Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 26 (click to see context) from:
** Volume 2 expands this to the whole of comic strips as a medium; Roach Riley is a pastiche of ComicStrip/BeetleBailey, who [[spoiler:completely snapped after his whole platoon was killed, he was held as a POW under horrific conditions, and both his wife and their unborn child were killed in an accident before he could come home]], who murders several other pastiches (including one of [[ComicStrip/{{Blondie}} Dagwood Bumstead]] and versions of [[ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean Les Moore]] and ComicStrip/DickTracy) in an attempt to destabilize the city.
to:
** Volume 2 expands this to the whole of comic strips as a medium; Roach Riley is a pastiche of ComicStrip/BeetleBailey, who [[spoiler:completely snapped after his whole platoon was killed, he was held as a POW under horrific conditions, and both his wife and their unborn child were killed in an accident before he could come home]], who murders several other pastiches (including one of [[ComicStrip/{{Blondie}} [[ComicStrip/Blondie1930 Dagwood Bumstead]] and versions of [[ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean Les Moore]] and ComicStrip/DickTracy) in an attempt to destabilize the city.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* ShoutOut:
** Like the character she's parodying, Mrs. Scabtree is named after another character from ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters''.
** Lana Forrester in Volume 2 is a parody of Lois Flagston from ComicStrip/HiAndLois; not the first time in comics that a [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} woman named Lana has subbed in for a woman named Lois]].
** Like the character she's parodying, Mrs. Scabtree is named after another character from ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters''.
** Lana Forrester in Volume 2 is a parody of Lois Flagston from ComicStrip/HiAndLois; not the first time in comics that a [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} woman named Lana has subbed in for a woman named Lois]].
Changed line(s) 44 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Augustus:''' "Killed her? You idiot... Why would I kill my own courier?"
to:
--->'''Augustus:''' "Killed her? You idiot... Why would I kill my own courier?"courier?"
* WorthyOpponent: The reason Roach spares Hero in Volume 2. [[spoiler:Roach planted nine bombs around the city, only one of which Hero knew about, but successfully defused. Roach says she has more guts than half of the city combined, and despite having a gun to her head, decides to spare her for being willing to at least ''try''.]]
* WorthyOpponent: The reason Roach spares Hero in Volume 2. [[spoiler:Roach planted nine bombs around the city, only one of which Hero knew about, but successfully defused. Roach says she has more guts than half of the city combined, and despite having a gun to her head, decides to spare her for being willing to at least ''try''.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
Answer: Locke is a massively screwed up {{Determinator}} out to solve the murder of his childhood crush, and his stuffed panther Spencer is still around to help him out.
to:
Answer: Locke is a massively screwed up {{Determinator}} out to solve {{Determinator}}, suffering from trauma brought about at the murder hands of his childhood crush, AbusiveParents, a BarbaricBully, and a hateful teacher, among other authority figures in his childhood. The one light in his life was Sophie Jenkins, a girl he knew from when he was very young...
And now, she's turned up dead, causing Locke's life to derail once again. His only friend in life is his stuffed pantherSpencer [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane who may or may not exist]], and together, they have to work together to find Sophie's killer.
As of writing, ''Spencer and Locke'' has had two volumes released; while Volume 1 isstill around thoroughly a pastiche of ''Calvin and Hobbes'' and its characters, Volume 2 contains pastiches of several other funny pages characters, most prominently ''ComicStrip/BeetleBailey''. A third volume, which was meant to help him out.
have elements of of ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' and ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' was announced in 2019, but there hasn't been any news since.
And now, she's turned up dead, causing Locke's life to derail once again. His only friend in life is his stuffed panther
As of writing, ''Spencer and Locke'' has had two volumes released; while Volume 1 is
Changed line(s) 10 (click to see context) from:
* AbusiveParents: Locke was regularly beaten by his mother
to:
* AbusiveParents: Locke was regularly beaten by his mothermother, [[spoiler:and ends up killing her in self-defense.]]
* BabysitterFromHell: A much darker version than most. It's all but stated that Locke was molested by his babysitter Ramona. Spencer is terrified of her, and rightfully so, as Locke's encounter with her in adulthood [[spoiler:causes Spencer to outright demanifest into a cloud of black smoke.]]
* BrokenPedestal: ZigZagged. In the final issue of Volume 1, [[spoiler:Locke's father tells him that Sophie was a drug mule, selling to schools throughout the city. The sheer horror of this claim causes Locke to tackle his father through a balcony.]] By Volume 2, [[spoiler:Locke essentially doesn't care who Suzie was, and is just trying to make a good life for himself and their daughter, Hero.]]
* BondOneLiner: The last page of Volume 1 has Locke make this meta quip to the culprit:
--> '''Locke:''' We'll see you in the funny pages.
