History Webcomic / AntiHeroForHire

'''Please note:''' The website has changed, rendering the below links out of date.

* CuteClumsyGirl: Rose Kirkins is a [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20081124.html bit of this]].
* CutLexLuthorACheck: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20060717.html Lampshaded]]
** Also see [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20050819.html this one]]

* DescriptionCut: A few times. Example [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20080314.html here]].

* DidntSeeThatComing: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20080307.html Hector v. Wizard]], in what is almost certainly {{foreshadowing}}.

* DragonWithAnAgenda: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20090202.html Angelson]], who is manipulating Hector at the behest of a nebulous evil agenda of which he's a member.
* DramaticWind: Wizard. He openly ''admits'' in [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20030725.html one of the earlier strips]] that he does it on purpose.

* EliteMooks: Although M.A.N.T.I.S. agents are already pretty dangerous on their own, however if one fails to complete their mission, they have the option to undergo genetic engineering so that they can do it right the next time. Explained [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20080519.html here]].

** Not to mention [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20030623.html "Baron Orange Earthsmantle von Potatoflight"]]

** Considering [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20081103.html who he's working with now]], maybe Shadehawk should have given some thought to accepting his help and not thrown him back in jail on an unrelated charge.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Occurs throughout the coffee arc, reaching ridiculous extremes in [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20050720.html this strip.]]
** There's also the [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20080728.html Giant coin room]].
* FaceDoodling: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20110411.html "if she wanted to have a say on people writing on her face she wouldn't be still asleep at 2 PM."]]
* FlawExploitation: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20081017.html Subverted]], then immediately [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20081027.html Double Subverted]].

* FlatWhat: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080516.html]], [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20100412.html]]
* FourStarBadass: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20090406.html General Lumberdon]] provides the page quote.

** [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20031010.html Mocked.]] "Can you skip to the part that explains why you're robbing a jewelry store?"

* GoThroughMe: [[spoiler:[[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20101119.html Frozen North]]]], of all people.

* HighlyVisibleNinja: Crossroad, [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20051111.html lampshaded]].

* IDidWhatIHadToDo: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080218.html Hector]].

* IndyPloy: Shadehawk lives off this, and he is very, very good at it... [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060102.html most of the time.]]
* InsaneTrollLogic: Even Shadehawk, far from the most tech-savvy guy, [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20050817.html can tell that]] Gatemaster's teleportation technology is ''not'' the same as the wormhole tech Gatemaster is claiming was stolen from him.

* KidnappedScientist: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20110711.html Poor Charles...]]
* KillSat: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20071015.html Hacked]], of course.

* LittleMissBadass: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20071210.html Malvagia]].
* TheMadHatter: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080208.html Wizard]].

* MultipleChoicePast: "[[AnIcePerson Coldular]]" had fun with this when he was first introduced [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060324.html Here]], [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060327.html here]], and [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060619.html here]].

* NietzscheWannabe: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20041108.html Jack]].

* NoOSHACompliance: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20051116.html Subverted]].

* ObfuscatingStupidity: Could Dr. Nefarious be... [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080125.html competent]]?
* TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080128.html Lampshaded]].

* OrgasmicCombat: Subverted as it turns out to be [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20110304.html exactly what it sounds like]].

* RuleOfCool: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20100205.html Chainsaw dinosaur jousting]].

* StickEmUp: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20040428.html It's a little less funny]] when you learn the guy [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040728.html got fired over it.]]

* SuperDickery: Nicely parodied [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20090911.html here.]]

* SuperSoldier: MANTIS Agents, in fact the whole point of [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20040503.html this]] mini-story seems to be to show how skilled and badass they are.

* TemptingFate: Occurs on [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20031217.html plenty]] of [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20040804.html different]] [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20040503.html occasions.]] There is also a subversion:

* ThirdPersonPerson: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20080620.html Lampshaded.]]

