History Main / ForHalloweenIAmGoingAsMyself

* In ''Film/TwinFallsIdaho'', a girl convinces a pair of conjoined twins to attend a Halloween party as "Siamese twins." Everyone at the party assumes that it's just a costume.

* In ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'', in the season two episode "Hallowinx," Bloom's classmate Mitzi has invited her and the Winx to a Halloween party. Since they know no one would believe they're real fairies, they attend in their fairy forms.

* Slightly parodied in the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movie when Sam is trying to find his [[MacGuffin Grandfather's glasses]] and the Autobots are walking around in the backyard. He tells the anxious robots to wait for him and stay low. A minute later he turns around and the Autobots have turned into their incognito alternate modes... parked in the backyard. Obviously they don't blend.

* A ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' [[https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1966/10/30 Sunday strip]] has Snoopy watching as costumed trick-or-treaters get candy from one house. After they've left, Snoopy goes up to the same house and kicks the front door, then grins and holds his paw out. In the final panel, he walks off munching candy as the unseen homeowners' comment:

* A ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' Sunday strip has Snoopy watching as costumed trick-or-treaters get candy from one house. After they've left, Snoopy goes up to the same house and kicks the front door, then grins and holds his paw out. In the final panel, he walks off munching candy as the unseen homeowners' comment:

** Subverted in another strip (1955/10/30). Snoopy smiles as several kids in scary masks walk by. Then along comes Charlie Brown without a mask and Snoopy runs away screaming.

* In ''LightNovel/OurHomesFoxDeity'' it's first lampshaded by the older of the recurring fox brothers by him commenting how advanced makeup is those days. It is then averted when a passerby sees him and runs away screaming ''MONSTER''.

* In ''Literature/TheMoonMazeGame'', teenage Prince Ali of Kikaya participates in the titular LARP in the role of ... a young prince of Kikaya.

* Used hilariously illogically in ''Film/TheNeverendingStory 3''. Somehow, it's the first day of school, Chinese New Year, and Halloween all at the same time. The only reason why any of this happens is that the latter two events allow the fantastic characters to be out in the open.

For the paranormal, their mere appearance in a blissfully unaware society can cause chaos and panic. Thus, they constantly have to hide their nature from those not in the know.

--->'''Spider-Man:''' Hey buddy! I'm Spider-Man right?\\
'''Waiter:''' (''calling back'') Yeah... You're Spider-Man... nutjob...

For the paranormal, their mere appearance in a blissfully unaware society can cause chaos and panic. Thus, they constantly have to hide their nature from those not-in-the-know.

Except, that is, for one glorious day each year: [[HalloweenEpisode Halloween]]. On this singular day they can walk around openly and be among people who look like zombies, ghosts, goblins, sorcerers, and demons. And all that they'll receive are glowing compliments on the design and workmanship of their "costume" (well, [[YourCostumeNeedsWork usually, anyway]]) and possibly some candy. And they don't even have to spend any money on it.

While "Non-Humans and Halloween" is a popular use, the trope is really about how the circumstances of an event allow a normally secretive character to walk around in the open without destroying TheMasquerade, thus it can also happen at carnivals and costume parties or by just claiming to be a weirdo who likes to dress up at random times. In effect they are masquerading as themselves, and even outside of having fun there are advantages to being the unnoticeable Clark Kent instead of Franchise/{{Superman}}. Similarly, this often results in the unusual sight of a {{superhero}} in their civilian identity but still wearing their actual costume.

* In ''LightNovel/OurHomesFoxDeity'' it's first lampshaded by the older of the recurring fox brothers by him commenting how advanced make up is those days. It is then averted when a passerby sees him and runs away screaming ''MONSTER''.

* Subverted in ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'' where Ellen and and Ako actually wear costumes in Halloween. Ellen, who is actually [[ShapeshifterModeLock a cat stuck in a human body]], wears a cat costume. And Ako, who is the princess of Major Land, wears a princess costume.

