History Main / ContinuityNod

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* Too many to count in ''ComicBook/TheSandman'', but the most memorable is the "Endless Nights" story, "The Heart of A Star" -- Superman's ultimate origin is revealed to be a conversation between Krypton's sun and the first personification of Despair on the nature of beauty.
** Which is a brilliant GeniusBonus by Gaiman. The idea is that Superman only survived so he could feel the despair of being the last Kryptonian - but of course, Despair always fails.
** This story also features a character called Killalla of the Glow, who is implied to be one of the first aliens to master the energy later marshaled by the Green Lantern Corps.
*** Heck, she's as-good-as-stated to be one of the Guardians, before the female Oans [[OneGenderRace went their separate way]].
** It's never directly stated, but there are enough hints to figure out that Matthew the raven was [[spoiler:Matthew Cable]], from Creator/AlanMoore's series [[spoiler:''ComicBook/SwampThing'']], before he died. Gaiman owes a lot to Moore in getting his career started; there are several nods in Sandman to Moore's work in the DCU.
* A throwaway line in Creator/PaulCornell's ''[[ComicBook/{{Excalibur}} Captain Britain]]'' refers to Merlin as one of the Higher Evolutionaries, acknowledging the ''Magazine/DoctorWhoMagazine'' comic strip's presence in the Franchise/MarvelUniverse for the first time since Creator/AlanMoore was writing both characters.
** In one issue of ''Excalibur'' Kitty and Rachel are being accosted by Daleks while queuing at a bureaucratic office
** Plus, Merlin's appearance in Cornell's series looks to be a CallBack to the way he looked in the DWM strip.
* Writers and artists often use scenes set in the Batcave's [[SuperheroTrophyShelf trophy room]] to give a Continuity Nod to previous ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' stories. Traditionally included are the giant penny from a 1947 fight with The Penny Plunderer, a T-Rex from a 1946 adventure on Dinosaur Island, and a memorial to Jason Todd, first seen in ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightReturns''.
** Also, Batman once investigated murders at a movie set, where the movie being shot was a WWI flying action/drama. The misunderstood VillainProtagonist of said film was Hans von Hammer, in our world the main character of Creator/DCComics' ''ComicBook/EnemyAce'' series.
* ''ComicBook/BlazeOfGlory'': In Issue #2, Clay Harder mentions how he [[FakingTheDead buried Matt Hawk and the Two-Gun Kid]], and asks Marcel what became of the other Sunset Riders. Both of those are events that occurred in the series of the same name, though its canonicity to ''this'' one is [[LooseCanon debatable]].
* In the prologue to the ''Assault On New Olympus'' arc of ''ComicBook/IncredibleHercules'', Spider-Man got stuck under a bunch of cars [[HoistByHisOwnPetard he had brought down on]] [[LetsYouAndHimFight Hercules' head before]]. [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Looking straight at the reader]], Spidey references [[ComicBook/LeeDitkoSpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man #33]] and goes:
--> "You think ''this'' is a lot of wreckage? This is nothin'! This one time, Doc Ock dumped his entire underwater headquarters on me! Water was rushing in... [[RecycledScript But I never gave up! I never gave in! I have to be equal to my strength... or else I don't deserve it!]] ''Nnnnn!'' The strain! ''--Nnnnnn!'' It's ''unbearable'' -- but-- BUT-- Umm... yeah... actually, I ''can't'' lift this. Little help over here?"
* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth'' #1, Director Chase mentions that Supergirl's space pod's landing place was Siberia (which happened way back in ''[[ComicBook/{{Supergirl 2011}} Supergirl Vol 6]]'' #1).
** In ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} story ''ComicBook/YoungLove'' Pre-Crisis Supergirl remembers several moments of her childhood:
*** Arriving on Earth and meeting Superman (''ComicBook/ActionComics'' #252)
*** Dick Malverne taking a picture of Supergirl by chance (Action Comics #256)
*** Linda accompanying her parents on a beach-picnic (Action Comics #282)
*** Linda and Dick going skating (Action Comics #283)
*** Their reunion in ''[[ComicBook/{{Supergirl 1982}} Supergirl Vol 2]]'' #23 when they are in their twenties.
* ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'' examples:
** In the science-fiction "sequel" ''The Rebels'', Gestrelle Luricahn owning elfin artifacts is just part of her job/field of research. The fact that nearly all of those that we see decorating her room had some importance in previous ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'' stories is a Continuity Nod.
** Sometimes panels from earlier comics get "paraphrased", using the same composition and (if possible) characters; for example one [[http://www.elfquest.com/gallery/OnlineComics/KOBW/KOBW03/DisplayKOBW03.html?page=19 in ''Kings of the Broken Wheel'' 3]] is modeled after one [[http://www.elfquest.com/gallery/OnlineComics/OQ/OQ01/DisplayOQ01.html?page=5 in the very first]] ''[=ElfQuest=]'' story ever.
** In a montage of the Wolfriders' dens in ''Wild Hunt'', Tyleet's can be identified by the ornament that her long-dead adoptive son used to wear as a headband.
%%* Quite a few in ''ComicBook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', which is to be expected as its continuity arguably includes every book ever written.
* ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' does this a few times. In ''Asterix in Britain'', you can see a few souvenirs referring to previous adventures on a shelf in Asterix and Obelix's house (including a model sphinx from ''Asterix and Cleopatra'' and a Visigoth helmet from ''Asterix and the Goths'').
* Occurs regularly in ''ComicBook/AstroCity'', as befitting a series with a single writer. Most Continuity Nods appear as sidelong references to other characters and events in the chronological past/present, even if the subject hasn't had a published appearance yet.
** [[TheCape Samaritan]] briefly mutters "3.2" when he arrives to visit Steeljack in "The Tarnished Angel." This is a reference to Samaritan's DayInTheLife story, "In Dreams," where it's shown he keeps track of how many seconds he spends flying from one scene to another.
** In "Show 'Em All", as Jack-In-The-Box dodges The Junkman's aerosol bombs, he casually mentions having "recent experience" in dodging mid-air explosions. This refers to a single panel from the earlier "Confession" story arc, where Jack-In-The-Box eludes capture from a missile-firing helicopter.
** Also from "Confession", Brian begins his super-hero career by working as a busboy in Bruiser's Bar & Grill, run by retired [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks Golden Age]] hero [[OldSuperhero The Black Badge]]. Both the Black Badge and Bruisers' play small but pivotal roles in the later "Dark Ages" story arc.
** Creator/KurtBusiek ''loves'' to put Continuity Nods in all of his works, helped by his encyclopedic knowledge of comic book history.
* A subtle one from ''[[ComicBook/SpiderMan The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' vol. 2 #55: Peter Parker, currently working as a teacher at his old high school, talking to the school secretary (or administrator?) who remembers him from when he was a student:
