History Webcomic / GirlGenius

There are also novelizations of the comic's first two major arcs, called ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheAirshipCity'' and ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheClockworkPrincess'' respectively. A ''{{TabletopGame/GURPS}}'' adaptation is in the works, but seems to have descended into DevelopmentHell. There is a completed Kickstarter for [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/937718469/girl-genius-and-the-rats-of-mechanicsburg a mobile game.]]

Can be found at the Studio Foglio website, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ accessible through this elegant and finely-crafted link]]. Please note [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/info/newreader.php here]], "We recommend Girl Genius for an audience of teens and up". Was also the winner of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Graphic_Story the Graphic Story Hugo Award]] for three years running (2009-2011).[[labelnote:Fun Fact]]They actually removed themselves from the running in 2012 because they wanted to give others a chance to win and prove that the award was viable]][[/labelnote]]

Can be found at the Studio Foglio website, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ accessible through this elegant and finely-crafted link]]. Please note [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/info/newreader.php here]], "We recommend Girl Genius for an audience of teens and up". Was also the winner of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Graphic_Story the Graphic Story Hugo Award]] for three years running (2009-2011).

'''''Girl Genius''''' is a WebComic (originally a print series) by [[PhilFoglio Phil]] and Kaja [[PhilFoglio Foglio]], which has become one of the classics of the SteamPunk ([[InsistentTerminology called]] GaslampFantasy by the creators) genre.

The title character of the story is Miss Agatha Clay ([[spoiler:Heterodyne]]), who begins as a young apprentice to a type of MadScientist known to the world as a "Spark". Her adventures span almost 15 volumes so far.

[[quoteright:230:[[ForScience http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/GirlGeniusRubiksCube_4968.jpg]]

[[quoteright:230:[[ForScience http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AgathaGirlGenius3_8.jpg]]]]

'''''Girl Genius''''' is a WebComic (originally a print series) by [[PhilFoglio Phil]] and Kaja [[PhilFoglio Foglio]], which has become one of the classics of the SteamPunk (called [[InsistentTerminology Gaslamp]] [[GaslampFantasy Fantasy]] by the creators) genre.

There are also novelizations of the comic's first two major arcs, called ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheAirshipCity'' and ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheClockworkPrincess'' respectively. A ''{{TabletopGame/GURPS}}'' adaptation is in the works, but seems to have descended into DevelopmentHell. There is currently a Kickstarter for [[http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/937718469/girl-genius-and-the-rats-of-mechanicsburg a mobile game.]]

Can be found at the Studio Foglio website, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ accessible through this elegant and finely-crafted link]]. Please note [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/info/newreader.php here]], "We recommend Girl Genius for an audience of teens and up".
Was also the winner of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Graphic_Story the Graphic Story Hugo Award]] for three years running (2009-2011).

There are also novelizations of the comic's first two major arcs, called ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheAirshipCity'' and ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheClockworkPrincess'' respectively. A ''{{TabletopGame/GURPS}}'' adaptation is in the works, but seems to have descended into DevelopmentHell.

''Mad Scientists rule the world. Badly.''

The title character of the story is Miss Agatha Clay ([[spoiler: Heterodyne]]), who begins as a young apprentice to a type of MadScientist known to the world as a "Spark". Her adventures span almost 15 volumes so far.

!!TropeNamer for:
%% AndItWorked: renamed trope.
* GaslampFantasy
* GentlemanAdventurer
* TheMadnessPlace
* TheSparkOfGenius
* SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic
----

* ForScience

The title character of the story is Miss Agatha Clay ([[ItWasHisSled Heterodyne]]), who begins as a young apprentice to a type of MadScientist known to the world as a "Spark". Her adventures span almost 15 volumes so far.

->''"I will DESTROY 'Her Undying Majesty' - melt what is left of your miserable island to SLAG - '''AND BOIL THE SEAS AROUND YOU FOR THE NEXT THOUSAND YEARS!'''"''
-->-- '''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060306 Gil]]'''

[[quoteright:230:[[ForScience http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AgathaGirlGenius2_8574.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:230:[[ForScience http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AgathaGirlGenius.jpg]]]]

->''"Couldn't?! ''Couldn't?!'' I am ''Gilgamesh Wulfenbach'', little man - and there is ''nothing'' I couldn't do, had I cause! And ''now''...''now I have one!'' [[ThisIsSparta Do. You. Understand?]]"''

[[caption-width-right:230:[-Our Heroine.-] ]]

Can be found at the Studio Foglio website, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/ accessible through this elegant and finely-crafted link]]. Please note [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/info/newreader.php here]], "We recommend Girl Genius for an audience of teens and up".

There are also novelizations of the comic's first two major arcs, called ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheAirshipCity'' and ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheClockworkPrincess'' respectively. A ''{{GURPS}}'' adaptation is in the works, but seems to have descended into DevelopmentHell.

* [[Webcomic/GirlGeniusTropesAToI Girl Genius: Tropes A to I]]
* [[Webcomic/GirlGeniusTropesJToR Girl Genius: Tropes J to R]]
* [[Webcomic/GirlGeniusTropesSToZ Girl Genius: Tropes S to Z]]

There is also a novelization of the comic's first major arc, called ''Literature/AgathaHAndTheAirshipCity''. A ''{{GURPS}}'' adaptation is in the works, but seems to have descended into DevelopmentHell.

[[caption-width-right:230:[-Our Heroine. [[NerdsAreSexy Our]] [[PerverseSexualLust sexy,]] [[HotScientist sexy]] [[WrenchWench heroine.]]-] ]]

[[caption-width-right:230:[-Our Heroine.-] ]]

[[caption-width-right:230:[-Our Heroine. [[NerdsAreSexy Our]] [[PerverseSexualLust sexy,]] [[HotScientist sexy]] [[WrenchWench heroine.]]-] ]]

* [[Webcomic/GirlGeniusTropesAtoI Girl Genius: Tropes A through I]]
* [[Webcomic/GirlGeniusTropesJToR Girl Genius: Tropes J through R]]
* [[Webcomic/GirlGeniusTropesSToZ Girl Genius: Tropes S through Z]]

