking Hall hostage to torture him for personal amusement.
* In the second issue of ''ComicBook/DamageControl'', comptroller Albert Cleary confronts ComicBook/DoctorDoom regarding an outstanding bill. Doom agrees to pay the bill, stating "Doom always pays his debts," and even fires his majordomo for refusing to pay Damage Control in the first place. [[WordOfGod According to writer Dwayne McDuffie]], this was a direct Take That against a classic story from ''[[ComicBook/LukeCage Hero for Hire]]'' when Doom hired Luke Cage for a job and left town without paying him, and Luke had to follow Doom all the way to Latveria to get paid. [=McDuffie=] didn't think that Doom's refusal to pay Cage went against his more common "Doom's word is his bond" treatment.

** The Avengers poked fun at the infamous Captain America direct to video movie (where Cap wore rubber ears on his mask) by having Comicbook/{{Wolverine}} sarcastically ask him "Are those ears real?!"

* ''[[Comicbook/CarolDanvers Ms. Marvel]]''
** The very first issue of the original series featured a bystander claiming the titular heroine made "Lynda Carter look like [[DamselInDistress Olive Oyl]]!" For those who don't get the joke, Creator/LyndaCarter was the actress who played DC's Franchise/WonderWoman in her popular [[Series/WonderWoman live-action show]].

* In ''Comicbook/{{Nova}}'', Ego the Living Planet was lobotomized and turned into the base of Nova Corps. [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Ben Grimm]] said that it's good he's not a member, because nobody would be stupid enough to recruit a planet to the [[Franchise/GreenLantern Corps]].

** In another story, Mr. Fantastic mentions how he's almost never wrong. When Comicbook/NickFury asks him why he's ''almost'' never wrong, Mr. Fantastic replies by saying he thought ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' would be a better show.

* The first issue of ''Comicbook/{{Quasar}}'' featured a pretty blatant CaptainErsatz of [[Franchise/GreenLantern Hal Jordan]] as a test pilot who Comicbook/{{SHIELD}} assigned to wear the Cosmic Bracelets. The poor guy ended up being vaporized as soon as he put the damn things on, allowing the title character to use them instead. Another issue featured a LawyerFriendlyCameo from Franchise/TheFlash, who had died in ''Comicbook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' just a few years earlier. Marvel [[WritingAroundTrademarks got around trademark issues]] by [[https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WYyNoNATkbSIfKm73fKSZlPS0q7Flt2PACfRvvbltl30=w518-h291-p-no claiming he couldn't remember his name]], but thought it was something like "Buried Alien" (a [[PunnyName play on "Barry Allen"]]). Buried Alien showed up in a later issue, where he stated he had no desire to return to his old universe since his comrades [[DorkAge had all become]] [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks dark]] [[NinetiesAntiHero perversions]] of their former selves.

* Nick Spencer's first issue of ''The Amazing ComicBook/SpiderMan'' is one massive jab at ''ComicBook/DanSlottSpiderMan'', particularly everything after ''ComicBook/SuperiorSpiderMan'' when Peter admits he should ''never'' have had taken ''anything'' Otto had built up while he was running around in his body (he even admits that the subject that Otto did his thesis on that Peter got caught "plagiarizing" with was something he knew about), thus he wasn't taking responsibility for the great power he had that he never should have had in the first place. He later comes crawling back to Mary Jane, admits how stupid he's been and that he needs her, bringing the two together again for the first time since ''ComicBook/OneMoreDay'', something Slott constantly teased, but never did.

'''Silikong:''' Did you think we were some kind of ComicBook/SecretInvasion from other planet? Don't be ridiculous.

* ''Spider-Man'' had one at the expense of DC for the time they took to release Franchise/{{Superman}} vs. UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli. [[http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/315/ Seen at the end of the page]]

* When John Byrne took over ''Star Brand'' back in the '80s, he proceeded to launch one TakeThat after another at the departing figure of ousted Creator/MarvelComics editor-in-chief Creator/JimShooter. ''Star Brand'' was one of the Shooter-initiated "[[Comicbook/TheNewUniverse New Universe]]" titles, and was the one that Shooter himself wrote personally. Byrne not only took ''ad hominem'' shots at Shooter personally, but had exposition characters [[LampshadeHanging hang lampshades]] on how implausible the events of Shooter's run was, and how [[IdiotBall stupid]] the hero had been. Early on in Byrne's run, the hero's girlfriend got StuffedInTheFridge; the hero later broke down and passed the titular Brand onto some other poor schmuck, ''destroying Pittsburgh in the process". Not coincidentally, the book's original hero [[AuthorAvatar bore a physical resemblance to Shooter]].

