History Webcomic / QuestionableContent

->''[[http://twitter.com/#!/jephjacques/status/73196546786729985 Okay]], I like one thing about TVTropes, [[TakeThat and that is the quote at the top of the page for QC.]]''

->''The Wiki/TVTropes QC page [[ArtistDisillusionment is every single idiotic comment from my forums]] distilled into [[TimeMarchesOn one HTML document.]]''

->''The Wiki/TVTropes QC page [[ArtistDisillusionment is every single idiotic comment from my forums distilled into one HTML document.]]''

Loosely connected to ''Webcomic/DieselSweeties'' by way of Faye's sister Amanda's brief fling with Li'l Sis and a couple of maybe-canon[[note]]Jeph Jacques refused to say whether they were canon or not, explicitly messing with readers.[[/note]] guest strips by [[Webcomic/SomethingPositive Randy Milholland]]. [[Webcomic/ScaryGoRound Shelly Winters and Amy Chilton]] have been spotted [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=519 on holiday in Northampton]] as well. Also, the AIs may have something to do with it, somewhere. Some occasional appearances of the cast in [[Webcomic/Shortpacked Shortpacked!]] also occur.

Loosely connected to ''Webcomic/DieselSweeties'' by way of Faye's sister Amanda's brief fling with Li'l Sis and a couple of maybe-canon[[note]]Jeph Jacques refused to say whether they were canon or not, explicitly messing with readers.[[/note]] guest strips by [[Webcomic/SomethingPositive Randy Milholland]]. [[Webcomic/ScaryGoRound Shelly Winters and Amy Chilton]] have been spotted [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=519 on holiday in Northampton]] as well. Also, the AIs may have something to do with it, somewhere. Some occasional appearances of the cast in [[Webcomic/Shortpacked]] also occur.

Loosely connected to ''Webcomic/DieselSweeties'' by way of Faye's sister Amanda's brief fling with Li'l Sis and a couple of maybe-canon[[note]]Jeph Jacques refused to say whether they were canon or not, explicitly messing with readers.[[/note]] guest strips by [[Webcomic/SomethingPositive Randy Milholland]]. [[Webcomic/ScaryGoRound Shelly Winters and Amy Chilton]] have been spotted [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=519 on holiday in Northampton]] as well. Also, the AIs may have something to do with it, somewhere.

It's also connected (loosely) to the {{Walkyverse}}, by way of Faye's sister Amanda's brief fling with [[Webcomic/DieselSweeties Li'l Sis]] and a couple of maybe-canon[[note]]Jeph Jacques refused to say whether they were canon or not, explicitly messing with readers.[[/note]] guest strips by [[Webcomic/SomethingPositive Randy Milholland]]. [[Webcomic/ScaryGoRound Shelly Winters and Amy Chilton]] have been spotted [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=519 on holiday in Northampton]] as well. Also, the AIs may have something to do with it, somewhere.

QC is one of the most prolific and [[WebcomicsLongRunners longest running webcomics]] out there, with over 2000 installments over 10 years and counting, QC has evolved into a humorous ongoing chronicle of the lives of a group of twenty-somethings, as they deal with life, fall in and out of love, and maintain a healthy level of sarcasm. It would almost be a SliceOfLife comic if the cast didn't include a handful of cute lil' robot sidekicks.

%% PLEASE do not use the term "recently" when adding examples. Please list the proper comic number instead.

One of the most prolific and [[WebcomicsLongRunners longest running webcomics]] out there, with over 2000 instalments over 10 years and counting, QC has evolved into a humorous ongoing chronicle of the lives of a group of twenty-somethings, as they deal with life, fall in and out of love, and maintain a healthy level of sarcasm. It would almost be a SliceOfLife comic if the cast didn't include a handful of cute lil' robot sidekicks.

Three print collections are currently out, featuring re-lettered and sometimes re-drawn versions of the first arcs.

[[foldercontrol]]

->''The TVTropes QC page [[ArtistDisillusionment is every single idiotic comment from my forums distilled into one HTML document.]]''