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:A-C]]
* AbsoluteCleavage
** Makes a brief and remarkably subtle appearance in the last panel of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070219 this page]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051130 Lady Vrin, too.]]
* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: '''''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060501 Sturmhalten.]]'''''
* AccentuateTheNegative
** The problem with kids these days.
-->'''Zeuxippe:''' So much that they are trying to '''kill''' you over it!!\\
'''Old Man Death:''' Always you gotta find '''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100602 problems!]]'''
** And [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081008 the younger guard]]:
-->'''Guard 1:''' Of course... the castle is over ''there''. ''We're'' over ''here'', and [[WreathedInFlames those flaming things]] are ''coming back''...\\
'''Guard 2:''' Live in the moment, kid. Live in the moment.
* AccidentalTruth
** Theo's story at the beginning about the Dragon from Mars is a pure flight of imagination, but [[spoiler:the Other's lab actually IS in the Heterodyne's basement and if the novel's prologue adaption is accurate, the Other's base of operations is extra-terrestrial as well]]! Also, in this story [[spoiler:Klaus got wasped. And soon enough...]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081103 Here]] the crowd calls [[spoiler:Zeetha]] the Baron's daughter, which according to {{Word of God}} is actually true -- if the sketch of her father which looks exactly like Klaus is to be believed.
* ActionSurvivor: Moloch von Zinzer fits this trope to a giant neon capital T. He starts out as a mere soldier who steals a ChekhovsGun from the main character in the first chapter, so you'd expect him to last about five minutes. But after his brother's death by said Chekhov's Gun, getting mistaken for a Spark, and eventually ending up imprisoned in a sentient castle built by a family of murderous sociopaths, he's still kicking thanks in part to large amounts of luck, GenreSavvy, and talent for dealing with Sparks.
* AerithAndBob
** The list of Heterodyne names in the crypt includes [[TheCaligula Caligula]], the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060712 Red Heterodyne]], the Black Heterodyne([[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast the "Black" is written in bold font]]), Mordred, Oxalof, and Bob. Also, the world is full of people with weird names like Gilgamesh, Moloch, and Theopholous living right alongside people with ordinary names like Bill, Barry, and Agatha; no one comments on it or seems to consider it odd.
** In a side-story: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090619 Flopsy, Mopsy, and Nietzsche]].
* AIIsACrapshoot: Castle Heterodyne. Well, actually, the guy who built it was an evil maniac, so it's probably working as designed. Even Agatha's own little 'bots have stopped listening to her. It seems Sparks can't build anything without it going haywire.
* AirborneAircraftCarrier: ''Castle Wulfenbach''
* AllohistoricalAllusion: As you'd expect from a universe in which electronics moved quickly enough for Rembrandt to be a roboticist, Galvani's eponym comes not from discovering the effect of electrical impulses on muscles, but [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100329 something involving molten zinc]] and LifeEnergy... which is often used ''metaphorically'' to mean electrical stimulation of muscles. Actually a GeniusBonus, as in real life metallurgy, Galvanizing refers to the process by which zinc (or another metal) is plated onto iron or steel to prevent rusting.
* AllPartOfTheShow: Several times:
** [[spoiler:A circus of Sparks pretending to be normal actors pretending to be Sparks.]]
** [[spoiler:A Jäger hiding among people who pretend to be Jägers.]]
** [[spoiler:Gilgamesh Wulfenbach pretending to be a street actor pretending to be Gilgamesh Wulfenbach.]]
** [[spoiler:A Mongfish (Lucrezia's niece) pretending to be the lost Heterodyne-Mongfish heir to secure the Heterodyne inheritance from the real Heterodyne-Mongfish.]]
* AllThereInTheManual: The Secret Blueprints and the expanded chapter-by-chapter Cast pages.
* AllWebbedUp: What the nyar-spider does to its prey.
* AlmostKiss
** Between Bill Heterodyne and the storyteller's [[MarySue self-insert]] character in the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051221 ''Fan Fiction'' side-story]]. The interruption comes from the listeners objecting.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090511 Argh! Damn you, Merlot!]] The page is even called [[CanisLatinicus "Smoochus Interruptus"]].
** Between Agatha and Tarvek ''twice''. Self interrupted by Tarvek [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101126 here]] [[spoiler: when he realises that it's because Lucrezia-in-Agatha is messing with him]], and by both participants [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110905 here]].
* AlternateHistory: Perhaps better called [[InSpiteOfANail Parallel History]], because the Sparks have been around for long enough that even geography has been changed by their influence, and yet the world and its history are not completely dissimilar to ours:
** There were still Mongol Hordes on cue, German is still spoken as a European lingua-franca, R(embrandt) Van Rijn was still a famous genius and Casanova a famous skirt-chaser, the [Weather] King was still a towering historical figure...
** There is still a powerful church(es) with not one, but ''seven'' popes, according to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080307 this]] page. [[hottip:*:For those not in the know, there were several points in the church's history where either they went through a pope about every couple months to around 5 years, and another where there were 3 popes at once. Either or both could be the case for ''Girl Genius''.]]
** And there's "[[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1595797979 The Autonomous Library]]" built by [[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1622338235 Voltaire]].
* AlternateUniverseReedRichardsIsAwesome: Together with the above AlternateHistory.
* AmazingTechnicolorPopulation: Jägermonsters, many other kinds of constructs, and anyone infected with Hogfarb's Resplendent Immolation or [[BetterThanItSounds Vericus Pantiliax's Chromatic Death]], although as the names of those ailments may suggest, the affected person didn't start out that way and won't be that way long before [[ItGotWorse something bad happens.]] Fans are now calling [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090807 the sequence]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100115 ending here]] the [[{{FanNickname}} Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat Sequence]]. Yowza! Or Eeyyooww-ZAP!
* AmazonBrigade
** Bangladesh [=DuPree=]'s pirate crew seems to be entirely female.
** Same goes for [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111111 Heliolux Airship Fleet's flagship crew]].
** Let's not forget the geisterdamen (those spider-ladies) ''and'' Zeetha's mysterious tribe. Lots of Amazons.
* AndIMustScream
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100407 The "squirrel".]]
** The copy of Lucrezia stuck inside [[spoiler:Zola]].
* AngerBornOfWorry: By Baron Wulfenbach, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030324 towards Gil.]]
--> ''Lackwit!'' How ''dare'' you put yourself at risk!
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove
** Gil gets one regarding Agatha. Not ''to'' her, admittedly, but he was still pretty anguished thanks to Zeetha [[DopeSlap hitting him]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110905 Subtext, people. Subtext.]]
* {{Anticlimax}}: The [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090626 final "battle"]] of ''Revenge of the Weasel Queen''.
* AntiVillain: Klaus Wulfenbach. He may have used military might to bring Europa under his iron-fisted rule, but when you consider the alternative...
* ArcWords: "I can work with that," "I hate this place" (and variations) and "You have no idea." Also "No, we're good" and "I was beginning to like him/her."
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
-->'''Othar:''' We're in Castle Heterodyne with exploding collars around our necks, caught between a fake Heterodyne and a real one (as well as assorted criminals, maniacs, and various monsters), and I suspect that even if we ''found'' any beer in here, it would be evil, or at least ''flat''.
** Also involving Othar: "De dirigible iz in flames, everyboddyz dead [[SeriousBusiness an' I've lost my hat.]]" To be fair, hats are a big deal to the Jägers whereas arson and murder are hobbies.
** Another example [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110706 here]]:
-->[[spoiler:'''Professor Tiktoffen:''']] Franz here liked turning people into beetles. Zonia believed that orphan blood had medicinal properties. Krag put his feet on my bed.
** A villain [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110518 learns]] why you must never punch a lady, or wake her up too early in the morning.
* ArtEvolution
** The earlier strips have bizarre anatomy issues and ugly gradient coloring. (Also after the first volume there was a great deal of uneven inking.) These problems eventually disappear.
** Volume 1 was originally published in black-and-white. Volume 2 saw the introduction of color, in searing neon gradient fills. The coloring eventually settled down and volume 1 was eventually recolored in a somber desaturated palette. The result cleverly mirrored Agatha's psyche, as her perceptions are dulled in volume 1, overloaded in volume 2, and by volume 4 settle into a happy medium.
* AscendedFanon: In universe [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030903 in this comic, about Von Pinn really being Lucrezia Mongfish.]]
* AsideGlance: Plenty.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070924 "At least ''she'' was color coordinated."]]
** Klaus glances at the FourthWall in the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030924 first panel]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111219 Tarvek's, in the last panel]], is probably the funniest one to date.
* AttackHello: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100526 Maxim is just saying "hello".]]
* AuthorAppeal
** Phil Foglio is well-known (unabashedly so) for drawing his female characters with rather large "assets". But it's his wife (and co-author) who loves to get Agatha into the "lacy underthings." She's a big fan of Victorian-era undergarments.
** Not to mention [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080114 paper dolls]].
** There's also the matter of all the handsome shirtless men running around.
** Phil admits the only reason the Jägers became recurring characters is because he ''really'' likes drawing them.
* AuthorAvatar: The creators, Phil and Kaja, are both apparently natives of the story's world who, it would seem, will eventually meet, marry, publish a... controversial account of Agatha's deeds, and flee into our world with it to continue it safe from Agatha as a supposedly fictional comic.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking
** Klaus (he clawed his way to being ruler of Europe atop God knows how many others and it ''shows'') and his son (when thrust into authority, Gil's asskicking genes more than rise to the challenge)
** The Jäger-Generals.
** More generally -- in a semi-feudal world ruled over by extremely intelligent nutjobs, it's the one at the top of the castle you want to watch out for. They're in that spot for a reason.
* AwesomeYetPractical: Violetta's ability to swap out objects or weapons ([[GrievousHarmWithABody or people]]) held by others for useless decoys. That [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100226 comes in]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101101 handy]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110725 unsurprisingly often.]]
* AxeCrazy: Oh so many...
** Most notable is probably [[LaughablyEvil Bangladesh [=DuPree=]]], whose axecraziness is frequently PlayedForLaughs.
** Jägers are highly destructive, if not malicious, but "no-longer-a-Jäger" Vole manages to be axe crazy [[UpToEleven even]] by [[BloodKnight their standards]].
** This is also pretty much a requirement for every Spark, especially when in their "madness place". The Heterodynes (with the exception of [[BigGood the Heterodyne Boys]] and Agatha) deserve special mention [[BeyondTheImpossible for being batshit insane even by Spark standards]].
* BackFromTheDead
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100514 "Seriously? The old 'bring her family back from the GRAVE gambit? Have you no SHAME?"]]
** The simplest cure for some ailments. [[spoiler:Zulenna got this ordered for her by Klaus.]]
* BackToBackBadasses
** Gil and Tarvek, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090114 on the cover of Volume 9]].
** Zeetha and Higgs [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080609 during the bar fight]].
* {{Badass}}: Most of the main cast fit into several subtropes; many of the secondary cast fit at least one.
* BadassAbnormal: Would most Spark characters who have "broken through" and Boris Dolokhov count?
* BadassBoast: Lots and lots.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060306 This]] is one of the more effective examples.
** Gil can also keep [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071203 his boasts very short]]:
-->'''Gil:''' This is '''not''' a '''trick'''! I did '''not''' get '''lucky'''! I am Gilgamesh '''Wulfenbach''' -- AND '''I''' AM IN '''CONTROL'''!
** Dr. Sun's threat towards [=DuPree=].
** Zola is a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110103 beautiful chemical killing machine]].
** Tarvek uses a very short (but effective) one [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110211 here]] on Gil:
-->'''Tarvek:''' ... You came running in and saw someone you hate and fear trying to ''kill'' her -- of ''course'' you reacted.\\
'''Gil:''' I do ''not'' fear you.\\
'''Tarvek:''' Really? You should.
** Agatha, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110608 showing]] that she learned the "[[LargeHam hamming]] the bunch of unruly minions into obedience" part of her family business.
* BadassBookworm: Most of the Spark characters.
* BadassGrandpa
** Old Man Death from the "Maxim Buys a Hat" side-story. He rode with the Jägermonsters in his youth, has ''never'' lost a fight, and can still keep up with them to this day -- impressive for a (presumably) baseline human. As a result, his [[NiceHat hat has become an object coveted by Jägers striving to prove themselves]], but they only get [[RuleOfThree three tries]]. He also counts as a CoolOldGuy and BadassNormal.
** The former Seneschal Carson von Mekkhan has been around during the time of Agatha's grandparents. Trust him, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070516 you are NOT the weirdest thing he has seen.]]
** Dr. Sun Jen-dijeh. He's able to intimidate [[AxCrazy Bangladesh DuPree]], and as for Klaus... Klaus has [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091223 every reason to fear and respect Dr. Sun]]. Dr. Sun also expresses complete confidence that he can [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070614 give Gil a thrashing]].
* BadassLabcoat: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090828 Here.]]
* BadassLongcoat: Baron Klaus Wulfenbach has them as regular wear. Gilgamesh Wulfenbach has worn them too. And Agatha, of course. Krosp got his from the circus.
* BadassNormal: Many of the non-Spark supporting characters.
** Axel Higgs, fullstop. Quiet, unassuming, half-asleep, and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070402 nigh-invincible]].
** Zeetha. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041103 Versus a pirate stronghold]] (She won.) Versus [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050413 a demon-horse-thing-monster]]. (She didn't win, but it cheated by growing a new mouth and tentacles after she cut its head off.)
** Bangladesh [=DuPree=], and Violetta. Moloch von Zinzer seems to be heading towards this, [[RefusalOfTheCall somewhat unwillingly.]]
** Many people might have thought Wooster was on the low end of the BadassNormal spectrum. Then [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100827 this]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100830 happened]]. Now he's basically JamesBond [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome in a steampunk/mad science setting.]] He also gave Bangladesh [=DuPree=] an OffhandBackhand.
** Sanaa is pretty badass when she needs to be.
* BadBoss: Castle Heterodyne's subsystems are stupid, murderous, and confused when it comes to repairs.
* BaldOfEvil: Veilchen
* BarBrawl: Apparently there's one every evening in Mamma Gkika's. Except on Thursdays; that's poetry slam night.
* BashBrothers: Da Boyz and the Jägergenerals. Klaus and the generals were having fun at some points of the wasp attack. The Heterodyne Boys were a more literal example.
* BattleButler: Ardsley Wooster and Boris Dolokhov, though, technically speaking, neither is an actual butler. Wooster is a [[spoiler:spy posing as a]] valet or gentleman's gentleman; Dolokhov is more of an aide-de-camp, librarian, accountant, and general manager.
* BattleCouple: To an extent, Agatha and Gil during the wasp outbreak on Castle Wulfenbach. Now that she, Gil, and Tarvek are battling with and through Castle Heterodyne, they're a Battle Threesome.
* BattleCry
** "Ve hunt!"
** "'''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061220 SHOWTIME!]]'''"
* BearHug: Mama Gkika gives Agatha[[spoiler:, newly crowned as the Heterodyne,]] one when they first meet.
* BehindTheBlack
** Gil didn't notice Agatha [[BigDamnKiss launching herself at him]] while he was yelling at Tarvek?
** Lampshaded [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071109 here]], where Jenka points out that they should have heard the army of giant clanks (helpfully called War Stompers too) marching up to their tower.
* BettyAndVeronica: Gil & Tarvek, to Agatha.
* BewareTheNiceOnes
** Agatha. She really is a very nice, pleasant, easy-going girl. Until she go to The Madness Place or you hurt or threaten one of her friends. Then the DeathRay comes out.
** Gilgamesh is usually rather pleasant and doesn't scream and beat people to get his way. Piss him off. Go on.
** Tarvek is the [[RedOniBlueOni blue to Gil's red]]. He's rather charming and civil by default. When he gets mad, [[spoiler:Zola]] up and surrenders. He doesn't let it end there. Oh, no.
* BeyondTheImpossible: How many more "distractions" will Agatha, Gil and Tarvek go through before [[ThreeYay they reach]] their goal? The whole Castle Heterodyne arc appears to follow the old Hollywood maxim "start with a volcanic eruption, then build to a climax."
* BigBookOfWar: Agatha brains [[spoiler:Zola]] with one of these, entitled [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Using Found Objects as Weapons."]] The [[UnsoundEffect sound effect]] when she beans them is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110103 "TOME!"]]
* {{Bifauxnen}}: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090123 Grantz]], Baron Wulfenbach's monster hunter. Even Gil apparently gets this one wrong, as he [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060215 refers to Grantz as a "he" early on]].
* BigDamnHeroes
** Gil, once again demonstrating why you [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090522 shouldn't shoot him]]. [[BlazingSaddles You'll just]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome make him mad]].
** Zeetha and her [[MagicSkirt carefully placed clothing]] swing in to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100210 save the day]].
** When a humanoid killing machine is lying on the floor NotQuiteDead and you're caught up in your evil plans to enslave several main characters, frankly [[GenreBlind what do you expect?]]
* BigDamnKiss: As of August 17, 2011, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110817 it has happened]]. ''AndTheFandomRejoiced''. So very big, it had to be continued on [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110819 the next page]].
* {{BFG}}
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030430 "Clenk Gon"]].
** Agatha's Death Rays. Played with, when she made a "very small" death ray. That she used to blow a hole out of the castle, taking out a chunk of a nearby mountain. And a hole from fairly high in the castle, to the basement. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint What a magnificent death ray!]]
* BigLabyrinthineBuilding: Castle Heterodyne, and the Wulfenbach airship.
* BigNo: Several times.
** Right after Agatha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090527 breaks Merlot's mind]] with the enormity of his mistakes.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030704 Here]], too.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091209 And here.]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041029 And here!]]
* BigScrewedUpFamily:
** House Sturmvoraus, aka "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110422 a bunch of evil-minded, cynical, backstabbing old fools]]". Occasional kinship feelings... [[VitriolicBestBuds such as they are]]... get expressed in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110909 hilariously twisted ways]].
** The Old Heterodynes, as seen [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110209 here]], for instance.
-->'''Gil:''' So this was the ''nursery''?\\
'''Tarvek:''' It explains ... so ''much''...
*** Not that armored toys [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111024 weren't necessary sometimes]].
** The [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100219 Mongfishes]].
* BilingualBonus
** Many names of people, races, places, etc., make more sense if one knows a little German; for instance, "Jägermonster" can be interpreted as "hunting monster".
** "Si vales valeo" is Latin for "If you are well, I am well", a phrase used in ancient Roman times to start writing a letter like "Dear Mister Smith".
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Agatha and Klaus are both sympathetically gray and fighting for perfectly reasonable reasons. There are several villains that are clearly black, and both of them want those destroyed.
* BleachedUnderpants: A variant, in that prior to ''Girl Genius'', Phil Foglio was the author and artist of the ''XXXenophile'' series of pornographic comics, and unlike many artists with a similar background makes no attempt to hide it. However, before ''XXXenophile'', he was already well known for ''WhatsNewWithPhilAndDixie'' for ''{{Dragon}}'' Magazine, and ''BuckGodotZapGunForHire'', and did book covers and illustrations (most memorably, for Robert Asprin's ''MythAdventures'' series), as well as the classic ''Con Reports'' and a trio of excellent, funny updates of old '60s humor comics for [[TheDCU DC Comics]] at about the same time as ''XXXenophile''.\\\
A lot of ''Girl Genius'' is made up of brilliant little ideas that Foglio didn't use in his pornographic work. The Jägers' speech pattern and dental work? From ''XXXenophile'': "A Beautiful Tail" and "My Favorite Oitling". Zeetha's jewelry, with the little faces that mimic whatever her current facial expression is? From ''XXXenophile'': "Blue Opal".
* BlessedAreTheCheesemakers: Cheese appears often, and sometimes seems to be employed as a symbol of romance. And a barfight projectile. Sometimes both at the same time. See Zeetha and Higgs. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050316 Lars]] was a cheesemaker's apprentice before he joined the Circus.
* BlessedWithSuck
** The Spark itself. If you have it, you can warp the laws of physics with the contents of the average [[LockingMacGyverInTheStoreCupboard Store Cupboard]]. Bad part? ''[[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity You go insane to varying degrees whenever you do it]]''. The natural result of that is that most Sparks, and Agatha in particular, have to deal with being shunned, used, or attacked by most everyone they meet. And that's if they don't get killed by one of their own creations.
** Agatha before her breakthrough, when she wore the locket to suppress her Spark. It undoubtedly saved her life, but it also made her completely incompetent and destroyed her self-esteem.
* BlingOfWar: Most troops are trying to look cool -- some, too hard. Jägers tend to dress in less unified fancy clothes, with their own peculiar taste. Of "Da Boyz", Maxim wears the most fashionable set -- he's an ex-cavalry officer, after all.
* BlondesAreEvil: Played straight with Lucrezia and Zola; [[PlayingWithATrope played with]] by Von Pinn. Averted with Agatha (who's a strawberry blonde, therefore crossing into HeroesWantRedheads).
* BlueBlood
* BoisterousBruiser: Othar, as well as the Jägers.
* BottledHeroicResolve
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090211 "Moveit #6"]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080502 Jäger battle-draught]]. Slightly Better than Death!
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013 "Moveit #11"]] has also made an appearance. According to Violetta, using Moveit #11 would kill most people.
* BowChickaWowWow:
-->'''Zeetha:''' ''(a green-haired Amazon)'' Hey, Skifander's patron Goddess is Ashtara, she who controls, among other things, fertility. Our holy-days are ''fun!'' (Cha cha cha!)
* BrainBleach: Remember, the strip is full of {{Mad Scientist}}s.
-->'''Snaug:''' ... spiky trap-doors... torture chambers... man-eating bats... [[NaughtyTentacles impertinent mechanical squid]]...\\
'''Mittelmind:''' Oh, there is some psychological damage, but I always wipe her memory for her birthday.\\
'''Snaug:''' Happy birthday to meeeeeee...
* BraggartBoss: Minus the fact people of the street think he is a hero, Othar Tryggvassen ('''''GentlemanAdventurer!''''') fits the mold nicely.
* BreatherEpisode: Side stories every once in a while.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100519 "Maxim Buys a Hat!"]]
* BrickJoke
** A long time after Agatha is convinced that her battle merry-go-round is too dangerous to construct, a soldier who failed to capture her is diagnosed with a concussion for explaining that her injuries were sustained while destroying a merry-go-round.
-->"It could be a really ''evil'' town..."
** In the Cinderella special, the "evil step-mother" comments that Agatha could win the kingdom with a dead rat and a houseplant. At the end, she bribes the king, a cat, with a dead rat and potted catnip.
-->'''Evil stepmother:''' [[IKnewIt Hy]] ''[[IKnewIt knew]]'' [[IKnewIt hit!]]
** Gil throws Othar out of an airship, and when Agatha gets mad, he assures her that once she gets to know Othar, she'll do the same. An hour later, she does, and mentions, "I owe Gil an apology." About ten chapters later, she gives it to him.
-->'''Agatha:''' I got so ''mad'' at you, and then, within the hour, I threw him out an airship too!\\
'''Gil:''' And you felt bad for throwing--\\
'''Agatha:''' I felt bad for ''yelling'' at you!
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110325 "But why are there mechanical squid in the cistern?"]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090703 Well, two years and two volumes earlier...]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050420 Steam-powered feet?]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111019 Steam-powered feet!]]
* BrokenAngel: Otilia
* BrotherSisterTeam: Othar and [[spoiler:Sanaa]]. Othar isn't overjoyed about it.
* BrownNote: Ringing [[DoomyDoomsOfDoom the Doom Bell]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111109 has this kind of effect.]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111125 This bit]] implies that the Doom Bell actually uses ''doom itself'' as a means of incapacitating people, by hammering them with the concept of existential despair.
* BullyingADragon: [[SociopathicSoldier Vole]] seems a bit prone to it. And there are [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070627 two]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080225 examples]] so far. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110810 And he doesn't seem to learn, either.]]
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: Gil has [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070514 no idea]] which particular atrocity the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070511 various]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070611 assorted]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070615 assassins]] are trying to off his father over.
* ButtMonkey
** Moloch Von Zinzer
** Tarvek in the Paris flashbacks
* CaffeineBulletTime: Agatha has it. It is implied to be a Heterodyne thing.
* CallingYourAttacks: Done by [[spoiler:Zola]] under the influence of a massive overdose of battle stimulants, resulting in a cry of "Chophead Tinybits!"
* CameBackWrong: Subverted. Apparently being brought BackFromTheDead causes memory loss (as we have been repeatedly told) and frequently drives the recipient AxCrazy. However, when it happens to [[spoiler:Tarvek]], all it takes to bring him out of a homicidal rage is the following:
-->'''Moloch:''' Uh... [[LookBehindYou hey, check it out]].\\
'''[[spoiler:Tarvek]]:''' Good Heavens.
* CantLiveWithoutYou: When Gil supports both [[spoiler:Agatha and Tarvek]] when they get infected by Hogfarb's Immolation.
* CartwrightCurse: Being a suitor to Agatha is hazardous to your health.
* CatchPhrase
** Agatha: "You'll ''like'' him."
** Tarvek: "I can't [really] complain."
** Othar Tryggvassen ('''GentlemanAdventurer!'''): "Foul!"
* CatFight: Gender-flipped (but still played for EstrogenBrigadeBait in-comic) [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100428 here]]. Complete with hair-pulling!
* TheChainsOfCommanding:
-->'''Othar Tryggvassen:''' What, tyrant? Does your empire give you no pleasure?\\
'''Klaus Wulfenbach:''' No. It gives me no pleasure. Politics ''always'' annoyed me. Now I do it ''every day''. I haven't seen my wife in years. My old friends are gone. I haven't traveled or explored. At least with the Heterodynes we had the ''adventures''. The occasional ''fight''. Now it's send in the armies, then the bureaucrats with mops. It's become an old formula.
* ChandlersLaw
* CharacterDevelopment
* CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase: The titles of the volumes, and also used in-story as the titles of Heterodyne Boys stories.
* CharmPerson: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040308 "Ah, it is part of the power of the Gifted. Those around them wish to aid them. To serve them. Even when we know them to be monsters."]]
* ChasteHero: Barry Heterodyne, quite possibly. Barry always ends up with "the High Priestess" in the stories and plays, "The High Priestess" being the catch-all term for whatever lost priestess, DistressedDamsel, or [[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter mad scientist's beautiful but misguided assistant]] (other than Lucrezia) happened to figure in any given Heterodyne play (basically, an in-world trope). There is no indication Barry had a love life in RealLife, though. Also Agatha, thus far.
* ChefOfIron: Old Man Death
* ChekhovsBoomerang: Gil's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080811 invisibility device]] mentioned offhand by [=DuMedd=] quite a bit earlier. And seen in action [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040517 even earlier]], although at the time Gil didn't realize what it was and used it as a simple power source.
* [[ChekhovsGunman Chekhov's Clank]]: The creature who climbs out of the pit [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100120 in this comic]] was first seen, looking much better for wear, in the back of [[spoiler:a fresco depicting [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050928 the Storm King's Muses]]]].
* ChekhovsGun: Bunches of them, often coming back several '''books'' later.
** Gilgamesh's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040213 lightning generator]] which was used again almost ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071126 four years later]]''.
** The Torchmen. Seen before activation ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070427 here]]'', although we didn't know what they did at the time.
** Even [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050418 PIES]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070119 end up as]] Chekhov's Guns in this comic. Possibly also qualifies as a BrickJoke.
** Then there's the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041217 poison pellet]] Gilgamesh gave Von Zinzer to use as a suicide pill if he chose. While Von Zinzer has shown up again (alive), the poison hasn't shown up again... '''''yet'''''.
** Agatha's locket. It is introduced at the very beginning, then disappears from the story within the first few chapters. Then its importance is revealed -- and then it comes back a second time, important in a brand new way.
* ChekhovsSkill: Agatha's training under Zeetha. Mind you, it's not like it was ever a secret it would be useful.
* CheshireCatGrin
** Agatha frequently sports these, as do many other Sparks when in TheMadnessPlace, sometimes reaching the level of SlasherSmile.
** The Jägerkin sport those every time they're about to fight, so it also overlaps with the SlasherSmile.
* ChewingTheScenery: It's bursting at the seams with {{mad scientist}}s who are compelled, by their very [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder nature]], to go off on emphatic rants on how the fools ''[[TheyCalledMeMad did not understand]]!'' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021218 This]] section is called "Gil Chews the Scenery." Which he does.
* ChewToy: Moloch von Zinzer. He didn't start out that way, and it's not physical abuse. He was one of the soldiers who stole the OrphansPlotTrinket. The Karmic Chess Master moved him next to Agatha. He tried to play rough. Now his nerves are the butt of every joke the fates can manage. Examples: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080312 The tables are turned]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080324 his GenreSavvy fails]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080402 the rain of fear begins]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080625 the Castle has some fun]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080630 the Castle gets serious]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080901 GenreSavvy does no good at all]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090902 GenreSavvy says it all]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100115 Nightmare rising]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100118 Especially when it works as planned]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100813 Fool for love]], and many, many more.
* {{Chiaroscuro}}
* ChirpingCrickets: During the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090817 Hugo acceptance speech]].
* CirclingBirdies
** Gil [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040719 sees circling zeppelins]] after getting socked in the head by the aptly-named [[BigGuy Punch]].
** Agatha's little Clanks get ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091012 circling gears]]''.
** Maxim, on the other hand, gets ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100609 circling hats]]''.
* CityOfWeirdos: Mechanicsburg. Lampshaded when one of the inhabited asked if growing up there made them weird.
* CleavageWindow: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070910 Ferretina's]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090617 default.]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080123 It's been noted.]] [[MsFanservice Quite]] [[PerverseSexualLust happily]]. {{Underboobs}} included.
* ClothingDamage: If you wear clothes and anything action-y happens, hope for the best. The fans certainly do.
* CloseKnitCommunity: Mechanicsburg
* CompensatingForSomething
** Der Kestle about the Wulfenbach:
-->'''Castle Hetrodyne:''' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080829 All the Wulfenbach sparks are known for their oversized machinery, you know.]] I mean, just '''look''' at castle Wulfenbach. What '''exactly''' are we trying to '''say''', here?
** The Heterodynes [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110420 never built]] ''anything'' small either.
* ContinuityNod: Hundreds, and ranging from extremely obvious to incredibly subtle.
** While having tea with the Jägergenerals, mention is made of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031031 "gingerbread trilobites from Mechanicsburg"]], and of the fact that Castle Heterodyne is mad, dying, and useless. Guess what Zeetha's eating as [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081013 she stumbles across Gil]] putting his plan in motion in order to enter the mad useless castle, six years later.
** Old Man Death has a mini-flashback of people who rode with the Jägers -- like the Seneschal. Still not sure if he's in there, though.
* CoolAirship
** ''Castle Wulfenbach'', of course.
** Zola's ship would qualify, but as [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080804 this]] handy comic showing them both demonstrates, the Baron's ship is tough competition.
* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: Mamma Gkika wants you to remember that [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110518 it's bad to hit women or to wake her up too early in the morning.]]
* ConvectionSchmonvection: Averted beautifully [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051118 here]]. Anevka pumping out enough electricity in her arm to [[spoiler: flash-fry her father]] releases enough waste heat to send her entire outfit and wig bursting into flames.
* CrapsackWorld: The world is dominated by people and things who'd fit right in with ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' Orks, and the only thing keeping them mostly in check is anti-villain dictator Klaus, who is quite willing to level cities in order to achieve such. His territory is described as containing a lot of empty space despite being central Europe, is littered with forgotten but highly-lethal Spark inventions, and walled-in cities are the closest one comes to safe. The Other systematically leveled much of Europe not long before that, [[spoiler:and currently has free reign of Sturmhalten, a large army, and has possibly mind-controlled Klaus]]. Outside Europe, things aren't much better, with northern nations having a tax on fire. The greatest folk heroes are missing, and the second greatest folk hero is a serial killer.
-->'''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110204 Rudolf Selnikov]]:''' The depressing thing? ''Twisted and ruthless'' as you people are, throwing in with ''you'' is a step ''up''.
** Alternatively, AWorldHalfFull. Europa has mostly recovered from a devastating genocidal war that employed mad science bioweapons just decades ago, and is ruled by an extremely intelligent benevolent dictator who keeps the peace and lets most people get on with their lives. There are systems in place to contain the mad monstrosities that arise, and the people Othar has killed (usually) had it coming.
* CrazyEnoughToWork: You get the impression this happens a lot.
** Perhaps the most hilarious one would be curing [[spoiler:Tarvek]] of a terrifying disease by [[spoiler:killing him and then bringing him back to life.]] Even more hilarious given the way Agatha said the trope name. "This has a small, but fascinating, chance of ''actually working!'' Let's do it!"
* CrazyPrepared: [[spoiler:Zola Malfeazium]], as [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100628 acknowledged]] even by The Other, who took care... only to discover she's been outmaneuvered once more.
* CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass
** Da Boyz. Oggie is the least bright of the three, but don't let that fool you.
** Zola looks like a vapid fool, but then she drops the "vapid fool" mask and soundly beats Zeetha and Violetta, and matches Higgs -- three of the seven most capable physical fighters in the main cast. (The other four are Da Boyz -- Oggie, Dimo and Maxim; and [=VonPinn=], who's a construct.) Though her physical abilities were boosted by a DeadlyUpgrade, she ''did'' have to steal the upgrade -- from a [[McNinja Smoke Knight]] -- requiring a [[ManipulativeBastard different kind]] of badassery.)
* CryCute: Dupree of all people gets a moment [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120118 here]].
* CrypticBackgroundReference: All over the place, as [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Guns]], but [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100322 Sanaa's backstory]] is one of the few that is likely never going to be explained further.
* CulturedBadass: Klaus and Gil at times, but definitely Tarvek. The Jägergenerals can be this when they're not beating the hell out of someone. Wooster's BadassNormal status puts him here as well. Dolokhov can make tea or beat people up with equal effectiveness.
* CurbStompBattle
** The first time we see the [[http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/Lapinemoth Lapinemoths]], them against Agatha, Zeetha, and Othar (GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER) was this.
** Two in rapid succession. [[spoiler:Zola]] drinks [[PsychoSerum Moveit#11]] and one-shots [[ActionGirl Zeetha]], but despite her incredible fighting ability, [[BadassBystander Higgs]] is beating her down so badly the ''panels'' can't keep up with his attacks.
* CutTheJuice (Type 2): "He's going to FRY-- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100305 AND NO POWER ON EARTH CAN STOP IT!"]]
* CuttingTheKnot: Krosp's method of dealing with an [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081029 out-of-control clank]]
-->'''Krosp:''' This thing just wants to ''catch'' someone, ''right''?
* CyanidePill: One is offered to Moloch von Zinzer, but he obviously has yet to use it.
* CyberCyclops: Most little Clanks. Subverted, though, as it doesn't stop them from being more cute than sinister. Well, usually; except [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061227 here]]. RedEyesTakeWarning, much?
[[/folder]]

