History Webcomic / ExistentialComics

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/162 While Kant is trying to chat up Elizabeth of Bohemia]], we see in order 1) [[RomanticWingman Camus and Hume]] giving him the thumbs-up behind her back when he's pretending to be interested in what she's saying, 2) Mary Wollstonecraft [[FoodSlap throwing a drink in Hume's face]], and finally, 3) [[NotSoDifferent Wollstonecraft and Simone de Beauvoir]] giving Elizabeth the thumbs-up behind Kant's back when ''she's'' pretending to be interested in what ''he's'' saying.

* BadassBeard: There are a ''lot'' of impressive facial hairs on display, but the most badass ones are probably [[RebelLeader Karl Marx's]] and [[RatedMForManly Aristotle's]].

* FunnyBackgroundEvent: [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/162 While Kant is trying to chat Elizabeth of Bohemia]], we see in order 1) [[RomanticWingman Camus and Hume]] giving him the thumbs-up behind her back when he's pretending to be interested in what she's saying, 2) Mary Wollstonecraft [[FoodSlap throwing a drink in Hume's face]], and finally, 3) [[NotSoDifferent Wollstonecraft and Simone de Beauvoir]] giving Elizabeth the thumbs-up behind Kant's back when ''she's'' pretending to be interested in what ''he's'' saying.

* StrawmanFallacy: Subverted in [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/182 this comic]], where at first Creator/JacquesDerrida's philosophy is held up as denying there is rationality, then the author explains in the notes that it didn't actually. It's expanded with [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/185 another comic]].

* {{UsefulNotes/Anarchism}}: One comic has anarchist philosophers Mikhail Bakunin and Pyotr Krapotkin debating their views of what a libertian socialist economy should be like. Emma Goldman critiques them both.

* {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}}: Epicurus makes numerous appearances along with other philosophers, usually as one of the characters supporting "Captain Metaphysics", but his philosophy only really gets discussed in the comic "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/133 Epicureanism: the Original Party School]]", where two students join the Epicurean school thinking it is this, as the Epicureans view pleasure as the only good, but find out it's anything but. Despite this, they end up happy with it.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: It's a comic about Existentialism. Well, it's about philosophy in general, but mostly about Existentialism.
* {{UsefulNotes/Existentialism}}: It's right in the name, of course, and the philosophy is discussed in several comics, usually featuring such existentialists as Creator/JeanPaulSartre and his partner Simone de Beauvoir.

* {{UsefulNotes/Objectivism}}: Initially defied; after the first time he referenced Ayn Rand, the author claimed he would never do a joke about her again. However, he's done two more comics featuring her since then. Apparently, he doesn't consider Ayn Rand a real philosopher.

-->Noam Choamsky: The idea of a Great Enemy to unite the Men and the Elves, is of course as old as Middle Earth itself. And there will always have to be some enemy, so the people don't look at their own domestic problems and wonder why they need a King to govern at all.

* HighFantasy: This trope and the associated BlackAndWhiteMorality and AlwaysChaoticEvil are {{Deconstructed}}. [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/175 Apparently, Noam Chomsky and other radical leftist intellectuals aren't the best people to invite to]] [[{{Literature/LordOfTheRings}} the Council of Elrond]].

* HighFantasy: This trope and the assorted BlackAndWhiteMorality and AlwaysChaoticEvil are {{Deconstructed}}. [[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/175 Apparently, Noam Chomsky and other radical leftist intellectuals aren't the best people to invite to]] [[{{Literature/LordOfTheRings}} the Council of Elrond]].

->Now, and maybe this is just me, but if I arrive at the end of my life and a biographer is charged with defending me against accusations of being boring, I should hope that they can come up with something better than "once traveled a small distance to teach philosophy, and had one friend."

