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* {{Diary}}: Most of the characters keep them and excerpts form parts of the narrative, particularly the first panels of strips, which have a recapitulatory nature.
-->'''Author's commentary''': Anonymous “true confessions” books were popular in the Victorian era, including books by servants of the famous or infamous, so I thought Victorian Dave could write one about his henching career.
-->'''Author's commentary''': Anonymous “true confessions” books were popular in the Victorian era, including books by servants of the famous or infamous, so I thought Victorian Dave could write one about his henching career.
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* KickedOutOfHeaven: Mell was allowed into Heaven by an angel who insisted, quite forcefully, on apologizing for the destruction some cherubim wrecked upon emerging from one of Dave's portals. She wasn't there long before she was thrown out, although she did get plenty of business cards though, [[EvilLawyerJoke since they really needed a lawyer]].
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* AnachronismStew: Fully deliberate in the costuming the arsenal of Mell's. And anything else, really.
to:
* AnachronismStew: Fully deliberate in the costuming costuming, the arsenal of Mell's.Mell's... And anything else, really.
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* PassFail: When transmogrified into Madblood, Dave makes at least minimal effort to fool Lovelace. It fails. Madblood, when transmogrified into Dave, can't for the life of him convince Helen (who decides to BluffTheImpostor, just for fun).
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* MaleGaze: According to Mell, the [[spoiler: Dave clone Helen B. also gave the cure against mad scientist syndrome to]] never looked in their faces.
to:
* MaleGaze: According to Mell, the [[spoiler: Dave clone Helen B. also gave who is being fed the cure against mad scientist syndrome to]] Walton's disease by Helen ]] never looked in their faces.
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* MinionMaracas: The cathartic power of this gets lampshaded by Artie when he's finally able to do it: %quote
to:
* MinionMaracas: The cathartic power of this gets lampshaded by Artie when he's finally able to do it: %quoteit. %%quote
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** Also foiling Dave are: his brother Bill (as a muggle with industrial-strenght WeirdnessCensor to Dave's ability to take weird in his stride - they also look very similar), Titus (another henchman, whose relationship with his female master is - unlike Dave's - strictly professional, also as the cynic to Dave's newly found optimism) and Madblood (similar interests and love lifes, but unlike him, Dave genuinely loves Helen).
to:
** Also foiling Dave are: his brother Bill (as a muggle with industrial-strenght WeirdnessCensor to Dave's ability to take weird in his stride - they also look very similar), Titus (another henchman, whose relationship with his female master is - unlike Dave's - strictly professional, also as the cynic to Dave's newly found optimism) and Madblood (similar interests and love lifes, but unlike him, Dave genuinely loves Helen). And, of course, Dave prime, almost-but-not-quite identical to Dave as he was five years back.
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* MercyKill: Attempted [[spoiler: by Madblood on Dave as the latter is spiralling into madness]] with a [[FridgeHorror telling comment]]:
-->'''[[spoiler: Madblood]]:''' He would do the same for me.
-->'''[[spoiler: Madblood]]:''' He would do the same for me.
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-->'''Mr. Davenport''': There's precious little else [[miss Narbon] can do to throw me off my-\\
to:
-->'''Mr. Davenport''': There's precious little else [[miss [miss Narbon] can do to throw me off my-\\
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* InsultBackfire: Madblood is quite proud to be an unsavoury
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* InsultBackfire: Madblood is quite proud to be an unsavoury character
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!! The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. proudly present the following tropes:
* BrainTransplant: Dave's to Hapax to Pim. Hapax's to Dave. Pim's to Dave. [[spoiler: Then Dave's back to Dave, Pim's to Mell, Mell's to Hapax.]] Everyone ends up happy.
* {{Costumer}}: In full steampunk resplendence.
* DashinglyDapperDerby: Worn by Victorian Dave, or mr. Davenport, the statistician.
* BrainTransplant: Dave's to Hapax to Pim. Hapax's to Dave. Pim's to Dave. [[spoiler: Then Dave's back to Dave, Pim's to Mell, Mell's to Hapax.]] Everyone ends up happy.
* {{Costumer}}: In full steampunk resplendence.
* DashinglyDapperDerby: Worn by Victorian Dave, or mr. Davenport, the statistician.
to:
* AnachronismStew: Fully deliberate in the costuming the arsenal of Mell's. And anything else, really.
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Mr. Davenport to miss Narbon, as they argue in chapter XXV:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': I love [Pim]!\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': Well, I love '''you'''!
* AlienAbduction: How Victorian Madblood ended up in space, or at least that is his claim.
* AliensSpeakingEnglish: The Amazon Women of Mars speak Italian [[spoiler: as taught to them by the old mme Narbon, who apparently had been their queen twenty years past]]. Some of them also speak a little English, presumably learned from the same source.
* AnswerCut: The question being rhetorical.
-->'''Mr. Davenport''': There's precious little else [[miss Narbon] can do to throw me off my-\\
spots her arrival, accompanied by [[spoiler: and kissing Pim-in-Davenport-body]]\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': -guard.
* ArtificialGill: Inverted - Madblood [[spoiler: aided by Pim]] has constructed a breathing apparatus that allows the FishPeople of Venus to survive out of water.
* ArtisticLicenseChemistry: Methane does not, actually, have a smell (but is often accompanied by other gases that do). It is also not an oxidiser, hence, no lifeforms can breathe it in our sense of "breathing". Then again, as an injection allows a "methane-breather" to survive without methane, perhaps ChemistryCanDoAnything?
* BreakingTheBonds: Hoped for by dr. Pim in chapter XXIII, but the Martians have [[DefiedTrope tied mr. Davenport in Hapax's body up quite expertly]].
* BombThrowingAnarchists: Mell has dynamited the local trouser factory for an unknown cause. She also thinks gunpowder has a "thousand uses around the house", so the cause might not have been very important.
* BrainTransplant:
* ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes: When our heroes temporarily rot in the venusian dungeon in chapter X, we can still see their eyes.
* ChandlersLaw: Amazon Women of Mars and their martian gun come out of nowhere to derail what remains of everyone's {{Evil Plan}}s in chapter XI. Later they use {{Tranquillizer Dart}}s for the same purpose.
* CommonalityConnection: Miss Narbon starts befriending dr. Pim immediately after determining that he is a fellow MadScientist. [[spoiler: He kisses her passionately following an exciting session of drawing logical conclusions, mere minutes after he wakes up
* {{Costumer}}: In full
* CowTools: The implements on the table in chapter XXIV are ''not'' surgical tools. Miss Narbon's MadScientistLaboratory contains quite a collection of wire spools and odd electrical contraptions.
* CypherLanguage: Venusian is English with each letter of each word written inside the previous letter, concentrically, inspired by [[https://www.omniglot.com/conscripts/swc.htm Square Word Calligraphy]]. TranslationConvention of words in angle quotes is used for the dialogue that readers need to understand.
* DashinglyDapperDerby: Worn by
* {{Diary}}: Most of the characters keep them and excerpts form parts of the narrative, particularly the first panels of strips, which have a recapitulatory nature.
-->'''Author's commentary''': Anonymous “true confessions” books were popular in the Victorian era, including books by servants of the famous or infamous, so I thought Victorian Dave could write one about his henching career.
* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe: Smoked by mr. Davenport, the statistician, whose mode of dress (at least, until he's stranded on Mars in his shirtsleeves) resembles Sherlock Holmes vaguely.
* EvilLaugh: Miss Narbon.
-->'''Miss Narbon''': heh heh heh\\
'''Mell''': You're plotting evil, aren't you, m'am? Aren't you?
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* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the Amazon Women of Mars oscillates between nearly normal and positively Jabberwockish. It's due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't actually speak Italian all that well.
* HotInHumanForm: Martian "women", since the template they have is of a cute blonde. [[spoiler: Also, Pim transplanted into Victorian Dave's body]].
* ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere: Mr. Davenport says this, then adds "I can see your house, too. It's the one with no roof."
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut: Helen is, rather dejectedly, contemplating how her attempt to reanimate a corpse has instead resulted in her discovering AntiGravity, which wasn't really what she had in mind (not to mention they're need to somehow get a dead body down from the ceiling before it goes manky) when Mr Davenport the statistician has a minor EurekaMoment. Cue {{Cliffhanger}}. [[spoiler: They build a spaceship in the next strip.]]
--> '''Mr. Davenport''': "I have an idea."
* HotInHumanForm: Martian "women", since the template they have is of a cute blonde. [[spoiler: Also, Pim transplanted into Victorian Dave's body]].
* ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere: Mr. Davenport says this, then adds "I can see your house, too. It's the one with no roof."
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut: Helen is, rather dejectedly, contemplating how her attempt to reanimate a corpse has instead resulted in her discovering AntiGravity, which wasn't really what she had in mind (not to mention they're need to somehow get a dead body down from the ceiling before it goes manky) when Mr Davenport the statistician has a minor EurekaMoment. Cue {{Cliffhanger}}. [[spoiler: They build a spaceship in the next strip.]]
--> '''Mr. Davenport''': "I have an idea."
to:
* FishPeople: The inhabitants of Venus resemble a variety of earthly aquatic creatures - Pim, for instance, is best described as a slightly monstrous octopus.
* GadgeteerGenius: Mr. Davenport, as his modern counterpart after him. He built an analytical engine. And had contributed greatly to {{Steampunk}} [[ThoseMagnificentFlyingMachines spaceship]].
* GentleGiant: Mr. Davenport in Hapax's body, towering over non-venusian characters, but vocally unwilling to eat people and act ungentelmanly at all.
-->'''Madblood''': You're a bloody useless space monster, do you know that?
* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the Amazon Women of Mars oscillates between nearly normal and positivelyJabberwockish. It's Jabberwockish, due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't does not actually speak Italian all that well.
* HamsterWheelPower: In chapter III, parts of the spaceship are gerbil-powered.
* HotInHumanForm: Martian "women", since the template they have is of acute blonde. lovely blonde, eerily similar to miss Narbon. [[spoiler: Also, Pim transplanted into Victorian Dave's body]].
mr. Davenport's body, at least where miss Narbon is concerned.]]
* HughMann: Inverted - Mr. Davenport really [[PassFail is no good at passing for the Venusian dictator]], Hapax Legomenon. And not only because he ''doesn't speak the language'' and is on the verge of panic most of the time. Still, his desperate makings-up keep fooling the fish people.
* ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere: Mr. Davenport saysthis, this during the lift-off, then adds "I can see your house, too. It's the one with no roof."
"
* TheIgor: Mell's job, but [[NoHeroToHisValet not her personality]].
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut:Helen Miss Narbon is, rather somewhat dejectedly, contemplating how her attempt to reanimate a corpse has instead resulted in her discovering the discovery of AntiGravity, which wasn't really what she had in mind (not to mention they're need to somehow get a dead body down from the ceiling before it goes manky) when Mr mr Davenport the statistician has a minor EurekaMoment. Cue {{Cliffhanger}}. [[spoiler: They build a spaceship in the next strip.]]
--> -->'''Mr. Davenport''': I have an idea.
* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: While certainly impressive, the ship Madblood uses is stolen from the Venusians [[spoiler: namely, from dr. Pim]].
* InsideJob: Pim, who has never been loyal to Venus in the first place, is easily convinced to help the protagonists.
* InsultBackfire: Madblood is quite proud to be an unsavoury
-->'''Mr. Davenport''': You're exploiting my sense of decency.\\
'''Madblood''': Oh, yes.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''':"I have an idea." That's ev-\\
'''Madblood''': Well, thank you.
And again:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': You're a cowardly wad of sputum, Professor.\\
'''Madblood''': Thank you, madam.
* GadgeteerGenius: Mr. Davenport, as his modern counterpart after him. He built an analytical engine. And had contributed greatly to {{Steampunk}} [[ThoseMagnificentFlyingMachines spaceship]].
* GentleGiant: Mr. Davenport in Hapax's body, towering over non-venusian characters, but vocally unwilling to eat people and act ungentelmanly at all.
-->'''Madblood''': You're a bloody useless space monster, do you know that?
* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the Amazon Women of Mars oscillates between nearly normal and positively
* HamsterWheelPower: In chapter III, parts of the spaceship are gerbil-powered.
* HotInHumanForm: Martian "women", since the template they have is of a
* HughMann: Inverted - Mr. Davenport really [[PassFail is no good at passing for the Venusian dictator]], Hapax Legomenon. And not only because he ''doesn't speak the language'' and is on the verge of panic most of the time. Still, his desperate makings-up keep fooling the fish people.
* ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere: Mr. Davenport says
* TheIgor: Mell's job, but [[NoHeroToHisValet not her personality]].
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut:
* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: While certainly impressive, the ship Madblood uses is stolen from the Venusians [[spoiler: namely, from dr. Pim]].
* InsideJob: Pim, who has never been loyal to Venus in the first place, is easily convinced to help the protagonists.
* InsultBackfire: Madblood is quite proud to be an unsavoury
-->'''Mr. Davenport''': You're exploiting my sense of decency.\\
'''Madblood''': Oh, yes.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''':
'''Madblood''': Well, thank you.
And again:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': You're a cowardly wad of sputum, Professor.\\
'''Madblood''': Thank you, madam.
Changed line(s) 508,514 (click to see context) from:
* MarsNeedsWomen: "Mars Needs Men" strip which... plays with the trope.
* NinjaMaid: Victorian Mell is Helen's maid. No significant differences from the modern Mell, really.
* SomethingThatBeginsWithBoring: When two alien guards play "I Spy" to pass the time guarding the heroes' spaceship.
* {{Steampunk}}: Oh, yes.
* {{Polyamory}}: It ends with a OneTrueThreesome between Helen, Dave, and [[spoiler: Pim [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The Marsians, although it's difficult for them and they need a template.
* NinjaMaid: Victorian Mell is Helen's maid. No significant differences from the modern Mell, really.
* SomethingThatBeginsWithBoring: When two alien guards play "I Spy" to pass the time guarding the heroes' spaceship.
* {{Steampunk}}: Oh, yes.
* {{Polyamory}}: It ends with a OneTrueThreesome between Helen, Dave, and [[spoiler: Pim [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The Marsians, although it's difficult for them and they need a template.
to:
* MarsNeedsWomen: "Mars Needs Men" strip which... plays JealousRomanticWitness: Mr. Davenport is quite upset seeing miss Narbon in the arms of... his own, actually, but the mind behind them is Pim's. [[spoiler: They resolve it peacefully later.]]
* LetMeGetThisStraight: One of the Martians recapitulates the events so far in chapter XVI.
* LightningCanDoAnything: Miss Narbon's ELECTRICAL machine fails to reanimate the dead. But it does create AntiGravity.
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Pim remarks:
-->'''Pim''': We're each offered the choice between being a pudgy little statistician and the god-king of a planet... and we each choose the statistician. Amazing.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': Dr. Pim, I have little patience for-\\
'''Pim''': [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Do you love her, too?]]
* LoveRedeems: For a given value of redemption, but dr. Pim loses his treacherous ways and becomes quite agreeable upon falling in love with miss Narbon.
* MadScientist: Miss Narbon calls herself "gentlewoman mad scientist" in thetrope.
very second panel, the first one depicting the DramaticThunder that accompanies her bringing-back-the-dead exploits.
* MeatgrinderSurgery: Solely for {{Brain Transplant}}ing purposes, performed by miss Narbon as well as by Martians.
* MissingStepsPlan: Miss Narbon's EvilPlan to conquer Venus by [[ImpersonationGambit having mr. Davenport impersonating a Venusian]] and the rest of the humans [[TrojanPrisoner playing captives]].
-->'''Miss Narbon''': We'll work out the details later.
* MistakenIdentity: Miss Narbon is taken for their queen by the Amazon Women of Mars [[spoiler: because she's the queen's incredibly similar-looking daughter.]]
* NinjaMaid: Victorian Mell isHelen's Miss Narbon's maid. No significant differences [[ServileSnarker She is rather more sullen and snarky than her modern counterpart]].
* SendInTheClones: Amazon Women of Mars all look the same, because they're template shapeshifters and they only have one template. [[spoiler: That of mme Narbon. Later they aquire Madblood's template and happily transform into his shape.]]
* ServileSnarker: Victorian Mell. Every other line from her is [[DeadpanSnarker positively arid]], unless she gets her hands on explosives.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Dialogues tend to be more verbose than those of the present-day characters, unless shorter is funnier. For instance:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': My dear Mr. Davenport, for as long as you have been in my service, I have never known you to propose an adventure, except to propose that they stop.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': Allow me to gently note that our adventures inevitably perpetrate [[AmusingInjuries considerable harm upon my person]].
* ShirtlessCaptives: RareFemaleExample as miss Narbon is tied up by the Martians wearing naught but her Victorian lingerie.
* ShoutOut:
** InternalHomage - Victorian Dave Barker is the subject of miss Narbon's raising the dead experiment (he might not have been dead from themodern Mell, really.
''very'' start...)
** Chapter III opens with a dialogue taken from ''Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde'' (adjusted for gerbils)
** The grappling arm was directly inspired by a scene in ''Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000TheMovie''
** A [[GeniusBonus hapax legomenon]] is a word which occurs only once in a given body of work, "pim" is a hapax legomenon from the Bible
** The brain-swapping is inspired by “The Lost World,” a comics serial from the 1940s
** Pim's magnifying transmitter has been built by UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla in RealLife
** “The Dead and Living Meet”, the title of the chapter [[spoiler: that reveals how mme Narbon has been the queen of Mars]] is taken from ''Literature/{{She}}'', another story about a powerful and terrifying queen
* ShootTheBuilder: Madblood claims that Venusians have tried to kill him to keep his invention secret.
* {{Slapstick}}: The physical commedy that befalls mr. Davenport includes: getting his rear side stuck in a porthole (while the others are arguing), a variety of AmusingInjuries mentioned in dialogue, ''several'' involuntary {{Brain Transplant}}s...
* SolarSystemNeighbors: The Venusians are hulking FishPeople, the Martians are [[spoiler: {{Shapeshifting}} blobs]].
* SomethingThatBeginsWithBoring:When two alien Two venusian guards play "I Spy" to pass the time guarding the heroes' spaceship.
* {{Steampunk}}:Oh, yes.
Deliciously so.
* StrappedToAnOperatingTable: The Martians [[DeusExMachina resolve the problem]] of mr. Davenport and dr. Pim's using each other's bodies [[spoiler: and of who is going to rule Venus now]] that way.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: The cover proudly proclaims this is "not one of the vulgar 'Penny Dreadfuls'"
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Miss Narbon's justification for her conquering Venus idea:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': But if we do nothing, the Earth faces ruin! By someone other than me!
