History ComicBook / Democracy

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1024_63458_800_k7i_8.jpg [[{{Foreshadowing}} The world was broken, as suddenly as a vase fallen from its shelf.]]]]

''"If we stand for anything, it's the fact that it doesn't end! It never does!"''
-->--'''''Leander'''''

* DoesNotLikeShoes:
** From Chapter 2, Leander is drawn barefoot, as opposed to the previous chapter, where he wore sandals. Granted, there are documents saying that the roads in Ancient Athens were so full of dirt and wastes, that you had to wear shoes.
** Some Athenians are also drawn without sandals.

Not to be confused with a [[VideoGame/{{Democracy}} video game]] by the [[NamesTheSame same name]].

** The DreamSequence that Leander had after he fell unconscious features Athena, Apollo and Dionysus wear modern-day clothes and dance syrtaki, which is a clear reference to the SignatureScene of Film/ZorbaTheGreek.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: Promachus' name literally means "he who fights in front side".

* BadassBoast:
** Cleisthenes:
--> '''Cleisthenes''': ''(to Echekrates)'' Lavish party, Echekrates. Your old partner, Promachus, never knew how to spend his money. It's a good thing you took it, then.
** Kleomenes and Isagoras have an interesting conversation when [[spoiler: they are trapped in Acropolis]]:
--> '''Isagoras''': We are stuck here for three days! Is this how you command? Get out and beat the crap out of them!
--> '''Kleomenes''': Shut up! You don't even know how to command your own ass!
** The poet towards his brother, Kynegeiros, when they discuss about the separation of the clans.
--> '''Kynegeiros''': I was ten. Why I don't remember it?
--> '''The poet''': Because you are still ten.
** A conversation between an Athenian Member of the Parliament and a Spartan general:
--> '''The Athenian''': I am a member of the Parliament, Spartan. I have rights.
--> '''The Spartan''': You have the right to shut up. Do that.
** Heck, even Echekrates:
--> '''Echekrates''': Good countrymen, I have no idea where this young man ''(Leander)'' gets his intelligence… but I'll wager it's from the same place he got his oratory skills.

* DeadpanSnarker: Promachus has his fair share of moments.

* AdultFear: The terror in Promachus' eyes when he sees his son coming near at him (while he himself is trapped under someone) and a Scythian archer is about to kill him (and probably killing Leander after he is done with him) says it all.
--> '''Promachus''': Leander… run home! Run…

** Leander's reaction when Antenor shows him the treasury of Delphi and realising that he has to take care of it.

Democracy is a comic book written by Alecos Papadatos, Annie Di Donna (who have also worked in ComicBook/{{Logicomix}}) and Abraham Kawa in 2015.

** Aristogeiton is Betty and Hipparchus is Veronica (a chief magistrate with great power) to Harmodius' Archie. Taken UpToEleven, as when Hipparchus separates Armodios and Aristoghiton, the last two [[spoiler: plan on killing him]].

* BadassArmy: [[TheEmpire The Persians]]. As Leander puts it, they have never lost a battle against the Greeks. That's until they faced the Athenians and the Plataeans in the Battle of Marathon.

Unfortunately, he discovers that Delphi isn't what he thought it would be (and that it confirmed through meetings with Hero, a Pythia in training). Because of that, he came in contact (and developed a bond) with Goddess Athena, the patron goddess of his city-state.

Alongside, he meets Cleisthenes, an ostracized citizen, who plans on returning to Athens and take matters into his own hands, convincing the now adult Leander come with him and help him.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: During the chaos surrounding Hipparchus' death, Promachus is the only one who is seen smiling.

* AssInAmbassador: Both played straight and inverted with Cleisthenis. When he first meets Antinor, he doesn't carry a holy and he straightup insults the Pythias right in front of them, only to instantly praise them the next moment. During his second meeting, he is far more calm and resistant and Antinor acts like he has never seen him again.

''And whatever idea we're on our way to… I have no word to describe it.''

* AnswerCut: Leander does this quite frequently in the first chapter, after he's abroad.

* BandageWince: Leander didn't let Gavriom take care of his wounded hand. Although, his anger might stem from the previous events.

* BandageWince: Leander didn't let Gavriom take care of his wounded hand. Although, his anger might

* RealityIsUnrealistic: While much more historical accurate compared to some other works that shall not be named, it has some unrealistic moments. For example:
** The Spartans are seen carrying shields with the iconic "Λ" upon them. While it's true, records state that the shields were like this in UsefulNotes/ThePeloponnesianWar, not in the late 6 century BC.
** There 're no records saying that Leonidas accompanied his brother, Kleomenes, to Athens, as seen in the graphic novel. [[WordOfGod The authors]] say that this would be a nice possibility.