** In one comic, he calls Sartre's account of "bad faith" in ''Being and Nothingness'' "the worst example in the history of philosophy", citing how poorly it illustrates his actual point, and how it seems like he's criticizing a waiter for properly doing his job while he writes books and drinks wine. In a similar vein, he loves to make fun of how incoherent Hegel's philosophy is, with every single appearance and reference to him having something to do with that.

* {{UsefulNotes/Existentialism}}: It's right in the name, of course, and the philosophy is discussed in several comics, usually featuring such existentialists as Creator/JeanPaulSartre and his partner Simone de Beauvoir.
* {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}}: Epicurus makes numerous appearances along with other philosophers, usually as one of the characters supporting "Captain Metaphysics" but his philosophy only really gets discussed in the comic "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/133 Epicureanism: the Original Party School]]", where two students join the Epicurean school thinking it is this, as the Epicureans view pleasure as the only good, but find out it's anything but. Despite this, they end up happy with it.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin:It's a comic about Existentialism. Well, it's about philosophy in general, but mostly about Existentialism.

** Socrates being an obnoxious jerk starting philosophical debates out of nowhere.

* TakeThat: The author can fairly be judged as not {{Creator/Socrates}}'s greatest fan, given that every appearance of his is as an annoying gadfly. While even his fans and Socrates himself would probably agree with that to some degree, this isn't shown as really being used in a meaningful or substantive way. Sartre is also shown mostly using his "radical freedom" concept for an excuse to do inane things, and ignoring reservations others have at his advice.

* UsefulNotes/Objectivism: Initially defied; after the first time he referenced Ayn Rand, the author claimed he would never do a joke about her again. However, he's done two more comics featuring her since then. Apparently, he doesn't consider Ayn Rand a real philosopher.

* {{Troll}}: {{Creator/Socrates}} is depicted as this, even barging in on other people and showering them with questions when they aren't in a conversation with him to start. The author notes this may have helped to get him killed, as his veiled insults toward the judges at his trial were not the best strategy for saving himself (presuming he didn't want to be martyred). Zeno of Elea mostly cites his famous paradoxes as excuses for his misbehavior.

* {{Troll}}: {{Creator/Socrates}} is depicted as this, even barging in on other people and showering them with questions when they aren't in a conversation with him to start. The author notes this may have helped to get him killed, as his veiled insults toward the judges at his trial were not the best strategy for saving himself (presuming he didn't want to be martyred). {{Creator/Plato}}, as his student, also gets this depiction to a lesser degree. Zeno of Elea mostly cites his famous paradoxes as excuses get out of doing something or claim he didn't do something to begin with.

* TakeThat: The author can fairly be judged as not Socrates's greatest fan, given that every appearance of his is as an annoying gadfly. While even his fans and Socrates himself would probably agree with that to some degree, this isn't shown as really being used in a meaningful or substantive way. Sartre is also shown mostly using his "radical freedom" concept for an excuse to do inane things, and ignoring reservations others have at his advice.

* ThoseTwoGuys: Creator/AlbertCamus and Sartre, where the latter is shown as a cool, laid-back womanizer who effortlessly picks up women, while Sartre is a stuffy intellectual, mostly the {{foil}} to Camus's barbs. This may ''somewhat'' reflect their real-life relationship. Also Zeno of Citium and Zeno of Elea, depicted as roommates in the mode of ''Theatre/TheOddCouple'', the latter mostly getting on the former's nerves when he used his paradoxes as excuses.

* TalkToTheFist: Captain Metaphysics "refutes" Pyrrho's skepticism by punching him, while the hover over text lists a number of ideas this works on.

Existential Comics'' is a series of web comics which humorously discusses many philosophical topics and portrays numerous famous philosophers in a comedic manner. It can be read [[http://existentialcomics.com/ here]].

* ShownTheirWork: Many comics go into great detail on philosophical topics, albeit to humorous effect. There are also notes under most that have further information on the topics discussed to help readers that may be lost.