* OpportunisticBastard: Madblood, unsuccessfully and yet - unrepentfully. Then again...
-->'''Mr. Davenport''': What about miss Narbon?\\
'''Madblood''': Her, I shall either kill or tame through marriage.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': I think she has the same plans for you.\\
'''Madblood''' (with a goofy smile): Indeed. It shall be a glorious battle.
* OurFounder: The Martians have erected a statue of their queen, which the heroes have the opportunity to behold in the chapter XX.
* PaintingTheMedium: There's quite a lot of ornate Victorian fonts. Miss Narbon speaking in a sugary tone is conveyed by little hearts.
-->'''Author's commentary''': I like Madblood lifting Helen’s overlarge word balloon. I wish I’d done more stuff like that throughout Narbonic. There was certainly plenty of dialogue wordy enough to warrant the characters getting fed up and shoving it aside.
* ParasolOfPrettiness: Miss Narbon on the cover.
* PlanetaryNation: Both Mars and Venus.
* {{Polyamory}}:It The story ends with a OneTrueThreesome in an... [[LoveTriangle "equitable and agreeable mature sort of agreement"]] between Helen, Dave, miss Narbon, mr. Davenport, and [[spoiler: Pim [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
body. Mell, in Hapax's body, is meanwhile on her way to TakeOverTheWorld, or at least the planet Venus.]]
* PreviouslyOn: Each chapter begins with a recapitulation of events (often taken from characters' diaries) or panels of [[{{Exposition}} expository nature]].
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: Only ''after'' inadvertently killing him and transplanting mr. Davenport's brain into his body our heroes land on Venus to learn that the Venusian pursuing Madblood wasn't a guard, but the god-emperor, Hapax Legomenon himself. This worries no one save mr. Davenport, who dislikes impersonating Venusian aristocracy.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Miss Narbon's idea after she first hears of Venusians plot to do just that is to turn the tables on them and rule their planet. Which she proceeds to try to do, with adjustments along the way. In th end, after many shenanigans, miss Narbon ruefully tells herself that she wanted to rule the planet Venus... by Pim's side... as he's leaving forever... [[spoiler: not. It's Mell in Hapax's body leaving to take over Venus, while Pim, in Mell's body, is by her side]]. She spares but one final thought for Venus.
-->'''Miss Narbon''': Oh, that poor, poor planet.
* TortureTechnician: It is in this capacity that miss Narbon and Mell first meet dr. Pim.
* VenusIsWet: In the classic early SF approach, a thriving, aquatic jungle-world populated by [[FishPeople fish-like savages]]. Even their [[ThoseMagnificentFlyingMachines spaceships are fish-shaped]]. Mars is, just as classically, a rocky desolation.
-->'''Madblood''': Venus! Mist-shrouded world of sweltering secrets and hothouse passion... The morning-star ever beckoning, bright and beguiling live a vast, sparkly woman... [[{{Bathos}} It smells awful]].
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The Marsians, althoughit's it is difficult for them and they need a template.
-->'''Madblood''': Do you mean to tell me that none of you are real women? That I have been engaged in tempestuous entanglements with a harem of- of-
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: In chapter XVI the Amazon Women of Mars [[MarsNeedsWomen wish dr. Madblood to teach them]] as much about it as he is able to. He's only too glad to be of help.
* WomenAreDelicate: How miss Narbon [[ConversationalTroping explains]] her and Mell's [[ImmuneToSlapstick slapstick immunity]] (and the tendency of slapstick to fall upon mr. Davenport).
* WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants: Unlike the meticulously planned modern storyline:
-->'''Author's commentary''': the Victorian story was pretty much made up as I went along.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler: Pim, after getting on board of her spaceship and launching it into space, attempts this. The attempt is met with a [[BatterUp cricket bat wielded by Mell]] and a surgical blade wielded by miss Narbon. Which is how he ends up in mr. Davenport's body.]]
[[/folder]]
* LetMeGetThisStraight: One of the Martians recapitulates the events so far in chapter XVI.
* LightningCanDoAnything: Miss Narbon's ELECTRICAL machine fails to reanimate the dead. But it does create AntiGravity.
* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Pim remarks:
-->'''Pim''': We're each offered the choice between being a pudgy little statistician and the god-king of a planet... and we each choose the statistician. Amazing.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': Dr. Pim, I have little patience for-\\
'''Pim''': [[ArmorPiercingQuestion Do you love her, too?]]
* LoveRedeems: For a given value of redemption, but dr. Pim loses his treacherous ways and becomes quite agreeable upon falling in love with miss Narbon.
* MadScientist: Miss Narbon calls herself "gentlewoman mad scientist" in the
* MeatgrinderSurgery: Solely for {{Brain Transplant}}ing purposes, performed by miss Narbon as well as by Martians.
* MissingStepsPlan: Miss Narbon's EvilPlan to conquer Venus by [[ImpersonationGambit having mr. Davenport impersonating a Venusian]] and the rest of the humans [[TrojanPrisoner playing captives]].
-->'''Miss Narbon''': We'll work out the details later.
* MistakenIdentity: Miss Narbon is taken for their queen by the Amazon Women of Mars [[spoiler: because she's the queen's incredibly similar-looking daughter.]]
* NinjaMaid: Victorian Mell is
* SendInTheClones: Amazon Women of Mars all look the same, because they're template shapeshifters and they only have one template. [[spoiler: That of mme Narbon. Later they aquire Madblood's template and happily transform into his shape.]]
* ServileSnarker: Victorian Mell. Every other line from her is [[DeadpanSnarker positively arid]], unless she gets her hands on explosives.
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Dialogues tend to be more verbose than those of the present-day characters, unless shorter is funnier. For instance:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': My dear Mr. Davenport, for as long as you have been in my service, I have never known you to propose an adventure, except to propose that they stop.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': Allow me to gently note that our adventures inevitably perpetrate [[AmusingInjuries considerable harm upon my person]].
* ShirtlessCaptives: RareFemaleExample as miss Narbon is tied up by the Martians wearing naught but her Victorian lingerie.
* ShoutOut:
** InternalHomage - Victorian Dave Barker is the subject of miss Narbon's raising the dead experiment (he might not have been dead from the
** Chapter III opens with a dialogue taken from ''Literature/TheStrangeCaseOfDrJekyllAndMrHyde'' (adjusted for gerbils)
** The grappling arm was directly inspired by a scene in ''Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000TheMovie''
** A [[GeniusBonus hapax legomenon]] is a word which occurs only once in a given body of work, "pim" is a hapax legomenon from the Bible
** The brain-swapping is inspired by “The Lost World,” a comics serial from the 1940s
** Pim's magnifying transmitter has been built by UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla in RealLife
** “The Dead and Living Meet”, the title of the chapter [[spoiler: that reveals how mme Narbon has been the queen of Mars]] is taken from ''Literature/{{She}}'', another story about a powerful and terrifying queen
* ShootTheBuilder: Madblood claims that Venusians have tried to kill him to keep his invention secret.
* {{Slapstick}}: The physical commedy that befalls mr. Davenport includes: getting his rear side stuck in a porthole (while the others are arguing), a variety of AmusingInjuries mentioned in dialogue, ''several'' involuntary {{Brain Transplant}}s...
* SolarSystemNeighbors: The Venusians are hulking FishPeople, the Martians are [[spoiler: {{Shapeshifting}} blobs]].
* SomethingThatBeginsWithBoring:
* {{Steampunk}}:
* StrappedToAnOperatingTable: The Martians [[DeusExMachina resolve the problem]] of mr. Davenport and dr. Pim's using each other's bodies [[spoiler: and of who is going to rule Venus now]] that way.
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: The cover proudly proclaims this is "not one of the vulgar 'Penny Dreadfuls'"
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Miss Narbon's justification for her conquering Venus idea:
-->'''Miss Narbon''': But if we do nothing, the Earth faces ruin! By someone other than me!
* OpportunisticBastard: Madblood, unsuccessfully and yet - unrepentfully. Then again...
-->'''Mr. Davenport''': What about miss Narbon?\\
'''Madblood''': Her, I shall either kill or tame through marriage.\\
'''Mr. Davenport''': I think she has the same plans for you.\\
'''Madblood''' (with a goofy smile): Indeed. It shall be a glorious battle.
* OurFounder: The Martians have erected a statue of their queen, which the heroes have the opportunity to behold in the chapter XX.
* PaintingTheMedium: There's quite a lot of ornate Victorian fonts. Miss Narbon speaking in a sugary tone is conveyed by little hearts.
-->'''Author's commentary''': I like Madblood lifting Helen’s overlarge word balloon. I wish I’d done more stuff like that throughout Narbonic. There was certainly plenty of dialogue wordy enough to warrant the characters getting fed up and shoving it aside.
* ParasolOfPrettiness: Miss Narbon on the cover.
* PlanetaryNation: Both Mars and Venus.
* {{Polyamory}}:
* PreviouslyOn: Each chapter begins with a recapitulation of events (often taken from characters' diaries) or panels of [[{{Exposition}} expository nature]].
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: Only ''after'' inadvertently killing him and transplanting mr. Davenport's brain into his body our heroes land on Venus to learn that the Venusian pursuing Madblood wasn't a guard, but the god-emperor, Hapax Legomenon himself. This worries no one save mr. Davenport, who dislikes impersonating Venusian aristocracy.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Miss Narbon's idea after she first hears of Venusians plot to do just that is to turn the tables on them and rule their planet. Which she proceeds to try to do, with adjustments along the way. In th end, after many shenanigans, miss Narbon ruefully tells herself that she wanted to rule the planet Venus... by Pim's side... as he's leaving forever... [[spoiler: not. It's Mell in Hapax's body leaving to take over Venus, while Pim, in Mell's body, is by her side]]. She spares but one final thought for Venus.
-->'''Miss Narbon''': Oh, that poor, poor planet.
* TortureTechnician: It is in this capacity that miss Narbon and Mell first meet dr. Pim.
* VenusIsWet: In the classic early SF approach, a thriving, aquatic jungle-world populated by [[FishPeople fish-like savages]]. Even their [[ThoseMagnificentFlyingMachines spaceships are fish-shaped]]. Mars is, just as classically, a rocky desolation.
-->'''Madblood''': Venus! Mist-shrouded world of sweltering secrets and hothouse passion... The morning-star ever beckoning, bright and beguiling live a vast, sparkly woman... [[{{Bathos}} It smells awful]].
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The Marsians, although
-->'''Madblood''': Do you mean to tell me that none of you are real women? That I have been engaged in tempestuous entanglements with a harem of- of-
* WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove: In chapter XVI the Amazon Women of Mars [[MarsNeedsWomen wish dr. Madblood to teach them]] as much about it as he is able to. He's only too glad to be of help.
* WomenAreDelicate: How miss Narbon [[ConversationalTroping explains]] her and Mell's [[ImmuneToSlapstick slapstick immunity]] (and the tendency of slapstick to fall upon mr. Davenport).
* WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants: Unlike the meticulously planned modern storyline:
-->'''Author's commentary''': the Victorian story was pretty much made up as I went along.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler: Pim, after getting on board of her spaceship and launching it into space, attempts this. The attempt is met with a [[BatterUp cricket bat wielded by Mell]] and a surgical blade wielded by miss Narbon. Which is how he ends up in mr. Davenport's body.]]
[[/folder]]
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Changed line(s) 241 (click to see context) from:
-->[[spoiler:'''Dave''']] (completely deadpan): "I'm your future, and I hate you. I'm going to electrocute you now." (zap!)
to:
-->[[spoiler:'''Dave''']] (completely deadpan): "I'm your future, and I hate you. I'm going to [[KillingYourAlternateSelf electrocute you now.now]]." (zap!)
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some more refurbishing
Deleted line(s) 62,63 (click to see context) :
* AffablyEvil: Helen and Mell do pretty unpleasant, not to mention unethical and irresponsible, things pretty much constantly. But they're so darn charming its easy to forget.
--> '''Helen''': Nice to have you back, Mell. [[{{Kneecapping}} Shoot out his knees]].
--> '''Helen''': Nice to have you back, Mell. [[{{Kneecapping}} Shoot out his knees]].
* ApologyGift: In the very last strips, to apologise for [[spoiler: what he did during his breakdown, Dave gives Helen the island, on the grounds that she said it was where she felt happiest.]]
-->'''Dave''': I know. I can't buy your love.\\
[[spoiler: '''Helen''']]: You can try.
-->'''Dave''': I know. I can't buy your love.\\
[[spoiler: '''Helen''']]: You can try.
** Other than that, during Dave's MentalTimeTravel trip, Future Mell informs him that "the most dire predictions of your time have come true", including mass extinctions, melting polar ice caps, and a Britney comeback.
Changed line(s) 82,83 (click to see context) from:
--> '''Dave''': "Is this about the sentient meme?"\\
'''Helen''': "No, it's not about the sentient meme. I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient meme! On second thought, let's make it about the sentient meme."
'''Helen''': "No, it's not about the sentient meme. I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient meme! On second thought, let's make it about the sentient meme."
to:
'''Helen''':
'''Dave''': Oh... good.\\
'''Helen''': OnSecondThought, let's make
* CelebCrush: Creator/JenniferConnelly for Madblood. He intends to make her his bride when he conquers the world (Helen can be a concubine).
** The Tinasky study. [[spoiler: Or, Helen's longitidunal study on mad genius. Which uses Dave as the test subject.]] It's mentioned repeatedly, and it's to lecture on this that Helen is invited to the mad scientific conference,
Deleted line(s) 133 (click to see context) :
%% -->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* ComedicSociopathy: So, a MadScientist and a PsychoForHire are among the main characters of a webcomic...
--> '''Helen''': Nice to have you back, Mell. [[{{Kneecapping}} Shoot out his knees]].
--> '''Helen''': Nice to have you back, Mell. [[{{Kneecapping}} Shoot out his knees]].
-->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Pretty much.
* TheMadHatter: There's only so much you can do with being a Mad Scientist...
* MadScienceFair: "Professor Madblood and the Lovelace Affair" takes place at one of these, providing networking opportunities for Dave (who meets with the head of, and joins the [[WeirdTradeUnion Henchmen Trade Union]]) and Helen (who shares some of her results). In more plotty news, [[spoiler: Titus works out Dave's a MadScientist, and Lovelace fails to meet with Dave]]. Helen reminisces about having been taken to these by her mother - as an exhibit.
* MadScienceFair: "Professor Madblood and the Lovelace Affair" takes place at one of these, providing networking opportunities for Dave (who meets with the head of, and joins the [[WeirdTradeUnion Henchmen Trade Union]]) and Helen (who shares some of her results). In more plotty news, [[spoiler: Titus works out Dave's a MadScientist, and Lovelace fails to meet with Dave]]. Helen reminisces about having been taken to these by her mother - as an exhibit.
* MagicalGirlfriend: In a way, Helen for Dave. He'd never even dream of having all the experiences she put him through. %%quote
* ManifestoMakingMalcontent: Helen does this once, and it turns the attention of ANTONIO SMITH, THE FORENSIC LINGUIST!
* NeedleInAStackOfNeedles: When Dave (transmogrified into a duplicate of Professor Madblood) is trapped on Professor Madblood's moon base, he tries to hide out in Madblood's hanger of 15000 robotic duplicates of himself. The real Madblood comes up with a very direct way of dealing with the problem:
-->'''Madblood''': "Attention robots! I will begin by strafing you with a flamethrower and then build from there!"
-->'''Madblood''': "Attention robots! I will begin by strafing you with a flamethrower and then build from there!"
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: The battle between Mell and Dr. Narbon during the "Battle for the Lost Diamond Mines of Brazil". Lampshaded to hell and back when Mell comments not only on how awesome it was, but how "hard to draw" it would have been.
Changed line(s) 298 (click to see context) from:
-->''"Can't we go one week without dynamiting our way out of something's gullet?"''
to:
%% -->''"Can't we go one week without dynamiting our way out of something's gullet?"''
* PenalColony: The island Dave Conspiracy owns, off the coast of Brazil. Our protagonists end up there for a while. [[spoiler: In the end, Dave gets the island for himself and gives it to Helen as an ApologyGift]].
* PolitenessJudo: Mell, who's been sent to kill Dr. Narbon, thinks it over and decides that Dr. Narbon is far smarter than her and would see through any tricks she tried to gain entrance to the lair. Her method for getting in? [[spoiler: Showing up at the front door with a box of wine and announcing exactly why she's there.]]
* PoweredByAForsakenChild: Aside from [[spoiler: Future Dave's time machine]], the nefarious plan by the hamsters [[spoiler: involves using geniuses in PeopleJars as an energy source.]]
Changed line(s) 309 (click to see context) from:
* PowerPerversionPotential:
to:
* PowerPerversionPotential:PowerPerversionPotential: The GenderBender serum opens up a world of fun...
* PsmithPsyndrome: ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST can hear your semicolons.
* RageAgainstTheAuthor: In a Sunday strip, set right after dr. Narbon kills Dave, Helen and Mell are trying to be in a huff about it. The author bribes them with a tropical beach, cute swimsuits, half a dozen sunbathing John Cusacks, and finally, multicoloured drinks with umbrellas, which do the trick.
* RefusingParadise: None of the gamers from Dave's group really wants to go to Heaven right now - Mell does go, but gets herself kicked out on purpose a month or so later.
* ReinventingTheTelephone: When sending Dave to Madblood's moonbase, Helen ''really'' wants to devise a complicated, over-the-top, Mad Science-ey communications system. But Dave [[DefiedTrope bought them cell phones]]. And will pay the roaming charges. [[spoiler: Of course, what Helen sort-of-misses here is that he got cell phones that work outside of the cell-phone network, which isn't really possible without Mad Science and/or a [=TARDIS=].]]
--> '''Helen''': There's an aesthetic component to this job that you just don't seem to '''get'''.
* ReinventingTheTelephone: When sending Dave to Madblood's moonbase, Helen ''really'' wants to devise a complicated, over-the-top, Mad Science-ey communications system. But Dave [[DefiedTrope bought them cell phones]]. And will pay the roaming charges. [[spoiler: Of course, what Helen sort-of-misses here is that he got cell phones that work outside of the cell-phone network, which isn't really possible without Mad Science and/or a [=TARDIS=].]]
--> '''Helen''': There's an aesthetic component to this job that you just don't seem to '''get'''.
* RetGone: What do you mean, Dave's smoking habit? Dave never smoked! What "Andre the Giant zippo"? Stained fingernails? ''Three packs a day''?