** Update: It's official, Wrench and Echo are definitely [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20100730.html an item]].
* VerbalTic: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20090206.html This guy.]]
* ViewerFriendlyInterface: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060224.html Mocked]].

* YouExclamation: Interrupts Shadehawk's [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20051017.html dramatic speech]].

* CrazyPrepared: Jack. Slightly [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20040929.html lampshaded]].

A webcomic by [[@/{{Webrunner}} the creator]] of ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}'' that takes utter joy in subverting practically every trope it gets its hands on. It is set in [[CityOfAdventure Triumph City]] 2144, and populated by an absurd number of superheroes. The titular antihero is Shadehawk, a BadassLongcoat-wearing superhero, who has a long and angsty BackStory involving one of the strip's {{MacGuffin}}s, the Silver Arrow. He's assisted by Wrench, the Lord God hacker in this CyberPunk future, and Crossroad, a fellow superhero(ine) with whom he has an unofficial alliance and a lot of {{UST}}.

Can be found [[http://www.giantrobot.club/antihero-for-hire here.]] The site has changed, rendering the below links out of date. The comic resumed updating in June 2020 following a 3¾ year SeriesHiatus.

* TheAlcatraz: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20090626.html OCF-1]], aka "The Afterlife", aka "The Rock" since [[LampshadeHanging "every escape-proof prison gets called 'The Rock.'"]] Shadehawk comes up with an escape plan and implements it [[CardboardPrison almost immediately after arriving.]]

* AsYouKnow: Lampshaded [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20091002.html here]].

* {{BFS}}: One of the Mantis agents [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20080519.html had one]]. Crossroad's sword is a little more normal-sized.

* BoobsOfSteel: Crossroad's, [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20030811.html early on]].
* BrickJoke: Hey, what was Shadehawk doing before he got the bright idea to break in to [[MegaCorp TeraCorp]]? [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20040726.html Oh, right...]]
* BuffySpeak: Used [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20050817.html here.]]

* BunnyEarsLawyer: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080328.html Lampshaded]] - "It seems you can't hire someone competent without them having an embarrassing hobby."

* CerebusSyndrome: An odd case, as the syndrome started before the strip officially began. The original plan was for the strip to be comedic in the same line as Shallow's other comic, ''Adventurers!''. Shadehawk was something of an {{expy}} of [[IdiotHero Karn]], and the [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20030609.html first preview strip]] featured him falling off a roof.
* ChekhovsGun: Angelson's [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20061218.html ring]].

Can be found [[http://www.giantrobot.club/antihero-for-hire here.]] The site has changed, rendering the below links out of date. The comic hasn't been updated since mid-2016.

* FiveManBand / FiveBadBand: The Vengeful Sisters fit the 5 Band dynamic, although since they're more like [[WildCard [=Tweeners=]]] than anything else, it's hard to say whether they're good or bad...

Can be found [[http://www.giantrobot.club/antihero-for-hire here.]] The site has changed, rendering the below links out of date.

Can be found [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/ here.]]

'''Tropes used:'''

* DragonWithAnAgenda: [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20090202.html Angelson]].

** He didn't seem all that embarrassed.

** [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20031010.html Mocked.]] "Can you skip to the part that explains why you're robbing a jewelery store?"

* StickEmUp: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040428.html It's a little less funny]] when you learn the guy [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040728.html got fired over it.]]

* SuperDickery: Nicely parodied [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20090911.html here.]]

* SuperSoldier: MANTIS Agents, in fact the whole point of [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040503.html this]] mini-story seems to be to show how skilled and badass they are.

* ThirdPersonPerson: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080620.html Lampshaded.]]

* YouFightLikeACow: Dragon and Crossroad.

* GenreSavvy: Shadehawk. Probably because he's had to spend too much time around Dr. Nefarious. Union is a former minion who is massively so, but discovers that the other minions are still useless morons.

--> "I'm bored. (pause) It seems like a quiet night. (pause) I ''said'', it seems like a quiet night. (nothing happens) [[GenreSavvy Well damn, that usually works]]."

* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: Subverted with Crossroad. Slightly subverted with Shadehawk who doesn't kill simply because live criminals bring in more money.

* ActionGirl: Crossroad.

* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Wizard and, temporarily, [[spoiler: Waterfall]].

A webcomic by [[@/{{Webrunner}} the creator]] of ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}!'' that takes utter joy in subverting practically every trope it gets its hands on. It is set in [[CityOfAdventure Triumph City]] 2144, and populated by an absurd number of superheroes. The titular antihero is Shadehawk, a BadassLongcoat-wearing superhero, who has a long and angsty BackStory involving one of the strip's {{MacGuffin}}s, the Silver Arrow. He's assisted by Wrench, the Lord God hacker in this CyberPunk future, and Crossroad, a fellow superhero(ine) with whom he has an unofficial alliance and a lot of {{UST}}.

* FiveManBand / FiveBadBand: The Vengeful Sisters fit the 5 Band dynamic, although since they're more like {{Tweener}}s than anything else, it's hard to say whether they're good or bad...

* CrazyPrepared: Jack.

* CerebusSyndrome: An odd case, as the syndrome started before the strip officially began. The original plan was for the strip to be comedic in the same line as Shallow's other comic, ''Adventurers!''. Shadehawk was something of an {{expy}} of Karn, and the [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20030609.html first preview strip]] featured him falling off a roof.

* CerebusSyndrome: An odd case, as the syndrome started before the strip was even announced. The original plan was for the strip to be comedic in the same line as Shallow's other comic, ''Adventurers!'', and the [[http://antihero.keenspot.com/d/20030609.html first preview strip]] featured Shadehawk falling off a roof.

* AsYouKnow: Lampshaded [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20091002.html here]].

* {{BFS}}: One of the Mantis agents [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080519.html had one]]. Crossroad's sword is a little more normal-sized.

* BoobsOfSteel: Crossroad's, [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20030811.html early on]].
* BrickJoke: Hey, what was Shadehawk doing before he got the bright idea to break in to [[MegaCorp TeraCorp]]? [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040726.html Oh, right...]]

* CerebusSyndrome: An odd case, as the syndrome started before the strip was even announced. The original plan was for the strip to be comedic in the same line as Shallow's other comic, ''Adventurers!'', and the [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20030609.html first preview strip]] featured Shadehawk falling off a roof.
* ChekhovsGun: Angelson's [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20061218.html ring]].

* CuteClumsyGirl: Rose Kirkins is a [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20081124.html bit of this]].
* CutLexLuthorACheck: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060717.html Lampshaded]]
** Also see [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20050819.html this one]]

* DescriptionCut: A few times. Example [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080314.html here]].

* DidntSeeThatComing: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080307.html Hector v. Wizard]], in what is almost certainly {{foreshadowing}}.

* DragonWithAnAgenda: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20090202.html Angelson]].

** Not to mention [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20030623.html "Baron Orange Earthsmantle von Potatoflight"]]

** Considering [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20081103.html who he's working with now]], maybe Shadehawk should have given some thought to accepting his help and not thrown him back in jail on an unrelated charge.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Occurs throughout the coffee arc, reaching ridiculous extremes in [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20050720.html this strip.]]
** There's also the [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080728.html Giant coin room]].