[[folder:Tropes A-D]]
* AbortedArc / WhatHappenedToTheMouse: A lot. A few of these get picked up again later.
** Marten's blog.
** Sara. WordOfGod says [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs Death by Allosaurus]].
** Deathmøle looked like it was headed this way, but [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1985 as of strip 1985 it is back]] [[spoiler:minus Nat]].
** The Gary Phenomenon.
** Many semi-regular character relationships end up this way, but as it IS a webcomic with LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, this is to be expected to some extent.
* AbuseIsOkayWhenItIsFemaleOnMale: Two separate [[ZigZaggingtrope zig-zags]]:
** Faye, who acknowledges that she used to be "a bitch with issues" but is now just "a bitch" used and sometimes still uses Marten as a punching bag for no reason. It's sort of lampshaded (the trope in general, not Faye's treatment of him specifically) [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=743 by Marten]]. And Faye beats up on ''everybody,'' regardless of gender, but when she goes too far she's always put in her place, and she goes to therapy and actively tries to be a less crappy person despite her issues. Marten takes a lot, but he won't let her seriously hurt him, and he often hits back with his own brand of snarking. She is also verbally abusive to the coffee shop customers, but this actually gets good reviews and hipsters coming in for a daily dose of snark.
** The [=VespAvenger=] hunts abusive boyfriends, but the main cast doesn't think it's acceptable. They lampshade it by suggesting that a guy on a Harley who beats up abusive girlfriends would be unacceptable, but [=VespAvenger=] states she would hook up with such a character.
** An attendant trope in play is Abuse Is Okay When It's Human On Robot. Entirely apart from Pintsize getting his head caved in, or being embedded in the wall (which is usually deserved), many of the main characters refuse to respect Momo's boundaries, e.g., Faye lifting Momo's skirt to check out her crotch ("Just curious!"), or Emily repeatedly poking her in the navel after it's revealed that this changes her hair and eye color, despite Momo repeatedly telling her to stop.
* AirVentPassageway: Raven attempts this [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=849 starting here]]. It does not go well.
* AllJustADream: [[spoiler:Momo]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658 seducing]] [[spoiler:Sven]].
* AllThereInTheManual: Claire wanting to get her ears pierced was mentioned on her twitter before it was in the comic.
* AlwaysVSexy: '''V'''eronica '''V'''ance, Marten's mom (and professional dominatrix).
* AmazinglyEmbarrassingParents:
** Dora suffers this when she and Marten visit her parents. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1036 "MOTHER!"]]
** Marten's mother, a BDSM "glamour" model, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1821 also qualifies]]. Especially when it comes to [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1827 baby pictures]].
* AmbiguouslyBrown: When a fan asked what race [[DarkSkinnedRedhead Tai]] was, the artist's answer was "tan".
* AmicableExes:
** Marten's parents, who split up when his father realized he was gay and are still on good terms with each other.
** [[spoiler:Marten himself and Dora]] progress to this after some initial awkwardness, and are both supportive of the other's new relationships.
* AnachronicOrder: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1646 This guest strip]], by Danielle Corsetto of ''Webcomic/GirlsWithSlingshots'', depends on being told backwards.
* AnalogyBackfire: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1571 Averted.]]
* AndThatWouldBeWrong: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=910 Nat uses this]] when Hanners tries to disembowel herself with Nat's guitar.
* {{Angrish}}: Marigold on [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2588 this page.]]
* {{Animesque}}:
** The character's expressions on occasion.
** Momo, a Japanese [=AnthroPC=] specifically designed to be animesque, pictured [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1440 here]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1366 here]], and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1485 here]].
** Another example is Marigold's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1495 adorable]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2164 little]] [[CatSmile :3 smile]].
** WordOfGod says that one of the biggest influences on QC is ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh''. It's not hard to see some of the parallels. He also reads a lot of ''Manga/{{Yotsuba}}'' which is by the same author - Marigold even has a poster of her in her bedroom.
* AnthropomorphicPersonification: [[http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/8333786306/happy-birthday-qc Jeph drew an Anthro of QC for the 8th anniversary.]]
* AnythingThatMoves / DepravedBisexual: Pintsize [[ZigZaggedTrope zig-zags both of these repeatedly]]. He flirts with/harasses women throughout the comic, steals Faye's underwear, and compliments random women on their breasts, but he has had at least one relationship with another male. Since it was a male robot, it might not count, though. Possibly subverted in that he seemed to actually care about him.
* ArkhamsRazor:
** Marten and Dora take a long lunch, and return with [[SexyShirtSwitch Marten wearing some of Dora's clothes]]. Everyone assumes that they had done something naughty, but Marten claimed that they had been ambushed by [[AllMonksKnowKungFu Shaolin Monks]] and spilled spaghetti sauce on his clothes and needed to change at Dora's. Everyone laughs it off, but a strip later he is proven correct when a battered monk arrives at the coffee shop and recognizes Marten.
** Also occurs in the explanation for Steve's infrequent appearances for a long stretch of the comic. The two possible explanations were "he got drunk and dicked around for a while" or "he became a secret agent and blew up an island," and it was implied that [[RiddleForTheAges not even he knew for sure which was true.]] Until [[BrickJoke later]], when he ran across TheBaroness from his story.
* ArsonMurderAndAdmiration: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=768 Tai thinks]] that Jimbo's book is "trashy, poorly-written, incredibly sexist towards BOTH genders, and the most entertaining thing I've read all year."
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1902 Here]]:
-->'''Clinton:''' JUST YOUR DAD? He helped develop the first true AI! He invented the quasiperpetual myomer! He's the Henry Ford of intelligent machine design! He pioneered sustainable AI-controlled orbital habitats! He designed the microsatellites that keep earth's albedo stable! HE INVENTED THE ROBOT HAMSTER!
* ArtEvolution: The art style has and continues to evolve, and comparing the newest strip with the first one shows how striking the development has been.
** Jeph has redrawn (in his new style) a number of early strips for his books, as he'd lost the original high-resolution art. The result is... striking.
*** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3 Original comic]] vs [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1601 redone comic]]
*** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=258 Original comic]] vs [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1781 redone comic]]
* ArtificialLimbs: Clinton got his robotic hand after a childhood accident involving fireworks.
* ArtistDisillusionment: Jeph generally likes his fans, but he hates his discussion forum due to its tendencies towards SeriousBusiness and Shipping. At one point it got so bad that he openly threatened to delete the whole forum should people keep posting that kind of stuff. He has considerably softened up since then.
* ArtShift:
** The flashbacks from Faye's past.
** When [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2175 Faye puts on Marigold's glasses]], everything goes {{Animesque}}, with ''Manga/LuckyStar'' and ''Manga/DeathNote'' particular influences.
* AscendedExtra: Angus. He appeared multiple times as a joke character, then popped into focus after [[spoiler:Faye dropped Sven]]. Now he appears regularly, and has important relationships with other characters, particularly Faye.
* {{Asexuality}}: Hannerlore is romantic, but has no interest in actually having sex. In fact she's repulsed and terrified of it due to her extreme OCD and germophobia. She is interested in some kinks though...
* AssShove: Happens to [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1366 Pintsize]], but he may [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/images/1366creepy.png like it]].
* AuthorAppeal:
** The once-constant, then numerous, then all but vanished indie rock references.
** "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1471 Will I ever get tired of drawing my characters in Victorian-era-esque clothing? All sources point to "no"]]."
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1917 Invoked and subverted here.]]
** The term "schadenfreude" and made-up derivatives thereof.
** An {{anime}} addict (see {{Expy}} below) and her anime-design robot.
** "Oh, ''Literature/{{Dune}}'' references, will I ever get tired of you? (The answer is no.)"
*** E.g. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=59 this one]]. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=133 Or this one]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1599 dancing comics every day, forever ]]
** Short-haired girls. Jeph had to promise when Penelope was introduced not to "cut all her hair off" in an art-style change like he did most of the others (Hannelore once lost nearly all of her hair in mid-conversation with Marten & Steve as Jacques changed his mind on how it should look).
*** He introduced Emily as a long-haired girl...[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2328 until a certain party she threw for the gang]].
** You could count "girls with issues" into the Appeal-factor as well, considering how nearly the entire cast features them. The men are generally more weird and dumb/confused than neurotic.
** In interviews, Jeph has attributed to the high proportion of female characters in the cast to his finding female forms more interesting to draw, in contrast to male forms which are more flat and, in his opinion, boring.
* AuthorAvatar: Averted - Marten is not Jeph Jacques, to the surprise of fans who meet him. He [[http://qcjeph.livejournal.com/93135.html once posted a picture on LiveJournal of them meeting]]: [[RuleThirtyFour Rule 34]] responded quite quickly. It's something of an inverse of what happened to ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' -- As Jeph [[WordOfGod has stated]], Marten started out as his mouthpiece but grew into a completely different person.
* BareYourMidriff: Shows up occasionally, and for a while in the early days of the strip it was almost a standard feature of the female characters, especially Dora, Faye, and Raven.
* TheBaroness: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1350 Tortura]] seems this type.
* BearsAreBadNews: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1285 Om nom nom nom]]. Averted in that the bear was actually a trained circus animal and not very dangerous as long as no one was stupid enough to anger it.
* BeardOfSorrow: Steve, after a break-up.
* BeatPanel:
** EPIC use in 1557- [[BeatPanel <Beat>]]... [[BeatPanel <Beat>]]... [[spoiler:[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 ROCKET ROOMBA!!!]]]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1280 DID YOU SEE THOSE TWO BEAT PANELS?]] THOSE WERE '''''CRUCIAL''''' TO THE JOKE
* BeautifulAllAlong: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1880 Invoked, lampshaded, and torn to pieces.]]
* BeAWhoreToGetYourMan: Faye and her mother discuss the benefits of this.
* BelligerentSexualTension:
** Faye and Sven [[spoiler:before they hooked up]].
** For a while, Faye and Angus. However, [[spoiler:they became friends long before they hooked up]].
** Marigold and Dale.
* BenevolentBoss: Scott, Dora, and Tai.
* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Hannelore can get [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=981 pretty scary]]. You better [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1108 quit whining]], because she's [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome NOT PUTTING UP WITH ANY MORE OF YOUR SHIT!]] Seriously though, that's [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1418 a little extreme]]...
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1460 Momo. No, really.]] Note that that wasn't metaphorical lightning... Momo has a taser-like self defense function.
* {{Bifauxnen}}: Tai, especially in early strips when she bound her breasts.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Doubles over with PapaWolf for Marten when Samantha wanted to test out Momo's electronic defense capability.
--> '''Marten:''' That girl is a bad influence.\\
'''Padma:''' Hee hee, you really ''do'' sound like her dad.
* BigDamnKiss: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2589 Dale and Marigold.]] Animated gif and everything.
* BigNo: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2008 Winslow gets one]] upon finding Momo's old (and unbeknownst to him, empty) chassis and immediately concluding that something awful has happened.
* BigOlEyebrows: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=21 Strip #21]] provides a good example of how Marten and Steve used to look in the comic's early days.
* BilingualBonus:
** Hannelore [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1912 can speak in Morse Code]].[[labelnote:translation]]It says "Sincerely, Marten."[[/labelnote]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 The tattoo on Raven's left arm]] is Japanese for "Princess". [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=410 This is a]] ContinuityNod.
** DJ Ellen Allien [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2399 responds in German]] when being talked to in English.[[labelnote:translation]]She says "I'm so embarrassed."[[/labelnote]]
* BiTheWay:
** Raven refers to herself as "bi" [[CharacterBlog in a Tweet]], although if she is she does seem to lean more toward the AnythingThatMoves side of things.
** Dora. She was "outed" as bisexual in the comic (to readers, not to the cast) when she told [[spoiler:her then-boyfriend]] Marten that she realized her sexual attraction to girls after seeing pictures of [[spoiler:a female fetish model - Marten's mother]]. No one bats an eye at her considering a relationship with Tai.
* BitterWeddingSpeech: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2401 Subverted]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2402 twice.]]
* BlackComedy: Guest strip artists ''[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=939 love]]'' to make jokes about [[spoiler:Faye's father's suicide]]. Jeph has gone on the record and said that he finds them hilarious.
* BlackSpeech:
** Erm... are you [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1753 all right, Hanners?]] As best as anyone can figure out, this translates to "I want to fill your scrotum with spiders and broken glass."
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 Dora]] exhibits fluency a second later.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1872 Hannelore]] speaks it again in a later comic. This one now reads "Disturb me and I shall summon a horde of shoggoths to rend your flesh."
* BlandNameProduct: Angus considers [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2441 auditioning as a correspondent]] to ''[[Series/TheDailyShow The Nightly Show]]'', which (according to the strip's title) features Jon Stewar''d''.
* BluffTheEavesdropper: Faye, Dora and Marten do this against the Vespavenger.
* BodyHorror: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1496 Pop!]] And [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1498 incidentally...]]
* BondageIsBad: Averted [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1302 here]], and most other times that the subject of Marten's mother's profession comes up.
* BookEnds: Marten says "Fuck yeah, two dads!" while [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2399 high-fiving Maurice after the wedding,]] and again [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2410 as he is leaving the day after,]] this time with a fist bump.
* BrainBleach:
** What Marten needs after he finds out how Dora [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1047 discovered she was bi. "Oh god, please don't tell me..."]]
** [[INeedAFreakingDrink Jesus CHRIST do I need a drink right now.]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=513 To throw in my EYES.]]
** And after [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1812 Strip #1812]], anyone would find alcoholic coma a sweet, sweet release.
** Bet Dale wants some in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2488 Strip #2488]].
* BreadEggsMilkSquick:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1638 Oh, Hannelore...]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1298 Momo's list of functions.]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=389 When Marten and Faye move into their new apartment...]]
* BreakoutCharacter: Hannelore won a character poll by a ''landslide'' naming her as the most popular character, shocking the author. Quite a ways for what was a supporting one-note character added to an already sizeable cast.
* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Marten after strip 1800.]]
* BrickJoke:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1555 Maybe if we put on a spoiler]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 it will go faster]]. It came back [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1594 again]] and looks to be starting a new plot line. Chekhov's Boomerang, perhaps? ([[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1643 All signs]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666 point to yes.]])
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=719 Marten's beast of Bourbon]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1816 came back after]] ''four years.'' Made even funnier (and potentially creepier) by the Beast's similarities to [[SomethingPositive Fluffmodeus]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1829 Less bricky than a lot of these examples]], but [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1836 still qualifies]]. Doubles as a FunnyBackgroundEvent, since it's very easy to miss Pintsize being thrown in the first strip.
** Dora's response to Raven in panel three of [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=764 this strip]] comes up again in panel four of [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1030 this one]]. Apparently, Raven is convinced Marten's junk is spectacular.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1593 Tai missed out]] on Dora's first move, and [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1914 enthusiastically joins in]] for the second. For obvious reasons.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1992 Hannelore grounding Marigold.]][[note]]Now, if the plot wasn't Marten-centric, and Marigold and Hanners weren't background characters, we could count this as a StoryArc, but as this isn't the case, it counts as as a BrickJoke instead.[[/note]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2035 It ends forty-three strips later, as soon as Marigold can't take it anymore.]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2115 Return]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2116 of]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2167 Holopony!]]
--->'''[[TheRant Jeph]]:''' The entire Holopony concept may have been a set-up for this gag.
** Apparently, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 this comic]] happened 96763 seconds (which is a bit more than a day) after [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1948 this one]]. Either that, or Raven's calculations were a little off.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=468 Holy crap]], there really ''is'' [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1323 a broadsword down there!]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1332 The Vulcan Boob Squish]] is [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1871 put to good use.]]
** Also, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=716 Steve and Marten]] really ''had'' [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2321 talked about that!]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1425 The Awkward Zone being defeated with fancy outfits.]]
*** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1426 Which are apparently available for rental at the Horrible Revelation.]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1471 For both men and women.]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1480 And ownership of such improves one's chances of being hired.]]
*** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1841 In emergency cases of Awkward]], [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1842 fancy hats will sometimes suffice.]] Although [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2023 some awkward is so awkward that even fancy dress cannot dispel it.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=575 Bluebirds and spontaneous musicals]] occurring when Marten has [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=840 positive lady-developments in his life]]
%%
%% Brick Joke is NOT to be confused with a CallBack. Please be sure of the difference before adding new examples.
%%
* BrokenAesop: In-universe. After hearing about the childhood accident that gave Clinton his robotic hand and that he actually ''[[SoCoolItsAwesome prefers]]'' it, the others reflect the moral this teaches kids is that "messing around with fireworks gives you cool robotic limbs!"
