History Expy / DCAnimatedUniverse

* The ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse'' contains many examples.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League/Justice League Unlimited]]'':
** Hro Talak is not quite [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Katar Hol]], but his name is an anagram and he was also given a past relationship with Hawkgirl.
** Galatea is not exactly ComicBook/PowerGirl, but she wears a similar costume, which one scene made identical with the addition of a red "towel" hanging over her shoulder, and shares the background of "not exactly ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, but close."
** See also ComicBook/DoctorFate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of ComicBook/TheDefenders. Fate himself stands in for ComicBook/DoctorStrange, Aquaman for [[ComicBook/SubMariner Namor]] and Solomon Grundy for [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. When Hawkgirl joins forces with them against [[EldritchAbomination Ichthultu]], she could be seen as ''very'' loosely equivalent to Nighthawk or Valkryie. Amazo also takes the place of ComicBook/SilverSurfer, who was the final member of the original Defenders.
** In the same episode, the screaming minions that the heroes fight in Ichthultu's world are clearly based on Marvel's Mindless Ones, and Ichthultu himself is based on [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Cthulhu]].
** The Justice Lords from "A Better World" were heavily inspired by ''ComicBook/TheAuthority'', which the producers had begun to read between seasons one and two, and one idea they had was to see what the world would be like if the League ever tried to emulate their tactics.
** When Brainthor summons up robot versions of the Justice Lords to distract the League, he has to create a new one for Flash (since Flash of that universe died before they became the Lords). The costume he gives Flash is identical to the costume of famed Flash Villain Professor Zoom, The Reverse-Flash.
** The giant turtle that attacks Japan in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" is an expy of Film/{{Gamera}}, as well as being a MythologyGag to ComicBook/JimmyOlsen's comic book.
** Ace is one to [[WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond Tamara]]. Both are young girls with black hair and powerful psychic abilities and were use by shady organization and are also associated with a Batman.
** The Justice Guild of America was a very thinly-veiled Expy of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, with Green Guardsman standing in for the original Green Lantern, the Streak for the Flash, Catman for ComicBook/{{Wildcat}} and Black Siren for ComicBook/BlackCanary. The exception was Tom Turbine, who was instead based on Dynamo of the ComicBook/ThunderAgents. The group's TagalongKid, Ray Thompson, was based on comic writer Roy Thomas, who is known for his love of Golden Age superheroes. Their two-part story arc was an adaptation of the first JLA/JSA team-up story [[RecycledINSPACE set in an Adam West-style]] WorldOfHam. This was done mostly because DC wouldn't allow them to use the actual JSA as was planned, thinking that a story presenting the JSA in the goofy (and slightly racist and sexist) style that that episode did would shine badly on the recently relaunched JSA comic series. It worked out well for the producers, though, as they were able to use some of the JSA the characters legitimately in ''Justice League Unlimited''.
** The villains of the episode were themselves Expies of The Wizard ("Sir Swami"), Icicle ("Doctor Blizzard"), Sportsmaster ("Sportsman"), and The Fiddler ("Music Master").
** The beginning of the episode had the League fighting a giant robot that looked just like an [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion]] with the serial numbers filed off.
** Wade Eiling becomes an Expy of [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]] by using the Captain Nazi serum. He's more articulate but possibly even more dangerous due to being a PrinciplesZealot.
** Similarly, the Ultimen are expies of the ''{{WesternAnimation/Superfriends}}'' original characters, the Wonder Twins, Black Vulcan, Apache Chief and Samurai.
** The entire episode was a homage to Super Friends; the Ultimen base on top of the skyscraper looking like the Hall of Justice, Long Shadow's cell ringtone being the old theme, even how they only used Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman as the hero team in the episode.
** There was also Aresia and Tsukuri, who were [[AdaptationalVillainy evil versions of]] [[ComicBook/InfinityInc Fury]] and ComicBook/{{Katana}}.
** There's also Devil Ray, who is basically Black Manta with a name change. His rivalry with ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} is never mentioned (due in part to the rights for the character being held up by the WB's plan for a ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' style show focusing on him), instead being matched up against Wonder Woman for most of his appearances.
** Solomon Grundy gains quit a bit of [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]]'s characterization.
** The Annihilator from "Hawk and Dove" is suspiciously similar to the Destroyer from the ''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' comics, being a nearly-indestructible suit of sentient armor forged by a god. Even the name is similar.

** Wade Eiling becomes an Expy of [[ComicBook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]] by using the Captain Nazi serum. He's more articulate but possibly even more dangerous due to being a PrinciplesZealot.

