| 1 | ElGoonishShive/TropesAToE | ElGoonishShive/TropesFToL | ElGoonishShive/TropesMToR | '''Tropes S to Z''' |
| 2 | ---- |
| 3 | !!!''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' provides examples of the following tropes: |
| 4 | |
| 5 | * SarcasmMode: Diane isn't buying into the idea that she's some sort of Vampire Hunter or that Nanase is some sort of princess. When her companion points out that Tara was able to somehow sense that Elliot and Ellen were twins, she sarcastically mocks Charlotte using the griffins realizing Elliot and Ellen are twins: |
| 6 | --> '''Diane:''' '''OH MY GOD!''' ''She deduced that the people with'' '''nearly identical faces''' ''are'' '''twins?!''' ''She must be a'' '''wizard griffon!''' |
| 7 | * SaveTheJerk: Tony is a homophobic JerkJock and general bully. Elliot is a heroic type with a bit of a BullyHunter streak who has feuded with Tony in the past. When Tony is attacked by a monster (admittedly one that Elliot had been fighting previously), Elliot [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2008-08-06 immediately jumps in and saves him.]] |
| 8 | * SayingTooMuch: "An Endless Barrel Of Exposition" [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-05-27 spilled it again]] when he accidentally reveals Grace can't get pregnant when transformed, revealing that she and Tedd could fool around without risks of pregnancy. |
| 9 | * SayItWithHearts: Used for CardiovascularLove, in the [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2003-04-23 2003-04-23]] comic, used in the last panel, with the hearts accompanying someone saying: |
| 10 | --> God, I love that woman... |
| 11 | * ScaryShinyGlasses: Mr. Verres, [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-07-05 on occasion,]] and Tedd [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-02-02 here]]. Also Mr. [[{{Pun}} Alephnull]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-12-17 here.]] Preceded by Tedd's [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-05-23 failed attempt]] to invoke this. Luke, a newish character as of [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1876 this]] strip, apparently activates his after being called gay by another card player. |
| 12 | * SceneryCensor: These have been employed on occasion due to Grace's views on casual nudity and a lack of MagicPants. In places where a scenery censor becomes unwieldy to use, an Angelic Tweeting Bird flies between the fourth wall and the audience. |
| 13 | * TheScream: It is a running gag that sometimes, characters yell, shout, or scream loud enough to be heard from space. |
| 14 | ** Catalina yells "Jackasses" loud enough for it to be heard from space in ''Sister 2'' [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-05-07 here]]. |
| 15 | ** Raven yells a BigWhat loud enough to be heard from space in ''Death Sentence'' [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-12-09 here]]. |
| 16 | ** Elijah squees loudly in ''Family Tree'', with an Uryuom in space giving an annoyed look in the direction of Earth, [[https://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1632 here]]. |
| 17 | ** When Sarah yells in excitement over discovering her magic mark at the end of ''Squirrel Prophet'', it is loud enough [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2022 here]] the Uryuom attempts to cover their ears. |
| 18 | * ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem: Magic usually functions under the MagicAIsMagicA principle. However, magic is also a SentientCosmicForce with a will and objectives of its own (and a penchant for drama). If it wants to, [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1833 it can completely change the rules of how it works]], and is stated to have done this several times in the past. |
| 19 | -->'''Emissary of Magic''': Magic is a force capable of defying the physical laws of the universe. It doesn't ''have'' to work the way it does now. |
| 20 | * SecondHandStorytelling: During the ''Sister 3'' arc, the subplot of various characters searching for Elliot, Ellen, and Ashley is not shown to the audience. Instead we get [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2018-05-25 Ellen recapping the events]] to Elliot, Ashley, and Arthur after learning about them from Nanase. According to the author, this was done for pacing reason. |
| 21 | * SecondYearProtagonist: The main characters are all in junior year, something WordOfGod states was only briefly meant to be the case. [[WebcomicTime Eight years later]], they've reached May of that year... |
| 22 | * SecretIdentity: Elliot's Cheerleadra form also comes with several disguise forms, all representing different famed hero archetypes: |
| 23 | ** The [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-10-22 mild-mannered]] Clark Kent disguise. |
| 24 | ** The {{Goth}} [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-12-15 brooding]] Batman-esque hero. |
| 25 | ** The GenkiGirl [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1262 party animal form]] for the [[ComicBook/IronMan Tony Stark]] hero. |
| 26 | * SecretLegacy: [[spoiler:Neither Nanase nor Tedd knew that Tedd's mother, also Nanase's aunt, was "A legendary monster hunter with a long family history of fighting monsters and evil wizards," until Agent Wolf [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1690 accidentally let it slip to Nanase.]] Nanase's mother is fully aware of both this, and Nanase's own magic abilities, but deliberately keeps it a secret for reasons of her own. Tedd's father has also kept this information from Tedd, and [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1693 convinces Nanase to do the same.]] However, only half of Tedd's legacy is truly hidden, as his father is a high-ranking member of the [[TheMenInBlack FBI's paranormal division]], and doesn't keep this from his son at all.]] It's a bit complicated, and the audience doesn't yet know the whole story. |
| 27 | * SecretSecretKeeper: Justin and Ellen about Nanase's homosexuality. Grace and Sarah fall under this for the duration of the birthday party, although their response is more ShipperOnDeck. When Nanase does come out to her friends, Tedd is the only one who doesn't already know. |
| 28 | * SecurityBlanket: |
| 29 | ** Originally, Tedd's glasses served as one. He started wearing them to hide his [[DudeLooksLikeALady girly face]], and although even he admits that they didn't help, he still felt extremely uncomfortable without them in public. He slowly gets over needing them thanks to his relationship with Grace and better understanding his gender identity. |
| 30 | ** Sarah tells Elliot that Susan only wears her ''Franchise/StarTrek'' T-shirts if she's upset about something and Elliot compares them to security blankets. |
| 31 | * SelfDeprecation: |
| 32 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-11-09 The title of this]] comic is "Ha! Take THAT, Nerds! (Ow! I Hurt Myself!)! |
| 33 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-04-26 This one]] shows George giving a rant on certain writers which is mostly LeaningOnTheFourthWall about why the Hammerchlorians storyline is a bad idea, because "any writer who takes something ''[[SuspensionOfDisbelief no-one was questioning]]'' and tries to ''[[DoingInTheWizard explain it]]'' is a ''hack'' in the very same storyline Dan is explaining where the anti-pervert hammers come from. |
| 34 | * SelfFulfillingProphecy: A cult believed that a master of fire would rise and unite the seyunolu. Tired of waiting for the prophecy to come true, they ''created'' Damien to expedite the process. |
| 35 | * SelfInsertFic: In-universe, Ashley [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-002 writes embarrassing self-insert fetish fics]] in her spare time, oftentimes imagining herself as a powerful sorceress inflicting {{Karmic Transformation}}s on misogynists and other jerks. One [[BSideComics NP arc]] was about her trying to write a story without making it a self-insert... [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/oc-02 and failing miserably.]] |
| 36 | * SensualSpandex: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-12-29 Uryuom clothes]] give a considerable protection and are made for shapeshifters. The net effect, however, is that three {{Action Girl}}s have to wear outfits guaranteed to remain skin-tight in all and any circumstances. Tedd also [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-05-21 has a hard time]] telling Grace ''not'' to wear the costume to a job interview. |
| 37 | * SentientCosmicForce: Magic has [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1832 a will and objectives of its own.]] It's known to have a flair for the dramatic and even seems at times to have a sense of humor. Among its objectives is a desire to not be used by more than a small fraction of the people, and magic ''will'' rewrite its [[MagicAIsMagicA own rules]] if necessary to prevent widespread use. Or, in the words of the author: "Magic is a hipster that doesn't want to go mainstream." |
| 38 | * SexSells: Played with. It's not an official strategy of the comic book store Justin works at, but his friends Nanase and Ellen hang out there a lot, and though they hardly buy anything, the presence of two hot girls in the shop drives up sales. |
| 39 | * SexySantaDress: Pops up in Sketchbooks and non-canon strips frequently around Christmas. Ellen tried to wear one in a filler strip but her mom thought she would catch cold. |
| 40 | * SexySilhouette: Diane asserts that she could win Elliot over from Ashley since "[Ashley] doesn't know what seduction is", punctuated [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1840 with Diane posing sensually in silhouette.]] |
| 41 | * ShadowDictator: Dissidents in Gryphon World are fighting against TheMagocracy and have trouble grasping the idea that magical power is at best auxiliary in determining social status in the main universe. They interpret TheMasquerade to mean that the tyrants merely rule in secret, arguably making them ''worse'' than their own tyrants. |
| 42 | * ShapeshifterBaggage: |
| 43 | ** Grace could originally change her density, but not her mass, which resulted in her squirrelly form being the same weight as her human form despite being a lot smaller. Then the TF Gun was introduced, which didn't obey the conservation of energy or mass at all, and Grace getting hit with it permenantly "fixed" her shapeshifting to break those same laws. Somewhat justified, in that despite the [[AWizardDidIt It's Magic!]] explanation, there are still rules to it, and Tedd creates a whole new field of study out of figuring out the laws and limitations of that magic. |
| 44 | ** Elliot [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-06-17 still]] ends up [[LampshadeHanging wondering how he has his car keys]] after doing a series of costume-changing transformations (none of which have pockets). Apparently, if he has anything in his pockets when he shapeshifts, it temporarily merges into Elliot. [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2163 Such as his smartphone.]] |
| 45 | * ShapeshifterDefaultForm: |
| 46 | ** Artificial transformations are temporary, in normal conditions new forms expire and the subject snaps back. A chimera may keep other forms for a good while, but is born in [[MixAndMatchCritters hybrid form]] and deem these the most "natural" i.e comfortable. Though Grace appears to have no problem remaining in her human form (with or without antenna) for long periods. |
| 47 | ** One major exception is [[spoiler:Tedd's magic mark, which allows them to switch the sex of their default form permanently until used again.]] |
| 48 | * SharedDream: The "Parable" storyline is eventually [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/parable-206-207 revealed]] to be a dream shared by almost everyone in Moperville due to Mist's DreamWeaver magic. [[spoiler:He was trying to shortcut his search for people with royal lineage, but got tangled up in Jay's own dream magic, which mucked the spell up.]] This results in the [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/hope-009 "Do I Know You?" Anomaly]], wherein total strangers are able to mutually recognize each other due to remnant memories from the dream. |
| 49 | * SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: |
| 50 | ** It happens a lot with [[HeterosexualLifePartners Elliot and Tedd]], both of them having to constantly deny they are romantically involved. |