-->'''Peter:''' Good afternoon, Maude. Looking beautiful as always.\\
'''Maude:''' Oh Peter, you lie beautifully darling, have ever since the ninth grade, so don't stop.\\
''Ninth grade was when Peter was about 15, i. e. when he became Spider-Man and had to lie to maintain his secret identity.''
* In a scene in ''ComicBook/XMen'' #3, Professor Xavier privately refers to ComicBook/JeanGrey as "the woman I love." This plot point was [[AbortedArc quickly dropped]] until thirty years later, when [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Onslaught]] shows the scene to Jean in an attempt to prove the hypocrisy of humanity.
** Actually, it was mentioned a scant thirteen years later in #101. Professor Xavier bemoans to Moira McTaggert that his telepathic powers “cannot help this girl I once thought I loved as much as you.”
* In ''ComicBook/TheBeano'' Annual 2009 the Ratz (a group of rats from a 2000s Beano comic strip) briefly meet the Nibblers (a group of mice from a 1970s/1980s Beano comic strip).
* During Creator/PaulCornell's ''ComicBook/TheBlackRing'' story arc in ''ComicBook/ActionComics'', one issue was about ComicBook/VandalSavage having a prophecy relating to ComicBook/LexLuthor. It featured two flashbacks to previous meetings between the two. One was from the relatively recent ''ComicBook/SalvationRun'', the other was from ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' #124, back in 1997.
* In Issue #2 of ''ComicBook/RedHoodAndTheOutlaws'', Red Hood gets an air hostess' number. They met in Batman #426, 20 years ago. She still remembers his drink order, although in modern continuity, they probably met 2-3 years ago. And he mentions 'A Death in the Family', although that is a ShoutOut. Her name is Isabel Ardila, by the way.
** In issue #6, it's revealed that Red Hood's costume is actually one of Nightwing's old costumes. Though in-universe information is lacking thanks to the recent reboot, it seems to be based on Nightwing's ''Renegade'' costume.
** The ''Night of the Owls'' tie-in nods to the revelation in ''Batman'' that[[spoiler: Haley's Circus (of which Nightwing was a performer) was a recruitment service for the Court of Owls. It may also be a reference to Red Hood's pre-''Crisis'' history as a circus performer.]]
** The ''Death of the Family'' tie-in has [[spoiler:the Joker forcing Jason to relive the circumstances of his death in the original ''A Death in the Family'' arc.]]
* In ''ComicBook/MortadeloYFilemon'', any appeareances of returning villians are punctuated by a side note pointing to the last story in which they starred. And then there is the book ''Venganza Cincuentona'' where a dozen of the most iconic MonstersOfTheWeek return to fight the heroes together.
* ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'':
** With the return of changelings, naturally the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 wedding episode]] gets brought up. Apparently Rainbow Dash barely remembers it because she had too much of Pinkie's Tutti-Frutti Sherbet Sugar Punch.
** Much of issue #2 is spent in a mine that once was worked by the Diamond Dogs. Several of the background elements allude to their dog-nature (bones and doghouses).
** In issue #2, when the Changelings work to create discord between the Mane Six, Pinkie is told that she is annoying to her friends, and temporarily reverts to her "Party of One" straight-hair look.
** The map at the end of issue #2 shows [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E11FamilyAppreciationDay Timber Wolf territory and the Zap Apple grove]], the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E6BoastBusters Ursa Major caverns]], the "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 Sight of the Battle of Discord]]" (under quarantine), and the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS1E19ADogAndPonyShow Appaloosan Mountains]] (home of the Diamond Dogs).
** End of issue #2: [[spoiler:[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E1TheReturnOfHarmonyPart1 The antagonists separate the group, their friendship gets broken when they make jabs at each other's flaws and the group dissolves.]]]] ''To be continued...'' All that's missing is [[MoodWhiplash the theme tune kicking in]] [[RunningGag out of nowhere...]]
** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E6SleeplessInPonyville Luna being]] a DreamWalker is brought up, she's even described as the "Protector of Dreams" a couple of times in the second story-arc.
** How Luna became Nightmare Moon and how she was defeated by the Elements of Harmony set the basis of the new evil for this story.
** Rainbow Dash once again pulls off a Sonic Rainboom to try and save Rarity, see HopeSpot.
** We're reminded once again that one of Twilight Sparkle's biggest fears is being rejected by Princess Celestia.
** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E10SecretOfMyExcess The Fire Ruby]] returns in #6.
** The Cloud Gremlins from the Rainbow Dash micro-comic appear in Rainbow's nightmare.
** Something of a minor CallForward; the hat Rainbow Dash wears in Fluttershy's nightmare in #6 is the same hat she wears at [[spoiler:[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E13MagicalMysteryCure Twilight's coronation]].]]
** Rainbow Dash considers what Daring Do would do in their imprisoned situation.
* In ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyMicroSeries'' Issue #3 Twilight mentions that after the events of ''Lesson Zero'', she of all ponies knows how too much work stress can make a pony snap.
** When Rarity first leaves for her retreat, Pinkie tells her to not forget to write [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E7WonderboltsAcademy while glaring at Rainbow Dash]], with Dash sheepishly stating that she meant to.
** Luna appears on Rarity's dreams, singing "Hush now, quiet now".
** The line "The pony everypony should know" (from "Sweet and Elite") is repeated a few times when Flax and Wheat are whisked off by the Elite.
** The cover of the magazine AJ is reading at the start features the cleaned-up Hayseed Turnip Truck, from the 2-page short at the end of the comic.
*** The short story makes a direct reference to Hayseed's brief scene in [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E9SweetAndElite Sweet and Elite]].
* ''[[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFiendshipIsMagic My Little Pony: Fiendship Is Magic #1]]'':