* DiesWideOpen: When [[spoiler: Nefert]] is killed, her eyes are still open.

** The Spartans are seen carrying shields with the iconic "Λ" upon them. While it's true, records state that the shields were like this in UsefulNotes/ThePeloponnesianWar, not in the late 5 century BC.

** The poet is the Blue Oni to his brother's Red Oni.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After negotiating with his brother, Kleomenes agrees to return with his army to Sparta, instead of facing the Athenians again.

* SimpleYetAwesome: Lampshaded by Echekrates during his talk about Isagoras and Kleisthenis. He points out that Isagoras, unlike Kleisthenis, isn't from a noble family, nor takes action, like calling the Spartans or bribing the priests at Delphi to get help, but instead, he remains at the city-state and seeks equality for both the rich and the peasants. Although this might be a trick to make him appear more likeable to the citizens, since bribing priests in Ancient Greece was a taboo.

* StarCrossedLovers: Leander and Hero, for two reasons. The first is because Hero is a Pythia and she ought to stay at Delphi (while Leandros wants to return beck to Athens) and the second is because [[DramaticallyMissingThePoint she took seriously a myth about two lovers with the same names as theirs and who ended up dead, due to their love]].

* BigBad: Echekratis feels this role in the story, which is actually ironic since, in RealLife, Isagoras was Kleisthenis' opponent in politics. However, he has much bigger impact on the protagonist's life (he is the one who ordered his bodyguard to kill [[spoiler: Promachus]]) and his rhetoric talks are what convinced the Athenians to vote for Isagoras, making him the reason for his successes.

* DemocracyIsFlawed: But on the other hand, it improved the life of many citizens. They felt strong and ready to protect their city now. Women and slaves would still not have a vote though…

* YouKilledMyFather: [[spoiler: Echekrates and his Scythian archer killed Leander' father]]. [[spoiler: Leander]], full of rage, wants to take revenge and he seeks help at Delphi.

** They didn't like the Spartans either, because of their attempts to abolish their counsil. After they managed to get rid of them, they accompanied them by laughing at their failed attempt, 'till they left the city.

* AssInAmbassador: Both played straight and inverted with Kleisthenis. When he first meets Antinor, he doesn't carry a holy and he straightup insults the Pythias right in front of them, only to instantly praise them the next moment. During his second meeting, he is far more calm and resistant and Antinor acts like he has never seen him again.

* AthensAndSparta: The story is not about their animosity, but it features these city-states.

''"If we stand for anything, it's the fact that it doesn't end! It never ends!"''

The idea for the story was given when Alecos helped his daughter with an essay about Cleisthenes and the birth of Democracy.

It opens on 490 B.C. with Athens at war. More specifically, the night before the infamous Battle of Marathon. The hero of the story, Leander, who has witnessed what both tyranny and democracy can offer, retells a story to his friend, in order to calm him down, but along the way, he attracts a bigger audience.

However, he discovers that Delphi isn't what he thought it would be (and that it confirmed through meetings with Hero, a Pythia in training). Due to this, he came in contact (and developed a bond) with Goddess Athena, the protector of his city-state.

Alongside, he meets Cleisthenes, an ostracized citizen, who plans on returning to Athens and form a new policy, called, well… [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin democracy]].

Leander agrees to help him and the rest of the plot is how they achieved that.

It is Alecos' last work.

** Antenor tells that Athenian messengers that in order to get rid of the tyrant, they must ask for Sparta's help. This prophecy is completely different than the one that Pythia forsaw. When Leander talks about it with Hero and suggests that Kleisthenis might have planned it, Hero replies that yes, since it was obvious from the start.

* YouShallNotPass: Leander, with a couple other Athenians, stood between Acropolis and the Spartans and refused to let the pass.

* DisneyVillainDeath: When the counselors who were hiding in Acropolis surrender at last, Leander states that they threw some of them from a cliff.

* BadassGay: Harmodius and Aristogeiton, the Tyrannicides, turned out to be lovers.

--> '''Cleisthenes'''''(to Echekrates)''''': Lavish party, Echekrates. Your old partner, Promachus, never knew how to spend his money. It's a good thing you took it, then.

--> '''Hipparchus'': It pains me doubly, for the man was my friend, and I trusted him.

* ShoutOut: The DreamSequence that Leander had after he fell unconscious features Athena, Apollo and Dionysus wear modern-day clothes and dance syrtaki, which is a clear reference to the SignatureScene of Film/ZorbaTheGreek.

