History AtopTheFourthWall / TropesAToD

* CloudCuckooLander: Snowflame, a [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks Iron Age]] Supervillain fueled by cocaine, who somehow managed to find his way into our universe... And Linkara's living room.

* DamnedByAFoolsPraise: 90's Kid serves this purpose with regard to many of the worst qualities of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks.

** In ''Strange Adventures'' #136, there are two blatant examples pointed out in its goofy [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] writing style.

* CanadaEh: ''Spider-Man: On Thin Ice''

** In the ''ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' #8 review, he brings out the "Because Poor Literacy is Kewl" joke for a character named Psilence, only to instead note that it's actually not a bad pun.

** Seeing Troll naked in ''ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' #7 in the shower sends Linkara into a screaming SanitySlippage. He even holds up an invisible copy of the comic and groans, "I still see it!"

* ChristmasEpisode: In 2009, he did one on the ComicBook/{{Youngblood|ImageComics}} Extreme Super Christmas Special, complete with the ghosts from Literature/AChristmasCarol showing up and trying to teach him the meaning of Christmas, only to be thrown out because he already loves Christmas. In 2010, he started expanding the Christmas theme to multiple episodes in December.

** 2012: ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'s Christmas Adventure''; ''[[ComicBook/ArchieComics Archie]] Giant Series Magazine'' #452; ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' (vol. 1) #13; and ''ComicBook/BatmanNoel''; the latter three episodes featured an arc revisiting A Christmas Carol, this time focusing on Harvey Finevoice.

* ContentWarning: Some episodes have opened with one due to either the nature of the comic he's reviewing (''ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' #10, due to [[spoiler:Chapel committing suicide]]) or because of stuff he's since become ashamed of (compilation videos of series of reviews due to expressing views he no longer has; a desire to move away from attacking creators; or appearances of people he no longer talks to Creator/BradJones and Creator/DougWalker, both of whom Lovhaug has disowned since [=#ChangeTheChannel=], as well as Creator/NoahAntwiler, who Lovhaug said he no longer talks to).

* DesignatedHero: The phrase "Our hero(es), ladies and gentlemen!" means he is pointing out instances of this and/or HeroBall. Linkara points out that Creator/RobLiefeld's characters in general have almost nothing heroic about them, which he finds particularly frustrating, since Liefeld specifically described ''ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' as heroic characters that can be related to and believed in as heroes. [[invoked]]

** In the ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' #8 review, he brings out the "Because Poor Literacy is Kewl" joke for a character named Psilence, only to instead note that it's actually not a bad pun.

** Seeing Troll naked in ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' #7 in the shower sends Linkara into a screaming SanitySlippage. He even holds up an invisible copy of the comic and groans, "I still see it!"

* ChristmasEpisode: In 2009, he did one on the ComicBook/{{Youngblood}} Extreme Super Christmas Special, complete with the ghosts from Literature/AChristmasCarol showing up and trying to teach him the meaning of Christmas, only to be thrown out because he already loves Christmas. In 2010, he started expanding the Christmas theme to multiple episodes in December.

* ContentWarning: Some episodes have opened with one due to either the nature of the comic he's reviewing (''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' #10, due to [[spoiler:Chapel committing suicide]]) or because of stuff he's since become ashamed of (compilation videos of series of reviews due to expressing views he no longer has; a desire to move away from attacking creators; or appearances of people he no longer talks to Creator/BradJones and Creator/DougWalker, both of whom Lovhaug has disowned since [=#ChangeTheChannel=], as well as Creator/NoahAntwiler, who Lovhaug said he no longer talks to).

* DesignatedHero: The phrase "Our hero(es), ladies and gentlemen!" means he is pointing out instances of this and/or HeroBall. Linkara points out that Creator/RobLiefeld's characters in general have almost nothing heroic about them, which he finds particularly frustrating, since Liefeld specifically described ''ComicBook/{{Youngblood}}'' as heroic characters that can be related to and believed in as heroes. [[invoked]]

*** Similarly, ''Comicbook/RoboCopVersusTheTerminator'' #1 gets a stamp of "pretty good", though that's mostly because of Walt Simonson's art counteracting Frank Miller's writing for the better.