[[folder:D-F]]
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Castle Heterodyne. To the point where once it finds out that Othar Tryggvassen is a hero, it immediately dumps him down a bottomless pit. Of course, the castle knows all about [[ContractualImmortality heroes...]]
-->'''Castle Heterodyne:''' Oh tosh, if we was a real hero--\\
'''Othar Tryggvassen:''' ''(comes through the door dusting himself off)'' This ''is'' an annoying place, isn't it?
* DarkActionGirl
** [[AxCrazy Bangladesh DuPree]]. Don't let her [[FauxAffablyEvil cheerful attitude]] or status as perhaps [[EvilIsSexy the most consistently fully-clothed female]] semi-regular throw you. She's probably the most AxCrazy [[ChaoticEvil evil]] non-Spark in the series.
** These days, [[spoiler: Zola]] is giving [=DuPree=] stiff competition for that title.
* DartboardOfHate: Violetta [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110909 had one]] after she was ReassignedToAntarctica.
* DeadlyUpgrade: Moveit #11 makes the user a '''LOT''' stronger and faster. It is also fatal or nearly fatal to the user.
* DeadpanSnarker: Krosp and Moloch. Sometimes [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070328 Dr. Sun]] has [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070718 such moments]]. And [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080414 Zeetha]].
* DeathGlare
** Gil gives one to [[CharlesAtlasSuperPower Zeetha]] along with a brief WorldOfCardboardSpeech.
** The normally unflappable Airman Higgs demonstrates an impressive [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101018 one]].
* DeathIsCheap: The horrifying tendency towards murder that Sparks possess is made slightly less horrifying when you find out they can (under some circumstances) bring the dead back to life. Examples:
** [[spoiler:Punch and Judy;]]
** Agatha and Tarvek curing themselves of a disease by killing and reviving themselves.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070209 "... Dot don't vork so much..."]]
** Played straight [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100917 with]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100920 Dr. Mittelmind]], who apparently dies enough to have trained his assistant to revive him in under five minutes.
** The noble class has had to determine strict laws on the matter of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090826 title inheritance after reanimation]].
* DeathOfTheHypotenuse
** [[spoiler:Lars]], anyone?
** The current arc is an inversion of this, since [[spoiler:a new hypotenuse came into play and the majority of the current arc has been spent ''preventing'' his death.]]
** And one of the "what if" stories even lampshaded this topic in amusing fashion. Why two love interests? (Giant grins from two female cast members and female co-author.) "Deal with it."
* DeathRay: Just about every Spark has made one or something like one -- though no-one but Agatha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090306 redesigns the landscape]] with them during sleep. Agatha considers Gil's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040510 NOT having built a death ray]] gross negligence of the highest order, going so far as to say "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051111 what's wrong with him?]]" He takes this criticism to heart, and comes back with his toy improved to OneHitKill large armored vehicles.
* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: Old Man Death puts it best: "I'm just a '''human'''. Rode with the '''[[SuperSoldiers Jägers]]'''. Never. Lost. A. Fight." No wonder they covet his NiceHat.
* {{Defictionalization}}: Some of the better in-comic T-shirt designs find their way into the Foglios' store. ("Fools! I will destroy you all! (ask me how)")
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Volume 1, "The Beetleburg Clank", makes wonderful use of this. Before Agatha's [[PowerLimiter locket]] is removed, the comic is almost entirely in grayscale; [[SplashOfColor the only color is some blue]] around the sound effects of Sparks' machines (and Agatha's GreenEyes). Right after the locket is removed, the colors are present but dim, as her Spark starts to assert itself although she still gets headaches -- but in her most Spark-ish moments, the colors are bright and clear. By Volume 2, when the headaches have stopped, the entire comic is in full color. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031121 One flashback]] in Volume 2 shows the color fading the moment Agatha puts her locket back on. Originally, the first volume was black and white (it was a print comic) and that was the end of it. [[ArtEvolution The retconned color]] is just full of symbolism.
* DetachedSleeves: Sleipnir; Zola
* {{Determinator}}
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070402 "Let me tell you about Airman Higgs."]] Airman Higgs got Baron Wulfenbach out of a burning airship and to safety. During which, he had to deal with a bunch of monsters, an irate [[PsychoForHire Captain DuPree]], and a goose, breaking three out of four limbs in the process and getting an infected bite. He managed to get to a town despite his injuries, where he got shot in his last undamaged limb. He informed the local garrison of Wulfenbach's predicament, then passed out.\\\
And for his next act, he attacks Zola while she's juiced up on a full vial of Movit #11, moving faster than she can even though she has drug-enhanced speed. He gets ''run through'' and still hits her two more times before he even notices the pain. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101101 And it looks like he isn't done fighting yet...]]
** Gil has his {{Determinator}} moments as well, especially when Agatha is in danger:
-->'''Gil:''' I am Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, little man -- and there is nothing I couldn't do, had I cause! And now... now I have one!
* DeusExitMachina: Castle Heterodyne is able to instantly crush anyone in a "live" room, with extraordinary precision. Naturally, all the action takes place in rooms where the Castle isn't yet repaired, so it can't help out.
* DidntSeeThatComing: Happens ''all the time''. Just when the characters think their plans are set, just when the audience thinks it knows what is going to happen next, some ChekhovsGun will be taken off the mantle and fired, some character who we haven't seen for several months or years will suddenly reappear to immensely consequential effect, or some machine will malfunction at exactly the wrong (or right) time, radically reorienting the direction of the plot in a very short amount of time.
* DistressedDamsel: Zola, for a while. [[spoiler:[[NotSoHarmless Considering what happens later, it may have been completely an act.]]]] Even at the time she appeared to intentionally pick up the DistressBall to draw attention from Gil to herself. Which made the spider hazard, and its resolution, a satisfying comeuppance.
* DoAnythingRobot: Dingbots!
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything
** Gil and Agatha's rapid-fire exchange of ideas on how to cure Tarvek gradually get more breathless and excited as they go on, culminating in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090828 this strip]]. Mad science as foreplay, full-on experimentation for the sex. Oh, and did I mention [[{{ShirtlessScene}} Gil was shirtless the whole time?]]
** And then a ''threesome''. With an [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100423 explosive]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100426 satisfying]] conclusion.
** "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090722 Wow! Really?]]" Also [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050318 appears]] as a trope [[ShowWithinAShow in plays within the comic]].
** Violetta plainly [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090824 said it]]:
-->'''Violetta:''' ''Jeez'', you Sparks get all into your freakish, twisted ''courtship rituals''--
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080829 Death rays]]:
-->'''Castle Heterodyne:''' And you cannot deny that [Gilgamesh] has a '''magnificent''' death ray.\\
'''Agatha:''' (red and looking aside) That's... That's hardly a basis for stable relationship.
** Also [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100906 this slightly disturbing moment.]] Let's just say she'll be doing more than handing him tools.
** In the novelization, Agatha thinks she knows why Gil is denying having a DeathRay.
-->'''Agatha:''' I'm sure that next time you'll build a much bigger one, but trust me, right now any Death Ray, will do, no matter how--\\
'''Gil:''' [[ThisIsSparta I. DO. NOT. HAVE. A. DEATH. RAY!]]
** [[NapoleonicWars Baron Wulfenbach is not on good terms with England.]]
* ADogAteMyHomework: "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090717 Sorry, professor, my latest experiment]] ''ate my lecture notes''..."
* DoomyDoomsOfDoom
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090617 PIT OF DOOOOM]] (patent pending).
** And the Doom Bell, which has [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111104 finally been rung!]] '''''[[UnsoundEffect DOOM!]]'''''
* DopeSlap
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090327 Zeetha gives one to Gil here.]]
** It's also common for Maxim and Dimo to slap Oggie around whenever he's saying something stupid, but since they're Jägermonsters it tends to be very solid punches. Jenka [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080307 joins too, if she's around]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070727 "Fool! Never total your points out loud!"]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100305 And another one here]], although frankly Moloch didn't deserve it; it's just that Sparks hate having their melodramatics cut short by perfectly mundane solutions.
* DoubleEntendre
** The Castle teasing Agatha about her attraction to Gil: "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080829 All the Wulfenbach Sparks are known for their over-sized machinery...]]" Also figures in about half the references to {{Death Ray}}s. And almost every reference to toolbelts.
** Apparently, ''The Socket [[WrenchWhack Wench]] of Prague'' is pretty brutal in this regard.
* DoubleReverseQuadrupleAgent: Professor Tiktoffen.
* DramaticStutter: When Otilia's body isn't in the best shape. [[ShoutOut He-he-hhello]], [[SystemShock S.H.O.D.A.N.]]:
-->'''Otilia:''' Yesss--but let's ju/ust add the ''next'' step, ''sha/all we?''
* DrillTank: The Deep 6 Model; also something of a PunnyName.
* DrJerk
** Less jerk and more questionable bedside manner. Agatha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090819 to Tarvek.]]
** Dr. Sun also has that reputation.
-->'''Selnikov:''' Ah, yes. That "Sun-ny bedside manner" everybody talks about.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080229 What do I have to do?!]] I just took down an entire army of clanks, and '''still''' I get treated like a halfwit child!"
* DueToTheDead: Especially [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070209 here]], which also qualifies as a Crowning Moment of Awesome.
* DumbassHasAPoint: Rustics [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050325 say about Geisterdamen]] that they cause revenants, steal children, blight crops -- [[{{Demonization}} the usual]], right? Then again, TwoOutOfThreeAintBad.
* DumbBlonde: Subverted by Zola, who is using ''massive'' levels of ObfuscatingStupidity. Gil and Tarvek eventually conclude that Zola, as the fake Heterodyne that was groomed by the Knights of Jove for years, is probably a lot more dangerous than she lets on, and a later confrontation proves them entirely right.
* DynamicEntry: Zeetha, in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100210 this strip]] which defines "good timing".
-->'''Professor Mezzasalma:''' And who the devil is ''this''?!
* DysfunctionJunction
** The Sturmvoraus family. Dear ''God'', the Sturmvoraus family. Their name, when translated out of German, means "Storm ahead" (in the sense of a weather forecast) so that's no surprise.
-->'''Tarvek:''' You don't last very long in our family unless you've got a good nose for intrigue.\\\
'''Tarvek:''' The only way to keep my family in line would be to bury them in a row.
** And then there's the Mongfish family, which is at least as dysfunctional as the Sturmvorauses (with the same occasional distribution of good guys).
** The old Heterodynes were no pushovers in this. See AxeCrazy and BigScrewedUpFamily.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Oggie's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060726 great-great-grandson]] is initially seen 4-years earlier telling kids the story [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104 on the first page.]]
* EmperorScientist: The entire world is ''run'' by these. Baron Wulfenbach is an [[EstrogenBrigadeBait especially fine]] specimen.
* EnfantTerrible: not quite yet, but when Gil rides out [[spoiler: with the devil dogs to defend Castle Heterodyne until it's all the way fixed and goes into full-on ape-shit Spark mode, this conversation happens: "But I thought the Heterodyne was a girl!" "She is. That's just the boyfriend." "We're going to have to break out the little iron cages for their children, aren't we?"]]
* EntitledBastard: The sneering [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080725 Strinbeck]] orders the Pink Airship to stay in Mechanicsburg Airspace. A subsequent order to dump useless objects overboard suddenly becomes [[KarmicDeath most satisfying]].
* EpicHail
** Agatha's signal from Strumhalten.
** The Doom Bell has been foreshadowed as this. Foreshadowing [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111104 Confirmed!]]
* EstrogenBrigadeBait: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080407 Gil]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080924 Tarvek]], Klaus, and more.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120118 Wow!]] [[AxeCrazy Et tu, Dupree?]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Mostly played straight, in that anyone who meets either Gil or Agatha and merely hears them ''talk'' about the other knows they're madly in love, but they know it too -- they just refuse to admit it (though Zeetha finally got a confession out of Gil).
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070725 Castle Heterodyne]]. Also, again, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061225 Showtime!]]
* EvilAlbino: The Geisterdamen, an order of ghostly-white priestesses who are in the service of the Other.
* EvilGloating: Sparks in general, and particularly evil ones, seem to be fond of doing this.
* EvilHand: May be a side effect of the Spark, as Agatha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090701 demonstrates]].
* EvilIsNotAToy: [[spoiler:Zola and Lucrezia]] each discovered this while trying to manipulate the other.
* EvilLaugh
** Or sometimes, not so much an evil laugh as an insane one; basically every Spark at some point while they're in TheMadnessPlace.
** Zola [[spoiler:post-[[PsychoSerum Movit-11]]]] has had a few.
** Lucrezia too, though it's not entirely apparent if it's the Spark, her personality, or both causing it.
* ExactlyWhatIAimedAt: Oh, Zola. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101008 Zeetha wasn't throwing her sword at you.]] But you may wish she had.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin
** It happens in the not-quite-canon story ''The Heterodyne Boys and the Dragon from Mars'' but nonetheless, ocean in a bottle anyone? "Truth in Packaging" indeed...
** A book titled ''Using Found Objects as Weapons'' gets used to beat a [[{{Determinator}} particularly persistent enemy]] upside the head.
** A [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070910 De-arming Device]] anyone?
** DoubleSubverted with in the story ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100519 Maxim Buys a Hat]]''. Because a Jager's hat is a badge of honor, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100521 one does not simply buy a hat]], one has to earn it by taking it from a worthy enemy; the story ends with Maxim tricking [[BadAss Ol' Man Death]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100611 into selling him his hat]].
* ExplodingCloset: In [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021220 Volume 1]] Agatha creates one. Gil opens it. The plot is off its leash and has soon crossed its event horizon.
* ExplosiveOverclocking: Movit #11, for most people. [[spoiler:Zola]] seems to have survived, but only because she is now under the care of Dr. Sun.
* ExponentialPlotDelay: Agatha's efforts to repair Castle Heterodyne and officially be recognized as the Heterodyne heir lasted three years and ten months, starting from [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071226 the time she entered the castle]] and ending [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111102 when she ordered the Doom Bell be rung]]. The actual ringing of the bell lasted another three weeks. Tarvek was critically ill and about to die for just short of 15 months. The general concept is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091211 this strip]]. And again [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100521 here]], "It only seem like deyz been in de kestle a long time!"
* ExpressiveAccessory: Zeetha's headband, with the little face on it that always has the same facial expression as she does.
* TheExtremistWasRight
** Klaus, former TropeNamer.
** Also, Tarvek ("[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051104 I'm not proud of that, but...]]").
* FaceFault: The reactions to Gil "admitting" to Zola that he's really a pirate.
* FacePalm: Frequent.
** A beautiful one in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050914 this strip]].
** An even better one at the end of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041103 this comic.]]
** Two-handed face-palm for Gil on [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070411 this page.]]
* FakingTheDead
* FalseInnocenceTrick: Agatha mentions this trope when she first encounters Othar Tryggvassen, '''{{GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER}}!''' who asks her to free him. She believes he's doing this and does not free him; however, he [[WrongGenreSavvy actually believes]] he's the hero being held by the villain.
* FamedInStory: The Heterodyne Boys. And how!
* FamousNamedForeigner: Zola is French. "Zola" is hardly a French first name -- and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Zola Émile Zola]]'s last name is in fact of Italian origin.
* {{Fanservice}}
** So very, very much gratuitous Agatha-in-her-underwear. Also impressive bosoms on basically every female character. On the other hand, it is only [[OfCorsetsSexy ''Victorian'' underwear]]... [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030512 Not that that especially matters.]]
** And let's not forget the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080407 rather lengthy section]] of Volume 8 where Tarvek was entirely naked save for a strategically placed bedsheet.
** And Gil is next [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090803 wandering around shirtless]]. Nom.
*** Don't forget [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090925 this]]. Not only are both Gil and Tarvek ''naked'', but they ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext keep changing colors.]]''
** Like son, like father. There are many who are very grateful for [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041206 That Naughty Flashback Scene]].
** Also Tinka's metal but curvy body in a semi-transparent nightie.
** And who could forget Zeetha and the Wacky Weave Destabilizer?
-->'''Zeetha:''' What are you thinking, using Bunbury's trash? He's why every smart actress from here to Paris wears special underwear! Why do you even ''have'' one of those?
*** Speaking of which, Zeetha spent a lot of time running around in that leather underwear...
** And now, we have "Revenge of the Weasel Queen", in which Agatha and Zeetha end up wearing BUNNY outfits. Although these "bunny outfits" are [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090605 not quite]] what [[PlayboyBunny one might assume]].
** To summarize, though, the reason for such high-quality versions of this trope, all you need do is look at the Bleached Underpants section, above.
* FanserviceExtra: Ferretina. She drips with fanservice. Quoting a bit from the wiki: "...her outfit isn't chosen for modesty." You can say that again.
* FanserviceWithASmile: Zeetha noted that they got their crowd after Gilgamesh accidently stripped her of her clothes.
* FantasticRacism: There is much prejudice against [[FrankensteinsMonster Constructs]] of [[http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/Construct all 11 varieties]], and also against the Jägers. In the case of the Jägers, the prejudice is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050518 understandable]] (they're elite troops of the most dangerous conquerors around, and enjoy this).
** But not in Mechanicsburg. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111216 There]] it's "[[ForYourPeopleByYourPeople By monsters, for monsters]]".
* FascinatingEyebrow: Baron Oublenmach [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110418 should be afraid now... very afraid.]]
* FashionableAsymmetry: Maxim, with a glove and a spiked shoulderpad on one side.
* FillerStrip: Radio Theatre Breaks, Short Stories, Fairy Tale Theatre: Cinderella, and to a lesser extent, Heterodyne Boys Stories and "The Storm King Opera" synopsis, as the latter two contribute to the overall mythology.
* FiveManBand
** The previous generation in the Heterodyne Boys stories;
*** TheHero: Bill Heterodyne
*** TheSmartGuy: Barry Heterodyne
*** TheLancer: Klaus Wulfenbach
*** TheBigGuy: Punch and [[ActionGirl Judy]]
*** TheChick: Lucrezia Mongfish
** New generation;
*** TheHero: Agatha Heterodyne
*** TheLancer: Gilgamesh Wulfenbach
*** TheSmartGuy: Tarvek Sturmvoraus
*** [[TheBigGuy The Big Girl]]: Zeetha
*** TheChick: Krosp
* {{Flanderization}}: In-universe example; the character of BigGuy Punch in stories and stage-shows is reduced to comic buffoon and ButtMonkey. Among the secrets kept from Agatha her whole life was that the quiet, competent blacksmith she knew as her father ''was'' Punch. The Jägermonsters who knew Punch tries to give an actor advice on how to play him authentically, but all of it requires casting out what makes his act so successful.
* FlashbackEffects: Sepia tones.
* FlipPersonality: Lucrezia and [[spoiler:Agatha]]. No outward signs of transition, but obviously different personalities.
* FluffyTheTerrible: The Fun-sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers, a.k.a. the Devil dogs.
* FollowTheChaos: How Adam and Lilith locate Agatha aboard Castle Wulfenbach.
* ForDoomTheBellTolls: The aptly-named Doombell.
* ForTheLulz: Apparently, this is why Castle Heterodyne kills people. Because it "will be fun".
* ForScience: ''Girl Genius'' would not '''exist''' without this trope. {{Lampshaded}}.
* ForeignCussWord
** Klaus' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030122 "Götterdämmerung!"]]
** Zola will mutter [[GratuitousFrench "Merde!"]] when riled up enough.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110725 "Vot der dumboozle?"]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Several.
** Agatha does a nice job of intimidating one of Klaus' scientists [[spoiler: who turns out to be a revenant]] into calling her "mistress" [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040310 here]]. Jump ahead several years...
** A more minor example:
-->'''Gil:''' ''(to Agatha, about Othar)'' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040714 Trust me. When you get to know him better,]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040927 you'll want to throw him out of the window yourself.]]
* ForkFencing: Cranked UpToEleven, as can be expected of Sparks, with Gil's ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081015 Hand-cranked Runcible Gun]].
* FormFittingWardrobe: How does Agatha even breathe in some of those outfits?
* FreezeRay: Used as firefighting gear. It is mentioned that, with a little tinkering on one, you could freeze a castle wall and then bash it in with a hammer.
* FreudianExcuse: There's an implied inversion with the Heterodyne Boys. It looks like they grew up good because they were raised by [[MamaBear the Muse of Protection]], rather than '''''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110209 this]]'''''.
* FriendlyEnemies: Invoked [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100927 here]] in the last panel.