** [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E1TheCrystalEmpirePart1 The reason for the Crystal Heart and the need for the Crystal Faire, and how Sombra figures at all into it]] is well established by this story.
** Princess Amore, first mentioned in ''Literature/TheJournalOfTheTwoSisters'', shows up as a major character.
%%* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogMegaManWorldsCollide'' has ''several'' to both the ''Franchise/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'' and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man]]'' video games and comics.
* During ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}'s conversation in ''ComicBook/ForeverEvil'' #1, Babs references the recent ''ComicBook/DeathOfTheFamily'' crossover and the Bat Family's currently strained relationship with Bruce.
** Also in reference to ''ComicBook/DeathOfTheFamily'', Penguin is seen talking to Bane about ComicBook/TheJoker and paying him back for what happened.
* ComicBook/UltimateMarvel
** ''ComicBook/UltimateFF'': The history of Miles Morhames' home universe is a recap of the story of the ComicBook/UltimateMarvel universe, told with a bizarre AnthropomorphicAnimalAdaptation.
** ''ComicBook/TheUltimates''
*** Nick Fury and Bruce Banner discuss about his previous time as Hulk, and how he razed the port. The flashback featured Hulk fighting Spider-Man. The scene is a reference to ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvelTeamUp'' #3 and #4.
*** The recent "mutant hysteria" that Pym mentions in passing was seen in the first arc of ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen''.
* ''ComicBook/StarTrekEarlyVoyages'':
** In "The Fires of Pharos", Commander Kaaj refers to the old Klingon saying "[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan Revenge is a dish best served cold]]."
** In the two-part story "Cloak and the Dagger", the Vulcans of Darien 224 use extremely powerful psionic weapons such as the Tol par-doj and the Vorl-tak. The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' two-parter "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS7E4Gambit Gambit]]" established that the Stone of Gol was an ancient Vulcan psionic weapon of immense power.
** In "Immortal Wounds", Toluk, the Vulcan ambassador to Neyda Prime, has heard of Spock and is aware that he chose to attend Starfleet Academy instead of the Vulcan Academy over his father Sarek's objections, as was established in the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E10JourneyToBabel Journey to Babel]]". Ambassador Toluk later mentions the [[Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock Vulcan concept of the katra]].
** In "One of a Kind", there is an internal nod. As he prepares to leave the ''Enterprise'', Nano packs a photograph of himself at a party or celebration with Yeoman Dermot Cusack, who was killed in "Our Dearest Blood", as well as Moves-With-Burning-Grace, José Tyler and Gabrielle Carlotti.
** In "The Fallen, Part One", Captain Pike visits his hometown of Mojave, an illusion of which was created for him by the Talosians in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E0TheCage The Cage]]".
** Also in "The Fallen, Part One", the gargoyles on the Empire State Building remind Spock of [[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS4E20Qpid Taguan]] effigies of the [[Recap/StarTrekS1E1TheManTrap Great Bird of the Galaxy]].
** In "Nemesis", Virka reminds Commander Kaaj of an old Klingon proverb: "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Only a fool fights in a burning house]]."
* ''ComicBook/StarTrekUntoldVoyages'':
** In "Renewal", the commander of the Klingon battle cruiser who attempts to capture the ''Enterprise'' is Krell, who previously provided the Villagers, one of the factions on Neural, with flintlocks to fight the Hill People in "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E19APrivateLittleWar A Private Little War]]".
** Also in "Renewal", both Kirk and Krell refer to the Organian Peace Treaty, signed as a result of the Organians' intervention in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E26ErrandOfMercy Errand of Mercy]]" and first mentioned in "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E15TheTroubleWithTribbles The Trouble with Tribbles]]". Krell relishes the idea of abandoning the treaty and engaging the Federation in open warfare but Kirk is concerned that the Organians seem to be no longer willing to enforce it.
** In "Worlds Collide", Dr. [=McCoy=] reminds Kirk that the ''Enterprise'' saved Miramanee's planet Amerind from being destroyed by an asteroid in "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E3TheParadiseSyndrome The Paradise Syndrome]]" and asks him why they can't do the same thing in the current situation.
** When Saavik comments that she is aware that a mind meld is a deeply personal experience in "Worlds Collide", Spock admits that he has never melded with his father Sarek, as was revealed in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS5E8Unification2 Unification, Part 2]]".
** In "Past Imperfect", Dr. [=McCoy=] recalls his previous visits to Starbase 11 in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E20CourtMartial Court Martial]]" and "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E11TheMenageriePartI The Menagerie, Part 1]]".
** In "Silent Cries", Uhura, Sulu, Scotty and Chekov each give their pick for the most frightening mission that they've had aboard the ''Enterprise''. Uhura picks her visit to the MirrorUniverse in "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E4MirrorMirror Mirror, Mirror]]", Sula picks being stranded on Alfa 177 at 120 degrees below zero in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E5TheEnemyWithin The Enemy Within]]", Scotty picks having to cold start the warp engines before Psi 2000 disintegrated and destroyed the ship in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime The Naked Time]]" and Chekov picks Khan Noonien Singh taking over the ''Enterprise'' in "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]". Sulu is surprised by this as he claims that Chekov was not aboard the ''Enterprise'' then. However, it turns out that Chekov was assigned to Engineering at the time, which even Scotty doesn't remember. This accounts for the fact that Khan recognizes Chekov in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan''.
* In issue 2 of ''ComicBook/Youngblood2017'', Badrock brings up [[ComicBook/{{Youngblood}} his old "Yabba Dabba Doom" catchphrase]].
* ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'': When Amethyst learns how to form shields with her magic she compares it to Wonder Woman's bracelets. Makes sense with how there's a very prominent poster of the Amazon Princess on her bedroom wall at home.
[[/folder]]