| 51 | ** Starting from the ''Summer'' arc, Susan has to constantly deny she and Elliot are dating. [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1607 This comic, in particular,]] holds links to most of the instances in the author commentary beneath it. She has not had to make such denial since the ''Identity'' arc. |
| 52 | * SherlockScan: Diane is incredibly observant and prone to piecing together the truth from very minor details. She is even reintroduced to the story by doing a cap-and-piped fantasy panel where she deduces that Ellen and Grace are new students. |
| 53 | * ShipperOnDeck: |
| 54 | ** Sarah, with Nanase and Ellen. Interesting because she's essentially returning the favor: Nanase helped Elliot get together with her. Grace is just as enthusiastic about pairing them up. In fact, the only person who doesn't like the idea is Tedd, who considers Nanase his "ugly cousin" -- he can't handle the thought of her being in a relationship with ''anybody''. |
| 55 | ** Unnamed "Franchise/StarTrek fangirl" ships Elliot and Susan to the point that she shows up at the video store to ask Susan about their relationship, rather than to rent a video. [[spoiler:And just happens to be there for the revelation that Sarah and Elliot have broken up. Cue {{Squee}}ing.]] |
| 56 | ** Grace and Sarah immediately fall into this when they suspect Luke has a crush on Justin. |
| 57 | ** Susan embraces this concerning Ashley and Elliot, although this is more to assuage her own issues, since they already had a date planned. |
| 58 | * ShipTease: |
| 59 | ** Ever since the ''Summer'' Arc, there have been [[HesNotMyBoyfriend subtle shipping hints]] between [[spoiler:Elliot and Susan]], after the [[spoiler:six month TimeSkip]], the hints have been...[[http://www.elgoonishshive.com/?date=2013-02-05 less subtle.]] |
| 60 | ** And then, even more strangely, [[spoiler:Sarah, Tedd, and Grace]] have been getting threesome shipping since they [[spoiler:started working together]] over the summer. [[spoiler:They've all seen each other naked, pranked Tedd with awkward transformations making him guess who is who, and Tedd has accidentally kissed Sarah thinking she was Grace.]] |
| 61 | ** There have also been some... moments... between [[spoiler:Tedd and Elliot, particularly after Tedd discovered his genderfluidity and Elliot decided he was "gender casual" (even though he admitted to making up that term).]] While they were always close friends, they have been getting a lot more cuddly and affectionate, and in one EGS:NP strip they fantasize about kissing... though the thought does make them both rather nervous. |
| 62 | * ShmuckBait: |
| 63 | ** The PTTAOLUTASF is a government storage facility that's filled with magic artifacts but is sparsely guarded. As it turns out, it's actually a honey trap that contains useless or inert objects that send an alarm if they're removed from the premise, giving would-be magic thieves an easy target and making it easy to catch them in the act. |
| 64 | ** Sketchbooks and non-canon NP arcs sometimes have characters mess with an obvious magic object or push a button labeled "Do Not Push", only to end up getting transformed. |
| 65 | * ShooOutTheClowns: If they can't be milked for drama, they're gone. At present, this means the Hammers are gone, and Greg is closing his dojo. Also leads to DoingInTheScientist with both Hammerspace and Anime-Style Martial Arts being explained by magic. Note that the Hammers had disappeared since Painted Black, and Greg is back in as a character, doing private tutoring sessions. So, in Greg's case, they shooed out the clown to bring him back. |
| 66 | * ShootTheShaggyDog: The entirety of "Death Sentence", about an ultimately futile attempt by idealist Grace and pragmatist Raven to save a wild boar. Although Grace believes [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2012-02-07 the attempt, while futile, was worth doing.]] |
| 67 | * ShoutOut: See [[Shoutout/ElGoonishShive here.]] |
| 68 | * ShowWithinAShow: |
| 69 | ** The Lucky Bunny Bounty Show: Greg and Dex are fans, Tedd owns the UsefulNotes/{{DVD}}, [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1305 and now there's a poster.]] |
| 70 | ** Sarah draws [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=314 comics]] -- something about [[AuthorGuestSpot a squirrel-boy character named Dan]]. |
| 71 | ** Not only that, but once even lampshaded [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook.php?id=505 guest comic provided by a character from within the comic itself.]] [[MindScrew Just in case]] the FourthWall wasn't already turned into Klein bottle. |
| 72 | ** Tensaided suggests that Susan and Elliot do a review show to help boost income for his video rental store in exchange for him giving them free video rentals. It has enough success to make the two minor local celebrities. It even has its own trope page, ''JustForFun/TheReviewShow''. |
| 73 | * ShroudedInMyth: As far as the Child Left Behind is concerned, Grace is the mysterious figure who defeated Damien, and the main other thing he knows is that they are a woman of grace. |
| 74 | -->'''Grace:''' You can call me Shade Tail.\ |
| 75 | ''[whump]''\ |
| 76 | '''Greg:''' Are you okay?\ |
| 77 | '''CLB:''' I'm fine! I tripped!\ |
| 78 | '''Grace:''' But you were sitting.\ |
| 79 | '''CLB:''' Yes I was. Sorry, mistress. Ma'am. ''Shade Tail''. |
| 80 | * ShrugOfGod: In universe (as far as the Q&A) sessions count, Dan ''literally'' answered a question about his gender identity with "noncommittal shrug" in writing form. |
| 81 | * ShuttingUpNow: Tedd [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-01-05 quickly goes quiet]] after receiving a double DeathGlare. |
| 82 | -->'''Tedd:''' Withdrawn. |
| 83 | * ShyFingerTwiddling: A rare male example (well, [[GenderBender usually]]), Elliot does this a lot. |
| 84 | * SidetrackedByTheAnalogy: While Tedd and his father were arguing the pros and cons of giving magic to the populace, Mr. Verres compares it to giving everyone rocket launchers and making it okay by giving them bomb suits. Tedd then [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1825 wonders if a bomb suit would even help against a rocket launcher.]] His father's response of "That's a ''good question'', isn't it?" {{subvert|edTrope}}s the trope by bringing the tangent full-circle to underscore his original point: They don't know if bombsuits (personal magic) could reliably protect people from rocket launchers (bad people with horrific magic), and aren't willing to take that risk. |
| 85 | * SlidingScaleOfCynicismVersusIdealism: Tends towards the idealistic side due to the author's personal preferences for their story. |
| 86 | -->'''Dan:''' I'm not saying a more "gritty" approach is wrong in general; I speak only of what is appropriate for this comic. The world is full of cynical, gritty and dark comics full of brooding, angst and doom, and while I'm sure many of those comics are good, one of my specific intentions for EGS is for it to not be one of those comics. |
| 87 | * SickeninglySweet: |
| 88 | ** Susan [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-01-28 put up the act]] as cat repellent, [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-01-31 accidentally giving Justin]] BrainBleach deficiency syndrome. |
| 89 | ** Susan began physically choking after Elliot and Sarah started flirting in the same room as her. |
| 90 | * SideStoryBonusArt: The Sketchbook and Newspaper, with parts [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-05-21 occasionally]] squirreled into the canon. |
| 91 | * SignificantBackgroundEvent: Over the course of [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2013-06-18 this strip,]] a man in the background slowly turns into a woman. Later strips quickly show more and more men turning into women without any of the party goers noticing. |
| 92 | * SilenceIsGolden: The scene where [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1100 Susan kills the French aberration]] is entirely without dialogue, as a method of emphasizing just how impactful the experience was on Susan's psyche. |
| 93 | * SingingInTheShower: While setting up karaoke at the gender-swap party, [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2006-03-24 Grace mentions]] that she knows Tedd's a good singer because she's heard Tedd singing in the shower before. Susan points out that the real issue is that nobody has had practice singing as the opposite sex so Tedd singing in the shower is irrelevant, before [[LateToTheRealization suddenly realizing...]] |
| 94 | -->'''Tedd:''' Like none of you have thought about doing the same! |
| 95 | * SingleTargetSexuality: |
| 96 | ** Grace is "[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-12-19 Tedd-sexual]]". It appears to be a result of her Uryuom heritage. Since they can change their external shape at will, Uryuoms form relationships based primarily on concepts and mental connections. Grace, being 1/4th Uryuom (or so), has inherited this disposition. |
| 97 | ** Later on, Tedd slips into this as well--[[CharacterDevelopment over time]], he loses some of his ChivalrousPervert tendencies, starting to have eyes exclusively for Grace. Upon wondering out loud why this would be, Elliot just smiles and says that it's because he's in love. |
| 98 | * SinisterSilhouettes: |
| 99 | ** Grace is first introduced in silhouette reading a newspaper article about Tedd, thinking he could help her. |
| 100 | ** The Child Left Behind is introduced during a dark knight where their features are obscured talking to a gravestone. They are later revealed to be Noah, who has a spell that lets him shroud himself in darkness to invoke the trope. |
| 101 | ** During Q&A 5, Dan appears in silhouette with a fiery background when explaining that NP was on indefinite hiatus at the time. |
| 102 | * SlidingScaleOfFourthWallHardness: The early strips had NoFourthWall. As the years progressed, any mention of the author or even fourth wall breaks in general were dropped and are now relegated to the newspaper and filler strips, which are out of canon. |
| 103 | * SlumberPartyPloy: In the "Sister" arc, in order to sneak into a SecretGovernmentWarehouse, Elliot tells his parents that he's spending the night at Tedd's house. Tedd doesn't need to tell any lies as his dad is out of town at the time. |
| 104 | * SmashCut: |
| 105 | ** When Catalina tries to figure out how to make up for spreading a rumor about Elliot being gay, it immediately cuts to [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1741 her kissing Elliot]] in the ''very next panel''. |
| 106 | -->'''Catalina''': I'll think of something! I'll come up with an argument so airtight that\ |
| 107 | ''[cut to Catalina [[spoiler:kissing a surprised Elliot on the lips]]]'' |
| 108 | ** The last page of ''There Be Whales Here'' is Tedd making a declaration that he and his friends should be ready for the monsters that would be attracted to Moperville's ambient magic only for there to be an abrupt six-months timeskip where little of note happened. |
| 109 | * SodaCanShakeup: In one Q&A strip, Chika opens a can of shrink soda which [[https://egscomics.com/comic/2010-02-09 sprays all over Lisa.]] |
| 110 | -->'''Chika''': You didn't happen to... ''inadvertently'' shake the case while getting it out of the cabinet, did you?\ |
| 111 | '''Lisa''': Well, if you want to get technical about how ''intentional'' it was, and my assuming you would tilt the can towards ''yourself''... |
| 112 | * SomeKindOfForceField: |
| 113 | ** One of Greg's skill as an anime-style martial artist is [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=174 using his magic to create force fields.]] |
| 114 | ** Raven is able to create force fields and calls it a "Standard lockdown procedure." For schools that have a wizard teacher, that is. |
| 115 | * SpaceWhale: Invoked. The loosely-cetacean-shaped interdimensional ambient mana-eating creature would like to be compared to a [baleen] whale, thanks, not an algae-eater. |
| 116 | * SpeakingInPanels: There's a panel of Sarah's [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-06-20 fantasy]] of what the MagiTek transformation watch Nanase's wearing might do to her. |
| 117 | * SpeciesSurname: 'Sciuridae' is the formal name for the family which includes squirrels, and by total coincidence is also Grace's surname. |
