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1Canon Invasion is when two unrelated titles are originally owned by two different entities but are forced into the same fictional universe after one buys the rights from the other. Sometimes, it's immediately after; other times, it's CanonWelding belatedly kicking in.
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3The "Invaders" bring their own, possibly conflicting, continuity with them; and since they didn't originate with the same creator, the differences will likely be more severe than with CanonWelding. Expect {{Retcon}}s, especially if the invaders are inserted directly.
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5Because of the Continuity issues, Canon Invasion may turn TheVerse into TheMultiverse as its first effect (if the original 'verse wasn't already a multiverse), especially if there are huge differences in the laws of metaphysics. The original canon characters are in one universe, and the newer ones in another, and now there is a bridge between them. Thus, Canon Invasion is sometimes less disruptive than CanonWelding.
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8!!Examples:
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12[[folder:Comic Books]]
13* In Franchise/TheDCU:
14** During UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks, now-iconic characters such as Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/{{Batman}} and Franchise/WonderWoman were initially not thought of as being part of the same continuity. The consolidation of these superhero stories into a single setting was largely a Silver Age phenomenon.
15** Characters such as ComicBook/PlasticMan, the ComicBook/{{Blackhawk}}s and the ComicBook/{{Freedom Fighters|DCComics}} were originally published by Quality Comics until DC bought them out in 1956. Originally set in a parallel universe, the characters were brought into the main DC universe in ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''. The speedster hero Quicksilver (no, not [[Characters/MarvelComicsQuicksilver that one]]) was also reinvented as Max Mercury and became a supporting character to Franchise/TheFlash. The original Quality Comics characters are now [[PublicDomainCharacter in public domain]].
16** ComicBook/{{Shazam}} a.k.a. Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family were originally published by Fawcett Comics until the mid-1950s. DC began licensing the characters in 1973 to make their own ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' comic, which was originally set in the parallel universe of Earth-S. ''Crisis on Infinite Earths'' again integrated the characters into the main DC universe, along with other Fawcett characters such as Bulletman and Ibis the Invincible. Eventually DC purchased the characters outright.
17*** ''Shazam'' got this twice. By the 1980s, DC had bought the rights to ''Comicbook/KidEternity'' from Quality Comics, and noticed that its title character was similar to Freddy Freeman/Captain Marvel Jr.--both were [[RaisedByGrandparents raised by a grandfather]] who died in a boating accident, then got a power activated ByThePowerOfGreyskull. As a result, the Kid--previously NoNameGiven, [[NamedByTheAdaptation now Kit Freeman]]--was revealed to be Freddy's brother, and his adventures were placed on Earth-S, while other Quality characters lived on Earth-X.
18** ComicBook/TheQuestion, ComicBook/BlueBeetle, ComicBook/CaptainAtom and others started out in Creator/CharltonComics before being sold to Creator/DCComics in 1983. In fact, ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'' was going to use them as its characters, except DC actually wanted to be able to use them again later. Hence the team of {{Captain Ersatz}}es instead.
19** DC attempted this again in 2008 when they licensed the ''Red Circle'' characters from Creator/ArchieComics -- including superheroes the Hangman, Inferno, Shield and Web -- and attempted to integrate them into Franchise/TheDCU with a series of one-shots. (They had licensed the characters before in the early 1990s, but kept them separate.) The license lapsed in 2011, and the characters fell out of continuity again with the ComicBook/New52 reboot.
20** Milestone Media, the creators of the Creator/MilestoneComics line (including ''ComicBook/{{Static}}''), originally had them published via DC Comics, but as their own distinct universe. DC eventually struck a deal with Milestone to bring the characters into the DCU proper, as well as the ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' TV show getting pushed into the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse. Later on, they struck another deal so that Milestone would be its own distinct universe again, this time as part of the DC Multiverse.
21** The Creator/{{Wildstorm}} Comics universe. Originally part of a loosely-defined Creator/ImageComics universe, Wildstorm was integrated into TheMultiverse of the DCU as "Earth-50" with a series of crossovers involving Franchise/{{Superman}}, [[ComicBook/WildCATsWildStorm Majestic]], and ComicBook/CaptainAtom. The ComicBook/New52 reboot then integrated the characters into the main DC universe.
22* In the Franchise/MarvelUniverse:
23** Although technically always owned by the same company, ''ComicBook/TheEternals'' at Marvel is otherwise an example. The series was created by Creator/JackKirby as separate from the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, but later brought into it, with the result that, for instance, there would be Marvel Universe versions of gods but Eternals who were posing as those same gods. This was {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in an issue of ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' where it was revealed the Eternals and the Olympians had made a pact so the former would "represent" the latter in front of mortals.
24** Machine Man originally appeared in issue #8 of Kirby's monthly comic of ''2001: A Space Odyssey'' where each issue a different person encounters the 2001 monolith. Machine Man later got his own series and was integrated into the Marvel Universe. Many references from the movie were [[{{Rewrite}} rewritten away]]. However, it is sporadically mentioned that the creators of the monoliths were [[spoiler:the Celestials]].