-->'''Helen''': Of course you don't smoke.\\
'''Dave''': [[TimeTravelTenseTrouble Ah, but I did! And now I don't! Only I didn't! So I haven't and I can't!]]
* RetroactiveWish: Artie and Dave are running for their lives through an [[CollapsingLair imminently exploding moonbase]] while Artie is stuck in a facsimile of Dave's body:
-->'''Artie''': I'm not accustomed to this body! If only I weren't some huge, flabby, imperfectly bipedal ape, I could— [Artie transforms back into a gerbil]\\
'''Artie''': [thinking] Oh, sure, but when I say, "If only Congress would unilaterally withdraw forces from the Mideast," the ironic wish fulfillment '''never''' kicks in.
-->'''Helen''': Of course you don't smoke.\\
'''Dave''': [[TimeTravelTenseTrouble Ah, but I did! And now I don't! Only I didn't! So I haven't and I can't!]]
* RetroactiveWish: Artie and Dave are running for their lives through an [[CollapsingLair imminently exploding moonbase]] while Artie is stuck in a facsimile of Dave's body:
-->'''Artie''': I'm not accustomed to this body! If only I weren't some huge, flabby, imperfectly bipedal ape, I could— [Artie transforms back into a gerbil]\\
'''Artie''': [thinking] Oh, sure, but when I say, "If only Congress would unilaterally withdraw forces from the Mideast," the ironic wish fulfillment '''never''' kicks in.
* ReversePsychology: And Artie is ''supposed'' to be superintelligent...
-->'''Artie:''' You want me to teleport to the moon? How expendable do you think I am?\\
'''Helen:''' I'm sorry, Artie. Sometimes I forget how small and helpless you are.\\
'''Artie:''' Wha-- Now, see, this is why I've been filing all those complaints to the ACLU! You constantly assume I can't perform equally simply because of my species! Well I'm sick of it! I can rescue Dave and Mell at least as well as a primate!\\
'''Helen:''' ''[thinks]'' I need a new hobby.
-->'''Artie:''' You want me to teleport to the moon? How expendable do you think I am?\\
'''Helen:''' I'm sorry, Artie. Sometimes I forget how small and helpless you are.\\
'''Artie:''' Wha-- Now, see, this is why I've been filing all those complaints to the ACLU! You constantly assume I can't perform equally simply because of my species! Well I'm sick of it! I can rescue Dave and Mell at least as well as a primate!\\
'''Helen:''' ''[thinks]'' I need a new hobby.
* RippleEffectProofMemory: MentalTimeTravel ''does'' change things, but the traveller is the only person who remembers the old timeline. Like that he used to smoke, or something. Because [[TimeTravelTenseTrouble now he didn't]].
* Robinsonade: The cast gets stuck on the Daves' [[PenalColony prison island]] for a while and reenacts this trope. Mell goes feral.
Changed line(s) 335 (click to see context) from:
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Among other things, Dave [[spoiler:quit smoking by never starting in the first place]]. In a more plot heavy moment [[spoiler:Dave from the future specifically invokes this trope by leaving a holographic message to a time-hopping present Dave that he's not happy with his life, and gives him [[ForWantOfANail instructions on how to fix things.]]]]
to:
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Among other things, Dave [[spoiler:quit smoking by never starting in the first place]]. In a more plot heavy moment [[spoiler:Dave from the future specifically invokes this trope by leaving a holographic message to a time-hopping present Dave that he's not happy with his life, and gives him [[ForWantOfANail instructions on how to fix things.]]]]]]]] Meanwhile, BadFuture Mell tries to avert the BadFuture she's from by [[spoiler: having Dave killed. Yes, she's the one who set the Daves on him. And dr. Narbon.]].
* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Helen and Mell are not immune to slapping with sticks. In particular, [[LaserGuidedKarma Helen is the only character mangled by her ur-gerbils on page]].
* SmallGirlBigGun: Mell, although she's not picky about gun size at all.
* SmallGirlBigGun: Mell, although she's not picky about gun size at all.
Deleted line(s) 358 (click to see context) :
* SmallGirlBigGun: Mell, although she's not picky about gun size at all.
Changed line(s) 360 (click to see context) from:
* SomethingWeForgot: At the end of the 'Demons' storyline, the main characters are commenting on how nicely everything has been wrapped up...[[spoiler: cut to Seth still trapped in Hell]].
to:
* SomethingWeForgot: SomethingWeForgot:
** At the end of the 'Demons' storyline, the main characters are commenting on how nicely everything has been wrappedup...up... [[spoiler: cut to Seth still trapped in Hell]].Hell. Much later, he shows up again, having put his gaming skills to good use and fought his way out]].
** In "Zombie Woof" Helen and Mell forget Dave's head on a bus. It winds up in the Lost and Found, just as Madblood is searching for a convenient brain...
** At the end of the 'Demons' storyline, the main characters are commenting on how nicely everything has been wrapped
** In "Zombie Woof" Helen and Mell forget Dave's head on a bus. It winds up in the Lost and Found, just as Madblood is searching for a convenient brain...
Changed line(s) 362 (click to see context) from:
* SpaceIsNoisy: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during the "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit" arc, when Dave goes into space. %% needs quotes
to:
* SpaceBase: Madblood builds one of these. It takes a storyline to turn into a CollapsingLair, but is pretty cool.
* SpaceIsNoisy:[[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during Nope.
--> '''Helen''' (being phoned by Dave, who is in space): Hello? ... Hello? ... Hello? For heaven's sake, Dave, sound doesn't travel in the"Professor vacuum of space! Call back when you're in the atmosphere and stop running up the bill!\\
'''Artie''': Why was Dave calling from deep space?\\
'''Helen''': I have no idea. [[ComedicSociopathy He knows better than to float around out there without a helmet]].
And a [[http://narbonic.com/comic/february-10-15-2003/ little later]] in the same storyline ("Professor Madblood and the DoppelgangerGambit" arc, when Dave goes into space. %% needs quotesGambit"):
--> NOTE: Sound does not travel in a vacuum. All sound effects are produced by the cartoonist while drawing.
* SpaceIsNoisy:
--> '''Helen''' (being phoned by Dave, who is in space): Hello? ... Hello? ... Hello? For heaven's sake, Dave, sound doesn't travel in the
'''Artie''': Why was Dave calling from deep space?\\
'''Helen''': I have no idea. [[ComedicSociopathy He knows better than to float around out there without a helmet]].
And a [[http://narbonic.com/comic/february-10-15-2003/ little later]] in the same storyline ("Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger
--> NOTE: Sound does not travel in a vacuum. All sound effects are produced by the cartoonist while drawing.
Changed line(s) 365 (click to see context) from:
* SpinOffBabies: [[http://www.shaenon.com/lilmell/ Li'l Mell]]
to:
* SpinOffBabies: [[http://www.shaenon.com/lilmell/ Li'l Mell]]Mell]].
* SpotTheImposter: In "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit", Dave is transmogrified into Madblood to infiltrate his moonbase, and then hides amongst Madblood's robot duplicates when the real Madblood returns. Madblood decides to flush out the imposter by [[http://narbonic.com/comic/march-10-15-2003/ making the androids sing the "Madblood Battle Anthem"]], since the imposter wouldn't know that. However, the androids don't know it either, [[ComicallyMissingThePoint so Madblood teaches it to them]]. [[spoiler: This turns out to work anyway because Dave is so ''enthusiastic'' about singing it]]. Later in the same storyline, Madblood uses the transmogrifier to pose as Dave. While he's [[http://narbonic.com/comic/march-31-april-5-2003/ completely unconvincing]] when he contacts Helen, Mell is confused when she sees [[http://narbonic.com/comic/april-21-26-2003/ two Daves fighting over cigarettes]], and it doesn't help that Artie, having been sent to the Moon in a faulty teleporter, now ''also'' looks like Dave.
-->'''Mell''': But how can I tell which one is the real Dave?\\
'''Artie''': The one without the flannel is the evil imposter! Punch him!\\
''[[ExactWords Mell punches Artie]]''\\
'''Artie''': Let's try again: I'm the ''good'' imposter. Don't punch me.\\
'''Mell''': That's what they all say.
* SpotTheImposter: In "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit", Dave is transmogrified into Madblood to infiltrate his moonbase, and then hides amongst Madblood's robot duplicates when the real Madblood returns. Madblood decides to flush out the imposter by [[http://narbonic.com/comic/march-10-15-2003/ making the androids sing the "Madblood Battle Anthem"]], since the imposter wouldn't know that. However, the androids don't know it either, [[ComicallyMissingThePoint so Madblood teaches it to them]]. [[spoiler: This turns out to work anyway because Dave is so ''enthusiastic'' about singing it]]. Later in the same storyline, Madblood uses the transmogrifier to pose as Dave. While he's [[http://narbonic.com/comic/march-31-april-5-2003/ completely unconvincing]] when he contacts Helen, Mell is confused when she sees [[http://narbonic.com/comic/april-21-26-2003/ two Daves fighting over cigarettes]], and it doesn't help that Artie, having been sent to the Moon in a faulty teleporter, now ''also'' looks like Dave.
-->'''Mell''': But how can I tell which one is the real Dave?\\
'''Artie''': The one without the flannel is the evil imposter! Punch him!\\
''[[ExactWords Mell punches Artie]]''\\
'''Artie''': Let's try again: I'm the ''good'' imposter. Don't punch me.\\
'''Mell''': That's what they all say.
* SupervillainLair: When we're first introduced to Helen Narbon, she's plotting to TakeOverTheWorld from a rented office above a dentist's surgery. Lupin Madblood's one is in his [[BasementDweller mother's basement]]. They both move into much more impressive digs later on, although Madblood's get destroyed and he's back to square one. Twice.
Changed line(s) 373 (click to see context) from:
* TheMadHatter: There's only so much you can do with being a Mad Scientist...
to:
* TheMadHatter: There's only so much you TemporalMutability: Branching Timelines, or possibly Temporal Balancing Act. MentalTimeTravel can do with being a Mad Scientist...change things, but the nature of the multiverse is still unclear.
* TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat: Dave's MentalTimeTravel conversation with his BadFuture self. [[VirtualGhost Maybe]].
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Mell spaces Dave in the "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit", apparently because [[ComedicSociopathy she wants to see explosive decompression in action]]. She lets him back in after learning it's a myth.
* TransformationRay: Here called "the transmogrifier". Originally it could only turn people into other people, later adjusted the transmogrifier for cross-species transformation, leading to Artie's HumanityEnsues trouble.
* TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: MadScientist initial FreakOut is usually triggered by severe stress. Often the [[WhosLaughingNow laughter of fools]]. Dr. Narbon is cited as the deciding stressor by quite a few people.
* TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: MadScientist initial FreakOut is usually triggered by severe stress. Often the [[WhosLaughingNow laughter of fools]]. Dr. Narbon is cited as the deciding stressor by quite a few people.
* UndeadTaxExemption: Apparently the Knipl Award committee does no background checks at all on their grant recipients, because in the same year their three winners were a mutant shapeshifter, a battle android, and humanified Artie.
* UnderwaterBase: Madblood's base in "Everlasting Ices of the North". It is impressive [[spoiler: enough for BadFuture Dave to take it over as his base after he destroys the world a bit]].
* UnderwaterBase: Madblood's base in "Everlasting Ices of the North". It is impressive [[spoiler: enough for BadFuture Dave to take it over as his base after he destroys the world a bit]].
* ValentinesDayEpisode: "Demons", where Helen throws a Valentine's Day party in the lab. Caliban gets humanified [[spoiler: and gets a girlfriend - Mell]] in this chapter.
Deleted line(s) 401,402 (click to see context) :
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Dave has this to say when Helen's ReunionRevenge begins to go south.
-->'''Dave''': No kidding. You don't want to '''talk''' to your victims.
-->'''Dave''': No kidding. You don't want to '''talk''' to your victims.
* WeNeedADistraction: Mell provides a distraction in one of the early strips by putting Dave's boxers on her head and singing the highlights from ''Theatre/FunnyGirl''. Helen and Dave are just as confused as everyone else.
** Dave, Artie and Caliban are being chased by demons when Dave remarks, "We need a distraction!" Just then, the phone rings:
--->'''Helen''': Dave! Found you! How's things?\\\
'''Dave''': I meant a distraction for the demons!
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Drawn by guest artists.
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Dave has this to say when Helen's ReunionRevenge begins to go south.
-->'''Dave''': No kidding. You don't want to '''talk''' to your victims.
* WorldOfWeirdness: {{Mad Scientist}}s run rampant, encountering demons and ghosts, not to mention the things they themselves create.
* TheWormGuy: Technically, ANTONIO SMITH, THE FORENSIC LINGUIST, except he's also an ActionHero. His field of study is ''real'', by the way.
** Dave, Artie and Caliban are being chased by demons when Dave remarks, "We need a distraction!" Just then, the phone rings:
--->'''Helen''': Dave! Found you! How's things?\\\
'''Dave''': I meant a distraction for the demons!
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Drawn by guest artists.
* WhyDontYouJustShootHim: Dave has this to say when Helen's ReunionRevenge begins to go south.
-->'''Dave''': No kidding. You don't want to '''talk''' to your victims.
* WorldOfWeirdness: {{Mad Scientist}}s run rampant, encountering demons and ghosts, not to mention the things they themselves create.
* TheWormGuy: Technically, ANTONIO SMITH, THE FORENSIC LINGUIST, except he's also an ActionHero. His field of study is ''real'', by the way.
Changed line(s) 410 (click to see context) from:
* WriteBackToTheFuture: When Dave's mind is bouncing around in time, his sixteen-year-old self gets a message on how to return to his own time, which was written by his six-year-old self on the men's room wall (which apparently [[{{Squick}} wouldn't be cleaned for at least ten years]]).
to:
* WriteBackToTheFuture: When Dave's mind is bouncing around in time, his sixteen-year-old self gets a message on how to return to his own time, which was written by his six-year-old self [[BathroomStallGraffiti on the men's room wall wall]] (which apparently [[{{Squick}} wouldn't be cleaned for at least ten years]]).
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* TheFantasticTropeOfWonderousTitles
Added DiffLines:
* SomethingThatBeginsWithBoring: When two alien guards play "I Spy" to pass the time guarding the heroes' spaceship.
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** WordOfGod:
---> Beyond that, I wanted to do a classic Falling Villain Death. The trope particularly befits a mad scientist, as it so neatly symbolizes a hubristic fall. There will be another one before the end of Narbonic. [[spoiler: The Narbonic universe being generally friendly to mad scientists, neither one actually ends in death.]]
---> Beyond that, I wanted to do a classic Falling Villain Death. The trope particularly befits a mad scientist, as it so neatly symbolizes a hubristic fall. There will be another one before the end of Narbonic. [[spoiler: The Narbonic universe being generally friendly to mad scientists, neither one actually ends in death.]]
Changed line(s) 259 (click to see context) from:
%% * MacGuffinDeliveryService: say it with me - when?
to:
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* InfiniteCanvas: Used sparingly (although WordOfGod expresses regret over this sparinglyness) to convey falling from great heights.
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Added DiffLines:
* ShapeshiftingExcludesClothing: [[InnocentFanserviceGirl Artie]] doesn't always remember to put it on after he transforms.
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continuing the overhaul - stopped at "I"
* AwfulTruth: [[spoiler: Dave's MadScientist tendencies are treated by Helen as an Awful Truth he may never, under any circumstances be told of. He does GoMadFromTheRevelation in the end...]]
Changed line(s) 197 (click to see context) from:
* Genius Breeding Act: The hamsters lure geniuses to their island, especially female geniuses in childbearing age [[spoiler: to use human intelligence as an energy source]].
to:
* Genius Breeding Act: GeniusBreedingAct: The hamsters lure geniuses to their island, especially female geniuses in childbearing age [[spoiler: to use human intelligence as an energy source]].
* HoppingMachine: Foot, because:
--> '''Foot''': MASTER INTEND TO CONSTRUCT ENTIRE GIANT ATTACK ROBOT, BUT MASTER RUN OUT OF FUNDING AFTER ONLY FOOT COMPLETED
--> '''Foot''': MASTER INTEND TO CONSTRUCT ENTIRE GIANT ATTACK ROBOT, BUT MASTER RUN OUT OF FUNDING AFTER ONLY FOOT COMPLETED
Changed line(s) 212,213 (click to see context) from:
* HypocriticalHumor: [[GenreSavvy Titus Misanthrope]] ''hates'' BondVillainStupidity. In fact, he will [[MotiveRant rant and rave]] ''at length'' about it, and completely forget to keep track of his prisoner.
* {{Hulkspeak}}: Foot.
* {{Hulkspeak}}: Foot.
to:
* HypocriticalHumor: [[GenreSavvy Titus Misanthrope]] ''hates'' BondVillainStupidity. In fact, he will [[MotiveRant rant and rave]] ''at length'' about it, and completely forget to keep track of his prisoner.
HulkSpeak: Foot.
--> '''Foot''': MASTER ALSO RUN OUT OF FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOOT WITH ARTICLES OR PAST TENSES
*{{Hulkspeak}}: Foot.HypocriticalHeartwarming: Nobody touches Dave but Helen. Interpret that however you will.
--> '''Foot''': MASTER ALSO RUN OUT OF FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOOT WITH ARTICLES OR PAST TENSES
*
Changed line(s) 227 (click to see context) from:
%% unfunny out of context * IllTellYouWhenIveHadEnough: ...[[DrunkOnMilk mocha talls, damnit.]]
to:
*
--> '''Dave''': "I'll tell you when I've had enough Mocha Talls, dammit!"
Added DiffLines:
* DashinglyDapperDerby: Worn by Victorian Dave, or mr. Davenport, the statistician.
Added DiffLines:
* ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere: Mr. Davenport says this, then adds "I can see your house, too. It's the one with no roof."
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut: Helen is, rather dejectedly, contemplating how her attempt to reanimate a corpse has instead resulted in her discovering AntiGravity, which wasn't really what she had in mind (not to mention they're need to somehow get a dead body down from the ceiling before it goes manky) when Mr Davenport the statistician has a minor EurekaMoment. Cue {{Cliffhanger}}. [[spoiler: They build a spaceship in the next strip.]]
--> '''Mr. Davenport''': "I have an idea."
* IKnowWhatWeCanDoCut: Helen is, rather dejectedly, contemplating how her attempt to reanimate a corpse has instead resulted in her discovering AntiGravity, which wasn't really what she had in mind (not to mention they're need to somehow get a dead body down from the ceiling before it goes manky) when Mr Davenport the statistician has a minor EurekaMoment. Cue {{Cliffhanger}}. [[spoiler: They build a spaceship in the next strip.]]