* BromanticFoil: Steve
* BrutalHonesty: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2248 Name-dropped]] by Marten.
* BuffySpeak: Raven, while explaining [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1939 global warming]].
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Raven. Shows signs of deep intelligence and seems to be doing well in school but is quite the CloudCuckooLander.
* BurgerFool: Notably avoided; Dora is the owner and the others are all non-teenagers who wear what they wish.
* TheBusCameBack:
** She was put on a bus to college years ago, but [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1939 Raven finally shows up again]], and she sounds like she wants to stay.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1985 Amir reappeared]] after a long absence as well.
* ButIWouldReallyEnjoyIt: Faye towards Sven after they "break up".
* ButNotTooGay: It used to be, but it's changed since [[spoiler:Tai and Dora started dating.]].
* BuxomIsBetter:
** Marigold's breasts are described as [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1678 "a positively Homeric set of bosoms"]] and the largest seen in the QC setting so far.
** Faye. As per [[spoiler:Sven]]: "I was never really into curves, but once you hit that other girls just seem ''flat''."
* CallBack:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1030 Three hundred strips later]], Raven still thinks [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=764 Marten is rather]]...[[BiggusDickus gifted.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1862 The Three Cabrolleros]] make a [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1949 muted return]].
** "[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2107 Sorry, the government made dad take the lasers out.]]" "[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=147 You too, huh?]]"
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1995 On her resume]], Momo lists [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1298 eel handling]] among her skills.
** Marten and Steve's conversation of [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3 getting paid for]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1601 ogling chicks]] is referenced in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1981 the title of a later comic]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2016 Strip 2016]] calls back to the very beginning of the comic, when Faye is caught ogling Marten's butt.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2227 Strip 2227]] calls back to [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1458 Dora's math skills]].
** The current record for longest callback is [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2340 strip 2340]] being a reference to [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=5 strip 5]]!
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2350 Number 2350]] calls back to [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1526 number 1526]]. "Doctor Heteronormative" is indeed a good name for a villain.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=828 Twisting proverbs]], though only from some [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=792 thirty strips earlier]].
** When Marten [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2411 tells to Faye]] he's not sure how he feels about Claire falling asleep on him, she responds: "Look on the bright side - [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=185 at least you didn't get barfed on and headbutted in the junk.]]
* CallingYourBathroomBreaks: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1467 Faye cuts Dora off this way]], mid-apology.
* CannotSpitItOut: Played with. Although she can acknowledge they're dating, [[spoiler:[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1943 Faye is having trouble calling Angus her "boyfriend"]]]]:
--> '''[[spoiler:Faye]]:''' You're my boafregh. My boyfremb. You're my borthreim. You're... you're my boyfling'''DAMMIT I'M SORRY'''\\
'''[[spoiler:Angus]]:''' No no, keep trying! This is way cuter than I was expecting.\\
'''Raven:''' I want a boyfling!
* TheCasanova: Sven, who may need to be upgraded to MemeticSexGod. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658 Even the robots want him]]. Also deconstructed, as he's been showing signs of maturity (or at least boredom) lately; he ignored an attractive girl trying to pick him up while he was eating, then asked the barman for a fresh napkin because, "[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1650 this one's got phone number all over it]]". Footnotes also mention that that may have been the THIRD such napkin that night.
* CassandraTruth:
** Marten and Dora have at least twice come up with ridiculous stories as to why they were running late, one involving a bunch of [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=696 Kung-fu monks]], another [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=642 a Deathbot 9000]] that Pintsize had insulted on the internet. Marten individually seems to have a knack for winding up in situations [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=731 like this]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2123 Marigold blurts out what she doing]] after realizing lying about being in the bathroom instead for that six hours is an EmbarrassingCoverUp. Marten and Hannelore don't believe it (would you believe she was eating cookies and watching anime with the head of security instead?), and assume she's having digestive problems.
* CatapultNightmare: In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1168 this strip]] and the following one.
* CatchPhrase: The phrase "Hurr hurr hurr!", meant to sarcastically imitate laughter from stupid or inane people, has been uttered by nearly all of the main cast at some point. Jacques clearly does it himself, judging by newsposts.
* CatsAreMean: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1584 Pintsize thinks this about Dora's cat, Mieville]], [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666 especially when Mieville teams up with]] [[spoiler:baby Roombas]] to torment him further. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1585 Hanners, on the other hand, disagrees]].
* CatSmile:
** Marigold is fond of these.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2280# Hanners will teach you how to draw a kitty.]]
* CerebusSyndrome: The strip started as a boy and his robot, but in no time moved to sarcasm and joking about music and music fans, while developing the relationships between the characters before taking a turn for the dramatic about #500, while retaining the joke-a-day format. Jeph lampshades this in the commentary/news for [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1481 strip #1481]].
* CharacterBlog:
** Marten had [[http://yellingaboutmusic.blogspot.com a music blog]] for a while, but it's long been defunct.
** Hannelore had her own [[http://www.formspring.me/hanneloreEC Formspring]] but like Marten's blog it hasn't been used in a long while.
** The main characters have Website/{{Twitter}} pages, all communicating with each other.
*** [[SchmuckBait Word of warning]]: If you decide to go read the Twitters, keep a jug of BrainBleach nearby if you go anywhere near Pintsize's or Yelling Bird's.
* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Hannelore was certainly odd when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=515 first introduced]], but she becomes a much [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1046 different]] character than she was before, [[AuthorsSavingThrow explained]] by her trying out new medication. It's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1824 lampshaded]] and mentioned in-universe by Dr. Case [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2134 as she recounts Hannelore's childhood]].
* ChasteHero:
** Marigold, though not entirely by choice, and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1630 she is definitely trying to change that]].
* CheckPlease: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1958 Here.]]
* ChekhovsGag: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=828 You gotta break some]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=792 lions to make an omelet]].
* ChildrenAreAWaste: This is what many characters seem to agree on implicitly. In several cases justified since they came from families where something went wrong. However, apparently not even Marten Reed seems to think that the world needs another Marten Reed. Jeph has expressed the same opinion in the footnotes that accompanied one comic where this was expressed, so it's apparently an opinion he shares. Later on averted where Faye [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2354 says she might consider having kids]] later in her life, indicating her view on the subject may have evolved.
* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome:
** Sara. Created without any real character, she just vanished after Dora appeared. It became a long-running gag that she was "eaten by an Allosaurus", but no characters would ever mention her after the first 100 strips except in one or two {{Mythology Gag}}s: in 149 Dora mentions leaving Sara in charge of the coffee shop, and her absence is [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=325 lampshaded]]. Also counts as a case of WhatHappenedToTheMouse.
** Steve lampshades one of his first disappearances when he returns in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=155 the guest comic]], coming gasping out of the hall closet. When Marten asks what he is doing there he says:
--->'''Steve:''' '''What am I doing here?!?''' I have been locked in the '''hall closet''' for '''months!''' Didn't you people notice I was '''missing?!?''' Why didn't anyone come '''looking''' for me?!?
** The trope is then parodied [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2477 when Faye asks where Penelope and Cosette went.]]
* ClaspYourHandsIfYouDeceive: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1693 Dale pulls off]] a classic [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Gendo Pose]], complete with ScaryShinyGlasses. It's even lampshaded in the title.
* ClingyJealousGirl:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1323 Dora drifts into this at times]], but [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1467 she's trying to get better about it]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1742 albeit not always succeeding]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1877 Cosette also acts like this at times.]]
* CloudCuckooLander:
** WordOfGod has explicitly compared Hannelore to [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Osaka]].
** Emily, as demonstrated [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2210 when she gets the wrong smoothie]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2238 when she asks Momo if her pigtails detach and if she stores roll cake in her arms]].
* ClusterFBomb: A handful of regular strips, and anytime Yelling Bird shows up.
* CommutingOnABus: This or PutOnABus for many cast members.
** Raven in particular was focusing on scholastic pursuits, and didn't show up for ages, despite once being a huge part of the strip. As of [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1939 #1939]], she's back and appears to be staying for a while.
** Steve; he'll play a major role, then not show up for months or years due to post-breakup alcoholism or [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1350 secret agent recruitment]].
* CompletelyMissingThePoint:
** Hannelore does a lot of this, as evidenced by [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1100 this strip]].
** Faye in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=697 this strip]].
---> "When did we get a souffle pan?"
*** [[SelfDemonstratingArticle A legitimate question, most coffee shops wouldn't need a souffle pan...]]
** Padma is always mistaking Marten's emotional crises for more mundane complaints about the quality of service at the bakery.
** Marten has his [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2034 moments]]:
--->'''Steve:''' Lemme get this straight - you EXPLAINED to her that this whole Elliot drama bomb was basically your fault.\\
'''Marten:''' Yeah.\\
'''Steve:''' And that turned into a depressing conversation about how much she misses her poor, sick grandmother.\\
'''Marten:''' Uh huh.\\
'''Steve:''' But then ''that'' somehow inspired her to ask you to go ''dancing''.\\
'''Marten:''' *sigh* Yeah...\\
'''Steve:''' And for SOME GODDAMN REASON, you're SAD ABOUT THIS.\\
'''Marten:''' I don't know how to dance!
** Wil only [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1208 uses]] five-dollar adjectives and higher.
* ContinuityNod: Common, and as this page demonstrates, very noticeable to longtime readers.
* CooldownHug: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1871 Faye's boobs are a powerful narcotic.]]
* CouchGag: The specials board.
* CorruptTheCutie: Hannelore, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1420 slowly]] but [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1588 surely]]. (For the second link, you'll need to see [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1582 the setup]] first).
* CovertPervert: Momo.
* CrashIntoHello: Marigold, into Sven. (Nothing's happened, though, and she has another potential love interest.)
* CreatorCameo: That '[[SelfDeprecation stupid looking guy]]' in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1433 #1433]] and [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2066 #2066]] looks an awful lot like Jeph.
* CriticalHit: Pintsize gets one laid on him [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2340 here.]] Emily [[AttackItsWeakPoint bonked his head]] for 9999 damage.
* {{Curse}}: Every place Cosette has ever worked at has shut down for one reason or another, so Dora calls in a witch from her coven days to take a look at her.
-->'''Dora:''' Well?\\
'''Claire:''' She's not cursed. But that dye job has fried her hair and she's got awful skin.
* CuteBruiser: Faye, literally. [[WordOfGod Jeph]] [[http://twitter.com/jephjacques/status/15031992164814848 noted that she is trained in Muay Thai]] after someone questioned her stance in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1818 this strip]].
* CuteClumsyGirl: Cosette, as [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1543 shown]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1546 here]].
* CutenessOverload: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1412 Dora holding Momo]] is the Trope Image.
** Apparently a human sized Momo holding Winslow [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2188 has this effect]] on Hannalore and Marigold. [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2189 Adding tiny hats]] only makes it worse.
* CypherLanguage: Hannelore's BlackSpeech [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1753 response to Sven's pick-up line]].
* DadaComics: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1661 Randy and Shelby]] do this.
* DarkSkinnedRedhead: Ellen in older strips: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=318 exhibit A]]; now that the other characters aren't so pale, Ellen's skin is not significantly darker: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=788 exhibit B]]; and Tai.
* ADateWithRosiePalms:
** What Steve is [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1556 faced with]] after his girlfriend injures herself.
** Marigold invokes this [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2275 in #2275]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1651 Momo threatens Marigold]] with telling Angus that she is dangerously dehydrated after a weekend-long 'date'.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=808 Faye's therapist]] suggests it. Faye's reaction is '''priceless'''.
-->'''Therapist''': Have you tried, ah, self-stimulation?\\
'''Faye''': Oh yeah. I also drink seltzer when I want soda, eat rice crackers when I want chocolate, and listen to bluegrass when I want death metal. ''I am getting a freaking Popeye forearm. My right hand filed a RESTRAINING ORDER.'' '''''I AM JUST A TINY BIT BORED WITH IT.'''''
* DeadpanSnarker: Pretty much everyone, sans Marigold. Even [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1411 Momo]] gets in on this.
* DeathFromAbove: Hannelore of all people [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2468 offers to invoke this]] after finding out that the basement of Coffee of Doom is full of spiders.
-->'''Hannelore''': My dad will be in position to [[ShoutOut drop a]] [[Literature/{{Anathem}} tungsten rod]] on this place in 64 minutes.\\
'''Dora''': Pretty sure '''''OrbitalBombardment''''' isn't covered by my insurance.
* DeathGlare:
** Don't get between Cosette and her date. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1547 Not ever]].
--->'''Luna:''' I saw... I saw a tunnel of light, with my granddad waiting at the end, waving to me...\\
'''Marten:''' Jesus, I thought she was going to go all Temple of Doom on you and pull your heart out through your chest!
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1343 Dora gives Penelope one]] after she makes a rude comment [[spoiler: about Sven cheating on Faye]] without thinking.
-->'''Penelope''': '''''Ha!''''' Gee, that's a shocker.\\
''[{{beat}}]''\\
'''Penelope''': ...And I reeeeally need to learn to think before I speak.
** Emily gets in on the action when discussing her disinterest in high-heeled shoes.
-->'''Emily:''' I tried once, and fell over. Never again.\\
'''Claire:''' They take some getting used to, but you'll learn to--\\
'''Emily:''' '''''NEVER. AGAIN.'''''
* DefaceOfTheMoon: In one of the [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1570 Sweet Tits strips]].
* {{Defictionalization}}:
** Most of the T-shirts sold in the store were first worn by members of the cast.
** Jeph has released quite a bit of music under the Deathmøle name, enough for several albums, in fact. It's quite good -- wholly instrumental post-metal composed entirely by Jeph.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Skullmaster, master of skulls!
* DeusAngstMachina: Parodied in one strip, and it involves bears, aliens, and the Illuminati.
* DeusEstMachina:
** TheSingularity happened (offscreen) in the comic, creating a supersentient [=AI=]. The other [=AIs=] are pissed that they're not part of it, the humans are a little freaked out but getting over it, and the [=AI=] itself [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1780 just wants to talk to people]]. It tried talking to dolphins, but apparently they're really creepy once you can understand them.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1785 Pintsize seems to think of it as]] TheRapture [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1785 for AIs]].
* DidYouJustHaveSex: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=840 Lampshaded here]], complete with SpontaneousChoreography.
* DiggingYourselfDeeper:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1558 This comic]], followed by [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1559 this one]].
** Faye (still in the same story arc) [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1563 gets a lesser one]].
** Sven [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1764 does it]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1765 as well]].
* DisabilitySuperpower / InstantExpert: Hanners' OCD-fuelled counting ability makes her a hell of a drummer, which she describes as "counting with your whole body." After a brief explanation by Marten, she's playing like an old pro. And [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1988 if there was any doubt before that it was a superpower...]]
* DiscriminateAndSwitch: Discussed in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2258 comic 2258]]: For Dora's father, bisexuality is just a phase, like wearing baggy pants. And he really doesn't like the pants.
--> '''Tai:''' I guess that's a somewhat tolerable kind of intolerance.
* DistractedByTheSexy: Raven [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=519 does this to Sven]].
* TheDitz: Raven is not the sharpest of minds, but shows [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=444 hints]] of being [[ObfuscatingStupidity brighter than she seems]]. Sometimes these are [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1129 more than just hints...]]
* DoubleTake: Pintsize gives one in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1421 #1421]]
* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1600 After Angus and Marigold's spontaneous dancing]]...
* DoggedNiceGuy: Angus.
* DoomMagnet: Cosette, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1710 big time]].
* DoomyDoomsOfDoom:
** The coffee shop at the center of the series is called Coffee Of Doom. The sign on its bathroom door says "Restroom of Doom!", exclamation theirs, though they once lovingly referred to it as "The Cave Of 40 Asses".
** The news post for [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1108 this strip]].
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=97 Toast Fire of Doom]]
* DopeSlap:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1465 Dora to Faye.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2003 Threatened by Momo to Marigold.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2034 Steve to Marten.]]
* DoubleEdgedAnswer: In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2067 comic #2067]], Faye gives one because she's flustered and has issues about getting close to people.