* ''ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}'': In both of her origins -''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' #359 and ''ComicBook/BatgirlYearOne''-, Barbara Gordon created the Batgirl costume for a Halloween party, and didn't tell anyone about it, so that when she went to the party no one knew it was her, however when a group of criminals crash the party she defeats them as Batgirl and has used the costume since.

* In ''ComicBook/TheBooksOfMagic'', Zatanna takes Tim Hunter to a Halloween Ball. Halfway through, Tim looks at the wolfmen, vampires and [[BlackMagic black magicians]] around him and says, "It's just occurred to me, these people, they're not wearing masks, are they?"

* In an issue of ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'', Harley shows up to one of Bruce Wayne's masquerade balls in her own costume. She even introduces herself as Harley Quinn. He is actually suspicious -- but then, he is Batman. He'd have every right to be suspicious regardless. As Tom Katers points out, thieves and supervillains in the DCU have a habit of breaking into high-class costume parties by pretending to be someone pretending to be them.

* In the first ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' story, Hour-Man told a story of how he went to a costume party dressed as Hour-Man, and ran into a gang of thieves planning to rob the party, all of them dressed as Hour-Man.

* ''ComicBook/PS238'': During the "Crisis In Alternate-Omaha" arc, when the kids find themselves in a universe that has no superhumans, they pretend that their superhero outfits are for a costume party when they're stopped by police (while [[FlyingBrick Julie 84]] pretends to be an incredibly realistic helium baloon by tieing a string to her belt).

* A one-shot special of ''ComicBook/{{Shi}}'' telling Japanese ghost stories has the namesake heroine remarking Halloween is the only time she can wear her assassin outfit without impunity or being mistakenly attacked by her enemies. Lampshaded a bit when a trick-or-treater praises Shi for her costume, but misidentifies it as a costume worn by Zealot of the ComicBook/WildCATsWildStorm.
* Played with in ''ComicBook/TheSimpingDetective''. Jack attends a "hate party" where all the local mob dress as various character from ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' canon as himself. Nobody recognizes who he is supposed to be until someone else turns up as Jack. Galen Demarco attends as herself, but in a manner that she appears to be her intelligent gorilla partner dressed as her.

** An issue of ''The Amazing Spider-man'' has the Black Cat meeting Spider-Man at a costume party. She wears her own costume, but mistakes a random party-goer dressed as Spider-Man for the real thing. Turns out Spidey is InTheHood.

** In ''ComicBook/AdventureComics'' [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marvel_dc/images/b/b1/Adventure_Comics_Vol_1_392.jpg #392]], It's ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Day at Stanhope Women's College, so everybody's supposed to wear a Supergirl dress. Unfortunately, Kara flew through something radioactive and now her dress is being decontaminated. As Linda, she gets a replica dress at school, but has to wear it for some actual super-deed that leaves it badly ripped. She simply tells everyone she took it off because it was a bad fit and didn't look right.

* At the start of ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' Cedric and Vathek infiltrate a Halloween party. Cedric, being a ShapeShifter, goes out in his human form, modified to make it look he's wearing a costume, but Vathek is openly showing his ogre-like looks and wearing his normal outfit... And wins the prize for the best costume.
** Later in the series, the girls go at a Halloween party in their Guardian forms.

* A ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' Sunday strip has Snoopy watching as costumed trick-or-treaters get candy from one house. After they've left, Snoopy goes up to the same house and kicks the front door, then grins and holds his paw out. In the final panel, he walks off munching candy as the unseen homeowners comment:

* Invoked in the [[HalloweenEpisode Halloween Fic]] of the ''Fanfic/FacingTheFutureSeries'' by Tucker when he didn't like [[WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom Danny]] and Sam's [[ScrewYourself choice of costumes]]. The reason it was avoided was because the author had seen YourCostumeNeedsWork too much.