* ''Animation/PleasantGoatandBigBigWolf'':

** ''Dunk for Victories'' season. In beginning of episode 1, it said that the episode was take place after ''Against the Dark Force'' season. In episode 7, the newest model golden cake that Slowy used to lure Paddi to join his basketball team was made by Aunt Merry from ''Paddi the Amazing Chef'' season.

Also distinct from a CallForward, as it isn't going to be a plot point later on. If a single scene presents an unusually large number of Continuity Nods, all at once, you may have fallen under a ContinuityCavalcade. If there are so many Continuity Nods that they detract from the story, it's ContinuityPorn. When entire scenarios are recreated it becomes an InternalHomage. Naturally contrasts with SeriesContinuityError. A SongOfSongTitles might have this.

** ContinuityNod/InfinityTrainBlossomingTrail

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/BatmanRevisited'', the bomb that almost kills Batman and the Question in ''One Big Joke'' is from [[ComicBook/BlackAdam Kahndaq]].
* ''FanFic/{{Cenotaph}}'' features a great many of these, mostly as nods to how Taylor's anti-heroism evolved in the original timeline. Occasionally this leads to LampshadeHanging. For example: she notes that you don't get to [[AlternateUniverseFic become a crimelord by accident...]]
%%* Fanfic/DeathNoteIITheHiddenNote, being a sequel to DeathNote, does this every so often.
%%* ''Fanfic/TheLionKingAdventures'' features hundreds upon thousands of these. It would be insane to list them all.
* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': An interesting one: When Asuka is testing ''[[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} her powers]]'', she comes across the scrapped wreck of the [[{{BFG}} rail-mounted mortar]] that [[{{Robeast}} Ramiel]] destroyed during his rampage. Her surprise when she's able to lift it up is palpable.
* ''Fanfic/WhatAboutWitchQueen'' does it three times:
** When Hans is escaping Koenigsberg castle, he muses that he used to climb around it as a child and that the skill helped him when wooing Anna during ''[[http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Love_is_an_Open_Door Love is an Open Door]]''.
** Kai and king Charles remark on different occasions that Elsa organizes weekly ice rinks in the castle courtyard, like she did in the end of the film.
** When [[spoiler:Anna and Hans meet again]], Hans admits that the past events might affect Anna's opinion about him.
* ''FanFic/DontKeepYourDistance'' invokes a lot of this by being a ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' fanfic based primarily on the ''Anime/SonicX'' universe, but in a largely original world also including characters and locations exclusive to the games. There are even references to ''Anime/SonicTheHedgehogTheMovie'' (Tails' daughter's fear of thunder) and [[Comics/ArchieSonicTheHedgehog the Archie comics]] (e.g. the currency being called "mobiums").
* ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'' is littered with them, from mentioning who received their tanabata wishes first to Koizumi giving an explanation to Haruhi over a cup of coffee, to a reference to the source material's Drama CD, where Haruhi wrote a literal EarWorm and Hare Hare Yukai. And now, [[spoiler:[[Manga/HaruhiChan ACHAKURA]]!!!]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Company0051}}'', a {{Fan Webcomic|s}} set in the Franchise/{{Halo}}verse, includes several:
** When finding the crashed Covenant ship, John-117 identifies it as a Seraph-class starfighter.
** John directly cites [[spoiler:TheCaptain]] as having directly violated Article II, subsection 7 of the Cole Protocol, which directly forbids the retrieval of Covenant artifacts and technology until the available party is certain that the item is cannot be tracked.
** The armor the kids get at the end looks very similar to the Marine uniforms from Combat Evolved.
* The ''{{Anime/Robotech}}'' fanfics [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2241483/1/Scoop Scoop]] and [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4210098/1/Valkyrie_Nights Valkyrie Nights]] contain scenes from the canon material, and the dialogue from those scenes were transcribed word-for-word.
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' is a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover, so nods to Marvel continuity (both the MCU and comics), DC comics, ''Literature/HarryPotter,'' ''Series/Merlin2008,'' and ''Literature/DresdenFiles'' are very common. They also double as {{Foreshadowing}} in that they hint at a wider universe. One example in chapter 77 has Loki dazedly remark that he's glad that the Hulk's MetronomicManMashing trick is being directed at someone else for once (which doubled as HilariousInHindsight once ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' came out). There are also {{Mythology Gag}}s and {{Shout Out}}s aplenty, and given the nature of the universe, it's sometimes hard to tell which is which.
* The ''Series/ForeverKnight'' virtual continuation ''FanFic/FK4'' has a bunch of references to small details in the show which came up once and were never mentioned again. For example, Natalie's cat and Tracy's knowledge of tattoos.
%%* ''FanFic/StarsAbove'' is loaded with references to [[Manga/LuckyStar both]] [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica franchises]] that form up its IntercontinuityCrossOver, as the authors are insanely rabid fans of both series.
* ''FanFic/TheTaintedGrimoire'' has one where the Camoan native who cheered Luso and Cheney up in Chapter 63 turned out to be the father of the girl whom Luso, Cheney and Hurdy helped all the way back in Chapter 8.
* Whenever a new invention is introduced in ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'', Hobbes will usually reference Calvin's previous inventions and the hijinks that ensued.
** Also, Rosalyn refuses to babysit Calvin in "A Day at the Office" because of the antics she endured in "Attack of the Vampire Babysitter".
** In "Thunderstorm", Calvin mentions Brainstorm's ''earlier'' plot to steal the world's electricity.
*** Thunderstorm himself references Jack's left arm being loose, which ''infuriates'' Brainstorm:
--> "'''''I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T!''''' JACK IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTO-REPAIR NANOTECHNOLOGY, NOW! THAT ARM IS ON THERE FOR GOOD! '''''[[MediumAwareness WE HAVEN'T EVEN USED THAT GAG SINCE OUR FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE SHOW!]]'''''"
*** Calvin references Brainstorm's earlier reluctance to use the EnemyMine trope, and Socrates is surprised that he hadn't heard it (he wasn't present in that episode).
%%* ''FanFic/RainbowInTheDark'' contains many examples of this, [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/73406/rainbow-in-the-dark helping greatly]] to make the story feel less episodic than most multichapter fanfics.