25** Marvel bought out Malibu Comics in 1994 and soon Marvel heroes and villains were cropping up in Malibu titles. However, Marvel soon canceled all of the Malibu titles and common fan speculation was that Marvel only bought the company to acquire Malibu's then-groundbreaking in-house coloring studio, and/or its catalog of easily movie-licensed properties. Within the Marvel Comics multi-verse, the Malibu Universe is now designated as Earth-93060.
26** When Marvel briefly had the rights to publish Franchise/{{Godzilla}} comics, Big G himself was a character in the Marvel Universe. And ''it's still considered 616 canon!''
27** Even though ComicBook/RomSpaceknight can't be referenced, all the supporting characters and villains can still be seen in comics and the series is still canon.
28** Aside from actually calling the ComicBook/{{Micronauts|MarvelComics}}, the Micronauts, all the characters created for the comic can still be used and are all canon. Hell the character Bug was a member of the ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy and Captain Universe nearly killed Juggernaut in a Spider-Man comic.
29** While ignored later on, Spider-Man appeared in early issues of ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel'', which made the Autobots and Decepticons {{Canon Immigrant}}s to the Marvel Universe, at least temporarily.
30*** Technically the Marvel Transformers comics took place on alternate universes (Earth-91274 for the American comics and Earth-120185 for the UK comics) and are a huge part of the character ComicBook/DeathsHead origin, so the Transformers comics are very loosely canon.
31*** But don't ask where Earthforce fits in as not even Marvel or Hasbro will attempt to make it [[CanonDiscontinuity canon]]. These are the companies where ''Marvel What Th--?!'' and ''Transformers: Kiss Players'' are to some degree canon.
32** ''Franchise/EvilDead'' fits in here as the Dynamite ''ComicBook/ArmyOfDarkness'' comics got referenced in the ''ComicBook/MarvelZombies'' crossover and numbered in an issue of ''The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe''.
33** ''Franchise/{{Doctor Who|ExpandedUniverse}}'' is arguably canon if only because the Doctor has crossed over with Death's Head, Marvel's version of Merlin, and the obscure Creator/AlanMoore superteam Special Executive who first appeared in ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' before appearing in ''ComicBook/CaptainBritain''.
34** Licensed Robert E. Howard characters are probably the most firmly fit into the Franchise/MarvelUniverse. For example Conan (major enemy of Kulan Gath, enemy of Set a serpent god who powers the Serpent Crown, and ally to ComicBook/RedSonja who would crossover with Spider-Man twice), King Kull (who ruled over Namor's Atlantis in pre-history), and Solomon Kane (appearing in back up stories in ''Savage Sword of Conan'', as well as getting his own mini-series.) Dark Agnes has also been canonized as part of the Marvel Universe alongside Howard's other creations since 2020.
35*** Shuma-Gorath was also an enemy of Conan's god Crom.
36** ComicBook/ShangChi was originally Literature/FuManchu's son. This has been quietly retconned away, with his father now identified as Zheng Zu.
37** ''U.S. 1'' is canon to the Franchise/MarvelUniverse.
38** Marvel's ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy[=/=]ComicBook/{{Killraven}} continuity's entire premise is that after the Martians of ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds'' failed to conquer Earth the first time, they came back in 2001, and basically killed almost every super hero with only freedom fighters left to defend Earth.
39** Earth-7642 of the Marvel Multiverse is the universe for all the crossovers that act as if characters crossing over with Marvel were part of continuity the whole time. It consists of most of the 70's to 90's crossovers with DC Comics, the IDW version of Transformers, Shi, VideoGame/{{Painkiller}}, many Creator/ImageComics and Top Cow characters, ComicBook/ArchieComics, and a few [=WildStorm=] characters.
40** Subverted in the case of the Marvel Literature/DocSavage comics, which didn't last long and the only proof of Doc existing in Earth-616 is him crossing over with the Thing and Spider-Man.
41** This ''almost'' happened on an unimaginable scale in the mid '80s, when for a brief moment, DC seriously considered getting out of the comics publishing business and licensing all of their characters to Marvel. DC and Marvel engaged in talks, and a deal was almost struck when higher-ups on both sides called a halt. Had it happened, though, Superman and Batman may have inhabited New York alongside Spider-Man and The Punisher, and the Justice League and the Avengers would have had to negotiate turf.
42*** Actually, in the comments on his blog Jim Shooter says the plan was to keep them separate, at least at first.
43** Creator/ImageComics character [[Characters/{{Spawn}} Angela]] got pulled into 616 by the events of ''ComicBook/AgeOfUltron'', and joined up with the ComicBook/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy. [[spoiler:She has since been retconned into [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and ComicBook/{{Loki}}'s long-lost sister]]
44* Creator/ValiantComics continuity was made up of original characters and licensed [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks 1960s]] characters that were originally published by Creator/GoldKeyComics. Furthermore, the licensed characters, which originally existed in separate continuities, were retroactively linked together, forming the basis for the rest of the shared continuity.