| 118 | * SpeechBubbleCensoring: Used in a couple places, such as [[https://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=720 on Nanase]] while she was preparing to use the TF gun at Grace's birthday party, an un-shrunken [[https://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-02-19 Lisa]] in a Q&A comic, and with [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-121 Grace]] while testing out [[spoiler:how conventional magic works on her suddenly]]. |
| 119 | * SpitTake: Two near examples by [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1353 Mr. Raven]] and [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/balance-023 Mr. Verres]], both due to notes casually revealing shocking revelations written by Grace. |
| 120 | * SpockSpeak: Noah, though Dan has said [[https://mobile.twitter.com/dantheshive/status/31545537379438592 he is trying to]] [[https://mobile.twitter.com/dantheshive/status/31545800110641152 limit this trope.]] |
| 121 | * SpontaneousWeaponCreation: |
| 122 | ** For a long time, women who were offended by sexist men could conjure hammers from out of [[{{Hammerspace}} nowhere]] and use them to pummel the offender. This lasted until the immortal who originally created this ability passed away, although Susan's traumatic connection to the hammers let her still do it as a personal spell. |
| 123 | ** Susan's magic mark (and one of her spells after she Awakened) allows her to conjure copies of items stored in a special chest. She keeps a sword in the chest on the off-chance that she runs into a monster of some sort. |
| 124 | * SpotlightStealingSquad: Nanase and Ellen had a big problem with this early on. They even had the most screentime in ''Painted Black'', Grace's '''backstory arc'''. Shive found a solution to keeping Ellen and Nanase out of the spotlight without [[PutOnABus putting them on a bus]] or just quietly forgetting about them: They go on exciting adventures, solving mysteries and righting wrongs... [[OffscreenMomentOfAwesome almost completely offscreen]]. Makes for lots of fun {{Noodle Incident}}s, too. |
| 125 | * {{Squee}}: Frequently, usually from Grace, and later on from minor character Elijah. [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1712 One Q&A]] asked [[EarthShatteringKaboom what would happen if the two ever met]]. |
| 126 | * SquishyWizard: Tedd has tons of magic, but is physically weak, whereas Nanase also has tons of magic and is disproportionately strong compared to her build. [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/fox-044 Arthur theorizes]] that people with magical power can potentially receive a strength boost, but it isn't free and reduces how much magic they can use for other things. |
| 127 | * TheStarscream: [[PuppeteerParasite Sirleck]] helps Magus with the full intention of betraying him and taking him over once the latter regains his body. [[spoiler:[[InevitableMutualBetrayal The latter is well aware of this, and manages to kill him first]].]] |
| 128 | * StatGrinding: Nanase [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-06-05 constantly uses spells]] once she realizes she can since magic usage is the most common way of how people can get new spells. |
| 129 | * StealthHiBye: Noah has a tendency to be very sneaky and also is rather awkward in social situations, meaning he tends to [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-03-07 pop out of nowhere]] on occasion. |
| 130 | * StealthPun: Mr. Raven's ''Murder Shroud'' spell creates a cloud that exploding crows come out of. A flock of crows can also be called a ''murder''. |
| 131 | * StevenUlyssesPerhero: |
| 132 | ** The Latin word 'Sciuridae' translates as 'Shade Tail', which was also Grace's CodeName, though it was not in reference to Dr. Sciuridae. Its also part of the scientific name for ''squirrel''. |
| 133 | ** Having an appropriate name can lead to having magic affinities related to that name. Pandora for her part does not like this since in her opinion, it's cliched and predictable and thusly, boring for someone like her. |
| 134 | * TheStinger: It looks like Dan acquired the taste for it by the latter arcs (which somewhat improves RotatingArcs side in itself). After all was said and done in "New And Old Flames", the last page has a good hook. "One Way Road" got an even better "postscriptum" in the last panels. |
| 135 | * StraightGay: |
| 136 | ** Justin, and also Nanase. There are no flamboyant stereotypes to be found in this comic. Well, except for Justin ''really'' likes to play with hair. Though Dan tried to explain that it wasn't because he was gay it's just he happens to have a strong emotional link to hair...and it just happens to be a gay stereotype. He mostly plays with Nanase's hair, though. |
| 137 | ** Parodied in one comic where Justin {{handwave}}s his ability to deduce Susan's problems as "Hollywood teaching us all gay friends are insightful". |
| 138 | ** It takes a dark turn when Luke first assumes that Justin is heterosexual because of this. |
| 139 | * StrangeMindsThinkAlike: Tedd likes seeing girl-on-girl action. Sarah likes seeing ''guy-on-guy'' action. It's one of the things they have in common. |
| 140 | -->'''Tedd:''' Your argument is seriously "That guy is hot and I want to see him make out with my hot friend"?\ |
| 141 | '''Sarah:''' Well, not exactly...\ |
| 142 | '''Tedd:''' I understand completely. |
| 143 | * StrawFeminist: |
| 144 | ** Susan's mother actively hates all men in the aftermath of her ex-husband's adultery, and instilled it into her daughter. Susan is a {{Deconstruction}} of this, as her stereotypical views on men were influenced by an event where she walked in on her father having an affair. It turns out she doesn't actually hate her father for this, but was trying to excuse his actions by believing that [[ImAManICantHelpIt he couldn't help it because he was male]] ([[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2006-06-09 a notion that her mother helped to reinforce]]). Eventually she realizes that people just make stupid mistakes, no matter what their gender. |
| 145 | ** This is actually later inverted. When the school institutes a uniform policy, Susan is upset about the skirts for girls (because she thinks they're sexist), and many students want the uniforms removed entirely. However, Susan acknowledges that the school can't do a 180 in policy immediately (due to the expense of the uniforms) and just wants girls to have the option to wear pants. |
| 146 | * StrawMisogynist: Ashley writes stories where misogynists get {{Karmic Transformation}}s into women. In one of the BSideComics, Ashley writes a story in which several characters rather explicitly refer to themselves as old men oppressing women's reproductive freedoms. They immediately correct their opinions after becoming subject to the very laws they were planning to enact. Liz lampshades it, pointing out how hackneyed the story is. In a canon story, she writes a story about the same thing happening to {{Construction Catcall|s}}ers. |
| 147 | * StealthPun: The story arc "Hair" is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin for most of it. But it ends with a flashback with Ted's mother and Raven discussing magical heredity and family lines, and how she hoped Tedd would be her apprentice. Hair sounds almost exactly like Heir. |
| 148 | * StuffedInTheFridge: Subverted. [[spoiler:Voltaire]] was trying to kill Elliot to traumatize Tedd so that [[spoiler:he couldn't fulfill his role as a Seer properly, thereby causing Magic to reset and allowing Immortals to reclaim their place as gods]]. Fortunately, all of his attempts failed. |
| 149 | * StumblingInTheNewForm: When Justin turned into a woman at Grace's birthday party, he ended up tripping and falling when he tried to walk because of his new center of gravity. This isn't an issue for anyone else, however; Tedd explains that transformations normally come with the RequiredSecondaryPowers to avert this and the only reason Justin tripped was that he was [[CentipedesDilemma overthinking how to walk]]. |
| 150 | * StunnedSilence: Nanase can only stare in shock when Ellen reveals she doesn't even know what her dad's job is. |
| 151 | -->'''Ellen''': [[http://www.egscomics.com/comic/sister3-303 I want to say... accountant?]] |
| 152 | * StupidSexyFlanders: Any straight GenderBender becomes bisexual for the duration. A certain male-to-female setting - which can also be used on women - will, for 48 hours, make you extremely attractive, even to people who normally don't like girls. Not to mention the StupidSexyFlanders overtones of {{Gender Bender}}s in the first place. Even without gender-bending, Tedd is ''[[RunningGag constantly]]'' getting this; Justin once joked that he shouldn't worry about ''gay'' men being attracted to him. Also, while removing his glases was enough to make V5-ed Elliot blush: |
| 153 | -->'''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-10-05 Sarah]]:''' In Elliot's defense, your face isn't really the best barometer of whether he was really into guys... |
| 154 | * SuddenSchoolUniform: Due to WebcomicTime, the uniform policy Moperville North announced in March 2005 and abolished in January 2010 was really in effect for ''two and a half days''. |
| 155 | * SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic: Tedd is attempting to treat magic just like any other area of the (mad) sciences -- physics, chemistry, robotics, etc. So far, we've seen him trying empirical testing of transformation spells, running numbers instead of hoping that things "just work", and so forth. It's heavily, heavily implied that "Lord Tedd" resulted in one timeline when he forgot the value of friendship in lieu of obsessing over magic-turned-science -- and thus, power -- to the exclusion of all else. |
| 156 | * SummonToHand: Susan can summon things to her hand via {{hammerspace}} magic, so long as the object was placed in a specially-marked container. |
| 157 | * SuperEmpowering: Immortals have the ability to trigger Awakenings, provided the subject has built up enough magical energy. They also have the ability to grant magic marks, which allow people to build up that magical energy. |
| 158 | * SuperGenderBender: |
| 159 | ** Elliot acquires a spell that allows him to turn into a [[MostCommonSuperpower voluptuous superheroine]] with a standard set of FlyingBrick powers. |
| 160 | ** Discussed and deconstructed with Magus, who comes from a world where magic users commonly change sexes to better fit whichever job they want to do. Females who want to be battle mages thus change their default sex to male, because males are physically stronger. Terra defies this norm, and both she and Ashley have questioned Magus on whether the male form is truly more powerful or if that's just a gender stereotype. |
| 161 | * SuperMode: Several characters have spells or other abilities that allows them to access a super-powerful form: |
| 162 | ** Nanase has her [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-10-09 Guardian form,]] an angelic form tied with religious connotations and comes with a lot of combat bonuses compared to when she's using her magic in general. However, once the spell ends she'll be [[BroughtDownToNormal burnt out]] for at least a day, regardless of how much magic she used previously. |
| 163 | ** Elliot with his [[SuperGenderBender super-heroine]] form, which is his most powerful combat form. |
| 164 | ** Grace's Omega form is an amalgamation of all the best traits of her multiple forms, with horns, spikes, and three tails. |
| 165 | ** Tedd builds a gauntlet that collects magic energy and can be used to give him a huge boost in magic, which also gives him BlackEyesOfEvil. It later turns out he doesn't need the gauntlet, and any magic power storage device can do it. |
| 166 | ** Ellen was once able to copy Nanase's Angel form, but due to all the weird rules and conditions with that spell its unknown if that was a one time thing or not. |
| 167 | * SupernaturalAid: Because of restrictive rules, one of the few ways Immortals can help people is by giving them a power boost, either via direct spell-granting or getting them access to artifacts. |
| 168 | * SupernaturalHotspotTown: The town of Moperville is the center of magical weirdness. There's an unnatural amount of magic energy around the town, turning it into a PlaceOfPower where magic is much easier to do and [[MagicIsAMonsterMagnet monsters]] and extradimensional visitors are commonplace. There's also the issue of an insane [[TheFairFolk Immortal]] going around and giving as many people magic powers as possible. All of this makes it a hotspot for conspiracy theorists and government agents. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that the magic buildup was caused by that same Immortal, who was using it as a way to eventually create an UnmasquedWorld where her son could be free to live as himself.]] |