* FriendOrFoe: The Jägers have an excellent way of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060414 solving the problems presented by this trope.]]
* ForgottenPhlebotonium: If Gilgamesh gets his way, that damn hat!
* FunetikAksent: De Jägers hall talk like dis, sveethot!
* FunnyBackgroundEvent: The Foglios love this. Early on while on board the Castle Wulfenbach, there's:
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030912 No clanks, cucumbers, clocks, or dancing]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031126 Do Not Drink]]. Look at panel 1, then panel 3. then look at the mug in the next page
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031210 Ether Bunny]].
*** in the same frame, what appears to be "Mummy Dust" and "Daddy Dust".
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040324 No Alchemy (unless it works)]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040414 Lab Full of Exploding Things #5]]. NUMBER FIVE.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071116 "Trade Entrance. Invade in front."]]. (The small signs in the bottom panel. You may need to squint.)
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100326 This page]] on the last panel. Four arrows pointing, from the top: left, right, up and down. All of them say "'''DANGER'''".
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100324 While Othar and Sanaa are talking]], we see her fellow prisoners get out of the pit trap, run away from Othar, a sign signalling 'Secondary pit trap activated' and a sign asking 'Want a laugh?' with two buttons [[ButThouMust 'Yes' and 'Hell Yes']]
** There is a gumball machine in the background. The sign over it says [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100910 "POISON! Illiteracy Reduction."]]
** More recently, look at Agatha's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110211 attempts]] to [[PercussiveMaintenance fix]] that machine in the background. She still has the hammer when she yells at Gil in the last panel.
** Read what's written on the steps in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100908 this strip]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:G-I]]
* GadgeteerGenius: Pretty much all Sparks, but the Heterodynes were notable even among Sparks.
-->'''Von Mekkan:''' In my experience, a strong Heterodyne will take about two hours to ''truly'' warp the laws of nature.
* GambitPileup: Agatha's arrival in Sturmhalten causes everyone to set off their master plan at once. And when Agatha and Zola reached Castle Heterodyne, everything just went nuts.
* GatlingGood
* GeekyTurnOn
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071128 And how!]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090828 and then some]] -- back the other way!
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100906 Now with some side characters!]] Although that's debatable about just how much of it is "geeky" and how much is "insanity".
* GenerationXerox:
-->'''Klaus:''' Ah, I see history repeats itself.
** "hee hee! Everyone '''says''' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100628 I look just like]] dear Mama!"
* GeniusBruiser: Many Sparks, the Jägergenerals, and Da Boyz.
* GenreSavvy
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060410 "What? They're in all the stories."]]
** A special mention for the men carrying Anevka's squishy bits two pages later.
-->'''Oggie:''' Who vants to be my friend?!\\
''({{beat panel}})''\\
'''Geisterdamen:''' ''(draw swords)''\\
'''Henchmen:''' ''(immediately raise their hands)''
** Also Othar, especially in his Twitter updates, and Moloch.
** Also The Other.
-->'''Tarvek:''' What! That's impossible! Isn't it?\\
'''The Other:''' Oh dear, I do so mistrust it when "impossible" is one's initial reaction to an idea.
** The leader of the war clanks attacking Mechanicsburg ''quickly'' realizes that [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071121 the lone guy walking out to challenge his entire army is the most dangerous person on the battlefield.]]
-->'''Selnikov:''' Son of-- SHOOT HIM! '''''QUICKLY!'''''
** Selnikov again ([[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110204 well, what's left of him]]):
-->'''Selnikov:''' As if I'd trust anyone '''I''' know to hold a razor to my throat!
** "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110223 He's no threat]]--" ''([[BeatPanel both look around the room in obvious terror]])'' -- [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy "Do you WANT him to show up?!"]]
** Tarvek [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110214 played]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110422 the fool]] for years. [[IAmNotLeftHanded He was]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425 paying attention.]]
** Also, this entire exchange between Gil and Tarvek.
-->'''Tarvek:''' So, Wulfenbach -- just checking -- is this going to be some kind of macho exercise where you insist on battling a potentially superior opponent alone in some kind of misguided attempt to "prove" your intrinsic worth?\\
'''Gil:''' No, no! I'm only ''that'' stupid in front of Agatha!\\
'''Tarvek:''' Drat.
* GentleGiant: Punch, apparently, though most people who didn't know him assume he's just DumbMuscle. Also possibly a GeniusBruiser, though the evidence for that comes from the Jägers who are... not the best at determining who's "schmott".
-->'''Belloptix:''' But... didn't he have a... lighter side?\\
'''Maxim:''' Oh yah! He build very amuzing toys for de ''orphan cheeldren!''
* GentlemanAdventurer: Othar Tryggvassen is the TropeNamer.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Most often done by using water. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070119 Or pies.]]
* GetItOverWith: Boris
* GiantSpider
** One of the many creepy albino monsters the Geisterdamen use for transportation.
** Also one in Castle Heterodyne. Not quite as big, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090729 but...]] '''"Nyar!"'''
* GiantSquid: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110325 A giant mechanical squid]] and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110530 a giant flying squid]].
* GilliganCut
** "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040524 There's no male guard on this ship that can resist the charms of a beautiful princess!]]"
** "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051021 If the mistress were here, she'd say...]]"
** "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060731 "Do you really think he'd just hand it to her?]]"
* GivingThemTheStrip: The Minstrel does it in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120208 this strip]].
* GodEmperor: GenderFlipped for the Brits, their queen is known as "Her Undying Majesty".
* GodGuise: Lucrezia Mongfish ([[spoiler:a.k.a. The Other]]) is worshipped by the Geisterdamen.
* GogglesDoNothing: Dimo (green Jäger with 5 o'clock shadow, wearing an olive-drab cap with mustard trim and a yellow ostrich plume stuck in).
* GoingToGiveItMoreEnergy: Zola drinks a last-resort combat stimulant to be nearly unstoppable. Violetta -- who she stole it from -- sticks her with a dart... not with a poison, with more of the same, figuring that an overdose of already near-lethal stuff would kill her more reliably than anything else.
* GoneHorriblyRight: Same as below.
* GoneHorriblyWrong: This seems to occur with alarming frequency for Sparks. Generally with [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters horrible results]].
* GonnaNeedMoreTrope: "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070122 I don't think I've got one big enough.]]"
* GoodCopBadCop: ''Anyone'' and Bangladesh [=DuPree=]. It happens both intentionally and just because she [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041231 acts]] [[AxCrazy as usual]].
* GoodIsNotDumb: Everyone thinks that just because Gilgamesh Wulfenbach never built a DeathRay and almost never screams at people or beats them up to get them under control, they can push him around and act like he's nothing. When [[BerserkButton he's finally pushed over the edge]], he shows the entire world that yes, he ''does'' know how to build a DeathRay, and yes, he's perfectly capable of kicking the crap out of Europa to protect his father and [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend not-girlfriend]].
* GoodIsNotNice: Gil; Agatha; Master Payne... Quite possibly Klaus.
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: Lars.]]
* GrandTheftMe: [[spoiler:Lucrezia]] attempts this on several occasions on different characters. How successful she is varies:
** [[spoiler:Agatha]] is able to shrug it of, thanks to her [[spoiler: [[OrphansPlotTrinket locket]]]], later by sheer force of will.
** She later succeeds at it fully with [[spoiler:Anevka]].
** Her try with [[spoiler:Zola]] fails, because [[spoiler:Zola's]] brain was prepared with a trap for exactly that occasion. [[spoiler:Zola]] now has a replica of [[spoiler:Lucrezia's psyche]] inside her mind and can sift through the thoughts and memories of it more or less at will. [[spoiler:Due to Zola's injuries and her overdose on [=MoveIt=], nobody knows who is in control now.]]
* GrapplingHookPistol
** Standard issue for Smoke Knights (seen [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060630 here]] and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080917 here]]).
** The [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030321 Baron]] and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100721 Zola]] have one too.
* GratuitousFrench: Gil once started speaking French while delirious. Translated: "Excuse me sir, but where is the catastrophe?" Gil spent a lot of time in France when he was younger -- and he spent so much of that time coming to the rescue of [[spoiler:apparent]] [[BrainlessBeauty danger-prone ditz Zola]] that it's just short of reflex for him to keep an eye out for disasters when she's around.
* GratuitousGerman
** Jägermonster = hunter-monster, Geisterdamen = ghost ladies, Sturmvoraus = storm ahead, Wulfenbach = "Wolf's stream" (not strictly correct, but German is dialectual and it's a place/family name). Of course, since this story is apparently set in a 19th century Central Europe not totally unlike our own, this is more of a TranslationConvention, since German actually would be the ''lingua franca'' of the setting.
** There is one straight-up bit of gratuitous German when a Jäger uses "Jägermonstern" as a pseudo-German plural for his own kind. The German plural is in fact "Jägermonster", which of course sounds rather odd in English.
** Note also the writing in the last panel of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050905 this page]].
** Holzfäller, the fake surname Gil used in Paris, translates as "lumberjack".
** Sturmhalten, the home of the Sturmvoraus familiy (see above), literally means "to keep storm", a.k.a. Storm Keep. This matches with Mechanicsburg, burg being old germanic for "castle". Wulfenbach started as a smaller house, so their fortress is just ''Castle Wulfenbach''.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100224 WHAK!]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110729 WHAK!]]
* GunStruggle
* HairRaisingHare: The Weasel Queen's Lapinomorphs.
* HappilyAdopted: Agatha calls Punch and Judy her parents, in spite of knowing that they aren't her biological parents.
* HappilyMarried: Master Payne and the countess. Also Balthazar's parents.
* HappinessInSlavery: Fraulein Snaug is extremely devoted to Professor Mittelmind.
* HartmanHips
** Damn does Zola have some FINE hips.
** A Lampshade is hung ([[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081201 "The term you want is 'callipygian'"]]) in the MadScientist ''Cinderella''.
* TheHatMakesTheMan
** The helmet which allows Castle Heterodyne to possess the Seneschal.
** In a "Trelawney Thorpe" short story, the crown of KingArthur, which allows Arthur to possess its wearer.
* HauntedTechnology: Castle Heterodyne is generally seen as this, and it suits Wulfenbach to let people believe it. The application of ClarkesThirdLaw effectively makes it so; even characters familiar with the machinery refer to the rooms as "alive".
* HeadTiltinglyKinky: When Agatha is working in the traveling Heterodyne Circus as the psychic Madame Olga.
-->'''Agatha:'''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050523 "She... ...tea cozy... ...forty-three hours... ...only one spoon... ...how... eek!"]]
* HeIsNotMyBoyfriend
** Agatha about Gil. All the time. She uses the actual phrase [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071212 here]].
** A consequence of it can be seen here with [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091021 Violetta]].
** They are her... er... ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091002 her experimental subjects]]''! Honest.
** Othar and... ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100324 Gil!?]]''
* HellBentForLeather: Von Pinn, and how. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040503 Lampshaded]].
-->'''Von Pinn:''' I teach restraint.\\
'''[=DuPree=]:''' Oh, so your dressmaker's an A+ student then.
* HellishHorse: The aptly-named [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050404 Monster Horse Beastie]].
* HeroAntagonist: Othar, plus or minus a little serial murder.
* HeroicBSOD: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061220 SHOWTIME!]]
* HeroicSacrifice: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110803 Hilariously defied while in Castle Heterodyne.]]
* HerrDoktor: A large portion of the Sparks.
* HiddenBadass: Higgs; Wooster; Tarvek (to Gil); Zola, with ObfuscatingStupidity; and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100319 Sanaa]].
* HiddenDepths
** The Jägers, who at first appeared to be little more than comic relief and have since been revealed to have more layers than an onion. It's even been lampshaded in canon.
** Given what he [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110909 will do for those he cares for]], one wonders if Tarvek might have avoided the worse of his family heritage.
* HiddenElfVillage: The Lost Kingdom of Skifander, where Zeetha comes from. Notably, it's lost to her as well, as she has no idea how she got to Europa.
* HiddenWeapons
* HisAndHers: Parodied [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091028 here]] and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101115 here]].
* HobbesWasRight: You can't uphold a democracy with power-hungry {{Mad Scientist}}s running around.
* HoldingOutForAHero / StayInTheKitchen: Othar tried to keep his sister "safe" at home. But it turns out that in this world the concept of "safety" is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100322 even more volatile]].
* HomicideMachines: Virtually every piece of advanced technology can be used as a dangerous weapon no matter what it was meant for originally.
-->'''Gil:''' What about this one? It looks like a toaster.\\
'''Agatha:''' Well, it is a toaster. Sort of.\\
'''Gil:''' Sort of?\\
'''Agatha:''' Oh, yes. It could toast the whole town.
* HonestAdvisor
** Baron Wulfenbach says early on that he would rather his men criticize him rather than fear him too much to tell him important information -- in fact, the first time we see him, he's testing Gil to see if he'll tell him he's wrong. It's one of the many signs that he's not your average EvilOverlord.
** Gil and Agatha seem to prefer advisors like this as well.
* HorrifyingTheHorror: The mere ''mention'' of Barry Heterodyne's name is enough to make [[spoiler:two separate incarnations of]] the Other shit a brick.
* HostageSituation: Gil volunteers for one. Agatha doesn't want it.
* HotScientist: Hot Mad Scientists. Many of them. And apparently the better they are, the hotter they get.
* HowDareYouDieOnMe: Agatha's reaction when it looks like [[spoiler:Gilgamesh]] is dying. It helps.
* HulkSpeak: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111209 Snoz]], quite appropriately, has a mild case of this.
* HumongousMecha: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Walking Battleships]].
* HunterOfHisOwnKind: Othar Tryggvassen ([[GentlemanAdventurer Gentleman]] [[TvTropesWikiDrinkingGame Adventurer!]]) [[spoiler:He's a spark, with a goal of killing every other spark, then killing himself when he's the last one left]].
* HyperspaceMallet: Not actually a mallet, but just about every other gadget that a well-equipped Mad Scientist might require.
** Lampshaded on a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080114 paper doll]] page.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091002 A real mallet!]]
* HydePlaysJekyll
* HypocriticalHumor
** Gil tells Agatha her bedside manner needs work. Turns out [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090821 his isn't so great either]].
** Zola makes a crack about ''Agatha's'' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110112 butt]] being big?
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110429 Gil...]]
* IAmWho
* IAmXSonOfY: "I am Zeetha, Daughter of Chump! Yes, I know what it means in your language."
* ICanStillFight: Repeatedly.
* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Each volume of the print collection is titled "Agatha Heterodyne and the [[CharacterNameAndTheNounPhrase Noun Phrase]]", where the noun phrase in question refers to some person, place, or thing that does indeed appear in that volume, but is never actually referred to by that name.
* IfIHadANickel: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100205 Violetta's done the math.]]
* IgnoredConfession: Invoked. No, no, the stairway's just echo-y.
* TheIgor
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070601 Basically the entire populace of Mechanicsburg.]]
-->'''Carson von Mekhan:''' Sure, the Heterodynes were dangerous lunatics-- but they became '''our''' dangerous lunatics!
** Moloch von Zinzer stands out because, like the natives of Mechanicsburg, he's a natural minion, but unlike the Mechanicsburgers, he has a certain amount of insight into Spark psychology, and can use this to get them back on target when they inevitably get sidetracked.
* IJustWantToBeNormal: Said by Agatha, in the beginning. Othar thinks the entire idea is hilarious.
* ImAHumanitarian: "Snapper" Boikov and "[[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/6120430016 Jack A'Horned]]" -- prisoners in the Castle Heterodyne.
* [[ImplacableMan Implacable People]]
** Higgs and [[spoiler:Zola [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013 post-Movit #11]]]].
** The Jägermonsters. It still hasn't been established what it would take to kill one of them, and they are amongst clanks as shock troops -- Baron Klaus shows particular respect toward them. When Maxim, Dimo and Oggie are introduced, they'd been hanging in nooses for days, casually observing and commenting on the town. It's implied that Othar conned them into getting into the nooses voluntarily.
* ImprovisedWeapon
** Wrenches seem to be used as cudgels a lot.
** And now, a ''[[LampshadeHanging book on the use of improvised weaponry]]'' has been used as [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin an improvised weapon]].
* IndyEscape: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090720 The Rolling Fun Ball of Death.]]
-->'''Professor Tiktoffen:''' Huh. I '''wondered''' where that went on Tuesdays.
* IndyPloy: Often. Klaus seems to be almost the only character who plans more than fifteen minutes ahead.
* INeedAFreakingDrink: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070418 2007 April 18, Panel #7]].
* INeedToGoIronMyDog: Diaz and Mittelmind use up [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091026 all the good excuses]].
* InfernalRetaliation: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081027 Here.]]
-->"Great. Now the crowd is ''trapped by the stalagmites'' while the ''flaming monster'' advances."
* InMyLanguageThatSoundsLike: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080519 Zeetha, daughter of Chump.]] And, yes, she knows what it means in our language.
* InsistentTerminology: By the fandom, often by the characters, and even by the website itself.
** "Othar Tryggvassen! '''GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER!'''"
** In TheRant rather than the comic itself, hyperlinks are always "elegant and finely-crafted".
** It's a GASLAMP FANTASY, not SteamPunk.
** Gilgamesh is 'very' insistent that the little Heterodyne generator is 'not' a lamp.
* InstantSedation: C-Gas, D-Gas and Ichor of Somnia.
* InstrumentOfMurder: Sleipnir O'Hara's "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081027 Hot Pipes]]".
* InterserviceRivalry: Jägerkin (as a part of being "perfect soldiers") got it straight -- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031024 they deem themselves better]] than anyone else and eager to make a point, but shut up [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040503 when a real action is in sight]]:
-->'''General Zog:''' Sir -- dere iz a time to twit nancy-boy feetsmen und a time to crush bogs.
* InTheBlood: Sparkiness is usually hereditary. Spark styles of invention too.
-->'''Agatha:''' I believe another [[LudicrousPrecision forty-five point three seconds]], and I would have ''exploded'' or something.\\
'''Castle Heterodyne:''' ... or something. Under the [[DramaticStutter circir/circumstances]] I/I am forced to admit that yo/you are most most likely oneoneone of the family...\\
'''Agatha:''' Oh, ''yeah''... I have ''got'' to try [[PsychoSerum that]] ''again!''\\
'''Castle Heterodyne:''' yesss... ''most'' likely, in/in/in''deed''.
* InTheFutureWeStillHaveRoombas: Agathas self-replicating clanks.
* InTheNameOfTheMoon:
-->"'''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050617 SCHTOP!]]''' Hyu horr'ble monster-y ting of ''Evil!''"
** Although that was an intentional delivery of a LargeHam as well...
** And a beautiful example of BuffySpeak.
** And a message HiddenInPlainSight.
-->"... Ve iz Jägerkin charged by the ancient contract--"
* IronicEcho
** Agatha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030514 quoting]] Moloch von Zinzer back at himself [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080312 here]] demonstrating that the tables have indeed turned.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090406 Zola]] echoing [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090311 Agatha's]] sarcastic party plans virtually word-for-word (albeit in a very different tone) as ObfuscatingStupidity.
** And Agatha describing [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090724 Tarvek to Gil]] with the last three words being the same she used describing [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080929 Gil to Tarvek]].
* ItGotWorse: The entire Castle Heterodyne arc is stuffed to the gills with this trope. [[TakeOurWordForIt Just trust us on this one.]]
* IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow
* ItMakesSenseInContext:
-->'''Agatha:''' We're just going to '''kill you''', and then you'll be '''fine!'''\\
''(later...)''\\
'''Gil:''' I've changed my mind! Let's just '''kill him!'''\\
'''Agatha:''' Stop it. We're going to kill him '''properly'''.
* ItWasAGift: Agatha's ring.
* IWantGrandkids
** Oh, Castle Heterodyne.
** Also, Oggie to [[CreatorCameo the storyteller]] (his great-great grandson).
* IWasNeverHere: Lucrezia to Vrin, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060920 here]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:J-L]]
* JadeColoredGlasses: Some would say every Spark should get a pair.
* {{Jerkass}}: Several. Merlot is prominent among them, but there are others.
* JigsawPuzzlePlot: And how! Chekhov's Guns that were put on the mantle in books 1, 2, and 3 are being taken off and fired years later. Gil and Tarvek also indulge in some LampshadeHanging when they discuss a bunch of [[NoodleIncident convoluted noodle incidents]].
* KillItWithFire
** Sleipnir's pipes... guess [[IncrediblyLamePun you can't start a fire without a Spark]].
** WreathedInFlames: The Torchmen
* {{Kneecapping}}: Higgs uses this move against Zola. Unfortunately for him, she is too high on combat drugs to fall down.
* KnightTemplar: Othar. He wants to kill all sparks, because he thinks they are [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040922 "the cause of everything wrong in the world today]].
* LampshadeHanging: Many.
** Using a book titled ''Using Found Objects as Weapons'' as a bludgeon is probably the best example.
* LargeHam: Any Spark in the MadnessPlace. The jägermonsters. And most especially ''Othar Tryggvassen, '''GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER'''''
* LeaveBehindAPistol: Gil gives Moloch von Zinzer a [[CyanidePill poison pill]] upon his departure to Castle Heterodyne, underestimating the degree of von Zinzer's ActionSurvivor skills and GenreSavvy.
