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* PaperThinDisguise: Buck's "Pog Disguise." Which is essentially placing a normal Pog on his head, putting on a shirt over that, and pretending to walk around as a pog. Keeping in mind that Buck is an 8-foot tall, quarter-ton Hoffmanite... and Pogs are about the size of a medium-sized dog. Tops.
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The supporting cast include Al, the manager of Buck's favourite bar (who looks like a [[LittleGreenMen short green]] cartoony version of the critter from ''{{Film/Alien}}''); and Madame Louisa Dem Five, a pillar of the local *ahem* [[BandOfBrothels service industry]].
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The supporting cast include Al, the manager of Buck's favourite bar (who looks like a [[LittleGreenMen short green]] cartoony version of the critter from ''{{Film/Alien}}''); ''{{Franchise/Alien}}''); and Madame Louisa Dem Five, a pillar of the local *ahem* [[BandOfBrothels service industry]].
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Added Funny Background Event example, as well as alphabetize a few examples that where out of order
* ForeignQueasine: Numerous examples, including a running gag about poiled slurgs, which some races prize as a delicious foodstuff and others prize as an effective oven cleaner.
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* ForeignQueasine: Numerous examples, including a running gag about poiled slurgs, which some races prize as a delicious foodstuff and others prize as an effective oven cleaner.
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* ForeignQueasine: Numerous examples, including a running gag about poiled slurgs, which some races prize FunnyBackgroundEvent: The [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment backgrounds]] of comics will sometimes feature this, such as a delicious foodstuff and others prize as an effective oven cleaner.in [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070405 this example]].
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* ADateWithRosiePalms: Even with a branch of the [[BandOfBrothels Velvet Fist]] on the station, some people prefer...[[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090331 alternatives]][[hottip:*:Look at the box on the floor of the closet]].
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* ADateWithRosiePalms: Even with a branch of the [[BandOfBrothels Velvet Fist]] on the station, some people prefer...[[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090331 alternatives]][[hottip:*:Look alternatives]].[[note]]Look at the box on the floor of the closet]].closet[[/note]]
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** Implicitly used by Thad to deal with his libido while Ettare has the libido-inhibiting virus, as he doesn't want to break his vow of fidelity to her.
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** And Hyraxx is Quite Determined for a simple creator of an infotainment-like art product.
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** And Hyraxx is Quite Determined for a simple creator of an [[InsistentTerminology infotainment-like art product.product]].
* DeusExMachina: Parodied and lampshaded when Buck is saved from [[spoiler: the taxman]] by Sizzlin' Sue.
---> Humph. A bit too "doxie ex machina" for my taste, but...
* DeusExMachina: Parodied and lampshaded when Buck is saved from [[spoiler: the taxman]] by Sizzlin' Sue.
---> Humph. A bit too "doxie ex machina" for my taste, but...
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non-character tropes from the Characters page
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* AirVentPassageway: The main mode of transportation for [[spoiler:the Beemahs]], since they're small enough to manage it and can't be seen in public.
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* BadGuyBar[=/=]GoodGuyBar: Asteroid Al's can be seen as either, depending on your point of view.
* BandOfBrothels: The Velvet Fist, especially as of the revelation that Madame Louisa has opened franchises on other worlds.
* BandOfBrothels: The Velvet Fist, especially as of the revelation that Madame Louisa has opened franchises on other worlds.
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* PreAsskickingOneLiner:
-->'''Der Rock the Destroyer''': Do not be lulled by my present condition, [=PSmith=]. There are only 35 of you.
-->'''Der Rock the Destroyer''': Do not be lulled by my present condition, [=PSmith=]. There are only 35 of you.
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* YankTheDogsChain: [[spoiler:Parahexavoctal assisted the Beemahs in rebelling against the Zmouf, then enslaved them himself and issued a "shoot on sight" order for the entire species to ensure their secrecy.]]
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* HiveMind: [[spoiler:Psmith]]
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Louisa Dem Five and the ''Velvet Fist''; she even made a cameo in ''{{XXXenophile}}''! Has Strong opinions about hookers Without a heart of gold.
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Louisa Dem Five and the ''Velvet Fist''; she even made a cameo in ''{{XXXenophile}}''! Has Strong opinions about hookers Without a heart of gold.
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* BoldlyComing: Louisa Dem Five's preferred approach to inter-species diplomacy.
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* PreAsskickingOneLiner
--> '''[[NamesToRunAwayFrom Der Rock the Destroyer]]:''' Do not be lulled by my present condition, [=PSmith=]. There are only 35 of you.
--> '''[[NamesToRunAwayFrom Der Rock the Destroyer]]:''' Do not be lulled by my present condition, [=PSmith=]. There are only 35 of you.
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** Even the Prime Movers, the [[{{Lensman}} Arisian-like]] superintelligent godlike aliens who, it seems, run the universe, think that humanity is special... apparently because [[spoiler:we think the Winslow is annoying.]]