* {{Troll}}: {{Creator/Socrates}} is depicted as this, even barging in on other people and showering them with questions when they aren't in a conversation with him to start. The author notes this may have helped to get him killed, as his veiled insults toward the judges at his trial were not the best strategy for saving himself (presuming he didn't want to be martyred). {{Creator/Plato}}, as his student, also gets this depiction to a lesser degree. Zeno of Elea mostly cites his famous paradoxes as excuses get out of doing something or claim he didn't do something to begin with.
* TakeThat: The author can fairly be judged as not Socrates's greatest fan, given that every appearance of his is as an annoying gadfly. While even his fans and Socrates himself would probably agree with that to some degree, this isn't shown as really being used in a meaningful or substantive way. Sartre is also shown mostly using his "radical freedom" concept for an excuse to do inane things, and ignoring reservations others have at his advice.

* {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}}: Epicurus makes numerous appearances along with other philosophers, usually as one of those supporting "Captain Metaphysics" but his philosophy only really gets discussed in the comic "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/133 Epicureanism: the Original Party School]]", where two students join the Epicurean school thinking it is this, as the Epicureans view pleasure as the only good, but find out it's anything but. Despite this, they end up happy with it.

* SlidingScaleOfFreeWillVsFate: The issue of how much (if any) free will people have, plus what it even means, is discussed in detail with "http://existentialcomics.com/comic/70 A Dialogue On Compatibilism]]".

* ThoseTwoGuys: Creator/AlbertCamus and Sartre, where the latter is shown as a cool, laid-back womanizer who effortlessly picks up women, while Sartre is a stuffy intellectual, mostly the {{foil}} to Camus's barbs. This may ''somewhat'' reflect their real-life relationship. Also Zeno of Citium and Zeno of Elia, depicted as roommates in the mode of ''Theatre/TheOddCouple, the latter mostly getting on the former's nerves.
* {{Troll}}: {{Creator/Socrates}} is depicted as this, even barging in on other people and showering them with questions when they aren't in a conversation with him to start. The author notes this may have helped to get him killed, as his veiled insults toward the judges at his trial were not the best strategy for saving himself (presuming he didn't want to be martyred). {{Creator/Plato}}, as his student, also gets this depiction to a lesser degree. Zeno of Elia mostly cites his skepticism toward motion as an excuse to either get out of doing something or claim he didn't do something to begin with.

* {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}}: Epicurus makes numerous appearances along with other philosophers, usually as one of those supporting "Captain Metaphysics" but his philosophy only really gets discussed in the comic "[[http://existentialcomics.com/comic/133 Epicureanism: the Original Party School]]", where two students join the Epicurean school thinking it is this, as the Epicureans teach hedonism, but find out it's anything but.

* {{UsefulNotes/Epicureanism}}: Epicurus makes numerous appearances along with other philosophers, but his philosophy only really gets discussed in
* SlidingScaleOfFateVersusFreeWill:

* ThoseTwoGuys: Creator/AlbertCamus and Sartre, where the latter is shown as a cool, laid-back womanizer who effortlessly picks up women, while Sartre is a stuffy intellectual, mostly the {{foil}} to Camus's barbs. This may ''somewhat'' reflect their real-life relationship.
* {{Troll}}: {{Creator/Socrates}} is depicted as this, even barging in on other people and showering them with questions when they aren't in a conversation with him to start. The author notes this may have helped to get him killed, as his veiled insults toward the judges at his trial were not the best strategy for saving himself (presuming he didn't want to be martyred). {{Creator/Plato}}, as his student, also gets this depiction to a lesser degree.
* TakeThat: The author can fairly be judged as not Socrates's greatest fan, given that every appearance of his is as an annoying gadfly. While even his fans and Socrates himself would probably agree with that to some degree, this isn't shown as really being meaningful or substantive. Sartre is also shown mostly using his "radical freedom" concept for an excuse to do inane things, and ignoring reservations others have at his advice.