* LeaveTheTwoLovebirdsAlone: With a somewhat unexpected pair of lovebirds in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100906 this strip]].
* {{Leitmotif}} / ThemeMusicPowerup: Agatha discovers that if she hums a certain series of notes, she can improve her focus while working on various projects. This tune pops up throughout the series, in various forms. Unknown if anyone has actually tabulated and played her song in real life, though.
* LeonineContract
* LetsGetDangerous: The Unstoppable Airman Higgs is, [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment in fact,]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin unstoppable.]]
* LetThemDieHappy: These [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100929 plants]] are trying to do this.
* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: Gilgamesh orders that his NiceHat should be hidden in a safe place -- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120116 and never spoken about again.]]
-->'''[=DuPree=]:''' I heard there was a ''hat!''\\
'''Gil:''' You're ''delusional''.
* LightningBruiser: [[spoiler:Airman Higgs]]
* LingerieScene: The creators admit the work contains "lots of running around in Victorian underwear". Most of the time, Agatha is the offender.
* LiteralGenie: A mild case in the form of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080822 Castle Heterodyne.]]
* LiteraryAgentHypothesis: The entire comic is postulated as a course on the life of Agatha Heterodyne, as taught by the Professors Foglio at Transylvania Polygnostic University ("Know enough to be afraid.") They stick mostly to the truth -- though this very admittance means that it's possible that, in the "real" universe where this story takes place, not every woman has large breasts.\\\
That is, the first print collection, "Agatha Heterodyne & The Beetleburg Clank", and the original printed comics, are presented as an unauthorized but accurate record published by TPU, Phil Foglio having witnessed Agatha's "Battle Circus" himself; later, he is indeed in town when the Battle Circus episode occurs. However, Phil Foglio is also shown telling the tale as fiction in the street right on page one. (An alternative tryout sketch released online seems to have Agatha herself telling the story to her grandchildren.) Maybe that's after he was accidentally sent back in time or something. But also, in the "radio play" episodes of the webcomic, Studio Foglio are repeatedly shown escaping as they perform the last seconds of the episode just as the real and angry Agatha Heterodyne and her friends are about to catch them and stop the show.
* LittleNo
** Type 1 from [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070101 Wooster to Bangladesh]].
** A mix of type 1 and 3 from [[spoiler:[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101020 Higgs to Zola]]]].
** LittleNo meets ThisIsGonnaSuck meets OhCrap when [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110218 Castle Heterodyne decides to put out a fire.]]
* LivingBattery: Agatha drinks water from the Dyne and is super-charged as a temporary power source.
* LivingCrashpad: Jägers are ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060512 polite]]'' about this.
* LivingLabyrinth: Castle Heterodyne
* LivingLegend: Quite a few.
** Othar Trygvassen, ''[[GentlemanAdventurer GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER]]'', very well known and generally viewed as a hero. Except by the main protagonists.
** Klaus Wulfenbach is fine with having a reputation as a terribly villainous evil emperor if it keeps the peace.
** The Heterodyne Boys had a wonderfully heroic reputation, beloved in no small degree because their family very much did ''not''.
** Agatha, Gil, and Tarvek are all rapidly building themselves reputation, what with being stuck in the middle of the most epic story since the Heterodyne Boys defeated the Other.
* LivingMotionDetector: The clank in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080908 this]] comic.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: There really are a lot of regular characters in this comic, to the point where it can get difficult to keep track of everyone.
* LongHairedPrettyBoy: Maxim, the beautiful male ''Jägermonster.'' See the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081121 Cinderella]] breather episode, where Maxim is supposed to be one of the "ugly" stepsisters, but it doesn't quite turn out as planned. Also counts as a BadassLonghair.
* LookBehindYou: [[ActionSurvivor Von zinzer]]: "Uh... [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100118 hey, check it out]]." -- though in this case not only does the target look, but there's actually something to see.
* LoopholeAbuse: Not a weapon. That's a ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080606 chair]]''!
* LosingYourHead: [[spoiler:Tinka]] Also [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100818 here]], with [[spoiler:Castle Heterodyne]] in the body of a mechanical Muse. Also an example of ArcWords.
* LoveBubbles: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110817 Bubbles ''and'' roses.]]
* LoveTriangle
** Agatha, Gil, and Tarvek.
** Possible Minion LoveTriangle in Moloch, Violetta, and Snaug. Although, Violetta [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend denies romantic interest]] in Moloch, and [[AllLoveIsUnrequited he's smitten]] by Sanaa Wilhelm. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100616 Suuuure]] she isn't interested... which turns the one centered on Moloch into a low-grade LoveDodecahedron.
* LoyalPhlebotinum: Practically everything that the Heterodynes made.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:M-O]]
* MadArtist: The tailor clank in the "Revenge of the Weasel Queen" fillers.
* MadeOfIron
** Airman Third Class Axel Higgs
** Othar Tryggvassen
** Old Man Death took multiple Jägerpunches to the face and was still able to outfight the Jäger who provided them.
* MadScientist: "Sparks", whose erratic genius has literally reshaped the world. Practically half the cast are mad scientists of one sort or another, though the ones that come closest to the classic villain type are probably Prince Wilhelm Aaronev and the late Lucrezia Mongfish.
** There's even a mad ''social'' scientist, who complains that the mad "hard" scientists [[HardOnSoftScience get all of the funding and attention]].
-->"I told the baron, give me a thousand orphans, a hedge maze and enough cheese and I can--"
** Agatha awakening to her mad science is what starts and drives the entire story forward, and raises the question [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EomvxZF6Tto ...or will her newfound mad science DESTROY THEM ALL!]]
* MadScientistLaboratory: Several, most notably those belonging to Baron Wulfenbach and Prince Aaronev. And all of the ones in Castle Heterodyne.
* MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter
** Lucrezia Mongfish is officially referred to as "The Villain's Beautiful Daughter" in the stories told about Agatha's parents. Agatha herself is arguably one, and she's already run into at least two Mad Scientist's ''Handsome Sons''.
** Dr. Mongfish had at least two other daughters besides Lucrezia; Serpentina (Theo's mother), and Demonica ([[spoiler: Zola's mom]]).
** Othar Tryggvassen ([[GentlemanAdventurer Gentleman]] [[TvTropesWikiDrinkingGame Adventurer!]]) [[AddedAlliterativeAppeal actually asks Agatha]] if she's one of these.
** And most offspring of mad scientists are mad scientists themselves.
* {{Magitek}}: "Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!"
* MagneticHero: Any and all Sparks; their manic vision pulls normal people into their service.
* MakeMyIndexLive: This mythos is a major part of the premise.
* MalevolentArchitecture: Castle Heterodyne. It was designed by an AxCrazy [[MadScientist Spark]], and it shows.
-->'''Zola:''' Avoid any floorstone marked in ''white.'' It is a trap that will kill you. Do not stand under any part of the ceiling marked in ''white.'' It is a trap that will kill you. ''Duck'' under any opening taller than ''one meter.'' It is a trap that will kill you. Do not touch ''any'' metal surface. It is a trap that will kill you.
* MaliciousSlander
* MamaBear: Von Pinn, ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040903 and how]].'' She's actually [[spoiler:the Muse of protection, downloaded into a construct body.]]
* TheManTheyCouldntHang: Well, The Jägers They Couldn't Hang, but otherwise Da Boyz. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050513 Definitely Da Boyz.]]
* MarriageToAGod: The original Heterodyne was supposedly married to a local battle goddess.
* MasterApprenticeChain: Gilgamesh is taught by Klaus himself (among the others), and we know some of people who taught the baron himself.
-->'''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110204 Dr. Sun]]:''' He does his teachers ''proud''.
* MauveShirt: Sergeant Scorp of the Baron's Vespiary Squad. Also an unquestionably CoolOldGuy, right down to the superb facial hair.
* MaximumFunChamber: Castle Heterodyne contains several; in fact, most of the castle counts.
* McNinja: Introduced with the followers of the Way of Smoke.
* MeaningfulName
** {{Word of God}} has it that Theopholous [=DuMedd=] was originally "doomed" to be [[AnyoneCanDie killed off]] in volume 3, but the Foglios so enjoyed him that he stuck around.
** Most likely Sleipnir O'Hara wasn't supposed to be kept around either. Agatha needed a roommate to introduce her to the world of the Baron's flying castle, so the Foglios gave her someone to "sleep near".
** The town of Mechanicsburg is integrated with the mechanical Castle Heterodyne.
** Bangladesh [=DuPree=]. ''Bang duPrey''. Or ''Du-praved''.
** Heterodyne: The principle of periodic functions upon which theremins and radio modulation rely. Possibly related to the ThemeMusicPowerUp.
** Portentius Reichenbach's [[IncrediblyLamePun Portentous]] Operatic Masterpiece: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080204 The Storm King]].
* MechanicalEvolution: Inverted; Agatha tends to compulsively construct little Clanks termed "dingbots". These dingbots can then go on to construct more dingbots, but dingbots are only so bright, so each successive generation gets less and less advanced, and less bright, and by the third or fourth generation the dingbots produced are nonfunctional.
* TheMedic
** Mamma Gkika
** Although we haven't seen this happen yet, the Heterodynes to the Jägers.
** Dr. Sun ''is'' a doctor. As well as a Spark.
** We also have [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110124 this]] exchange:
-->'''Gil:''' Let me take a look at that.\\
'''Tarvek:''' ... Already doing it.\\
'''Gil:''' Hey! I '''am''' a doctor, you know.\\
'''Tarvek:''' '''pft'''. And '''who isn't'''?
* MeleeATrois: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100716 Here]].
* {{Melodrama}}tic: '''EVERY. SINGLE. SPARK.''' ''Can'' get this way. The only Spark we've not seen like this -- yet -- is Klaus.
* MementoMacGuffin: Agatha's locket.
* MentalTimeTravel: Othar, in his Twitter.
* MentorOccupationalHazard: Dr. Tarsus Beetle, we hardly knew ye...
* MidairRepair: Gilgamesh and Agatha while testing Gil's flying, or rather ''falling'', machine. Of course because they're sparks, it starts to become midair redesigning the device before Zoing points out to Agatha that they are still falling.
* MilkyWhiteEyes: Geisterdamen and possibly other geistercreatures.
* MiniMecha: Agatha's Dingbots, particularly Dingbot Prime.
* MinionMaracas: Agatha demonstrates the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090311 proper technique]].
* MinionShipping
** There's been strong fan support for Violetta×von Zinzer, minions in denial and retainer/NOT-minion of Tarvek and Agatha, respectively. Shipping a [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]] {{McNinja}} who hates her job with a world-weary ex-soldier just ''works''.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100616 Lately]], canon [[ShipTease seems to agree]]. But then, he [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091109 jumped]] to fraulein Snaug (repeating Agatha×Gilgamesh×Zola case).
*** Oh boy, now he's on Sanaa, with Fraulein Snaug suggesting MurderIsTheBestSolution.
** Also, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100915 Zeetha and Higgs]]. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101018 Totally canon.]]
** When Sparks do it, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100906 others begin to inconspicuously look for blast doors]].
* MissionControlIsOffItsMeds: Castle Heterodyne acts as this to the prisoners repairing it, due to its fractured personality.
* MistakenForGay: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100324 In this strip]], unless it's just good-natured teasing between siblings. Or not mistaken, since his objection to Sanaa's statement isn't Gil's gender, it's that he's "a foul villain". BiTheWay at the most, though, since he was [[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/967741669 married]] to a [[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1097578474 Geisterdame]] for a while in the [[CharacterBlog Twitter]].
* MobileMaze: Castle Heterodyne. "We're doomed! The door we came through -- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090304 it never led HERE before!"]]
* ModestyBedsheet
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080407 Gil]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100816 Von Pinn]]
* MomentKiller
** Curse you, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090511 Merlot!]]
** The Jägers are of the opinion that Gil and Agatha's budding relationship will be the motivation they need to remove the copy of the Other's mind from Agatha -- because it will mean that they can't make out without Agatha's mother watching.
* MonochromaticEyes: The geisterdamen have all-white eyes.
* MonsterClown: Whatever [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110209 this thing]] originally was made for, among other things, probably.
* MoodWhiplash
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070117 Oh yes.]] (Warning: spoilery. And the pies may contain nutmeg.)
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110207 Say-...]]
* MoralMyopia: A lot of people other than Klaus and the heroes fall into this. Such as Merlot, who blames Agatha for the fact that he killed a few dozen people and got punished for it.
* MoreHeroThanThou: Tarvek and Gil [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091111 have a brief exchange]] about who gets to be this.
* MoreThanMeetsTheEye: A few different characters.
** Agatha kicks the story off with this.
** Tarvek also qualifies.
** [[spoiler:Airman Higgs]] seems to be the new, most prominent example.
** Also, Da Boyz and [[spoiler:Zola]] use ObfuscatingStupidity.
** Gil (especially in his Paris days), Agatha's "parents", Wooster, Von Pinn, Dr. Sun, Dolokov, the Circus, Sanaa... it's probably easier to list which characters AREN'T more than they appear.
* MoreThanMindControl: Sparks can be almost irresistibly charismatic when they put their minds to it.
* MotivationalKiss: Gil gets one [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110817 here]] (continued to the next page).
* MotorMouth
** Movit #11 causes this, increasing with dosage.
** Coffee does this to Agatha. Increasing dosage was deftly averted.
** Prince Aaronev's sedative must have contained a truth serum; Agatha blabs for almost three full pages of unrestrained and meandering truth before she passes out. So much for "Lady Olga".
* MummiesAtTheDinnerTable: Anevka, to a degree.
* MushroomSamba: The Circus pumps out a hallucinogenic gas during their escape from Sturmhaven, shout "The Heterodynes are back!" and we get this little [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070129 gem.]]
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Basically the FatalFlaw of every Spark in the world. Entering "TheMadnessPlace" grants them incredibly powerful focus, but it makes them entirely oblivious to the potentially disastrous results of their creations.
** Specifically Aaronev Sturmvoraus and his dying daughter, though certainly said by others in this world.
* MyInstinctsAreShowing: Krosp I, Emperor of All Cats -- basically, a cat with human-level intelligence, speech, thumbs, and the ability to walk erect... he'd like to claim that his "cat-instincts" have no hold over him, but Agatha rather enjoys proving otherwise using a piece of string.
* MythArc: One of the best webcomic examples. The foreshadowing starts with the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021111 fourth strip]] of the first chapter, with hints about the phenomenon scattered over many, many volumes -- and a full explanation has still not been given.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Practically half the cast.
** Klaus and Gilgamesh Wulfenbach;
** Lucrezia and her sisters Serpentina and Demonica;
** Master Payne;
** Von Pinn;
** Possibly subverted with Moloch.
** Also basically ''all'' of the Heterodynes (prior to Bill and Barry) have these.
** If these things are any indication, ''all'' strong Spark families tend to be this way.
* NaughtyTentacles
** "Impertinent mechanical squid!"
** Aaaaaand now there's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110325 this scene.]] Do note how Agatha seems [[DoesthisRemindYouofAnything positively delighted in the panel.]]
* NecessarilyEvil: Any Spark who wants to be a good guy sometimes has to turn into a raging madboy just to keep the million separate interests from coming apart. Klaus, Gilgamesh, and Agatha have all found this out.
* NeckLift
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030127 Merlot finds out this way]] that Baron Wulfenbach despises traitors.
** Von Pinn [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030718 introduces herself]] to Agatha by giving her a personal demonstration of this trope.
** Mamma Gkika [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110518 also explains through this method]] (with "slammed-into-a-wall" bonus) to [[spoiler:Oublenmach]] why it's a bad idea to wake her up too early in the morning.
** Vole reminds [[spoiler:Tarvek and Gil]] that you should never, ''ever'' take a Jäger lightly, by catching the ''two of them'' in a strangling neck lift -- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110729 one in each arm]].
* {{Necromantic}}
* NeverFoundTheBody
** A plot point has significant individuals from the past killed by a machine made from "farm machinery and pork products", which turns them into a string of sausages. Hard to confirm that.
** Not to mention Othar Trygvassen, Gentleman Adventurer; he's been tossed out of two airships on-screen, within the same chapter. Gil doesn't even consider the possibility that he died, having seen him come back from the same or worse so many times.
** Gil is also GenreSavvy enough to find it suspicious [[spoiler: his father's]] body [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120120 is never found.]] [[spoiler: Between what the readers were told before and Boris's comments that the Baron ordered his son to be immediately named head of the empire should he be suspected dead, it's indeed almost certain his death is a ruse.]]
* NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight:
-->'''Zola:''' Bringing a knife to a gun fight doesn't seem very smart, now does it?\\
'''Agatha:''' Well, I suppose it isn't that much worse than bringing a gun to a clank fight.
** And [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110713 later]], "It's harder to break things with a knife."
* NiceHat: Only a man whose bowler has granted fantasy adventurers super-powers could create a culture like the Jägers, whose attitude to this trope is close to a religion.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070209 You mean it isn't their religion?]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080514 Case in point.]]
** Maxim's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091211 hat, replaced]]. And it is a ''dem'' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100614 nice hat.]]
** A worthy hat must be claimed in battle against a mighty foe who [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100521 happens to have the same size head as you]].
* NiceJobBreakingItHero
** Agatha activates her own "Lion" device to prevent the Castle A.I. from stopping her from intentionally dying. This permanently destroys the A.I. and lots of other systems. All over the city. Subverted because she found a part of the Castle A.I.. After hooking the A.I. back into the castle, it thanks her for the EMP blast since it destroyed the rogue programs, making it easier to control those parts of the castle. She still has to fix everything, though.
** Lampshaded by Violetta [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110214 here]] when she discovers that [[spoiler:Gil and Tarvek have somehow missed the poison that was on the hairpin that Zola jabbed Agatha with]].
** Dr Sun takes down the Baron's escape klank - ''by himself'' - and enforces Klaus's bed rest in order to stop him killing himself from the strain. Awesome - [[spoiler:''until'' we learn that, in keeping Klaus in the hospital, Sun's unwittingly exposed him to Anevka!Lucrezia, which is more or less what Klaus feared. Oops.]]
* NoblewomansLaugh
** Zeetha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081205 in the second panel]].
** Lucrezia [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100219 in the first panel]].
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Holy crap. ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110117 Tarvek?!]]''
** Also, Higgs to Zola.
* NoodleImplements
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030829 "Thank goodness you had all those clockwork ducks, Klaus".]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050523 One wonders what part a tea cozy has to play...]]
** Used to hilarious effect in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080206 "The Storm King" Opera synopsis.]] The roller-skating giraffe pretty much speaks for itself.
* NoodleIncident
** Apparently, the Baron [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080526 has used the Med Clank]] before. After what happened ''last time'', he promised to put it away.
** "The Socket Wench of Prague" is all about this. Agatha played the leading lady and even she didn't know what was going on.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Othar. Being thrown out of an airship and surviving is among the ''least'' of his feats. From the radio play:
-->'''Othar:''' ''Ha!'' It'll take ''more'' than [[DistressedDude being tied to a]] [[StuffBlowingUp lit keg of explosives]] [[HollywoodAcid and tossed into a pit of acid]] filled with [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke mutant]], [[RequiredSecondaryPowers acid-resistant]] [[SharkPool flying pirahnas]] armed with [[KillItWithFire flame-throwers]] [[SwordAndGun and]] [[AnAxeToGrind battle axes]] while [[PoisonousPerson venomous]], [[MechaMook mechanical]], [[MacrossMissileMassacre missile-launching]] [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot Morris dancers]] armed with [[FreezeRay liquid nitrogen harpoon guns are overhead]]; [[HorseOfADifferentColor riding]] [[BigCreepyCrawlies giant]], [[EverythingsWorseWithBees rabid killer bees]] [[DeathRay with side-mounted death rays]] to kill '''[[LargeHam Othar Tryggvassen!]]'''\\
'''[[JerkassWoobie Fer]][[MissFanservice reti]][[HalfHumanHybrid na]]:''' Whoops! Silly me, I forgot to turn the [[ShockAndAwe lightning generators]] on!\\
'''Othar:''' [[ThisIsGonnaSuck Er... not a whole lot more, I'll admit.]]
* TheNoseKnows: Jägermonsters; Krosp
* NotAGame: The Castle warns Agatha that claiming to be the Heterodyne is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080704 not]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080707 a]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080709 game!]]
* NotDistractedByTheSexy: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090925 Spark mode Agatha]] is not interested in nudity.
* NotHelpingYourCase: Tarvek denies having any part in the plan to usurp the Wulfenbachs by installing a fake Heterodyne -- ''his'' plan was orders of magnitude better!
* NotInTheFace: Played with.
--> '''Castle:''' No! Not in the facing!
* NotSoDifferent