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** Even the Prime Movers, the [[{{Lensman}} [[Literature/{{Lensman}} Arisian-like]] superintelligent godlike aliens who, it seems, run the universe, think that humanity is special... apparently because [[spoiler:we think the Winslow is annoying.]]
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** And he pulls one even more complex to resolve "The Gallimaufrey," [[spoiler:offering the Pogs an increasingly ridiculous plan because he knows they'll go along with anything to get the Winslow, and ''also'' playing into his expectations of how Par will react (and that the Beemahs can get anywhere they want to, in the nick of time).]]
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** And he pulls one even more complex to resolve "The Gallimaufrey," Gallimaufry," [[spoiler:offering the Pogs an increasingly ridiculous plan because he knows they'll go along with anything to get the Winslow, and ''also'' playing into his expectations of how Par will react (and that the Beemahs can get anywhere they want to, in the nick of time).]]
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** And he pulls one even more complex to resolve "The Gallimufrey," [[spoiler:offering the Pogs an increasingly ridiculous plan because he knows they'll go along with anything to get the Winslow, and ''also'' playing into his expectations of how Par will react (and that the Beemahs can get anywhere they want to, in the nick of time).]]
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** And he pulls one even more complex to resolve "The Gallimufrey," Gallimaufrey," [[spoiler:offering the Pogs an increasingly ridiculous plan because he knows they'll go along with anything to get the Winslow, and ''also'' playing into his expectations of how Par will react (and that the Beemahs can get anywhere they want to, in the nick of time).]]
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** And he pulls one even more complex to resolve "The Gallimufrey," [[spoiler:offering the Pogs an increasingly ridiculous plan because he knows they'll go along with anything to get the Winslow, and ''also'' playing into his expectations of how Par will react (and that the Beemahs can get anywhere they want to, in the nick of time).]]
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* LoopholeAbuse: New Hong Kong was about to be invested by a horde of Lawful Stupid Robots that would enforce all rules. Their solution was to make it so that there are no rules but instead 'customs' that are unwritten. The robots just leave an observer.
** Which later on the Obsever starts to pull this to help out humans. For example he's just to observe. So he decides to observe what's done a hallway that is booby trapped and voice out what he sees. If there are humans around that a coincidence.
** Which later on the Obsever starts to pull this to help out humans. For example he's just to observe. So he decides to observe what's done a hallway that is booby trapped and voice out what he sees. If there are humans around that a coincidence.
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* LoopholeAbuse: LoopholeAbuse:
** On most human planets, the laws are enforced by near-indestructible LawfulStupid robots. Technically, this is also the case on New Hong Kong, but on New Hong Kongwas about to be invested by a horde of Lawful Stupid Robots that would enforce all rules. Their solution was to make it so that there is only one written law -- which forbids the passing of any more laws -- and society runs on unwritten customs instead. The entire planet is patrolled by a single Law Machine, which doesn't have much to do.
** The Gallimaufry, being a space station and not a planet, is also outside the Law Machines' jurisdiction; there is one Law Machine situated there, as an observer. At one point, when the humans areno rules but instead 'customs' that are unwritten. The robots just leave an observer.
** Which latertrying to explore a booby-trapped secret passage, the Law Machine offers its assistance, on the Obsever starts grounds that while it's forbidden to pull this to help out humans. For example he's just to observe. So he decides to observe interfere, there's nothing stopping it going down the passage and observing what's done a hallway that is booby trapped and voice out what he sees. If there are humans around that a coincidence. there.
** On most human planets, the laws are enforced by near-indestructible LawfulStupid robots. Technically, this is also the case on New Hong Kong, but on New Hong Kong
** The Gallimaufry, being a space station and not a planet, is also outside the Law Machines' jurisdiction; there is one Law Machine situated there, as an observer. At one point, when the humans are
** Which later
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* LoopholeAbuse: New Hong Kong was about to be invested by a horde of Lawful Stupid Robots that would enforce all rules. Their solution was to make it so that there are no rules but instead 'customs' that are unwritten. The robots just leave an observer.
** Which later on the Obsever starts to pull this to help out humans. For example he's just to observe. So he decides to observe what's done a hallway that is booby trapped and voice out what he sees. If there are humans around that a coincidence.
** Which later on the Obsever starts to pull this to help out humans. For example he's just to observe. So he decides to observe what's done a hallway that is booby trapped and voice out what he sees. If there are humans around that a coincidence.
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Magnificent Bastard nominations belong on the YMMV page, and Awesome Moment nominations belong on the Awesome Moment page.
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* MagnificentBastard: Buck is a true master of exploiting his clients and enemies alike for personal profit. The ending of the [=PSmith=] arc is his CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
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* MagnificentBastard: Buck is a true master of exploiting his clients and enemies alike for personal profit. The ending of the [=PSmith=] arc is his CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
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* PlayingBothSides: While he's not the first MagnificentBastard to cut dishonest deals with two sides of the conflict for his personal benefit, Buck is probably unique in managing to do so while BOTH parties are standing right next to him.