* DreamSequence: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1168 Here]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1169 here]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1170 and here]]. To quote Deathmøle Jacques, "I could do one of these dream-comics for every single character and I STILL wouldn't be tired of the conceit. I am so weird."
* DrinkOrder: As with real-life indie coffeehouses, Coffee of Doom customers are advised ''not'' to use Starbucks' faux-Italian size names, at penalty of [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=419 markup]]. Over-flavored or overly-pretentious drinks are likewise bad ideas. Though if you're [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1723 hazing a newbie, anything goes]].
* DrivesLikeCrazy: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1916 Tai gets much too involved in her thoughts while behind the wheel.]]
* DropInCharacter: Hannelore lives in the apartment above Marten and Faye and is a frequent visitor, not just there but eventually to the homes of other characters as well. Inverted [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1884 here]] where Hanners comes home and unexpectedly finds visitors.
* DrowningMySorrows: Happens quite often, what with all the issues and drama the characters suffer.
* DrugsAreBad: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2386 The newspost in this strip says so.]]
* DudeNotFunny:
** In-universe, Faye calls this on suicide jokes. In response, Angus calls it on jokes about Marigold.
** Which she inevitably [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1654 breaks]] less than two months' worth of updates later. As the linked comic demonstrates, her casually insulting sarcasm doesn't really have an off switch (aside from having her mouth duct taped shut).
* DysfunctionJunction:
** Faye: [[spoiler:Her father's suicide and her subsequent nervous breakdown.]]
** Hannelore: Raised on a space station by a MadScientist, with a CorruptCorporateExecutive for a mother, and so obsessive-compulsive she makes Adrian Series/{{Monk}} look normal.
** All of the other characters have more-or-less normal backgrounds, as far we've been told thus far. Yes, this is counting Marten's mother's job, as that doesn't seem to have caused Marten any trauma other than the occasional bit of needing BrainBleach. It does seem to have given him a rather less-than-normal outlook on certain things, however.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes E-H]]
* {{Eagleland}}:
** Pintsize at one point claims his destructive, belligerent and annoying behavior comes from his American locale settings. He does become very civil and even kind when switched to British English language settings. The characters speculate as to how much of that is real personality change and how much is Pintsize being Pintsize.
** Frequently invoked by the characters, with more than a bit of Western-Massachusetts "alternative" condescension.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Reneé is probably the one mentioned in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1363 comic 1363]]. She is introduced in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1845 strip 1845]], and still it takes [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1859 14 strips more]] to mention her relationship with Angus.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness:
** Both Hannelore and Marigold showed pretty stark contrast to their introductions once they settled into character.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1298 Momo]], who grew into being kind of prim and schoolgirl-ish.
* EldritchAbomination:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1753 This comic]], [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 and the next one]].
** Randy [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1815 is eternal]]. Note that ''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1826 he really is]]''. And he's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2352 really fucked up]].
* EmbarrassingCoverUp: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2123 Marigold tries to not tell anyone about how the head of security likes anime]], but finds out a good lie for the circumstances of being gone for six hours is not "in the bathroom".
* EmbarrassingFirstName: Raven goes by her middle name because she despises her Welsh first name, [-Blodwyn-].
* EmbarrassingMiddleName: Marten Tiberius Reed. Or it would be, if his father wasn't such a stick in the mud.
* EmotionEater: The Shame Orb eats shame and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2351 excretes microwave burritos]], Randy eats [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2352 hope]].
* EntendreFailure: When Sven gives his jacket to Hannelore:
-->'''Hannelore:''' ''[laughs]'' It's so big!\\
'''Sven:''' I love it when girls say that.\\
'''Hannelore:''' It must happen a lot! You're so tall!
* EthicalSlut:
** Dora Bianchi is an excellent example, albeit one in a committed, monogamous relationship [[spoiler:until it ended]]. Still, this characteristic [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1556 reveals itself]] by her willingness to address and discuss sexual concerns. Interestingly enough, her being an Ethical Slut doesn't stop her from having relationship issues, for example an almost pathological jealousy and suspicion of any woman who may appear to be trying to steal her man, the uber-example perhaps threatening Cosette with a broadsword for innocently revealing that she had a crush on Marten.
** Her brother, Sven, proves to be a counterexample to this trope, considering [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1338 he had to be coerced to be honest with Faye]].
** ''Tai'' on the other hand is a good example of an Ethical Slut, even if she's a bit [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1603 forward when tipsy]] (and [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1688 again]] and becoming more so with every cell).
* EvenTheDogIsAshamed: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1631 The chibi-fied AnthroPC is]], anyway.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Marten nonchalantly (and perhaps [[HoYay slightly too enthusiastically]]) agrees with the girls on [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1770 this strip]] that [[HoYay Sven has a really great butt]].
* EverybodyWasKungFuFighting: Faye and Padma kick off an improvised sparring match [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1857 here]]. These are two young ladies who work in coffee shops and just met for the first time, you realise. Just don't try it [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2043 when she's drunk]].
* EveryoneKnowsMorse: Well, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1912 Hanners does]] (but then, Hanners knows [[CthulhuMythos R'lehian]]...) There's no indication anyone else understands what she's saying though[[note]]it's "Sincerely, Marten" -- there's no excuse for rude telegraphy.[[/note]].
* FanServicePack: Marigold has become more curvy and voluptuous as time has passed.
* {{Haiku}}: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=181 Delicious bourbon \\
Finest of all the spirits \\
A drunken haiku]].
* HairDecorations: Faye, occasionally.
* HilarityEnsues: despite not being an example of this trope by itself, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=712 this strip]] references the trope's typical use in sitcoms.
* EverythingsBetterWithPlushies: You can now buy plush Yelling Birds in [[TheMerch the store]].
* ExplainingTheSoap: Marigold to Hannelore and Angus with ''Magical Love Gentlemen''.
* {{Expy}}: Jeph has mentioned that he designed Marigold to be essentially "an Anglicized version of Konata from ''Anime/LuckyStar''."
* EyesAlwaysShut: Dave, a supporting character who had a brief stint as Meena's ex-boyfriend.
* FaceFault: Momo, whose design is based on a generic "moe" anime character, is designed to replicate these; the classic "sweat drop" is achieved by emitting a viscous fluid from underneath the hair, and it's apparently a bitch and a half to clean out.
* FacePalm: Marten needs some BrainBleach after the events of 1888. [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1888 Possible NSFW]]
* FanService:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1003 Jeph gives us Dora-service]] as an apology for FanDisservice three strips prior. This also occurs with [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1303 Dora, Faye, and Hanners]] for Christmas '08 and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1676 Marigold roughly 300 strips later]], with other occasions as well. Not all the strip's fanservice froms from the girls, though; [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1565 Christmas of '09]] gives us some of Marten and Steve, while Jeph posts some of [[http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/1288741591/40-000-followers Sven]] on his Tumblr account after getting 40,000 followers.
* FemaleGaze: Early on, Faye tries to deny [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=136 she was staring at Marten's arse]].
* FirstGirlWins: Averted. So far...
* FishingForSole: {{Invoked|Trope}} by Marten when cautioning Claire about [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2536 fishing for compliments from Faye]].
* FiveSecondForeshadowing: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=758 Watch out for those stairs.]]
* {{Flanderization}}: A few members of the cast.
** Hannelore is considered to be the strongest case of this since it's combined with CharacterizationMarchesOn - the circumstances under which [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=515 she was introduced]] would be out of character for her now. It's referenced later on when Dora asks Hanners, "If you have OCD, how come you have, like, ten earrings and you smoke?". Hannelore [[HandWave handwaves]] an answer by saying, "Well, a girl has to have ''some'' glaring inconsistencies in her life", but later says that she was on very powerful meds at that time, and can just about acknowledge that it happened on her current prescriptions. The piercings are better-explained [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1404 here]].
** Pintsize wasn't always [[ImageBoards /b/]] personified. He used to just be kinda silly. This may be explained by the beginning of the comic, when Marten comments on that Pintsize finally has wifi and can browse the internet as he pleases... presumably leading to the discovery of 4chan and all of its horrors, leading to how he is today.
** Faye herself points out that she used to be a "bitch with issues", but now that she's in counseling and getting to the root of her issues, she's "just a bitch".
* FlashStep: Practiced by Hanners in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1633 this strip]], to get out of the way of an impending barf.
-->'''Angus:''' I've literally never seen a human being move that fast.
* FlatWhat:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1212 By Sven.]]
** Faye [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1481 has]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 a couple]].
* FlippingTheBird:
** Faye [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=324 to Pretentious Record Store Dude]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=873 to Sven]].
** [[spoiler:Momo]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1631 to Angus]].
* FlockOfWolves: Minor example when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1384 Angus describes his job]] as a StrawmanPolitical--he's paid to take a side in a political debate and lose. Unfortunately for him, one day...
-->'''Angus:''' The guy I was supposed to "debate" with was a strawman hired by the other side. We spent an hour and a half trying to lose to one another before realizing the rally had been double-booked.
* ForTheLulz: Pintsize's usual MO, but taken to extremes [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=936 in this guest-strip]], courtesy of [[SomethingPositive Randy Milholland]].
-->'''Pintsize''': ''BEGIN. 10 Print "Is this right?". 20 Input "N". 30 If "N" = "Yes", then LOL = none. 40 If "N" = "No", then LOL = Plenty. END.''
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=313 It's pretty quiet, although the lady who lives in 226 vacuums at odd hours sometimes]]." This is an actually an error, as Hannelore apparently [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1224 lives in 33]]. The mistake is the room number, as [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=533 Hannelore's introduction]] has a CallBack to the mentioning of her vacuuming at odd hours.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=685 This strip]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=175 and this one]] foreshadow the [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=720 VespAvenger]].
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=161 This exchange]]:
--->'''Faye:''' That is just one of the many funny stories involving my father.\\
'''Marten:''' [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor You'll have to tell me the rest sometime.]]\\
'''Faye:''' Bribe me with ice cream and I will!
** Note the record that Faye is checking out in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1537 this strip]]. It foreshadows into [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1737 this strip]], which foreshadows [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739 this strip]]. [[spoiler:Which Toto song a character likes most, or indeed, whether a character likes Toto at all, seems to indicate compatibility. Thus, Angus and Faye work very well together thus far, while Marten and Dora have broken up.]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658 A dream foreshadows]] Momo's new chassis, right down to the [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2002 pigtails]].
** Angus disappears from Coffee of Doom a while, then reappears in strip 1363 after [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1363 breaking up with a girl with a grudge against CoD who "practically has a doctorate in belittling people."]] She turns out to be [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1859 Faye's Secret Bakery doppelgänger.]]
** There's also [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=762 this strip]] that foreshadows Faye and Sven hooking up. Even if [[FlipFlopOfGod Jeph said it wouldn't happen]].
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1845 The introduction of the bizzaro coffee shop]] has a guy despairing on a [[JustFriends girl he's in love with]] that seems to just be part of the whole 'alternate universe Coffee of Doom' design, but since the shop isn't just there for a few joke strips, the characters participate in an actual story arc, it is foreshadowing for said arc.
* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Faye (choleric), Hannelore (melancholic), Marten (leuquine), and Dora (sanguine).
* FreakyFashionMildMind
* FriendlessBackground: Marigold
* FriendsWithBenefits: Sven and Faye have a thing like this for a while.
* FullNameUltimatum:
** Marten's mother [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1835 calls him]] Marten [[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Tiberius]] Reed when she gets mad at him, even though Tiberius isn't really his middle name.
** Hannelore calls Marigold [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1992 by her full name]] when she's upset with her.
* FunnyBackgroundEvent:
** Momo tends to be part of silent gags, such as [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657 here]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1738 here]].
** Often the title of the strip points out or creates a funny background event out of something that was just scenery.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1526 Dora tries on a tail at an anime con.]]
** Funny ''Side''ground Event from Hanners [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1182 here]].
** Padma poking [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2045 a passed out drunk guy at a bar]].
** Momo is still capable of these in her new chassis. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2072 Here she is finding some questionable content of her own]].
** [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Sweet-Tits]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031 reading a book on bird care]] in her first canon appearance.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2345 This entire comic]] is about the background event.
** Frequently, the specials in the coffee shop act as one. Either they read like something out of a LethalChef's cookbook ("ghost pepper mocha, buffalo scones, really shitty granola", for example) or they contain items that aren't even food.
** Similarly, the menu in the sandwich place where Steve and Meena meet is an [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=883 interesting read]]: The "Berlin" sandwich is made with ham, bacon, pork and ''techno'', for example.
* GagPenis: Dora regarding Marten, albeit jokingly. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=764 "It's roughly as large as my forearm and fist and about as dextrous."]] Raven, however, takes her seriously.
* GaleForceSound: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1566 Yelling Bird is very insistent.]]
* GarageBand: Deathmøle.
* GargleBlaster: The vintage whiskey they bought once. Delicious as it was, it glowed and came with a [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=718 health warning]]. A guest strip is also centered around one.
* GenericCuteness: Most of the cast is quite young: early to mid-20s., and the parental characters are somewhat unconvincing. For instance, Marten's mom has facial characteristics similar to the core cast, but with a single wrinkle and an older-woman's hairstyle. Dora's father only manages to look his age because he's portly and bald. Faye's mom looks like Faye with gray hair. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d when [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1515 Dora meets Marten's dad]], who looks just like Marten with gray hair and tiny lines under his eyes for wrinkles.
--> ''BeatPanel looking at Marten's dad''\\
''BeatPanel looking at Marten''\\
'''Dora:''' '''OH MY GOD YOU ARE GONNA BE SO HOT WHEN YOU GO GRAY'''\\
'''Henry:''' Hear that, Maurice? I'm still hot.\\
'''Maurice:''' Smoking, darling.
::When Claire is introduced to Henry, she also finds him very handsome.
* GeniusDitz: ''Raven''.
* GenkiGirl: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1545 Randy]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1661 the]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1815 Bandicoot]].
* GentleGiant: Elliot, for the most part. Although it's been [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1883 implied]] that he has a second job as the bouncer at the bar where Wil works.
* GirlishPigtails:
** Momo-tan, in a scene where otherwise ''[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658 she's all grown up now]]''.
** Momo-tan's new chassis.
** Marigold has had her hair in pigtails as of late as seen [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1597 here]].
* GirlOnGirlIsHot: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1544 So say the turkeys]]. Marigold's ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' buddies [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1492 think so too]], and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1937 Steve and Pintsize agree]].
* GivingUpOnLogic: Marten is apparently no longer able to tell what is weird and what isn't because he's given up on anything making sense.
-->'''Tai:''' I'm sorry, is it weird to come to you for dating advice about your ex-girlfriend?\\
'''Marten:''' Dunno. [[WorldGoneMad Every other aspect of my life]] has thrown off my weirdness calibration.
* TheGlomp: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2248 Tai lays one on Marten.]]
* GodwinsLaw / HitlerAteSugar: Invoked and lampshaded in strip 1020. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1020 The only thing dumber than an argument on the internet is the same argument in real life]].
* AGoodNameForARockBand: Invoked with "racist murdercult" in ''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2083 That's My Backup Plan]]''. "Piss-Horse" is also brought up as an idea for a Southern doom-metal band.
* GoodOlBoy: Jimbo...[[SubvertedTrope who writes trashy romance novels]].
* GoofyPrintUnderwear:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1574 Marten rocks some in #1574.]] It's a bit of a BigLippedAlligatorMoment at first, until it gets a CallBack in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2333 #2333.]]
** Marigold's Badtz Maru underwear.
** Angus has a pair of He-Man boxers.
* GorgeousPeriodDress: For rent at a local theme bar; it's also the reason Wil got hired at said bar.
* GrandmaWhatMassiveHotnessYouHave: Acknowledged in-universe with both of Marten's parents.
* GrapesOfLuxury: Dora considers amending her employees' contracts with this proviso.
* GreenEyedMonster: Dora admits that she's been very jealous of Sven for a long time because of how everything seems to come so easy to him with minimal effort, which factors into her emotional insecurities.
* GrievousHarmWithABody: When Clinton's arm prosthetic arm detached and stuck itself onto Faye's chest, Faye was understandably upset.
-->'''Marten:'''I can't believe you smacked him with his own hand.
* GroinAttack:
** In one strip, a drunk and passed-out Faye accidentally headbutts Marten in the crotch just prior to vomiting all over him.
** In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=746 this strip]] -- "Metal foot...to...mantenna array! Pain level...[[LargeHam Shatnerian]]...in intensity!"
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1641 "Faye does not suffer 69 jokes gladly."]]