--> '''Mr. Davenport''': "I have an idea."
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* Genius Breeding Act: The hamsters lure geniuses to their island, especially female geniuses in childbearing age [[spoiler: to use human intelligence as an energy source]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Right after [[spoiler: he deletes Lovelace, Mad!Dave]] appears before Helen, Mell and Madblood to deliver his TakeOverTheWorld speech. [[spoiler: Wearing Lovelace's form.]] There are giggles. Then the issue gets corrected and we're back to drama.
Changed line(s) 300 (click to see context) from:
* ProjectedMan: Lovelace, the A.I. built by Madblood, is given a holographic avatar in the final storyline.
to:
* ProjectedMan: Lovelace, the A.I. built by Madblood, is given a holographic avatar in the final storyline. [[spoiler: Dave "borrows" it briefly, or not-so-briefly if the BadFuture comes to pass.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* DuelingHackers: That's how Dave meets Lovelace - she tried to hack the Narbonic Labs [=LAN=].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
* InferredHolocaust: Played for horror when Mell and Dave speculate about the control group for Helen's mothers experiments on mad science.
--> '''Helen:''' A control group? You mean dozens of other young women released into the wild to slowly go mad, only to be hunted down and vivisected by my mother, [[StepfordSmiler just as I would have been if I hadn't bought myself a rifle?]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Why Mell, that would be HIGHLY unethical.]]
* InformedAbility: Dr. Narbon's only major scientific accomplishment (mad or otherwise) is her longitudinal study of her daughter-clone Helen Beta. Everything else, she snitches off Helen's work. This is brought up a few times, naturally. She's pretty good at the Evil Overlord gig though.
--> '''Helen:''' A control group? You mean dozens of other young women released into the wild to slowly go mad, only to be hunted down and vivisected by my mother, [[StepfordSmiler just as I would have been if I hadn't bought myself a rifle?]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Why Mell, that would be HIGHLY unethical.]]
* InformedAbility: Dr. Narbon's only major scientific accomplishment (mad or otherwise) is her longitudinal study of her daughter-clone Helen Beta. Everything else, she snitches off Helen's work. This is brought up a few times, naturally. She's pretty good at the Evil Overlord gig though.
Changed line(s) 234,236 (click to see context) from:
* InferredHolocaust: Played for horror when Mell and Dave speculate about the control group for Helen's mothers experiments on mad science.
--> '''Helen:''' A control group? You mean dozens of other young women released into the wild to slowly go mad, only to be hunted down and vivisected by my mother, [[StepfordSmiler just as I would have been if I hadn't bought myself a rifle?]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Why Mell, that would be HIGHLY unethical.]]
* InformedAbility: Dr. Narbon's only major scientific accomplishment (mad or otherwise) is her longitudinal study of her daughter-clone Helen Beta. Everything else, she snitches off Helen's work. This is brought up a few times, naturally. She's pretty good at the Evil Overlord gig though.
--> '''Helen:''' A control group? You mean dozens of other young women released into the wild to slowly go mad, only to be hunted down and vivisected by my mother, [[StepfordSmiler just as I would have been if I hadn't bought myself a rifle?]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Why Mell, that would be HIGHLY unethical.]]
* InformedAbility: Dr. Narbon's only major scientific accomplishment (mad or otherwise) is her longitudinal study of her daughter-clone Helen Beta. Everything else, she snitches off Helen's work. This is brought up a few times, naturally. She's pretty good at the Evil Overlord gig though.
to:
* InferredHolocaust: Played for horror when Mell and IntoxicationEnsues: When Madblood aquires Dave's brain, he puts it in an ''alcohol solution''. Since Madblood has TheSparkOfGenius, it makes Dave speculate about more drunk than he's ever been on page (instead of killing him). And amorous towards Helen for the control group for Helen's mothers experiments on mad science.
first time, even though he can't really do what he wants to do.
-->'''Helen:''' A control group? You mean dozens of other young women released into the wild to slowly go mad, only to be hunted down and vivisected by my mother, [[StepfordSmiler just as '''Helen''' (shocked): I would have been if I hadn't bought myself a rifle?]] [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Why Mell, that would be HIGHLY unethical.]]
* InformedAbility: Dr. Narbon's only major scientific accomplishment (mad or otherwise)don't think any human is her longitudinal study of her daughter-clone Helen Beta. Everything else, she snitches off Helen's work. This is brought up a few times, naturally. She's pretty good at the Evil Overlord gig though.equipped for ''that''.
-->
* InformedAbility: Dr. Narbon's only major scientific accomplishment (mad or otherwise)
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
partial overhaul - work in progress
Changed line(s) 38 (click to see context) from:
* Dave Davenport Has Come Unstuck in Time: Potee-weet?
to:
* Dave Davenport Has Come Unstuck in Time: Potee-weet?Poo-tee-weet?
Changed line(s) 53 (click to see context) from:
* The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. : Or, the Victorian Helen and her gang adventures. The Costumer Sunday strip.
to:
* The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. : Or, the Victorian Helen and her gang adventures. The Costumer {{Costumer}} Sunday strip.
Changed line(s) 61 (click to see context) from:
* AchievementsInIgnorance: Dave, who can fix anything. At the very beginning of the strip he is able to reconstruct a functioning weather-control device [[spoiler:from a broken mail sorter.]]
to:
* AchievementsInIgnorance: Dave, [[MrFixit who can fix anything."repair" anything he thinks is broken]]. At the very beginning of the strip he is able to reconstruct a functioning weather-control device [[spoiler:from a broken mail sorter.]]
Deleted line(s) 65 (click to see context) :
* {{Animorphism}}: Inverted with Artie, a gerbil transmogrified into a human.
Changed line(s) 67 (click to see context) from:
* AnsweringEcho: When [[spoiler:Helen breaks up with Dave]], he's so shocked that he reacts this way.
to:
* AnsweringEcho: When [[spoiler:Helen breaks up with Dave]], he's so shocked that he reacts this way.can only repeat the last thing she said, like a demented parrot.
Changed line(s) 69 (click to see context) from:
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
to:
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Also a BadassBoast by proxy.
Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* AwesomeYetImpractical: The bane of mad scientists. The dangerously sane (by Narbonic standards) Mell lampshades this when she draws an analogy between a highly advanced but thoroughly impractical laser flintlock pistol designed by Madblood to mad science in general.
to:
* AwesomeYetImpractical: The bane of mad scientists. The dangerously sane (by Narbonic standards) Mell lampshades this when she draws an analogy between a highly advanced but thoroughly impractical laser flintlock pistol designed by Madblood to and the mad science in general. general:
Changed line(s) 75,76 (click to see context) from:
* BackFromTheDead: Dave. [[RunningGag No, this isn't a spoiler.]]
* BadassBoast: A simple yet effective one.
* BadassBoast: A simple yet effective one.
to:
* BackFromTheDead: Dave. In several different ways. [[RunningGag No, this isn't a spoiler.]]
* BadassBoast:A simple This simple, yet effective one.one deserves special mention:
* BadassBoast:
Changed line(s) 79,83 (click to see context) from:
'''[[spoiler:Dave Davenport]]:''' [[TheUnfettered You know, I have no idea.]] ''[twitch]''
* BadFuture: [[spoiler: Dave ends up in one when he's unstuck in time.]] One of the residents there, [[spoiler:a holographic recording of Dave (or [[ShrugOfGod possibly]] a version of Dave's mind that's been [[BrainUploading uploaded]] into the computer)]], gives him [[ForWantOfANail a subtle clue]] about how to fix the future.
* BaitAndSwitchAccusation: Helen confronts Dave about something, and he immediately says, "Is this about the sentient computer virus?" Helen replies, "No, it's not about the sentient computer virus. I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient computer virus! On second thought, let's make it about the sentient computer virus."
* BeardOfEvil: The goatee on male versions of Helen apparently materializes from sheer evil.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: On his way to the moon, Dave gazes with awe on the beauty of the Earth:
* BadFuture: [[spoiler: Dave ends up in one when he's unstuck in time.]] One of the residents there, [[spoiler:a holographic recording of Dave (or [[ShrugOfGod possibly]] a version of Dave's mind that's been [[BrainUploading uploaded]] into the computer)]], gives him [[ForWantOfANail a subtle clue]] about how to fix the future.
* BaitAndSwitchAccusation: Helen confronts Dave about something, and he immediately says, "Is this about the sentient computer virus?" Helen replies, "No, it's not about the sentient computer virus. I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient computer virus! On second thought, let's make it about the sentient computer virus."
* BeardOfEvil: The goatee on male versions of Helen apparently materializes from sheer evil.
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: On his way to the moon, Dave gazes with awe on the beauty of the Earth:
to:
'''[[spoiler:Dave Davenport]]:''' [[TheUnfettered [[ImpliedDeathThreat You know, I have no idea.]] ''[twitch]''
idea]]. ([[TwitchyEye eye twitches]] [[MadEye unhingedly]] )
* BadFuture: [[spoiler: Dave ends upin visiting one when he's unstuck in time.]] One of the residents there, [[spoiler:a holographic recording of Dave (or [[ShrugOfGod possibly]] a version of Dave's mind that's been [[BrainUploading uploaded]] into the computer)]], gives him [[ForWantOfANail a subtle clue]] about how to fix the future.
* BaitAndSwitchAccusation: Helen confronts Dave aboutsomething, and he immediately says, something:
--> '''Dave''': "Is this about the sentientcomputer virus?" Helen replies, meme?"\\
'''Helen''': "No, it's not about the sentientcomputer virus. meme. I didn't even know there ''was'' a sentient computer virus! meme! On second thought, let's make it about the sentient computer virus.meme."
* BatDeduction: At least some {{Mad Scientist}}s display an ability to make leaps in reasoning that [[NonSequitur superficially don't connect]], but turn out true, as if they were thinking faster than they can speak. To the poor slow Muggles, this ''looks'' like Bat Deduction.
* BathroomStallGraffiti: How Dave leaves a message for himself while unstuck in time.
* BeardOfEvil: The goatee onmale versions of gender-bent Helen apparently materializes from sheer evil.
* BeatPanel: The next-to-last panel is one of these often enough that the fans have dubbed it the "Silent Penultimate Panel".
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: On his way to themoon, Moon, Dave gazes with awe on the beauty of the Earth:
* BadFuture: [[spoiler: Dave ends up
* BaitAndSwitchAccusation: Helen confronts Dave about
--> '''Dave''': "Is this about the sentient
'''Helen''': "No, it's not about the sentient
* BatDeduction: At least some {{Mad Scientist}}s display an ability to make leaps in reasoning that [[NonSequitur superficially don't connect]], but turn out true, as if they were thinking faster than they can speak. To the poor slow Muggles, this ''looks'' like Bat Deduction.
* BathroomStallGraffiti: How Dave leaves a message for himself while unstuck in time.
* BeardOfEvil: The goatee on
* BeatPanel: The next-to-last panel is one of these often enough that the fans have dubbed it the "Silent Penultimate Panel".
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: On his way to the
Changed line(s) 90,91 (click to see context) from:
* BigBadEnsemble: The last arc has [[spoiler: the Hamsters and Dave, though the latter is clearly the bigger and more personal threat.]]
* BluffTheImposter: Helen isn't fooled for a moment when Dr. Madblood disguises himself as Dave, so she decides to have a little fun with him:
* BluffTheImposter: Helen isn't fooled for a moment when Dr. Madblood disguises himself as Dave, so she decides to have a little fun with him:
to:
* BigBadEnsemble: The In the last arc has chapters, [[spoiler: the Hamsters hamsters are trying to take over the world, while Dave goes mad and Dave, though the latter is clearly the bigger and more personal threat.]]
tries to destroy it or take it over, or, in any case, take revenge on Helen.]] They get sort of played against each other.
* BluffTheImposter: Helen isn't fooled for a moment when Dr. Madblood disguises himself as Dave, so she decides to have a littlefun with him:fun:
* BluffTheImposter: Helen isn't fooled for a moment when Dr. Madblood disguises himself as Dave, so she decides to have a little
Changed line(s) 98 (click to see context) from:
* BrainTransplant: Dave gets his brain passed around a bit after his first death and reanimation. And then there's the Victorian pages where several characters seem to play "musical bodies".
to:
* BrainTransplant: Dave gets his brain passed around a bit Dave's brain, after his first death and reanimation. And then there's the Victorian pages where several characters seem to play "musical bodies".reanimation, ends up in a cloned body. Eventually.
Changed line(s) 100 (click to see context) from:
* BreakThemByTalking: Helen senior does that to Mell by suggesting her mentally picture a scene of condensed, crystallized, [[RuleOfThree extra-crispy]], [[OverlyLongGag weapons-grade]] FanDisservice.
to:
%% not this trope * BreakThemByTalking: Helen senior does that to Mell by suggesting her mentally picture a scene of condensed, crystallized, [[RuleOfThree extra-crispy]], [[OverlyLongGag weapons-grade]] FanDisservice.
Changed line(s) 109,110 (click to see context) from:
* BrokenFaceplate: The state of Dave's eyeglasses symbolizes the state of his sanity. For most of the comic's run, his glasses are intact but represented as opaque. Towards the end, when Dave finally realizes the great secret responsible for much of his life's path, his glasses are suddenly represented as clear, showing that he can see clearly now. [[spoiler: And then one of the lenses cracks, as a not-so-subtle way to show that Dave is half-cracked.]]
* BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats: The Dave Conspiracy-- Their "hat" is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin being named Dave]]. Not only is every member a Dave, ''every Dave is a member''!
* BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats: The Dave Conspiracy-- Their "hat" is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin being named Dave]]. Not only is every member a Dave, ''every Dave is a member''!
to:
* BrokenFaceplate: The state of Dave's eyeglasses symbolizes the state of his sanity. For most of the comic's run, his glasses are intact but represented as opaque. Towards the end, when Dave finally realizes the great secret responsible for much of his life's path, his glasses are suddenly represented as clear, showing that he can see clearly now. [[spoiler: And then one of the lenses cracks, as a [[ShatteredSanity not-so-subtle way to show that Dave is half-cracked.half-cracked]].]]
* BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats: The Dave Conspiracy-- Their "hat" is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin being named Dave]]. Not only is every member a Dave, ''every Dave is amember''! member''!
* BrotherhoodOfFunnyHats: The Dave Conspiracy-- Their "hat" is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin being named Dave]]. Not only is every member a Dave, ''every Dave is a
* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Madblood, while disguised as Dave, desperately tries to steer conversation this way.
Deleted line(s) 114 (click to see context) :
%% * BuxomIsBetter: Mell acknowledges the assets of the Avatar of Lovelace, Madbloods A.I. she doesn't
Changed line(s) 116,118 (click to see context) from:
* CatsAreMean: Helen once bought a kitten named "Sir Pounce" to deal with a superintelligent gerbil rebellion. It ate a few of them, was blown up, and later was seen in Hell, being dipped in boiling oil.
%% * ChekhovsGun and ChekhovsGunman: Several examples. Will elaborate later, though ChekhovsBoomerang might take over, the author has expressed a preference for it in the commentary
* ChronicallyCrashedCar: Dave's cars can't ever catch a break.
%% * ChekhovsGun and ChekhovsGunman: Several examples. Will elaborate later, though ChekhovsBoomerang might take over, the author has expressed a preference for it in the commentary
* ChronicallyCrashedCar: Dave's cars can't ever catch a break.
to:
* CastFullOfCrazy: Duh. {{Mad Scientist}}s!
* CatsAreMean:Helen once bought a kitten named PlayedForLaughs (cheap, cheap laughs) with "Sir Pounce" Pounce", the kitten Helen got to deal with a superintelligent gerbil rebellion. It ate a few of them, was blown up, and later was seen in Hell, being dipped in boiling oil.
%% * ChekhovsGun ChekhovsBoomerang: Many plot points are first established as jokes, then returned to several times, as confessed by the WordOfGod. Special mentions:
** Helen's [[TamperingWithFoodAndDrink coffee-poisoning habits]] - this is how [[spoiler: she feeds her mad genius cure to Dave prime]],
** [[ChekhovsGunman Madblood]], the recurring antagonist [[spoiler: whose laughter is the last straw in Dave's breakdown]],
** [[ChekhovsGunman The blonde girl]] who meets Helen andChekhovsGunman: Several examples. Will elaborate later, though ChekhovsBoomerang might take over, Dave several times [[spoiler: turns out to be their KidFromTheFuture and the author has expressed a preference for it reason they get back together]],
** Dana, the superintelligent gerbil [[spoiler: whose plan to TakeOverTheWorld is put into motion by her other creations - the hamsters - in thecommentary
finale]]. They use money provided by Artie in an earlier gag to do it.
* ChronicallyCrashedCar: Each and every one of Dave's carscan't ever catch ends up a break.wreck.
* CatsAreMean:
** Helen's [[TamperingWithFoodAndDrink coffee-poisoning habits]] - this is how [[spoiler: she feeds her mad genius cure to Dave prime]],
** [[ChekhovsGunman Madblood]], the recurring antagonist [[spoiler: whose laughter is the last straw in Dave's breakdown]],
** [[ChekhovsGunman The blonde girl]] who meets Helen and
** Dana, the superintelligent gerbil [[spoiler: whose plan to TakeOverTheWorld is put into motion by her other creations - the hamsters - in the
* ChronicallyCrashedCar: Each and every one of Dave's cars
Changed line(s) 121,125 (click to see context) from:
* ClueFromEd: Dave receives a DeusExMachina in the form of ten-year-old bathroom graffiti. [[TimeyWimeyBall That he made]].
* CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts. Actually intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell.
-->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* ColdBloodedTorture: PlayedForLaughs: [[spoiler: Artie in his human form]] dangles Helen B. at her ankle upside down to know what the hell is it with Dave. After [[spoiler:Artie]] presumably "jiggled" her a little bit, she "cracked" told him and Mell, that Dave [[spoiler: is actually a clone, since she broke up with the real Dave to try to safe him from his madness. Helen B. gave the clone the cure against ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder, which made him less intelligent and [[WeirdnessCensor oblivious to weird shit around him, e.g. talking gerbils]].]].
* ConLang: A throw-away gag in the epilogue.
* CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts. Actually intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell.
-->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* ColdBloodedTorture: PlayedForLaughs: [[spoiler: Artie in his human form]] dangles Helen B. at her ankle upside down to know what the hell is it with Dave. After [[spoiler:Artie]] presumably "jiggled" her a little bit, she "cracked" told him and Mell, that Dave [[spoiler: is actually a clone, since she broke up with the real Dave to try to safe him from his madness. Helen B. gave the clone the cure against ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder, which made him less intelligent and [[WeirdnessCensor oblivious to weird shit around him, e.g. talking gerbils]].]].