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* VitriolicBestBuds: What [[spoiler: the Winslow]] predicts humanity and the Klegs will be.
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* TerseTalker: The Beemah spokesman. Lurks in dark. Drops pronouns.* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
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* TerseTalker: The Beemah spokesman. Lurks in dark. Drops pronouns.pronouns.
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
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* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
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* TerseTalker: The Beemah spokesman. Lurks in dark. Drops pronouns.* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
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no such page
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* TerseSpeaker: The Beemah spokesman. Lurks in dark. Drops pronouns.
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* TerseSpeaker: The Beemah spokesman. Lurks in dark. Drops pronouns.
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* DestructoNookie
** Hoffmannite courtship, according to Buck Godot himself, ''begins'' with high explosives.
** The mattress in Buck's apartment sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
** Hoffmannite courtship, according to Buck Godot himself, ''begins'' with high explosives.
** The mattress in Buck's apartment sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
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* DestructoNookie
** Hoffmannite courtship, according to Buck Godot himself, ''begins'' with high explosives.
** The mattress in Buck's apartment sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
** Hoffmannite courtship, according to Buck Godot himself, ''begins'' with high explosives.
** The mattress in Buck's apartment sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
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** Buck's matress sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
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** The mattress in Buck's matress apartment sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
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* WhammyBid: the seller (who was covertly peddling military secrets using a computerized bid recorder that apparently lacked a "dump last bid" option) does not take it well.
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* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Yelling "Move aside and you will not be hurt! I am only after the fat man!" on the streets of New Hong Kong is liable to get you [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070714 gunned down by everyone in earshot]].
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* ADateWithRosiePalms: Even with a branch of the [[BandOfBrothels Velvet Fist]] on the station, some people prefer...[[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090331 alternatives]][[hottip:*:Look at the box on the floor of the closet]].
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Moving to Namepsace.
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[[quoteright:248:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/BuckGodotZapGunForHire1_2455.jpg]]
'''''Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire''''' is a science-fiction/action/comedy comics series by PhilFoglio, featuring the adventures of private detective/bodyguard-for-hire Buck Godot, operating out of the Lawless planet of New Hong Kong.
The supporting cast include Al, the manager of Buck's favourite bar (who looks like a [[LittleGreenMen short green]] cartoony version of the critter from ''{{Film/Alien}}''); and Madame Louisa Dem Five, a pillar of the local *ahem* [[BandOfBrothels service industry]].
The series started as a string of short pieces in various anthology comics, some of which were collected in the first ''Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire'' collection. In these stories, Buck protects a woman pursued by fanatical sun-priests, finds a lost heir despite the hindrance of being followed around by a freelance conscience, defends a cargo ship from space pirate attack, and attempts to learn the secret of teleportation from an enigmatic alien (with the fate of worlds hanging in the balance).
There's also a one-off graphic novel, ''[=PSmIth=]''. An attempted ongoing comic book folded, due to scheduling and other problems, after a single story arc; but that story arc, ''The Gallimaufry'', is the crowning achievement of the series, the added length allowing new levels of depth and complexity in plot and worldbuilding.
Following the success of ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', the series was re-released in [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buck.html web-comic form]]. The last installment of ''The Gallimaufry'' went up on June 20th, 2009. The following week saw a reprinting the three-page "True Story of the Winslow". And that appears to be that. ([[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20091101 Almost.]]) One of the original short stories (the one with nudity) is not included at the above site. We're sure you can find it if you look hard, though.
----
!!''Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire'' provides examples of:
* AlienInvasion: New Hong Kong is invaded in the uncollected short story "Field of Screams"; it goes very badly for the invaders
* AnythingThatMoves
** Louisa Dem Five
** And yet her employee Sizzlin' Sue manages to make her look like a nun. Especially when she's off her meds and drags [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale a protesting total stranger into her bedroom]].
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking
** The fourteen Accepted Signs of Divinity, as listed [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080318 here]], include: "call down the lightning, corrupt the innocent, eat the moon, answer the phone before it rings".
** [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090606 The Prime Mover's to-do list]]: [[spoiler:start rumors of [[MacGuffin the Winslow]]'s location]], [[spoiler:find a new chief of security]], [[spoiler:evict the Pogs and topple their government]], [[spoiler:reestablish communication with Gallimaufrey Station]], and "finish my bath".
* ArtificialGravity
* AsideGlance: Standard in any PhilFoglio comic.
* AtopAMountainOfCorpses
* AttackHello: Standard Hoffmannite greeting.
* BaseballEpisode: "Field of Screams"
* BatmanGambit: The way Buck resolves his problem at the end of ''[=PSmIth=]'' has to be seen to be believed. [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070927 Starts here.]]
* BoisterousBruiser: Frakkus Godot and Buck himself. Pretty much any Hoffmanite, at least by reputation.