* GuyOnGuyIsHot: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1639 Faye and Dora seem to think so]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1420 Hanners as well.]]
* HalfIdenticalTwins: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2277 Marten asks if Claire and Clinton are this,]] and they angrily object (Claire is actually older).
* HandOrObjectUnderwear: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1915 Or cat, as it were]].
* HandshakeRefusal: On being introduced to Dave, Steve refuses to shake his hand because immediately preceding the introduction, he heard Dave watching porn. Yeaaah.
* HappyDance: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=300 Steve and Ellen]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=840 Marten (offscreen)]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=903 Dora and Marten]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1597 Marigold]], and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1738 Angus]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1888 twice]].
* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Partial deconstruction. Faye adopts many of the traits involved (funny accent--her original Southern one, a more comical, boisterous attitude, etc.), but then comes deconstruction--others become concerned for her alcoholism, and parts of her personality are much more [[BrokenBird reserved]]. The rest of the cast are better matches--being college-town musicians and young adults in general, they partake in the booze with great regularity. It's pretty much their token "This is how we introduce people to the group" scene now.
* [[HasTwoMommies Has Two Daddies]]: When Marten's dad proposes to his partner, Marten says he's going to call his stepfather "[[Franchise/DieHard Dad 2: Dad Harder]]".
* HatesBeingTouched: Hannelore initially, though she's slowly grown out of it. She's a [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1659 total]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1660 pokeslut]] now, and even [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1709 hugs Marten]] when she gets a job at Coffee of Doom. Reverts back to it briefly when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1900 a fanboy of her father's goes creeperiffic on her]] to the point where [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1902 Marten kicked him out via a broadsword]]. She is eventually able to [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2146 hug her father for the first time]] as his birthday present.
* HatesTheJobLovesTheLimelight: Sven doesn't exactly fit the trope because he's a. young, and b. a writer, not a performer; but he has the ''mindset'' of writing music for MoneyDearBoy.
--> [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1424 "Meh. My artistic integrity wears a gimp suit and lives in a box."]]
* HeadTiltinglyKinky: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1117 First Marten, then Tai]].
* HeavyMetalUmlaut: The "Ø" used in Deathmøle's title falls into this trope.
* HerBoyfriendsJacket: Hannelore and Sven go on a fake date (because she never has), a the end of which she looks absolutely adorable wearing his hoodie against the cold.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Hanners and Marigold.
* HiddenDepths: From Jacques' comment [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2332 "Pintsize has hidden depths. Unfortunately they are full of porn."]]
* HighPressureEmotion: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2037 Momo's reaction when she downloads the library's database and sees all the Victorian-era pornography]].
* HilariouslyAbusiveChildhood: Hannelore when she was with her mother.
* HollywoodAtheist: Averted (mostly) with Penelope.
* HollywoodPudgy: Jacques has a tendency to draw ''all'' his "overweight" characters as merely Hollywood Pudgy.
** Faye is arguably [[PlayingWithaTrope an aversion]] -- she's regarded as a very attractive woman in-universe, but is a bit self-conscious about her weight (her rear end is quite large, but this is seen as a plus by many). Many [[RealLife real]] people have the same hang-ups, so it's a kind of deconstruction of the trope. Oddly enough, Jacques drew Faye with the same build as Dora early in the comic's run, though this has gradually changed due to ArtEvolution.
** Marigold considers herself fat as well (despite being thinner than Faye -- she has ''really'' low self-esteem), so it counts in her own mind.
** Even [[Creator/ValveSoftware Gabe Newell]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=856 gets this treatment]].
* HollywoodToneDeaf: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1358 Steve]], [[TakeOurWordForIt according to Marten]].
* HomosexualReproduction: One member of an all-girl LoveDodecahedron [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=726 gets pregnant "somehow"]], but we never do find out the actual cause...
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2240 WE ARE WORKING ON THAT TECHNOLOGY]]'''
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1311 Wil.]]
* HotMom:
** Of course Marten's mom is hot -- she's a BDSM porn model.
** Dora describes her mother as Dora's head on Heidi Klum's body.
* HugAndComment: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1564 Your armpits smell like daffodils.]]
* HurricaneOfEuphemisms: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1779 EUPHORIA FLUID.]]
* HypocriticalHumor:
--> '''[[SuperOCD Hannelore]]:''' There could be a crazy person living [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1063 RIGHT IN MY BUILDING!]]
** Also, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1289 Penelope has this]] and ComicallyMissingThePoint in regards to spirituality.
--> '''Dora:''' It's not like Wil's some Jesus-freak. Can't you just agree to disagree?\\
'''Penelope:''' I shouldn't have to! I'm '''right'''!\\
'''Dora:''' No offense Penelope, but that sounds like the kind of argument [[HeteronormativeCrusader your parents]] [[TheFundamentalist would use]].\\
'''Penelope:''' Yes... but see, ''they're'' '''wrong'''.\\
'''Dora:''' [[LampshadeHanging I think you're missing the point.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes I-L]]
* ImNotAngry
* IAmNotPretty: Marigold. She goes on multiple sobbing rants about how bad-looking she is, despite actually being cute.
* IAmTheTrope: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=743 Strip 743]], with a ShoutOut to Franchise/{{Batman}}.
* ICallHimMisterHappy: Lil' Steve Ray Vaughn (NOT Lil' Stevie Wonder).
* IconicOutfit: Marten's "TEH" shirt and Faye's bearmonster shirt, to the point that they are wearing those shirts on the cover of [[http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-VOLUMEONE&Category_Code=QC QC Volume 1]].
* IdenticalStranger: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1932 If this is true as shown]], then the [[spoiler:"Penny is Pizza Girl" theory]] is shot.
* IdiotHair: Emily's shortened hairstyle sports one.
* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: Veronica warning Faye, Faye warning Dora, Dora warning Sven...
* IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship
* IJustWriteTheThing
* IkeaErotica: Marigold's ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' SlashFic: "[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1790 And then Harry kissed Ron and it was very sexy]]." Her other SlashFic, ''[[http://marigoldfarmer.tumblr.com/post/1531768189/hermione-and-ginny-vs-the-space-wizards Hermione and Ginny vs. the Space Wizards]]'' is an even better example, mainly because we actually get to see the whole thing.
* IKnowMortalKombat: Dale [[SubvertedTrope does not]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1771 know World of Warcraft Kombat]].
* IKnowYourTrueName: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=784 Averted]], much to Faye's dismay, as she was trying to set Angus on fire with her mind at the time.
* ILoveTheSmellOfXInTheMorning: Hannelore uses this to describe how much she loves [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=897 fabric cleaner]].
* ImagineSpot: Used occasionally.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1613 Marigold fantasizing]] about being in a maid anime.
** Emily wondering what an "arms race" would [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2368 look like.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1425 Marten and Angus defeating the Awkward Zone appears to be this]], but it's a subversion, as [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1426 the next comic]] reveals that it's not imagined at all, the comic's world simply is that bizarre.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1478 Hanners gets a rather violent one]] due to her desire for peaceful sleep.
* INeedAFreakingDrink: Marten [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=513 needs one]] "to throw in [his] EYES." More traditionally, though:
** Shortly after Marten vents his bitterness over [[spoiler:his latest argument with Dora]], Faye decides it's time for [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1798 the emergency bourbon]].
** Marten comes in [[DrowningMySorrows intending to get drunk]] [[spoiler:to take his mind off Dora]]; [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1812 when he sees what Pintsize has done to help him with that]], it requires immediate application of liquor.
** After [[spoiler:reflexively telling Angus she loves him too]], Faye -- who is [[TheFirstCutIsTheDeepest still recovering from]] [[spoiler:the trust issues from her father's suicide]] -- [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2039 needs a coping mechanism.]]
--->'''Wil:''' I don't believe I know that drink.\\
'''Faye:''' It's easy. You put two ice cubes in a glass, then dump 'em out and fill it with bourbon.
* INeedToGoIronMyDog: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2545 Marigold uses this]] to get away from [=CoD=]'s newest employee, [[spoiler:Dale]]:
-->'''Marigold''': I...gotta go. Do a thing. Away. From here.
* INeverToldYouMyName: Used in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=528 this strip]].
* InformedAttribute:
** Faye is supposed to have always been quite curvy and big-bottomed. The first [[ArtEvolution hundred or so]] strips utterly failed to show this, with no discernible difference between her and Dora (though this might just be a case of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness). Currently she actually fits: made more notable by the fact that the rest of the main cast are built like bulimics (or at least your average indie concert-goer), with the exception of Marigold.
** After Marten is invited to dinner by Dora's parents, Dora remarks that, among other disasters on previous dates, one of her boyfriends was distracted by her mother's particularly substantial endowment -- "Imagine my head on Heidi Klum's body", she tells Marten. When pressed for details after the meeting, Marten awkwardly confirms to Faye that Mrs. Bianchi's bust is rather generously proportioned. And yet when we actually see her during the date, her chest is at best only slightly larger than Dora's, and in some panels the difference is almost imperceptible.
** Also, for as notorious as Pintsize is about wreaking havoc, he almost never seems to do anything more than be a nuisance while on-screen. [[NoodleIncident But then...]]
* InherentlyFunnyWords:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1836 "Cump."]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/random/1488dang.png "Dang."]]
* InnocentBigot: Emily asks Momo a number of extremely offensive questions about being a sentient machine, but she clearly doesn't understand that, and Momo hasn't been able to explain it to her.
* InnocentInnuendo: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1702 Hanners, Hanners, Hanners...]]
** In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2482 Strip 2482]]:
--> '''Tai:''' Emily! You'd sleep with Marten, right?\\
'''Marten:''' H-hey!\\
'''Emily:''' [[InnocentInaccurate You mean like a slumber party]]?\\
'''Tai:''' No, I--\\
'''Marten:''' '''CAMPING.''' She means camping.\\
'''Emily:''' If you can pitch a tent, then sure!\\
'''Claire:''' ''[stifling laughter]'' ''PFFFFFFFFFF''
* InnocentSwearing: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1200 In this strip]], after Pintsize tells Hannelore that robot swear words come from mashing on the keyboard, she asks him and Winslow what "qwerty" means. They're shocked.
* InsaneTrollLogic: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1411 "Shall I make you a tinfoil hat?"]]
* InsecureLoveInterest: Dora, in large part because of her jealousy of Sven. This becomes a major factor in [[spoiler:her and Marten's break-up]].
* InsistentTerminology: Marten doesn't think he's a townie. Of course, being [[ButtMonkey Marten,]] that [[doesn't last long.]]
* TheInsomniac: Hannelore is a mix of all three types thanks to her OCD, which is occasionally [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1477 played for laughs]].
* [[TropesInSpace In SPACE!!!]]: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2105 Comic 2105]] is the intro to a storyline involving this.
* InTheFutureWeStillHaveRoombas: Pintsize (himself an AI) attaches a rocket drive to an actual Roomba. The Roomba flies off through the window, [[BrickJoke only to return several strips later]] - together with a family of little airborne kids!.
* InvisibilityFlicker: Whatever it is that dropped Hannelore off at the lakehouse [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2297 does it here.]]
* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=826 No yelling in the library!]]
* ItAmusedMe: Hannelore is up front about being crazy, but she's also more than willing to pretend to be even crazier if it would be funny -- much to the confused horror of her friends.
* ItIsPronouncedTroPAY: The "avant-garday" ''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1064 street musicians]]''.
* ItMeantSomethingToMe: After [[spoiler:Faye dumps Sven for sleeping with Gina Riversmith]], it becomes pretty clear that it had meant something to ''both'' [[spoiler:Faye and Sven]].
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy:
** Faye [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=567 uses virtually these very words]] to Marten.
** It looks like [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1687 Marigold]] might be taking the same stance on Faye and Angus.
** [[spoiler:Station and Hannelore]], mixed with DidNotGetTheGirl.
* IWillShowYouX: When Angus compliments his shy, socially awkward roommate Marigold on her haircut, then slips in an affectionate insult:
-->'''Angus:''' So does that mean you're gonna wash it more than twice a year now?\\
'''Marigold:''' (not amused) I'll—I'll wash you more than twice a year! B-because you're a stupid jerk! Who smells!\\
'''Angus:''' O venom-tongued maiden! Stay your barbs, I beseech you!
* JerkassRealization: The redheaded library grad student (whom we soon learn to be Claire) [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2206 has one]].
* JetPack: An unusual use of it on [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 Hannelore's roomba]]. Held on by what appears to be [[DuctTapeForEverything scotch tape no less.]] And yet, it seems to be [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1643 inheritable]]...somehow.
* [[JugglingLoadedGuns Juggling Armed Tasers]]: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=529 Marten doesn't observe]] ''taser'' safety and accidentally shocks himself. Of course, he ''was'' drunk.
* JumpScare: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2103 This strip]] opens with a (thankfully fake) announcement about the website being blocked by the Protect IP Act.
* JumpingTheShark: In-universe, Pintsize [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=951 lampshades and parodies this by name]].
* JustFriends:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1631 Angus and Marigold]], though Marigold doesn't take it well at first.
** Marten/Faye.
** Elliot/Padma, though he'd prefer otherwise.
** As well as [[spoiler:Marten and Dora after their breakup]], though she's been the only one insisting it would be an easy thing to do. It took [[spoiler:Marten]] weeks before he could properly deal with it.
* JustSmileAndNod: Hannelore, Hannelore, Hannelore... In fact, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=596 it's how she got through college]].
* TheKlutz: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1322 Cosette couldn't have]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1323 had worse luck]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1327 if she tried]]. Then Marten hooked her up with Steve, but before she could meet him she fell down some stairs and ended up in a hospital with a broken leg. Later she managed to ''accidentally'' meet him and things finally turned for a good side for her. When they finally got to it, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1552 the fire alarm went off]]. On the second try, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1554 she got back into the hospital]]. [[{{Woobie}} Yeah...]]
* {{Kwyjibo}}: "Yarwhal"
* LabcoatOfScienceAndMedicine: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1510 Raven likes to feel SCIENCEY.]]
* LamePunReaction:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=316 No, Marten]], {{lampshad|eHanging}}ing it doesn't take the pain away.
** Done proactively by Jeph in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2314 this page]] with the explanation that he was on hardcore pain meds after hand surgery.
* LampshadeHanging: Self-aware humour? [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=534 That would never happen]].
* LapPillow: Marten, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=832 here]].
* LateArrivalSpoiler: Marten takes 500 strips to find out Faye's tragic history. Angus gets two jokes.
* LeavingYouToFindMyself: [[spoiler:[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1310 Wil does this to Penny.]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1432 He does return, however.]]]]
* LetMeGetThisStraight: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2034 second panel.]]
* LethalChef: {{Inverted|Trope}}. Faye's cooking is fine; she's more of a danger to herself when she is in the kitchen.
* LikeRealityUnlessNoted: The most obvious difference is the presence of intelligent robots and androids. Others include:
** Low-level superheroes.
** SSTO space travel.
** Quasi-civilian space stations.
** Occasional hints of the supernatural (witches, voodoo dolls that work for ass-grabbing).
** Whiskey so fine, it literally glows.
** Metal sculptures that can teleport through time.
** Cloaked aircraft of some sort. (As in, invisible from 20 feet away.)
** Really bitchin' cybernetic hands.
** One character was allegedly eaten by an allosaurus.
** Space owls are apparently a plausible lie.
** (The filler strips with talking animals and the Shame Orb are probably not canon, even though Sweet-Tits has been seen in the main continuity.)
*** (The strip may actually be [[LikeRealityUnlessNoted Like Reality]] [[RuleOfFunny Unless Funny]].)
* LimitedSocialCircle: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2270 Lampshaded]].
** And again [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2298 here.]] "Oh God, we've adopted another one."
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2134 Station to Hannelore as a kid.]] [[spoiler:Inverted later on, as [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2158 Station didn't count on her moving to Earth permanently]], and it made him realize how much he needs her.]]
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: A strange example, as it started out as very self-contained with four main characters. Since then, Jeph has had at least twenty be in focus at some point, and several major characters have been PutOnABus.
* LocalHangout:
** The coffee shop.
** The 19th century dress bar seems to be becoming this at night.
* LongRunner: Started in 2003, and went to 5 comics a week a year or so later.
* LooseCanon: The filler comics, which have their own characters and could be said to exist in a world outside of the main comic, seeing as they have MediumAwareness. Although Sweet-Tits did make [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2031 a cameo]] once.
* LysistrataGambit: Natasha threatens to withhold sex from Amir for a month if he doesn't agree to name the band Deathmøle.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes M-P]]
* MadeMyselfSad: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1782 Sven joking about his relationship troubles.]]
* MagicFeather: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1203 The Worry Hat]] is obviously one, but that doesn't mean it isn't effective.
* MagicSkirt: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657 Averted.]]
* MakeMeWannaShout: Yelling Bird, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1566 as its name]] might imply.
* {{Malaproper}}: "I might not be the sharpest bulb in the box but I'm not THAT gullible." [[TheRant The sharpest bulb in the box being the broken one, of course.]] Of note is that Raven has previously used this [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=487 correctly]].
* MaleGaze: Heck, it's the title of strip [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2290 2290]].
* MamaBear:
** Marten's Mom warns Faye off of hurting him.
** Later on, when Marten's mom found out about [[spoiler:his break-up with Dora]] and is on the plane to visit.
---> ''Dora's shivering violently.''\\
'''Dora:''' Eesh, I feel like a goose just walked over my grave.
** And once they finally meet, [[spoiler:it turns out to be a subversion, since she actually [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1833 hugs Dora]] and says she's sorry it didn't work out]].
* MasterOfTheMixedMessage: Faye to Marten.