%%* ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar'' contains many of those.
%%* The ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'' does this as much as [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom the series it's based on]].
%%* ''FanFic/StargateEquestria'': "Undomesticated equines could not remove me."
* Fan stories set in Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium can make nods to Tolkien's own works. Some readers may miss these references:
** The title of ''FanFic/AFarGreenCountry'' is a nod. The phrase "a far green country" appears twice in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. Frodo dreams of it in book I, chapter 8. Then Frodo sees Valinor in book VI, chapter 9: "he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise."
** In ''FanFic/TheGamesOfTheGods'', Book One, Chapter 71 explains why Dior, Steward of Gondor, never married. This is a nod to ''Literature/ThePeoplesOfMiddleEarth'', which established that Dior had no son.
** In ''FanFic/TimeWillTell'', chapter 27/28 "The Council of Elrond", Gandalf describes how Jorryn "talked in her sleep". This is not a new trick. Back in ''The Lord of the Rings'', Book II, Chapter 1, Gandalf told Frodo that he "talked long in your sleep". Both cases show how Gandalf can read sleeping minds.
** The second-last chapter of ''Time Will Tell'' is "A Long Expected Wedding". The first chapter of ''The Lord of The Rings'' is "A Long-Expected Party".
%%* The author of Fanfic/JusticeSocietyOfJapan clearly loves the mythos of Franchise/TheDCU, and makes references to it whenever possible.
%%* The WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic fan fiction ''Fanfic/OurTrueColors'' makes a number of references to events which occured in the show.
* The Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing story ''FanFic/WingsToFly'' frequently points out bits of Lucrezia Noin's backstory from the canon; in the first chapter it puts the Frozen Teardrop prequel/sequel story to Wing in continuity by mentioning Treize Kushrenada having taken a bullet for Noin once, while placing Frozen Teardrop [[DisContinuityNod out of continuity]] ''in the same chapter'' by introducing Noin's parents as in line with her pre-Frozen Teardrop backstory. In the second chapter, many, many references are made to the episode "The Victoria Nightmare" and Noin recognizes the characteristics of Aries mobile suit's radar from memory (before her Taurus' computer can!), having been an Aries pilot for a long time.
* The final sequence in the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''/''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie'' crossover fanfic ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/176995/my-little-lego-movie My Little LEGO Movie]]'' is a reference to the very same sequence from the season 4 episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E12PinkiePride Pinkie Pride]]", this one involving Emmet.
* [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/3779251/Ocadioan Ocadioan's]] A dance of Shadow and Light series from the Literature/InheritanceCycle series practically has an unlimited supply of these. Especially [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9998018/1/Phoenix-fire Phoenix-fire]], where ''every'' member of [[LaResistance the resistance]] is a Continuity Nod to the original series, though you might have to pay ''really'' [[FridgeBrilliance close attention to get some of them.]] Then again, onsidering the [[WordOfGod author]] even admitted that he might have gone [[ReferenceOverdosed a bit too far with the amount of references]], it is hardly surprising.
* ''Roleplay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers'':
** The events of the games are often referenced, especially by characters who were there to witness the events.
** The in-universe J-Team vs Capcom game {{Boss Rush}}es are big ones to characters that have long since departed.
** When explaining to Dune, Deziree, Lyuri, and Duke about Mew, Tagg references the time during the Hoenn arc when Gamer ended up striking Mew.
** After the strangeness of the last couple April Fools, people start treating them with wariness.
** Tagg tends to like to visit the spots of previous events for old times sakes.
* The MassiveMultiplayerCrossover fic, ''Fanfic/TheWorldOfTheCreatures'' features a fair few
** Buffy and Rory have a short moment of bonding over their shared habit of coming back from the dead. Buffy died twice, once in [[Recap/BuffytheVampireSlayerS1E12ProphecyGirl "Prophecy Girl"]] and again in [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS5E22TheGift "The Gift"]]. However, even she is impressed when Rory mentions "dying" five times. The instances he mentions are from [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E7AmysChoice "Amy's Choice"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E9ColdBlood "Cold Blood"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E3TheCurseOfTheBlackSpot "The Curse of the Black Spot"]], and [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E12ThePandoricaOpens "The Pandorica Opens"]].
** When talking with the Eleventh Doctor, one of the Silurians mentions an ark built before they went into hibernation, to which the Eleventh Doctor responds, "Oh you mean the one with all the dinosaurs?" This is a reference to the Silurian Ark seen in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E2DinosaursOnASpaceship "Dinosaurs on a Spacehship"]].
** While venting to her ''Diplodocus'', Buffy makes reference to "that whole musical fiasco." This is a reference to the ''Buffy'' MusicalEpisode [[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E7OnceMoreWithFeeling "Once More With Feeling"]].
** Amy, as a throwaway mention during a conversation, mentions that she and Rory, to their irritation, still sleep in bunk beds. The idea that the Ponds sleep in bunk beds aboard the TARDIS is first mentioned in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E4TheDoctorsWife "The Doctor's Wife"]]. Also from that episode, the Doctor refers to the TARDIS as "Sexy".
* ''Fanfic/TheWrongReflection'':
