History Expy / MarvelUniverse

{{Expy}} in this series.

* ComicBook/{{Cable}}, who originally started as a Franchise/{{Terminator}} Expy, has at least two AlternateCompanyEquivalent characters at DC: The Linear Man and [[ComicBook/KingdomCome Magog]]. The latter was meant to symbolize everything wrong with UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.

* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
** Not too long ago, during Marvel's ''ComicBook/DarkReign'' event, the ''Sinister Spider-Man'' title (Mac Gargan's Venom posing as Spider-Man) introduced us to Doctor Everything, a pretty blatant expy of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'''s Dr. Manhattan, right down to his... [[FanDisservice disturbing penchant]] [[FullFrontalAssault for nudity]].
** ''Spider-Man'' villain Sergei Kravinoff a.k.a. Kraven the Hunter is an expy of General Zaroff of ''Film/TheMostDangerousGame''. While HuntingTheMostDangerousGame has become a widespread trope, it's no coincidence that the comic book villain shares the Russian aristocrat background of the original.
** In a probably deliberate example, since the character is a RedeemingReplacement for one of Spider-Man's worst enemies, Phil Urich the heroic Green Goblin is an expy of Peter Parker. Urich is an UnluckyEverydude who works for the Daily Bugle and has an Uncle Ben just like Peter (although Urich's doesn't get killed). In the ''ComicBook/SpiderGirl'' series, the two characters are close friends.
** This trope is lampshaded in full during ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' by Pavitr Prabhakar, the Spider-Man of Earth-50101. During the events of the story, he comes to wonder whether he and the other Spider-Men are mere offshoots of Peter Parker after noticing all of the similarities between his own and Peter's backstories as well as the overwhelming number of alternate Peter Parkers as Spider-Totems, triggering a minor HeroicBSOD. Luckily, a quick peptalk from Billy Braddock, the Spider-Man of Earth-833, snaps him out of this, saying that Pavitr is just as much of a hero as Peter, and that the latter could be an expy of '''him'''.

* ''ComicBook/XMen'':
** Happened all the way back during the creation of the X-Men by [[Creator/StanLee Stan "The Man" Lee himself]]. When creating the original team of five, Lee decided he wanted to re-use the character of the Human Torch, but with ice powers instead of fire. The youngest member of the team, and also the most irresponsible and hot-headed, with the opposite superpower... say hello to Iceman!
** Kieron Gillen [[WordOfGod has said]] (on ''Podcast/HouseToAstonish'') that Teon from ''ComicBook/GenerationHope'' is a character from his ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' comic reinvented as a superhero.
** Abigail Brand's half-brother Lothi in the ''S.W.O.R.D'' spin-off has major similarities of appearance and personality to ComicBook/TankGirl's boyfriend Booga. Each character is a LovableRogue who isn't as cool as he tries to be and looks like a [[BeastMan humanised kangaroo]] (which Booga actually is). About the only difference is that he's green.

** Creator/SteveGerber's creator-owned character "Leonard the Duck" was an expy of ComicBook/HowardTheDuck, also created by Gerber, but owned by Creator/MarvelComics. In fact, Leonard's introduction was a complicated situation where Gerber tied a ComicBook/SpiderMan and Howard crossover he was writing for Marvel with a ComicBook/SavageDragon and ComicBook/DestroyerDuck crossover he was writing for Creator/ImageComics, suggesting that Leonard ''actually is'' Howard under an assumed name, and the Howard the Duck who's appeared in Marvel Comics since then is a clone. The issue also mentions a Franchise/SpiderMan expy, Spider-Crab.

** This trope is lampshaded in full during ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' by Pavitr Prabhakar, the Spider-man of Earth-50101. During the events of the story, he comes to wonder whether he and the other Spider-Men are mere offshoots of Peter Parker after noticing all of the similarities between his own and Peter's backstories as well as the overwhelming number of alternate Peter Parkers as Spider-Totems, triggering a minor HeroicBSOD. Luckily, a quick peptalk from Billy Braddock, the Spider-Man of Earth-833, snaps him out of this, saying that Pavitr is just as much of a hero as Peter, and that the latter could be an expy of '''him'''.

** Hogun is visually based on Creator/CharlesBronson, although artists after Kirby rarely make this obvious.

* Volstagg of the Warriors Three from ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' is heavily based on Creator/WilliamShakespeare's Falstaff.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

* ComicBook/DoctorDoom was initially one to Silver Age Lex Luthor: EvilGenius who despises the hero because they blame them for their disfigurement (Lex blaming Superman for causing his baldness was canon at the time). Of course, Lex was eventually {{retool}}ed from a mad scientist into a CorruptCorporateExecutive and Superman's connection to his baldness was dropped, [[DivergentCharacterEvolution while Doom remained the same]]. These days, you're more likely to hear people compare Lex to ComicBook/TheKingpin than anyone else.