* MatchmakerCrush: In the earlier strips, Faye was telling Marten how Dora liked him and Dora was giving Marten advice on Faye.
* MathematiciansAnswer: Emily [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2241 does this]].
* MenDontCry: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1448 Angus thinks]] it's perfectly fine for a guy to cry over cartoons.
* TheMerch: Characters will sport a new funny slogan or t-shirt in a few strips, then Jeph will talk about it in his Info post, then it will show up in the Merchandise section. Doing a massive Archive Crawl, you could see this six or seven times in a short span. It ain't called the "Questionable T-Shirt Factory" for nothing.
* MilhollandRelationshipMoment:
** Dora/Faye after Dora got together with Marten two days after Faye told him "Not now."
** Numerous others, including just about any time someone confesses something to Marten.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1726 A Marigold example.]]
* MilkingTheGiantCow: Marten being [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1641 melodramatic]].
* MillsAndBoonProse: Parodied in Jimbo's romance novels.
* MistakenForCheating: Dora finds Marten and Faye on the couch in their bedclothes hugging and jumps to the entirely wrong conclusion. The setup starts [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1740 here]].
* MistakenForGay:
** "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1050 Shh, it's best not to get involved in domestic disputes]]".
** Happens to [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1866 Marten and Steve]].
* MisterSeahorse: Randy is [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1826 male]], yet is drawn with a pouch, which he's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1545 used for his babies]].
* ModestyBedsheet: Played straight most times that two characters are depicted having sex, but averted when two characters are depicted AFTER having sex.
* ModestyTowel: Worn by [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1081 Sven]].
* MomentKiller:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=57 A moment of silence for both your moments.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1741 Mixed with]] OhCrap...
* MonochromeCasting: The vast majority of the cast is white, with [[AmbiguouslyBrown Tai]] being the lone exception that's still around (Amir and Padma were PutOnABus). It remains to be seen if Emily (the Asian intern at the library) and Gabby (the black intern) will be long-term fixtures or not.
* MoodWhiplash: Frequent. This comic has a habit of throwing in a punchline even into the most dramatic of moments (although there ''are'' exceptions).
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1245 I'm...I'm speechless. That may be the greatest non-sequitur in human history.]]
** The title of [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1741 #1741]] describes it pretty well: [=AwwwOHSHIT=]
** Going from [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1794 this]] to [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1799 this]] in just 5 strips is pretty whiplash-inducing.
** Another appropriate title - "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2033 Get A Neck Brace]]";
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2134 Strip 2134]] is one of the more blatant examples.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2146 Strip 2146]]. As Jeph states, Lt. Potter you are out of control.
* MostFanficWritersAreGirls: Two female fanfic writers, Tai and Marigold; Tai's stuff is apparently good (she writes a raved-about Franchise/HarryPotter piece), Marigold's, not so much. After a near miss where lesbian Tai hits on straight Marigold, the latter seeks to make up for the awkwardness by posting a story to Tai wherein Hermione and Ginny "go all the way."
* MrExposition: Momo fills this role in regards to the history of AIs in the QC universe. Jeph clearly has some pretty clear ideas about the universe, and Momo is often used to share them with the audience.
* MundaneMadeAwesome:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1416 "My name is Hannelore Ellicott-Chatham. I end messes."]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1485 Momo vs. squirrel.]]
** Marten's story about the ArcadeFire drummer. [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=178 "I AM MAKING MYSELF SOME CEREAL AND GODDAMN IF IT ISN'T GOING TO BE THE MOST DELICIOUS CEREAL IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND!"]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1731 Once subverted.]]
* MundaneUtility: One of [[BurgerFool two possible explanations]] for caped superheroes who deliver food. A third explanation, speculated about in-universe, is that they are special superheroes whose specific power is delivering food.
* MushroomSamba: "When you say big words, smoke comes out of your nostrils."
* MutuallyFictional: With ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}''. It's a really subtle one - Marigold wears an xkcd shirt [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1625 here]] [[note]]She also meets xkcd's author, Randall Munroe, in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1527 this strip]]... [[FanWank probably]].[[/note]]. And [[http://xkcd.com/574/ this]] xkcd comic shows one of Hannelore's [[CharacterBlog Twitter posts]].
* MyGodYouAreSerious: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1559 Episode 1559]] definitely qualifies as an example of this.
* MyHairCameOutGreen: Raven tries to bleach her hair blond to appeal to Sven, but instead it comes out "all orangey and gross", so she has to settle for dyeing it neon-pink.
* MySisterIsOffLimits: Many of the characters are protective of their families and loved ones:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=167 Faye takes this literally.]]
---> '''Faye:''' Flirting with my sister will cause you to be rendered into a fine paste by the sheer force of my elder-sibling rage.
** Hanners Is Off Limits: "I see flashing lights, dudes in hard hats waving flags, and about three miles of caution tape. There's a big sign that says '[[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1076 DETOUR - ANY OTHER FEMALE IN EXISTENCE]]'." Made funnier later when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 Hanners asks Sven out on a pretend date]].
* NakedApron: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2304 At 24 North Pine Island Road.]]
* NakedPeopleAreFunny:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1352 Oh, Wil.]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2304 Played with when Dora and Tai end up at the wrong house.]]
* NerdsAreVirgins
* NiceGuy:
** Marten, to a fault.
** Dale plays by MookChivalry in video games (which most people avoid) and gives [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2500 May a second chance]].
--->'''Jeph Comment:''' Dale is too nice for his own good.
* TheNicknamer: Faye invents (often insulting) nicknames for most of her friends:
** Marten is "Assbutt" or "Marty" (his mother's pet name for him, which he considers embarrassingly childish).
** Dora is "Spookypants" or "Spookybutt" (less so since she toned down her gothy tendencies).
** Sven is "Smarmosaurus".
** Hannelore is "Hanners" (which is soon adopted by all the cast and which Hannelore seems to like).
** Marigold is "Mar-Bear" (again, she seems to have no objections).
** Raven is "Ray-Ray" or "our savant" (a reference to her GeniusDitz characteristics).
** Penelope, who would prefer to be called by her full name, thank you ''very much'', is "Penny" or "Pen-Pen".
** Angus is "Argument Guy", long before Faye ever finds out his real name.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: The Linux [=AnthroPC=] appears to be based on Richard Stallman.
* NoIndoorVoice: Yelling Bird. It even goes over to MakeMeWannaShout once.
* NoSocialSkills: Hannelore is neurotic and quite at sea socially. She even has trouble with basics such as [[TheUnSmile smiling]]. She was raised by a [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder clinically Mad Scientist]] and a BadBoss ''on a space station'', and her psychological issues were much more severe when she was young.
* NobodyOver50IsGay: Averted. Marten's dad, Henry is happily engaged to a guy named Maurice. Also, seeing as he got married and had a son before coming out, he must have figured out his sexuality pretty late in life.
* NobodyPoops: {{Inverted|Trope}}; bodily functions of all types are part and parcel of the characters' daily lives, and are frequently mined for ToiletHumour.
** Tai was actually shown [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1694 on the toilet]] at an...inopportune moment.
** Hannelore's introduction was when Marten drunkenly mistook the women's restroom at the local bar for the men's, leading him to do his business in a sink and note that he thought the urinal was rather odd-looking when Hanners mentioned it.
* NoodleIncident:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=402 Number 472]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=499 How does Pintsize know that?]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=777 Jimbo's no longer allowed in Canada]].
** Marten's [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1014 first date]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1209 "We don't... we don't talk about that day."]]
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1213 Eleanor.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1567 June 14th, 1987.]] Apparently, it's so bad that it got ''Yelling Bird'' to break down into tears.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2094 Panel 4]]. Not exactly a normal occurrence in Marten's life.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2405 The entire reception]] when Marten's dad gets remarried.
* NoPunctuationIsFunnier: Very occasionally, a character might make an exclamation or short statement like this.
* {{Nosebleed}}:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1528 Female example.]] {{Justified|Trope}} because she did have an actual nosebleed the comic before and she blew a blood clot. The fact that this is a JustifiedTrope is {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d by the comic title.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2001 And again]].
* NotADate
** Hannelore goes out with Sven just to see what dates are like. Nothing romantic or sexual is expexcted to happen, and it doesn't.
** Tai follows Marigold back to her apartment on what she thinks at first is a date, until she [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1791 offers to kiss her]].
* NotEvilJustMisunderstood: Marigold has convinced herself that Dale is a jerk. He isn't; she was way into ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' when they first met, and he mentioned he was in the Alliance, so she, being in the Horde, slammed the door in his face. He then started a FriendlyRivalry with her, but she took it the wrong way, and now assumes he's a jerk. It's at the point [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2489 she'd rather assume he's stuck her with a bill than wait for him to come out of the bathroom.]]
* NotGoodWithPeople:
** Marigold and Hannelore, type 1.
** To a ''much'' lesser extent, Dora and Faye, type 2.
* TheNotSoHarmlessPunishment: Hanners is checking some bookkeeping for her CorruptCorporateExecutive mother, trying to find the source of an error. Faye asks her what will happen to the employee who made the mistake once he's found, and Hanners replies that he'll be fired.
-->'''Faye:''' That's not so-\\
'''Hanners:''' Out of a cannon, into a volcano.\\
'''Faye:''' Oh.
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore: Following the [[WhamEpisode Strip 500]].
* NumberOfTheBeast: Strip #666, complete with {{Black|Metal}}[=/=]DeathMetal references.
-->*Dora and Faye are both dressed in black outfits and wearing corpse paint*\\
'''Dora''': ALL HAIL OUR DARK LORD AND MASTER!\\
'''Faye''': DRIPPING FLESHY BLOODGORE FESTERS IN YOUR GAPING WOUNDS! DEMONS N' STUFF! GRAAAAR!
* ObfuscatingStupidity: Many fans suspect [[TheDitz ditzy]] Raven is doing just this, especially since she returned to school to get a degree in Physics.
* ObviousObjectCouldBeAnything: Faye argues at one point that a large envelope could contain a collapsible pony.
* OcularGushers: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1475 Momo]]. Presumably synthesized in a similar way to the AnimeSweatDrop.
* OddFriendship: Marigold and Hannelore. One's shy, sullen, and a complete slob, the other's a perky, hyperactive clean freak with OCD. They've become the best of friends.
* OffModel: As an artist with an [[ArtEvolution evolving art style]], Jeph produces comics from time to time where single characters look a bit strange and then return to their normal self in the next one.
* OhCrap: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 For Science!]] Pintsize and Winslow's faces in [[GoneHorriblyWrong the last panel]]. Natural conclusion of strip [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1555 #1555]].
* OhCrapThereAreFanficsOfUs: [[http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/1456308074/fffffffff Marigold]] hits FanfictionDotNet in Jeph's Tumblr.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Amir is thirty-five but looks like he's in his mid-twenties. He claims "good genes".
* OminousVisualGlitch: Hannelore and the space station A.I. stay up all night tracking a weather pattern. The station burned out a few processor banks trying to trace it back, and its [[ProjectedMan holographic avatar]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2162 displays this.]]
* OneOfUS: Possibly [[http://jephjacques.com/post/5819937113/this-troper Marigold]], which would make some sense, given her copious amounts of time on her computer, reading manga, and not going out.
* OneSteveLimit:
** When Marigold is introduced, her first words are "Damnit Angus, I told you I have a raid!". Sure enough, it is later revealed that recurring character Angus is her roommate. Dora even says "I thought she said your name earlier!" as if there was only one person named Angus in the world.
** And, of course, ''literally'', since there's only one Steve in the cast.
** {{Averted|Trope}} with Claire. Back in her goth days, Dora knew a Claire who would check Cosette for curses since every place she worked before Coffee of Doom either went out of business or was about to, mostly due to illegal actions on the owners' parts.
* OneTwoPunchline: Used periodically; [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1812 #1812]] is one example.
* OnlySaneMan:
** Marten...for a debatable definition of "sane."
** Penelope is definitely the OnlySaneMan in the Coffee Of Doom staff.
* OnlySixFaces: in his [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1196 guest comic]] [[PicturesForSadChildren john campbell]] lampshades his minimalist drawing style for the punchline.
* OpenMouthInsertFoot: A major one [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=362 here]].
-->'''Faye''': Holy crap, Marten. If your foot were wedged any further down your throat, you'd be choking on your own femur.
* OrphanedPunchline:
** In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1479 1479]]. Might be doubling as GettingCrapPastTheRadar, save that there isn't a radar for webcomics.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=35 I realized he was using the Alphabet trick on me]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1733 so I went all "That's right, spell my name, bitch!"]]
* OrwellianRetcon: When Dora makes fun of Raven for apparently styling her hair with Crisco, Raven objects that she'd never use Crisco [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne because of "cute vegan boys."]] When someone pointed out to Jeph, or he found himself upon checking, that Crisco not only ''is'' vegan, but came about as a vegetarian substitute for animal tallow, Jeph [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=703 changed the word to "lard."]]
* OutOfFocus:
** Steve; once a major character, he'd all but disappeared for a year, leading many readers to e-mail Jacques asking about his whereabouts, leading in turn to a LampshadeHanging strip and a request from the cartoonist to stop asking. The worry was he'd been PutOnABus. It wasn't the first time, either; early in the strip he disappeared for nearly a hundred pages. Then again, it is WebcomicTime... He returned a few months after a LampshadeHanging, having had some rather interesting adventures while he was gone.
*** He then slipped into the background again, only to return in another strip, titled [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2407 "You Needed To Know"]].
** The above-mentioned Angus [=McPhee=] also qualifies, though this is arguably justified by [[spoiler:Faye's and Sven's frenemies-with-benefits relationship]]. He then started appearing as a semi-regular again, and has finally become a regular character, while [[spoiler:Sven]] has slipped into the background somewhat.
** Raven has fallen into this as well, as she has not appeared for a long time (between strip 1510 and 1939).
** Deathmøle, which finally returned in strip 1985.
* PaidForFamily: Referenced - Hanners once admits that she's secretly worried that the rest of the cast are just skilled actors paid by her (ludicrously wealthy) parents to give her the illusion of a normal life. Faye's response: "Well, if we WERE, we wouldn't be allowed to admit it, so there's not much point in worrying about it, is there?".
* PaintingTheMedium:
** Faye's "'''[[UnsoundEffect SCORN!]]'''" ''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1445 takes physical form]]'' to [[GaleForceSound propel Angus out of the door of the coffee shop]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2093 Marten literally waves away his forebodings]], which are floating above his head.
* ParodySue: Dave, the ex-boyfriend of one of Steve's girlfriends, is ridiculously perfect, from studying to be a doctor to "help the children" to avoiding telling his girlfriend he was going to church because he didn't want to force his spiritual beliefs onto her. He's also a major milquetoast; that plus feeling inadequate in comparison to him is why Mina broke up with him.
-->'''Steve:''' Next you'll be telling me he donates all his money to charities and spends twenty hours a week feeding the homeless.\\
'''Mina:''' Only fifteen. He's gotta sleep some time.
* PassThePopcorn: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1095 Penelope]]
* PercussiveMaintenance: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=629 Marten to Pintsize]] when excess RAM triggers his MotorMouth.
* PerformanceAnxiety: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=553 Marten suffers from it.]]
* PerkyGoth: Formerly Dora, although Dora and Raven each abandoned the goth look a long time ago now.
-->'''Dora:''' (listening to music) Why do I suddenly want to dance around giggling like an idiot while [[Music/FlamingLips a smiling man in a white suit throws confetti at me?]]\\
'''Faye:''' That feeling is what we non-goths call "happiness". This record is its most condensed form. It is like a crack-rock of pure joy!
* PetHomosexual: Scott, Tai, and probably any future bosses Marten will have.
* ThePigPen: Nat rarely showers; her body odor is frequently commented on.
* PinkElephants: The [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=474 Tequila Monster]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=719 Beast of Bourbon]]. The former looks sorta like a psychedelic weasel, the latter...well, it's yellow, that's all that's definite.
* PizzaBoySpecialDelivery: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2356 Hannelore and Dale]] {{subvert|edTrope}} this, though anyone familiar with Hannelore's character would never expect her to play it straight anyway.
* PluckyComicRelief: The robots in general and Pintsize in particular.
* PostKissCatatonia: Two, both lasting an entire strip.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1725 Faye]] after getting a surprise kiss from [[spoiler:Angus]].
** The [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2247 first time]] [[spoiler:Tai and Dora]] kiss, both get stuck blushing and only able to say things like "I. Um. Wow."
* PowerGlows: Some ''really'' good whiskey.
* PrecisionFStrike: Although they curse a lot, seeing it come from [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1108 Hannelore]] was just awesome.
* ProjectedMan: Spaceship and Station.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis:
** I SAID '''''SUMMON. THE. [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1566 WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES]]'''''
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=858 "Go. Eat. A. Cookie."]]'''
** '''[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1049 "You. Did. NOT. Just call me fat."]]'''
*** Followed quickly by [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1051 "I... am... going... to... KILL you."]]
** Steve to Marten: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1862 "WE ARE BROS, MAN! WE! ARE! '''BROS'''!"]]. With a crowd of three random dudes shouting "Bros! Bros! Bros! Bros!"
* PunnyName: The ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' addict and all around dork, Mari''gold Farmer''.
* PuppyDogEyes: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2001 Momo expresses her gratitude to Marigold.]]
* PutOnABus: According to WordOfGod, the following characters have been permanently written out of the strip: "Sarah, Ellen, Nat, [[TheWoobie any chance at happiness for Marten]]." There are other cases where this is [[TheBusCameBack averted]], as some characters will disappear for extended periods of time only to reappear hundreds of strips later.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes Q-T]]