** Franchise/SpiderMan, to him, is a largely irresponsible kid in a man's body whose mistakes he refuses to take responsibility for cause more damage to him and his supporting cast in the long run.

** When reviewing [[Franchise/SpiderMan Amazing Fantasy #15]], he interjected with "spiders aren't insects" when reading one of the captions that described the radioactive spider.

** "Show of hands, who wants ''Franchise/SilentHill vs. Comicbook/ArmyOfDarkness''?"

** A RunningGag with the other contributors is that people think Linkara reviews lamps. When reviewing ''Comicbook/FutureShock #1'', he actually reviews the lamp from the comic. Also, the joke opening of April Fool's 2013 starts with him reviewing a lamp.

* BroughtDownToNormal: Linkara was very critical of ''ComicBook/JLAActOfGod'', which revolved around ''all'' of Earth's superheroes losing their powers. He explained that the lack of a common origin for ''any'' of the heroes made any kind of mass de-powering hard to swallow and also ridiculed the hit-and-miss nature of the event, which was stated to have left advanced technology alone, but still disabled the Comicbook/GreenLantern rings, and was also said to have removed all magical beings from the world, but somehow left ComicBook/WonderWoman around. He recommended instead ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'', [[AuthorAppeal a series he has previously advanced as a very good comic]], as an example of how to properly deal with a character that has lost his or her powers. A secondary storyline in ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' revolves around Comicbook/{{Superman}} coping with the loss of his powers during the ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis and Linkara points out that this portrayal is consistent with previous Superman characterization that intelligently deals with the implications for his life and personality.

** In his review of ''Comicbook/FutureShock #1'', he reviews a lamp that a character has on his desk, just like [[WebVideo/ForgetAboutIt Sad Panda]] thought he does.

* ClipShow: The ''Comicbook/{{Marville}}'' #6-7 review. Justified in that the #6 issue is a ClipShow in its own right and Linkara spoofs the concept throughout.

** Linkara points this out in ''Comicbook/{{Superman}} and ComicBook/WonderWoman: Tandy Whiz Kids'' when a World's Fair refuses to give ComicBook/LexLuthor any place to show off his scientific inventions just because he's a mad scientist. This prompts Linkara to act out that Luthor will now have to hold the World's Fair for ransom and kill off everyone inside it instead of merely patenting his inventions and making billions. Afterward, he explains that he thinks this might be the reason why the writers decided to turn Luthor into a businessman instead of keeping him as a mad scientist, because having a supervillain with that much intelligence was just dumb.

** Linkara notes that Comicbook/GreenLantern doesn't look that angry at the start of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueCryForJustice'' #1.

* CluelessMystery: ComicBook/IdentityCrisis. And it ''enrages'' him.
* CollateralAngst: ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' again - specifically, how the rape of Sue Dibny seems to affect everyone ''but'' Sue Dibny.

** [[CatchPhrase "I am a MAN!!"]]

* CatchPhrase:
** "Hello, and welcome to ''Atop the Fourth Wall'', where bad comics burn."
** "...so let's dig into *comic name*."
** "This comic ''sucks!''"
** (explains something crazy or FridgeLogic[[invoked]] in a casual tone before a beat) "Wait, what?"
** [[DesignatedHero Our hero, ladies and gentlemen]].[[invoked]]
** 90s Kid opens nearly every appearance with "DUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!" and, for a while, ended them with "I'm 90s Kid, and what you see (opens flannel shirt) is what you get."
** Whenever he reviews a comic by Creator/FrankMiller: "Say! (takes out pocket watch) It's Miller Time!"
*** He also uses it when reviewing a Superman comic by Creator/MarkMillar, retyping his title screen as "It's Mill[[strike:e]]ar Time!" By Linkara's own admission, this one will pop up less often as Millar is not nearly as deranged as Miller.
** Also fairly common in Miller Time reviews: "What are you trying to SAY, Frank?"
** EXTREME!! (accompanied by a heavy metal rendition of Pachelbel's ''Canon in D'')
** "Because poor literacy is KEWL!"
*** This later evolved into more of a MadLibsCatchPhrase, with "KEWL" being replaced with something more accurate to the context of the poor literacy (like lack of spell-checking) in question.
** POWERHOUSE EXCITEMENT!!
** I AM A MAN! ''{punch}''
** Increasingly common: telling a character "You're not allowed to talk anymore."
** [[TooDumbToLive HOW STUPID ARE YOU?]]
** "I feel like a rainbow!" as an answer to "Are you okay?"
** [[UnusuallyUninterestingSight Be impressed, dammit!]]

