Overview

Some characters have been known to 'break the fourth wall' by speaking to, or about, the audience. Not only do they talk to the reader, but they (usually) know that they are fictional creations in a story. On occasion, this may be a vehicle for dramatic irony. Deadpool, the most well known example of this phenomenon, has been known to refer to his own history in issue format, lean on the panel borders, and see or touch his thought boxes and word balloons.

The fourth wall can also be reinforced by a character saying that, i.e., 'this isn't a movie, you know'.

Characters

Characters that have broken the Fourth Wall

(Note: Characters may have broken the 4th wall at one point in time, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they currently retain the knowledge of the world beyond the comic they are in)

Creators

Note: This list does not include creators who are in (auto)biographical comics as these stories are about the creators and set in the real world, not in a fictional one. Also, homages to creators or "easter egg" appearances do not count, the characters have to explicitly make clear they are breaking the fourth wall.

Some writers break the fourth wall by inserting themselves into the story, wherein their character admits to writing the story they are appearing in:

Other creators have also appeared in comics, although were inserted by someone else, rather then doing it themselves:

Fifth Wall

When characters break the "Fifth Wall," it shows they have knowledge of other fictional characters from another, unrelated actuality.

Examples

in The Amazing Spider-Man #123, after being hit through a window by Spider-Man, Luke Cage says "I dig, Spider-Man ... but here's something you don't! Some dudes have to do this number for a livin' -- we ain't all rich playboys like Bruce Wayne." Note that Luke Cage should probably not know of Bruce Wayne, and vice versa.

In Superman #50, Mr. Mxyzptlk makes several statements hinting that he is also the Impossible Man from Marvel Comics and has knowledge of the Fantastic Four, such as "Having fun with my new fantastic friends," "back to my four new friends," It's blubbering time," and "Sometimes it's just impossible to remember what I look like from world to world."

Recap Pages

Some comics have recap pages before the actual story in which characters from that issue (or sometimes the previous one) show up and talk to the reader, breaking the Fourth Wall. These instances are generally isolated and after the recap page, the characters no longer have the ability to break the Fourth Wall. For examples of this, check out the Cable/Deadpool and Irredeemable Antman series.

Likewise in pages outside of the story, usually at the back of the comic in distinctly separate areas, characters will often address the reader for promotional purposes or for humorous effect.