** The Gorn flagship GHS ''S'slee'' is named after the Gorn that Kirk fought in ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E18Arena Arena]]". (That was one of the names he was given in the ExpandedUniverse.)
** One of the ships assigned to guard the ''Bajor'' in the attack on the Terran Empire's base in the prime universe is the USS ''Laporin'', after a classmate of Ben Sisko's who was said to have been killed by the Klingons in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E01ApocalypseRising Apocalypse Rising]]".
** Gul Ekoor, commanding the Cardassian Second Order forces taking part in the battle, was one of the Cardassian soldiers who joined Damar, Garak, and Kira for the attack on the Dominion military headquarters in [=DS9=]: "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E25E26WhatYouLeaveBehind What You Leave Behind]]".
** Chapter five has Eleya explaining to Dal Kanril, her mirror universe counterpart, how she got into Starfleet from the Bajoran Militia, from ''Fanfic/FromBajorToTheBlack'', and then she and two of her security personnel give an overview of the Dominion War arc from [=DS9=].
* During chapter 2 of ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10668301/2/The-Rise-of-Arc The Rise of Arc]]'', Jaune is distracted from his loneliness by a sudden feeling of chills down his spine..."almost as if he were being hunted." Fans of [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} canon]] will know that this is because Pyrrha- his future LoveInterest- was watching him at this exact moment.
* A lot of ''FanFic/TheMysterionMythos'' is tied to continuing the superhero arc episodes from ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', and a few other episodes as well (the fanfic also uses Butters' female ego Marjorine from the season nine episode of the same name).
* In ''Fanfic/{{Frostbite}}'' Dalsh Ruul refers to the Breen having acquired the design for painsticks from the Klingons back in the time of Chancellor Mow'ga. Mow'ga was said in [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine DS9]]: "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS07E18TilDeathDoUsPart 'Til Death Do Us Part]]" to have sent a military expedition into Breen space that was never heard from again.
* ''Fanfic/RemembranceOfTheFallen'':
** To the first chapter of ''Fanfic/{{Bait and Switch|STO}}'' when Eleya introduces herself to Tia and Sobaru as follows:
--->[[TheNameIsBondJamesBond "My name's Eleya. Kanril Eleya."]]
** And to Eleya mentioning in "Fanfic/FromBajorToTheBlack, Part II" about how her ExtremeOmnisexual Starfleet Academy roommate Jasmine Velasquez frequently kicks her out of the dorm on Friday nights because she brought back a hookup.
--->'''Thrass:''' Anyway, think of it as something to do when Jazz Velasquez kicks you out on Friday nights.\\
'''Eleya:''' How do you--\\
'''Thrass:''' I’m your professor. I know everything.
* ''FanFic/KingdomHearts3FinalStand'':
** Sora's taking Ven's heart into his body, as well as Aqua's crafting Castle Oblivion, during the events of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' are referenced in the first and second chapters.
** In chapter 14, Aqua recalls having first met Sora, Riku, and Kairi when they were little kids, also in ''Birth by Sleep''. During the conversation, Sora also recalls having seen her back then, as well as in the [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Realm of Sleep]].
* ''Fanfic/SoulEaterTroubledSouls'': There are plenty of references to the canon series and the fanfic’s prequel sprinkled throughout the story, mostly dropped in the narration or in conversations. Most notably, in Chapter 1, there is a mention that evil activity was low a little more than two decades ago. ''Soul Eater Zeta'' is set 23 years ago, and it’s been said there activity of Kishin Eggs is low. Chapter 2’s classroom lecture is just a giant one that establishes continuity with respect to the Baba Yaga Castle invasion and its aftermath.
* At one point in ''[[http://ficwad.com/story/213011 Eroninjia]]'', [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Anko Mitarashi]] performs a tea ceremony so flawlessly that it drives a noble to tears, a reference to the [[AllThereInTheManual databooks which mention Anko performs tea ceremonies as a hobby.]]
* Several of these in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'', occasionally used to further the plot. For example, when trying to figure out a way to help Ringo see through magical masks, Paul recalls the day in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' when [[PsychicPowers Ringo cropped up psychic]] and Grunnel talked about breaking through masks, leading the four to look for a skahs wizard to teach Paul how to cast that spell. [[spoiler: Sadly, none of them can.]]
* ''Webcomic/DoctorWhoRegenerated'' is a ''Series/DoctorWho'' {{Fan Webcomic|s}} that finally lets the Doctor regenerate [[RunningGag ginger]].
* ''FanFic/EscapeFromTheMoon'': In chapter 8 of the sequel ''The Mare From the Moon'', Discord mentions "this realm's Door to the Realms in Between". [[spoiler: This was previously mentioned in chapter 12 of another of Evilhumour's stories, ''A Chance Meeting of Two Moons''.]]
* ''Fanfic/TheInstituteSaga'': In a game of chess against [[Franchise/XMen Xavier]], Franchise/{{Superman}} is playing black and moves [[Franchise/{{Batman}} his knight]].
* In [[https://www.deviantart.com/slifofinadragon SilfofinaDragon]]'s ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' fanfics, there have been plenty references to the SB anime.
* ''Fanfic/LincolnIsDone'' references several events from ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'', including the fight for the last slice of pizza ("Slice of Life"), Luna taking Lincoln to a concert ("For Bros About to Rock"), and Lola blackmailing her siblings to get into a club ("A Tattler's Tale").
* ''Fanfic/CodePrimeR1Rebellion'': The fanfic is a crossover with the ''Transformers Aligned'' '''Continuity''', and it certainly lives up to it:
** The opening is clearly based on the final (and by extension, first) mission of ''VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron''.
** [[WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise Fixit]] is a member of the Ark Crew.
** Megatron has already been fused with Dark Energon in this timeline, which was the case in ''Fall of Cybertron'', as opposed to only just having discovered it at the start of ''Transformers Prime''. The first chapter also directly has him reference being crushed by Metroplex.
* ''Fanfic/TheManyDatesOfDannyFenton'': During a battle in Chapter 12 of "Danny and Kitty", Manny's head gets hurt so much he wonders if he ended "up in the afterlife again". That's a nod to ''WesternAnimation/ElTigreTheAdventuresOfMannyRivera'' episode "The Grave Escape".
* ''Fanfic/ADiplomaticVisit'': In chapter 25, Discord's letter makes reference to his also being fond of "a certain chaotic little trio", referencing the time he spent with the Cutie Mark Crusaders in ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendsForever'' issue #2.
* ''Fanfic/CadetScrap'' features the full sparring scene from ''[[ComicBook/BatwomanRebirth Batwoman: Rebirth]]'' #1 that the story expands on, and also mentions the problematic plebes from Company E-2 that Kate mentioned in ''Batwoman: Elegy''. It also thoroughly references its prequel, ''Fanfic/WellMatched''.
[[/folder]]