** On "The Next 15 Screw-Ups", he states that the ComicBook/XMen are an anomaly - with the FantasticRacism applying only to them instead of the other Marvel heroes - that always overcomplicate their plots and originate the worst crossovers (Onslaught, Comicbook/CivilWar).

* AutobotsRockOut: Uses "The Touch" for a particularly badass Optimus moment in his review of ''{{Transformers}} #4-5''.

** Linkara also appeared in a joint review with WebVideo/MarzGurl, and was the subject of an episode of Masterpiece Fanfic Theatre, where he was [[JamesBondage tied up]] and forced to listen to Bennett read some of his [[OldShame juvenilia]]. Later, he and Bennett did a proper review of Creator/RogerCorman's ''Film/TheFantasticFour''. He has also reviewed two movies with WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic, twice [[Film/AloneInTheDark2005 with]] [[Film/BloodRayne Spoony]] and once [[Film/{{Superman}} without]].

* ActuallyPrettyFunny:

** Also averted in his "Longbox of the Damned" reviews, where he gives positive reviews of horror comics while in his [[LargeHam bombastic]] Moarte persona.

--->'''Linkara:''' Wait a second. It's Franchise/{{Superman}}... fighting [[CloningBlues twin clones]] of [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]]... in the ''future...'' This comic is starting to get ''awesome!'' (seconds later, after Bearded Idiot runs away) '''SCREW YOU, SUPER-SANTA!'''

* DidISayThatOutLoud: In TheMovie, [[spoiler: Linkara muses [[ItMakesSenseInContext to a corpse that Mechakara has probably adapted to the BeeBeeGun they found.]] Quoth Linkara, "I can't believe I just said that."]]

* CreditsGag: In the ''2001'' review, Linkara dramatically tells Jaeris that he's going to review a comic book, the credits start up...and are interrupted a moment later by Jaeris' incredulous "''WHAT?''"

* DoingItForTheArt:[[invoked]] Linkara points out Izaak's desire to do this does not work realistically. Musicians still need to eat, and they also need money for guitar strings and keeping their musical instruments in good shape, among other things.
** He says more like, DoingItForTheArt isn't exactly what they are doing, writing music for the art isn't the same as writing it for free. Just because you're being paid for it doesn't mean you aren't doing it for the art. He even said that [[Creator/LeonardoDaVinci Da Vinci]] ''demanded'' to be paid every time someone wanted him to paint something, and he was DoingItForTheArt.

* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:Nimue's constant ~350% workload has caused her to malfunction and go [[Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey [=HAL9000=]]] aboard Comicron One in the middle of self-diagnostics.]]
** [[spoiler:Subverted, again - it wasn't her workload making her malfunction. Lord Vyce had gotten into her programming and was systematically driving her crazy and causing her behavior. She gets better.]]

* AbortedArc: In 2011, Linkara reviewed the first issue of Malibu's ''[[ComicBook/StreetFighterMalibuComics Street Fighter]]'' comic. He mentioned that he'd review the other two issues at a later date. Unlike other comics he reviews, however, the comics were not reviewed again on the show. As mentioned in his IDW ''My Little Pony'' comic review, some fans expressed disapointment in the review due to Linkara not being intimately familiar with the source material.

** During the Holokara arc, Linkara suggests with some reluctance that he plans to seek [[WebVideo/SuburbanKnights Malachite]] for help with his [[spoiler: Magic Gun going offline]]. Malachite never even appears and Linkara ends up seeking someone else's advice instead.