** Solomon Grundy gains quit a bit of ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk's characterization.

** Hro Talak is not quite [[Comicbook/{{Hawkman}} Katar Hol]], but his name is an anagram and he was also given a past relationship with Hawkgirl.
** Galatea is not exactly ComicBook/PowerGirl, but she wears a similar costume, which one scene made identical with the addition of a red "towel" hanging over her shoulder, and shares the background of "not exactly Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}, but close."
** See also Comicbook/DoctorFate's AlternateCompanyEquivalent version of ComicBook/TheDefenders. Fate himself stands in for Comicbook/DoctorStrange, Aquaman for [[Comicbook/SubMariner Namor]] and Solomon Grundy for [[Comicbook/IncredibleHulk the Hulk]]. When Hawkgirl joins forces with them against [[EldritchAbomination Ichthultu]], she could be seen as ''very'' loosely equivalent to Nighthawk or Valkryie. Amazo also takes the place of Comicbook/SilverSurfer, who was the final member of the original Defenders.

** The Justice Lords from "A Better World" were heavily inspired by ''Comicbook/TheAuthority'', which the producers had begun to read between seasons one and two, and one idea they had was to see what the world would be like if the League ever tried to emulate their tactics.

** The giant turtle that attacks Japan in "Chaos at the Earth's Core" is an expy of Film/{{Gamera}}, as well as being a MythologyGag to Comicbook/JimmyOlsen's comic book.

** The Justice Guild of America was a very thinly-veiled Expy of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, with Green Guardsman standing in for the original Green Lantern, the Streak for the Flash, Catman for Comicbook/{{Wildcat}} and Black Siren for Comicbook/BlackCanary. The exception was Tom Turbine, who was instead based on Dynamo of the Comicbook/ThunderAgents. The group's TagalongKid, Ray Thompson, was based on comic writer Roy Thomas, who is known for his love of Golden Age superheroes. Their two-part story arc was an adaptation of the first JLA/JSA team-up story [[RecycledINSPACE set in an Adam West-style]] WorldOfHam. This was done mostly because DC wouldn't allow them to use the actual JSA as was planned, thinking that a story presenting the JSA in the goofy (and slightly racist and sexist) style that that episode did would shine badly on the recently relaunched JSA comic series. It worked out well for the producers, though, as they were able to use some of the JSA the characters legitimately in ''Justice League Unlimited''.

** The Annihilator from "Hawk and Dove" is suspiciously similar to the Destroyer from the ''[[Comicbook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' comics, being a nearly-indestructible suit of sentient armor forged by a god. Even the name is similar.

** Angela Chen, Lois' chief rival, is basically an [[RaceLift Asian]] version of Cat Grant from the comics.

!!''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''
* Personality-wise, Terry [=McGinnis=] has more in common with [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Peter Parker]] than with most other versions of Batman; he's an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who becomes a superhero following the death of his paternal figure, struggles to [[WakeUpGoToSchoolSaveTheWorld balance his personal life with the demands of his crime-fighting career]], and has a strong [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic streak]]. Even some of his supporting characters [[note]] Dana = Mary Jane, Nelson Nash = Flash Thompson [[/note]] and Rogues Gallery [[note]] Derek Powers = Norman Osborn, Stalker = Kraven The Hunter, etc.[[/note]] mirror Peter's.
* Most of Terry's RoguesGallery is made up of Expies of Spider-Man villains, including Stalker (Kraven the Hunter), Shriek (Shocker [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme of Shriek]], an obscure Spidey villain with similar soundwave-based powers), and Spellbinder (Mysterio, [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme an obscure Silver Age Batman villain]], who is also a Mysterio Expy himself). And let's not forget Inque (Venom, and alien symbiotes in general). [[note]]Just try watching her introductory scene and not get a Venom symbiote vibe. The animators had fun lampshading this one, as her debut episode has [[http://imgur.com/a/6mhSx a scene depicting her with two white spots on her face]] (she has a single one the rest of the time) that make her look remarkably like Spider-Man in his symbiote costume. And just after that scene, she makes a symbiote-esque claw, forms and throws spikes that look identical to Carnage's (except black), and turns her arms into spiky bladed weapons, reminiscent of Carnage. Then her second appearance had her wrapping herself around another person like the symbiote, and making a Venom-like tongue. In a number of issues from the tie in comic (which was written by one of the show's writers), she even displays the symbiotes' ability to take control of people's bodies by wrapping themselves around them! Lastly, her weaknesses are based on the symbiotes' weakness (fire), except that they're the opposite (contact with water, and getting frozen).[[/note]]
** An amoral businessman whose experiments turn him into a deranged, green-colored supervillain and ArchEnemy to a teenage crime fighter. Are we talking about Derek Powers or Norman Osborn?
** Besides being an analog for Clayface, Inque bares more than a few similarities to Marvel's ComicBook/{{Mystique}}, as both are blue-skinned shapeshifting FemmeFatale, complete with difficult relations to their estranged children.
** Willie Watt
*** Of [[Literature/{{Carrie}} Carrie White]], also a DistaffCounterpart. A meek teenager who's always being bullied by classmates, not helped at all by an abusive parent, who develops psychic powers which are let loose at a dance after an incredibly vicious humiliation.
*** Also of ComicBook/DoctorOctopus from the Marvel universe. Like Doc Ock, Willie is a {{jerkass woobie}} {{technopath}} who was bullied in school and who grew up with a cruel father. The two even have similar hair styles.
** Shriek bears a resemblance to the Shocker, a recurring Spider-Man villain.
** While there is in fact a Spellbinder in the Batman comics ([[LegacyCharacter four of them in fact]]), this guy--an evil psychologist and illusionist who is a bit of a wimp underneath the mask--is most likely the ''Beyond'' version of ComicBook/TheScarecrow. He also shares similarities with the Spider-Man villain, Mysterio.
** The Stalker is an EgomaniacHunter who wants to battle a masked superhero in the city? It sounds an awful lot like Spider-Man's Kraven the Hunter.
** Mad Stan is a more violent version of Spider, Music/HenryRollins's character in ''Film/JohnnyMnemonic''.
** Kobra, despite being based on an organization from the comics, was made an expy of Cobra-La from ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'' in the show. Its leader, original character Zander, is an expy of Serpentor.
*** Which is even more amusing, as GI Joe and Cobra were themselves expies of Marvel's SHIELD and Hydra. Hasbro asked Marvel to make backstories for their GI Joe toys, and Marvel basically pulled a rejected comic about the son of Nick Fury out of the trash can and changed the names.
** Zander is exceedingly similar to Serpentor, the genetically engineered leader of Cobra from GI Joe.
** Minor subtle example. Dr. Howard Hodges's jealous rivalry with Mike Morgan brings to mind that of [[ComicBook/DoctorDoom Victor von Doom's]] with Reed Richards.
** Being a sadistic prison warden toward his charges, along with his obsession with punishing people he thinks are responsible for society's moral failing and coddled for their crimes. Dr. David Wheeler slightly resembles a more mundane version of Lyle Bolton/Lock-Up from the original WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries.
** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker'' introduces Dee Dee, evil acrobatic twins based on Nightwing foes Double Dare.
* Nelson Nash is pretty clearly one of [[Franchise/SpiderMan Flash Thompson]], minus the redeeming traits.
* Kai-Ro is an expy of Kairo from ''The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure''.

