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A fictional crossover occurs when otherwise separated fictional characters, stories, settings, universes, or media meet and interact with each other. For a company, crossovers may exist as a gimmick, a marketing tool, a joke or gag, or to play out a "what if" scenario.
Crossovers of multiple characters owned by one company or published by one publisher, have been used to set an established continuity, where characters can frequently meet within one setting. This is especially true of comic book publishers, as different characters in various Marvel or DC comic books frequently interact with one another.
Crossovers may also be advertised as a guest appearance or cameo appearance, often to promote another work of fiction, sometimes with little contextual or rational explanation.
A crossover story may try to explain its own reason for the crossover, such as "they live next door" or "a dimensional rift brought them together". Some crossovers are not explained at all. Some are absurd or simply impossible within the fictional setting, and have to be ignored by the series' respective continuities.
Crossover, within continuity
A single instance of one character/group of characters meeting another character/group of characters. These are most likely "in-continuity" to their main respective settings, as the settings do not conflict with each other.
Note: Steve Urkel's appearance in both of these programs actually does create a conflict. The episodes that Urkel was in, clearly shows that these programs were originally in the same universe. Later in "Step by Step", John Stamos appears as himself, even mentioning that he had a role on "Full House". While "Family Matters" & "Step by Step" seems to still take place in the same universe, "Full House" because of this, most likely takes place in a different universe.
Crossover, single-instance within continuity
A crossover exists within one or more main series. The crossover may or may not have taken place, and therefore does not have to be an event that "happened" within either setting. Generally, there is no evidence to support the event ever occurred, even if done within a series, and it can be inferred the event existed for its own sake only.
Crossover, established within continuity
A crossover occurs multiple times, or is referenced in the main series, implying the crossover actually took place.
- Quasar (Marvel comics) travels to the New Universe, and brings the Star Brand back with him
- Marvel comics characters meet Ultraverse characters, some Ultraverse characters stay in Marvel universe
- Solar (Valiant comics) meets Void of WildC.A.T.S. (Deathmate, Image comics)
- Tomb Raider (Top Cow version) meets Witchblade and The Darkness, and assists in reviving Butcher Knight (Top Cow comics)
- Batman meets The Darkness (Batman/The Darkness) - note that Jackie Estracado frequently mentions this event, but no explanation is given on how it can occur. It would appear the Top Cow universe has its own version of Gotham City, and not the official DC Universe version.
- Battle of the Planets (Top Cow version) meets the Thundercats (Top Cow version) (Battle of the Planets/Thundercats, Top Cow)
- Video game characters from SNK's various fighting games, including Athena, Psycho Soldier, Ikari Warriors, Art of Fighting, and Fatal Fury, appearing in the same game. (King of Fighters series)
- The respective police departments in Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Homicide: Life on the Street have occasionally had crossover episodes; after the cancelation of Homicide, Richard Belzer's character, "John Munch", was transferred over to SVU.
- Many Daytime soap operas have had numerous crossovers over the years, particularly the ones that air on ABC. The baby switch storyline on ABC Daytime soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live, in which Paul Cramer from One Live to Live visited Pine Valley (the setting ofAll My Children) in order to steal the baby of his ex wife, Babe Chandler was part of an ongoing storyline with Babe later visiting Llanview (The setting of One Life to Live) in order to get her baby back from Paul. This particular storyline had a precendent in the fact that another All My Children character, Skye Chandler had moved from Pine Valley to Llanview in order to find her birth mother. Skye later moved again to Port Charles, the setting for another ABC Daytime Soap Opera, General Hospital in order to find her biological father.
Crossover, self contained outside continuity
These are crossovers that exist of their own setting, as what-if scenarios. Non-continuity crossovers may still borrow or resolve plots from their respective series, but have no evidence to support their occurrence officially in either setting.
Crossover, individual continuity
A crossover features multiple fictional characters and settings for its own purpose, but there is no evidence of it existing in each respective individual setting.
Crossover, dream sequence
A character comes into contact with another character through imagery, dreams, visions, etc. The crossover itself does not occur, but the idea of the crossover might occur.
Crossover, celebrity guest appearance
A real life celebrity or figure appears within a fictional setting (Does not have to be portrayed by the actual person).
- In the Batman live action television series, celebrities often appeared when the Dynamic Duo are scaling a wall and the celebrity in question opens a window for a short conversation.
- Peter Falk appears as himself playing a Columbo-like character, in Wim Wenders' film Wings of Desire
- Multiple celebrities are preserved as talking heads in the 30th century, including Pamela Anderson and Richard Nixon (Futurama)
- William Shatner meets Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
- Over 300 celebrities have appeared on The Simpsons. For example, Paul and Linda McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Blink 182, Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr., and Tony Hawk.
- Several celebrities have appeared (and been mocked) in South Park, see list of celebrities on South Park
Crossover, gag cameo
A character appears only briefly in another setting, mainly for joke purposes.
- Belle from Beauty and the Beast crosses the street in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Mr. Peabody appears on The Simpsons, commenting on time travel (The Simpsons)
- Pumbaa from The Lion King being carried on a spit in The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- King of the Hill characters appear on The Simpsons to comment on a peewee football game (The Simpsons)
- Rocket J Squirrel appears on Family Guy, mimicking a familiar scene from Rocky & Bullwinkle (Family Guy)
- Jay and Silent Bob appear as visitors to the movie studio in Scream 3
- Meatwad from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force speeds by on a bike on The Brak Show (The Brak Show)
- A big fight on Sealab 2021 is revealed to be a video game controlled by members of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Sealab 2021)
- Huckleberry Hound devolves into a normal dog on The Brak Show (The Brak Show)
- Amitabh Bachchan's character in the Bollywood film Maard briefly appears in the comic guise of Father Anthony, a persona that a different character played by Amitabh Bachchan, Anthony Gonsalves, had previously adopted in the film, Amar, Akbar, Anthony. In both films, the Father Anthony persona has the same costume, mannerisms and accent, even though Amitabh Bachchan is playing a different character in each of the two films.(Maard)
Crossover, concepts or ideas
Appearance of items, materials, or objects that appear in another setting. Often used as a non-sequiter or anachronistic gag.
Crossover, fan made
A vast amount of fan fiction and fan art feature characters from multiple stories or settings crossing over with one another. Almost any two given popular universes, characters or stories can be assumed to have crossed over in some fan-made fiction, even when the basic idea of such a crossover would seem to run contrary to the style or themes of the source material.
See also
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