** One premise, originating in [[http://hchano.tumblr.com/post/151111107016/stupid-ladybug-episode-idea a tumblr post]], involves Adrien being forced into a Chat Noir costume by Chloe, and Ladybug mistaking him for a transformed Chat Noir and dragging him into a fight without giving him the chance to transform. Fics using this premise include ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/8436457 Chat Noir's Spooktacular Halloween]]'', and ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/8439280 The Bat's Out of the Bag]]'' (though it ''wasn't'' initially inspired by the above post). The two stories take notably different turns after Ladybug finds out he wasn't transformed: in the former, she cracks up laughing, especially when he tells her he was forced into it, only to panic later upon seeing Adrien in his now damaged costume; in the latter, she harshly calls out Adrien in private for his supposed recklessness, only to get a similarly harsh rebuttal from him about how she has no idea what his life is like, which reduces her to tears and forces him to follow her home to apologise.

* In the HalloweenEpisode of ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'', [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Norlock]] points out that he and the Irkens can do this, since the humans are so oblivious they wouldn't be able to tell that they're real. It works.

** An [[RecursiveFanfiction unofficial]] sequel, ''[[Fanfic/RealityChecksNyxverse Nightmare Night and Nyx]]'', does this with a young filly [[spoiler:changeling]] named Flitter. Bonus points for actually being ''on'' the in-universe equivalent to Halloween.
** Another fanfic, ''[[http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/05/story-unwelcome-changes.html Unwelcome Changes]]'', features Luna meeting a theatrical troupe who needs somepony for the same role..

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13415233/1/Shining-Knight-Under-Duress Shining Knight Under Duress]]'' a potions accident resulted in Snape being turned into a vampire, while Hermione became part-basilisk and Harry and Luna part-deer. An adult Hermione is enthusiastic about Halloween because it's the one day of the year where their children don't have to wear a glamour in public.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'', Harley has been spending her parole [[FanServiceWithASmile working at a diner]] where the waitresses wear [[SexyWhateverOutfit sexy versions of superheroine/supervillainess costumes]]. While she likes that it keeps her out of sight from the heroes, she's mostly pissed that it's the only job she can get due to her extensive criminal record.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{TMNT}}'' movie, Michelangelo passes himself off as a ninja turtle impersonator by donning a large fake looking turtle head, and sticking a fake zipper onto his chest. No-one seems to take notice.

* Inverted in 1992's ''Film/BatmanReturns'', in which Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle come to Schreck's costume ball, as themselves (no costume). Despite this they accidentally revealed their secret identities to each other. In their minds, "Batman" and "Catwoman" are their true identities, with "Bruce Wayne" and "Selina Kyle" being the real costumes.

-->'''Schrek:''' Bruce Wayne...why're you dressed up like Batman?
-->'''Catwoman/Selena Kyle:''' Because he ''is'' Batman, you moron!

* In ''Film/HocusPocus'' all the action takes place on Halloween. Therefore, the three witches are hardly out of place and move about the town freely. They even become the center of attention as the "entertainment" at the town's big costume party. The Witches themselves are at first confused by the whole thing (they get scared when a girl dressed as an angel "blesses" them, and mistake a man dressed as Satan for the real deal), but once they realize it’s all a big costumed party, they make great use of this trope to put their plan in motion without anyone besides the protagonsts opposing them.

* Used hilariously illogically in ''Film/TheNeverendingStory 3''. Somehow, it's the first day of school, Chinese New Year, and Halloween all at the same time. The only reason why any of this happens is because the latter two events allow the fantastic characters to be out in the open.

* ''Film/TalesOfHalloween'': In "The Night Billy Raised Hell", Mr. Abaddon is horned demon. On Halloween night, he strolls the streets with his horns out, with everyone assuming that he is in costume.
* Slightly parodied in the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movie when Sam is trying to find his [[MacGuffin Grandfather's glasses]] and the Autobots are walking around in the back yard. He tells the anxious robots to wait for him and stay low. A minute later he turns around and the Autobots have turned into their incognito alternate modes... parked in the back yard. Obviously they don't blend.