* ConLang: A throw-away gag in the epilogue.
to:
%% not this trope * ClueFromEd: Dave receives a DeusExMachina in the form of ten-year-old bathroom graffiti. [[TimeyWimeyBall That he made]].
made]].
%% not this trope - Foot is sentient * CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts. Actually intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell.
%% -->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* ColdBloodedTorture: PlayedForLaughs: [[spoiler: Artie in his humanform]] form dangles Helen B. at her ankle upside down to know what the hell is it with Dave. After [[spoiler:Artie]] presumably "jiggled" her "Dave", a little bit, she "cracked" told him and Mell, that Dave [[spoiler: is actually a clone, since she broke up with the real Dave to try to safe him from his madness. Helen B. gave the clone the cure against ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder, which made him less intelligent and short-haired, [[WeirdnessCensor oblivious to weird shit weirdness]], not-hot-for-Helen-at-all and utterly alien to them. After she's supposedly broken up with and fired him. A little "jiggling" and Helen tells him and Mell that Dave currently puttering around him, e.g. talking gerbils]].the lab is a clone and she's slipping her experimental cure for ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder into his coffee.]].
%% * ConLang: A throw-away gag in theepilogue.epilogue. "Human language has no words for it" joke - might be Cloudcuckoolanguage
* TheConstant: Dave needs to find one to stop his MentalTimeTravel and get back to the present. [[spoiler: It's getting physically hit by a girl in a specific point of space.]]
%% not this trope - Foot is sentient * CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts. Actually intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell.
%% -->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* ColdBloodedTorture: PlayedForLaughs: [[spoiler: Artie in his human
%% * ConLang: A throw-away gag in the
* TheConstant: Dave needs to find one to stop his MentalTimeTravel and get back to the present. [[spoiler: It's getting physically hit by a girl in a specific point of space.]]
Changed line(s) 127,129 (click to see context) from:
* CoolButInefficient: A hallmark of mad science, as pointed out by Mell, see KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter
* CosmicDeadline: The final story arc.
* {{Costumer}}: The Victorian Sunday feature.
* CosmicDeadline: The final story arc.
* {{Costumer}}: The Victorian Sunday feature.
to:
* CoolButInefficient: A hallmark of mad science, as pointed out by Mell, see KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter
Mell.
* CosmicDeadline: The final storyarc.
* {{Costumer}}: The Victorian Sunday feature.arc brings back things that happened years before to resolve them.
* CosmicDeadline: The final story
* {{Costumer}}: The Victorian Sunday feature.
Deleted line(s) 131 (click to see context) :
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Helen never actually appears stupid (she is a mad scientist afterall) but she does almost always act as a AffablyEvil hyperintelligent version of TheDitz. [[spoiler: This is very much an act.]]
Changed line(s) 133 (click to see context) from:
* DeathIsCheap: The Henchman's Union has a benefits plan for frequent revivals.
to:
* DeathIsCheap: The Henchman's Union has a benefits plan for frequent revivals. Dave might be elligible.
Changed line(s) 141,151 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler: When Helen kisses Dave inside Madblood's computer, it causes the system to overload.]]
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: Done by Professor Madblood.
* DoWrongRight: Titus explains to Mell how to properly do TapOnTheHead when she demonstrates her sloppy technique. On him.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: ''Narbonic'' did this every year of its run on the [[SundayStrip Sunday]] nearest December 31st, with a "Dave in Slumberland" strip, which in addition to being a ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo'' parody, gives a symbolic foreshadowing of the following year. It also [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue ended on that day of the year]], with a suggestion that the origin of the dreams was that Dave could subconciously create [[{{Franchise/Foundation}} psychohistory]] algorithms.
* DrowningMySorrows: After [[spoiler: Helen broke up with him]], Dave did this.
* DrunkOnMilk: Dave can get stone drunk on half a glass of Vanilla Coke. (And pathos.)
* DudeNotFunny: Helen B.'s reaction to Artie joking about how Dave was either eaten by a demon or [[spoiler: forgot about the date with her. She found the latter much less funny then the former]]. [[invoked]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Though only two characters go through ''literal'' hell.
* EasterEgg: A story of [[FreakOut Helen's breakdown]] can be found (two or three words at a time) attached to the filenames of the individual strips. The compiled story can be found [[http://www.ci-n.com/~jcampbel/narbonic.txt here]].
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Played straight with Helen's lair, but subverted as well. Madblood brags about his "underground lair", but it's revealed that "underground" means "living in Mom's basement".
** Helen's "underground lair" is actually a storm drain. They just do a ''really'' good job fixing it up.
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: Done by Professor Madblood.
* DoWrongRight: Titus explains to Mell how to properly do TapOnTheHead when she demonstrates her sloppy technique. On him.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome: ''Narbonic'' did this every year of its run on the [[SundayStrip Sunday]] nearest December 31st, with a "Dave in Slumberland" strip, which in addition to being a ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo'' parody, gives a symbolic foreshadowing of the following year. It also [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue ended on that day of the year]], with a suggestion that the origin of the dreams was that Dave could subconciously create [[{{Franchise/Foundation}} psychohistory]] algorithms.
* DrowningMySorrows: After [[spoiler: Helen broke up with him]], Dave did this.
* DrunkOnMilk: Dave can get stone drunk on half a glass of Vanilla Coke. (And pathos.)
* DudeNotFunny: Helen B.'s reaction to Artie joking about how Dave was either eaten by a demon or [[spoiler: forgot about the date with her. She found the latter much less funny then the former]]. [[invoked]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Though only two characters go through ''literal'' hell.
* EasterEgg: A story of [[FreakOut Helen's breakdown]] can be found (two or three words at a time) attached to the filenames of the individual strips. The compiled story can be found [[http://www.ci-n.com/~jcampbel/narbonic.txt here]].
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Played straight with Helen's lair, but subverted as well. Madblood brags about his "underground lair", but it's revealed that "underground" means "living in Mom's basement".
** Helen's "underground lair" is actually a storm drain. They just do a ''really'' good job fixing it up.
to:
** [[spoiler: When Helen kisses Dave inside Madblood's computer, it causes the system to overload.]]
]] [[ExplosiveInstrumentation Explosively]]. That's [[OverclockingAttack deliberate]].
* DisneyVillainDeath: In BadFuture, it happened to [[spoiler: Helen, or at least her body.]] Averted in the story proper thanks to a [[CatchAFallingStar heroic gerbil-man]] and [[spoiler: convenient filling of a swimming pool]].
** In present day, this is how dr. Narbon [[FakingTheDead fakes her death]]. For the upteenth time...
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: Done by ProfessorMadblood.
Madblood. %%needs quote and/or context
* DoWrongRight: Titus explains to Mell how to properly do TapOnTheHeadwhen after she demonstrates her sloppy technique. On him.
* DreamingOfThingsToCome:''Narbonic'' did this every Every year of its run on the [[SundayStrip Sunday]] nearest December 31st, with ''Narbonic'' did a "Dave in Slumberland" strip, which which, in addition to being a ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo'' parody, gives a symbolic foreshadowing of foreshadowed the following year. year of the story in a symbolic form. It also [[WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue ended on that day of the year]], with a suggestion that the origin of the dreams was that Dave could Dave's PropheticDreams were caused by subconciously create created [[{{Franchise/Foundation}} psychohistory]] algorithms.
* DrowningMySorrows:After Dave, after [[spoiler: Helen broke breaks up with him]], Dave did this.
* DrunkOnMilk: Dave can get stone drunk on half a glass of Vanilla Coke. (And pathos.)
him]]. %%elaborate
* DudeNotFunny: Helen B.'s reaction to Artie joking about how Dave was either eaten by a demon or [[spoiler: forgot about the date withher. her]]. She found the latter much less funny then the former]].former. [[invoked]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Though only two characters go through ''literal''hell.
hell.
* EasterEgg:A The story of [[FreakOut Helen's breakdown]] can be found (two or three words at a time) attached to the filenames of the individual strips. The compiled story can be found [[http://www.ci-n.com/~jcampbel/narbonic.txt here]].
* ElaborateUndergroundBase:Played straight with Helen's lair, but subverted as well. Madblood brags about his "underground lair", but it's revealed that "underground" means "living in Mom's basement".
**Helen's "underground lair" is actually a storm drain. They just do a ''really'' good job fixing it up. Madblood brags about his "underground lair", but it's revealed that "underground" means "in Mom's basement".
* DisneyVillainDeath: In BadFuture, it happened to [[spoiler: Helen, or at least her body.]] Averted in the story proper thanks to a [[CatchAFallingStar heroic gerbil-man]] and [[spoiler: convenient filling of a swimming pool]].
** In present day, this is how dr. Narbon [[FakingTheDead fakes her death]]. For the upteenth time...
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: Done by Professor
* DoWrongRight: Titus explains to Mell how to properly do TapOnTheHead
* DreamingOfThingsToCome:
* DrowningMySorrows:
* DrunkOnMilk: Dave can get stone drunk on half a glass of Vanilla Coke. (And pathos.)
* DudeNotFunny: Helen B.'s reaction to Artie joking about how Dave was either eaten by a demon or [[spoiler: forgot about the date with
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Though only two characters go through ''literal''
* EasterEgg:
* ElaborateUndergroundBase:
**
Changed line(s) 155 (click to see context) from:
* ExpendableParallelUniverse: Physical time travel requires the energy of an entire universe. [[spoiler: BadFuture Mell destroys her own to send back her message for Daves, and yes, it's a lifelong dream.]]
to:
* ExpendableParallelUniverse: ExpendableAlternateUniverse: Physical time travel requires the energy of an entire universe.universe. [[ExtradimensionalPowerSource Doesn't need to be the universe where the time travel is taking place, though]]. [[spoiler: BadFuture Mell destroys her own to send back her message for Daves, and yes, it's a lifelong dream.]]
Changed line(s) 158 (click to see context) from:
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: [[spoiler: Artie,]] after being transformed into a human, get's lotsa admirers from both genders.
to:
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: [[spoiler: Artie,]] after being transformed into Artie in his human form]] is considered a human, get's lotsa admirers from hottie by many humans, both genders.male and female. [[spoiler: He finally works out that he's only interested in the male ones, though.]]
Changed line(s) 160 (click to see context) from:
* EvilutionaryBiologist: Many mad scientists fall into this, some to create new life because it's somehow 'better', others because they just can. Helen Narbon, for example, likes gerbils, and of her creations, Artie, notes how the gerbil is a much more ecologically sustainable form. [[spoiler:Near the climax of ''Narbonic'', a group of conservative-minded hamsters take this logic to its natural conclusion, seeking to wipe out almost all of humanity.]]
to:
* EvilutionaryBiologist: Many mad scientists fall into this, some to create new life because it's somehow 'better', others because they just can. Helen Narbon, for example, likes gerbils, and of her creations, Artie, notes how the gerbil is a much more ecologically sustainable form. [[spoiler:Near [[spoiler:In the climax of ''Narbonic'', final storyline a group of conservative-minded hamsters take this logic to its natural conclusion, seeking to wipe out almost all of humanity.]]
* FaceDoodling: Helen and Mell, to Dave, while he's unconscious because of MentalTimeTravel.
* FakeDefector: Artie pretends to turn to the hamsters' side, but he's just not very good at this double-crossing thing.
* FakeDefector: Artie pretends to turn to the hamsters' side, but he's just not very good at this double-crossing thing.
Changed line(s) 165,167 (click to see context) from:
* FloatingContinent: The intelligent hamsters that Dana (the superintelligent gerbil) created, used Artie's donation to make a floating village.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Almost everything in the comic. Side characters, oddball filler arcs, offhand comments, almost everything comes into play later, through a combination of adroit planning and ThrowItIn. For every time the writer mentions in the commentary that she initially didn't plan the return of a character or plot point from earlier, there are another two or three times that she mentions having written other plot points years in advance so that she could foreshadow them from the very beginning of the comic. Planning is one of Shaenon Garrity's strong suits, as fans of ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'' are no doubt aware.
** The big foreshadowing for [[spoiler: Dave's madness]] starts as early as the first couple of arcs, and doesn't really start paying off until three or four years into the comic.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Almost everything in the comic. Side characters, oddball filler arcs, offhand comments, almost everything comes into play later, through a combination of adroit planning and ThrowItIn. For every time the writer mentions in the commentary that she initially didn't plan the return of a character or plot point from earlier, there are another two or three times that she mentions having written other plot points years in advance so that she could foreshadow them from the very beginning of the comic. Planning is one of Shaenon Garrity's strong suits, as fans of ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'' are no doubt aware.
** The big foreshadowing for [[spoiler: Dave's madness]] starts as early as the first couple of arcs, and doesn't really start paying off until three or four years into the comic.
to:
* FloatingContinent: The intelligent hamsters that Dana (the superintelligent gerbil) created, used designed one. The intelligent hamsters she created use Artie's donation to make a floating village.
build it.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:Almost everything in the comic.Abounds. Side characters, oddball filler arcs, offhand comments, almost everything comes into play later, through a combination of adroit planning and ThrowItIn. For every time the writer mentions in the commentary that she initially didn't plan the return of a character or plot point from earlier, there are another two or three times that she mentions having written other plot points years in advance so that she could foreshadow them from the very beginning of the comic. Planning is one of Shaenon Garrity's strong suits, as fans of ''Webcomic/SkinHorse'' are no doubt aware.
** The big foreshadowing for [[spoiler: Dave's madness]] starts as early as the first couple of arcs, and doesn't really start paying off until three or four years into the comic.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** The big foreshadowing for [[spoiler: Dave's madness]] starts as early as the first couple of arcs, and doesn't really start paying off until three or four years into the comic.
Changed line(s) 169 (click to see context) from:
* {{Foil}}: [[spoiler: Mell and Caliban's quiet, background romance as opposed to Helen and Dave's]] soap opera-like relationship. Shaenon found it fitting. %% They don't get married during the story, though they probably do afterwards
to:
* {{Foil}}: [[spoiler: Mell and Caliban's quiet, background romance as opposed to Helen and Dave's]] soap opera-like relationship. Shaenon found it fitting. %% They don't get married during the story, though they probably do afterwards
Changed line(s) 177,178 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler: Dave's involves him taking over Madblood's evil lair, killing off the local advanced AI, and uploading his own brain to take its place.]]
** [[spoiler: In the BadFuture, he is strongly implied to have topped this off by successfully escaping the base and setting off a global thermonuclear war, after Helen is either badly injured or temporarily killed in her fall and is thus unable to distract him at a pivotal moment.]]
** [[spoiler: In the BadFuture, he is strongly implied to have topped this off by successfully escaping the base and setting off a global thermonuclear war, after Helen is either badly injured or temporarily killed in her fall and is thus unable to distract him at a pivotal moment.]]
to:
** [[spoiler: Dave's involves him taking over Madblood's evil lair, killing off the local advanced AI, base, deleting its ArtificialIntelligence keeper, and uploading his own brain to take its place.]]
** [[spoiler: In the BadFuture, he is strongly implied to have topped this off by successfully escaping the base and setting off a global thermonuclear war, after Helen is either badly injured or temporarily killed in her fall andis thus unable to distract him at a pivotal moment.]]
** [[spoiler: In the BadFuture, he is strongly implied to have topped this off by successfully escaping the base and setting off a global thermonuclear war, after Helen is either badly injured or temporarily killed in her fall and
Changed line(s) 182 (click to see context) from:
* GenderBender: First once to test a theory about the ThirdLawOfGenderBending, later used as a ''sexual roleplay device.''
to:
* GenderBender: First once to test a theory about the ThirdLawOfGenderBending, later used as a ''sexual roleplay device.''
Changed line(s) 184,188 (click to see context) from:
** The Victorian Narbonic storyline may or may not be part of canon, but there are at least two ghosts to testify to a Helen, Mell, and Dave living over a century ago having similar mad science adventures.
%% * GoGoEnslavement: when? Who? dr. Narbon never got to do much with Artie...
* GonzoJournalism: Zeta described herself as such. Though she probably isn't on as many drugs as her editor no doubt thinks she's on.
* GoodAngelBadAngel: Played with -- not only is there Good Angel, Bad Angel, but there's "Social Life", "Mad Scientist", "Self Esteem", "Fear of Women", "Biological Clock"... And the characters can all see their own, and the angels can see each other -- and socialize after work.
* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the [[spoiler:Amazon Women of Mars]] in the Victorian storyline oscillates between nearly normal and positively Jabberwockish. It's due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't actually speak Italian all that well.
%% * GoGoEnslavement: when? Who? dr. Narbon never got to do much with Artie...
* GonzoJournalism: Zeta described herself as such. Though she probably isn't on as many drugs as her editor no doubt thinks she's on.
* GoodAngelBadAngel: Played with -- not only is there Good Angel, Bad Angel, but there's "Social Life", "Mad Scientist", "Self Esteem", "Fear of Women", "Biological Clock"... And the characters can all see their own, and the angels can see each other -- and socialize after work.
* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the [[spoiler:Amazon Women of Mars]] in the Victorian storyline oscillates between nearly normal and positively Jabberwockish. It's due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't actually speak Italian all that well.
to:
** The Victorian Narbonic storyline may or may not be part of canon, but there are at least two ghosts to testify to a Helen, Mell, and Dave living over a century ago having similar mad science adventures.
%% * GoGoEnslavement: when? Who? dr. Narbon never got to do much with Artie...
GiantFootOfStomping: A robotic one, courtesy of Madblood. Imaginatively named "Foot".
*GonzoJournalism: Zeta described herself as such. Though she probably isn't on as many drugs as her editor no doubt thinks she's on.
* GoodAngelBadAngel: Played with -- not only is there Good Angel, Bad Angel, but there'sGhostInTheMachine: Personality sprites. Everyone has them: GoodAngelBadAngel, "Social Life", "Mad Scientist", "Madness" (not everyone has one of these), "Self Esteem", "Fear of Women", "Biological Clock"... And the characters can all see their own, and the angels can see each other -- and socialize after work.
work. [[spoiler: Dave gains a "Madness" sprite in the first stages of his breakdown. It calls for "[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge Revenge!]]"]]. Mell only has "Killer Instinct", because her mind is simple.
*GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken GoMadFromTheRevelation: Many factors contributed to this, but [[spoiler: Dave's breakdown is finally triggered by the [[spoiler:Amazon Women of Mars]] in the Victorian storyline oscillates between nearly normal and positively Jabberwockish. It's due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't actually speak Italian all realisation that well.he's a latent MadScientist and Helen knew from the very start.]]