* ''ComicBook/TheSentry'' was originally an Expy of ComicBook/{{Hourman}} because [[WhatCouldHaveBeen he]] ''[[WhatCouldHaveBeen was]]'' [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Hourman]], but was changed to be more like Superman so he could be a pastiche of Golden Age superheroes. His storyline in the first miniseries about his life falling apart because of an addiction to a SuperSerum is right out of Hourman's playbook. ''ComicBook/AgeOfTheSentry'' gives him two villainous expies to contend with - Cranio, an Expy of Lex Luthor (as well as the ComicBook/FantasticFour villain the Wizard), and the Void, here shown as an Expy of the Superman rogue Parasite.
* Dan Slott's run on ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer'' blatantly turns the Surfer into an Expy of [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]] if he unambiguously lived in the Marvel Universe, being a superbeing who wanders around fighting evil, and shows a young Earthwoman with whom he has UnresolvedSexualTension the wonders of the universe.

** Not too long ago, during Marvel's Dark Reign event, the ''Sinister Spider-Man'' title (Mac Gargan's Venom posing as Spider-Man) introduced us to Doctor Everything, a pretty blatant expy of Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan, right down to his... [[FanDisservice disturbing penchant]] [[FullFrontalAssault for nudity]].

* ComicBook/{{Thanos}} was intentionally based off of ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} - large, bald, blue-haired cosmic alien conquerer with a brutal inevitabiltiy to his actions. According to Jim Starlin, Thanos was always going to be inspired by the ComicBook/NewGods - but originally he looked like the character Metron. [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/06/24/comic-book-legends-revealed-266/ Editor Roy Thomas told Starlin]]: "If you’re going to steal one of the New Gods, at least rip off Darkseid, the really good one!".
* Volstagg of the Warriors Three from ''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' is heavily based on Creator/WilliamShakespeare's Falstaff.
* ComicBook/{{Ultron}} is an admitted Expy of [[https://www.blackgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Captain-Video-3-June-1951-The-Indestructible-Antagonist-6-panel.jpg Makino]], an obscure villain from the ''Series/CaptainVideo'' comic published by Creator/FawcettComics. [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/age-ultron-creator-roy-thomas-791320 According to Roy Thomas]], Makino's smiling faceplate and [[KillAllHumans hatred of humans]] directly inspired Ultron's design and personality.

* ComicBook/XMen:
** Happened all the way back during the creation of the ComicBook/XMen by [[Creator/StanLee Stan "The Man" Lee himself]]. When creating the original team of five, Lee decided he wanted to re-use the character of the ComicBook/HumanTorch, but with ice powers instead of fire. The youngest member of the team, and also the most irresponsible and hot-headed, with the opposite super power...say hello to ComicBook/{{Iceman}}!

* The 2099 incarnation of the ComicBook/XMen has a lot of members who are clearly evocative of some member of the original team. The most obvious are Xi'an (the paternal mentor figure ala ComicBook/ProfessorX), Skullfire (the leader with energy blasting powers and PowerIncontinence, like ComicBook/{{Cyclops}}) and Bloodhawk (the mysterious, brooding loner with anger issues and claws, as in Wolverine).

[[folder: Live-Action Films]]

* ''Film/IronMan'':

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

* Eclipse from ''Series/TheGifted'' is based off of Sunspot from the ''Comicbook/NewMutants'' (particularly as he appeared in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''), being a Latino mutant with solar powers.

[[folder: Western Animation]]

** The show has a minor recurring expy of [[ComicBook/Agent13 Sharon Carter]] named "Agent X".

* In the ''ComicBook/DisneyKingdoms'' series ''Figment 2'', Chairman Austin Auckley seems to be one for Dr. Nigel Channing from the third version of Ride/JourneyIntoImagination due to being a stickler for rules and control but loosening up by the end of the story.

* ''[[ComicBook/LukeCage Power Man]] and Comicbook/IronFist'' introduced Captain Hero, a FlyingBrick who was actually a young boy [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull with the ability to transform into an adult superhero]]. He was essentially Marvel's attempt at doing ComicBook/{{Shazam}}.

* ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'': In the comics, adamantium is a man-made metal that was created in a laboratory. The movie instead establishes that adamantium comes from a meteorite that crashed in a small African nation, where the locals worship it as a sacred treasure. That's pretty much ''exactly'' like vibranium, the Wakandan metal from the ''Comicbook/BlackPanther'' and ''Comicbook/CaptainAmerica'' comics.

* ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingInitiation'': The comic book version of ''Comicbook/SpiderGwen'' exists in an alternate universe where it was Gwen Stacy, not her nerdy best friend Peter Parker, who was bitten by the radioactive spider. Since the ''Marvel Rising'' cartoon takes place in the mainstream Marvel Universe (where Peter Parker is presumably already Spider-Man), Gwen's nerdy best friend is a CanonForeigner named Kevin, who serves the same basic role. He even looks very similar to Peter [[spoiler: and gets killed off like him too]].