** Jägermonsters and Lackya don't get along well. They're both bruisers who don't function well without a person to follow.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110422 Tarvek and Gil]], just like Agatha [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080929 told]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090724 them]].
** Tarvek and Violetta; despite the family power structure having set them up so that he's the brains and she's his (deftly-applied) muscle, it transpires that Tarvek [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110425 can pull smoke knight moves even on Violetta]], and Violetta [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110907 has a talent for intrigue and projecting how power dynamics could be brought to play out]] that can outdo Tarvek's own.
* NotSoHarmless: [[spoiler:[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100623 Zola]]]]
* NothingIsScarier: "But I see nothing!" [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050706 "Don't say that like it's a good thing!"]]
* NotThatKindOfDoctor: Actually, most Sparks ''are''. The only reason Agatha isn't is because [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110124 they wouldn't let her take the tests]].
* TheNudifier: The Wacky Weave Destabiliser.
* NumberOneDime: Hats, to the Jägers.
* ObfuscatingStupidity: A ''lot'' of people.
** Most especially Zola.
-->'''Tarvek:''' What? No! That was that ''idiot'' from the Island of th... ''([[BeatPanel makes a face]])'' She ''is'' good.
** Some of the Jägerkin are considerably smarter than they appear.
** The circus pretends to be simple performers when in truth they're [[spoiler:mostly Sparks]].
** Astonishingly enough, Tarvek [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091125 seems to be in this category]]. Considering that he's an InsufferableGenius with ChronicBackstabbingDisorder who's spent an inordinately long time on the Face side of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor, it's shocking that it took this long.
** Agatha began the comic with an item that forced her to Obfuscate Stupidity. [[spoiler:It's a locket given to her by her Uncle Barry to suppress her Spark, so that The Heterodyne Boys' numerous enemies wouldn't try to kill/manipulate/etc. her.]]
** Gil appears to have spent most of his life doing this. As a child he hid his Spark, and in Paris he pretended to be a much worse student than he really was. It was only after returning from school that he was finally able to stop doing it and fully be himself.
** Although we haven't seen the details yet, [[spoiler:the apparent BadassBystander Higgs has been spotted chatting with Castle Heterodyne about Heterodynes from centuries ago, and it sure sounds like first-hand accounts.]]
** Wooster apparently tried this, or at least Obfuscating Normal, on Gil, to infiltrate Castle Wulfenbach. Gil was onto him, but played along until he could make more use of Wooster as a [[spoiler:British secret agent.]]
* OddShapedPanel
* OddlyVisibleEyebrows
* OfCorsetsSexy: Usually on Agatha.
* OffhandBackhand: Used by both Wulfenbachs, Wooster, and Zeetha.
* OffingTheOffspring: What [[spoiler:Lucrezia]] purportedly did to her own son, and [[spoiler:now plans for her daughter.]]
* OhCrap
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080305 "This must be how my father feels -- ALL THE TIME!"]]
** Klaus, [[spoiler:[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061206 realizing Lucrezia has enslaved him]]]] and [[spoiler:[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061225 when Agatha activates the Battle Circus]].]]
** In a subverted BigDamnHeroes [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100315 moment]]:
-->"Who in blazes is ''that''?"\\
"Why, ''I'' am OTHAR TRYGGVASSEN, '''Gentleman Adventurer'''!"\\
"Uh oh."
** Amusingly invoked [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100602 here.]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110713 And here]]
* OhNoNotAgain: When Agatha's trying to snap Gil out of a stupor:
-->'''Agatha:''' ''Hey, Gil!'' All of Paris is about to go up in flames, and Zola has her head caught in a ''bucket! Up and at 'em, Hero Boy!''\\
'''Gil:''' Hm? A bucket? ''Again?'' Okay, I'm comin'.\\
'''Agatha:''' ''(shooting a sideways glance at Zola)'' Yeeeess. I ''suspected'' as much.
* OldMaster: Dr. Sun, quite capable of singlehandedly disassembling any number of clanks - and who ''taught'' Klaus and Gil quite a lot about martial arts.
* OminousFloatingCastle (Type 3): ''Castle Wulfenbach'' certainly qualifies.
* OminousPipeOrgan: At one point a flipped-out Agatha directs a small army of clanks (including TransformingMecha and [[{{Literature/Discworld}} Luggage]]) with a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061229 high-falutin]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070117 calliope.]] Doubles as a visual CrowningMusicOfAwesome. And perhaps a literal version of AutobotsRockOut.
* OmnicidalManiac: While all Heterodynes were maniacs, some weren't picky about who to kill, as evidenced by [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111130 this exchange]]:
-->"Two minutes and she hasn't killed''''' anyone'''''!"\\
"A''''' new record'''''!"
* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: Though Sparks do specialize, it appears that most of the really strong ones can stitch a living being out of spare body parts as easily as they can build a mechanical [=AI=]... or design an electric death ray or a giant airship. Only minor Sparks appear to be ''restricted'' to a discipline, as opposed to simply being ''best'' at one
* OneTrueThreesome: Phil and Kaja Foglio, thanks to their unabashed BleachedUnderpants history, may be deliberately dangling this in front of the audience. Lampshaded and teased [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090311 in the strip itself]].[[invoked]]
* OnlyAFleshWound:
-->'''Gil:''' Seven broken ribs. Severe fracture, right leg. Fractured clavicle. Some crush injuries, but the kidneys appear unharmed. First and second degree burns on upper back and lower legs, third degree on the lower back. Four broken fingers, three broken toes, sprained and bruised muscles throughout -- major and minor lacerations, and a concussion.\\
'''Klaus:''' I've had worse.
* OnlySaneMan
** Von Zinzer. Good news is, he has a ''lot'' of experience dealing with Sparks, which also gives him lots of GenreSavvy, though he's also somewhat fatalistic -- he's resigned to the fact that having to work for Sparks means he could be blown up, eaten, ripped apart or otherwise brutally killed at any time. No wonder he can be so [[DeadpanSnarker snarky]]. Given the large number of Sparks and Spark minions he has recently been hanging around with, he is sometimes ''literally'' the only person in the room who is not crazy.
** Krosp has also been this at times. Just not when the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070917 string is going to escape]].
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Bangladesh [=DuPree=] not choosing at once the "let's blow everything up" option gets her second-in-command worried. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061108 She was just fooling around, however.]]
* OrphansPlotTrinket: Agatha's locket.
* OurHeroIsDead: And buried, complete with digging up the body and ''cloning a replica'' to make sure it's really her. [[spoiler:The corpse was doctored to make it look like Agatha, but the cloning gave the deception away, as the cloned body was not hers.]]
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Dame Aedith is a vampire hunter, despite the fact that no vampires have been seen. Although there was this little gem...
-->'''Wooster:''' Um... we're not going to meet some ancient undead Heterodyne vampire or something, are we?\\
'''Carson:''' Oh, and wouldn't ''that'' be the perfect capper to my day.\\
'''Wooster:''' Um, actually, that wasn't a "Ho ho, don't be silly old chap."\\
'''Carson:''' I ain't being paid to ''lie'' to you, brit.
* OutOfFocus: Lots of characters have done this.
** Most notably, Gil dropped out of the story early in Volume 4, reappeared briefly at the end of Volume 5, and finally reentered the story for real in Volume 7.
** Lots of other characters from the first arc disappeared after it was over and have either not returned or only showed up again in the third arc. The end of the second arc also sent a large number of supporting characters offstage. It also happens within arcs: Klaus has done this more than once. Given the webcomic format, the size of the cast, and the demands of the story, it's inevitable that it will keep happening.
** This gets a non-canon lampshade [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050912 here]].
-->'''Gil:''' AAARGH! I haven't had any lines in '''months'''! Am I even still a '''main character'''?!
* OutscareTheEnemy: Veilchen [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060505 does something like this]].
* OverlyLongName
** "I am Zola Anya Talinka Venia Zeblinkya Malfeazium."
** In the "Cinderella" omake, Cinderella's full name is really SleepingBeauty SnowWhite {{Rapunzel}} Ozma Rose RedRidingHood Rumpelstiltskin. (No, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081124 really]]. [[LampshadeHanging Just don't ask]].)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:P-R]]
* PardonMyKlingon: When Klaus meets Zeetha.
* ParentalHypocrisy: The moment when Gilgamesh [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030314 jumps in to play corrida]] with what amounts to a small locomotive with legs and arms, giving his father time to analyze its structure. Klaus [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030324 roars]] at him for taking an unnecessary risk, but Jägermonsters eagerly express approval when they see a BadAss performance, so right at the next page a Jäger sergeant quietly tells Gil that Klaus himself "doz crazy schtupid sctoff like dot all de time". Of course, as they both are mad scientists with [[ChronicHeroSyndrome chronic anti-hero syndrome]], it wasn't likely to be the craziest for either.
* ParentalSubstitute
** Agatha was raised by constructs, servants of her family. She thinks of them as her parents, though.
** Kids on ''Castle Wulfenbach'' had a [[TheBaroness vicious]] [[MamaBear guardian]] construct ''in loco parentis'' and were rather attached to her... and then it just got ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100512 really damn awkward]]''.
* PassThePopcorn
** Snaug enjoys [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091123 watching Gil and Tarvek fight.]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100428 And later]], so does Zeetha: "''AGATHA!'' You're missing the show."
* PeopleJars: Dr. Beetle in Beetleburg put criminals into giant glass jars to perish.
* PetTheDog
** The Baron stops in the middle of chasing Agatha just to make sure Zulenna gets revived ([=DuPree=] stabbed her when she was defending Agatha). When questioned, he bluntly states that it was his fault, and that the girl didn't deserve to die. He has several other moments like this, to demonstrate that even though he's a major antagonist, he is still a good man.
** Lucrezia does ''seem'' rather fond of her nephew [=DuMedd=]... [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100219 at first]].
* PhlebotinumOverload
** [[spoiler:After Agatha drinks from the Dyne (when Higgs offers a cup of "water" to her.) She stops it before she explodes, however, by channeling the extra energy into the dying Gil and Tarvek, revitalizing them in the process.]]
** After [[spoiler:Zola]] downs a vial of Movit 11, which is basically a supercharged energy drink, Violetta's solution to stop the rampage is to inject her with ''more'' Movit 11, which will apparently lead to a complete nervous collapse (or possibly cause her to ''[[IncendiaryExponent combust]]'').
* PieInTheFace: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050418 here]] and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070119 here]].
* PimpedOutDress: A number show up, for various reasons.
* PinkHairedGirl: Sanaa Whilhelm
* PlanetOfHats: Somewhat. The Jägermonsters' hat is not only the prominence of literal hats, it's also that these hats are to them as a sword is to a samurai.
* PlayboyBunny: During the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090605 Weasel Queen]] {{omake}}, Zeetha and Agatha evoke this trope with their [[FormFittingWardrobe "rabbit costumes".]]
* ThePlotReaper: [[spoiler:Lars]], as soon as Gil comes back into Agatha's life.
* PolitenessJudo: Getting Moloch to help in the kitchen.
* PoorCommunicationKills: Subverted in some cases, played straight in others.
** [[spoiler:Agatha's possession by the Other]] is set up as a big secret that could cause all sorts of problems, but Zeetha goes out of her way to mention it to Gil at the very first opportunity. However, Klaus is ''not'' aware of the true situation, and is unlikely to be willing to talk about it [[spoiler:now that he's been wasped, and knows that talking would allow her to control him]].
** Subverted again, and significantly, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110314 here.]] Dimo has just informed the Jägergenerals and Klaus's leadership about the situation, which will presumably reach Klaus's ears presently. Whether they ''believe'' him remains to be seen.
* PowerHigh: When Agatha is subjected to the effect of [[SuperSerum Dyne water]] plus electroshock for the first time and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100419 feels godlike]]. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100426 Later]] the Castle implies it's a ''normal'' reaction:
--> '''Agatha''': I believe another forty-five point three seconds, and I would have exploded or something. [...] Oh, yeah... I have got to try that again!
* PowerLimiter: The Heterodyne locket Barry gives Agatha is meant to subdue her sparkyness. She eventually outgrows this, and the locket has found a new use in keeping the Other contained.
* ThePowerOfLove: A minor case -- at one point when Agatha [[spoiler:is under the control of the Other, it becomes obvious that Gil will die without her help. So Agatha shrugs off the possession long enough to get the locket (mentioned above) on.]]
* PowerWalk: Jägermonsters pull one [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111212 here]]. Subverted slightly since most of them are already inside the city and the walk is just to fool enemies.
* PowerPerversionPotential:
** "D'Omas' taste in women was, well... Let's just say it was lucky for him [[RoboticSpouse he could build his own]]."
** Castle Heterodyne is full of restraints.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091028 His and hers.]]
** "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081203 Look, I'm a girl with needs.... They have tool belts?]]" (From the Mad Scientist version of ''Cinderella''.)
** Lucrezia seems well aware of the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100728 possibilities]] inherent in her [[spoiler:mind control devices.]]
** Back on Sparks in general, Sparks, especially in places like Mechanisburg, can practically take over someone's mind with their '''voice''' and not a lot else (strong-willed humans can resist it, but some people are just "natural minions".) Easy access to minions, the uses of the control voice, and the "tools" a Spark can make....
* PowerTrio: Maxim, Oggie, and Dimo, [[FanNickname colloquially known as]] "[[{{Warhammer 40000}} Da Boyz]]".
* PrimalScene: Possibly parodied in the novelization, where we learn that the young Agatha was deeply traumatized when she walked in on her adoptive parents recharging each other with generators.
* PrincessesPreferPink: Invoked by Zola as part of her role as a fake Heterodyne. Even her ''death ray'' is pink. Even the ''death beam'' is pink.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: The Jägers in general, with varying degrees of "proud" and "warrior" for individuals. For example, when Boris [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100820 beats the crap out of a Jäger messenger]] to find out where the generals were meeting, their response was surprise and respect, saying that he'd "earned" the right to talk with them.
* PsychoElectro: Anevka. She's more sadistic than psychotic, but if the trope fits...
* PsychoSerum
** The waters of the River Dyne.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013 Movit #11]] is no joke either.
* PublicSecretMessage
* PunctuatedPounding: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110117 Tarvek to Zola.]] Not explicit, but he's just ''got'' to be timing his punches to his exclamation points.
* PunnyName: Doubling as BilingualBonus. Dr. Beetle's first name, "Tarsus", is the insect equivalent of the foot. Not a particularly meaningful pun, but it's there.
* RageAgainstTheAuthor: In [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090817 this filler strip]], Agatha can't be convinced that Phil and Kaja Foglio have legitimately earned the Hugo Award, suspecting some mind control at work.
-->'''Phil Foglio:''' Maybe we just ''won''.
** [[BrickJoke In 2011 they decided to shut down the mind control device and resign from the category.]]
* RealIsBrown: The first volume. Not so much "brown is real" as "the world is dull when your mind is damped down". For anyone who's reading the archives, going from [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030509 the last page of volume one]] to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030512 the first page of the next]] is quite jarring.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: For a guy who conquered a continent, Klaus is surprisingly open to other people's ideas. Sure, he's still the final authority, but at least he'll hear you out.
* RebusBubble
** Bangladesh [=DuPree=], when her jaw is broken. "Gil = nut?"
-->'''Gil:''' Kill everyone who enters.\\
'''[[AxCrazy DuPree]]:''' [Knife] [Gun] [Axe] [=[=][[NoodleImplements Cheese]]]?\\
'''Gil:''' Yes, however you want.\\
'''[=DuPree=]:''' [World's Best Boss trophy]!
** The Dingbots as well, particularly in their [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091002 internal]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091005 war]] in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091009 Castle]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091012 Heterodyne]].
* RedEyesTakeWarning
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050404 The Monster Horse]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070912 Ferretina, the Weasel Queen]]
* ReedRichardsIsUseless: The occasional machine gun [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070119 is]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090511 seen]], but this weapon and the enormous amounts of [[MoreDakka dakka]] it can provide seem not to have changed the face of war as they have in RealLife.
* RelationshipReveal: For a long time, it was hard to tell if Theo and Sleipnir were a couple or just really close friends. Then came [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100906 this strip.]]
* RelationshipUpgrade: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110309 This]] may count as one. Higgs is pleased.
* ReligionOfEvil: The Geisterdamen worship the Other.
* ReplacementGoldfish: [[spoiler:Anevka]]
* RetiredBadass: An old Mechanicsburg sandwich-maker shows up in one of the side stories. He is nicknamed "Old Man Death" -- ''by the Jägers''. Turns out he used to run with them back in his youth -- and ''never lost a fight.'' He can forcibly boot one out of his shop now to boot, leading to his "three tries" rule.
* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: Klaus Wulfenbach ''despises'' traitors, as Merlot humiliatingly learns.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter: Agatha's little clanks (clinks?) she builds as assistants, practically the unofficial mascot of the comic. Mimmoths also qualify.
* RightHandVersusLeftHand
* RightInFrontOfMe: Agatha in front of Klaus, and Gil in front of Zola.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge
** [[spoiler:Airman Higgs]] is normally [[TheStoic calm and unflappable]], even when everything is going to hell. But [[spoiler:stab his [[BattleCouple kinda-maybe love interest]] in the stomach]] and, well, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101018 things might get ugly]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070117 Agatha]], after [[spoiler:Lars]] dies.
* RodentsOfUnusualSize: The Sturmhalten guides' description of "normal" sewer rats. There are also giant bunnies in one of the side-stories.
* RoyalBlood
* RoyallyScrewedUp: Tarvek's '''entire family'''.
* RunningGag
** Othar yelling "Foul!" everytime someone drops him off something really tall.
** Burgermeister Zuken of Mechanicsburg's irrelevance.
** At least somewhat, Gil´s insistance on the fact that Beetle threw that bomb at him.
** Sparks trying and failing to command their own creations: "that never works."
** When the Foglios have something to show you, they'll show you with an "Elegant and finely crafted link".
** People are generally more likely to recognize Gilgamesh for his [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120113 authority]] or [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081110 power]] when he wears his NiceHat.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:S-U]]
* SchizoTech: And how. Telegraph, radio, telephone? Nope. Motor cars? Unheard of. Heavier-than-air aircraft? Two prototypes. Strong AI, lasers and [[BackFromTheDead resurrection]] are perfectly possible, though.
* SchmuckBait: The tantalizingly labelled [[BigRedButton buttons]] in the last panel of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100324 this strip.]]
* ScienceHero: Damn near everyone.
* ScienceIsBad: All through the story and backstory, the most reckless applications of science are performed regularly by those most educated and talented at it. However, it's PlayedForLaughs often enough to parody the Aesop; when Science Is ''Really'' Bad, it's ''CrazyAwesome''!
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: The Spark condition. Though even non-Spark scientists and engineers are a bit off-kilter, probably because that's how everyone expects them to act. Those usually have to assist or use stuff of Sparks. It's either become a MadScientist or go insane from this all anyway.
* ScrewGunSafety: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040213 Panel 4]].
* {{Scrub}}: [[invoked]] "[[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1895991387 He was a dirty fighter, what with all that 'winning' all the time.]]"
* SecretTestOfCharacter: When we first see Gil, his father is asking him to figure out what's wrong with the machine he ordered built -- except he's really testing to see if Gil is honest (or brave) enough to tell him it isn't actually possible for it to work the way Klaus said it should.
* SeenItAll: Moloch von Zinzer; Carson von Mekkhan
* SelfDeprecation: Phil Foglio's AuthorAvatar shows up at a hospital telling stories to sick kids... because they end up so bored that they easily fall asleep without the need for medication.
* SelfDestructMechanism: [[spoiler:Lucrezia]]'s secret lab has one, and she activates it. The cancellation of self-destruct is double subverted.
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Tarvek & Gil to a degree.
* {{Seppuku}}: Expected of Jägers who break the Oath -- but only if [[NotCheatingUnlessYouGetCaught they get caught]].
* SeriousBusiness: The Jägermonsters ''really'' love hats. Nothing more needs to be said.
* ShaggySearchTechnique: Subverted by [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031006 Agatha]] and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101124 Tarvek]]. These are super-genius Mad Scientists, after all!
* SharingABody: [[spoiler:Agatha and Lucrezia]] have had the antagonistic version of this relationship since the latter's mind was transferred into the former. It was supposed to be a GrandTheftMe, as mentioned above, but it wasn't totally successful.
* ShipperOnDeck
** Moloch (and practically everyone else) ships Agatha×Gil; Violetta ships Agatha×Tarvek (cue ShipToShipCombat).
** Then there are Zeetha, "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080423 Jäger girls]]", [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080310 Jägers]], ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081112 the crowd]]''...
** Castle Heterodyne appears to ship 'em both. Really, it ships Agatha×Anything with [[IWantGrandkids a viable set of male reproductive organs]], though it prefers guys who are strong, violent, and sparky.
** Tarvek ships [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110131 Higgs×Zeetha]]. Higgs' blush in the 2nd panel argues he's right.
* ShipTease: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100915 We get one between Zeetha and Higgs.]] Hell, they're even [[LampshadeHanging lampshading it!]]
* ShirtlessScene: A fair number with Gil and Tarvek, and a few others (the Baron comes to mind). Tarvek did one long one wearing but a bedsheet, and Gil did a shorter scene wearing first just that, then... less. The battle of most skin exposed continues.