--> "I understand everything."
* GonzoJournalism: Zeta's job when we meet her. Though she probably isn't on as many drugs as her editor no doubt thinks she's on.
*
* GoodAngelBadAngel: Played with -- not only is there Good Angel, Bad Angel, but there's
*
--> "I understand everything."
* GonzoJournalism: Zeta's job when we meet her. Though she probably isn't on as many drugs as her editor no doubt thinks she's on.
Changed line(s) 190 (click to see context) from:
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Several MadScientist ladies are far more interested in imagining [[MinionShipping Dave and Titus making out]] than they are in [[{{Buttmonkey}} Professor Madblood]] and his silly life-achievement reward.
to:
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: Several During the mad-scientific conference several MadScientist ladies are far more interested in imagining [[MinionShipping Dave and Titus making out]] than they are in [[{{Buttmonkey}} Professor Madblood]] and his silly life-achievement reward. reward.
* HelpYourselfInTheFuture: Dave's unstuck-in-time status can only be resolved if he [[spoiler: does exactly the same thing in the exactly same place "[[MeanwhileInTheFuture simultaneously]]"]]. It takes insights from all three space-time spots to figure out and some careful rearrangement of things to enact, including six-year old Dave writing a message to his sixteen-year old self. [[spoiler: Also, by not starting to smoke at sixteen, he gets rid of the nicotine addiction that would have plagued him at twenty six.]]
Changed line(s) 194 (click to see context) from:
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The suicide bomber kitten the gerbils sent against Helen.
to:
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The suicide bomber kitten the gerbils sent against Helen. %%elaborate
Changed line(s) 199 (click to see context) from:
* HumanityEnsues: Artie, after he gains [[{{Shapeshifting}} the ability to switch between human and gerbil at will]], also gains human traits like fondness for chocolate. Which is the tip of the iceberg, really.
to:
* HumanityEnsues: Artie, after Artie the (hyperintelligent) gerbil gets transmogrified into human. It's supposed to wear off, but mad science is not reliable. After he gains [[{{Shapeshifting}} the ability to switch between human and gerbil at will]], also gains human traits like fondness for chocolate. [[HumanityIsInfectious Which is the tip of the iceberg, really.really]].
Changed line(s) 210 (click to see context) from:
* IllTellYouWhenIveHadEnough: ...[[DrunkOnMilk mocha talls, damnit.]]
to:
* IHatePastMe: [[spoiler: Mad!Dave towards Dave prime, who just wanders around with a WeirdnessCensor and his old haircut]]:
-->[[spoiler:'''Dave''']] (completely deadpan): "I'm your future, and I hate you. I'm going to electrocute you now." (zap!)
%% unfunny out of context * IllTellYouWhenIveHadEnough: ...[[DrunkOnMilk mocha talls, damnit.]]]]
* ImprobablyPredictable: Artie uses this ability to be mean, but Helen later shows she can predict things like random people walking by. [[spoiler: Dave, after going mad, proves even better at it, bordering on BatDeduction.]]
%%needs quote * IndulgentFantasySegue: Dave confessing (or not) his feelings for Helen.
-->[[spoiler:'''Dave''']] (completely deadpan): "I'm your future, and I hate you. I'm going to electrocute you now." (zap!)
%% unfunny out of context * IllTellYouWhenIveHadEnough: ...[[DrunkOnMilk mocha talls, damnit.
* ImprobablyPredictable: Artie uses this ability to be mean, but Helen later shows she can predict things like random people walking by. [[spoiler: Dave, after going mad, proves even better at it, bordering on BatDeduction.]]
%%needs quote * IndulgentFantasySegue: Dave confessing (or not) his feelings for Helen.
Changed line(s) 215 (click to see context) from:
* InsideAComputerSystem: [[spoiler: Where Helen goes to rescue Dave in the ending]].
to:
* InsideAComputerSystem: [[spoiler: Where Helen goes to rescue Dave in the ending]].The climax takes place there]]. In more ways than one.
Changed line(s) 217,219 (click to see context) from:
* IntellectualAnimal: Artie, Dana, and the other gerbils.
%% * InThePastEveryoneWillBeFamous: i have no idea.
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Dave confessing (or not) his feelings for Helen.
%% * InThePastEveryoneWillBeFamous: i have no idea.
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Dave confessing (or not) his feelings for Helen.
to:
* IntellectualAnimal: Artie, Dana, and the other gerbils.
%% * InThePastEveryoneWillBeFamous: i have no idea.
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Dave confessing (or not) his feelings for Helen.gerbils. Also, hamsters.
%% * InThePastEveryoneWillBeFamous: i have no idea.
* IndulgentFantasySegue: Dave confessing (or not) his feelings for Helen.
Changed line(s) 224,227 (click to see context) from:
* IronicEcho: [[spoiler:"I love you." "Not enough."]] Especially noteworthy since [[spoiler:Dave echoed what Future Helen said to him, while [[MindScrew she probably echoed what]] ''[[MindScrew he]]'' [[MindScrew said]]]].
%% * JacobMarleyWarning: again, when?
* KidFromTheFuture: [[spoiler: Dave's and Helen's daughter. Bonus points for inspiring dad to get back together with her mom.]]
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: As Mell points out, Madblood has armed his robots with laser weapons that use a rare moon crystal for power... one shot per crystal and must be manually reloaded like an antique pistol.
%% * JacobMarleyWarning: again, when?
* KidFromTheFuture: [[spoiler: Dave's and Helen's daughter. Bonus points for inspiring dad to get back together with her mom.]]
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: As Mell points out, Madblood has armed his robots with laser weapons that use a rare moon crystal for power... one shot per crystal and must be manually reloaded like an antique pistol.
to:
* IronicEcho: [[spoiler:"I love you." "Not enough."]] Especially noteworthy since [[spoiler:Dave echoed what Future Helen said to him, while [[MindScrew [[TimeyWimeyBall she probably echoed what]] ''[[MindScrew ''[[TimeyWimeyBall he]]'' [[MindScrew [[TimeyWimeyBall said]]]].
%% * JacobMarleyWarning: again, when?
Via MentalTimeTravel - BadFuture Dave serves as "what you may become" for present day Dave and gives him a clue on how to avoid it.
* KidFromTheFuture: [[spoiler: Dave's and Helen's daughter. Bonus points for inspiring dad to get back together with her mom.]]
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: As Mell points out, Madblood has armed his robots with laser weapons that use a rare moon crystal for power... one shot per crystal and must be manually reloaded like an antique pistol.]]
* KidFromTheFuture: [[spoiler: Dave's and Helen's daughter. Bonus points for inspiring dad to get back together with her mom.
* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: As Mell points out, Madblood has armed his robots with laser weapons that use a rare moon crystal for power... one shot per crystal and must be manually reloaded like an antique pistol.
* MentalTimeTravel: The "Dave Davenport Is Unstuck on Time" chapter, where Dave jumps between his six-year old body, his sixteen-year old body and his BadFuture fourty-six year old body.
* MinionMaracas: The cathartic power of this gets lampshaded by Artie when he's finally able to do it: %quote
Changed line(s) 250 (click to see context) from:
* MoralityChain: After [[spoiler: Helen B. broke up with Dave, Mell claimed that Dave made her act more sane.]]
to:
* MoralityChain: After [[spoiler: Helen B. broke breaks up with Dave, Mell claimed that claims she's been acting saner with Dave made her act more sane.]]around.]] %%elaborate?
Changed line(s) 252 (click to see context) from:
* NakedOnArrival: When you get kicked out of the afterlife into the mortal world, you're naked. Happens to [[spoiler: both Caliban and Mell]].
to:
* NakedOnArrival: NakedOnRevival: When you get kicked out of the afterlife into the mortal world, you're naked. Happens to [[spoiler: both Caliban and Mell]].
Changed line(s) 254,258 (click to see context) from:
* NerdGlasses: Dave, and the cartoonist.
* NewTechIsNotCheap: Taken UpToEleven, with a time machine requiring the energy of an entire universe.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Near the end, Helen rather viciously points out that everything that's gone wrong and everything that's currently threatening the world is the fault of [[spoiler:Artie]]. Specifically, [[spoiler:he made Dana super-intelligent (and insane), and she went on to create the intelligent hamsters who are trying to wipe out humanity]]. [[spoiler:He sponsored the hamsters' "non-partisan think-tank", giving them the funds to set up said humanity-wiping plan]]. And [[spoiler:he forced Helen to make Dave leave, thus allowing his mad genius to awaken without a controlling influence and nothing to keep him from deciding to take over the world]].
* NighInvulnerable: Titus Misanthrope has this reputation. Earns it too. Some of the female [[MadScientist Mad Scientists]] find it kind of hot, actually.
* NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe: Parodied when [[spoiler:the hologram of Future Dave says something to this effect, then interrupts himself so he can use the "hologram" part for a [[StarWars Princess Leia]] impression.]]
* NewTechIsNotCheap: Taken UpToEleven, with a time machine requiring the energy of an entire universe.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Near the end, Helen rather viciously points out that everything that's gone wrong and everything that's currently threatening the world is the fault of [[spoiler:Artie]]. Specifically, [[spoiler:he made Dana super-intelligent (and insane), and she went on to create the intelligent hamsters who are trying to wipe out humanity]]. [[spoiler:He sponsored the hamsters' "non-partisan think-tank", giving them the funds to set up said humanity-wiping plan]]. And [[spoiler:he forced Helen to make Dave leave, thus allowing his mad genius to awaken without a controlling influence and nothing to keep him from deciding to take over the world]].
* NighInvulnerable: Titus Misanthrope has this reputation. Earns it too. Some of the female [[MadScientist Mad Scientists]] find it kind of hot, actually.
* NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe: Parodied when [[spoiler:the hologram of Future Dave says something to this effect, then interrupts himself so he can use the "hologram" part for a [[StarWars Princess Leia]] impression.]]
to:
* NerdGlasses: Dave, and the cartoonist.
cartoonist. A lot of other characters, too, since many are nerds and wear glasses, but Dave's is the only "symbolic" pair. See above.
* NewTechIsNotCheap:Taken UpToEleven, with a as physical time travel machine requiring uses up the whole energy of an entire universe.
a universe for one trip.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Near the end, Helen rather viciously points out that everything that's gone wrong and everything that's currently threatening the world is the fault of [[spoiler:Artie]]. Specifically, [[spoiler:he made Dana super-intelligent (and insane), and she went on to create the intelligent hamsters who are trying to wipe outhumanity]]. [[spoiler:He sponsored humanity. He gave his prize money to the hamsters' "non-partisan think-tank", giving providing them with the funds to set up said humanity-wiping plan]]. And finally [[spoiler:he forced Helen to make Dave leave, thus allowing his mad genius to awaken without a controlling influence and nothing to keep him from deciding to take over the world]].
* NighInvulnerable: TitusMisanthrope has this reputation. Earns it too. Misanthrope. Some of the female [[MadScientist Mad Scientists]] find it kind of hot, actually.
actually. %%we need more on Titus, the cynical, misantropic minion!
* NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe: Parodied when [[spoiler:the hologram of Future Dave says something to this effect, then interrupts himself so he can use the "hologram" part for a [[StarWars Princess Leia]] impression.]] ]]
* NewTechIsNotCheap:
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Near the end, Helen rather viciously points out that everything that's gone wrong and everything that's currently threatening the world is the fault of [[spoiler:Artie]]. Specifically, [[spoiler:he made Dana super-intelligent (and insane), and she went on to create the intelligent hamsters who are trying to wipe out
* NighInvulnerable: Titus
* NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe: Parodied when [[spoiler:the hologram of Future Dave says something to this effect, then interrupts himself so he can use the "hologram" part for a [[StarWars Princess Leia]] impression.
Changed line(s) 260,261 (click to see context) from:
* NoFourthWall: Less so as the comic progressed, but the FourthWallMailSlot remained dubiously semi-canon right through to the end.
* NoodleIncident: Plenty, but the most literal one was when Helen first went mad in an Italian bistro and caused nine casualties.
* NoodleIncident: Plenty, but the most literal one was when Helen first went mad in an Italian bistro and caused nine casualties.
to:
%% not this trope, fourth wall's just occasionally broken for laughs * NoFourthWall: Less so as the comic progressed, but the FourthWallMailSlot remained dubiously semi-canon right through to the end.
* NoodleIncident: Plenty, but the most literal one was when Helen first went mad in an Italian bistro and caused nine casualties. %%plenty?
* NoodleIncident: Plenty, but the most literal one was when Helen first went mad in an Italian bistro and caused nine casualties. %%plenty?
Changed line(s) 264 (click to see context) from:
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Helen comes across as a slightly goofy, hopelessly inept mad scientist playing to all the tropes (and a HollywoodNerd). [[spoiler: Turns out this is a persona she wears at all times to be able to interact with people on our level. When she has to go up against another newly-gone-mad mad scientist, she warns the rest of the cast that she will be too busy to play nice.]]
to:
%% ? * NotSoHarmlessVillain: Helen comes across as a slightly goofy, hopelessly inept mad scientist playing to all the tropes (and a HollywoodNerd). [[spoiler: Turns out this is a persona she wears at all times to be able to interact with people on our level. When she has to go up against another newly-gone-mad mad scientist, she warns the rest of the cast that she will be too busy to play nice.]]
Changed line(s) 268 (click to see context) from:
* OhNoNotAgain: Quoth Artie:
to:
%% that was one-off joke * OhNoNotAgain: Quoth Artie:
Changed line(s) 270,272 (click to see context) from:
* OralFixation: Dave's smoking habit. Except [[TimeyWimeyBall he never smoked]].
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Dave used to be one, then plot happened.
* UsefulNotes/{{Otherkin}}: Inverted with the "acaudials" Artie meets on the internet, sapient animals who believe themselves human.
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent: Dave used to be one, then plot happened.
* UsefulNotes/{{Otherkin}}: Inverted with the "acaudials" Artie meets on the internet, sapient animals who believe themselves human.
to:
* OralFixation: Dave's smoking habit. Except [[TimeyWimeyBall he never smoked]].
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent:smoked]]. Dave used to be one, then plot happened.
prime chews pencils.
%% useful notes are not tropes * UsefulNotes/{{Otherkin}}: Inverted with the "acaudials" Artie meets on the internet, sapient animals who believe themselves human.
* OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent:
%% useful notes are not tropes * UsefulNotes/{{Otherkin}}: Inverted with the "acaudials" Artie meets on the internet, sapient animals who believe themselves human.
Changed line(s) 276 (click to see context) from:
* PaperThinDisguise: The hamster's human disguise is a trench-coat and a paper plate with a smiley face drawn on it. No one is ever fooled by it, but they tend to be more interested than suspicious.
to:
* PaperThinDisguise: The hamster's human disguise is a trench-coat [[TotemPoleTrench trench-coat]] and a paper plate with a smiley face drawn on it. No one is ever fooled by it, but they tend to be more interested than suspicious.
Changed line(s) 279,282 (click to see context) from:
* {{Polyamory}}: Not in the main comic, but [[spoiler: ''The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co.'']] ends with a OneTrueThreesome between Helen, Dave, and [[spoiler: the Vesuvian scientist [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
* PornStash: Madblood has lotsa Hustler magazines in his panic room.
* PowerOfLove: Both [[spoiler: Dave Davenport]] and Helen have one person they "pull themselves together" for. Helen's is [[LoveInterest Dave, whom she loves romantically]]. [[spoiler: Dave's is his KidFromTheFuture, so familial love works as well.]]
* PowerPerversionPotential:
* PornStash: Madblood has lotsa Hustler magazines in his panic room.
* PowerOfLove: Both [[spoiler: Dave Davenport]] and Helen have one person they "pull themselves together" for. Helen's is [[LoveInterest Dave, whom she loves romantically]]. [[spoiler: Dave's is his KidFromTheFuture, so familial love works as well.]]
* PowerPerversionPotential:
to:
* {{Polyamory}}: Not in PowerBornOfMadness: {{Mad Scientist}}s break the main comic, laws of physics before breakfast... but [[spoiler: ''The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co.'']] ends with a OneTrueThreesome between Helen, Dave, they also set their pants on fire and [[spoiler: the Vesuvian scientist [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
* PornStash: Madbloodtry to TakeOverTheWorld. None of them has lotsa Hustler magazines in his panic room.
ever succeeded, since SanityHasAdvantages (and maybe they don't ''really'' want to).
* PowerOfLove:Both Inverting LoveMakesYouCrazy, both [[spoiler: Dave Davenport]] and Helen have one person they "pull themselves together" for. Helen's is [[LoveInterest Dave, whom she loves romantically]]. [[spoiler: Dave's is his KidFromTheFuture, so familial love works as well.]]
*PowerPerversionPotential: PowerPerversionPotential:
* PornStash: Madblood
* PowerOfLove:
*
Changed line(s) 284 (click to see context) from:
* ProjectedMan: Lovelace, the A.I. built by Madblood, has a sexy holographic avatar later-on.
to:
* ProjectedMan: Lovelace, the A.I. built by Madblood, has is given a sexy holographic avatar later-on.in the final storyline.
Changed line(s) 286,287 (click to see context) from:
* PunchClockVillain: Dave, at least in the beginning.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Done on occasion. Once {{Lampshaded}}:
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Done on occasion. Once {{Lampshaded}}:
to:
* PunchClockVillain: Dave, at least Dave gets into it through a job interview. "[[EvilMinions Henchman]]" is a legitimate career in the beginning.
this 'verse. They have a [[WeirdTradeUnion trade union]].
* PunctuatedForEmphasis:Done on occasion. Once {{Lampshaded}}:%%needs context?
* PunctuatedForEmphasis:
Changed line(s) 290,291 (click to see context) from:
* RasputinianDeath: Dr. Narbon has JokerImmunity rivalling this of the best mad scientist baddies. Try to kill her. You'll fail.
* ReroutedFromHeaven: Dave in "Get a Life" storyline. Long story.
* ReroutedFromHeaven: Dave in "Get a Life" storyline. Long story.
to:
* RasputinianDeath: Dr. Narbon has JokerImmunity rivalling this of the best mad scientist baddies. Try to kill her. You'll fail.
fail. She's been burned at stake, for goodness' sakes, and it was ''recorded on multiple cameras''!
* ReplacementFlatCharacter: [[spoiler: Dave prime, the clone Helen makes of Dave to fix something that broke after he left]] is a rare InUniverse example.