* BondOneLiner: The last page of Volume 1 has Locke make this meta quip to the culprit:
--> '''Locke:''' We'll see you in the funny pages.
Changed line(s) 16,17 (click to see context) from:
* {{Expy}}: Being a (sorta) AffectionateParody of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' almost every character is this. Locke is Calvin, Spencer is Hobbes, Sophie is Suzie, and Augustus is [[spoiler: Calvin's unnamed father.]]
* ImaginaryFriend: Spencer.
* ImaginaryFriend: Spencer.
to:
* DarkFic:
** To ''Calvin and Hobbes''; the negative aspects of several characters are exaggerated. While various authority figures in Calvin's life were strict with him, they were never as abusive as Locke's parents or babysitter, or [[spoiler:outright murderers like Ms. Scabtree]]. As a result, Locke himself displayed TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior in his youth, making him a much darker parallel to Calvin. Not even Calvin's {{Imagine Spot}}s are safe from this treatment; the Spaceman Spiff analogue here is portrayed as being the result of Locke being in a drug-induced psychosis.
** Volume 2 expands this to the whole of comic strips as a medium; Roach Riley is a pastiche of ComicStrip/BeetleBailey, who [[spoiler:completely snapped after his whole platoon was killed, he was held as a POW under horrific conditions, and both his wife and their unborn child were killed in an accident before he could come home]], who murders several other pastiches (including one of [[ComicStrip/{{Blondie}} Dagwood Bumstead]] and versions of [[ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean Les Moore]] and ComicStrip/DickTracy) in an attempt to destabilize the city.
* {{Expy}}: Being a (sorta) AffectionateParody of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' almost every character is this. Locke is Calvin, Spencer is Hobbes, Sophie is Suzie, Mrs. Scabtree is Mrs. Wormwood, and Augustus is [[spoiler: Calvin's unnamed father.]]
* ImaginaryFriend:Spencer.Spencer... maybe.
* IntrepidReporter: Volume 2 introduces journalist Melinda Mercury as a love interest for Locke, and she's responsible for driving the story forward at several points while Locke does the legwork. Her inspiration isn't as obvious as others in the story; Melinda is meant to be a pastiche of ComicStrip/BrendaStarr, who is arguably far more obscure to a modern audience than ''Calvin and Hobbes''.
** To ''Calvin and Hobbes''; the negative aspects of several characters are exaggerated. While various authority figures in Calvin's life were strict with him, they were never as abusive as Locke's parents or babysitter, or [[spoiler:outright murderers like Ms. Scabtree]]. As a result, Locke himself displayed TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior in his youth, making him a much darker parallel to Calvin. Not even Calvin's {{Imagine Spot}}s are safe from this treatment; the Spaceman Spiff analogue here is portrayed as being the result of Locke being in a drug-induced psychosis.
** Volume 2 expands this to the whole of comic strips as a medium; Roach Riley is a pastiche of ComicStrip/BeetleBailey, who [[spoiler:completely snapped after his whole platoon was killed, he was held as a POW under horrific conditions, and both his wife and their unborn child were killed in an accident before he could come home]], who murders several other pastiches (including one of [[ComicStrip/{{Blondie}} Dagwood Bumstead]] and versions of [[ComicStrip/FunkyWinkerbean Les Moore]] and ComicStrip/DickTracy) in an attempt to destabilize the city.
* {{Expy}}: Being a (sorta) AffectionateParody of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' almost every character is this. Locke is Calvin, Spencer is Hobbes, Sophie is Suzie, Mrs. Scabtree is Mrs. Wormwood, and Augustus is [[spoiler: Calvin's unnamed father.]]
* ImaginaryFriend:
* IntrepidReporter: Volume 2 introduces journalist Melinda Mercury as a love interest for Locke, and she's responsible for driving the story forward at several points while Locke does the legwork. Her inspiration isn't as obvious as others in the story; Melinda is meant to be a pastiche of ComicStrip/BrendaStarr, who is arguably far more obscure to a modern audience than ''Calvin and Hobbes''.
Changed line(s) 19,20 (click to see context) from:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and Spence appears to be acting independently while looking for Locke when the latter is wandering in hallucinatory state.
--->'''Spencer:''' "Like I always told Locke. I'm as real as you need me to be."
--->'''Spencer:''' "Like I always told Locke. I'm as real as you need me to be."
to:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: MaybeMagicMaybeMundane:
** For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and Spence appears to be acting independently while looking for Locke when the latter is wandering in hallucinatorystate.
--->'''Spencer:''' "Likestate. Muddying the waters further is the fact that [[spoiler:Spencer appears in Issue 4 of Volume 1 in order to defend Hero from one of Augustus's thugs... only to have the final panel of this sequence show Hero holding a smoking gun.]]