* Spider Robinson's ''Literature/CallahansCrosstimeSaloon'' story "Unnatural Causes". An alien Krundai comes to Callahan's bar on Halloween night as himself (green, furry and pointed, over-sized ears).

** Played with when wizard [[FirstPersonSmartass Harry]] [[DeadpanSnarker Dresden]] goes to the Vampire's Masquerade Ball... dressed as a vampire. He is being deliberately insulting, and so dresses as the most cliche Dracula stereotype he can come up with; caked on white face paint, giant cape with a tall collar, fake blood around his mouth, the works.

* In ''Literature/GardensOfTheMoon'', the first book of the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', many people in the streets of Darujhistan are impressed by the great Tiste Andii 'costume' Anomander Rake is wearing for Lady Simtal's party. The laquered dragon mask also turns out to be more of an injoke than a disguise, since he [[VoluntaryShapeshifting can turn into one]]. Alchemist Baruk called it, too:

* Used cleverly in the subversive children's novel ''Literature/JenniferHecateMacbethWilliamMcKinleyAndMeElizabeth''. Jennifer, a sombre, [[CreepyChild beautifully creepy]] Afro-American girl, wears authentic Pilgrim clothing to her school's Halloween party. She tells her friend Elizabeth that the real witches were Pilgrims, and that she herself is a witch who spends most of the year disguised as an ordinary schoolgirl; by dressing this way she is becoming undisguised.
* In ''[[Literature/JunieBJones Junie B., First Grader]]: BOO... and I MEAN It!'', Junie B. scared of Halloween because of five secrets that Paulie Allen Puffer told her and said that she mustn't tell anyone else or her head will turn into a wart. The first of these is that real monsters and witches go trick or treating on Halloween, but don't wear costumes because everybody thinks they're already dressed up. "BUT THEY'RE NOT. THEY ARE WEARING THEIR REAL ACTUAL FACE AND CLOTHES!"

* In Creator/RobertBloch's "The Secret Of Sebek", some genuine occultists avoid persecution for their practices by hosting parties for dilettante spiritualists and psychic charlatans, ensuring their own ''genuine'' mystic rites will go unremarked-upon.
* Used twice in the eighth novel of ''Literature/WearingTheCape'', specifically in the story crossover with ''Webcomic/GrrlPower''. The straightest version is when Sydney (aka The Mighty Halo), main protagonist of the webcomic swaps her real gear for toy versions and a metal ring that appears to hold her orbs (which normally float above her head in a circle when not in use), to look like a Halo cosplayer while scoping the dealers room of a convention her team is attending. The second time is when Astra, main protagonist from the novels, arrives in Sydney's reality while in costume... where her and her team and their exploits are the subject of a superhero television show and she presumed to be someone cosplaying as the character at the same convention.

** Most demons don't like going out during Halloween because it's so commercialized and kitschy, and consider it the one day of the year they'd rather stay home. In ''Series/{{Angel}}'' a half-demon was kept trapped in his house by his mother growing up, because he looks hideous. The only time she ever let him outside was on Halloween, which is a humiliation in itself.
** Lorne often pretends he's wearing a costume to deal with people's reactions to his green-skin & red horns. When he got a job as a singer in Vegas, all the dancing girls (The Lornettes) wore green makeup & red horns to match. Incidentally, we also learn that only one member of the Blue Man Group actually wears makeup. There's also the episode where Lorne pretends to be dressed up to read to the children when a case takes the group to a library. The librarian compliments him on his realistic mask, but points out that [[YourCostumeNeedsWork the horns aren't very convincing]].
** In Season 4 of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', the Initiative walk around openly on Halloween in their soldier outfits. Buffy notices them and doesn't think much of it, until she encounters them later in the season.