| 169 | * SupernaturallyValidatedTransPerson: |
| 170 | ** The genderfluid character Tedd once [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1550 appears]] in a female body when [[AstralProjection astrally projecting]], and [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1941 later]] has a bout of PowerIncontinence when their {{Sex Shift|er}}ing magic spontaneously changes their body to match their preferred gender in the moment. |
| 171 | ** [[spoiler:Sam]], a trans man, gets a [[PersonalityPowers Magic Mark]] from Pandora that changes his biological sex to male. This is a pretty common mark -- Pandora was deliberately ''not'' giving those kinds of marks to transgender people because that's "[[PrescienceIsPredictable too boring]]", but was still able to give away at least twelve like that [[spoiler:after her HeelFaceTurn before she was reset]]. |
| 172 | * SupernaturallyYoungParent: Elliot is, [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2003-02-17 from a certain point of view,]] Ellen's mother, despite the fact that they are biologically the same age. |
| 173 | * SuperpowerfulGenetics: There is a hereditary component to magical potency in the setting. Two key points: |
| 174 | ** A child of two wizards is guaranteed to also be a wizard. |
| 175 | ** Wizards and all other people with magical affinities are [[spoiler:descended from immortals through their half-immortal children]]. |
| 176 | * SuperSoldier: Grace's brothers were created with the intention of them being super-assassins. Grace herself was created specifically to fight Damien. |
| 177 | * SuperSpecialMove: Ellen has a transformation beam ability; while it became extremely versatile over the course of the comic, it started out as a simple version of the beam that created her, turning a target into a busty, female version of themself for a limited time. When she fought Vlad, she managed to use a powered-up version of it that blew Vlad across the room... and ''permanently'' turned him into Vladia. |
| 178 | * SureLetsGoWithThat: |
| 179 | ** George [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1142 is]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-09-20 hostile]] to Justin's friend Elliot right off the bat and [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1193 doesn't let up]] on getting the truth from Justin about [[spoiler:the recent magical goings-on (which involved Elliot)]]...[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-03-21 until he finds out]] that Elliot is ''not'', in fact, Justin's boyfriend. Suddenly he's a lot less belligerent, and perfectly willing to admit that Justin has a point and the issue is kind of complex. Contextual clues suggest [[StraightGay there may be a different reason for this]] than [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-06-23 the one he ends up admitting to]]: |
| 180 | --->'''Justin:''' Did my having a boyfriend just make you so uncomfortable that you got extra defensive about everything?\ |
| 181 | '''George:''' ...Yes. I have learned a valuable lesson about friendship and acceptance and will never do it again. |
| 182 | ** Much later, when Greg comments that Elliot should cut his hair, Elliot [[DiscussedTrope asks if it's]] “because an anime protagonist [[ExpositoryHairstyleChange might change their hair to symbolize their growth?]]” |
| 183 | --->'''Greg:''' ...sure, let's go with that. |
| 184 | ** While out on a date with Ellen, [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2011-08-29 Nanase runs into]] a StereotypicalNerd who happens to be one of the many boys she dated before realizing she was a lesbian. |
| 185 | --->'''Gary:''' Oh, I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to be rude, it's just I used to think you didn't want to go on a second date with me because I was too geeky.\ |
| 186 | [BeatPanel]\ |
| 187 | '''Nanase:''' Yes. It was entirely because I am a lesbian. |
| 188 | ** In the "So a Date at the Mall" arc, [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2015-11-09 Diane states]] that Elliot couldn't possibly be the Cheerleadra because he was on the phone with Ellen while Cheerleadra was talking to the griffin. Ellen hastily agrees, not mentioning that it was actually [[https://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2089 Ashley using Elliot's phone.]] |
| 189 | ** In the non-canon ''EGS: NP'' story "Ellen Demo", the narration box [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/2017-07-07-ellen-demo-21 explains]] that, like the TF Gun, Ellen's transformation beams don't actually enchant Grace, but automatically trigger her natural shapeshifting ability, which in turn gives her the ability to consciously take those forms later. Grace's reaction is "''Wait''. Am I a ''Franchise/MegaMan''?" and the narration box says "Sure, why not." |
| 190 | * SuspiciouslySpecificDenial |
| 191 | ** Tedd is adamant that he does not "crossdress in women's clothing". His penchant for recreational {{Gender Bend|er}}ing leaves some pretty blatant loopholes in that statement. |
| 192 | ** The cover of one character's spell book reads "The Ecology of Anteaters (Not a Spellbook)". |
| 193 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/?date=2008-09-08 "I assure you that we have never met before, with the possible exception of that one time when we did."]] |
| 194 | ** Lisa had a bad first year of college, apparently. |
| 195 | ** "Why, father! I have been in this bathroom the whole time, and not sleeping with the squirrel girl as you previously suggested!" "Oh, well, that's good to know." |
| 196 | ** Grace [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-06-17 wasn't chasing her tails.]] |
| 197 | ** Ellen [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1626 does not want to drink at the New Years Party.]] |
| 198 | * SwordCane: :Raven has a cane that hides a sword, but carries it only when expecting serious trouble. |
| 199 | * SymbolSwearing: Happens every once in a while: |
| 200 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-01-06 The comic]] once launched a [[PrecisionFStrike Precision @#$&! Strike]]. |
| 201 | ** And let loose a [[ClusterFBomb Cluster @#$% Bomb]] in an [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-11-19 earlier comic]]. |
| 202 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-05-07 DIE BY THE SHELLS OF YOUR FALLEN COMRADES, YOU @#$! TURTLES!]] |
| 203 | * TakeMeToYourLeader: Invoked by William. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-08-27 "Greetings, human! Can you take me to your Tedd?"]] Which Tedd immediately calls out as lame. |
| 204 | * TakeOurWordForIt: [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2018-05-02 Ellen's hair turns green]] due to some magic interactions, but as the comic is in greyscale, we have to settle for Elliot and Kevin pointing this out to learn it happened. [[LampshadeHanging Kevin's dialogue is extremely emphatic about the hue change]], and Dan notes in his commentary that he had to draw attention to the discrepancy because everyone would've noticed it anyway. |
| 205 | * TakeThat: |
| 206 | ** Ellen [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-11-09 describes]] Elliot as "Me if I was directed by Creator/GeorgeLucas." Elliot is outraged. |
| 207 | ** "[[Franchise/CSIVerse CSI:]] [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2007-04-11 Moperville]]" |
| 208 | ** Sexy vampires are mocked in [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2009-06-19 this sketchbook]] (with specific reference to ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''), and given an even more severe kicking by Susan [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/?date=2009-10-29 here]]. |
| 209 | ** The sketchbook has [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2003-10-12 this]] criticism of censorship. |
| 210 | ** "[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-03-17 Get out of here]], you blonde [[PrettyBoy androgynous]] [[SpotlightStealingSquad interloper]]! Go play ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' or something!" |
| 211 | ** How about delivering a two-for-one [[LampshadeHanging to his own story in progress]] and [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-04-26 to George Lucas]] both? |
| 212 | ** "By the Numbers" is an arc about Elliot worrying that, [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2012-08-10 according to the review data he checks]], a video store customer is possibly trying to rent ''the worst movie in the world''. He's proved right when [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2012-08-15 the guy almost immediately returns it]], saying he just wants it out of his room. It's never named in the strip, but TheRant confirms it's ''Film/JackAndJill''. |
| 213 | --->'''Customer''': And they kept making "man in drag" jokes when, in the context of the movie, she ''really was'' was a woman. Why did they keep making them? ''Why?'' |
| 214 | %%* TakeThatKiss: and it's even made a tradition... |
| 215 | * TakingYouWithMe: |
| 216 | ** Damien says the trope name word for word [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-05-07 here]] when he tries to blow himself up in an attempt to kill Grace. |
| 217 | ** [[spoiler:Pandora takes over ''99%'' of the ''global'' [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Aberration]] population with her during her forced reset]]. |
| 218 | * TheTalk: Susan has to [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-10-12 explain to Grace why nudity is awkward.]] Before that, others tried and failed. |
| 219 | * TalkingInYourSleep: Grace used to [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=120 talk and scream in her sleep]] when she was having {{Recurring|Dreams}} nightmares. |
| 220 | * TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: Nanase gambles on Abraham's good intentions to [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-10-20 convince]] the wizard to [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-10-22 swear an oath not to harm]] Ellen. |
| 221 | * TalkingToTheDead: An [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-10-18 unknown would-be avenger]] aka Mysterious Cloaked Figure [[spoiler:(later revealed to be Noah)]] in "The Child Left Behind." |
| 222 | * TangledFamilyTree: |
| 223 | ** Grace is a hybrid clone (with 4 sources of DNA), and considers the other hybrid clones from the same lab her siblings though only one of them actually shares a source of DNA with her. Her "grandfather" replaced some of the DNA she was supposed to be cloned from with that of his dead daughter—Grace's "mother" (and namesake). Grace also [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2005-04-27 considers]] Mr. Verres to be her adoptive father. |
| 224 | --->'''Mr. Verres''': ...But you're my son's girlfriend.\ |
| 225 | '''Grace''': We're a strange family. |
| 226 | ** Attempts to build a genealogy tree for Ellen results is full of MindScrew. She's an OppositeSexClone created by a magical artifact in conjunction with GenderBender {{Magitek}}, but those around her keep trying to describe her parentage with traditional mother/father roles. For example, Ellen could be considered the daughter of Elliot and Tedd. Elliot's the mom because Ellen came from him and Tedd's the dad because he made it happen. Or she's a daughter of Elliot and Dewitchery Diamond, so one can discuss which is her "mom" and which "dad", etc. Turned serious with [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-06-06 this strip.]] |
| 227 | ** Pandora Raven's family tree is all over the place. It starts with her and her late mortal lover Blaike, and their son Adrian. From there, [[spoiler:Adrian unknowingly fathered children throughout his long life, meaning Susan is his distant descendant and Diane is his daughter]]. Adrian is also Tedd's godfather, so that makes Pandora his god-grandmother and connects her to Nanase through Tedd's mother (her aunt). Adrian also adopted Noah after his parents were killed by Damien, making Noah [[spoiler:Diane's (not blood) brother and also related to a lot of the cast]]. To recap; Pandora, Adrian, Tedd, Nanase, [[spoiler:Diane, Susan]], and Noah are all related to each other in very different ways. |
