History WebComic / Subnormality

[[http://www.viruscomix.com/subnormality.html Subnormality]] is a webcomic with [[WallOfText a whole lot of words]] created by Winston Rowntree. Created in 2007, this comic is a [[DeconstructorFleet Deconstruction parade,]] where the author deconstructs everything from video game characters to tropes themselves, such as CannotSpitItOut. Some of his works are hilarious, some are depressing, and others are somewhere in the middle where you can't figure out what you're supposed to gain from it.

* {{Demonization}}: Apparently, MargaretThatcher is a [[{{Aliens}} Xenomorph]] who is [[SincerityMode obsessed with nuclear weapons]]. RonaldReagan, on the other hand, prefers to express himself through [[VillainSong freestyle rap]]. The joke being that both were run through an "exaggeration engine" thus apparently explaining their grotesque forms and bizarre behavior... only to be revealed that said engine wasn't even turned on, which only somewhat destroys the point.

** Played with [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page456.html here]], though it turns out it's not about a modeling job...

** ''[[TearJerker Every single thing]]'' that appears in the [[MeaningfulName appropriately titled]] "[[http://www.viruscomix.com/page439.html Not Worth It!]]"

* HumansAreBastards: Expressed by many characters, especially the Sphinx. However she does mention they have redeeming qualities in [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page521.html Monsters Playing Poker]]

* BreakingTheFourthWall: [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja The Truth Ninja]] [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page455.html helps a pair of men avoid a serial killer]].

* {{Anvilicious}}: Mr Rowntree is frequently unsubtle in trying to make a point.

* BiTheWay: One of the recurring characters, who is a demon from hell. Since she dates humans, this could also be a case of InterspeciesRomance.

* BrickJoke: [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page499.html Sexy Theodore Roosevelt]]. [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page557.html We know. He was sexy to begin with.]]

* BrutalHonesty: Exemplified by a great many of the characters in "[[http://www.viruscomix.com/page466.html The Service]]".
** As well as ''[[TearJerker every single thing]]'' that appears in the [[MeaningfulName appropriately titled]] "[[http://www.viruscomix.com/page439.html Not Worth It!]]"

* DespairEventHorizon: Aside from "Not Worth It!", [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page452.html the Sphynx]] opts to use this as a means of calming her meals, making them DrivenToSuicide. Those poor baby chicks...
** And she gave up this tactic because people [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page467.html no longer found her stories depressing]].

* {{Easter Egg}}s: The almost insane number of visual eggs that are in pretty much ''every single comic''. A very good example of this trope in action is [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page434.html The Metaphor's New Clothes]] ('''warning''': contains nudity). You can very easily use this strip as a roadmap to Rowntree's views on politics, religion, and media.
** An even better example is [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page533.html The Museum of the Theoretical]] which has a bunch in every panel.

* JackassGenie: [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page428.html "I would like everything I could ever need!"]]

* MediumAwareness: [[http://www.viruscomix.com/thugs.html These guys]] know the title of the comic they appear in.

* NoNameGiven: One of the central characters, initially pictured with pink hair, has always gone unnamed, and according to the artist in one comments string, always will. Her official moniker is Pink Haired Girl, abbreviated as PHG.

* ShoutOut: A subtle one- [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page440.html the letters hanging from Princess Washburn's skirt]] (IEAIAIO) is the title of a song by SystemOfADown.

* TearJerker: [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page474.html The Line]] - the fact that the information presented there ''is real'' [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped just makes it harder hitting.]]

* YouWouldMakeAGreatModel: [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page421.html This]] strip, which ''does'' feature a deserted warehouse. The girl in question is turned into a figurine for the Franklin Mint.
** Also played with [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page456.html here]], though it turns out it's not about a modeling job...

Rowntree also writes an irregularly updated sister comic for {{Cracked}}.com called Abnormality. Its strips are narrower (to fit the website's layout), generally shorter and rarely plot-driven. Many of them are humorous infographics. [[http://www.cracked.com/members/WinstonRowntree/ they're accessible from Rowntree's author page.]] For convenience all page images taken from Abnormality link to this page. He also contributes to Cracked's ''WebAnimation/AfterHours'' series, providing illustrations for Michael's brain.

** The time machine in [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page451.html this]] comic. Do the math and you'll see that 142 kilometers per hour equal [[BackToTheFuture 88 mph]], and that's if you didn't see the flux capacitor.

* TearJerker: [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page474.html The Line]] - the fact that the information presented there ''is real'' just makes it harder hitting.

* NoKillLikeOverkill: The guys who clear snow from people's houses with '''''[[http://www.viruscomix.com/page430.html a goddamn 16th century Russian howitzer]]'''''.

* DidNotDoTheResearch: A minor example, but in the [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page328.html evolution of alternative music comic]], it's weird for a guy who puts so much work into details to depict [[{{Nirvana}} Kurt Cobain]] as right-handed...
** He's been accused of this again with his critique on the {{New52}}.

** Except he was right at every stage. He outwitted hell to the point where their only recourse was physical violence... which he can very easily get used to and thus not bothered by. Thus he won. Thus the claims that he couldn't win in that area were clearly false.

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]]: "...Oh. You're one of ''[[JerkassGenie those]]'' genies."