Poll: Crossovers, Oh My

[thefourthvine]

Recently, I was moderately flabbergasted to come upon a Highlander x Yami no Matsuei crossover. I had one of those moments of staring blankly at the computer screen, trying to figure out if I had experienced a sudden linguistic disconnect, and maybe in this language "Highlander x Yami no Matsuei crossover" actually meant "now we all get cake" or something, because surely such a thing, defined as I understood it, was totally impossible.

And then I read it, and realized that, no, it isn't impossible, and I was forced once again to reflect on the fact that Highlander seems to be a fandom that is just very open to crossovers. I know that's partly because, hey, you've got 5,000 years of mostly unfilled Methos backstory, and who is to say he didn't pick up a young Christopher Keller in a gay bar? He could have! He could also have spent fifteen years traveling around with Doctor Who. I mean, it's not like he'd necessarily bring either of those things up in conversation. But also, just, the Highlander universe seems to be unusually smooshy - it is totally willing to cozy up to, maybe even move in with, other canons, as I'm reminded every time the HL newsletter comes out and most of the new stories are crossovers.

Naturally, I got to wondering: what other fandoms are particularly crossover-friendly? And that led, inevitably, to thoughts of those fandoms that are much, much harder to work into crossovers. Which led to thoughts of AUs, which in turn took me to a terrifying meta place, and Best Beloved had to come talk me down. "How about a poll?" she said. "Polls are fun! And, also, you can probably finish one before you fall asleep." (Whereas with actual meta - at the rate I'm currently finishing stuff, I'd have it ready for posting in, um, 2012 or thereabouts, assuming no delays for rain.)

So perhaps you would like to write my meta for me? I offer ticky boxes as incentive!

[Poll #1177790]

Comments

[miss-porcupine.livejournal.com]

I tend to abhor crossovers, mostly because of Talking Dog Syndrome (it's not what he says, but that he says at all) -- crossovers tend to expend all of their energy on making the fandoms line up and have very little left over for the actual plot. The crossovers that I've liked are ones that match up the fandoms well and then get on with the business of the story in its own right.

Highlander/historical fiction can work for obvious reasons. Once upon a time, I read a nifty Sharpe/Methos story that involved a great deal of sitting around in pubs through the years.

Police/special agent procedurals mash up well with extra-normal activities. Supernatural has made it even easier by showing just how screwed up Sam and Dean look to the authorities, but there's also been SG-1/NCIS, which is the military version of the same pairing, but with added rules and regulations and bureaucracy.

Of course, I come from comics, where every few years or so DC and Marvel decide to invade each other's universe and wackiness ensues....

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I used to hate crossovers, but that was mostly because I started in a very crossover-resistant fandom, so I kind of decided they could never, ever work. But I have come around! Just, it has to be done well.

Highlander/historical fiction can work for obvious reasons.

Oh, totally, although many times that works so well it doesn't feel like a crossover at all.

Of course, I come from comics, where every few years or so DC and Marvel decide to invade each other's universe and wackiness ensues.

Crossovers are just one of the many things I think fandom handles better than creators. Although I love the idea of Amalgam Comics. Dark Claw, OMG! Sparrow! *swoons*