| 228 | * TeamDad: Mr. Verres is this not just to Main Eight, but to his FBI team as well. He's the one adult in the magic community who regularly helps them out and gives them magic-related advise and help when they need it. It helps that he's Tedd's actual dad and Nanase's uncle. |
| 229 | * TeleportersVisualizationClause: Nanase can create fairy dolls that are linked to people and take control of the doll at any time for a RemoteBody. However, she can only make them appear in places she's been to before and can't create a doll if she doesn't have a clear picture of who she's trying to link to. Also, if she tries creating a doll on someone she's already linked with (and she isn't currently transformed), she goes back to the old doll wherever it is. |
| 230 | * TemptingFate: |
| 231 | ** Discussed [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-03-12 here]]. Grace and Raven know it's not good to tempt fate. |
| 232 | ** Abraham [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-10-08 didn't]] when he thinks there's no more attempts to stop him from killing Ellen. |
| 233 | ** "'''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-04-27 I will slay the dragon.]]'''" Cue a noticeably less badass pose 15 pages later. |
| 234 | * ThatCameOutWrong: |
| 235 | ** Grace wouldn't be Grace without this. "Legally, it does (make me an adult)! You can do all ''sorts'' of things with me!" Cue cut-short response from Raven. |
| 236 | ** The first time Elliot [[PowerIncontinence woke up as a girl]], Ellen heard him. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-06-06 "Bathroom time is me time!"]] was probably not the best defense. |
| 237 | --->'''Elliot''': What? No, wait! Interpret that in a good way! A GOOD WAY! |
| 238 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-03-03 While conducting an experiment]] with Elliot's SexShifter spell, Tedd tells him to take off his shirt. Elliot is not impressed. He was actually testing how shapeshifted clothing is affected by magic resistance. |
| 239 | ** And when [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1064 Ellen teases Elliot]] about the above experiment: |
| 240 | ---> '''Ellen:''' Have fun getting poked and prodded by Tedd?\ |
| 241 | '''Elliot:''' I'll have you know he was a perfect gentleman.\ |
| 242 | '''Ellen:''' ''...Dude.''\ |
| 243 | '''Elliot:''' Yeah, that sounded [[NoYay weird]]. [[LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain Let us never speak of it again.]] |
| 244 | * ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: In [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=219 this strip,]] [[spoiler:the Omega Goo]] has this to say after Ellen flees: "Target has fled. Proceeding with a prepared set of curse words in order to imitate anger. Damn. Crap. [[CurseCutShort F--]]" |
| 245 | * ThereAreNoTherapists: Played with. There ''are'' therapists. The issue is that the cast don't seem to know when to get one. Grace for example has inner thoughts where one part of her always suggests she gets therapy, but she keeps resisting. |
| 246 | * ThereCanBeOnlyOne: Possibly subverted; while Lord Tedd is supposedly out to kill the "weak Tedds," Nioi insisted that he was misunderstood, and it is clear from various hints that he has a FreudianExcuse lurking in the shadows. Unfortunately, due to the KudzuPlot, he's been PutOnABus, so it'll be some time before we find out ''why''. |
| 247 | * ThisIsASong: Sarah's cellphone has [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-12-03 one of these]]: |
| 248 | -->* this is a ringtone song... ringing all the--* |
| 249 | * ThickLineAnimation: As the [[ArtEvolution artwork improved]], the outlines became thicker. |
| 250 | * ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: ''Melissa'', [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-04-26 of all people.]] And Justin. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-03-06 Don't forget Justin.]] |
| 251 | * ThisIsReality: One of the immortals says so [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-02-27 here.]] |
| 252 | * ThisIsWrongOnSoManyLevels: As they said during the "{{Ink Blot|Test}} [[TheIllegible Handwriting]]" incident, |
| 253 | -->'''Justin:''' This is messed up on so many levels. I'm guessing [[DysfunctionalFamily you don't visit your cousin and uncle that much]]?\ |
| 254 | '''Nanase:''' It's common sense not to. |
| 255 | * ThoughtAversionFailure: Diane is in [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/tlod-015 an argument]] with her imaginary inner child. She states her intention of ending the argument by no longer imagining it. Her inner child demonstrates how pointless this is by telling her not to imagine an elephant. |
| 256 | * ThreesomeSubtext: Some Sarah/Grace/Tedd subtext starts cropping up when Sarah becomes Tedd's lab assistant. Tedd has a (brief) ImagineSpot of all three of them in sexy outfits, Tedd gave Sarah clone forms of himself with the explicit understanding that she could do whatever she wanted with them, and Sarah is the only person other than Grace who has shown to be able to call him "Teddy" and get away with it. Plus, [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1724 after Grace learns of]] [[spoiler:Elliot and Sarah's amicable breakup]], she feels the need to reassure herself by clinging to Tedd... ''and'' Sarah. It's even been acknowledged in universe, like [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2015 on this page]]. Sarah pretty much admits she's attracted to Grace in [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=397 this strip]], even if she's not admitting it to herself. |
| 257 | * ThreePointLanding: In the EGS:NP storyline Grace-A-Monsters, Gracemander can be seen striking this pose after evolving into Gracemeleon [[https://egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-13 in this strip]]. |
| 258 | * ThroughAFaceFullOfFur: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-11-02 Averted.]] Tedd's blush, however, is easily visible. |
| 259 | * TimeSkip: Here and there: |
| 260 | ** There is 2-weeks long one between ''Sisters II'' and ''Bringing Silly Back''. |
| 261 | ** The end of ''Summer'' features a 6-month long skip. |
| 262 | ** Between the third and fourth pages of ''Layers'', there is a months long time skip. The exact length is kept vague, but characters are dressed for warmer weather, showing it's no longer Winter, but Spring. |
| 263 | * TimeTravel: {{Defied}}. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-07-14 It's impossible.]] |
| 264 | ** [-'''Dan:''' [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-05-24 No time travel.]] Something happens, it happens, damn it. No going back and undoing it (outside of [[TakeThat Lucas-style edits]]).-] |
| 265 | * TimeTravelTenseTrouble: During a discussion about ''Franchise/StarTrek'' [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/?date=2006-08-24 here,]] one party to the discussion gets confused on the tenses to use due to the time travel shenanigans. |
| 266 | * TimmyInAWell: |
| 267 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-06-25 Parodied, almost by name,]] when Elliot senses something and Tedd asks "What is it girl? Is Timmy trapped in a well?" |
| 268 | ** [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2003-12-17 Used by Hedge]] when he mishears Guineas trying to tell him Elliot knew his name as Timmy being trapped in a well. |
| 269 | * TitleDrop: |
| 270 | ** In the [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2318 first page of All Of The Curse Words,]] the second panel has a stressed Ellen thinking: |
| 271 | --> ''ALL OF THE CURSE WORDS'' |
| 272 | ** Whispered with its own font, no less, in [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/2016-10-05 Escape From The Mall.]] |
| 273 | * ToBeLawfulOrGood: Happens to [[AntiVillain Abraham]], an ancient wizard who created the [[GreenRocks Dewitchery Diamond]] intended to remove terrible curses like [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent lycanthropy]]. And turned out to have the [[NiceJobBreakingItHero rather severe drawback]] of splitting a cursed individual into the original and [[TheVirus an embodiment of the curse adept at spreading the curse to others]]. [[MyGreatestFailure Unable to destroy the diamond]], Abraham swore to [[TheAtoner dedicate his life to]] killing these cursed forms, which were generally vicious and powerful monsters ([[DidntThinkThisThrough having failed to consider things like cosmetic magic]]). So he awakens from self-imposed suspended animation, sensing that the diamond has been used again. He is horrified to learn that one guy had used the diamond to cure himself of a GenderBender, accidentally creating an OppositeSexClone, so the latest cursed form he's sworn to kill is an innocent teenage girl -- but [[IGaveMyWord feels compelled to go through with it]]. [[spoiler:In the end, Nanase is able to convince Abraham not to murder Ellen, reasoning that following the letter of his oath would violate the spirit of his oath, since it was made with the intention of protecting innocent people.]] |
| 274 | * TomboyAndGirlyGirl: Susan and Nanase's friendship. Susan is a very conservative, feminist who is just getting over her issues with men. Nanase is pretty much the opposite in most ways. the two of them are good friends, even if Susan didn't want to admit it for a long time. |
| 275 | * TookTheBadFilmSeriously: The "Pizza" sidestory has an InUniverse example. The story uses AnimatedActors, and different characters put different amounts of effort into their roles. In particular, Ashley plays her role as Bridgette with absolute sincerity. However, her sincerity is matched only by her lack of talent, and [[http://egscomics.com/egsnp/pizza-05 all her body language comes across as choreographed.]] |
| 276 | * TooMuchInformation: Ellen almost goes into detail on what she plans to do with Nanase on a date but Elliot interrupts her with a ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-08-20 Fine, whatever!]]'' |
| 277 | * TooSpicyForYogSothoth: In the off-continuity [[Franchise/{{Jumanji}} Goonmanji]] arc, the main cast pisses off the evil cursed RealityWarper game by being far too perverted/accustomed to the MadScience to treat whatever it does to them as something more than Fanservice at best and petty annoyance at worst. |
| 278 | * ToplessnessFromTheBack: Grace is shown completely topless [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-05-17 in an early strip]], but we only saw her from the back. |
| 279 | * TouchTelepathy: Uryuoms can teach other people Languages they know, such as their CypherLanguage, by touching their forehead with their antennae. |
| 280 | * TouchedByVorlons: If certain requirements are met, Immortals can mark a human to give them magic powers. Pandora has been handing out such marks without the knowledge or consent of the recipients. |
| 281 | * ToUnmasqueTheWorld: |
| 282 | ** This is Pandora's long-term goal, which she starts by appearing on the evening news in her CreepyChild form. She then proceeds to empower random people with magic, so as to cause as much chaos as possible in a way the {{Masquerade}} cannot cover up. While the former only brings weirdness hunters to town, the latter proves effective, especially when the superheroes started showing up to save people. In fact, it was so effective that the head of the local MIB office essentially ''gave up'', admitting on live television that it was all real. Pandora's reasons for doing all this are simple: Her son, Raven, is an elf, a half-immortal who is not allowed to interfere in situations that do not directly involve magic. Therefore, she is creating a world where ''everything'' directly involves magic, making the restrictions moot. That, and [[PrescienceIsPredictable she's bored]]. |
| 283 | ** Tedd also wants to unmasque the world, but he's doing it in a far more responsible way. The reason the masquerade is in place is because most people have little to no magic resistance. Unveiling magic would be like handing out guns to random people when most people can't use either guns or bulletproof vests. Tedd, as a {{Magitek}} MadScientist, decides to create technology that will allow the average person to use magic to an extent that it is safe to remove the masquerade. |