* In the prologue to the ''Assault On New Olympus'' arc of ''ComicBook/IncredibleHercules'', Spider-Man got stuck under a bunch of cars [[HoistByHisOwnPetard he had brought down on]] [[LetsYouAndHimFight hercules' head before]]. [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall Looking straight at the reader]], Spidey references [[ComicBook/LeeDitkoSpiderMan Amazing Spider-Man #33]] and goes:

* ''Planet Hoppers: Beheboth: Blood and Water'', an article/story written for Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast's ''TabletopGame/StarWarsD20'', revisits characters from [[ComicBook/MarvelStarWars old Marvel comics]], including one Sergeant Malka. In an obvious nod to a [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic much more recent story]], Darial mistakenly refers to him as "Malak" at one point.
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh''

** While the game has many [[CallBack notable ties]] to its prequel ''VisualNovel/DeathMark'', there's also a few inconsequential references put in for fun:
*** Momo's [[FanserviceModel gravure]] photo has her made up like a doll and posing on a red couch, with it being based on an urban legend about 'a doll in a mysterious mansion'. This is all a reference to Mary, the protagonist's advisor from ''VisualNovel/DeathMark''.

*** When explaining the Miroku Mansion's {{Bizarrchitecture}}, Rosé references roads and staircases that impossibly loop you back to the same spot, which were featured in Chapters 3 and 6 of Death Mark.
*** According to Ami's profile, she once talked to a dog with a human face, a reference to Genta from the third chapter of Death Mark.