* ShootTheDog: Tarvek disabling and deactivating [[spoiler:Anevka's clank]]. Wooster nearly does this to Klaus but is interrupted.
* ShouldersOfDoom: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080512 Zeetha approves.]]
* ShoutOut: Loads of them.
** The wiki has a [[http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/Shoutouts_to_other_webcomics whole list]] of the ones to other {{webcomics}}.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070319 In Mechanicsburg, there are signs]] advertising for [[WapsiSquare "exotic Wapsi Square"]], [[GunnerkriggCourt an inn called Gunnerkrigg Court]], [[SomethingPositive Professor Milholland's "Something Positive" tonic]], [[DominicDeegan a certain Dominic Deegan ("Sees all, tells all")]] and [[TheDevilsPanties "The Devil's Panties" lingerie]], among others...
** Moxana is a shout out to both [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxon%27s_Master Moxon's Master]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk The Turk]].
** Castle Heterodyne is equipped with [[{{SaturdayNightLive}} Happy Fun Balls.]]
** Don't forget [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070112 this strip,]] where several soldiers are attacked by a toothed trunk on legs with the words [[{{Discworld}} "The Amazing Pratchett"]] written on it.
*** Another ''{{Discworld}}'' shout out is in the commentary: "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091207 ...kicking and screaming into the Century of the Fruitbat]]", hmm?
** [[{{Blackadder}} "Don't drink the wine!"]]
** A fairly unsubtle reference to Gil rescuing Zola from [[PhantomOfTheOpera "some overly dramatic maniac who lived in the Paris Opera House."]]
** A skeleton of a giant spiky beast inside Castle Heterodyne was apparently a pet named [[{{Mario}} Bowser.]]
*** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091028 Actually it's]] [[WesternAnimation/CountDuckula Towser.]]
** The Unstoppable Higgs' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070330 cap indicates]] he's a crewman on the ship ''RozenMaiden''.
** When posing as Agatha's parents, PunchAndJudy went under the names [[TheBible Adam and Lilith Clay]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090410 Turning]] a dread castle into... a ''[[Funny/TabletopGames Dread Gazebo]]''?
** [[TheWarOfTheWorlds Martian]] [[TripodTerror Tripods]] in the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040804 Baron's flashback]] and one of Heterodynes' "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091014 My Vacation]]" picture.
** One strip mentions an [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090102 electric game]] [[DonkeyKong with the little man and the gorilla]]. It also mentions a boat ride with singing dolls. What a small world it is.
** One scene shows a sign for both an X-ray and a [[WonderWoman Purple Ray]].
** Crazy A.I. with [[SystemShock SHODAN]]-like DramaticStutter.
** [[LooneyTunes "You don't expect a knife to sing opera, y'know?"]]
** When Zola first shows up claiming to be the new Heterodyne daughter, Agatha complains about her being a terrible, cheesey actor. Zola's very next line? "Yonder lies the castle of my father!", a quote from ''The Black Shield of Farnsworth'', which is generally considered one of the worst-delivered lines ever as the original actor had a very strong Bronx accent.
** In [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060726 this strip]], [[AuthorAvatar Phil Foglio]] is shown singing the Beatles' "Ob-la-di, ob-la-da" with modified lyrics talking about oubliettes. Then, when the Jäger comes up through the floor, he asks [[DanielPinkwater "Nov shmoz ka-pop?"]]
** [[AnimalCrossing "Ahoy there! Major Resetti, first subterranean mecha mole brigade!]]
** One of Gil's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080509 paper doll outfits]] has a [[LegendOfZelda triforce]] symbol on the gauntlet.
** ''BuckGodot'' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081031 T-shirt]]
** Gil's valet shares a last name with the employer of [[Literature/JeevesAndWooster the most famous gentleman's gentleman in fiction.]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110228 If one looks closely]], it appears that [[Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja Doctor McNinja]] has an office in the hospital at Mechanicsburg. Which... explains a lot.
** [[DocRat Benjamin Rat]] appears in that same panel - and 'Dr. Rothfuss' obviously goes by [[TheKingkillerChronicle Patrick]]. (The Wise Man's Fear was published three days after that comic.)
** A poster at the Science Fair [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081210 here]]: "Planet Earth: A ScaryGoRound we live on."
** A Jäger wearing a yellow version of Link's outfit is seen in Mamma Gkika's at [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091211 one point]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110502 Klaus]] [[{{Firefly}} can kill you with the power of his mind.]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070611 Is that]] [[StargateSG1 Teal'c?]]
** The very first page contains [[BuckGodotZapGunForHire The Winslow]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111017 Sir]] [[MediEvil Dan]]?
** [[{{Nodwick}} Nod]], the big-nosed [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051019 caretaker]].
* ShovelStrike: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070907 Zeetha can do.]]
-->'''Lapinemoth:''' A ''shovel?'' Ah! What can you do with a--\\
* BWONG!*
* ShowSomeLeg: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040524 Here]], though apparently subverted on the next page.
* ShuttingUpNow: Two-part example involving Agatha and Moloch, in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091116 this strip]].
* ShutUpKiss: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110817 here]].
* SigilSpam
** The Wulfenbach family signs ''everything,'' from their airships to their war machines to the smallest mechanical parts of Castle Wulfenbach.
** The trilobite symbol of the Heterodynes is pretty much ubiquitous in Mechanicsburg.
** It's the same with the Sturmvoraus family symbol in Sturmhalten.
* SignedUpForTheDental: The lapinohemoths in the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090622 Weasel Queen filler]].
* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids
* SkewedPriorities: Locking children in vats and letting them out only for Christmas is a terrible thing, but only if you [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090706 let the control group out]].
** Subverted with the Jägers (or at least their generals), [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040503 as evidenced by this exchange]]:
-->'''General Zog:''' Ve haff a team of Jägerkin, Lackya, clenks and crew at each entry.
-->'''Klaus Wulfenbach:''' Excellent. I'm pleased at the lack of rivalry.
-->'''General Zog:''' Sir - dere iz a time to twit nancy-boy feetsmen und a time to crush bogs.
* SkilledButNaive: Vole claims that [[spoiler:Gil and Tarvek]] are this.
* SlasherSmile
** The Jägermonsters' mouths open literally from ear to ear and are full of very big fangs.
** Most Sparks pull off magnificent examples of this at least once when they're in their element.
** Bangladesh [=DuPree=] seems to wear it professionally.
** Zola develops an impressive SlasherSmile after taking the Movit #11.
* SleepMask: Mama Gkika wears one at night.
* TheSmartGuy: Practically all of the characters are pretty smart. Krosp is an example of the rare ''GG'' smart guy who's also the OnlySaneMan of the group.
* SmoochOfVictory: Agatha's idea of a fine way to celebrate exploding a giant writhing slug.
* SnarkyNonHumanSidekick: Krosp
-->'''Krosp:''' Is this one of those situations that involves "ethics"? 'Cause I'm a ''[[CatsAreMean cat]]'', you know. I've never been very ''good'' at those.
* SoftGlass: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100526 Here.]]
* SomethingOnlyTheyWouldSay: Gil learns there are two alleged Heterodyne heirs in Mechanicsburg. One has made several speeches and then entered Castle Heterodyne. The other is in a coffee shop rebuilding their coffee machine (and causing several explosions in the process). It doesn't take him long to realize which one is Agatha.
* SpeakOfTheDevil: DiscussedTrope.
-->'''[[spoiler:Lucrezia!Zola]]:''' But he's been missing for years. He's no threat--\\
''({{beat}})''\\
''(nervous glances)''\\
'''[[spoiler:Lucrezia!Anevka]]:''' Do you want him to show up?!\\
'''[[spoiler:Lucrezia!Zola]]:''' Ooh.. So sorry, dear. I can't think what came over me!
* TheSpeechless: Punch ("Adam"). An early construct of the Heterodyne Brothers, he was unable to speak. [[spoiler:Until Gil extensively repaired both Punch and Judy, granting Punch speech.]]
* SpitTake
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051109 Agatha drops the bomb. Tarvek reacts accordingly.]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110525 Doctor Sun in the flashback panel.]]
* {{Squick}}: An in-universe example of this is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110318 used by General Khrizhan]] to explain why Gil and Agatha [[OneTruePairing being together]] is for the best: they can't exactly get their [[UnusualEuphemism mad science]] on as long as [[spoiler:the Other, Agatha's ''mother,'' is still inside Agatha's head and presumably sensate.]] Nobody will ''ever'' work as fast as those two will when they eventually twig on that. Incidentally, this also serves to keep the UnresolvedSexualTension nice and unresolved, just the way the writers like it.
* SquishyWizard: Averted. For no explained reason, Sparks appear to be stronger, faster, better coordinated (okay, this one is more understandable), and tougher than any normal human. This isn't counting Sparks that may have modified themselves.
* StandardFemaleGrabArea: Subverted. "Snapper" Boikov tries it on Sanaa. HilarityEnsues.
-->'''R-71:''' Tsk. Even ''I'' know that was ''stupid''.\\
'''Wrenchman:''' [-Requiescat in pace and all that rot.-] ''Dibs on his boots!''
* StarCrossedLovers: Violetta is of the opinion that Gil and Agatha's romance has a huge chance of [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110907 going down in flames.]] Tarvek realizes [[OhCrap she may have a point.]]
* SteamPunk: Everywhere. The authors prefer to call it "gaslamp fantasy" though, because of the presence of Frankenstein-esque constructs, giant slugs that produce zombie-making wasps, resurrection procedures, death rays, and time travel. Also "calming pies".
* StopHelpingMe
** Gil as his friends "creatively" explain his plans and motivations to the people of Mechanicsburg, as seen in the fourth panel [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081112 here]], almost word-for-word.
** And Agatha to Moloch, as seen in the last panel [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091116 here]].
-->'''Agatha: THANK YOU'''. For your '''HELP'''.\\
'''Moloch:''' I-I'll just...\\
'''Agatha:''' Shut up...?\\
'''Moloch:''' Yes...
* StormOfBlades
** An insane secondary kitchen in Castle Heterodyne uses this against Agatha twice. The storm includes not only knives, but forks, corkscrews and skewers.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110121 Castle chases after a fleeing Zola]] with several sharp and dangerous implements, including a cheesegrater, candelabra, and ''[[NoodleImplements a shoehorn]]''.
* StrappedToAnOperatingTable
** Othar, by Klaus (and various other incidents here and there -- this is a world run by mad scientists, after all).
** From a Heterodyne play: "You! Minion! Why am I strapped to this table? And [[PowerPerversionPotential WHERE ARE MY PANTS?!?]]
** Tarvek and Gil have to be strapped to a table in this [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090828 strip.]]
* {{Stripperiffic}}
** While a great many female characters don't seem to have a problem showing a little skin, the "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070912 Weasel Queen]]" shows a '''lot''' of it.
** Zeetha spent some time roughing out in Mechanisburg and the Castle while wearing just a leather bikini and boots. But then again, [[TheNudifier it wasn't her fault]].
* StuffBlowingUp: ''Sooo'' much shrapnelly goodness... Making things blow up that by all rights shouldn't seems like a mandatory side-effect of being a Spark.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050722 "Hee hee. Death Ray go BOOM!"]]
* SuperFunHappyThingOfDoom
** Castle Heterodyne has several of these, including The Happy Fun Ball of Death and Fun-Sized Mobile Agony and Death Dispensers.
** The Radio Theater Break has one, in the form of Ferretina's lightning generator, labeled [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090617 "Zappy Fun Box MK 1."]]
* SuperSoldier
** The Jägermonsters, who were created by the old "bad" Heterodynes as shock troops but then had to obey the "good" Heterodynes due to the oath of loyalty they take ''very'' seriously (though are still capable of breaking; look at Captain Vole). One of the ingredients of the Jägerbrau used to transform people into Jägers is water from the river Dyne, which Heterodynes are known for drinking and gaining superhuman strength as a result.
** And don't forget Von Pinn. Or ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081119 else.]]''
** And [[spoiler: Airman Higgs]] is looking mighty super, recently...
* SuperSpeed: The various Moveit tonics, while not exactly granting super speed, give people temporarily increased speed and energy with some implied physical toll later on. Half a bottle of Moveit #6 got [[spoiler:Tarvek]] on his feet for hours though he was fatally ill, and a few sips of Moveit #11 turned [[spoiler:Zola]] from a reasonably good fighter into a [[LightningBruiser crazy battle goddess.]] [[spoiler:And then Airman Higgs shows us all what super speed ''really'' is.]]
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Sheesh, who's adolescent slave-girl fantasies are we indulging here anyway? [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100816 Not mine!]]
* {{Synchronization}}: Gil and Tarvek, thanks to the Si Vales Valeo procedure.
* TakeANumber: Part of the [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110307 psychological torture room]]. "The torturer is now serving victim number 03." In a subversion, the distributor is out of numbers... Othar doesn't take it well.
* TakeAThirdOption: Try an incredibly risky procedure with only stuff made for killing someone or take him to another hospital, which may or may not have the requisite stuff anyway? [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090814 Alternatively...]]
* TakeOurWordForIt: The titillating plot of ''The Socket Wench of Prague''.
* TakeOverTheWorld: Baron Wulfenbach has already taken over the world -- or at least the bulk of Europe, where the story is set -- by the time the story starts, and ''he never wanted to''. There's a conspiracy that seems to be trying to do this for themselves, using [[spoiler:Tarvek]] as figurehead.
* TakingYouWithMe: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013 "... And even if it does, I won't go alone!"]]
* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Gil takes a panel to rant about not being taken seriously -- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080305 in the middle of his fight with Vole.]]
** Subverted later on. It turns out Vole remembered and decided not to let talking be a free action [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110729 this time.]]
* TapOnTheHead:
-->'''Agatha:''' Oh. Lars gets hysterical after a fight. It's hard to calm him down.\\
''(BONK!)''\\
'''Oggie:''' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050725 No, it ain't!]]
** Violetta administers one to Agatha to keep her from [[LeeroyJenkins charging a]] [[PsychoSerum juiced-up]] [[spoiler:Zola]].
* TemptingFate: Many instances here and there.
-->'''Oggie:''' ''Dose'' tings? Dey don't look like much.\\
'''Maxim:''' Oh, now hyu iz just ''[[LampshadeHanging asking]]'' for it.
** "It's just one little clank."
** "Somebody's coming out! To surrender, I imagine."
** "How much more trouble could it ''be''?"
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060726 "Whelp, the day can't get any]] '''weirder'''!" For future reference, that is something you simply ''do not'' say in this story. ''Ever.''
** Tarvek should [[GenreSavvy really know]] not to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110214 say such things]], but:
-->'''Tarvek:''' Ah! Violetta! My little cloud of doom! Even ''you'' cannot dampen my spirits right now.
* TenchiSolution: This is how the Castle thinks the love triangle should be solved. This may have been a Heterodyne pattern. "The ''Master's'' bedroom ''only'' sleeps ''six''."
* ThatWasntARequest:
-->"The castle '''spoke''' to him. It demanded to be '''repaired'''. One of the team members spoke against the idea. And the castle [[TrapDoor made it clear]] that it '''wasn't a request'''. It was '''then''' that they realized [[MalevolentArchitecture just how far]] it was to the '''door'''."
* TheyCalledMeMad: Seems to be a CatchPhrase for mad scientists.
** Parodied in the ''Cinderella'' omake, in which Agatha "showed them, showed them all."
** More recently, Agatha inspected herself in a small mirror which read on the back "You Will Show Them All."
** And one of [[TheMerch the shirts]] [[http://www.offworlddesigns.com/p-505-fools-i-will-destroy-you-ladies-cut-t-shirt.aspx available]] says "FOOLS! I will destroy you all! Ask me how!"
* TheyLookLikeUsNow: The "stealth" revenants, only now being discovered.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself: ...[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110727 or not]].
* ThisIsSPARTA
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051005 "What. Do. You. WANT."]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100621 This! Was! Not! My! Plan!]]
* ThisIsGonnaSuck: Often -- [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110218 like this]].
* ThreeYay: Agatha×Gil×Tarvek, ever so much, culminating in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110610 this]] exchange:
-->'''Tarvek:''' '''''--loyal vassal?!'''''\\
'''Gil:''' ...''and'' we're ''both'' 'on ''Agatha's string!'''\\
'''Tarvek:''' Well... ''that'' I can ''live with!''
* ThrowABarrelAtIt: Although it isn't technically "thrown", [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070103 this]] is proof that even a Barrel can be AxeCrazy.
* ThrowItIn
** When Phil was drawing the scene which first introduced the Baron, he filled an "empty" spot with a rather scruffy-looking soldier. As soon as anybody saw him, they liked him and wanted to see more. Thus was born the Jägers.
** Maxim of the Jägers was originally a silly little drawing for Kaja, who promptly informed him that he WOULD appear in the comic.
* TooDumbToLive
** "Hello clank, are you a flowerpot?"
** Special mention goes to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071217 X the destroyer]] who decided a big X on the ground within range of enemy ordnance was a good place to set up his tent.
* TookALevelInBadass
** Gil got lessons from Dr. Sun, Agatha from Zeetha, and Ardsley Wooster apparently had a few well-hidden under his belt.
** Boris Dolokhov goes from being the Baron's amanuensis [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030310 and being insulted]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030324 by Jägermonsters]] to [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100820 beating a Jägermonster until it was willing to give up classified information]].
* TooKinkyToTorture
** Considering Von Pinn's suitors treat her beating the hell out of them as a come-on...
** The one exception thusfar may be Dolokhov's beating a Jäger until he talked.
* TooMuchInformation: Tea cozy... [[NoodleImplements only one spoon]]...
* TortureFirstAskQuestionsLater: Oh, Bang.
-->'''[=DuPree=]:''' ''(zaps Abner)'' Now, are you going to ''cooperate'', or...\\
'''Payne:''' What do you ''want?!''\\
'''[=DuPree=]:''' Oh, right.
* TrainingFromHell
** "Thank you, Zeetha!"
** Dr. Sun suggesting Gil needed a thrashing visibly scared him.
* TranquilFury: The Oct. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101018 18th]], [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101020 20th]], and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101025 25th]] updates. [[spoiler:Though, with that [[OohMeAccentsSlipping little slip]], it might be a matter of time before Higgs goes nuclear]].
* TranslationConvention: WordOfGod and incidental writing in the background says that everything is actually in German and Romanian, translated for the benefit of the audience. Except, one presumes, when we're privy to Wooster's thoughts as English is presumably still the language of Britain.
* TropeOverdosed: Just look at the length of this page. And it's still growing. Largely caused by...
** On a micro scale, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031015 this page of the comic]] is linked to [[ReadingsAreOffTheScale about 7,000 times]] from TVTropes. [[TropesAreNotBad Not necessarily a bad thing]], as it's a great page that nicely encapsulates the appeal of the comic as a whole.
* TroperCriticalMass
* TroubledButCute: {{Lampshaded}} at the start of the ''Cinderella'' filler, when Gil and Tarvek argue over who's playing the story's prince:
-->'''Gil:''' ''I'm'' the prince! I'm all tortured and driven by love!\\
'''Tarvek:''' ''Feh. I'm'' the misunderstood one with the mysterious agenda. ''Muy sexy.''
* TruthInTelevision: Moxana is based upon the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk Mechanical Turk]], an eighteen-century chess-playing automaton. The Turk was a hoax, operated by someone inside it, but [[spoiler:Moxana is a real version.]]
* TruthSerum: The old Prince Sturmvoraus may have given Agatha a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051109 bit]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051111 too]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051114 much]]
* {{Tsundere}}: A rare western version, Agatha, specifically towards Gil.
* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: This happens every once in a while with Sparks' creations. The Sparks then inevitably order them to stand down, which [[HilarityEnsues ends as expected]].
-->'''[[GenreSavvy Moloch]]:''' Uh... that ''never'' works, you know...
* TVTropesWikiDrinkingGame: November 2th's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091102 issue]] features {{Egregious}} Heterodyne. No, really.
* TwistedEchoCut: ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051021 She'd say]]''. She really could.
* UndyingLoyalty
** All Jägers seem to be this to the Heterodynes. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110316 This page]] may explain the loyalty best for the Jägers. Vole is the exception, having stopped considering himself a Jäger.
** Also Castle Heterodyne.
** Mechanisburg is full of descendants of the people who were loyal to the Heterodynes. It's InTheBlood.
** In the novelization, it's revealed that Dr. Vapnoople's creations, [[spoiler:except for Krosp]], were destroyed because their loyalty couldn't be shifted to the Baron.
* UnfamiliarCeiling: When Gil wakes up in Mama Gkika's, he assumes he's been out of action for days when it's only been a few hours.
* UnfazedEveryman: Von Zinzer. Also the OnlySaneMan.
* UnresolvedSexualTension: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090803 Jeez, Agatha, just make out with Gil already...]]
* UnsoundEffect
** ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081015 Spork! Spork! Spork!]]''
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060809 SNEAK SNEAK SNEAK SNEAK SNEAK]]
** ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081027 Mite! Mite! Mite!]]''
** ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110103 Tome!]]'' (Notice also the title of the book...)
** ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110121 Shove!]]''
** '''[+[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111104 DOOOM]]+]'''
* UnstoppableRage: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101020 The Unstoppable Higgs]], of course.
* UnusualEuphemism
** Coprolitic, literally meaning fossilised dung, therefore an ancient piece of shit.
-->'''Professor Mezzasalma:''' Useless Inferior Coprolitic Components!
** "I am sure he intends to wed her ''most vigorously''!"
* UnwillingSuspension
* UpToEleven: The "Movit" series of stimulants comes in a verity of intensities, the strongest of which appears to be 11. Previously, it was thought that the strongest was 6, which itself is one above the common 1-5 scale.
-->'''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013 Tarvek:]]''' Wait-- I thought it only went up to six!
[[/folder]]

