Homage

Everybody knows where this art comes from.

In fan terminology, an homage is an item featuring design elements specifically and intentionally resembling previous works. This could come in the form of a newer toy resembling a legacy character or a comic cover parodying an iconic one for example. Sometimes, toy homages are given different names from their predecessors if the rights to the name are lost via trademark murkiness, or if the name has already been applied to a non-homage toy within the same series.

Conversely, in order to protect trademarked names, Hasbro and Takara often reuse the same names repeatedly, often on very different toys or very different characters within the official fiction. Since use of the term "homage" within the fandom is almost exclusively in reference to visual similarities, these name reuses alone are not considered homages.

Examples

Internal homages

Toys

As toys are the most prominent part of the Transformers brand with designers constantly needing to come up with concepts for new ones, homages are most commonly found in the various Transformers toy lines. The following is a list of intentional design homages in various lines over the years.

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  Scavenger homages the Constructicons. In Japan, he was named after Devastator's Japanese name, Devastor.
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  Collector's Edition Megaplex homages the initial Takara release of Megatron.
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  King Atlas was originally intended to homage Dai Atlas, but his character bio was ultimately never published, leaving said bio's canonicity in limbo.
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  Downshift's design homages Wheeljack. In Japan, he was named after Wheeljack.
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  Energon Skyblast's design homages Generation 1 Jetfire/Skyfire. In Japan, he was named Airglide because Jetfire got used as the Japanese name for Armada Jetfire, while Skyfire got used as the Japanese name for Energon Jetfire.
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  Shockblast's design homages Shockwave. In Japan, he was named after Shockwave's Japanese name, Laserwave.
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  Cybertron Smokescreen is actually a double homage: While his deco is (obviously) based on Generation 1 Smokescreen, his robot mode, especially the colors of the helmet, is based on Action Master Rad.
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  Fracture homages the GoBots character Crasher.
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  Booster X10 homages Generation 1 Laserbeak.
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  Deadlift homages the GoBots character Spoons and, simultaneously, the 2007 Transformers: The Game drone Scrapper that inspired the design of the original toy.
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  At Toy Fair 2010, Hasbro declared that Transformers (2010) Hailstorm was designed as an homage to Generation 2 Mindset.
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  Shattered Glass Starscream's color scheme homages Jetfire.
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  Shattered Glass Thundercracker's neon color scheme is a homage to his Generation 1 self's European Action Master toy.
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  Ultra Magnus was redecoed as an homage to Roadbuster.
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  Breacher's overall design and colour scheme are based on the ATV Micromaster base. He was even listed as Groundshaker, the ATV's driver, at one point.
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  Darksteel homages Quickstrike.
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  Hyperspeed Wheeljack homages the pre-Transformers Diaclone toy that would later inspire Exhaust.
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  S.S. homages Devcon.
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  Hot Shot homages Tracks.
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  Cloud Roadbuster was designed as an homage to Energon Ironhide due to the Energon incarnation of Ironhide being named after Roadbuster in Japan.
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  Sovereign homages Beta Maxx.
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  Diac homages a Dianaut figure.
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  Titans Return Ramhorn in head mode homages an unused concept art of an Autobot Master Warrior.
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  Magna Convoy homages Diaclone Powered Convoy...
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  ...and so does Delta Magnus.
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  Siege Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode homages Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus.
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  Siege Brunt robot mode homages the Centurion Droids as seen in The Transformers: Stormbringer comics.
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  Missing Link Sentinel Prime homages the ordinary truck scanned to restore Optimus Prime.