!!''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'':

** Nelson Nash is pretty clearly one of [[Franchise/SpiderMan Flash Thompson]], minus the redeeming traits.
** Kai-Ro is an expy of Kairo from ''The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'': Most of Terry's RoguesGallery is made up of Expies of Spider-Man villains, including Stalker (Kraven the Hunter), Shriek (Shocker [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme of Shriek]], an obscure Spidey villain with similar soundwave-based powers), and Spellbinder (Mysterio, [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme an obscure Silver Age Batman villain]], who is also a Mysterio Expy himself). And let's not forget Inque (Venom, and alien symbiotes in general). [[note]]Just try watching her introductory scene and not get a Venom symbiote vibe. The animators had fun lampshading this one, as her debut episode has [[http://imgur.com/a/6mhSx a scene depicting her with two white spots on her face]] (she has a single one the rest of the time) that make her look remarkably like Spider-Man in his symbiote costume. And just after that scene, she makes a symbiote-esque claw, forms and throws spikes that look identical to Carnage's (except black), and turns her arms into spiky bladed weapons, reminiscent of Carnage. Then her second appearance had her wrapping herself around another person like the symbiote, and making a Venom-like tongue. In a number of issues from the tie in comic (which was written by one of the show's writers), she even displays the symbiotes' ability to take control of people's bodies by wrapping themselves around them! Lastly, her weaknesses are based on the symbiotes' weakness (fire), except that they're the opposite (contact with water, and getting frozen).[[/note]]

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''
** Most of Terry's RoguesGallery is made up of Expies of Spider-Man villains, including Stalker (Kraven the Hunter), Shriek (Shocker [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme of Shriek]], an obscure Spidey villain with similar soundwave-based powers), and Spellbinder (Mysterio, [[CompositeCharacter with the name and color scheme an obscure Silver Age Batman villain]], who is also a Mysterio Expy himself). And let's not forget Inque (Venom, and alien symbiotes in general). [[note]]Just try watching her introductory scene and not get a Venom symbiote vibe. The animators had fun lampshading this one, as her debut episode has [[http://imgur.com/a/6mhSx a scene depicting her with two white spots on her face]] (she has a single one the rest of the time) that make her look remarkably like Spider-Man in his symbiote costume. And just after that scene, she makes a symbiote-esque claw, forms and throws spikes that look identical to Carnage's (except black), and turns her arms into spiky bladed weapons, reminiscent of Carnage. Then her second appearance had her wrapping herself around another person like the symbiote, and making a Venom-like tongue. In a number of issues from the tie in comic (which was written by one of the show's writers), she even displays the symbiotes' ability to take control of people's bodies by wrapping themselves around them! Lastly, her weaknesses are based on the symbiotes' weakness (fire), except that they're the opposite (contact with water, and getting frozen).[[/note]]

** Which is even more amusing, as GI Joe and Cobra were themselves expies of Marvel's SHIELD and Hydra. Hasbro asked Marvel to make backstories for their GI Joe toys, and Marvel basically pulled a rejected comic about the son of Nick Fury out of the trash can and changed the names.