--> '''Spencer:''' I'll tell you something I always toldLocke. I'm [[spoiler:your dad...]] I'll always be as real as you need me to be."
** For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and Spence appears to be acting independently while looking for Locke when the latter is wandering in hallucinatory
--->'''Spencer:''' "Like
--> '''Spencer:''' I'll tell you something I always told
* TheReveal: [[spoiler: Sophie's child, a girl named Hero, was fathered by Locke.]]
* TakeThat: A poster adorning the science museum in Volume 1, Issue 4, reads "AN ACTUALLY GOOD [[Creator/MarvelComics MARVEL]]".
* TraumaCongaLine: Roach Riley in Volume 2. [[spoiler:All of his friends are killed, he's tortured in a POW camp for months on end, he's forced to commit cannibalism after not eating for weeks ''and then is rescued immediately after he's done chowing down on the Chaplain'', and when he comes back home, he finds that his wife and unborn child have died in an accident. Combine that with Hal Forrester {{gaslighting}} him into thinking that he was a manifestation of his dead commanding officer in order to gain more political power in the city by using Roach as a living weapon, it's no wonder he's completely fucked.]]
Changed line(s) 28 (click to see context) from:
--->'''Augustus:''' "Why would I kill my best courier?"
to:
--->'''Augustus:''' "Why "Killed her? You idiot... Why would I kill my best own courier?"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* NotSoDifferent: Augustus tries to pull this on Locke, claiming the detective is no better than a drug dealer after [[spoiler: shooting Locke's mother when she tried to attack him with a broken bottle.]]
to:
* NotSoDifferent: NotSoDifferentRemark: Augustus tries to pull this on Locke, claiming the detective is no better than a drug dealer after [[spoiler: shooting Locke's mother when she tried to attack him with a broken bottle.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spencer_locke_cover.jpg]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 24 (click to see context) :
* ShockingSwerve: Haha! Little Locke is barreling down the street with Spencer in his toy wagon at 3 AM, annoying his mom! Then she starts beating him...
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Corrected a spelling mistake
Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
Answer: Locke is a massively screwed up {{Determinator}} out to solve the murder of his children crush, and his stuffed panther Spencer is still around to help him out.
to:
Answer: Locke is a massively screwed up {{Determinator}} out to solve the murder of his children childhood crush, and his stuffed panther Spencer is still around to help him out.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* CityNoir: The unnamed city Locke operates in seems to follow this. There are only a handful of scenes in daylight and the entire is run down and grubby.
to:
* CityNoir: The unnamed city Locke operates in seems to follow this. There are only a handful of scenes in daylight and the entire town is run down and grubby.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 11 (click to see context) from:
* ChildrenForcedToKill: Locke shoots [[spoiler: his mother]] when she comes after him with a broken bottle. Then at the climax Hero has to do the same to one of Augustus' mooks. [[spoiler: Unless Spencer really pulled the trigger.]]
to:
* ChildrenForcedToKill: Locke shoots [[spoiler: his mother]] when she comes after him with a broken bottle. Then at the climax Hero has to do the same to one of Augustus' mooks. [[spoiler: Unless Spencer really helped pulled the trigger.]]
Changed line(s) 17 (click to see context) from:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and it appears that [[spoiler: Spencer fires the pistol Locke gave Hero to protect herself. With Hero even saying "I didn't know you were real!"]]
to:
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and it Spence appears that [[spoiler: Spencer fires the pistol to be acting independently while looking for Locke gave Hero to protect herself. With Hero even saying "I didn't know you were real!"]]when the latter is wandering in hallucinatory state.
Added DiffLines:
* NotSoDifferent: Augustus tries to pull this on Locke, claiming the detective is no better than a drug dealer after [[spoiler: shooting Locke's mother when she tried to attack him with a broken bottle.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
* {{Expy:}} Being a (sorta) AffectionateParody of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' almost every character is this. Locke is Calvin, Spencer is Hobbes, Sophie is Suzie, and Augustus is [[spoiler: Calvin's unnamed father.]]
to:
* {{Expy:}} {{Expy}}: Being a (sorta) AffectionateParody of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' almost every character is this. Locke is Calvin, Spencer is Hobbes, Sophie is Suzie, and Augustus is [[spoiler: Calvin's unnamed father.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* CityNoir: The unnamed city Locke operates in seems to follow this. There are only a handful of scenes in daylight and the entire is run down and grubby.
* {{Expy:}} Being a (sorta) AffectionateParody of ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' almost every character is this. Locke is Calvin, Spencer is Hobbes, Sophie is Suzie, and Augustus is [[spoiler: Calvin's unnamed father.]]
* MadeOfIron: Locke, per the genre. He survives and rapidly recovers from several punishing fistfights, a car crash, being shot in the shoulder, and a drug overdose that was supposed to give him a fatal heart attack.