| 284 | ** It turns out that neither of these have any chance of working. [[spoiler:[[SentientCosmicForce Magic itself is intelligent]] and wants to be used--but not by ''everyone''. If too many people learn how to obtain magic, [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem magic will change the way that it works]] for humans to render all that moot. Pandora's plan got close enough to working that magic came within a hair's breadth of changing things, but did send an avatar to inform Pandora ([[ComplexityAddiction in the most convoluted way possible]]) of what was going on. Pandora agreed to fix things, but not before yelling about "no good cheating magic" and insisting that Tedd had the right idea]]. |
| 285 | ** The comic is a weird case; according to the MIB head (after he revealed the existence of magic on live television), the big secret was never that magic existed. The secret that everyone is taking so much trouble to conceal is that magic is ''easy.'' EGS has a very forgiving and intuitive magic system, with spells reflecting the person that acquires them under most circumstances... meaning that the real monsters usually get the most destructive and powerful spells. |
| 286 | ** Ultimately, [[spoiler:though Pandora gave up on her goal, she actually ''succeeded''. With her forced reset incoming, she took advantage of the mechanics of the forced reset to ''force every Immortal onto the physical plane to cast an Aberration destroying spell''. That spell manifested as a wave of light that was visible for ''miles around'', and since every Immortal was forced to cast it, well, the masquerade on magic's existence was ''[[BrokenMasquerade completely and utterly shattered]]''. The Will of Magic outright states that this one event was enough to do it on its own even without previous incidents. And when the Will of Magic consulted Tedd, Arthur and Van on what to do, Tedd successfully convinces it that it is ''impossible'' to remain secret with modern technology, so it decided that it will go along with its reveal]]. |
| 287 | * ToxicFriendInfluence: Nioi [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-11-10 acts on the assumption]] that Lord Tedd would be better off without his personal BloodKnight. In turn, General Shade Tail's opinion of Nioi is [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-11-07 pretty low]]. |
| 288 | * TragicDream: Tedd can't give magic to everyone in the world, as it would just change to undo any progress he makes. [[spoiler:It is later subverted. It turns out the Will of Magic tries to consult Seers when it can on whether or not it should follow-through on the change, and Tedd successfully convinces it that between modern technology and the very mechanics of magic changing, which will cause over one-thousand Seers to be informed of what they are and how the new rules work, it is ''impossible'' for magic to remain a secret and limited to a select few]]. |
| 289 | * TransEqualsGay: Tedd catches a lot of this from the start, which is [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-09-06 completely]] groundless. The author indicated in a [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2003-01-26 non-canon piece]] that Justin would love being a girl so he could pick up guys. After receiving complaints, turned it the other way in [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2003-11-16 follow-up piece]] and kept it from entering the comic's canon. Later on in the canon story Justin [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2006-07-03 addresses]] the fact that he doesn't actually want to be a woman, even though it would make his life easier. |
| 290 | * TransformationComic: A major focus of the comic is characters shapeshifting and being transformed, although it's rarely played for angst and character relationships are arguably more of the actual point. That said, non-canon NP strips and ''especially'' sketchbooks are a lot more shameless. |
| 291 | * TransformationRay: |
| 292 | ** The Transformation Gun appears early on, which can reshape any humanoid into any number of pre-programmed forms ([[AuthorAppeal most often]] [[GenderBender men into women]]). It was originally built by a race of shapeshifting aliens, and was repaired and modified by Tedd. Later on the gun was replaced with transformation watches, which were in turn cycled out in favour of wands. |
| 293 | ** Due to the convoluted series of events that lead to her creation, Ellen can fire beams similar to the TF gun from her hands. At first these are limited to turning the target into a busty woman, but after Awakening she's gained other beams like being able to copy someone's appearance, alter specific things about her target, or even her personal favourite: [[MundaneUtility flashlight hands!]] |
| 294 | * TransformationTrinket: |
| 295 | ** Tedd built the Cat Belt as a trinket to turn into a were-cat. Since Elliot used it shortly after his improper Awakening caused by the Dewitchery Diamond, he ends up getting the cat spell permanently. |
| 296 | ** Tedd also built a set of watches with programmable and adjustable forms for more convenient and less dangerous ways to transform. Although, he eventually abandons this when he's informed that the watches only work because he's accidentally been creating watch-shaped {{Magic Wand}}s, and they won't actually work outside of [[PlaceOfPower Moperville]]. |
| 297 | * TrappedOnTheAstralPlane: Magus is actually from [[TheMultiverse another universe]] altogether, but a spell gone wrong caused him to end up in the spirit plane of the "main" Gooniverse, which is also inhabited by immortals. |
| 298 | * TrappedInTheHost: The {{Body Surf}}ing aberration Sirleck takes over Ellen's body so he can take over [[TheArchmage Magus]] once he gains a new body. However, Sirleck finds that [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2018-03-19 Ellen is stopping him from leaving her body]], either because she's made of magic or because she's "just that awesome". Either way, she holds Sirleck in place then releases him in time for Magus to kill Sirleck before he can take another host. |
| 299 | * TraumaButton: A minor trauma with major consequences: As a baby, Tedd was scared by a very noisy magic detecting device, and [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2008-11-11 still is]] into adulthood... However his traumatic reaction to the device involves [[spoiler:unconsciously raising his magic defenses against it, which caused him to be mistaken for a MuggleBornOfMages, one of the causes of his parents' divorce]]. |
| 300 | * TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: Known as an Angst-Induced Awakening, one of the possible ways for magic potential to be realised is to suffer something traumatic, generally due to big events like home being destroyed or a loved one dying. However, if someone has a lot of pent-up issues, a minor event could trigger it in a straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back way, such as Susan having multiple sources of trauma from discovering her father's infidelity, going through a phase where she was highly misandrist as a direct result, and being forced to kill a monster herself, all contributing to her going into a rage over learning that Jerry made the anti-misogynist hammer to ''encourage'' inappropriate comments. Also of note is that it actually counts as a ''proper'' awakening since Magic is big on RuleOfDrama and such awakenings are inherently dramatic, meaning Susan never had to deal with energy-buildups and accidental spellcasting the way Elliot and Ellen have to. |
| 301 | * TravelTransformation: The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' parody arc has its own answer to the question of how a small flying-type pokemon can transport a trainer just because it knows fly. EGS being the kind of comic it is, this involves [[IncredibleShrinkingMan shrinking the trainer]] [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-21 down to doll-size]] before carrying them. Meanwhile, the comic's version of the "surf" HM involves [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/gam-22 turning the trainer into a mer-person.]] |
| 302 | * TwiceShy: Justin and Luke like each other pretty instantly, but both dance around the subject of asking the other out, since they're assuming that the respective other is straight. [[spoiler:Justin is the first to get over himself.]] |
| 303 | * TwinThreesomeFantasy : Nanase likes Ellen, but since girl-Elliot is identical to Ellen, HilarityEnsues when Nanase [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-07-02 sees them (more or less) tickle-fighting.]] |
| 304 | * TwoGamersOnACouch: A lot of NP arcs follow this formula, especially the ones where Grace plays a new game, often times with Tedd. |
| 305 | * TykeBomb: The "Project Lycanthrope" chimerae were genetically bred to be a shapeshifting assassins. Including Grace, although it didn't work very well. |
| 306 | * UltimateJobSecurity: Principal Verrückt is complete insane, and yet hasn't been fired, [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=20090115 as Susan notes.]] |
| 307 | * UnevenHybrid: It turns out that all wizards, people with inherited affinities, and seers, are [[spoiler:descendants of Immortals. The idea that the Human-Immortal hybrids known as Elves couldn't have children turned out to be deliberate lies. Diane is quarter-Immortal through her father, ''Adrian Raven'', and Susan is a more distant descendant of Raven. This would also mean that Tedd, Sarah and Nanase all have an Immortal ancestor somewhere in their family tree]]. |
| 308 | * TheUnintelligible: The Writer's Block communicates almost entirely in weird noises. It did say one intelligible word [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=589 once,]] but that word was [[SymbolSwearing censored]]. |
| 309 | -->'''Writer's Block''': Mee moo f@&$. |
| 310 | * UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: The Verres family has a cat-like pet named Jeremy who was brought home by Tedd's father one day. Jeremy has spines/spikes on his back that become erect when he's frightened or angry and his jaws are powerful enough to open metal cans of catfood. Tedd is a Mad Scientist and his father is part of an organization that deals with the unusual (supernatural, aliens, etc.). |
| 311 | * UnsoundEffect: |
| 312 | ** Not all that frequent, but notably including ''Sensory Overload'' when [[spoiler:Nanase]] saw [[TwinThreesomeFantasy Ellen and female Elliot]] [[DistractedByTheSexy tickle-fighting in their underwear]]. |
| 313 | ** When Nioi casts a spell on Ellen, it is accompanied by [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-05-24 *MAGIC NOSE BEEPAGE!*]] |
| 314 | * UnstoppableRage: After Grace finds out what happened to her real father, she goes utterly ''ballistic'' on Damien. She snaps out of it before actually killing him, though. Also happens to Nanase when Abraham tries to destroy Ellen. |
| 315 | * UnusualEuphemism: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-06-13 Sarah would like (with the help of magic) to be]] [[MostCommonSuperpower "taller"]]. (Although, boobs aside, she would [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-04-03 indeed]] like to be taller.) |
| 316 | * UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]], perhaps even [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] with Dr. Sciuridae's highjacking of the Shade Tail project into an attempt to [[ReplacementGoldfish clone his dead daughter]]. The point of the project was to deal with the threat Damien posed and the human DNA contributor was supposed to be a naturally-strong human male. However, Dr. Sciuridae replaced that with genetic material from his daughter. Damien laughs at that since he thinks the man ruined the only chance at defeating him, ''but'', Grace is able to fight toe-to-toe with him anyway. The inversion comes from the implication that the main reason why the project, aka: Grace didn't wind up a SmugSuper and potential MultiversalConqueror like Shade Tail did in Lord Tedd's dimension is due to Dr. Sciuridae changing Shade Tail to Grace and showing her love and affection. |
| 317 | * UtilityMagic: Magic is a fundamental part of the universe, and anyone could use it, if they tried. [[SentientCosmicForce Magic doesn't like being used too much, though.]] |
| 318 | * VerbalBackspace: The Emissary of Magic is about to ask Pandora why she would take on a childlike form when she suddenly runs circles around him throwing a tantrum about [[spoiler:Magic ruining her plan to empower all of Moperville by threatening to change its own rules to stop it from working]]. "Nevermind." |
| 319 | * VillainEpisode: One EGS: NP story line shows [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=490 a day in the life of Pandora]] as she searches for people to give magic to during the week before Halloween. |