* BoldlyComing: Louisa Dem Five's preferred approach to inter-species diplomacy.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070331 teleporter story]]
* BrickJoke: [[spoiler:Buck's taxes.]]
* TheCatCameBack: [=PSmIth=] in ''[=PSmIth=]'', with a twist
* CombatPragmatist: Buck has been known to use bottles, table tops and even ''his opponents'' as weapons.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The board of X-Tel.
* CuteMonsterGirl: Hyraxx D'Mofiti
* CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080228 It's actually a really effective threat where he comes from.]] [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080717 There is also some related creative use of dental floss.]]
* DeadlyEuphemism: Don't accept an invitation to a "New Hong Kong wake".
* {{Determinator}}
** The TN messenger at the start of ''The Gallimaufry''.
** And Hyraxx is Quite Determined for a simple creator of an infotainment-like art product.
* DestructoNookie
** Hoffmannite courtship, according to Buck Godot himself, ''begins'' with high explosives.
** Buck's matress sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
* DrunkenMaster: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070116 Buck in the early strips]]. Later ignored.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: The conclusion of the [[spoiler:Gallimaufry]] storyline.
* DueToTheDead: A New Hong Kong Wake is a very dark example. You find the murderer, have a chat over their drug-induced confession, and leave them to die.
* EncyclopediaExposita: ''The Herodotus Complex'', a history of Earth's involvement in galactic affairs; a relevant extract appears at the beginning of each book and each issue of the comic
* EnergyWeapon: Starting with zap-guns and working up from there.
* FacePalm: Done by sufficiently advanced alien the Prime Mover after he finds out what triggered the Gallimaufry plot.
* FakingTheDead: The whole human embassy does this for a while.
* FakinMacGuffin: An integral part of Buck's BatmanGambit in ''[=PSmIth=]''.
* FasterThanLightTravel
* FriendsAllAlong
* ForeignQueasine: Numerous examples, including a running gag about poiled slurgs, which some races prize as a delicious foodstuff and others prize as an effective oven cleaner.
* GenderBender: Word to the wise: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090217 don't go drinking from random bottles in the Kleg embassy]]. [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090219 Girl-Buck]] [[AttractiveBentGender is rather cute, however.]]
* GeniusLoci: [[spoiler:Gallimaufry Station]]
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20081220 Louisa's approach to abnormal hormone levels.]]
* GodGuise: Many of the religions that surround the Winslow. He MAY be actually Divine (immortal, indestructible, and showing signs of ObfuscatingStupidity), it is just that everyone thinks he is for the wrong reasons.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070308 Check.]]
* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: Well, half-dressed cartoon aliens.
* {{Heavyworlder}}: Buck and the other Hoffmannites -- suprisingly, given the rest of the comic is actually fairly high into the "Hard" scale of sci-fi, they're the fantastical "big and portly" types, rather then the scientifically accurate dwarf (i.e. short, squat, and lean) types. (This may be related to the fact that they didn't evolve, but were engineered -- by a group of genetic engineers whose other projects included a race of centaurs.)
* HeKnowsTooMuch: Why [[spoiler:Par ultimately decides Godot ''and the Prime Mover'' have to die.]]
* HiveMind: [[spoiler:Psmith]]
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Louisa Dem Five and the ''Velvet Fist''; she even made a cameo in ''{{XXXenophile}}''! Has Strong opinions about hookers Without a heart of gold.
* HumansAreSpecial
** Parodied. Lots of species think we're [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} entertainingly crazy]], at best. Mmmm, [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080103 popsicles.]]
** Later played straight -- turns out that while the galaxy as a whole doesn't think much of humans, the really clever aliens know that humans are good at "getting things done", which is why Chief Parahexavoctal, security-chief on a station with literally thousands of different races in habitat, hires a human to investigate one of the biggest mysteries ever -- and why, later, the "Destroy-on-Sight" Beemahs choose to throw their lot in with humanity as well.
-->'''Beemah:''': Have confidence in you. We think humanity will survive. Sneaky. Admire this.
** Even the Prime Movers, the [[{{Lensman}} Arisian-like]] superintelligent godlike aliens who, it seems, run the universe, think that humanity is special... apparently because [[spoiler:we think the Winslow is annoying.]]
* HumanSubspecies: Humans have several subspecies created by genetic engineering to live in specific hostile environments.
* [[HypercompetentSidekick Hypercompetent Sidearms]]: Smith and Wesson are clearly the brains of the Pistol Packin' Polaris Packrat's operation.
* ICallItVera: Buck's zap-gun, "Junior". Junior's rifle cousin "Senior" [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20071020 shows up]] on occasion, but is never used.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo [[spoiler:Par's response to accusations against him of enslavement and genocide.]]
* ImmortalLifeIsCheap
* {{Infodump}}
* IntellectualAnimal: Security Specialists [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080814 Rowan and Martin]].