* ''Webcomic/{{Company0051}}'', a FanWebcomic set in the Franchise/{{Halo}}verse, includes several:

* ''Webcomic/DoctorWhoRegenerated'' is a ''Series/DoctorWho'' FanWebcomic that finally lets the Doctor regenerate [[RunningGag ginger]].

* ''FanFic/{{Cenotaph}}'' features a great many of these, mostly as nods to how Taylor's anti-heroism evolved in the original timeline. Occasionaly this leads to LampshadeHanging. For example: she notes that you don't get to [[AlternateUniverseFic become a crimelord by accident...]]

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

** It's never directly stated, but there are enough hints to figure out that Matthew the raven was [[spoiler:Matthew Cable]], from Creator/AlanMoore's series [[spoiler:''Comicbook/SwampThing'']], before he died. Gaiman owes a lot to Moore in getting his career started; there are several nods in Sandman to Moore's work in the DCU.

* Writers and artists often use scenes set in the Batcave's [[SuperheroTrophyShelf trophy room]] to give a Continuity Nod to previous ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' stories. Traditionally included are the giant penny from a 1947 fight with The Penny Plunderer, a T-Rex from a 1946 adventure on Dinosaur Island, and a memorial to Jason Todd, first seen in ''Comicbook/TheDarkKnightReturns''.
** Also, Batman once investigated murders at a movie set, where the movie being shot was a WWI flying action/drama. The misunderstood VillainProtagonist of said film was Hans von Hammer, in our world the main character of Creator/DCComics' ''Comicbook/EnemyAce'' series.

* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In ''Comicbook/SupergirlRebirth'' #1, Director Chase mentions that Supergirl's space pod's landing place was Siberia (which happened way back in ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 2011}} Supergirl Vol 6]]'' #1).
** In Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} story ''Comicbook/YoungLove'' Pre-Crisis Supergirl remembers several moments of her childhood:
*** Arriving on Earth and meeting Superman (''Comicbook/ActionComics'' #252)

*** Their reunion in ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl 1982}} Supergirl Vol 2]]'' #23 when they are in their twenties.
* ''Comicbook/ElfQuest'' examples:
** In the science-fiction "sequel" ''The Rebels'', Gestrelle Luricahn owning elfin artifacts is just part of her job/field of research. The fact that nearly all of those that we see decorating her room had some importance in previous ''Comicbook/ElfQuest'' stories is a Continuity Nod.

%%* Quite a few in ''Comicbook/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'', which is to be expected as its continuity arguably includes every book ever written.
* ''Comicbook/{{Asterix}}'' does this a few times. In ''Asterix in Britain'', you can see a few souvenirs referring to previous adventures on a shelf in Asterix and Obelix's house (including a model sphinx from ''Asterix and Cleopatra'' and a Visigoth helmet from ''Asterix and the Goths'').

* A subtle one from ''[[Comicbook/SpiderMan The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' vol. 2 #55: Peter Parker, currently working as a teacher at his old high school, talking to the school secretary (or administrator?) who remembers him from when he was a student:

* In early ''Comicstrip/{{Dilbert}}'' strips, the now infamous PointyHairedBoss did not have pointy hair at all, but rather just an ordinary, receding hairline of black curly hair. A 1995 strip depicting the slow decline of Dilbert's health benefits, via a series of flashbacks, depicts the boss with his old, unpointy hair.

* ''Fanfic/SOE2LoneHeirOfKrypton'': An interesting one: When Asuka is testing ''[[Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} her powers]]'', she comes across the scrapped wreck of the [[{{BFG}} rail-mounted mortar]] that [[{{Robeast}} Ramiel]] destroyed during his rampage. Her surprise when she's able to lift it up is palpable.

* [[http://www.roosterteeth.com/archive/episode.php?id=349 "Aw, shit. And I was in charge of confetti."]]

** A more recent one was in Recreation: Grif gets in the cockpit for a large vehicle and ask 'Why are there only four pedals if there's six directions?', the exact opposite of what Caboose asked when he first piloted his team's tank in season 1. There's been several per episode recently, though many are of the "blink and you'll miss it" variety.
** Taken UpToEleven in ''Machinima/RedVsBlue Revelations''.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDDHHrt6l4w&feature=PlayList&p=B74E99AAF998D904&index=6 This fan work for]] ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}'' is ''filled'' with nods toward the original graphic novel, from Rorsachs' "love of animals" to the scene where the comedian falls out of a window.

* ''Animation/HappyHeroes'': In Season 2 episode 20, Big M., upon encountering the bottle genie, comments that he must be like the wishing wood. In episode 35 of Season 1, the heroes find a wish-granting piece of wood with a similar appearance to the bottle genie.

* The MassiveMultiplayerCrossover fic, ''TheWorldOfTheCreatures'' features a fair few

* ''ComicBook/BlazeOfGlory'': In Issue #2, Clay Harder mentions how he [[FakingTheDead buried Matt Hawk and the Two-Gun Kid]], and asks Marcel what became of the other Sunset Riders. Both of those are events that occurred in the series of the same name, though its canonicity to ''this'' one is [[LooseCanon debatable]].

* ''Fanfic/CadetScrap'' features the full sparring scene from ''[[ComicBook/BatwomanRebirth Batwoman: Rebirth]] #1 that the story expands on, and also mentions the problematic plebes from Company E-2 that Kate mentioned in ''Batwoman: Elegy''. It also thoroughly references its prequel, ''Fanfic/WellMatched''.