* ReroutedFromHeaven: Dave in "Get a Life" storyline.Long story.While sort of incongruous, this story introduces Caliban.
* ReplacementFlatCharacter: [[spoiler: Dave prime, the clone Helen makes of Dave to fix something that broke after he left]] is a rare InUniverse example.
* ReroutedFromHeaven: Dave in "Get a Life" storyline.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Helen's ReunionRevenge one fizzles out. [[spoiler: Dave's is stopped by an explosively great kiss.]]
* RodentsOfUnusualSize: Helen's creation from the first storyline, they still hang out there somewhere. [[spoiler: On Daves' island, to be exact.]]
* RodentsOfUnusualSize: Helen's creation from the first storyline, they still hang out there somewhere. [[spoiler: On Daves' island, to be exact.]]
Changed line(s) 301,302 (click to see context) from:
* ScaryShinyGlasses: Dave is an odd example - his eyes are concealed by his glasses throughout the comic (save a couple of strips when he's not wearing them or the glasses slide down for plot-related reasons) and only go totally clear once [[spoiler: he [[FreakOut goes mad]].]] The elder Doctor Narbon also wears eyes-obscuring glasses in all of her appearances in the comic [[spoiler: except for when Dave meets her while traveling in time, where she looks exactly like present day Helen.]]
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: Mad genius is an actual genetic condition (DSM-IV numeric code 29533, also known as Walton's Disorder). And Helen manages to find a cure for it... but with the side effect of decreasing the subject's intelligence and amplifying their WeirdnessCensor to an astonishing degree. (Helen also says she didn't use it [[spoiler: on Dave]] because it makes the user impotent, but WordOfGod is that was a joke.)
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: Mad genius is an actual genetic condition (DSM-IV numeric code 29533, also known as Walton's Disorder). And Helen manages to find a cure for it... but with the side effect of decreasing the subject's intelligence and amplifying their WeirdnessCensor to an astonishing degree. (Helen also says she didn't use it [[spoiler: on Dave]] because it makes the user impotent, but WordOfGod is that was a joke.)
to:
* ScaryShinyGlasses: Dave is an odd example - his eyes are concealed by his glasses throughout the comic (save a couple of strips when he's not wearing them or the glasses slide down for plot-related reasons) and only go totally clear once [[spoiler: he [[FreakOut goes mad]].]] The elder Doctor Narbon also wears eyes-obscuring glasses in all of her appearances in the comic [[spoiler: except for when Dave meets her while traveling in time, where she looks exactly like present day Helen.]]
Helen,]] but, per WordOfGod, only Dave gets "symbolic" glasses.
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: Mad genius is an actualgenetic (and hereditary) condition (DSM-IV numeric code 29533, also known as Walton's Disorder). And Helen manages to find a cure for it... but with the side effect of decreasing the subject's intelligence and amplifying their WeirdnessCensor to an astonishing degree. (Helen also says she didn't use it [[spoiler: on Dave]] because it makes the user impotent, but WordOfGod is that was a joke.)
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: Mad genius is an actual
Changed line(s) 305 (click to see context) from:
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Among other things, Dave [[spoiler:quit smoking by never starting in the first place]]. In a more plot heavy moment [[spoiler:Dave from the future specifically invokes this trope by leaving a holographic message to a time hopping Dave from the present that he's not happy with his life, and gives him [[ForWantOfANail instructions on how to fix things.]]]]
to:
* SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong: Among other things, Dave [[spoiler:quit smoking by never starting in the first place]]. In a more plot heavy moment [[spoiler:Dave from the future specifically invokes this trope by leaving a holographic message to a time hopping Dave from the time-hopping present Dave that he's not happy with his life, and gives him [[ForWantOfANail instructions on how to fix things.]]]]
Changed line(s) 307 (click to see context) from:
* SexySoakedShirt: Helen after a trip through Madblood's pool:
to:
* SexySoakedShirt: Helen after a trip through thorough soaking in Madblood's pool:
Changed line(s) 321 (click to see context) from:
** ''[[http://narbonic.com/comic/january-1-6-2001/ Smart Gerbils]]'' pokes fun at ''Flowers for Algernon''.
to:
** One of the beginning strips of ''[[http://narbonic.com/comic/january-1-6-2001/ Smart Gerbils]]'' pokes fun at ''Flowers for Algernon''.
* SoftWater: In Madblood's pool, apparently. But the author confesses to be so worried about the unrealistic part of the trope, she had [[spoiler: Artie additionally cushioning Helen's fall.]] And ''he'' suffers injuries.
Changed line(s) 329,331 (click to see context) from:
* SpaceIsNoisy: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during the "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit" arc, when Dave goes into space.
* SpannerInTheWorks
--> "And thus he falls for Villain Fallacy #2: Letting the harmless comic relief run free."
* SpannerInTheWorks
--> "And thus he falls for Villain Fallacy #2: Letting the harmless comic relief run free."
to:
* SoWhatDoWeDoNow: In the last chapter [[spoiler: Dave has no idea what do with himself after what happened. It takes a pep-talk from his KidFromTheFuture to get back into gear and start his new life properly.]]
* SpaceIsNoisy: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during the "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit" arc, when Dave goes intospace.
space. %% needs quotes
%% elaborate * SpannerInTheWorks
--> "And thus he falls for Villain Fallacy #2: Letting * TheSparkOfGenius: Mad science creations regularly break the harmless comic relief run free."laws of physics. Further explored in ''Webcomic/SkinHorse''.
* SpaceIsNoisy: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] during the "Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit" arc, when Dave goes into
%% elaborate * SpannerInTheWorks
Deleted line(s) 333 (click to see context) :
* StepfordSmiler: [[spoiler:Helen, which we find out after Dave leaves.]]
Changed line(s) 335,336 (click to see context) from:
* SuicideAttack: The gerbils send the cat, Sir Pounce, that Helen got to keep them in check, as a suicide bomber against Helen. Mell tossed it away and it killed three of the gerbils.
* SunglassesAtNight: Zeta, she's photophobic, and colorblind.
* SunglassesAtNight: Zeta, she's photophobic, and colorblind.
to:
* SuicideAttack: The gerbils send the cat, Sir Pounce, that Helen got to keep them in check, use [[FormallyNamedPet sir Pounce]] as a suicide bomber against Helen. Mell tossed it away and it killed just tosses the cat back, killing three of the gerbils.
* SunglassesAtNight: Zeta,she's who's photophobic, and colorblind.
* SunglassesAtNight: Zeta,
Deleted line(s) 338 (click to see context) :
** [[spoiler: The same goes for [[http://seananmcguire.com/songbook.php?id=112 Seanan McGuire song "Oh Helen", a love song from Dave to Helen, obviously]].]]
Changed line(s) 340,341 (click to see context) from:
* TapOnTheHead: Mell tries to do it to Titus, but can't, because she's used to going straight for the kill.
* TheMadHatter: Most of the characters know they're insane, and are o.k. with that.
* TheMadHatter: Most of the characters know they're insane, and are o.k. with that.
to:
* TamperingWithFoodAndDrink: Helen's preffered method for experimenting on Dave, to the point where he ''expects'' to be given drugged coffee when dealing with Madblood (a roboticist who doesn't deal in poisons/drugs/other suspicious chemicals).
* TapOnTheHead: Mell tries PistolWhipping todo it to Titus, knock Titus out, but can't, fails, because she's used to going straight for the kill.
kill.
* TheMadHatter:Most of the characters know they're insane, and are o.k. There's only so much you can do with that.being a Mad Scientist...
* TapOnTheHead: Mell tries PistolWhipping to
* TheMadHatter:
Changed line(s) 344 (click to see context) from:
* TimeSkip: Three months, at the ending. Also in-between storylines, keeping the comic as a whole roughly in real time.
to:
* TimeSkip: Three months, at the ending. Also in-between In-between storylines, keeping to keep the comic as a whole roughly in real time.
Changed line(s) 346,350 (click to see context) from:
* TongueOnTheFlagpole: The parody of ''Film/AChristmasStory'' briefly shows a young Dave Davenport yelling "I'm thtuck!"
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: Seth]] is something of a subversion. He becomes a powerful demon slayer when he reappears in the comic, and has a wicked axe to boot, but has no better luck getting dates than he did in his earlier appearances.
* TotemPoleTrench: Done (unconvincingly) by a bunch of superintelligent hamsters with a trenchcoat and a paper plate face.
%% * Tsundere: Helen B. ???
* TrulySingleParent: Helen is Dr. Narbon Senior's clone. We learn of this rather early and it drives a chunk of the plot.
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: Seth]] is something of a subversion. He becomes a powerful demon slayer when he reappears in the comic, and has a wicked axe to boot, but has no better luck getting dates than he did in his earlier appearances.
* TotemPoleTrench: Done (unconvincingly) by a bunch of superintelligent hamsters with a trenchcoat and a paper plate face.
%% * Tsundere: Helen B. ???
* TrulySingleParent: Helen is Dr. Narbon Senior's clone. We learn of this rather early and it drives a chunk of the plot.
to:
** Imogene Frog is from TheFifties and somehow ended up in the TurnOfTheMillennium set story. This may be [[FridgeHorror considered disturbing]].
* TongueOnTheFlagpole: The parody of ''Film/AChristmasStory'' briefly shows a young Dave Davenport yelling "I'mthtuck!"
thtuck!"
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: Seth]] is something of a subversion. He becomes a powerful demon slayer when he reappears in the comic, and has a wicked axe to boot, but has no better luck getting dates than he did in his earlierappearances.
* TotemPoleTrench: Done (unconvincingly)appearances. [[spoiler: Dave's leveling in badass is shown on page, step by a bunch of superintelligent hamsters with a trenchcoat and a paper plate face.
%% * Tsundere: Helen B. ???
step.]]
* TrulySingleParent: Helen isDr. a clone of dr. Narbon Senior's clone. Senior. We learn of about this rather early and it drives a chunk of the plot.
* TongueOnTheFlagpole: The parody of ''Film/AChristmasStory'' briefly shows a young Dave Davenport yelling "I'm
* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler: Seth]] is something of a subversion. He becomes a powerful demon slayer when he reappears in the comic, and has a wicked axe to boot, but has no better luck getting dates than he did in his earlier
* TotemPoleTrench: Done (unconvincingly)
%% * Tsundere: Helen B. ???
* TrulySingleParent: Helen is
Changed line(s) 352,353 (click to see context) from:
* TwitchyEye: Invoked as part of a threat. See BadassBoast above.
* UndressingTheUnconscious: After Nick Cricetida is knocked unconscious, he awakes in the villainess Dr. Narbon's bedroom naked after she had her Iguana-Man {{Mook}} strip him.
* UndressingTheUnconscious: After Nick Cricetida is knocked unconscious, he awakes in the villainess Dr. Narbon's bedroom naked after she had her Iguana-Man {{Mook}} strip him.
to:
Changed line(s) 363,368 (click to see context) from:
* VideoWills: Not a will exactly, but Dave's 46-year-old self made a hologram to show his 26-year-old self when the younger Dave showed up via TimeTravel. He knew what to say because he [[StableTimeLoop remembered what his younger self heard 20 years ago]]. [[spoiler:Then it didn't happen. Oh, well.]][[spoiler: Technically the 'holographic will' was actually [[BrainUploading Dave's mind in a supercomputer. Maybe]].]]
* VillainousBreakdown: Every Mad Scientist goes through one of these when they first [[TheyCalledMeMad go crazy]].
** There ''are'' benevolent Mad Scientists, who presumably don't go through one of these, but they're barely touched upon, as the Mad Scientific Community at large views them as tremendously creepy.
* VillainProtagonist: Nominally, the entire cast. Also, there are villain antagonists (Madblood or dr. Narbon senior), kind-of-villain antagonists (the Conspiracy) and HeroAntagonist ANTONIO SMITH, THE FORENSIC LINGUIST who appears on occasion.
%% * VirtualGhost: more like BrainUploading, really
* TheWallsAreClosingIn: When Mell is sent on a mission to kill [[spoiler: Dr. Narbon]], she falls prey to this after commenting, "Huh, weird floor." Her captor comments that there wasn't time to come up with something original, since Mell made it farther than expected.
* VillainousBreakdown: Every Mad Scientist goes through one of these when they first [[TheyCalledMeMad go crazy]].
** There ''are'' benevolent Mad Scientists, who presumably don't go through one of these, but they're barely touched upon, as the Mad Scientific Community at large views them as tremendously creepy.
* VillainProtagonist: Nominally, the entire cast. Also, there are villain antagonists (Madblood or dr. Narbon senior), kind-of-villain antagonists (the Conspiracy) and HeroAntagonist ANTONIO SMITH, THE FORENSIC LINGUIST who appears on occasion.
%% * VirtualGhost: more like BrainUploading, really
* TheWallsAreClosingIn: When Mell is sent on a mission to kill [[spoiler: Dr. Narbon]], she falls prey to this after commenting, "Huh, weird floor." Her captor comments that there wasn't time to come up with something original, since Mell made it farther than expected.
to:
* VideoWills: Not a will exactly, but Dave's 46-year-old fourty-six-year-old self made a hologram to show his 26-year-old twenty-six-year-old self when the younger Dave showed up via TimeTravel. He knew what to say because he [[StableTimeLoop remembered what his younger self heard 20 twenty years ago]]. [[spoiler:Then [[spoiler:Says he. And then it didn't happen. Oh, well.]][[spoiler: Technically the 'holographic will' was actually [[BrainUploading Dave's mind in a supercomputer. Maybe]].]]
* VillainousBreakdown:Every Mad Scientist goes through one of these MadScientist turn InsaneEqualsViolent, as well as "extra-creative" when they first [[TheyCalledMeMad go crazy]].
mad]]. Often triggered by laughter of fools.
** There ''are'' benevolent Mad Scientists, who presumably don't go throughone of these, but they're barely touched upon, as the Mad Scientific Community at large views them as tremendously creepy.
* VillainProtagonist: Nominally, the entire cast. Also, there are villain antagonists(Madblood or (Madblood, dr. Narbon senior), senior, [[spoiler: the hamsters]]), kind-of-villain antagonists (the Conspiracy) and HeroAntagonist ANTONIO SMITH, THE FORENSIC LINGUIST who appears on occasion.
%% * VirtualGhost: more like BrainUploading, really
* TheWallsAreClosingIn: When Mell is sent on a mission to kill [[spoiler: Dr. Narbon]], she falls prey to this after commenting, "Huh, weird floor." into one of these traps. With spikes. Her captor comments that there wasn't time to come up with something original, since Mell made it farther than expected.
* VillainousBreakdown:
** There ''are'' benevolent Mad Scientists, who presumably don't go through
* VillainProtagonist: Nominally, the entire cast. Also, there are villain antagonists
Deleted line(s) 378 (click to see context) :
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Mad scientists are utterly brilliant and can do impossible things... but their genius is tied to their madness, which makes them volatile and destructive. It's probably also the reason that none of them has ever actually achieved [[TakeOverTheWorld world domination]].
Changed line(s) 382,383 (click to see context) from:
* WriteBackToTheFuture: When Dave's mind is bouncing around in time, his 16-year-old self gets a message on how to return to his own time, which was written by his 6-year-old self on the men's room wall (which wasn't cleaned in the next ten years).
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Helen B. is extremely shocked when she hears that her mother is proud of her.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Helen B. is extremely shocked when she hears that her mother is proud of her.
to:
* WriteBackToTheFuture: When Dave's mind is bouncing around in time, his 16-year-old sixteen-year-old self gets a message on how to return to his own time, which was written by his 6-year-old six-year-old self on the men's room wall (which wasn't apparently [[{{Squick}} wouldn't be cleaned in the next for at least ten years).
years]]).
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Helen B. is extremely shocked whenshe hears hearing that her mother is proud of her.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Helen B. is extremely shocked when
Changed line(s) 389,390 (click to see context) from:
* YouNeedToGetLaid: Mell said this about herself, after she managed to [[spoiler:get herself kicked out of heaven and hell back to earth]]. Her boyfriend Caliban (ex-demon) agreed and saw to it.
to:
* YouNeedToGetLaid: Mell said says this about herself, after she managed manages to [[spoiler:get herself kicked out of heaven both Heaven and hell Hell, and back to earth]]. Earth]]. Her boyfriend Caliban (ex-demon) agreed agrees and saw sees to it.
it:
--->'''Caliban''': You know, the radiance of the seraphic host is said to be a far greater ecstasy than—\\
'''Mell''': Dude. It '''ain't'''.\\
'''Caliban''': I know. Just checking.
* YoureInsane: Artie tries this against [[spoiler: the hamsters]] when told their world-domination plan:
--->'''Artie''': "This is '''madness! MADNESS!'''"\\
[[spoiler: '''Hamsters''']]: "No. Not at all. Our plan is a pragmatic response to the problems we've observed..."\\
{{Beat}}\\
'''Artie''':"This is '''sanity! Sanity!'''"
----
!! The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. proudly present the following tropes:
* BrainTransplant: Dave's to Hapax to Pim. Hapax's to Dave. Pim's to Dave. [[spoiler: Then Dave's back to Dave, Pim's to Mell, Mell's to Hapax.]] Everyone ends up happy.
* {{Costumer}}: In full steampunk resplendence.
* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the Amazon Women of Mars oscillates between nearly normal and positively Jabberwockish. It's due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't actually speak Italian all that well.
* HotInHumanForm: Martian "women", since the template they have is of a cute blonde. [[spoiler: Also, Pim transplanted into Victorian Dave's body]].
* InterplanetaryVoyage: To Venus, then to Mars.
* MarsNeedsWomen: "Mars Needs Men" strip which... plays with the trope.
* NinjaMaid: Victorian Mell is Helen's maid. No significant differences from the modern Mell, really.
* {{Steampunk}}: Oh, yes.
* {{Polyamory}}: It ends with a OneTrueThreesome between Helen, Dave, and [[spoiler: Pim [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The Marsians, although it's difficult for them and they need a template.
--->'''Caliban''': You know, the radiance of the seraphic host is said to be a far greater ecstasy than—\\
'''Mell''': Dude. It '''ain't'''.\\
'''Caliban''': I know. Just checking.
* YoureInsane: Artie tries this against [[spoiler: the hamsters]] when told their world-domination plan:
--->'''Artie''': "This is '''madness! MADNESS!'''"\\
[[spoiler: '''Hamsters''']]: "No. Not at all. Our plan is a pragmatic response to the problems we've observed..."\\
{{Beat}}\\
'''Artie''':"This is '''sanity! Sanity!'''"