[[folder:V-X]]
* VictoriasSecretCompartment: The Other does this, as fits her personality (but not Agatha's, providing a minor bit of hilarity).
* VillainousBreakdown: Dr. Merlot wasn't exactly the most sane individual in Volume 1. His [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090518 little story]] in Volume 9 seems to indicate that he might be having some difficulties. Also, [[spoiler: Zola]].
* VisibleSilence: Appears often, but then four times in a row [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090803 here]].
* VisualPun: Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071225 Santa Klaus]]. Double as BadassSanta also!
* VitriolicBestBuds: Gil and Tarvek. At each other's throats one minute, talking shop on espionage the next.
* VolleyingInsults: Gil and Tarvek in the Cinderella story.
* WasntThatFun: Occurs in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100426 this strip,]] after Agatha, Gil, and Tarvek try revivification.
* WeaponTombstone: [[spoiler:Agatha Clay]]'s [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050119 grave]] has the remnants of a [[HumongousMecha warbot]], a tree, and a pile of rocks with a death ray stuck in it.
* WebcomicTime: Agatha has been trying to get into and/or repair Castle Heterodyne for at least two years now. Tarvek was critically ill and about to die for just short of 15 months. The general concept is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091211 this strip]]. And again [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100521 here]], "It only seem like deyz been in de kestle a long time!"
* WeirdScience: All over the place.
* WellIntentionedExtremist
** Baron Klaus Wulfenbach, as exposed in [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040804 these]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040806 two]] pages.
** Othar Tryggvassen [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040922 here]].
* WeNeedADistraction: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091120 Gil and Tarvek help,]] in a [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091127 fight scene]] incorporating [[IAmNotLeftHanded many]] [[FlashStep battle]] [[NoIAmBehindYou tropes]].
* WetSariScene: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100503 Here]], with material for everyone!
* WhamEpisode: Zeetha!!
* WhamLine
** "Yes... but I vas starting to ''like'' her." Also pulling double duty as a PreAsskickingOneLiner.
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100113 Violetta, in the last panel. The whole last row, really]]. We knew it all along, but the lady in the chair didn't.
** [[spoiler:[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110516 "Just go to sleep."]]]]
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111111 WRONG!]]
* WhatAreYouInFor
** When our heroes [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060726 come across Mr. Foglio in the dungeons of Prince Aaronev]]:
-->'''Maxim:''' Vot hyu in for?\\
'''Foglio:''' Bad storytelling.\\
'''Maxim:''' Ho! How hyu do ''dot''?\\
'''Foglio:''' You put the ''Prince'' in the story.
** Sanaa [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080213 asked]] Agatha this when she first entered the castle.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070625 Volume Seven, Page 52]]. That must be good coffee.
* WhatDoesSheSeeInHim
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The monster horse that appeared during Master Payne's Circus story: we never know why it was/turned into such a hideous abomination, and it was never addressed again. Likely just because a spark felt like it, and because monsters are so common in this setting that it is a mundane hazard.
* WhatTheHellHero: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090715 "TRULY YOU ARE YOUR MOTHER'S CHILD!"]] More understandable than some, since the one calling Agatha out [[spoiler:murdered her parental figures in cold blood,]] but everyone Von Pinn worked with considers her tough but fair, and likes her. And she is the closest thing Gil had to a mother. Agatha's response is a heck of a lot of guilt.
* WhenIWasYourAge: Zeetha does this [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050502 here]].
* WhoDares: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030820 The Dragon of Mars]]
* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: Gil and Agatha take turns saving Zola from dozens of incredibly deadly traps that she keeps falling into in Castle Heterodyne. That is, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090729 until they encounter a slightly-larger-than-average spider.]]
* WhyDidntYouJustSaySo: In [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100705 this strip]] -- and yes, Zola did say so four strips previously.
* WhyDontYaJustShootHim:
-->'''Tarvek:''' She has that big gun -- why didn't she shoot us first?\\
'''Lucrezia:''' Well, it only shoots marshmallows, for one thing...
* WhyWontYouDie: [[spoiler:Zola]] quickly learns that [[spoiler:Higgs]] is [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101025 very hard to kill.]]
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Gil and Agatha, most frequently impeded by [[PoorCommunicationKills terrible miscommunication]] and Gil's bad luck and Castle Heterodyne. It's sure looking like [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110819 they will...]]
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
** The Sparks, by definition; Baron Wulfenbach fights this off by pure force of will... ''usually''. Every ''successful'' Spark has at least one very level-headed keeper.
** The Heterodyne familly in particular. Apparently their unearthly strength and stamina comes from drinking from a spring famed for causing ''insanity and death'' in people who just ''bathed'' in it.
** It's implied that the reason the Storm King was regarded as the greatest king of all time is because he was able to keep enough self-control to rule effectively. This may have been at least partially due to the influence of the Muses.
* WorldOfBadass: Show us a character who's ''not'' {{Badass}}, and within a couple of strips they'll either turn out to be badass or they'll be dead. In a world ruled by mad scientists, even the minions and staff have to be pretty tough to avoid getting killed.
* WorldOfBuxom: Just about every post-puberty female character, notably Agatha, Zeetha, the white spider women, and Mama Gkika. [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots The Muses]] and Clank Anevka have pretty darned voluptuous figures, too. The only three exceptions are Rivet, WrenchWench for Master Payne's Circus; Grantz, the immensely strong monster hunter; and Daiyu, the doctor's daughter.
* WorldOfHam: Naturally. A bit of hamminess is part of the [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder Spark]] package.
* WorthIt
** This is Agatha's attitude in the ''Cinderella'' play to being grounded. Of course, she was grounded after tricking Mamma Gkika's "EvilStepmother" into putting her fist through a hive of specially-bred quilting bees.
** And in a more serious town, Klaus's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071203 attitude]] to the pain he suffered getting to the window and back. Not only that, Klaus actually said that if the experience paralyzed him for the rest of his life, it would still be worth it after seeing his son pull off that moment of awesome.
* WouldHitAGirl: Pretty much everyone, since there are more than enough dangerous females to dispatch anyone reluctant to fight back. Some notable examples:
** Ardsley Wooster punching Bangladesh [=DuPree=] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070101 in the face]].
** [[spoiler:Airman Higgs]] beating the crap out of Zola.
** [[spoiler: Tarvek]] absolutely losing it when Zola tries to kill Agatha again and brutally beating her [[spoiler:-- and then trying to strangle her to death]].
** However, it's still recommended that this trope not be followed if it isn't necessary. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110518 Some may take issue]] with it being applied without restriction.
* WoundedGazelleGambit: Tarvek pulls one off [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110211 here]].
* WrenchWench: Agatha just [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070608 loves]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070618 wrenches]]... she even prefers them as [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030303 melee]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110711 weapons.]]
* WrittenSoundEffect: Frequently, and often quite creative.
* WrongGenreSavvy
** Othar, sometimes.
** Also [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060410 Krosp.]] Silly kitty, thinking you're in real life or something. Too practical for his own good, he doesn't quite realize his life is a Heterodyne story now.
* XDaysSince
** There's one sign [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090304 counting the days since the last hideous death.]] Considering the castle's nature, this may be a way of keeping score. (Although, the sign might not be accurate any more, since the guy whose job it was to update it died a hideous death.)
** There's another one [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040507 here]] on ''Castle Wulfenbach''.
* XanatosSpeedChess
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060906 This strip.]]
-->'''Tarvek:''' I can't say ''any'' of this mess was part of my original plan, but it's all working out so ''beautifully'', I can't complain.
** It seems like just about every Spark is playing this whenever they're in the comic, quickly leading to GambitPileup.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Y & Z]]
* {{Yandere}}: Fraulein Snaug is getting a bit too enthusiastic about [[MinionShipping her crush on]] [[ActionSurvivor Moloch]], and responded with [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100908 surprising aggression]] when he admitted [[AllLoveIsUnrequited his crush on Sanaa.]] Good thing [[McNinja Violetta]] clarified that [[HeIsNotMyBoyfriend she wasn't involved with him.]]
* YouExclamation: Klaus' [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061129 reaction]] to Zeetha.
* YouCantFightFate: Brought up early on by, of all people, Bangladesh [=DuPree=] with regards to the visions seen from the electric phenomena, which appear to be portals/visions from the future.
* YouFightLikeACow: "[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100430 You fight like ducks!]]"
* YouHaveFailedMe / [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Outlived Your Usefulness]]
** Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Agatha to Castle Heterodyne]] -- see [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091202 the last panel here]] for the announcement and [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091204 this page]] for the result.
** Lucrecia in her escape from Sturmhalten [[spoiler:abruptly wraps up Lady Vrin as a loose end]].
* YouKilledMyFather: The reason why Agatha is ''not'' too keen on accepting [[spoiler:Von Pinn's]] help.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070718 Gil's expression says it all]].
** [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080825 The castle would prefer Agatha use an alternative word to ''good'' to praise its actions.]]
** "De''light''fully done, my lady. Your enemy is thoroughly ''[[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090501 crushed]]''. You ''are'' a ''true Heterodyne''."
* YourFavorite: Wooster knows how Gil likes his tea.
* YourMom: [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030324 Ah-go kees an hoctopus. Oh vait, hyu mama already deed!]]
* YouShallNotPass: Zulenna [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040827 against Von Pinn]]. She actually succeeds until [=DuPree=] arrives.
* YouWouldntLikeMeWhenImAngry: Klaus Wulfenbach's [[http://girlgenius.wikia.com/wiki/Pax_Transylvania official domestic policy]] is ''"Don't make me come over there"''.
* ZeppelinsFromAnotherWorld
* ZombieApocalypse: Not really zombies, but the Other did create an auto-recruiting army of [[OurZombiesAreDifferent mindless, malicious, shambling, ''incurable'' revenants under her complete control.]] Putting them down was the greatest challenge of Klaus' emperor-ing career. [[spoiler:The new model [[TheyLookLikeUsNow looks and acts like any other person]]]].
[[/folder]]