** Darryl (a cop) and Leo (a whitelighter who died in World War II) both wear their "first uniforms" as their costumes. Leo's confuses Darryl, since he doesn't know all the family's secrets yet.

* In the ''Series/{{iZombie}}'' pilot, Liv attends a neighborhood Halloween party as a zombie, but she does add some "flesh decay" makeup to her face, since most people are used to seeing her normal "extremely pale with white hair" appearance and just assume she's emo or goth.

* Invoked in ''Series/TheMiddle'''s seventh-season Halloween episode when Axl's friend suggests that the mysterious trick-or-treater in TheGrimReaper costume they keep seeing might actually ''be'' Death, since Halloween is the one night of the year Death could walk around like that without anyone thinking anything's amiss.

* In ''VideoGame/SaintsRowTheThird'', when the Saints rob a bank at the start of the game, the Saints all wear Johnny Gat caricature masks, including Johnny Gat. In their defense, the Saints by this time have sold-out and become criminal celebrities; people robbing a bank in Johnny Gat masks wouldn't be that bizarre in-universe.

** Similarly, in the sequel, [[VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams NiGHTS and Reala]] transform into cars ala their own games, although at least they have Nightopians and Nightmaren sitting in the driving seat. Also, there's [[spoiler:the equally-sentient AGES, a Creator/{{SEGA}}-themed robot that transforms between a Daytona stock-car, an ''VideoGame/AfterBurner'' plane, and a [[ConsoleCameo Dreamcast controller]] depending on the location]].

* The free UsefulNotes/RPGMaker game ''VideoGame/TrickAndTreat'' is set at Halloween and features two girls dressed as a witch and a pumpkin maid. [[spoiler:The former is an actual witch and the latter is a magically animated construct that the witch made from a pumpkin to use as her personal maid.]]

* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' goes to a convention cosplaying as himself, which, in this case, means wear a propeller cap ''over'' his propeller cap and taping a paper star over his red star T-shirt.

* ''WebAnimation/TheLegendOfLuoXiaoHei'' has the heroes go to an anime convention. Diting, an Elfin with very noticable horns and differently colored skin, is able to pass just fine there and gets quite a few positive comments. He later admits that he goes to anime conventions every year when he's able, since it allows him to have a relatively peaceful experience in the human world and it's one of the very few places where he can appear as himself.

* In an early ''Webcomic/DragonCity'' comic, [[OurDragonsAreDifferent bipedal dragon]] Erin Parrity [[http://dragoncity.thecomicseries.com/comics/45/ goes trick-or-treating with some humans.]] Bonus points for not only not wearing a costume, but also not wearing anything at all.

* In an ''Webcomic/ItsWalky'' Halloween strip, Joyce (dressed as a harlequin) chaticises [[UpperClassTwit Jason]] for not having his costume ready. He replies he's going as Film/JamesBond.

* The title character in ''Webcomic/{{Terinu}}'' is a four and a half-foot tall alien with a seven foot long prehensile tail, gray skin and horns. He gets around because most humans assume he's a "moddie" with extensive plastic surgery and prosthetics, created for a sick weirdo's amusement. {{Squick}}
* In ''Webcomic/WelcomeToChastity'' Mei goes to Rayya with strong evidence that their roommate, Gwen, might be a witch, Rayya tells Mei she's being ridiculous, only for Gwen to barge into room wearing a stereotypical witch outfit for the college Halloween party.

** Darkwing once goes to a masquerade ball in his costume, and is frustrated by everyone telling him he couldn't pull it off. [[YourCostumeNeedsWork "The real Darkwing Duck is taller..."]]

* Subverted in the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode "The Trickening", where [[MonsterMash a bunch of stereotypical monsters]] all dress up as characters from more modern horror franchises because kids aren't afraid of the classics anymore. [[spoiler:However, it's played straight at the end of the episode when they go to Scrooge's 24-hour candy store as themselves, with some of the kids even complementing them on their "costumes".]]