| 320 | * VillainPossessedBystander: The "New and Old Flames" arc involves an unknown person summoning monsters that attack different parts of Moperville. The summoner turns out to be [[spoiler:Dex, one of the comic shop regulars]] who was mind-controlled into the act by an Immortal. |
| 321 | * VisibleSilence: |
| 322 | ** Principal Verrückt of Moperville North High School is [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-09-21 temporarily rendered speechless]] by Sarah's PuppyDogEyes. |
| 323 | ** [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/father-003 Diane's reaction]] to Noah's {{Sarcasm Blind}}ness while giving an ExpositionDump is just three dots. |
| 324 | * VisualPun: |
| 325 | ** The Writer's Block, which is a block that shows up whenever Dan can't think of anything to do in the next NP story. |
| 326 | ** Susan's [[GoodAngelBadAngel curiosity]] is a CatGirl, and what do we say about cats and curiosity? |
| 327 | * WakeUpCall: Grace and Adrian Raven had the best of intentions when they wanted to prevent a wild boar from being killed. They thought that there was a better way of dealing with the situation. They were forced to learn that good intentions means zilch if poorly thought out when they were forced to kill it themselves to prevent Grace from getting hurt and were forced to admit that there was no other realistic outcome. |
| 328 | * WallOfText: Parodied [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-07-08 in an early strip]], detailing the plan to use the Dewitchery Diamond to break the TF Gun's effect on Elliot. |
| 329 | -->'''Elliot''': No seriously, what's the plan? |
| 330 | * {{Wangst}}: Played with in-universe in regards to Susan's "[[FreakOut major angst-induced Awakening]]." Disappointment over origin stories should never have triggered an angst-induced Awakening, and the only reason it did in Susan's case is because she has pent-up issues and that was the straw that broke the camel's back. |
| 331 | -->'''Jerry:''' Angst-induced Awakenings are usually triggered by things like murdered loved ones or a village burning down, not disappointment over origin stories. |
| 332 | * WardrobeMalfunction: Not shown on-panel, but [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=205 Tedd's dynamic morph watches]] are all devilishly tricky to use, and while testing them with Sarah and Grace, the three of them end up losing their clothes quite a lot. |
| 333 | * WaterTriggeredChange: Referenced twice in regards to Elliot's GenderBender ability (more specifically, referencing ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf''). Sensei Greg [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2005-02-28 dumps a bucket of water]] on Elliot's head to test it, only for Elliot to shout that that's not how it works. Later on, when [[spoiler:Ashley]] accidentally sees him transform, she asks him [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2013-12-27 if he needs hot water]] to turn back. |
| 334 | * WeaksauceWeakness: The fire-summon mooks have a weakness to water, despite not actually being on fire. Trying to make flaming creatures with a summon spell that can't allow it (the creatures would incinerate themselves) causes the effect. |
| 335 | * WebcomicPrintCollection: Two volumes; the first is out of print. |
| 336 | * WebcomicTime: |
| 337 | ** Eight years of EGS as a webcomic is ''just'' over two months of time in-comic. The Birthday Party was a particularly jarring example; a year of EGS was one ''day'' of in-comic time. This makes Ellen's character development and [[spoiler:Nanase coming out]] slightly odd. |
| 338 | ** It is getting a ''bit'' better, though. As of November, 2012, about 135 days, just over 4 months, have passed in-comic. Still, however, January 21, 2013 will be the ''11th'' anniversary. It is yet to be seen if we will reach the 5-month milestone by that time. [[spoiler:[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2013-02-01 This]] panel makes sure that, while it may be a weekish late, they definitely are past the 5-month mark now.]] |
| 339 | ** The [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2001 December 30, 2014 comic]] {{lampshades}} it. The tournament in question started in mid-April. |
| 340 | * WeirdTradeUnion: The demonic duck belongs to the Distraction Union. And he [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2006-01-02 doesn't like "scabs."]] The Distraction Union apparently has [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/?date=2006-08-26 a booth at EGS-Con]]. |
| 341 | * WeirdnessCensor: |
| 342 | ** The aliens, when [[AlienAmongUs walking among humans]], use a system of disguise that involves wearing shirts bearing the label 'human'. Despite their natural forms looking like LittleGreenMen, this method somehow successfully convinces anyone who has not been explicitly informed of their existence. This is later {{Revision}}ed into just being part of a LieToTheBeholder effect, using an ability called projections to create illusions to make them appear human. |
| 343 | ** Played with [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1155 later on]] when a monster attack happens in public, all the bystanders record the incident and release the information, the local news station immediately shows up and interviews the man who fought the monster, and that very same day the head of TheMenInBlack [[BrokenMasquerade openly confirms magic and monsters are real]]. The trope actually ends up being subtly deconstructed as TheUnmasquedWorld really isn't any different from before. People still go about their lives as usual, TheMenInBlack still do their job as before, and most denizens of the magical world still stay out of sight. Even while TheMasquerade was in place [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1650 a lot of people knew about magic.]] It seems like people just don't let all the weirdness going on around them get in the way of living their lives, yet aren't in the least bit of denial about how strange things are. They just treat the fantastic the same way as they treat the mundane. |
| 344 | ** There's also change blindness, the real-life phenomena of where people not actually ''seeing'' a change can prevent people from noticing it (Grace likes to play around with this) and transformation blindness, where people who have been transformed by magic usually adapt instantly, and may not notice unless it's actively pointed out (Pandora compares it to no one thinking about their hands until they're pointed out). |
| 345 | * WeNeedADistraction: Ashley and Elliot need to make a quick exit from the middle of a busy mall without being followed. Tara the griffin also needs to leave, but it's a good deal less important if people see which way she went. The solution is to have Tara make the [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2112 loudest, showiest exit she possibly can,]] drawing enough attention that no one realizes Elliot and Ashley have left until they're [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2113 already long gone.]] |
| 346 | * WeWereRehearsingAPlay: |
| 347 | ** Tedd once claimed that they were rehearsing a play when a pizza delivery guy questions the weird things going on at Tedd's house. |
| 348 | -->'''Tedd:''' They're... um... rehearsing a play...\ |
| 349 | '''Pizza boy:''' A play?\ |
| 350 | '''Tedd:''' Yes. A play.\ |
| 351 | '''Pizza boy:''' About two guys fighting over skirts?\ |
| 352 | '''Tedd:''' Yes..No! They're staying true to the play's Shakespearean roots by having men play female roles! |
| 353 | ** At the end of "Sister II", [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-01-11 Ellen claims they were rehearsing a play about CPR]] when Nanase's mom catches them kissing. |
| 354 | * WeakToMagic: [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] (humans who [[ImmortalityImmorality sacrificed their humanity for immortality]]) are universally weak to [[SpontaneousWeaponCreation summoned magical weapons.]] |
| 355 | * WhamEpisode: |
| 356 | ** The "Painted Black" arc was a turn for the dark when Elliot gets kidnapped, Grace almost dies, and Damien actually dies, resolving Grace's personal conflict with him. |
| 357 | ** ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-05-31 Hammerchlorians]]'' reveals a massive part of Susan's character, and that she was [[ChildrenForcedToKill forced to kill a monster]] herself. |
| 358 | --->'''[[invoked]] WordOfGod:''' I have frequently seen Susan described as having a "[[DullSurprise bored]]" look on her face. For a long time now, I have seen it as [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone something else]]. |
| 359 | ** ''New and Old Flames''. [[spoiler:Magical forces have become so blatant that the guy in charge of keeping these sort of things secret just ''gave up'', admitting it was all real on live television. Later on though, he states that the real secret was not the existence of magic per se, but how ''almost anyone on the planet could gain access to it'']]. |
| 360 | ** From "Hair", we learn that Tedd is magically challenged. We also learn that he plans to use his science to make it safe for everyone to use magic. And to top it all off, the final page features Tedd's mom's first appearance albeit in silhouette. |
| 361 | ** "There Be Whales Here - Part 3". '''HOLY CRAP.''' First off, we discover a fundamental function of the EGS universe. [[spoiler:There are giant, psychic algae eater - sorry, [[InsistentTerminology whales]] - living on another plane of existence. These whales feed on excess magic, keeping earth stable.]] As the next arc shows, not even MrExposition Mr. Verres knew about that. Secondly, an explanation for why Moperville is a CityOfAdventure: [[spoiler:the magic energy is increasing beyond normal standards in Moperville. The watches won't even work anywhere else.]] Because of that last detail, more magical creatures will be coming soon. And more magic will spread. And just to cap off the JustForFun/HolyShitQuotient, we're hit with a six-month TimeSkip, which is massive when you consider the comic had only progressed about five months so far during its eleven-year run. |
| 362 | ** "End Of An Era". Not as big as some of the previous, but [[spoiler:[[VictoriousChildhoodFriend Sarah]] wants to "just friends" Elliot. They were together through roughly 1400 updates]]. |
| 363 | ** A [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2013-05-13 Wham Page]] in "Family Tree", where Ellen and Nanase learn a surprising piece of information which implies that [[spoiler:Diane and Susan are identical twins.]] |
| 364 | *** Followed rapidly by the final panel of [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1653 this comic]], which seems to prove it beyond the shadow of a doubt. |
| 365 | ** Most of "Family Tree" is this, with the first big threat after the [[spoiler:whale's warnings]], more people breaking through TheMasquerade, [[spoiler:hints and exposition on both Susan and Tedd's respective parents]], and finally an explanation for why TheMasquerade exists: [[spoiler:Tengu was human. [[FromNobodyToNightmare Ordinary jerks]] can become psychotic, self-entitled, overpowered monsters with a god complex. And all it takes is just a taste of magic.]] |
| 366 | ** A seemingly filler arc takes a turn for the dramatic with the last panel of [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1872 this page:]] [[spoiler:[[OhCrap Pandora is back.]]]] |
| 367 | *** That's just the tip of the iceberg. So far: [[spoiler:A new character with the ability to see magic auras, who might be a love interest for Justin, appears, Tedd's aura apparently looks like [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1903 this]], Grace becomes aware of not only [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1924 Justin and Rhoda's magic marks, but also that Catalina apparently has one as well]], Tedd figures out that he's gender fluid, Pandora gave Tedd a magic mark that turns him into a girl, Tedd figures out that he has a supernaturally intuitive insight into the inner workings of magic, and Justin's magic mark is gone because Pandora awakened his powers, and Sarah got her own magic mark.]] Dang. |
