History Literature / HeroComplex

* HornyVikings: Grant and Henrik, to varying degrees. While Grant's libido is certainly healthy, his brother Henrik turns this trope UpToEleven.

* [[{{Our Tropes Are Different}} Our Knights Are Different]]: The Brotherhood's Knights take inspiration from the old chivalrous archetype, but they're much more akin to a highly centralized, disciplined {{superhero}} society.

* {{Bigger is Better in Bed}}: Noah is simultaneously impressed and put off by [[{{Biggus Dickus}} Grant's endowment]].

'''Major tropes present in ''Hero Complex'' are''':

* AncientOrderOfProtectors: The Knights of the Brotherhood of the Horizon.

* {{Apocalypse How}}: Class Z, if the [[{{Villain Antagonist}} Bad Guy]] wins.

* BadassCrew: Grant and his squadron of fellow Knights.
* BadDate: Noah has one with one with an abusive JerkAss in "Date Blind".
* {{Ballroom Blitz}}: The attack on the Brotherhood's Ambassador Ball. Adam's fancy penthouse party also falls under this.

* BettyAndVeronica: An all-male example with Noah ("Archie"), Grant ("Betty") and Henrik ("Veronica").

* {{Bioluminescence Is Cool}}: The fashion aesthetic of Earth Alpha's citizens.

* {{Casual Danger Dialogue}}: The Knights during their missions, and Noah on occasion.

* CrapsackWorld: The Dead Earth. A few of the referenced Earths fall under this as well.

* {{Dance of Romance}}: Noah and Grant have one during "Hexes". Henrik forces Noah into another in "Dance with the Devil".
* {{Decadent Court}}: "The Trial of the Viking Knight"
* {{Deconstruction}}: Of chivalrous {{Lady and Knight}} romance fiction.

* {{Doppelganger Attack}}: The Ascendant’s method of waging war.
* {{The Earth Prime Theory}}: Earth Alpha functions as this.
* {{Elseworld}}: The wild variations of the different universes fall under this.
* {{End of the World Special}}
* {{Excalibur}}: The Ulfbur sword.
* {{Expendable Alternate Universe}}: How Earth 1012 is viewed by Earth Alpha.

* {{Fanservice}}: An exclusively male variety. Grant and Noah are frequently naked or in various states of undress, with and without each other. Henrik and Adam apply as well.

* {{Ghost Planet}}: The Dead Earth.
* {{Guy on Guy Is Hot}}: The sex scenes are written deliberately to invoke this.
* {{Halloween Episode}}: "Hexes".

* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: Between Noah and [[spoiler:Dark Grant]].
* {{Interdimensional Travel Device}}: The Orrery.

* LoverAndBeloved: Grant is the powerful leader/mentor to the younger, less experienced Noah.
* {{MacGuffin}}: The Source Crystal, which takes the physical form of a {{Mineral MacGuffin}}.
* {{Male Frontal Nudity}}: Frequently, even [[{{Fanservice}} outside of sex scenes]].
* {{Masquerade Ball}}: Adam's Halloween party is themed after this.

* {{Merged Reality}}: The Ascendant's ultimate EvilPlan.
* {{Missing Mom}}: Noah's, although the details of her absence are revealed gradually.
* {{Monumental Damage}}: Adam’s penthouse, the safehouse cottage, and Citadel Ballroom.
* {{The Multiverse}}: The story's sprawling setting.

* {{Noodle Incident}}: Whatever happened on the giant bunny Earth.

* TheOrder: The Brotherhood of the Horizon.

* {{Power Crystal}}: The Source Crystal.
* ProudWarriorRace: The vikings of the Northlands.
* RescueRomance: How Noah and Grant fall for each other.
* {{Rescue Sex}}: Played completely straight in "Bed of Revelations".
* {{Shout Out}}: [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]] is frequently invoked in "The Trial of the Viking Knight".
* {{Shower Scene}}: Present in "On Good Terms", "Grant and the Runaway", and "Enter One". The latter two examples fall under ShowerOfLove.
* {{Skyscraper City}}: The city beyond the Citadel. Has shades of NewNeoCity.

* TheSquad: [[{{The Leader}} Grant]], [[{{Friendly Sniper}} Vangarde]], [[{{The Squadette}} Thea]], [[{{The Smart Guy}} Lanfred]], [[{{The Heart}} Lisette]], and [[{{Tagalong Kid}} Noah]].
* {{Star Crossed Lovers}}: Noah and Grant.
* {{Storming the Castle}}: Grant in the prequel "Gods Must Die".
* {{Sword Fight}}: Thea's main method of attack. Noah engages in quite a few of these once he masters The Ulfbur.
* {{Talking Appliance Sidekick}}: The Citadel Directory. Also a bit of a {{One Scene Wonder}}.
* {{Trial of the Mystical Jury}}: The premise of "The Trial of the Viking Knight".

* {{Your Universe or Mine}}: The main source of contention between Noah and Grant. The rare times that they argue always involve the logistics of maintaining a relationship across two universes.

* {{Twin Banter}}: Between Lanfred and Lisette.

** Earth 2: An expy of TheDCU and populated by superheroes. Grant's Earth 2 counterpart is the Superman-esque Captain Viking, who romances Norah Newport, a female counterpart of Noah.

* {{Your Universe or Mine}}: The main source of contention between Noah and Grant. The rare times that they argue always involve the logistics of maintaining a relationship across two universes.

* {{Shout Out}}: [[{{Ace Attorney}} Phoenix Wright]] is frequently invoked in "The Trial of the Viking Knight".

* {{Love Triangle}}: Grant/Noah/Henrik are the main example, though Thea and Adam both rotate as the third point in the Grant/Noah relationship to lesser degrees..

* {{Holographic Terminal}}: A recurring design element within The Citadel. Lampshaded by [[{{Deadpan Snarker}} Noah]] frequently.

* LegendaryWeapon: The Ulfbur sword, which also falls under [[{{Infinity Plus One}} Infinity+1 Sword]] and SwordOfPlotAdvancement.