** They later go undisguised to a comic book convention, saying that no-one would notice they were fairies, and would just assume that they are big-headed kids in costume.

** A later Halloween episode has Lucinda's witch friend Indigo go dressed as a witch, in a slight variation of her default outfit. Though, considering witches are more of a social class of magic users than a secret in this world, she ''might'' have been dressed as another in-universe witch (like how a person dressing up as Albert Einstein could be classified as "a person dressing up as a person"), but it never specifies.

** The short-lived ''The Adventures of the Spider-Man'' features an episode where Peter has no way of getting home without his identity being revealed (his head piece is gone but he still has his main suit on). He then gets spotted by a crowd of people who all shout out: "great costume man!". Conveniently it is Independence day and a huge fancy costume party is being held in the Star Junction, so Peter just blends right in to the crowds.

** In one of the early episodes of ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'', the Autobots worry about revealing themselves on Earth. Bud jokingly suggests they pretend they're cosplayers (as Transformers are basically urban legends). Cue communal sweatdrop when Optimus Prime actually takes the suggestion seriously, apparently not realizing that twenty foot robots cannot get away with pretending they are costumes.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Tutenstein}}'' episode "Day of the Undead," Tut walks among mortals on Halloween, impressing trick-or-treaters with how much his costume looks and smells like a long dead mummy.

* In ''WesternAnimation/WordGirl'', one of Becky Botsford's friends, Todd "Scoops" Ming, realizes that she may be the titular superhero, citing several reasons including "You dress up as [=WordGirl=] every Halloween!" When the Narrator reacts, Becky responds "Well, I already had the costume...." In addition, a support character, Violet, dresses as the titular character in the Halloween-themed episode "Tobey's Tricks and Treats", and is mistaken as the superheroine by Tobey himself.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'' episode "Cajun Charm," the X-Men find themselves in the middle of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, while looking for Rogue, who's been kidnapped. A random person comes up to Kurt, who's in his X-Men uniform and not wearing his image inducer, and tells him that his ''costume'' is great. Kurt's response? "Thanks! They are one of a kind."

** Creator/BryanCranston attended wearing a Walter White mask in 2013

* Monica Lewinsky was invited to a 90's-themed costume party years after the scandal. She was reluctant at first (for obvious reasons), but eventually decided to go with it and just came wearing a beret.

** One story opens with what appears to be [[ComicBook/TheRiddler]] unmasking Batman as Bruce Wayne to the entirety of his RoguesGallery, only to reveal that Bruce was dressed as Zorro at a costume party he was holding and the Riddler who went as himself (during a stint as a private detective) just figured out who he was and the supervillains are really just costumed partygoers.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'', Harley has been spending her parole [[FanServiceWithASmile working at a diner]] where the waitresses wear [[SexyWhateverOutfit sexy versions of superheroine/supervillainess costumes]]. While she likes that it keeps her out of sight from the heroes, she's mostly pissed that it's the only job she can get due to her reputation.

* In an issue of ''ComicBook/HarleyQuinn'', Harley shows up to one of Bruce Wayne's masquerade balls in her own costume. She even introduces herself as Harley Quinn. He is actually suspicious - but then, he is Batman. He'd have every right to be suspicious regardless. As Tom Katers points out, thieves and supervillains in the DCU have a habit of breaking into high-class costume parties by pretending to be someone pretending to be them.

* ''Fanfic/ForTheGloryOfIrk'': Every year on Halloween, Captain Rose just ditches her disguise and walks around in her normal Tangean form, which people keep mistaking for an elf costume. [[spoiler: All the Irkens who arrive on Earth to support the exiled Tallest do the same.]]

* In chapter 19 of Gamma Cavy's paired set of stories, ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10077874/19/Bond-Snapshots-Satoshi Bond Snapshots Satoshi]]'' and ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10002603/1/bond-snapshots Bond Snapshots]]'' which tie into a previous work of hers, Satoshi and Daisuke [[spoiler:who are not really human anymore due to sealed magic backlash]] go to a costume birthday party [[spoiler: fully bewinged]] and wearing clothes that belonged to their [[spoiler:now sealed]] other halves Dark and Krad. [[spoiler: No one figures it out, which is why they did it.]]