* QuintessentialBritishGentleman: Pintsize behaves like this when Marten changes his locale to British.
* QuoteToQuoteCombat: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2243 #2243]] features an idiom battle between Marten and Tai. Marten wins.
* TheRant: Sometimes rather long and detailed, frequently an indecipherable drawl.
* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=187 According to Marten]].
* RapidFireComedy: Sometimes. It's supposed to be a gag-per-day format, aside from strips about relationships and angst. Most jokes are supported by snide comments from somebody else present in the same panel. If the strip features no beat panels and buildups, it can make each panel like that.
* RealityEnsues: [[spoiler:The Marten/Dora breakup]] is a well-written reflection on how real relationships can go south. Bonus points for using personality traits and behaviors they exhibited previously (in humorous context at the time) outside of their relationship.
* RealityIsUnrealistic: Occasionally complaints crop up about the ImprobablyFemaleCast, but it turns out that Northampton really is roughly 60% female and 40% male, largely due to the presence of the all-girls' Smith College. (Represented as "Smif College" in the QC universe.)
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: A week of unplanned guest comics ran in late October and early November 2011 due to an extended power outage caused by the late-October snowstorms' damage to what were already temporary post-Hurricane Irene repairs to the Western Mass power grid.
* RecklessGunUsage: Marten [[JugglingLoadedGuns doesn't observe]] ''taser'' safety and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=529 accidentally electrocutes himself]]. Of course, he ''was'' drunk.
* RedEyesTakeWarning:
** [[spoiler:Faye issuing a death mandate to Pintsize against Sven's latest hook-up.]]
** Dora gets her turn when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 Hanners asks Sven]] on a pretend date.
** Faye gets HER turn when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1808 "convincing" Dora to get a therapist]].
* RefugeInAudacity:
** Mentioned in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=305 305]].
** Executed in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=982 982]], somewhat {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=989 989]].
** An unintentional example can be found in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1115 1115]].
* RememberTheNewGuy: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1640 Dale]].
* {{Retcon}}:
** Cosette's last name used to be Beaumarchais. Now it's Hurlbut.
** Also, Marten's father's boyfriend [[spoiler: and now husband]] used to be [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1516 an environmental engineer.]] Now he's [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2378 a golf instructor.]]
* ARiddleWrappedInAMysteryInsideAnEnigma: When someone references Raven's indecipherable status (Is she just a [[TheDitz Ditz]] given to being unusually insightful, or a GeniusDitz who uses ObfuscatingStupidity?), Raven responds, [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=542 "I'm a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in an AWESOME rack!"]]
* RidiculouslyHumanRobot: Momo, as of strip 2000.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Implied if Marten had done anything [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2425 here.]]
--> [[BewareTheSillyOnes Clinton]]: Damnit, my hand is stuck is murder-mode. Let's go to the grocery store, I need to find something trachea-like for it to crush.
* {{Robosexual}}: [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1900 Only hinted at]].
** Some of the more humanoid [=AnthroPCs=] are [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1998 obviously meant to cater to this]], such as the prototype of one that [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1459 looked like Jude Law]] with a prehensile GagPenis. It's also mutual. Momo has fantasized about Sven before, and Pintsize is a LovablePervert.
---> [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1658 No one is quite sure who decided it would be useful for artificial intelligences to posess [sic] libidos, but it is generally agreed that it would be more trouble than it is worth to remove it. Besides, the horny little buggers would revolt.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2158 And then Station confesses his love to Hannelore]]. [[spoiler:Sadly for him, she platonically returns his feelings and wants to stay on Earth. He knew she'd answer that, and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy he'd rather her be happy]].]]
* RobotBuddy: The [=AnthroPCs=].
* RobotGirl: Momo has [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658 the weirdest dreams...]]
* [[BestialityIsDepraved Robot Sex Is Depraved]]: When Marten jokes that he imagines this is how AI was invented, Hanners says she once asked her father (who invented the technology), but he ''panicked and avoided answering the question.''
* RobotWar: Put on indefinite hold, mostly because the robots realized that if they won they'd be in charge, and who wants that responsibility?
* RosesAreRedVioletsAreBlue, you are really hot, let's fuck. [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1189 Yes, it's Sven]].
* RuleOfCool: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2110 The lens flare was added because lens flares are awesome and if you disagree you are dumb.]]
* RuleOfFunny: Most of the crazy stuff that happens, but Hannelore's obsessive-compulsive disorder deserves special mention since, as an OCD sufferer himself, Jacques can hardly be said to have not done the research.
* RunningGag:
** Surprise-kisses on Friday. [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=564 So far]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1079 there have]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1735 been]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2055 four]]. When there was [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1724 a kiss that WASN'T posted on Friday]], Jeph lampshaded it in the news post for that day.
** The specials list on the blackboard at Coffee of Doom.
* RussianReversal: In Soviet Russia, [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=145 cake mixes you!]]
* SandInMyEyes: Angus after [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2004 this]] touching moment.
* SarcasticConfession: Of sorts. [[spoiler:Hannelore's first meeting with Marten.]]
* ScaryShinyGlasses:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1693 Somebody]] likes [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion NGE]]... [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1771 Somehow]] he can even do it without a light source!
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2282 He is not the only one]]. Amazingly, she can do it without even wearing glasses.
** Dale's constantly-shiny-from-any-angle-regardless-of-ambient-light glasses are [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2487 eventually revealed]] to be [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual backlit AR specs]].
* SceneryCensor: Two conveniently placed bottles [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=519 protect Raven's breasts]] from us while she flashes Sven.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1915 Mieville gets in on the act.]]
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: Hannelore's father.
* ScoobyStack: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=676 Lampshaded.]]
* SecondLawMyAss: Pintsize.
* SeinfeldianConversation: Constantly.
-->'''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=857 Marten]]:''' I got a haircut.\\
'''Dora:''' You got a haircut?!\\
'''Faye:''' He got a haircut!
* SelfDeprecation: TheRant in many strips:
** From [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1704 #1704]]:
--->Don't worry, this isn't a setup to hire a new [=CoD=] girl. The last thing my comic needs right now is another female character!*\\
* watch- having said that, I'll introduce one tomorrow.
** From [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1705 #1705]]:
--->COMING MONDAY: SIXTEEN BRAND NEW FEMALE COFFEE OF DOOM EMPLOYEES, EACH WITH HER OWN ADORABLE QUIRK!\\
j/k\\
I hope
* SeriousBusiness: For Marigold, [[WorldOfWarcraft Horde vs. Alliance]] is [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1668 SERIOUS]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1680 BUSINESS]]. Followed up on [[ClaspYourHandsIfYouDeceive later with a]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1693 shout-out]].
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Marten lapses into this when drunk.
* SexForSolace: Referenced and {{defied| trope}} after [[spoiler:Dora breaks up with Marten...]]
-->'''[[TheCasanova Sven]]:''' Oh, and if you need some meaningless rebound sex, I know TONS of slutty chicks who'll-\\
'''Marten:''' OKAY THANK YOU BYE
* SexySantaDress: QC's Christmas comics!
* SheCleansUpNicely: Marigold [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1880 hates this trope]].
* SheIsAllGrownUp: Happens in Momo's fantasy shot.
* ShipperOnDeck:
** Dora ships [[spoiler:Angus/Faye]].
** Hanners ships Marigold/Francis (the scientist from John Ellicott's space station).
---> '''Hannelore:''' ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis MARIGOLD. HE. IS. FLIRTING. WITH. YOU!]]''
** Marten {{lampshade|d trope}}s this immediately afterwards.
---> '''Marten:''' "You're really ''dead set'' on that "reasonable number of babies", huh?
** Marten and Faye [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2226 both ship]] Dora/Tai.
** A drunken (and concerned about her own lack of long-term relationship) Mrs. Reed tries to blatant set up [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2379 Marten/Claire]].
* ShipSinking:
** Most vehemently, Marigold/Hannelore, complete with LampshadeHanging (and TakeThat) [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1492 here]] and more HeavyHanded [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1544 here]]. Jeph strongly dislikes how "Shippers" invade his forums and try to randomly place homosexuality upon his straight characters.
** Faye/Marten. Although put on hold before The Talk and his relationship with Dora, it was specifically sunk [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1737 here]], [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739 two strips later]], and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1807 these]][[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1838 two]].
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1792 Marigold/Tai.]]
* ShipTease:
** The entirety of the first 500 strips could be considered a ShipTease for Faye/Marten.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1740 You bastard]].
** Hannelore/Sven: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1768 Unexpected twist?]] Well, [[GenreSavvy not really]]. The possibility that some shippers out there probably are tearing their hair out? Likely.
** Hannelore and Marten's [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=532 first meeting, conversation and interactions including some traditional]] ShipTease. Her characterization changed quite a bit later. 1500 strips and 5 and a half years later they get some new JustFriends styled ship tease, when [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1984 Strip 1984]] involves Marten pondering what he wants and needs from and out of life. The first thing he does upon figuring it out is to go straight to Hannelore. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2147 Strip 2147 has Hannelore's father instantly think that Marten was the friend who taught Hannelore that physical contact is a good thing]]. And that the physical contact was sex. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2152 Strip 2152 has a character assume they came up to space together for zero g sex]] and the word JustFriends starts getting thrown about.
** Tai/Dora is, from Strip 2200 on, starting to get teased in a big way. [[spoiler:They become tentatively not long later.]]
** Marigold/Sven, Marigold/Dale, Marigold/Angus, Marigold/Hannelore--Jeph likes Marigold.
*** Two out of these four have been sunk, but [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2485 Oh boy, is the Marigold/Dale]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2486 ship getting some teasing.]]
** Ever since Claire admitted to Marten that she's [[spoiler:transgender]], they've both been getting a lot of scenes together. It gets particularly blatant when Marten goes to his father's wedding and brings her along as his guest.
*** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2405 "I am trolling you guys pretty hard"]]
** Pretty much every couple gets a couple of teases in there somewhere.
* ShockSite: Turns out [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1829 Marten's mom knows the Goatse guy!]] As a side note, [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/goatse his name actually ''is'' Kirk.]]
* ShootTheShaggyDog: An InUniverse [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1907 example]], following [[spoiler: Marten and Dora's breakup in strip 1799]]. Also counts as a LampshadeHanging and, as noted above, a ContinuityNod / CallBack in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1965 this strip]] makes it fall under "AngstWhatAngst" territory.
* ShoutOut: Given its length and the artist's interests, very many.
** Marigold has an ''Webcomic/{{xkcd}}'' T-Shirt.
** Two ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}'' characters (Helen B. Narbon and Dave Davenport) appear in the first panel of [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=543 #543.]]
** [[Manga/MahouSenseiNegima Negi and Nodoka]] show up in the third panel of [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=656 #656]].
** [[DresdenCodak Kimiko Ross]], [[DieselSweeties Red Robot]], and [[{{Applegeeks}} Eve]] make an appearance in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1421 #1421]].
** Marigold has Manga/{{Yotsuba}} and [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Osaka]] posters in her room, and in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1613 Magical Maidservant Mari-Chan]], Marigold has a [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Sakaki]]-esque kawaii-gasm. Jeph is clearly a fan of Kiyohiko Azuma.
** You might miss the ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'' shout-out in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657 this comic]] until you look at the title and watch the beginning of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmIxxfk-Im4 the show's opening]]. Even then, it's kind of subtle.
*** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1661 Shelby]] the Great Pyrenees is drawn very similarly to [[http://azumanga.wikia.com/wiki/Tadakichi-san Tadakichi-san]]. Unsurprising, given ''Azumanga Daioh'''s influence on the comic.
** Marigold's hair in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1738 #1738]] looks an awful lot like Chiyo-chan's.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1391 #1391]], covering eight different {{webcomics}}.
** There is [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1313 one]] to ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''. Hannelore mumbles part of Foul Ole Ron's catchphrase.
*** Said catchphrase ("millennium hand and shrimp") is itself a ShoutOut to TheyMightBeGiants, taking this UpToEleven.
** To ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' when Dale pulls the [[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-gendo-pose Gendo pose.]] He's also a fan of LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya, going by the poster behind him.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1501 Angus is reading a book]] by Creator/JimButcher.
** Marigold wearing a [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1528 Haruhi shirt]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1509 This page]] is one to ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}''.
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1999 Comic 1999]] has a anthro-pc breaking out into song. Said song is a parody of the lyrics to the song of the movie of the same name, TheSoundOfMusic.
** [[Manga/SayonaraZetsubouSensei SAYONARA]], [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1730 SHELBY SENSEI!]]
** [[CthulhuMythos Ia, ia,]] [[EnsembleDarkhorse Hannelore]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1753 fhtagn]].
*** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 And again, next page.]]
** The [=VespAvenger=] - a crazy girl on a Vespa who runs people down. [[Anime/{{FLCL}} Sounds familiar]].
** There are several panels featuring Jeph's webcomic artist friends from the Northampton area walking by in the background.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=720 This]] is what [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=721 happens]] when Jeph tries to get every anime/RPG reference out of his system at once.
** Marten '''Tiberius''' Reed. A ''Franchise/StarTrek'' reference or maybe [[StephenColbert Stephen T. Colbert]]?
** A subtle reference to ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1844 this]] strange lady's singing.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=333 I can do it!]] I can totally do it [[http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Nine_Times nine]] [[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner times]]!
** [[SomethingPositive Davan and Nancy]] show up in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=511 this strip.]]
** "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1994 The PX-3500]] has [[TabletopGame/BattleTech dual ERPPCs and six medium lasers]]. It is NICE."
** There's a [[DieselSweeties Red Robot]], [[Franchise/MassEffect Geth]] and a [[LuckyStar Konata]] chassis for sale in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1998 this strip,]] which is even called "Robocameos". And the shop itself is called Literature/{{Idoru}}.
** To ''WeeblAndBob'' (more specifically, [[http://www.weebls-stuff.com/wab/team+laser+explosion/ Team Laser Explosion]]) in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=382 #382]].
** If you look at the Hot Topic in the background of [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1996 #1966]], you can see a poster advertising [[Webcomic/{{Homestuck}} troll horns]].
** [[Literature/{{Dune}} I must not laugh]]. Laughter is the Marten-killer. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=351 Laughter is the little death that brings about total obliteration by an enraged Faye...]]
** Hell, Jacques even works a reference to ''[[Creator/EdgarAllanPoe The Cask of Amontillado]]'' in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1123 #1123.]]
** Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy: "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 Adam's Law]]".
** [[Film/ThePrincessBride "Mawwage!]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=481 Twue wuv!"]]
** Momo's original chassis is almost certainly a reference to Sumomo from ''Manga/{{Chobits}}''.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2137 This comic]] appears to feature, in its third panel, [[{{Nichijou}} a certain seven-year-old professor...]]
*** Also note Marigold's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1993 ringtone]].
** Shortly after, a minor character by the name of [[DeadlyPremonition Francis York]] appears.
** Marten refers to Clinton as [[Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000 Tom Servo]] during one particular moment of creepiness.
** Marigold has been shown wearing a "[[ThisVeryWiki This Troper]]" T-shirt on [[http://jephjacques.com/post/5819937113/this-troper Jeph's Tumblr]].
** Marigold is wearing Karkat's Cancer symbol shirt from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2275 in comic 2275]].
** [[HelloNurse Hel-LOOO,]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=946 Nurse!]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2112 Strip #2112]] is entitled [[Music/{{Rush}} Try Not To Rush.]]
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2292 "Script by]] Creator/CassandraClare." This was done in return for Clare writing in a QC reference in ''[[Literature/MortalInstruments City of Lost Souls]]'', in which she had Simon Lewis wear a "Clearly I Have Made Some Bad Decisions" T-shirt.
** Hannelore's dad in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2145 #2145]]: "Drat, I was hoping I'd finally get to test out the [[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} paranormal containment unit]] I designed back in '84."
** Emily has an ImagineSpot where [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2361 she picture's Tai's hair a variety of different colors and styles.]] One of those styles is [[Manga/DragonBall Super Saiyan]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2397 Claire models]] [[Music/{{Bjork}} the infamous swan dress.]]
* ShownTheirWork: Fans from the Northampton area are continually impressed by the backgrounds of the city, since anyone familiar with the real Northampton can recognize the slightly-changed version of real places.
* ShowWithinAShow: The manga/anime ''Magical Love Gentleman''; Marigold is a '''serious''' fan, and introduced Hannelore and Angus to it.
* ShrinkingViolet: Marigold.
* SickeninglySweethearts: Referenced in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=772 #772]].
* SignificantMonogram: '''P'''enelope '''G'''aines. '''P'''izza '''G'''irl. Read into that what you will.
* SingleStrokeBattle: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1485 Parodied]].
* SlasherSmile: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1323 Dora, what the hell?]]