* AIIsACrapshoot:
** [[spoiler:Holokara]] went this way during the "Guns and Sorcery" arc, when he [[spoiler: starts threatening Linkara friends and tries to destroy Marvel Studios with Comicron-1]]. Although it's assumed he's malfunctioning at first, [[spoiler: it turns out Holokara was doing exactly what he was programmed to do; to be a perfect duplicate of Linkara. It's just Linkara himself was slowly turning evil and would've become just like him had Mark not disabled his magic in fear of a FaceHeelTurn]].
** [[spoiler:Nimue's constant ~350% workload has caused her to malfunction and go [[Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey [=HAL9000=]]] aboard Comicron One in the middle of self-diagnostics.]]
*** [[spoiler:Subverted, again - it wasn't her workload making her malfunction. Lord Vyce had gotten into her programming and was systematically driving her crazy and causing her behavior. She gets better.]]

* ADayInTheLimelight: Harvey Finevoice got more screentime during the December 2012 reviews.

* DeconstructedTrope: Several of the tropes commonly associated with the angry internet review persona - an [[PsychoticManchild tantrum-throwing nerd]] who treats all reviews as SeriousBusiness and either [[DisproportionateRetribution destroys the reviewed material or beats up the characters of said material]] as a means of enacting "justice" - are taken apart in one scene where [[spoiler:Mechakara]] attempts to destroy Marvel over their handling of Spider-Man. Instead of being the usual "[[OhCisco 'Oh, that wacky reviewer!']] *LaughTrack*" moment, it's treated exactly as it would be in reality: as a terrorist willing to murder and destroy over something far from worth it.

* AndThenWhat: Invoked when Linkara [[TalkingTheMonsterToDeath defeats]] The Entity/[[spoiler:Missing№]].

** In the Pokémon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu review, he searches for a comic to read and, upon finding it, goes "Aha! Now we've got it!"

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything:
** [[spoiler: The Entity]] travels through time and space, influences our world without ever being seen, [[spoiler: the picture on Harvey's Twitter, the mp3 files that are nothing but unnatural noises and the captured being tortured]]. ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'' fans might draw parallels.
** Mary Marvel's Orgasmo Pole.

* DrivenToSuicide: In the Entity arc, [[spoiler: this is how he defeats the Entity, who is ''the'' [=MissingNo=] from Pokemon Red/Blue. He makes [=MissingNo=] question the futility and worthlessness of its quest to become existence, then questions what would happen if an Outer God like [=MissingNo=] dies. [=MissingNo=] is intrigued enough by the question to destroy itself, returning all that it had absorbed to normal]]. He may not have directly intended to do this, since after the fact, he's confused that he managed to do it.

* ArcFatigue: His in-universe words (not ours) on the Clone Saga
* ArcWords:
** "He's coming" and "All that he sees he conquers" for the Lord Vyce arc.
** "A piece of the world is missing" for the Entity arc.
** "Harvey...where do you think you are right now?"
** "Are you afraid?"

* CosmicFlaw: [[MultiversalConqueror Lord Vyce]] states that [[EldritchAbomination the Entity]] originated as one of these-a glitch in his universe, that went on to consume it, before moving on to try and [[AssimilationPlot assimilate]] [[OmnicidalManiac and consume]] TheMultiverse. And it turns out to be a literal glitch too-[[spoiler:specifically, [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Missingno]].]]

* DeaderThanDead: Lewis's comments for the Cry for Justice #5-7 episode [[spoiler: use the word "kill" in reference to the Pokéball contained Pyramid Head, indicating it's not just "unable to battle" as a Pokémon is when reaching 0 HP]]. Also confirmed [[http://twitter.com/#!/Linkara19/status/94227547398733824 via Twitter]].

** Linkara gives rather a lengthy and awesome one at the end of his ''Silent Hill: Dead/Alive'' review (full version in the quotes page), in which he lists all the awesome things he has done, the enemies he has faced, and how he's ''much'' more stable than any Franchise/SilentHill protagonist, so attempting to drive him to suicide with trickery is futile.

** Linkara's first appearance on Website/ChannelAwesome was after he won a fan contest and got to fill in for WebVideo/AskThatGuyWithTheGlasses for an episode. He adopted the name "That Guy with the Hat" for the occasion. Now, go read the entry under "BadassBoast" again...
*** At the end of the 200th episode, That Guy with the Hat actually reappears as a separate character.

* CatchphraseInterruptus: In the Comicbook/SilentHill Dead/Alive #5 review, he gets through "Hello and welcome to ''Atop the Fourth Wall'', where..." before being interrupted by the fog and sirens.