--->'''Spencer:''' "Like I always told Locke. I'm as real as you need me to be."
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* TalkingDownTheSuicidal: Spencer has to talk down Locke during his childhood, when the latter almost jumps off the roof of a building.
to:
* TalkingDownTheSuicidal: Spencer has to talk down Locke during his childhood, when the latter almost jumps off the roof of a building.building.
* WhamLine: When Locke accuses Augustus of murdering Sophie.
--->'''Augustus:''' "Why would I kill my best courier?"
* WhamLine: When Locke accuses Augustus of murdering Sophie.
--->'''Augustus:''' "Why would I kill my best courier?"
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* MushroomSamba: One of Augustus' minions pumps Locke full of drugs to fake an overdose death, and Locke starts seeing the world as "Raygun Reynolds" an expy of Calvin's Spaceman Spiff persona.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 15 (click to see context) from:
* PoliceBrutality: Locke engages in some JackBauerInterrogationTechnique with Spencer, when the latter initially refuses to talk.
to:
* PoliceBrutality: Locke engages in some JackBauerInterrogationTechnique with Spencer, Stanley, when the latter initially refuses to talk.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
''Spencer and Locke'' is a comic written by David Pepose and drawn by artist Jorge Santigo Jr. with the premise "What if [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Calvin]] grew up in ComicBook/SinCity and became a police detective?"
Answer: Locke is a massively screwed up {{Determinator}} out to solve the murder of his children crush, and his stuffed panther Spencer is still around to help him out.
----
!!Provides Examples of:
* AbusiveParents: Locke was regularly beaten by his mother
* ArtShift: The flashbacks to Locke's childhood are drawn in [[Creator/BillWatterson Bill Watterson's]] style, making the realistic trauma Locke experiences in them so much worse.
* BigBad: Augustus [[spoiler: Locke, Spencer's father.]]
* ChildrenForcedToKill: Locke shoots [[spoiler: his mother]] when she comes after him with a broken bottle. Then at the climax Hero has to do the same to one of Augustus' mooks. [[spoiler: Unless Spencer really pulled the trigger.]]
* CrapsaccharineWorld: Locke's childhood as he remembers it.
* ImaginaryFriend: Spencer.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and it appears that [[spoiler: Spencer fires the pistol Locke gave Hero to protect herself. With Hero even saying "I didn't know you were real!"]]
* PoliceBrutality: Locke engages in some JackBauerInterrogationTechnique with Spencer, when the latter initially refuses to talk.
--->'''Locke:''' (opening a bag full of tools) "I call it [[CalvinBall Convict Ball.]] It's never the same game twice."
* SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Stanley, Locke's childhood nemesis, has gone from beating up kids for their lunch money to funneling drugs and raping women.
* ShockingSwerve: Haha! Little Locke is barreling down the street with Spencer in his toy wagon at 3 AM, annoying his mom! Then she starts beating him...
* TalkingDownTheSuicidal: Spencer has to talk down Locke during his childhood, when the latter almost jumps off the roof of a building.
Answer: Locke is a massively screwed up {{Determinator}} out to solve the murder of his children crush, and his stuffed panther Spencer is still around to help him out.
----
!!Provides Examples of:
* AbusiveParents: Locke was regularly beaten by his mother
* ArtShift: The flashbacks to Locke's childhood are drawn in [[Creator/BillWatterson Bill Watterson's]] style, making the realistic trauma Locke experiences in them so much worse.
* BigBad: Augustus [[spoiler: Locke, Spencer's father.]]
* ChildrenForcedToKill: Locke shoots [[spoiler: his mother]] when she comes after him with a broken bottle. Then at the climax Hero has to do the same to one of Augustus' mooks. [[spoiler: Unless Spencer really pulled the trigger.]]
* CrapsaccharineWorld: Locke's childhood as he remembers it.
* ImaginaryFriend: Spencer.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: For the most part Spencer is treated as a figment of Locke's imagination, except that at one point Locke orders Spencer to drive their car while in the middle of a shootout, and it appears that [[spoiler: Spencer fires the pistol Locke gave Hero to protect herself. With Hero even saying "I didn't know you were real!"]]
* PoliceBrutality: Locke engages in some JackBauerInterrogationTechnique with Spencer, when the latter initially refuses to talk.
--->'''Locke:''' (opening a bag full of tools) "I call it [[CalvinBall Convict Ball.]] It's never the same game twice."
* SchoolyardBullyAllGrownUp: Stanley, Locke's childhood nemesis, has gone from beating up kids for their lunch money to funneling drugs and raping women.
* ShockingSwerve: Haha! Little Locke is barreling down the street with Spencer in his toy wagon at 3 AM, annoying his mom! Then she starts beating him...
* TalkingDownTheSuicidal: Spencer has to talk down Locke during his childhood, when the latter almost jumps off the roof of a building.