* Marvel's ''Wha... Huh?'' features take thats against DC and people complaining about comics at the Internet.

* The Dark Horse comic ''Barb Wire'' took a shot at Creator/JohnByrne's ''Babe'', a StatuesqueStunner blonde whose character was considered pure FanService, by having BikerBabe Barb snarl, "[[http://www.toonopedia.com/barbwire.jpg Don't call me BABE.]]" However, this became HilariousInHindsight when the [[Film/BarbWire film adaptation]] had Pamela Anderson growl the same line, despite, as [[Series/SiskelAndEbert Gene Siskel]] said, the most drama came from whether Anderson's enormous chest was going to topple out of her AbsoluteCleavage. The hypocrisy was obvious and delicious.

'''Spike:''' No one does.[[note]]Angel ([[NamesTheSame of the X-men]]) had sex with his then-girlfriend, Husk, in Uncanny X-Men #440, in the air, while his mom watched. [[{{Squick}} And now you know!]][[/note]]

* From issue #4 of the 2016 ''Comicbook/JosieAndThePussyCats'' [[Comicbook/ArchieComics2015 reboot]]:

* Creator/AlanMoore's ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' features his interpretation of the Antichrist by way of school shooters: a boy who learns what he's destined to be and proceeds to snap and murder/rape his way through his school, including his two best friends and worst enemy, other schoolmates and staff, then hide for the next few years doing nothing but down anti-psychotics with only the head of his former headmaster (and backer, [[GoneHorriblyRight the whole Antichrist thing was his idea]]) for company. When discovered, he grows into a multiple-eyed, lightning-pissing giant and kills [[spoiler:Allan]] before being [[spoiler:curbstomped by Literature/MaryPoppins, who might be {{God}}]]. Now, [[Literature/HarryPotter given that this school was only accessible by train, by going through a fake wall in King's Cross station...]]

* The first issue of Creator/MarkMillar's ''Comicbook/{{Youngblood}}: Bloodsport'' has two members of the titular superhero team receiving oral sex from gay {{cosplay}}ers dressed as {{Wolverine}} and Comicbook/{{Cyclops}}.

* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD''

** An earlier prog featured Tharg encountering a young Earthlet who was a fan of [[Creator/MarvelComics Wonder Comics]], as shown by his "Here Comes the [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk Bulk]]" t-shirt. Other Wonder Comics characters apparently include [[Comicbook/CaptainAmerica a hero in a cowl with little wings and a letter on the front]] and [[Comicbook/SpiderMan a hero in a full-face mask with a spider motif]]. Inevitably, it turns out Wonder Comics have left the boy totally unprepared for the true Thrill Power of ''2000 AD''.

* Creator/GarthEnnis has also been known to viciously parody the concept of TheCape. Ironically, he's clearly fond of Franchise/{{Superman}}; when Superman appeared in an issue of ''Comicbook/{{Hitman}}'', the character was treated with complete respect, and a later issue had the AntiHero main character remark that Superman was the only superhero he had any time for.

* A bunch of defectors from Marvel (Byrne included), snuck in an epic TakeThat into the DC series ''Comicbook/{{Legends}}'', where [[Franchise/GreenLantern Guy Gardner]] beat the crap out of Sunspot, a transparent {{Expy}} of Marvel's Star Brand (the over-hyped headlining book of Marvel's ''[[ComicBook/TheNewUniverse New Universe]]'' which spectacularly failed to take off and bore a suspiciously resemblance to Marvel Editor Creator/JimShooter). Guy doesn't even break a sweat, and Sunspot ends the fight by shooting himself in the foot while ranting about why the New Universes he tries to create keep exploding. Viewable [[http://daveslongbox.blogspot.com/2006/10/guy-gardner-vs-jim-shooter.html here]].

** Issue #4 of the 2006 run by Brian Reed had Carol's publicist book her a hotel room under the alias "[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl Linda Danvers]]," saying "nobody would be interested in that name."

** Issue #5 of the 2006 run by Brian Reed had Carol's publicist book her a hotel room under the alias "Linda Danvers," saying "[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} nobody would be interested in that name]]."