[[redirect:Main/AntiheroForHire]]

A webcomic by [[@/{{Webrunner}} the creator]] of ''{{ADVENTURERS}}!'' that takes utter joy in subverting practically every trope it gets its hands on. It is set in [[CityOfAdventure Triumph City]] 2144, and populated by an absurd number of superheroes. The titular antihero is Shadehawk, a BadassLongcoat-wearing superhero, who has a long and angsty BackStory involving one of the strip's {{MacGuffin}}s, the Silver Arrow. He's assisted by Wrench, the Lord God hacker in this CyberPunk future, and Crossroad, a fellow superhero(ine) with whom he has an unofficial alliance and a lot of {{UST}}. Can be found [[http://antiheroforhire.com/ here.]]
----
'''Tropes used:'''
* ActionGirl: Crossroad.
* AffablyEvil: Almost all of the villains are to some degree, with a few exceptions like M.A.N.T.I.S. Agents.
* AllThereInTheManual: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/data.html The data files page]], which describe how some of the {{phlebotinum}} works and provide setting details (see below).
* AnIcePerson: [[strike:King of Ice]] [[strike:Froster]] [[strike:The Cubinator]] [[strike:Icicle Man]] [[strike:Coldular]] The Sub-Zero Righteousness of the Frozen North.
* AntiHero: While the titular antihero is Shadehawk, in some ways Crossroad better fits the term.
* ArchEnemy: Hector.
* AsYouKnow: Lampshaded [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20091002.html here]].
* {{Backstory}}: Shadehawk's backstory is appropriately angst-ridden and a key plot point. We don't know all of it, but one important bit is that technically he's considered dead (right up to having a tombstone). Meanwhile, the setting's backstory is that Canada annexed the adjoining states of the US, using genetically engineered dinosaurs, which worked partially because no one minded, and partially because "the US was so busy protecting themselves against Weapons of Mass Destruction that they never made anything to protect against dinosaur attacks".
* BadassLongcoat: Lampshaded.
* BadassNormal: Shadehawk himself, Crossroad, Jack.
* BadSanta: Stupidly large numbers of them in the second Christmas special. Crossroad is not amused.
* BatmanGambit: Domarelli pulls one off. Knowing that Crossroad always tries to foil his plans, he hires the extralegal Vengeance Sisters to deliver supplies to an orphanage, which for all appearances is a front for drug smuggling with the sisters as unwitting patsies -- but the delivery is real and the result is that Crossroad is distracted from his real objective, with the bonus of damaging her reputation.
* BeyondTheImpossible: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20100205.html Chainsaw dinosaur jousting]].
* {{BFG}}: Shadehawk has one.
* {{BFS}}: One of the Mantis agents [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080519.html had one]]. Crossroad's sword is a little more normal-sized.
* BondVillainStupidity: Subverted. Dr. Nefarious is so depressed that his plan didn't even require heroic intervention to foil that he decides to [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim just shoot Shadehawk]] instead of using a DeathTrap, as usual.
* BoobsOfSteel: Crossroad's, [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20030811.html early on]].
* BountyHunter: Most of Shadehawk's assignments. Jack is one on the [[EvilCounterpart villain's side]].
* BrickJoke: Hey, what was Shadehawk doing before he got the bright idea to break in to [[MegaCorp TeraCorp]]? [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040726.html Oh, right...]]
* BunnyEarsLawyer: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080328.html Lampshaded]] - "It seems you can't hire someone competent without them having an embarrassing hobby."
** Actually that serves more to lampshade Hector's WrongGenreSavvy - he's referring to his two assistants Rose and Angelson, but while Rose definitely ''is'' a BunnyEarsLawyer, Angelson is really [[DragonWithAnAgenda something else altogether]]...
* CasualDangerDialog: Practically every fight.
* CerebusSyndrome: An odd case, as the syndrome started before the strip was even announced. The original plan was for the strip to be comedic in the same line as Shallow's other comic, ''{{Adventurers}}'', and the [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20030609.html first preview strip]] featured Shadehawk falling off a roof.
* [=~Chekhov's Gun~=]: Angelson's [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20061218.html ring]].
* TheChessmaster: Wizard, Hector.
* ChessMotifs: Game of chess between Wizard and Hector.