--> '''Hipparchus''': The pain is great, for this man was my friend.
--> '''Promachus''': By gods, like we don't have other worries.

The idea for the story was given when Alecos helped his daughter with an essay about Kleisthenes and the birth of Democracy.

Alongside, he meets Kleisthenis, an ostracized citizen, who plans on returning to Athens and form a new policy, called, well… [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin democracy]].

* AgeLift: In RealLife, Harmodios was a teen when him and Aristoghiton [[spoiler: murdered Hipparchus]]. In the graphic novel, while his age is never mentioned, his design resembles that of an adult, probably to not make it {{Squick}}, as him and Aristoghiton [[spoiler: were lovers]].

** As stated in the AgeLift entry, Harmodios was actually a teen when him and Aristoghiton [[spoiler: murdered Hipparchus]], but they change his age, so his relationship with [[spoiler: Aristoghiton]] wouldn't be [[{{Squick}} squicky]].

* AwfulTruth: Leander [[spoiler: finds out that the reason why Harmodios and Aristoghiton killed Hipparchus was, not because they were sick of the tyranny (as he originally thought), but because they were lovers and he tried to separate them]]. Needless to say, he didn't take it well.

** Kleisthenis:
--> '''Kleisthenis'''''(to Echekrates)''''': Lavish party, Echekrates. Your old partner, Promachus, never knew how to spend his money. It's a good thing you took it, then.

* BadassGay: Harmodios and Aristoghiton, the Tyrannicides, turned out to be lovers.

** Aristoghiton is Betty and Hipparchus is Veronica (a chief magistrate with great power) to Harmodios' Archie. Taken UpToEleven, as when Hipparchus separates Armodios and Aristoghiton, the last two [[spoiler: plan on killing him]].

* BrutalHonesty: Let's just say that Kleisthenis doesn't hold his tongue back.
--> '''Kleisthenis''': So what do you suggest?

-->'''Kleisthenis''': No.

-->'''Kleisthenis''': I won't insult you by by saying your scheme is exactly like the arrangement the tyrants had, for we are no tyrants, are we? Neither will I offend you by saying you are a fat, low-class, unoriginal and overly ambitious stooge.

** Gray for Kleisthenis. He wears a gray toga. Gray represents lack of joy and he is hardly seen smiling.

** Kleisthenis' plan as well. But, unlike Echekratis, he has good intentions. It's just that bribing the Pythias in order to get the oracle he wants and calling the Spartans (who, mind you, were Athenians' ArchEnemy) are not exactly good actions.
** Isagoras suggests to Kleisthenis that one of them should be chief magistrate the first year and the next one, the other will be. Kleisthenis immediately neglects the idea, saying that it's the exact same of the tyrants'.

* ForeignMoneyIsProofOfGuilt: Not money, but the clasp that King Kleomenes rewards Echekratis with (along with Echekratis' bodyguard and him strutting) is what convinced Leander that [[spoiler: Echekratis was the one who killed his father]].

* FriendOrFoe: The Spartans did AGREE to help the Athenians get rid of the tyrant Hippias (and succeeded). But, even Kleisthenis (who was the one to call them) doesn't want them in their city-state after they are done, implying that he only saw them as pawns to his plan.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Plenty of RealLife people appear in the story, like Kleisthenis, Hipparchus and Hippias, the two tyrants, Isagoras, Kleomenes, Leonidas, Kynegeiros and the Poet (who is actually Creator/{{Aeschylus}}).

* LeaveNoSurvivors: Echekratis and Isagoras order that all the Alcmaionides families (along with those who came in contact with them) should leave the city-state.

** Kleisthenis is famous for these, especially with Isagoras and Echekrates.

* StealthInsult: When Leander accuses Echekrates that him and Isagoras tried to bribe Kleisthenis, Echekrates insults his intelligence and his oratory skills. In Ancient Athens, it was important for every male citizen to have oratory skills, something that Leander lacked (or wasn't very good, to begin with).

* WeCanRuleTogether: Isagoras suggests to Kleisthenis that it would be a good idea if one of them could be chief magistrate the first year and the next one, the other would be. Kleisthenis, however, turns it down, saying that it's the exact same of the tyrants'.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Frankly, this is the best word to describe Kleisthenis. He changed a whole city-state and created a new policy through scams. He bribed Delphi into announcing an oracle saying that the Spartans should help the Athenians to get rid of the tyrant and, when they were done, he didn't want them anymore. Thought, to his defence, the Athenians wouldn't want to follow Solon's way and the tyrants' methods lead to submission. So, he had no other choice…