* InterfaithSmoothie: The Church of Slag-Blah who are "militant agnostics" who celebrate a different religion's holy day every day.
* InterspeciesRomance: Subverted by Buck/Louisa (Hoffmanites find humans underdeveloped and also "a wee bit... delicate") and Buck/Tal (since she's a reptilean alien, as Buck points out, even if he were inclined to perv he wouldn't know what to look at. [[spoiler:Turns out he's lying]].)
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Klegdixal. EVERYONE in the galaxy thinks that they're jerks, but they've actually dedicated their vast knowledge of biotech to preventing biowarfare; see also MoralityPet below. This is not to say that they are not, in fact, jerks.
* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner
* KnightTemplar: Security Chief Parahexavoctal is not above opening entire embassies to space to keep order. [[spoiler:And that's only the beginning of the lengths he'll go to.]]
* LoveIsInTheAir: When she chooses, Louisa can become a walking pheromone factory. It's a treatment anyone can acquire, but it requires stringent licensing.
* MacGuffin: The Winslow, so very much -- he could have been an inert lump of [[MadeOfIndestructium indestructium]] for all the difference it would have made to the plot. Given a great big LampshadeHanging, with much discussion of the fact that although everybody knows he's very important, there's no general agreement on exactly ''why''.
* MassTeleportation: In one story, Buck has to gain the trust of a mysterious alien which has the mass teleportation technology needed to evacuate all the people off a planet that's about to be wiped out by a supernova. [[spoiler:When he finally manages to explain the situation, the alien casually suggests that it would be just as easy to teleport the entire planet.]]
* McNinja: Every species has them, and most are [[HighlyVisibleNinja Highly Visible]] and follow the [[InverseNinjaLaw Inverse Law]].
* MsFanservice: Louisa Dem Five -- [[HelloNurse to the characters]] as well as the readers.
* MoralityPet: [[spoiler:The Beemahs]] effectively become this for the Klegs. Initially hating and fearing the Klegs, who created the technology with which [[spoiler:the Zmouf made the Beemahs as slaves, the Beemahs are]] as stunned as anyone else to discover that the Klegs had had no idea what [[spoiler:the Zmouf]] intended, were horrified to learn the truth, and have felt guilty about it ever since. The Klegs are overjoyed to have a chance to make amends.
* MostDefinitelyNotAVillain
* NoodleIncident
** The job Buck once did for Lord Thezmothete.
** Also, Martian Charades. And a whole host of other things...
* NoTranshumanismAllowed: Subverted. Humans like to tinker.
* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: The Teleporter incident.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler:[[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090609 The Winslow]]]]. Maybe.
-->[[spoiler:"No! do not eat own foot! ''Could not be stupider if you tried!''"]]
* AnOfferYouCantRefuse
** In the Teleporter story, the villain founds an entire inhabited colony world just so it will be in danger in a way that forces Buck to discover the Teleporter's secret for X-Tel. Note: This was done while the villain didn't know where in the universe Buck was, or whether he could be found before said planet met its fate. Nice guys, X-Tel.
** Also the Prime Mover's "restraining order" on Hyraax.
* OneWorldOrder
* {{Paparazzi}}: Hyraxx D'Mofiti
* PieInTheFace
* PlantAliens
* PornStash: Even nigh-omnipotent aliens have them.
* ThePowerOfLegacy: [[spoiler:Security Chief Parahexavoctal]] is revealed to have committed several large-scale crimes in pursuit of his assigned duty, including (but not limited to) genocide and the large-scale enslavement of a sentient race. When confronted with his sins, he continues to claim that he just did what he had to do in order to provide thousands of years of peace on the station. The Prime Mover acknowledges this, and decrees that his record shall stand as a shining example to all his successors with no mention of his crimes. [[spoiler:Par]] smiles and thanks him for fulfilling his ultimate wish, even as he is wiped from existence.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner
--> '''[[NamesToRunAwayFrom Der Rock the Destroyer]]:''' Do not be lulled by my present condition, [=PSmith=]. There are only 35 of you.
* RooflessRenovation
* RunningGag: Poiled Slurgs.
* ScienceFictionKitchenSink
* ShinyLookingSpaceships
* ShowSomeLeg: Louisa Dem Five's strategy for dealing with tax notifiers.
* SmokingIsCool: Enough to make Pogs look {{Badass}}. [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090409 See attached.]]
* SpacePirate: The Pistol Packin' Polaris Packrat
* SpeechBubbles: Different speech bubble styles for most alien races.
* StarfishAliens: So many that it would be easier to list the exceptions. And even the humanoid ones have bizarre alien biology.
* StillWearingTheOldColors: Buck's usual outfit is, give or take a couple of customisations, his old X-Tel Security uniform. And he objects to being named [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20071201 Worst Dressed Sentient]].
-->'''Buck:''' Oort, what is ''wrong'' with how I dress?\\
'''Oort:''' Don't ask ''me'', Buck. I was raised to ignore a sentient's handicaps.