** The show has a minor recurring expy of [[ComicBook/{{Agent 13}} Sharon Carter]] named "Agent X".

* Korvac from ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' is an expy of ComicBook/{{Thanos}}, even though Korvac himself originated in the comics as well. His status as a cosmic tyrant and the leader of the Chitauri both come to Thanos, especially the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] version.

* ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingSecretWarriors'': The comic book version of ''Comicbook/SpiderGwen'' exists in an alternate universe where it was Gwen Stacy, not her nerdy best friend Peter Parker, who was bitten by the radioactive spider. Since the ''Marvel Rising'' cartoon takes place in the mainstream Marvel Universe (where Peter Parker is presumably already Spider-Man), Gwen's nerdy best friend is a CanonForeigner named Kevin, who serves the same basic role. He even looks very similar to Peter [[spoiler: and gets killed off like him too]].

* The 2014 ''Deathlok'' series stars new character Henry Hayes, who is very blatantly modeled after the Mike Peterson version of Deathlok from the ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' TV series. Not surprisingly, the ''ComicBook/AgentsOfSHIELD'' comic book later used Hayes as part of the cast, having him fill a similar role to the one held by Peterson in the TV show. Why Marvel didn't simply have Mike become an outright CanonImmigrant is unknown.

* Marvel/Star Comics' ''ComicBook/RoyalRoy'' was basically an Expy of Harvey Comics' ''ComicBook/RichieRich'', back when the latter company wasn't publishing any books in the early 1980s. It was even handled by the same artist/writer team that created ''Richie Rich''. Royal Roy was however short-lived when Harvey Comics sued Marvel for copyright infringement, alleging that he was too similar to Richie Rich.

** Jiaying has shades of several characters from the X-Men. Her backstory of suffering under Nazis and leading a war of (perceived) self-defense against non-powered humans calls to mind Magneto, while her role as a leader and mentor within the Inhuman society and her pre-vivisection personality resemble those of Professor X. Her powers echo those of Wolverine, who can regenerate from any wound as long as he's not beheaded (though they are powered through a Vampiric Draining Touch of Death like Rogue, which keeps her young, similar to Selene).
*** Like Rogue, Jiaying can drain the lifeforce of others with a touch. It keeps her young, similar to the X-Men villain Selene.

** Ruby shares some similarities to the Sin, the daughter of Red Skull. This includes being raised by a woman with ties to Hydra.Both raised by a woman with ties to HYDRA (Hale for Ruby and Susan Scarbo a.k.a. Mother Night for Sin) and indoctrinated in its fascist ideology since childhood. Both psychotic and expert fighters. Both are the daughters of prominent members of HYDRA (though Ruby's says she was "engineered" and her actual parentage is never revealed). Ruby's combat outfit also looks similar to that of Sin's.

* ''[[ComicBook/LukeCage Power Man]] and [[ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist Iron Fist]]'' introduced Captain Hero, a FlyingBrick who was actually a young boy [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull with the ability to transform into an adult superhero]]. He was essentially Marvel's attempt at doing ComicBook/{{Shazam}}.

%%** Boss Cage, [[ComicBook/LukeCageHeroForHire Luke Cage]]'s BadFuture grandson from ''ComicBook/DarkAvengers'', is another blatant tribute to Dredd. This is even {{Lampshaded}} during his encounter with the ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}, where Boomerang notes that Cage's helmet looks familiar.

* According to Creator/BrianBendis, the [[Characters/MilesMorales Bombshells]] from ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' were based on the question "What if the Series/GilmoreGirls had super powers?"

* Talon from ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries'' was originally supposed to be Black Cat, but was changed to an original character once the producers snagged the rapper Eve for the part.

** When created for the cartoon, Firestar's civilian identity bore a resemblance to Mary Jane Watson. The resemblance was actually remarked upon in the comics some time later. Likewise, her superhero powers make her a clear Expy of [[ComicBook/FantasticFour The Human Torch]], the only difference being the [[GenderFlip gender swap]] to give Spidey an [[AffirmativeActionGirl Amazing Female Friend]].

* Korvac from ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' is an expy of ComicBook/{{Thanos}}, even though Korvac himself originated in the comics as well. His status as a cosmic tyrant and the leader of the Chitauri both come Thanos, especially the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] version.
** The show's version of Scorpion is a ninja with a grappling hook. [[Franchise/MortalKombat Hmmm...]]

* Detective Martin Soap, the comically unlucky cop from Creator/GarthEnnis's pre-MAX work on ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'', is an Expy for Detective Paul Bridges, a minor character from an early arc of ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}''.