45* ''ComicBook/TwoThousandAD'' absorbed a similar SF based comic called ''Starlord'' in the 1980s. The only ''Starlord'' strips that stuck were ''ComicBook/StrontiumDog'' and ''Ro-Busters''. The backstory of ''Strontium Dog'' has been absorbed into the same continuity as other ''2000 AD'' strips and there have been crossovers with ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'', even though it happens after a nuclear war which is yet to occur in Dredd's universe. A ''Judge Dredd'' story called "Hammerstein" brought the ''Ro-Busters'' character into the Dreddverse, but the fundamental incompatibility of the Volgan War backstory meant this quickly became CanonDiscontinuity.
46* The short-lived Semic Comics universe took characters from two different French publishers and combined them all into a single integrated continuity, which is quite a feat considering almost all the characters involved were originally unrelated to each other.
47* The ComicBook/HasbroComicUniverse was a shared setting of various classic Hasbro properties that were never originally written with the intention of sharing the same world. This includes Franchise/{{Transformers}}, Franchise/GIJoe, ComicBook/{{MASK}}, ComicBook/RomSpaceknight, ComicBook/{{Micronauts|MarvelComics}}, ComicBook/ActionMan, and WesternAnimation/{{Visionaries}}. As of 2018, this shared universe has come to an end, with some of the associated titles being rebooted.
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50[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
51* Originally NBC's ''Series/{{Constantine}}'' was completely unrelated to CW's "Series/ArrowVerse" (consisting of ''Series/{{Arrow}}'', ''Series/TheFlash2014'' and ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow''), but it was later stated to be part of the verse with Matt Ryan reprising his role as the titular John Constantine in the fourth season of ''Arrow'', and eventually becoming a regular on ''Legends''.
52** Other DC TV series were also retconned in as different universes within the Arrowverse, including ''Series/TheFlash1990'' and ''Series/{{Smallville}}''.
53* ''Series/{{Eureka}}'', ''Series/Warehouse13'' and ''Series/{{Alphas}}'' were not part of the same SharedUniverse conceptually; this was retconned in later and it shows. [[RedSkiesCrossover Nothing of significance was done with the concept]], to the point that if you skipped the specific crossover episodes, you wouldn't even know that they did share a universe. The most notable thing that happened was [[StrangledByTheRedString a contrived romance]] between two characters from ''Eureka'' and ''Warehouse 13'', which did not last past the initial crossover episodes.
54* ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'' and ''Series/LawAndOrder'' began separately, but went on to do several crossover stories throughout the late 1990s. After ''Homicide'' ended, main character John Munch [[{{Transplant}} became]] part of the main cast of ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit''.
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57[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
58* Following the collapse of Wrestling/{{WCW}}, the year 2001 was the year of the infamous [[Wrestling/TheInvasionAngle WCW Invasion Angle]], where the kayfabe storyline was that [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince McMahon's]] son [[Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon Shane]] had purchased the rival promotion so that his new stable of wrestlers could invade and destroy his father's company. [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot It didn't end up that way.]]
59* Wrestling/KennyOmega began his HeelTurn in [[Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling AEW]] at the end of 2020, and cemented it in the beginning of 2021 when his former Bullet Club partners Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson (who were signed to Impact Wrestling, not AEW) invaded AEW Dynamite as his enforcers. Within the storyline, Omega also appeared at IMPACT tapings to challenge for their championship title.
60* Also in 2021: Wrestling/NewJapanProWrestling star Wrestling/KentaKobayashi (aka KENTA) showed up at the end of the February 4 episode of AEW Dynamite to attack Wrestling/JonMoxley as a build to their IWGP Heavyweight Championship match later that month. This was especially significant because the former president/CEO of NJPW Harold Meij had always disdained working directly with American promotions; this "forbidden door" was only opened after Takami Ohbari became head of the company.
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63[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
64* Creator/PalladiumBooks is best known for their flagship line, ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'', but they also have the license to produce the ''Anime/{{Robotech}}'' RPG. This one is used inconsistently; Robotech is canonically in the [[TheMultiverse Megaverse]], and there are rules (down to technical specifications) for [[CrossOver crossing Robotech characters and mecha over into Rifts]], but it hasn't actually happened in official material. Since Palladium published ''TabletopGame/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesAndOtherStrangeness'' for a while, that too is in the Megaverse.
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67[[folder:Video Games]]
68* ''[[VideoGame/DynastyWarriors Warriors Orochi 3]]'' features characters from ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' and ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' as a result of Koei's merger with Creator/{{Tecmo}}, becoming Creator/KoeiTecmo Games.
69* ''VideoGame/FortuneStreet Special'', a [=PS2=] entry in Enix's computer board game series, was the first game since the Creator/SquareEnix merger to feature characters from both the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' and ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' franchises.
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72[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
73* Creator/{{Netflix}}'s adaptations of ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania|2017}}'' and the upcoming ''WesternAnimation/DevilMayCry'' are slated to take place in a SharedUniverse, both produced by Adi Shankar, despite both franchises of origin being completely unrelated (''Castlevania'' owned by Konami, ''Devil May Cry'' by Capcom).
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