* ChristmasEpisode: A Jollybot Carol
* ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Power suits
* CoolShades: Shadehawk wears them specifically because they look cool, though Wrench has made it so they amplify light, and has limited radar.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Hector, as well as most of Tera Corp's execs (Charles is an [[TheAtoner exception]]).
* TheCracker: Neon.
* CrazyPrepared: Jack.
* {{Cult}}: A cult of machines.
* CuteClumsyGirl: Rose Kirkins is a [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20081124.html bit of this]].
* CutLexLuthorACheck: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060717.html Lampshaded]]
** Also see [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20050819.html this one]]
* CyberPunk: The setting is classic CyberPunk with a twist.
* DarkActionGirl: Malvagia, possibly Airmistress. The Vengeful Sisters fall somewhere in between this and regular ActionGirl.
* DeadpanSnarker: If it talks, it snarks. No exceptions.
* DescriptionCut: A few times. Example [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080314.html here]].
* {{Determinator}}: M.A.N.T.I.S. Agents.
* [=~Didn't See That Coming~=]: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080307.html Hector v. Wizard]], in what is almost certainly {{foreshadowing}}.
* DoubleEntendre: Airmistress loves these, probably unintentionally. Example: "I'm gonna blow you so hard!", "He once did me in a men´s bathroom!".
* DragonWithAnAgenda: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20090202.html Angelson]].
* DramaticWind: Wizard, so often that it's almost certainly [[MindOverMatter his own doing]].
* DressingAsTheEnemy: Shadehawk dresses up as a M.A.N.T.I.S. [[spoiler:It doesn't fool the minion, but it does give Shady a chance to detonate an explosive]].
** Later, he dresses up as the [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Crimson Boomerang]], [[spoiler:only to be detected by Wizard]].
*** He tries it again and is found out within minutes.
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Dr. Albert Charious Airious Nefarious-[[OddNameOut Smith]]
** Not to mention [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20030623.html "Baron Orange Earthsmantle von Potatoflight"]]
* EmbarrassingRescue: Crossroad rescuing Shadehawk from a severe state of JamesBondage.
** He didn't seem all that embarrassed.
* EnemyMine: Has happened with [[TheCracker Neon]] and [[AnIcePerson what's-his-name-you-know-who]] both. They were both somewhat surprisingly amiable about it. Neon even seemed on the verge of a HeelFaceTurn.
** Considering [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20081103.html who he's working with now]], maybe Shadehawk should have given some thought to accepting his help and not thrown him back in jail on an unrelated charge.
** ...and then "Frozen North" really did do a HeelFaceTurn, albeit briefly and against his will.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Occurs throughout the coffee arc, reaching ridiculous extremes in [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20050720.html this strip.]]
** There's also the [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080728.html Giant coin room]].
* FlawExploitation: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20081017.html Subverted]], then immediately [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20081027.html Double Subverted]].
* FiveManBand / FiveBadBand: The Vengeful Sisters fit the 5 Band dynamic, although since they're more like {{Tweener}}s than anything else, it's hard to say whether they're good or bad...
** TheHero / TheBigBad - Dragon
** TheLancer / TheDragon - Aftershock
** TheSmartGuy - Waterfall (if the group was considered "bad" she'd still be the [[TokenEvilTeammate Token Good Teammate]]. EvilGenius does not apply.)
** TheBigGuy / TheBrute - Spark (not really big, but still the most trigger-happy of the five)
** TheChick / TheDarkChick - Snow Angel
* FlatWhat: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080516.html]], [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20100412.html]]
* FourStarBadass: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20090406.html General Lumberdon]] provides the page quote.
* FreudianExcuse: The Vengeful Sisters.
** [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20031010.html Mocked.]] "Can you skip to the part that explains why you're robbing a jewelery store?"
* FriendlyEnemy: Okay, but EnemyMine or no EnemyMine, Shadehawk and "Frozen North" have been downright ''chatty'' lately.
