History Main / SpyVersusSpy

* ''[[AceAttorney Ace Attorney Investigations]]'' is basically built around Interpol (represented by Lang and [[spoiler: Franziska]] vs. the smuggling ring, although Edgeworth seems to be the only one who does any actual detectiving. [[spoiler: With the exception of Lance (whose father is tied to the group and was Lang's real target all along), every single culprit in the game is a member of the smuggling ring.]]

** Subverted in the fact that despite having all the hallmarks of the genre, RED and BLU are ''[[RuleOfFunny construction companies]]''

* Clearly inspired by ''Series/GetSmart'' (below), the modern {{Blaxploitation}} parody ''UndercoverBrother'' has the black organization BROTHERHOOD facing "The Man".
* Combined with MurderInc in ''Mrs. and Mrs. Smith'' which features opposing groups of assassins.
* ''OurManFlint'' and sequel had Z.O.W.I.E. vs. Galaxy (a parody of SPECTRE).

Perhaps inspired by the use of SPECTRE as the villain in the JamesBond movies rather than the communist villains of the books, a popular trope in spy films is to have two opposing organizations of agents who have a tenuous connection to a government if any. Typically, this is played for humor, and oddly, while some of the evil organizations are supposed to have quite horrible ideologies, their membership is generally depicted as being of a PunchClockVillain nature.

* The TropeNamer is the famous Magazine/{{MAD}} comic SpyVsSpy which featured black and white trenchcoat-clad agents always trying to kill one another for no apparent reason. Occasionally a third spy, Lady Grey, would make an appearance and foil the both of them.

''If you are looking for the comic strip, see SpyVsSpy''

* [[{{SHIELD}} S.H.I.E.L.D. vs HYDRA. ]] And AIM. And RAID. Sheesh.

''If you are looking for a cartoon, see SpyVsSpy''

* Happens in some TomClancy novels, most notably ''The Cardinal of the Kremlin''.

* S.H.U.S.H. vs F.O.W.L. in ''DarkwingDuck''.

* [[{{SHIELD}} S.H.I.E.L.D. vs HYDRA. ]]

* The TropeNamer is the famous MadMagazine comic SpyVsSpy which featured black and white trenchcoat-clad agents always trying to kill one another for no apparent reason. Occasionally a third spy, Lady Grey, would make an appearance and foil the both of them.

* ''[[TheManFromUNCLE The Man from U.N.C.L.E.]]'' had U.N.C.L.E. vs. THRUSH.

* S.H.U.S.H. vs F.O.W.L. in ''{{Darkwing Duck}}''.

* Clearly inspired by ''GetSmart'' (below), the modern {{Blaxploitation}} parody ''UndercoverBrother'' has the black organization BROTHERHOOD facing "The Man".

* One of the most influential versions was that in ''GetSmart'' where the good guys CONTROL faced off against KAOS.

* W.A.S.T.E. vs E.M.P.I.R.E. vs M.O.T.T vs X.S.M. all to to be found in the pages of Matt Fraction's ''[[Comics/{{Casanova}} Casanova]]''.

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* ''TeamFortress2'' uses this basic framing device (with the heroically-evil RED and evilly-heroic BLU) to provide the deliberately flimsy rationale for the game.

* ''Series/{{Alias}}'' had several, all non-humorous. First was CIA versus SD-6, then CIA versus Covenant, then CIA versus whatever Irina Derevko's network was. Plus there were other spy groups, like K Directorate, that worked against the CIA and SD-6.

* [[MarvelComics S.H.I.E.L.D. vs HYDRA. ]]

* ''{{Alias}}'' had several, all non-humorous. First was CIA versus SD-6, then CIA versus Covenant, then CIA versus whatever Irina Derevko's network was. Plus there were other spy groups, like K Directorate, that worked against the CIA and SD-6.

* W.A.S.T.E. vs E.M.P.I.R.E. vs M.O.T.T vs X.S.M. all to to be found in the pages of Matt Fraction's ''Casanova''.

* In a very strange way, this is how angels and demons tend to operate in ''GoodOmens'', as personified by FriendlyEnemies Crowley and Aziraphale. Their situation is explicitly compared to two spies in the middle of nowhere who've been essentially forgotten by their respective governments.

* S.H.I.E.L.D. vs HYDRA.

* ''{{Chuck}}'' has a lot of this as well: CIA vs Fulcrum, CIA vs The Ring, CIA vs Volkov Industries...

*The TropeNamer is the famous MadMagazine comic which featured black and white trenchcoat-clad agents always trying to kill one another for no apparent reason. Occasionally a third spy, Lady Grey, would make an appearance and foil the both of them.