* In ''Nightingale's Lament'', a {{Literature/Nightside}} novel, a singer eludes her rabid fans' attentions by stopping off at a nightclub where all the staff, and most of the patrons, are [[spoiler: drag queen]] impersonators of their favorite singing divas. She easily passes unnoticed in the crowd of Madonnas, Dolly Partons, and assorted Spice Girls.

* In ''[[Literature/WingsQuartet Wings]]'' by Aprilynne Pike, David helps make Laurel's wings look fake so she can be convincing at the school costume ball. Extra 'Awwwww!' factor for the cutesy line: [[spoiler: "I'll have to tell them only Laurel gets wings."]]

** Similarly, in the sequel, [[VideoGame/NightsIntoDreams NiGHTS and Reala]] transform into cars ala their own games, although at least they have Nightopians and Nightmaren sitting in the driving seat. Also, there's [[spoiler: the equally-sentient AGES, a Creator/{{SEGA}}-themed robot that transforms between a Daytona stock-car, an ''VideoGame/AfterBurner'' plane, and a [[ConsoleCameo Dreamcast controller]] depending on the location]].

** Another episode has Strong Sad apparently entering a Strong Sad look-alike contest only for Coach Z to immediately disqualify him for that very reason. [[spoiler: Turns out it was actually Homsar in an ''EXTREMELY'' detailed and lifelike costume.]]

* Forcibly invoked (and subverted) in the webcomic ''[[http://www.krakowstudios.com/archive.php?date=20090528 Charliehorse]]'' when Preson suggests --in great detail-- that Charlie the succubus take the opportunity to attend a Halloween party as herself. [[spoiler:Turns out she'd rather go as Cinderella, instead.]]

-->'''Death:''' I THOUGHT I SHOULD GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE THING.

-->'''Death:''' [[AC:I thought I should get into the spirit of the thing.]]

--->'''Death:''' (''defensively'') [[AC:I was at a party.]]\\

'''Death:''' [[AC:At the moment it is. I suspect it may go downhill rather quickly after midnight.]]\\

'''Death:''' [[AC:That's when they think I'm going to take my mask off.]]

** Re-visited in ''Literature/IShallWearMidnight'', when Mrs. Proust disguises Tiffany's genuine witch hat by sprinkling glitter on it and attaching an "Apprentice Witch Hat, AM $2.50" costume-shop label to its brim.

** During the "Midnight" story arc, Batman says that he likes Halloween because he can walk around downtown in his costume and nobody cares. He even talks to a little kid, also in a Batman costume, who compliments his utility belt. Now for a bit of fridge logic, think about who Batman is in-universe (the story, as with many Batman mystery arcs, seems to be outside main DCU canon): a masked vigilante that terrorizes criminals, frequently framed for killing them...what kind of parents does this kid have?
** There's a story out there ("The Batman Nobody Knows!", ''Detective Comics'' #560) that suggests Batman's good at scaring criminals but not kids.

** Another Batman example; in the ''Webcomic/LilGotham'' Halloween issue, Batman and Robin are tracking down some criminals. Unfortunately, ''everyone'' is dressed up like a rogue or vigilante. Cut to the villains eating dinner and celebrating how they can go out in public without being arrested.

* In Chapter 30 of the ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' short-story collection ''Fanfic/ADayIndoors'', Kotaro rises to the challenge of playing the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood by transforming into his {{Wolfman}} form.

* ''Fanfic/ForTheGloryOfIrk'': Every year on Halloween, Captain Rose just ditches her disguise and walks around in her normal Tangean form, which people keep mistaking for an elf costume. [[spoiler: All the Irkens who arrive on Earth to support the exiled Tallest do the same.]]