Comic book and other artwork

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  The beginning...
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  ...not really the end (despite the title)...
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  ...the end...
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  ...another beginning...
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  ...Oh come on.
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  ...and (almost) the end...again.
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  It's at least in scale now.
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  Megatron's version.
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  When the night is gone, and the sun gets high. We are all prepared to die. When we hear our kin and their battle cry. We look to the blood-red sky.
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  Fight for the king, For the hammer and the ring, Fight for the ancient story.
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  Fight 'til we die, In a battle in the sky, Fight all the foes before thee.
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  If I could turn back time I wouldn't do. Still I'd cry, and even lie for you.
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  If I could turn back time I wouldn't do. Forever I'll be coming home to you.
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  How to introdump and mean it.
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  How to homage and mean it.
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  Guest appearance...
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  ...and fully-fledged crossover.
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  Iconic...
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  ...subtle...
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  ...derivative...
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  ...grammatically challenged...
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  ...cross-franchise.
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  Classic...
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  ...colorful...
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  ...celebratory...
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  ...theoretical...
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  ...remastered...
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  ...commemorative...
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  ...rather random...
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  ...faithful...
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  ...par for the course...
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  ...borderline parodic.
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  Shining!
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  Just like old times.
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  Psychedelic!
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  Aaaand here we go again...
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  Disposing of an old toy...
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  ...working out the kinks for a new one.
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  A-hunting we will go, A-hunting we will go, Heigh-ho, the derry-o, A-hunting we will go.
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  Objection!!!
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  Open, dammit, open!
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  Oops, broke it.
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  Eye of the Storm...
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  ...Eye of the Club?
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  Alas, poor Bludgeon...
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  ...really?
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  We never knew him.
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  It's Starscream's turn now.
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  An iconic battle...
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  ...and a massive callback, many years later.
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  The ending of said iconic battle...
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  ...and the callback's ending.
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  This is a weird road...
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  ...what, no giant gun overlooking the valley from atop?
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  Hawkimus Prime!
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  The Scraplets got wet! They're completely useless now!
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  Sometimes homages tell a lot about a character...
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  ...while other times, they're just done for the sake of it.
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  Journey's end mirroring its beginning.
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  Borrowing from the same inspiration as the "Alas, poor Bludgeon" cover...
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  ...while this one specifically references many elements otherwise unique to the previous image.
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  It's the nature of time, That the old ways must give in.
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  It's the nature of time, That the new ways comes in sin.
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  When the new meets the old, It always end the ancient ways.
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  Choked!
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  Choking!
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  Choked again!
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  Choking again!
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  They're the best there is at what they do...
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  ... but what they do isn't very nice.
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  The original...
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  ...the reaction...
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  ...and the imitation.
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  You are indeed brave, good Sir Knight, but the fight is mine.
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  Oohh, had enough, eh?
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  Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!
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  This is slightly obscure.
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  This is even more obscure...
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  ...but hailing from the same country probably helps.
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  Did you know that Teal'c is a Shockwave fan?
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  He goes to so many garage sales.
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  This is also extremely obscure...
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  ...and to be perfectly honest, a French flag would have made a little bit more sense.
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  Prime needs to work on his aim.
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  I always thought Blurr was a bit of a pirate at heart.
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  Raindrops keep fallin' on my head.
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  But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red.
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  We are the folk and we have the right to stand up and to fight for an independent life.
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  We are the force we are the might and we will stand up for an independent life.
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  Galvatron's dream of a planetary disco is achieved.
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  ALL HAIL GOLDBUG!
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  A classic Generation 2
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  A Generation 2 Classic
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• File:TF2023 –Starscream and Davey.jpg
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Homages to external properties

Not every reference in Transformers fiction is an homage to an older series or character; Transformers fiction references external brands as well. Such references often take the form of comic covers or interior panels that bear an intentional visual similarity to classic or well-known comics or films, though this is by no means a hard and fast rule. Below are some notable examples:

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  Marvel UK started with an homage right with its second issue, homaging the cover of EC Comics's Weird Science #16.
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  When there's something strange in... southern Peru...? Susan Hoffman's assistants look a lot like The Real Ghostbusters.
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  One of the few instances where the "external property" element (in this case Marvel's 25th Anniversary frame) actually appears on a Transformers cover itself.
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  A direct homage to the Transformers cover...
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  ...whereas this one specifically homages the cover of Marvel's Thor #373, which also featured the 25th Anniversary frame.
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  But is he a punkrocker, too?
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  On an outer-space adventure they got hit by cosmic rays. And their forms changed forever in some most fantastic ways.
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  Ultramega Magnus
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  The power comes in response to a need, not a desire.
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  From Tokyo bay to New York's shore he's left destruction we can't ignore. Atomic breath a fearsome sight he'll turn your days to endless nights.
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  Shocker is coming, with its armies straight from hell. Their black shadows threaten us all, but I'll fight to maintain the peace of our world.
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  Go! Go! Let's Go! with my Shining Machine. Rider Jump! Rider Kick! Masked Rider, Masked Rider Rider, Rider!
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  Shocker is coming, with its demon army. Their black shadows threaten our friends, but I'll fight to maintain the peace of our world.
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  Shocker is coming, with their army of terror. Their black shadows threaten our town, but I'll fight to protect the peace of our world.
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  The cover of Transformers: The Wreckers No. 1, in which the various character poses are meant to evoke the cover of Marvel Comics's Giant-Size X-Men #1.
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  It does have 68 big pages, right?
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  The cover of Dreamwave's Armada #18 homages the cover of Marvel's Uncanny X-Men #135 by John Byrne, which itself homages the cover of X-Men #56 by Neal Adams.
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  The New Dimension Comics exclusive cover of Infiltration #1, which homages the cover of Marvel's Fantastic Four #1. Fantastic Formers?
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  The cover of The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #1, homaging DC's Justice League #1, in which everyone is grumpy because Rodimus pushed them out of the way and hogged the group shot.
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  You really thought they stopped there?
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  Hey, DC themselves homaged and parodied the hell out of this one too, so why not?
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  It's Over! Finished!
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  It never ends.
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  "That's enough motive, I suppose, to make a man dress like Dracula and assault criminals..."
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  The Apocalypse Comics exclusive cover of IDW's All Hail Megatron #1, in which Megatron royally pisses off the Joker by imitating him.
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  This is crazy. I finally meet my childhood hero and he's trying to kill us. What a joke.
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  Pawns of the White Queen Lord Imperious Delirious. Homage to Marvel's The New Mutants vol. 1 #39.
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  The Apocalypse Comics exclusive cover of IDW's All Hail Megatron #12, in which Megatron gives up being a... superhero?
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  The New York Comic-Con exclusive cover of IDW's The Transformers #12, in which Sideswipe throws the most awkward punch ever, and First Aid pets invisible dogs.
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  I wish they all could be California girls.
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  Not actually the Prime Syndicate of Seibertron.
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  "I guarantee the Avengers would never have you!"
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  "Who were you expecting, a blue monster?"
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  Who put this thing together? Me, that's who! Who do I trust? Me!
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  I don't think there's one word that can describe a man's life.
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  But where are the Toxic Crusaders?
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  PAD would be very proud.
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  Talk to the HAND!
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  He has a point.
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  Me Grimlock no get chaos theory.
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  Slide is the new Cyclopes.
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  Clearly indication that a sequel will happen.
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  Hmm... Strangelove? What kind of a name is that? That ain't no Kraut name is it, Stainesey?
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  He changed it when he became a citizen. Used to be Merkwürdigliebe.
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  Well, a Kraut by any other name, uh Stainesey?
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  The New Teen Maximals
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  He lives in the negative space.
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  Brought to you by the GODDAMN Miller.
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  That one time Rob Liefeld doesn't blatantly swipe someone else's art, but instead does a straightforward homage with the original artist credited...and it's himself.
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  It was on this day that Cybertron received a grim reminder...
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  It's Mrs. Archer. She's on a rampage. We've got to warn the town.
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  ..I'm...I'm not a bad person. Am I?...What do you think?
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  Not really the Official Handbook of the Hasbro Universe.
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  Still, at least they actually got John Byrne himself to do it.
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  Still running...
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  ...more running...
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  ...and it's a wrap.

Real life

Sometimes it's not a fictional scene that's being homaged, but a photo or event from real life, or from real life iconography.

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  Homaging the iconic World War II photo "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima".
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  Another homage to the same photograph.
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  Homaging the cover of the album In the Court of the Crimson King by King Crimson, with the sub-title being derived from the album's opening track "21st Century Schizoid Man"
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  Homaging La Pità by Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni.
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  Anther homage to the same statue.
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  Anther homage to the same statue.
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  Homaging the iconic Uncle Sam "I want you for U.S. Army" World War II recruitment poster.
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  Another homage to the same poster.
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  Homaging a poster from Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
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  Homaging the music video of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by the English rock band Queen (though the original version of this pose was the cover of their second album, Queen II, photographed by Mick Rock).
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  Homaging the cover of the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars by David Bowie.
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  Homaging the cover of the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles.
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  Homaging the cover of the single "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden.
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  Homaging the cover of the album The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
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  Homaging the cover of the album Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf.
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  Homaging the layout of a magazine.
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  Homaging Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci.
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  Another homaging the same drawing.
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  Homaging the appearance of a Silver Age cover.
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  Another homaging the same kind of cover.
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  Homaging Godzilla: Final Wars poster.
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  Homaging the myth of Atlas.
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  Another homage to the same myth.