* StoutStrength: Buck and his relatives.
* SufficientlyAdvancedAlien: Lord Thezmothete; the Teleporter; the Prime Mover
* {{Technobabble}}: With LampshadeHanging on [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090303 one occasion]].
* TeleportersAndTransporters: But only the most advanced of the {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s have them.
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
* TotalitarianUtilitarian
* {{Tuckerization}}: Some of the characters in the series are based on friends of the author. Including Buck.
* UnproblematicProstitution
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans
* VoiceOfTheLegion
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl
* WretchedHive: New Hong Kong. Mind you, just because it's Lawless, doesn't mean there aren't rules. But there aren't rules about unimportant stuff like shooting people down in the street just because you don't like them.
----
Godot Was Here.
The Winslow is here. He's everywhere. All hail.
----
'''''Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire''''' is a science-fiction/action/comedy comics series by PhilFoglio, featuring the adventures of private detective/bodyguard-for-hire Buck Godot, operating out of the Lawless planet of New Hong Kong.
The supporting cast include Al, the manager of Buck's favourite bar (who looks like a [[LittleGreenMen short green]] cartoony version of the critter from ''{{Film/Alien}}''); and Madame Louisa Dem Five, a pillar of the local *ahem* [[BandOfBrothels service industry]].
The series started as a string of short pieces in various anthology comics, some of which were collected in the first ''Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire'' collection. In these stories, Buck protects a woman pursued by fanatical sun-priests, finds a lost heir despite the hindrance of being followed around by a freelance conscience, defends a cargo ship from space pirate attack, and attempts to learn the secret of teleportation from an enigmatic alien (with the fate of worlds hanging in the balance).
There's also a one-off graphic novel, ''[=PSmIth=]''. An attempted ongoing comic book folded, due to scheduling and other problems, after a single story arc; but that story arc, ''The Gallimaufry'', is the crowning achievement of the series, the added length allowing new levels of depth and complexity in plot and worldbuilding.
Following the success of ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', the series was re-released in [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buck.html web-comic form]]. The last installment of ''The Gallimaufry'' went up on June 20th, 2009. The following week saw a reprinting the three-page "True Story of the Winslow". And that appears to be that. ([[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20091101 Almost.]]) One of the original short stories (the one with nudity) is not included at the above site. We're sure you can find it if you look hard, though.
----
!!''Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire'' provides examples of:
* AlienInvasion: New Hong Kong is invaded in the uncollected short story "Field of Screams"; it goes very badly for the invaders
* AnythingThatMoves
** Louisa Dem Five
** And yet her employee Sizzlin' Sue manages to make her look like a nun. Especially when she's off her meds and drags [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale a protesting total stranger into her bedroom]].
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking
** The fourteen Accepted Signs of Divinity, as listed [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080318 here]], include: "call down the lightning, corrupt the innocent, eat the moon, answer the phone before it rings".
** [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090606 The Prime Mover's to-do list]]: [[spoiler:start rumors of [[MacGuffin the Winslow]]'s location]], [[spoiler:find a new chief of security]], [[spoiler:evict the Pogs and topple their government]], [[spoiler:reestablish communication with Gallimaufrey Station]], and "finish my bath".
* ArtificialGravity
* AsideGlance: Standard in any PhilFoglio comic.
* AtopAMountainOfCorpses
* AttackHello: Standard Hoffmannite greeting.
* BaseballEpisode: "Field of Screams"
* BatmanGambit: The way Buck resolves his problem at the end of ''[=PSmIth=]'' has to be seen to be believed. [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070927 Starts here.]]
* BoisterousBruiser: Frakkus Godot and Buck himself. Pretty much any Hoffmanite, at least by reputation.
* BoldlyComing: Louisa Dem Five's preferred approach to inter-species diplomacy.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070331 teleporter story]]
* BrickJoke: [[spoiler:Buck's taxes.]]
* TheCatCameBack: [=PSmIth=] in ''[=PSmIth=]'', with a twist
* CombatPragmatist: Buck has been known to use bottles, table tops and even ''his opponents'' as weapons.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The board of X-Tel.
* CuteMonsterGirl: Hyraxx D'Mofiti
* CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080228 It's actually a really effective threat where he comes from.]] [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080717 There is also some related creative use of dental floss.]]
* DeadlyEuphemism: Don't accept an invitation to a "New Hong Kong wake".
* {{Determinator}}
** The TN messenger at the start of ''The Gallimaufry''.
** And Hyraxx is Quite Determined for a simple creator of an infotainment-like art product.
* DestructoNookie
** Hoffmannite courtship, according to Buck Godot himself, ''begins'' with high explosives.
** Buck's matress sports the mention: "SNERTA (Tough enough for a Hoffmannite -- [-but no funny stuff or forget it.-])"
* DrunkenMaster: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070116 Buck in the early strips]]. Later ignored.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: The conclusion of the [[spoiler:Gallimaufry]] storyline.