* SleepCute:
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=185 Subverted]] with Marten and Faye.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2406 Played straight]] with Marten and Claire.
* SlutShaming: Inverted when Faye [[spoiler:sleeps with Sven]]. She freaks out and calls herself a slut while her therapist reassures her that sex doesn't have to be bad and a casual relationship could be just what she needs.
* SmokingHotSex:
** ''Pintsize''.
** Faye's snarkgasm of '''SCORN!''': see UnsoundEffect below. "Phew! I need a cigarette!"
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2050 Again]], from Hannelore of all people.
* SocialSemiCircle: Marten's family's table at his [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2402 fathers' wedding]].
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent:
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d to [[{{Pun}} hell]] and back with [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=666 strip #666]].
---> '''Marten''': Spontaneous metal interlude!
** Any one of Yelling Bird's strips.
* SophisticatedAsHell: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2142 The station computer]].
* SorkinRelationshipMoment: Partial trope namer.
* SpaghettiKiss: Done with a twist for how Marten's parents met in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2386 #2385]].
* SpiderSwarm: The comic has the Coffee of Doom's basement, also known ([[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2467 rightfully]]) as the Spider Zone.
* SpitTake:
** A double one - [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=47 Et voila]].
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1231 Lampshaded?]]
** Marten does one [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2152 in zero gravity]].
* SpockSpeak: Faye did this in the early strips, partly to disguise her [[AmericanAccents Southern accent]] and partly as a defense mechanism. It went away when she was drunk, and has been phased out completely as she's gotten a better grip on her issues.
* SpySpeak: ''No, mother, the peaches are NOT ripe!''
* {{Squee}}:
** Dora over the idea of Faye and Angus together. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1663 Literally, even]]. And, previously, Marigold after going out to drink with the others.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1708 Weaponized]] by Hannelore.
** Marten and Hannelore are [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2163 practically bursting with it]].
* StatlerAndWaldorf: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=253 Marten feels Dora and Faye are acting like this.]]
* StealthPun: Look closely at [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=890 Winslow's eyebrows]]. [[note]]If your screen resolution isn't up to it, they're the word "beta".[[/note]]
* StockSuperheroDayJobs: Inverted by [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=374 Pizza Girl]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=761 Chinese Delivery Man]]. Inversion kind-of {{lampshade| hanging}}d [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=399 here]]. Apparently the mundane is the new super! Though I suppose you'd have to be super to meet some of those delivery deadlines.
* StrictlyFormula: Mostly averted, though because of its day-to-day life storytelling qualities, the same situations pop up with great frequency. One of the most common plot threads in the series was Dora freaking out on Marten over something, Marten reacting negatively, the two talking to other people about their argument, then both apologizing and making up (this has happened about five times in major arcs thus far). Steve has gone through a few "has awkward hook-up with new girl, they awkwardly go through the first stages of a relationship, then they break up" storylines so far. This is largely {{justified|Trope}} considering it's mostly SliceOfLife, and real couples ''do'' do this sort of thing all the time.
* StylisticSuck:
** Marigold's ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fanfic ''[[http://questionablecontent.net/spacewizards.html Hermione and Ginny versus the Space Wizards]]''.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1236 This comic]], consisting of equal parts BreakingTheFourthWall (which the author normally hates), "lazily-rendered robot jokes," ridiculously blatant {{Fanservice}}, and near-total darkness (concealing more fanservice).
* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: Used often, but Hanners is the [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=525 creepy]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=596 goddess]] [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1093 of]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1609 this]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1638 trope]].
* SweatDrop: Momo can actually do this, by oozing a special liquid out of her scalp.
* TakeOurWordForIt: Marten's dad's wedding reception. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2405# You Should've Seen It.]]
* TakeThat:
** Plenty to bands that Jacques doesn't like.
** [[http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/3439350865/suck-it-willis SUCK IT, WILLIS]]
* TakeThatAudience:
** Occasionally to the {{Shipping}} fanbase.
** See the quote at the top of the page.
* TechnicallyASmile:
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1585 Hannelore]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1215 Faye]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1584 Mieville]].
* ThereAreNoTherapists: Averted multiple times.
** Hannelore has regular therapy sessions, and Faye started seeing Hannelore's therapist.
** In the wake of [[spoiler:Dora and Marten's breakup]], Faye demanded that Dora see a therapist [[spoiler:because of [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1802 the stupidity of her reason]] for the breakup]], which she eventually did.
* ThinkingTic: Most characters will raise an index to their faces when thinking aloud
* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=697 Strip 697]]
* ThousandYardStare: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1276 Hannelore.]]
* TimeSkip: Between [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1310 1310]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1311 1311]].
* ToiletHumor: A surprising amount, a symptom of what Jeph refers to as his "Butts disease" (whereby he is obsessed with butts and the inherent comedy they embody). May they never find a cure.
* TookALevelInBadass: At first, it was assumed that Steve's [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1350 'bus trip']] was the result of a drunken stupor. Then he was more or less validated with [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1406 this.]]
* TooMuchInformation: A common trope.
* TooSoon:
** After Faye [[spoiler:breaks up with Sven]], [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1349 she finds Pintsize in her bed]], ReadyForLovemaking and sporting a Tom Selleck chest wig & moustache:
--->'''Pintsize:''' I know it's a little soon, but- \\
'''Faye:''' The entire universe could have undergone HEAT DEATH and it'd still be too soon.
** Much later, after [[spoiler:Dora breaks up with Marten]], he gives us [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1812 this delightful sight]].
* TrashOfTheTitans: Marigold's epically messy apartment, until Hannelore got to it.
* TrainingMontage: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2212 Marten and the interns.]]
* TrollingCreator: Jeph proudly trolls the shippers with various shipteases and cliffhangers.
* TruthInTelevision: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1681 The turtle humping the shoe?]] [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd5WRkddJTA It exists.]]
* {{Tsundere}}:
** Faye, from start to finish. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1525 Hannelore even gave her a shirt proclaiming such.]]
** Angus, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1691 at times]]. Lampshaded by Marigold's giggle.
** May is originally a [[SubvertedTrope subversion]], as her [[{{Meido}} anime maid form]] was designed to appeal to [[{{Otaku}} Dale's interests,]] something she's quite bitter about. However, she gradually becomes [[DefrostingIceQueen less prickly]] and eventually has [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2514 a full tsundere moment.]]
* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: Mentioned by Faye when she issued a death warrant to Pintsize at someone.
-->'''Pintsize:''' [[AvertedTrope Actually, we put that on indefinite hiatus.]]\\
'''Faye:''' Damn. Okay, okay, how about if you ever [[AIIsACrapshoot lose your morality programming and go berserk]], she's the first one you kill?\\
'''Pintsize:''' I think I can do that.
* TwentyPercentMoreAwesome: Fournier-Goldman Happiness Units.
* TwerpSweating: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=459 Female version.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Tropes U-Z]]
* UncannyValley: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1013 Hanners' robot boyfriend]] is described as such in-universe.
* {{Understatement}}: It's right there in the friggin' title [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2075 of this strip.]]
* TheUnfairSex: Faye used Sven to fulfil her sexual needs, resists all [[LadykillerInLove his attempts to develop an emotional component to their relationship]], but still demands that he be faithful to her. When he is not, she flips out on him, and her friends are completely sympathetic to her. If the sexes had been reversed, Faye would have been seen as wrong from the start. (Dora's upset by it... but only because she has baggage with Sven, not because Faye is using him.)
* UnrequitedLoveSwitcheroo: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1608 Sorta.]]
* UnsettlingGenderReveal: Early on Pintsize went on a date with another [=AnthroPC=] over the internet that he thought was a "girl", but turned out to be a "guy" when they chatted the day after they had the robot equivalent of sex. Though he wasn't bothered about doing it with an anthropc set to male, just surprised because he was pink.
* UnsoundEffect:
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=311 ADJUST!]]'''
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=495 ASS-GRAB!]]'''.
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=535 CAFFEINE!]]'''
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=676 SOMERSAULT!]]'''
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1597 DANCE DANCE]]'''
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1078 SHEEN!]]'''
** '''[[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1445 SCORN!]]'''
** '''[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2248 POWER HUG]]'''
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1772 "You want the paper?" "Just the sports section, please."]]
* UnwantedHarem: [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=753 Lampshaded by Marten's mother.]]
* VitriolicBestBuds: Faye and Dora and many others.
* VomitDiscretionShot: Plenty, usually associated with all the drinking everyone does.
* VomitIndiscretionShot: These tend to happen in the guest comics, with [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1452 this]] being a grand example.
* WalkDontSwim: Momo is evidently waterproof. She is not, however, [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2303 buoyant]].
* WebcomicTime: Some stretches of ''years'' can be nailed down to a few days thanks to a particularly long stretch of 'later that day' or 'the next morning'-type events; problematized further by up-to-the-minute music references. When creator Jeph Jacques was asked about this on the comic's forum, he replied "You know how glass isn't actually a solid, but an extremely viscous liquid?[[note]]For more information, see [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass#Behavior_of_antique_glass The Other Wiki]][[/note]] Yeah."
* WellIntentionedExtremist: The [=VespAvenger=], arguably.
* WhamEpisode: [[WhamEpisode/QuestionableContent Has its own page]].
* WhamLine: Subverted for laughs in [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2336 Strip 2336:]]
-->'''Momo:''' You were frightened of Gordon! That would have completely thrown off your biometrics, leading to a completely inaccurate compatibility rating with Pintsize!\\
'''Marten:''' You mean...\\
'''Momo:''' You should not have been assigned Pintsize as your companion.\\
''[[[BeatPanel beat]]]''\\
'''Marten:''' Well, it worked out all right in the end, so--\\
'''[[TheHedonist Pintsize]]:''' YOU MEAN I COULDA BEEN WITH A HOT CHICK THIS WHOLE TIME?!
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: After Momo tells Marten that Pintsize should not have been assigned to him, Marten wonders what robot he would have been paired with instead. Cue a panel of Marten riding a robot whale in the ocean.
* WhatDidIDoLastNight:
** In [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1081 #1081]], after [[spoiler:Faye wakes up after having hooked up with Sven between [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1079 #1079]] and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1080 #1080]].]].
** [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1521 When the main characters go out barhopping to celebrate Marten's dad's engagement.]]
** When Tai gets drunk and crashes on Hannelore's couch... and [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1611 wakes up naked]]. They eventually find her clothes [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1612 in the dishwasher]].
** Marten says this to Faye the morning after [[spoiler:his breakup with Dora]]; she decides not to tell him he was being a complete jerk.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Zig-zagged. AIs have been granted full civil rights and those which are "sold" in stores are ones that choose to meet and bond with people. [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1996 Such contracts can be ended by either party and the cost is refunded to the purchasing party.]] Generally speaking, they're treated like people, and this series is heavily on the idealistic side about human-robot interactions. However, people can and do return AIs that have bonded to them, though this is considered cruel, and Pintsize suffers a lot of violence in response to his ComedicSociopathy that can only be justified by RuleOfFunny.\\
\\
It's also an open question when robots got full civil rights since it's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2085 the first thing the first AI asked for]]. However, earlier in the strip Pintsize and Winslow shrug off the idea of equal rights [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=668 since it would mean equal responsibility]]. There was also Linux-based [=AnthroPC PT410x=], who was a robot parody of the minority revolutionaries and who [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1105 rejected any name other than his serial number as a "slave name."]] AIs can also voluntarily end up in menial jobs as appliances like [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1999 toasters]], [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2001 humidifiers]], and [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2131 trash cans]], which would seem more like an AndIMustScream situation to a human.
** Despite the evolving status of AIs within the strip, human-''looking'' robots and non-human ones are still treated differently. Momo (post-chassis-upgrade) has a job, is often out in public, and was invited on the lake cabin trip around strip 2292. Pintsize and Winslow have no jobs, stay in the house most days, and were apparently ''not'' invited.
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Faye occasionally getting called on what a bitch she's being or some action of hers is probably all that's keeping her from sliding down the slippery slope towards being a complete JerkSue. Of course, since a MilhollandRelationshipMoment almost always turns her into a KarmaHoudini, just how much she avoids it may be a matter of opinion.
** Later, after plenty of CharacterDevelopment for them both, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1744 Faye delivers one to Dora]].
* WhenSheSmiles: Say it with me, [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1731 d'awwwwwwwww.]]
* WhosYourDaddy:
* WhosOnFirst: Done with [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=616 Islands]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1035 Blink and you'll miss it.]] Dora and Marten evidently did. Though it's not unusual for uncles and nephews to look alike, the way it was phrased...
** Dora's mother missed one too, in the same strip. Veronica Vance is Marten's mother.
* WhyDontYouMarryIt: Hannelore says this to Marten after he shows enthusiasm about a new coffee shop.
* WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises: This is a standard expression of shock or surprise. Examples:
** Dora in strips [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1323 #1323]] and [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1343 #1343]]
** Faye in [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1450 #1450]].
** The Webcomics Weekend's hawk mascot in Yelling Bird's [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1375 triumphant return]].
* WillTheyOrWontThey: The entire comic was built on the UnresolvedSexualTension between Marten and Faye up until [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore "the talk"]]. This then happens with absolutely everybody else except Marten and Hannelore consistently after that.
* WimpFight: Angus and Marten's ''ScottPilgrim'' [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1731 impression]].
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility: Marten quotes this, and Hannelore turns it on its head.
-->'''Hannelore:''' It actually doesn't. [[CorruptCorporateExecutive My mom]] never woulda gotten where she is if she thought she was responsible for her actions.
* WorldOfPun: Everybody makes lots of puns.
* WorldOfSnark: This is a defining trait of a fair number of the characters.
* WorthIt: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=378 Oh Marten...]]
* WrenchWench: Faye mentioned that she used to make metal sculptures, but making a minature T-rex that ''poops espresso'' means she qualifies.
* YaoiFangirl:
** Marigold, first seen wearing a "YAOI ZONE" shirt, and whose favorite mangas, anime, and fanfiction (as well as several of her own efforts at fanfiction) are yaoi.
** And now, Hanners. To quote Deathmøle Jacques, "This cannot be good."
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1639 Dora and Faye, apparently]].
*** Well, lookee here. [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=332 "Normally I'd be all about the homoeroticism..."]] And [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=404 here]].
** [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2495 According to this]], ''Dale'' owns a complete collection of ''Magical Love Gentlemen''.
* YouAreBetterThanYouThinkYouAre: Tai gives Dora a speech to this effect [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2227 here]].
-->'''Tai:''' If you think you're a mess, it's only 'cause you hold yourself to a higher standard.
* YouCanSeeThatRight?: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1211 Library spiders]]
* YouGottaHaveBlueHair:
** Dora took to dying her hair purple at one point.
** Momo has [[RoseHairedGirl pink hair]], since she is an [=AnthroPC=]. It changes colors when her navel is pressed.
* YouMustBeCold: Sven pulls this on Hannelore on their "date." This is a very non-sexual variation, though.
* YouNeedToGetLaid: Said almost word-for-word [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1059 by Dora]].
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Momo in her new chassis doesn't look 2.7 years old, but she is.
* YourAnswerToEverything:
--> '''Dora:''' Yes, I realize that projecting my internal dialogue onto my cat is probably not the healthiest way of dealing with stressful situations.\\
'''Mieville:''' Meow.\\
'''Dora:''' No, murder is not the answer. You always suggest that.
** [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2137 A rather unconventional version]].
* YuriFan: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1787 Dora, apparently]].
* ZeroGSpot: [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2152 Discussed]]: apparently the problem of zero-G sex isn't just physics, but killer robots as well.
[[/folder]]

** Faye, from start to finish. Hannelore even gave her a shirt proclaiming such.

* Angrish: Marigold on [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2588 this page.]]

* [[FetishFuel Rule Thirty Six]]: Referenced as "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=715 Quantum Fetish Mechanics]]".

* RuleThirtySix: Referenced as "[[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=715 Quantum Fetish Mechanics]]".

* RealityIsUnrealistic: Occasionally complaints crop up about the ImprobablyFemaleCast, but it turns out that Northampton really is roughly 60% female and 40% male, largely due to the presence of the all-girls' Smith College.

* {{only six faces}}: in his [[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1196 guest comic]] [[PicturesForSadChildren john campbell]] lampshades his minimalist drawing style for the punchline

** Padma is an interesting case in that it is quite clear that, unlike the common convention that skin colour doesn't denote any cultural issues, there are definite cultural issues with her family and she doesn't regard that as wrong, simply as something that must be observed

* {{Understatement}}: [[LampshadeHanging It's right there]] [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin in the friggin' title]] [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2075 of this strip.]]