----
!! The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. proudly present the following tropes:
* BrainTransplant: Dave's to Hapax to Pim. Hapax's to Dave. Pim's to Dave. [[spoiler: Then Dave's back to Dave, Pim's to Mell, Mell's to Hapax.]] Everyone ends up happy.
* {{Costumer}}: In full steampunk resplendence.
* GratuitousItalian: The Italian spoken by the Amazon Women of Mars oscillates between nearly normal and positively Jabberwockish. It's due to being translated by the artist's boyfriend (later husband) who does't actually speak Italian all that well.
* HotInHumanForm: Martian "women", since the template they have is of a cute blonde. [[spoiler: Also, Pim transplanted into Victorian Dave's body]].
* InterplanetaryVoyage: To Venus, then to Mars.
* MarsNeedsWomen: "Mars Needs Men" strip which... plays with the trope.
* NinjaMaid: Victorian Mell is Helen's maid. No significant differences from the modern Mell, really.
* {{Steampunk}}: Oh, yes.
* {{Polyamory}}: It ends with a OneTrueThreesome between Helen, Dave, and [[spoiler: Pim [[BrainTransplant occupying Mell's body]]]].
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: The Marsians, although it's difficult for them and they need a template.
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Changed line(s) 72 (click to see context) from:
* AwesomeYetImpractical: The bane of most mad scientists. The dangerously sane (by Narbonic standards) Mell lampshades this when she draws an analogy between a highly advanced but thoroughly impractical laser flintlock pistol designed by Madblood to mad science in general.
to:
* AsleepForDays: [[spoiler: Dave's three months coma between the two final arcs.]]
* AwesomeYetImpractical: The bane ofmost mad scientists. The dangerously sane (by Narbonic standards) Mell lampshades this when she draws an analogy between a highly advanced but thoroughly impractical laser flintlock pistol designed by Madblood to mad science in general.
* AwesomeYetImpractical: The bane of
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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Changed line(s) 30 (click to see context) from:
* D-Con: Helen decided to infiltrate the Dave Conspiracy. Just for fun.
to:
* D-Con: Helen decided decides to infiltrate the Dave Conspiracy. Just for fun.
Changed line(s) 113 (click to see context) from:
* BuxomIsBetter: Mell acknowledges the assets of the Avatar of Lovelace, Madbloods A.I.
to:
%% * BuxomIsBetter: Mell acknowledges the assets of the Avatar of Lovelace, Madbloods A.I. she doesn't
Changed line(s) 116 (click to see context) from:
* ChekhovsGun and ChekhovsGunman: Several examples.
to:
%% * ChekhovsGun and ChekhovsGunman: Several examples.examples. Will elaborate later, though ChekhovsBoomerang might take over, the author has expressed a preference for it in the commentary
Changed line(s) 120,121 (click to see context) from:
* ClueFromEd: Dave receives a DeusExMachina in the form of twenty-year-old bathroom graffiti. [[TimeyWimeyBall That he made]].
* CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts. Acutally intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell. "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts. Acutally intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell. "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
to:
* ClueFromEd: Dave receives a DeusExMachina in the form of twenty-year-old ten-year-old bathroom graffiti. [[TimeyWimeyBall That he made]].
* CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts.Acutally Actually intelligent enough to speak, and an object of (temporary, we hope) desire for Mell. Mell.
-->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
* CompanionCube: Foot, of sorts.
-->'''Mell:''' "Oh! He's so coldly destructive!"
Changed line(s) 139 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler: Then again, when Helen kisses Dave inside Madblood's computer, it causes the system to overload.]]
to:
** [[spoiler: Then again, when When Helen kisses Dave inside Madblood's computer, it causes the system to overload.]]
* EvilLawyerJoke: Helen's backstory establishes the existence of ''evil law'' as a respected and lucrative field. Dr. Narbon's lawyer tends to respond to the "Aren't they all?" with a DeathGlare to end all Death Glares. [[spoiler: Mell becomes an evil lawyer in the end - her first case is Lovelace vs. Madblood.]]
* PowerOfLove: Both [[spoiler: Dave Davenport]] and Helen have one person they "pull themselves together" for. Helen's is [[LoveInterest Dave, whom she loves romantically]]. [[spoiler: Dave's is his KidFromTheFuture, so familial love works as well.]]
Changed line(s) 332 (click to see context) from:
* SunglassesAtNight: Zeta, she's [[http://www.sanguinegames.com/downloads/ photophobic]], and colorblind.
to:
* SunglassesAtNight: Zeta, she's [[http://www.sanguinegames.com/downloads/ photophobic]], photophobic, and colorblind.
Changed line(s) 338 (click to see context) from:
* TheyCalledMeMad: Have we mentioned that this is a MadScientist story?
to:
* TheyCalledMeMad: Have we mentioned that this is a MadScientist story?story? Also, when a scientist on the brink of madness gets laughed at, it's inevitably the last straw.
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* CrapsackWorld: The BadFuture. [[spoiler: A termonuclear war caused by a MadScientist FreakOut will do that.]]
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* OurDemonsAreDifferent: Not very different, bog-standard {{Fallen Angel}}s with a strong [[CelestialBureaucracy Infernal Bureaucracy]].
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* ReroutedFromHeaven: Dave in "Get a Life" storyline. Long story.
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* ScrewDestiny: Despite the time-travelling, characters speculate that either prediction is impossible (due to the sheer number of factors) or personal decisions can always derail the universe.
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Deleted line(s) 65 (click to see context) :
* AngelicTransformation: Caliban, a demon/fallen angel, becomes human in order to escape some demonic loan sharks.
Deleted line(s) 91 (click to see context) :
* BlackHelicopter: Dave asks if the the members of his game club buy their appliances from places that deliver stuff by black helicopters (government, most likely)
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* ClueFromEd: Dave receives a DeusExMachina in the form of twenty-year-old bathroom graffiti.
to:
* ClueFromEd: Dave receives a DeusExMachina in the form of twenty-year-old bathroom graffiti. [[TimeyWimeyBall That he made]].
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* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler:Zeta Vincent.]]
to:
* HalfHumanHybrid: [[spoiler:Zeta Vincent.]]]] It's a mad science kind of thing.
Deleted line(s) 193,194 (click to see context) :
* HollywoodToneDeaf: When Caliban the [[spoiler:ex-demon]] sings, [[YourHeadASplode heads starting to a splode]], which makes his singing also a BrownNote.
** Although WordOfGod suggests that it might actually be the [[FallenAngel Heavenly qualities]] of his voice that are causing the 'splosions.
** Although WordOfGod suggests that it might actually be the [[FallenAngel Heavenly qualities]] of his voice that are causing the 'splosions.
Deleted line(s) 223 (click to see context) :
* InstantAIJustAddWater: Lovelace.
Deleted line(s) 229 (click to see context) :
* KissMeImVirtual: [[spoiler: Lovelace]].
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* PsychoForHire: Mell. While she starts as Helen's intern, later on she diversifies.
to:
* PsychoForHire: Mell. While she starts as Helen's intern, later on she diversifies. Also, studies law and graduates, so she can do much more evil now.
Deleted line(s) 302 (click to see context) :
* SenseFreak: [[spoiler:Caliban in human form.]]
Deleted line(s) 309 (click to see context) :
* ShamefulStrip: After Nick Cricetida is knocked unconscious, he awakes in the villainess's bed naked.
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Deleted line(s) 141,142 (click to see context) :
* DistractedByTheSexy: Caliban is especially prone to this after [[spoiler: becoming mortal]].
-->''"I've never seen humans this way! Have you always had these breasts?"''
-->''"I've never seen humans this way! Have you always had these breasts?"''
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Not So Different has been renamed, and it needs to be dewicked/moved
Deleted line(s) 268 (click to see context) :
* NotSoDifferent: Poor Artie causes a lot of chaos, despite being the token good member of the cast. Nominally, in any case.
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[[folder:Chapter List]]
* The Job Interview: In which we meet the main cast (and some of the personality sprites)
* ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: Enter a HERO. Also, Helen's first lab is trashed in an epic fight.
* New Digs: In which Dave first proves his usefulness and a new lab is established.
* Employee Brain Scans: Some backstory, some personality sprites, some Dave finding his footing.
* Interview with the Mad Scientist: Mell interviews Helen for her college newspaper.
* Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: Helen crosses spades with the nefarious professor Madblood for the first time.
* Smart Gerbils: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Artie gets created.
* Dr. Narbon: We see the depth of human depravity, personified by dr. Narbon and her foot fungus. She kills Dave. Sorry, but you'd be spoiled anyhow by the title of the next chapter.
* Dave’s Dead, Dave: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin again.
* Mell’s Major: Mell has to choose a major.
* Get a Life: Dave's adventures as a dead man.
* Burning Gerbil: Zeta's introduction. And gerbils.
* Zombie Woof: Dave's adventures as a zombie.
* Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: What happens if you give a mad roboticist a zombie head. Not, you know, his head...
* Gender Swap: Things are finally back to normal in Narbonic Labs. Until Artie starts to play with chemicals...
* D-Con: Helen decided to infiltrate the Dave Conspiracy. Just for fun.
* Island of the Ur-Gerbils: The abovementioned fun lands the gang on a desert island. Which is populated by creations of mad science.
* Grass Roots: Zeta investigates.
* Dave Vs. Dave: The Daves cotton on to our protagonists' survival, so they send a team in.
* David Cronenberg’s The Geek: Back in the lab, Helen has a teleporter-related problem.
* Mell Expelled: Mell faces expulsion from her college.
* Class Reunion: Helen gets invited to her class reunion.
* Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: Professon Madblood builds a moonbase, so naturally our heroes infiltrate.
* Dave Davenport Has Come Unstuck in Time: Potee-weet?
* Demons: Helen throws a Valentine's Day party. Demons are not invited.
* Mad Science Is Decadent and Depraved: Madblood's robots come back, with Dave as their spokesman. Road trip ensues.
* Professor Madblood and the Lovelace Affair: Dave gets an online girlfriend. Nothing strange here. Also, he gets Helen to take him to a mad-scientific conference.
* Battle for the Lost Diamond Mines of Brazil: Mell's solo trip. Explanations that raise more questions. And a FootnoteFever gag.
* Hiccup: Artie's life is turned upside down.
* H Is H: Artie continues adjusting to the aforementioned change. Also meets some like-minded (and not so like-minded) sentients.
* Angels: Dave fixes a microwave.
* The End: In which things begin go to hell in a handbasket. And Helen quotes ''Alice in Wonderland'', which is {{Foreshadowing}}.
* D, D’: In which things are beyond awkward.
* Professor Madblood and the Everlasting Ices of the North: Dave moves on with his life. Learns some important things. And that hellish handbasket gets set on fire.
* Madness: The handbasket explodes in everyone's faces and the story [[{{Climax}} climaxes]].
* Genius: The aftermatch.
* The Job Interview: In which we meet the main cast (and some of the personality sprites)
* ANTONIO SMITH, FORENSIC LINGUIST: Enter a HERO. Also, Helen's first lab is trashed in an epic fight.
* New Digs: In which Dave first proves his usefulness and a new lab is established.
* Employee Brain Scans: Some backstory, some personality sprites, some Dave finding his footing.
* Interview with the Mad Scientist: Mell interviews Helen for her college newspaper.
* Professor Madblood and the Crystal of Marinia: Helen crosses spades with the nefarious professor Madblood for the first time.
* Smart Gerbils: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. Artie gets created.
* Dr. Narbon: We see the depth of human depravity, personified by dr. Narbon and her foot fungus. She kills Dave. Sorry, but you'd be spoiled anyhow by the title of the next chapter.
* Dave’s Dead, Dave: ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin again.
* Mell’s Major: Mell has to choose a major.
* Get a Life: Dave's adventures as a dead man.
* Burning Gerbil: Zeta's introduction. And gerbils.
* Zombie Woof: Dave's adventures as a zombie.
* Professor Madblood and the Wetware Interface: What happens if you give a mad roboticist a zombie head. Not, you know, his head...
* Gender Swap: Things are finally back to normal in Narbonic Labs. Until Artie starts to play with chemicals...
* D-Con: Helen decided to infiltrate the Dave Conspiracy. Just for fun.
* Island of the Ur-Gerbils: The abovementioned fun lands the gang on a desert island. Which is populated by creations of mad science.
* Grass Roots: Zeta investigates.
* Dave Vs. Dave: The Daves cotton on to our protagonists' survival, so they send a team in.
* David Cronenberg’s The Geek: Back in the lab, Helen has a teleporter-related problem.
* Mell Expelled: Mell faces expulsion from her college.
* Class Reunion: Helen gets invited to her class reunion.
* Professor Madblood and the Doppelganger Gambit: Professon Madblood builds a moonbase, so naturally our heroes infiltrate.
* Dave Davenport Has Come Unstuck in Time: Potee-weet?
* Demons: Helen throws a Valentine's Day party. Demons are not invited.
* Mad Science Is Decadent and Depraved: Madblood's robots come back, with Dave as their spokesman. Road trip ensues.
* Professor Madblood and the Lovelace Affair: Dave gets an online girlfriend. Nothing strange here. Also, he gets Helen to take him to a mad-scientific conference.
* Battle for the Lost Diamond Mines of Brazil: Mell's solo trip. Explanations that raise more questions. And a FootnoteFever gag.
* Hiccup: Artie's life is turned upside down.
* H Is H: Artie continues adjusting to the aforementioned change. Also meets some like-minded (and not so like-minded) sentients.
* Angels: Dave fixes a microwave.
* The End: In which things begin go to hell in a handbasket. And Helen quotes ''Alice in Wonderland'', which is {{Foreshadowing}}.
* D, D’: In which things are beyond awkward.
* Professor Madblood and the Everlasting Ices of the North: Dave moves on with his life. Learns some important things. And that hellish handbasket gets set on fire.
* Madness: The handbasket explodes in everyone's faces and the story [[{{Climax}} climaxes]].
* Genius: The aftermatch.
Also present:
* The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. : Or, the Victorian Helen and her gang adventures. The Costumer Sunday strip.
* A Brief Moment of Culture: The First (non-pornographic) Narbonic Fan Fiction by Jeffrey Wells.
* Lots and lots of extras we're not getting into here, because they're non-canon.
[[/folder]]
----
* The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co. : Or, the Victorian Helen and her gang adventures. The Costumer Sunday strip.
* A Brief Moment of Culture: The First (non-pornographic) Narbonic Fan Fiction by Jeffrey Wells.
* Lots and lots of extras we're not getting into here, because they're non-canon.
[[/folder]]
----
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* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Almost verbatim when [[http://narbonic.com/comic/march-8-13-2004/ the envoy of Hell]] appears to Dave, Artie and Seth. It's a form of ''Helen in Emma frost cosplay'', so...
to:
* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Almost verbatim when [[http://narbonic.com/comic/march-8-13-2004/ the envoy of Hell]] appears to Dave, Artie and Seth. It's a form of ''Helen in Emma frost Frost cosplay'', so...
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* FloatingContinent: The intelligent hamsters that Dana (the superintelligent gerbil) created, used Artie's donation to make a floating village.
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* FloatingContinent: The intelligent hamsters that Dana (the superintelligent gerbil) created, used Artie's donation to make a floating village.
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* FootnoteFever: A one-off joke referencing Marvel, ended by Helen complaining over the FourthWall.
-->'''Shaenon Garrity''': Footnote gags: still funny.
-->'''Shaenon Garrity''': Footnote gags: still funny.
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* DescriptionCut: During the Lovelace Affair arc, while Dave is worrying about Lovelace's refusal to appear:
to:
* DescriptionCut: During Frequently and with style. Example: during the Lovelace Affair arc, while Dave is worrying about Lovelace's refusal to appear:
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* TheMagazineRule: Helen subscribes to several mad-science related magazines (like ''Journal of Malology''), and writes once to the editors of a zombie-making journal for advice on how to make zombie!Dave more effective at stuff.
to:
* TheMagazineRule: Helen subscribes to several mad-science related magazines (like ''Journal of Malology''), and writes once to the editors of a zombie-making journal ''Transthanatology Today'' ("full of useful tips for resurrecting the dead in your home or office") for advice on how to make zombie!Dave more effective at stuff.
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* ShoutOut:
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* ShoutOut:ShoutOut: Loads, about fifty percent GeniusBonus, fifty percent modern pop culture. They include:
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** ''[[http://narbonic.com/comic/january-1-6-2001/ Smart Gerbils]]'' pokes fun at ''Flowers for Algernon''.
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* EasterEgg: A story of [[FreakOut Helen's origin]] can be found (two or three words at a time) attached to the filenames of the individual strips. The compiled story can be found [[http://www.ci-n.com/~jcampbel/narbonic.txt here]].
to:
* EasterEgg: A story of [[FreakOut Helen's origin]] breakdown]] can be found (two or three words at a time) attached to the filenames of the individual strips. The compiled story can be found [[http://www.ci-n.com/~jcampbel/narbonic.txt here]].
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** Also foiling Dave are: his brother Bill (as a muggle with industrial-strenght WeirdnessCensor), Titus (another henchman, whose relationship with his female master is - unlike Dave's - strictly professional, also as the cynic to Dave's newly found optimism) and Madblood (similar interests and love lifes, but unlike him, Dave genuinely loves Helen).
to:
** Also foiling Dave are: his brother Bill (as a muggle with industrial-strenght WeirdnessCensor), WeirdnessCensor to Dave's ability to take weird in his stride - they also look very similar), Titus (another henchman, whose relationship with his female master is - unlike Dave's - strictly professional, also as the cynic to Dave's newly found optimism) and Madblood (similar interests and love lifes, but unlike him, Dave genuinely loves Helen).
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* FreakOut: All mad scientists go through this when they first go mad. Helen's, told in an Easter Egg spanning literally the entire strip's run (hint: Look at the filenames of the strips) involved her turning a bunch of ''pasta'' into a deadly bioweapon.
to:
* FreakOut: All mad scientists go through this when they first go mad. Helen's, told in an Easter Egg spanning literally the entire strip's run (hint: Look at the filenames of the strips) involved her turning a bunch of ''pasta'' into a deadly bioweapon. It had tentacles.
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: Though only two characters go through ''literal'' hell.
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* ExpendableParalellUniverse: Physical time travel requires the energy of an entire universe. [[spoiler: BadFuture Mell destroys her own to send back her message for Daves, and yes, it's a lifelong dream.]]
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* ExpendableParalellUniverse: ExpendableParallelUniverse: Physical time travel requires the energy of an entire universe. [[spoiler: BadFuture Mell destroys her own to send back her message for Daves, and yes, it's a lifelong dream.]]
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: Though only two characters go through ''literal'' hell.