* DueToTheDead: A New Hong Kong Wake is a very dark example. You find the murderer, have a chat over their drug-induced confession, and leave them to die.
* EncyclopediaExposita: ''The Herodotus Complex'', a history of Earth's involvement in galactic affairs; a relevant extract appears at the beginning of each book and each issue of the comic
* EnergyWeapon: Starting with zap-guns and working up from there.
* FacePalm: Done by sufficiently advanced alien the Prime Mover after he finds out what triggered the Gallimaufry plot.
* FakingTheDead: The whole human embassy does this for a while.
* FakinMacGuffin: An integral part of Buck's BatmanGambit in ''[=PSmIth=]''.
* FasterThanLightTravel
* FriendsAllAlong
* ForeignQueasine: Numerous examples, including a running gag about poiled slurgs, which some races prize as a delicious foodstuff and others prize as an effective oven cleaner.
* GenderBender: Word to the wise: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090217 don't go drinking from random bottles in the Kleg embassy]]. [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090219 Girl-Buck]] [[AttractiveBentGender is rather cute, however.]]
* GeniusLoci: [[spoiler:Gallimaufry Station]]
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20081220 Louisa's approach to abnormal hormone levels.]]
* GodGuise: Many of the religions that surround the Winslow. He MAY be actually Divine (immortal, indestructible, and showing signs of ObfuscatingStupidity), it is just that everyone thinks he is for the wrong reasons.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20070308 Check.]]
* HalfDressedCartoonAnimal: Well, half-dressed cartoon aliens.
* {{Heavyworlder}}: Buck and the other Hoffmannites -- suprisingly, given the rest of the comic is actually fairly high into the "Hard" scale of sci-fi, they're the fantastical "big and portly" types, rather then the scientifically accurate dwarf (i.e. short, squat, and lean) types. (This may be related to the fact that they didn't evolve, but were engineered -- by a group of genetic engineers whose other projects included a race of centaurs.)
* HeKnowsTooMuch: Why [[spoiler:Par ultimately decides Godot ''and the Prime Mover'' have to die.]]
* HiveMind: [[spoiler:Psmith]]
* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Louisa Dem Five and the ''Velvet Fist''; she even made a cameo in ''{{XXXenophile}}''! Has Strong opinions about hookers Without a heart of gold.
* HumansAreSpecial
** Parodied. Lots of species think we're [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} entertainingly crazy]], at best. Mmmm, [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080103 popsicles.]]
** Later played straight -- turns out that while the galaxy as a whole doesn't think much of humans, the really clever aliens know that humans are good at "getting things done", which is why Chief Parahexavoctal, security-chief on a station with literally thousands of different races in habitat, hires a human to investigate one of the biggest mysteries ever -- and why, later, the "Destroy-on-Sight" Beemahs choose to throw their lot in with humanity as well.
-->'''Beemah:''': Have confidence in you. We think humanity will survive. Sneaky. Admire this.
** Even the Prime Movers, the [[{{Lensman}} Arisian-like]] superintelligent godlike aliens who, it seems, run the universe, think that humanity is special... apparently because [[spoiler:we think the Winslow is annoying.]]
* HumanSubspecies: Humans have several subspecies created by genetic engineering to live in specific hostile environments.
* [[HypercompetentSidekick Hypercompetent Sidearms]]: Smith and Wesson are clearly the brains of the Pistol Packin' Polaris Packrat's operation.
* ICallItVera: Buck's zap-gun, "Junior". Junior's rifle cousin "Senior" [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20071020 shows up]] on occasion, but is never used.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo [[spoiler:Par's response to accusations against him of enslavement and genocide.]]
* ImmortalLifeIsCheap
* {{Infodump}}
* IntellectualAnimal: Security Specialists [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20080814 Rowan and Martin]].
* InterfaithSmoothie: The Church of Slag-Blah who are "militant agnostics" who celebrate a different religion's holy day every day.
* InterspeciesRomance: Subverted by Buck/Louisa (Hoffmanites find humans underdeveloped and also "a wee bit... delicate") and Buck/Tal (since she's a reptilean alien, as Buck points out, even if he were inclined to perv he wouldn't know what to look at. [[spoiler:Turns out he's lying]].)
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: The Klegdixal. EVERYONE in the galaxy thinks that they're jerks, but they've actually dedicated their vast knowledge of biotech to preventing biowarfare; see also MoralityPet below. This is not to say that they are not, in fact, jerks.
* JudgeJuryAndExecutioner
* KnightTemplar: Security Chief Parahexavoctal is not above opening entire embassies to space to keep order. [[spoiler:And that's only the beginning of the lengths he'll go to.]]
* LoveIsInTheAir: When she chooses, Louisa can become a walking pheromone factory. It's a treatment anyone can acquire, but it requires stringent licensing.