* GadgeteerGenius: Wrench.
* GeniusDitz: Rose (the green haired girl working for [=TeraCorp=]) may be ditzy enough to wear a fake earpiece to look more officious, but when it comes to computer ability she's good enough to prevent Wrench from hacking [=TeraCorp's=] computer system.
* GenreSavvy: Shadehawk. Probably because he's had to spend too much time around Dr. Nefarious. Union is a former minion who is massively so, but discovers that the other minions are still useless morons.
* TheGunslinger: Shadehawk.
* HandCannon: Silver Arrow, the data page even uses those words to describe it.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: The Vengeful Sisters]].
* HighlyVisibleNinja: Crossroad, [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20051111.html lampshaded]].
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080218.html Hector]].
* IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: Subverted with Crossroad. Slightly subverted with Shadehawk who doesn't kill simply because live criminals bring in more money.
* IKnowMortalKombat
* ImplacableMan: Golem and Simile.
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: About half the Card Carrying Villains.
* IndyPloy: Shadehawk lives off this, and he is very, very good at it... [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060102.html most of the time.]]
* InsultedAwake: Sort of, a water pistol is used.
** A more traditional example happens with Crossroad.
* JamesBondage: Lampshaded.
* TheJuggernaut: Simile
* KickTheDog: The arc with the henchmen and mooks trying to unionize. Seriously.
-->Random Mook: And if we fail you, we won't get crushed by a trash compactor?
-->Event Coordinator: Not only will I not kill you, but I promise to provide a health plan!
* KillSat: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20071015.html Hacked]], of course.
* KillYouLast: Wizard, to Charles. Although he still ripped his eyeballs out there and then as a part of his RoaringRampageOfRevenge for all those weeks of ColdBloodedTorture.
* LargeHam: Shadehawk has a definite melodramatic streak: hence the BadassLongcoat, SunglassesAtNight, and love for dramatic entrances, once even involving a dry ice machine.
* LittleMissBadass: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20071210.html Malvagia]].
* TheMadHatter: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080208.html Wizard]].
-->Hector: You think I would actually tell you that? Are you insane?
-->Wizard: Yes.
-->Hector: Right. I almost forgot.
* MadScientist: Gatemaster.
* MafiaPrincess: Crossroad, unhappily.
* MakingASplash: Waterfall.
* ManipulativeBastard: Hector and Angelson. Lampshaded by Hector himself.
* MissionControl: Wrench.
* MultipleChoicePast: The ice-related villain whose name escapes me had fun with this when he was first introduced [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060324.html Here]], [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060327.html here]], and [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060619.html here]].
* MustHaveCaffeine: The subject of an entire arc when Shadehawk had to get up in the daytime.
* NietzscheWannabe: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20041108.html Jack]].
* NoodleIncident: Several of Shadehawk's adventures, including stopping a gerbil from stealing a diamond.
** Also an incident with a cruiser his organisation doesn't know about.
* NoOSHACompliance: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20051116.html Subverted]].
* NotAMorningPerson: Shadehawk really needs his coffee if he's to get up in the morning.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Could Dr. Nefarious be... [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20080125.html competent]]?
* TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080128.html Lampshaded]].
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Wizard to Dechs, Dechs to Hector.
* PaintingTheFourthWall: Recently, panel border colors have changed hue based on the character focused on.
* PlayfulHacker: Wrench.
* PrivateMilitaryContractors: M.A.N.T.I.S. are basically these.
* PsychoPrototype: [[spoiler:Wizard]].
* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The "Vengeful Sisters".
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Wizard.
* TheRival: Crossroad to Shadehawk, and vice versa.