* MacGuffin: The Winslow, so very much -- he could have been an inert lump of [[MadeOfIndestructium indestructium]] for all the difference it would have made to the plot. Given a great big LampshadeHanging, with much discussion of the fact that although everybody knows he's very important, there's no general agreement on exactly ''why''.
* MassTeleportation: In one story, Buck has to gain the trust of a mysterious alien which has the mass teleportation technology needed to evacuate all the people off a planet that's about to be wiped out by a supernova. [[spoiler:When he finally manages to explain the situation, the alien casually suggests that it would be just as easy to teleport the entire planet.]]
* McNinja: Every species has them, and most are [[HighlyVisibleNinja Highly Visible]] and follow the [[InverseNinjaLaw Inverse Law]].
* MsFanservice: Louisa Dem Five -- [[HelloNurse to the characters]] as well as the readers.
* MoralityPet: [[spoiler:The Beemahs]] effectively become this for the Klegs. Initially hating and fearing the Klegs, who created the technology with which [[spoiler:the Zmouf made the Beemahs as slaves, the Beemahs are]] as stunned as anyone else to discover that the Klegs had had no idea what [[spoiler:the Zmouf]] intended, were horrified to learn the truth, and have felt guilty about it ever since. The Klegs are overjoyed to have a chance to make amends.
* MostDefinitelyNotAVillain
* NoodleIncident
** The job Buck once did for Lord Thezmothete.
** Also, Martian Charades. And a whole host of other things...
* NoTranshumanismAllowed: Subverted. Humans like to tinker.
* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: The Teleporter incident.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler:[[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090609 The Winslow]]]]. Maybe.
-->[[spoiler:"No! do not eat own foot! ''Could not be stupider if you tried!''"]]
* AnOfferYouCantRefuse
** In the Teleporter story, the villain founds an entire inhabited colony world just so it will be in danger in a way that forces Buck to discover the Teleporter's secret for X-Tel. Note: This was done while the villain didn't know where in the universe Buck was, or whether he could be found before said planet met its fate. Nice guys, X-Tel.
** Also the Prime Mover's "restraining order" on Hyraax.
* OneWorldOrder
* {{Paparazzi}}: Hyraxx D'Mofiti
* PieInTheFace
* PlantAliens
* PornStash: Even nigh-omnipotent aliens have them.
* ThePowerOfLegacy: [[spoiler:Security Chief Parahexavoctal]] is revealed to have committed several large-scale crimes in pursuit of his assigned duty, including (but not limited to) genocide and the large-scale enslavement of a sentient race. When confronted with his sins, he continues to claim that he just did what he had to do in order to provide thousands of years of peace on the station. The Prime Mover acknowledges this, and decrees that his record shall stand as a shining example to all his successors with no mention of his crimes. [[spoiler:Par]] smiles and thanks him for fulfilling his ultimate wish, even as he is wiped from existence.
* PreAsskickingOneLiner
--> '''[[NamesToRunAwayFrom Der Rock the Destroyer]]:''' Do not be lulled by my present condition, [=PSmith=]. There are only 35 of you.
* RooflessRenovation
* RunningGag: Poiled Slurgs.
* ScienceFictionKitchenSink
* ShinyLookingSpaceships
* ShowSomeLeg: Louisa Dem Five's strategy for dealing with tax notifiers.
* SmokingIsCool: Enough to make Pogs look {{Badass}}. [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090409 See attached.]]
* SpacePirate: The Pistol Packin' Polaris Packrat
* SpeechBubbles: Different speech bubble styles for most alien races.
* StarfishAliens: So many that it would be easier to list the exceptions. And even the humanoid ones have bizarre alien biology.
* StillWearingTheOldColors: Buck's usual outfit is, give or take a couple of customisations, his old X-Tel Security uniform. And he objects to being named [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20071201 Worst Dressed Sentient]].
-->'''Buck:''' Oort, what is ''wrong'' with how I dress?\\
'''Oort:''' Don't ask ''me'', Buck. I was raised to ignore a sentient's handicaps.
* StoutStrength: Buck and his relatives.
* SufficientlyAdvancedAlien: Lord Thezmothete; the Teleporter; the Prime Mover
* {{Technobabble}}: With LampshadeHanging on [[http://www.airshipentertainment.com/buckcomic.php?date=20090303 one occasion]].
* TeleportersAndTransporters: But only the most advanced of the {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s have them.
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Every race's embassy has an airlock for a ROOF. Parahexavoctal has been known to throw entire embassies out the airlock.
* TotalitarianUtilitarian
* {{Tuckerization}}: Some of the characters in the series are based on friends of the author. Including Buck.
* UnproblematicProstitution
* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans
* VoiceOfTheLegion
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl
* WretchedHive: New Hong Kong. Mind you, just because it's Lawless, doesn't mean there aren't rules. But there aren't rules about unimportant stuff like shooting people down in the street just because you don't like them.
----
Godot Was Here.
The Winslow is here. He's everywhere. All hail.
----