** They don't actually compete in that sense. If Shadehawk has a rival, it's more likely [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20050829.html Corporal]] [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20090529.html Rocket]], who [[UnknownRival can't seem to remember who Shadehawk is]].
* ScheduleSlip: The schedule didn't precisely slip in the senses of being frequently late with updates, but it did ''change'' to update only twice a week where it had once done so three times, even while Mark Shallow was also putting out an ''{{Adventurers}}!'' strip three times a week as well.
* {{Sequelitis}}: {{Invoked| Trope}}; when facing a character who narrates everything in the third person, Shadehawk comes up with a plan to "sequel her so hard her cousin will be assassinated by critics".
* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: "Ugh, You're such a depraved monster. ({{beat}}) Insinuating that she's my girlfriend, I mean."
* ShowWithinAShow: Played straight with "Mechazor L", but inverted with ''{{Adventurers}}!''
* SophisticatedAsHell:
-->"Elementary, my dear Jeckyll. We are going to rip his [[PrecisionFStrike fucking]] head off."
* SpannerInTheWorks: Practically in Shadehawk's job description.
* StickEmUp: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040428.html It's a little less funny]] when you learn the guy [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040728.html got fired over it.]]
* StrappedToAnOperatingTable
* SunglassesAtNight: Shadehawk's light-''amplifying'' shades.
* SuperDickery: Nicely parodied [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20090911.html here.]]
* SuperHeroOrigin: For Shadehawk it's revenge. Crossroad, "a misplaced sense of guilt."
* SuperRegistrationAct: Joining up with SHAB gets you a steady paycheck based on commissions (a.k.a. how many criminals you catch and what their crimes are.) and is strictly optional; Crossroads was rejected.
* SuperSoldier: MANTIS Agents, in fact the whole point of [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20040503.html this]] mini-story seems to be to show how skilled and badass they are.
* {{Swordfight}}: Anytime Crossroads is involved this is likely to happen.
* TechnoBabble
* TemptingFate: Subverted beautifully:
--> "I'm bored. (pause) It seems like a quiet night. (pause) I said, it seems like a quiet night. (nothing happens) Well damn, that usually works."
* ThatNightFeltLikeMonths: After catching "Coldular".
* ThirdPersonPerson: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20080620.html Lampshaded.]]
* ThouShaltNotKill: The superheroes are strongly encouraged not to kill, mostly because deaths pay less. But they understand that these things happen and so the hero can take the Executioner's fee, as long as he doesn't do it too often.
* {{Troperrific}}: Dr. Nefarious. I mean, just ''look'' at that name.
* UnFunny: Crossroad tends to take things much more seriously than Dechs, making dropping her into particularly insane situations that much funnier.
* UnknownRival: Corporal Rocket can't remember who Shadehawk is, despite having met him -- and run off with his perp -- in the past. Although he's rather idiotic and Shadehawk doesn't seem to care too much about him, personally, he's just annoyed that people admire the guy.
* UnlimitedWardrobe: Shadehawk has a new superhero uniform for each passing month. Sort of defeats the purpose of a uniform, doesn't it?
* {{UST}}: Crossroad and Shadehawk. Possible subversion, given the attitude of the comic, and that the characters personalities do NOT mesh well, particularly in Phase 5. Its implied that the same exists for their respective hacker sidekicks, and may not be unresolved at all.
* VerbalTic: [[http://antiheroforhire.com/d/20090206.html This guy.]]
* ViewerFriendlyInterface: [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20060224.html Mocked]].
* [=~Why Don't Ya Just Shoot Him?~=]: Subverted.
* WhatMeasureIsAMook: How many pf those M.A.N.T.I.S guards did Wizard kill? Hell, what of those mooks who were pulling for a union?
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Wizard and, temporarily, [[spoiler: Waterfall]].
* WorthyOpponent: Jack. "There but for the grace of God and about twenty-five years go I."
* XanatosGambit: What the hell is Wizard up to, anyway? And Hector, and Angleson, for that matter.
* YouExclamation: Interrupts Shadehawk's [[http://www.antiheroforhire.com/d/20051017.html dramatic speech]].
* YouFightLikeACow: Dragon and Crossroad.
* YouHaveFailedMe: Double-subverted repeatedly. Ironically, the one time it's merely subverted is at the end of an arc about henchmen unionizing over bad working conditions.
* YouKilledMyFather: Part of Shadehawk's vendetta against Hector.
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