| 368 | ** So A Date At The Mall quickly turns into this in part 3. [[spoiler:A Griffon knight shows up in the middle of the mall looking for Elliot, having been led there by an Immortal. Then the Immortal shows itself when the Griffon starts backing down only for the two French Immortals to reveal themselves (after having been absent for quite awhile) and assure the Griffon that its been tricked. The Immortal retreats, but not before exposing Elliot as Cheerleadra. And keep in mind, all of this happened with many witnesses, effectively ensuring a BrokenMasquerade.]] |
| 369 | ** Sister 3, being the culmination of several long-running plotlines that were present since nearly the beginning, provides a whole lot of whammies. In order: |
| 370 | *** Tedd's status is ''finally'' explained after it became clear that there is something weird with his magic affinity. [[spoiler:He's a Seer, a rare and very specific type of wizard that can see magic, have lots of magic energy, can create wands, but can't awaken. It's also explained that people like him have two purposes, one being that should magic severely change, Seers are to make sure people know the new rules]]. |
| 371 | *** [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2421 This page]] contains two whams for the price of one. [[spoiler:Sirleck has possessed Ellen, and used his control over her to let Magus possess Elliot. The pages after that reveal that everything to do with Ellen's creation and the incident in France was directly caused by Magus, triggering pretty much most of the events of the comic, masterminded by Pandora as an incredibly (and deliberately) convoluted scheme to get Magus into Elliot's body.]] |
| 372 | *** And the whammies continue. [[spoiler:It turns out that elves can have children and the earlier information that they couldn't was a lie that immortals pass to their next incarnations so that they don't have to deal with descendants. The reason why this is relevant? Susan is Adrian's distant descendant and Diane is ''his daughter''. And this come just after Pandora has just blatantly broken immortal law by saving Adrian from the aberrations, meaning she's due for an imminent forced reset.]] |
| 373 | *** Continuing on from the above, [[spoiler:Pandora exploits the mechanics of her forced reset in order to force every single immortal on Earth to cast a spell that kills aberrations, wiping out the vast majority of them (Sirleck managed to escape due to being too far). In the aftermath of this, it appears magic has decided to change, and the second function of seers is revealed: to determine the severity of magic's change. And the people chosen for this? Tedd, ''Arthur'', and a previously unseen British kid named Van who is stated to be Tedd's half-brother, with the author's commentary implicitly confirming Noriko is his mother. Ultimately, Tedd managed to convince Magic that upholding TheMasquerade is ''no longer an option'' due to information technology, which resulted in Magic going along with its reveal]]. |
| 374 | * WhamLine: |
| 375 | ** The TV interview where [[spoiler:Arthur J. Arthur]] says, [[spoiler:[[BrokenMasquerade "It was real. The monster was a golem created by one who must be found. The girl is a good Samaritan who can fly. What was seen is what was."]]]] |
| 376 | ** At the beginning of [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2011-01-14 New And Old Flames - 5]] Justin talks with George at the comic shop. |
| 377 | --> George: [[spoiler:Anyway don't worry about it. And I won't tell anyone your boyfriend's Cheerleadra.]] |
| 378 | ** In "Family Tree", [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2013-06-24 when]] [[spoiler:Rhea calls Diane "my lord"]]. |
| 379 | ** Later in "Family Tree", [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1676 not-Tengu reveals that]] [[spoiler:Tedd isn't an only child, likely a half-sibling.]] Problem: nobody heard what he was saying. |
| 380 | ** And at the end of "Family Tree", Mr. Verres explains that [[spoiler:there is nothing special about not-Tengu. He's just an ordinary {{jerkass}} who stumbled across one of the many common and easy ways to use magic in the setting, and anyone could easily do the same if they only knew how. ''This'' is what the {{masquerade}} exists to hide.]] |
| 381 | ** "She's like a sister to me," says [[spoiler:Elliot, while trying to articulate his feelings for his ''then-girlfriend,'' Sarah.]] |
| 382 | ** Tedd: [[IThoughtEveryoneCouldDoThat "Okay. You know how if you focus your eyes just right, you can sort of 'see' magic?"]] Sarah and Grace: "No." |
| 383 | ** [[spoiler:"They're not twins."]] says [[spoiler:Mr. Verres]] despite all the coincidences and evidence pointing towards otherwise. |
| 384 | *** Granted, in the next comic [[spoiler:he does acknowledge the possibility that they could instead be half-sisters, given that Susan's father was known to have cheated.]] |
| 385 | ** "[[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2250 For the record,]] I consider the whole of my efforts with Dexter to be one attempt." From [[spoiler:Voltaire]], confirming that [[spoiler:he was the one responsible for the events of "New and Old Flames" instead of Pandora.]] |
| 386 | ** And a very sedate ReasonYouSuckSpeech from son to mother - [[spoiler:"[[AllLovingHero Father]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2290 would hate what you've become."]]]] |
| 387 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2360 "Of COURSE they were his!"]] |
| 388 | ** And one from Susan to Pandora - [[spoiler:[[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2436 "Can you start by explaining why your son looks like my dad?"]]]] |
| 389 | *** And just a few strips later, Pandora delivers this bombshell - [[spoiler:"Susan is your direct descendant, and Diane... your daughter."]] |
| 390 | ** "[[spoiler:[[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/balance-024 Uryuoms are not from outer space]].]]" |
| 391 | ** "At this rate, the first they're going to hear about it is when [[spoiler:[[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/balance-121 the moving van shows up.]]]]" |
| 392 | ** "Last weekend, [[spoiler:I proposed to my girlfriend, Lavender. She's an Uryuom, and she's moving in.]]" |
| 393 | ** "Mr. Raven? [[spoiler:[[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/brother-006 He retired.]]]]" |
| 394 | * WhamShot: |
| 395 | ** The end scene of ''Death Sentence''. [[spoiler:Rhoda has a PowerTattoo, her power makes things grow, and she was the one who turned the boar giant in the first place. And not even she realizes it.]] |
| 396 | ** In the final panel of "One Way Road", while Tedd is narrating, we finally know one of the inventions he spent the chapter obsessing over creating...[[spoiler:A replica of [[EvilOverlord Lord Tedd's]] glove]]. |
| 397 | ** [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1776 Oops,]] Elliot got caught transforming into a girl at school by someone he doesn't know. |
| 398 | ** During Squirrel Prophet, Grace remembers who got magic marks, and one of them is [[spoiler:Catalina Bobcat! Before this, she wasn't known to have a mark]]. |
| 399 | ** During Sister 3, there was one big whammy. [[spoiler:Sirleck possessed Ellen]]. |
| 400 | ** During Untitled Party. [[spoiler:"[[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-244 We finally see what Tedd's mom looks like. And a likely reason for why she felt she needed to protect them.]]]] |
| 401 | ** [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/balance-150 An interesting example]], one that typically doesn't qualify as a WhamShot. [[spoiler:But when a character who has had his eyes [[EyesOutOfSight hidden]] for the entirety of a story's [[LongRunner twenty-year run]] suddenly gets his glasses knocked off, followed by a close-up of his eyes during an already intense scene... it's going to have this effect. This also reveals that Mr. Verres has [[TechnicolorEyes heterochromia]], which is just plain cool.]] |
| 402 | * WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-11-15 "Surely Nothing Bad Can Come from This... Right?"]] |
| 403 | * WhatDoesThisButtonDo: [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook.php?id=696 Three]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook.php?id=698 sketchbook]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook.php?id=778 comics]] show characters [[SchmuckBait unable to resist]] pressing an "Awkward Button". |
| 404 | * WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2013-10-16 Cecil]] appears to have been being set up as a possible love interest for Sarah, but he hasn't appeared since the storyline that introduced him. It's likely whatever, if anything, that was planned for him was dropped in favor of Sam. |
| 405 | * WhatHaveIBecome: Tedd [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-03-03 asks this of himself]] after saying that he would rather figure out the science behind Elliot's transformation magic than ogle his breasts (yes, the pronoun is correct). |
| 406 | * WhiteAndGreyMorality: |
| 407 | ** Save one or two bad eggs,[[note]]and both of them had been convinced that the world needed them[[/note]] there are no really evil characters in the comic; all of them so far have either been misguided or acting off their own sense of what's right rather being downright evil. |
| 408 | ** Aberrations are fully evil by nature, since they give up their empathy as part of their transformation. Some may still have once had morally grey intentions however, such as Sirleck who says that he became a PuppeteerParasite as a way to EatTheRich, although he's long since abandoned that ideal. |
| 409 | * WholePlotReference: The "Parable" side story is a parody/deconstruction of ''VideoGame/FableII''. |
| 410 | %%* WhyCantIHateYou: Justin feels this way towards Sarah. |
| 411 | * WillfullyWeak: Mr. Raven is half immortal and very powerful -- but not allowed to interfere with mortal events. Mostly. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-06-18 unless the situation involves magic]]. |
| 412 | * WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief: Referenced by the title of [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-02-25 this comic]], "Suspension of Disbelief #967 - Being morphed by a beam of energy is good for you." |
| 413 | * WineIsClassy: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-06-27 The presence of a glass of wine in Mrs. Pompoms hand]] seems to be an example of the high society version. |
| 414 | * WingDingEyes: Several characters have had the "Spirals" version. |
| 415 | * WingsDoNothing: Many characters and summons which fly have wings, but commentary notes that the flight is all magical. The aerodynamics just don't work out for a WingedHumanoid, and the best the wings can do is help maneuver. |
| 416 | * WithGreatPowerComesGreatHotness: Magic [[https://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1455 can impact]] a user's physiology based on their subconscious desires, affecting size, muscle, and probably the MostCommonSuperpower. Simply having magic power can also [[https://www.egscomics.com/egsnp/wao1-015 attract people]] on a subconscious level. |
| 417 | * WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-06-30 Revealed to be]] the reason why Immortals "reset" every two hundred years. As time goes by, they become "more bored, more powerful, and less sane," which as Jerry notes is "kind of a bad combo." This is why Pandora acts the way she does, since alleviating boredom through certifiably insane plots is her entire reason for doing things. 200 years is considered the safe limit, but [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=300 by her own admission]] she's been [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=300 pretending to be on year 299 for a few centuries now.]] |
| 418 | * WizardDuel: |
| 419 | ** Magus and Terra were in the middle of a magical sparring match when Magus was sabotaged and trapped in the EGS universe. |
| 420 | ** Abraham and Raven have a duel in the school halls using both magic and swords when the former invades Moperville South to kill Ellen. |
| 421 | * WondrousLadiesRoom: |
| 422 | ** Lampshaded and averted when Sarah offers to take Tedd (in Grace's form) to the women's room, which he's over-the-moon about. And then he finds out it's just a washroom, and also Sarah doesn't actually know what girls are supposed to be doing when they go to the washroom as a group. |
| 423 | ** Parodied in [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-02-19 this panel]], where the inside of the ladies' room is apparently a perpetual pillow fight. |
| 424 | * WordSaladTitle: |
| 425 | ** "Shive" is the last name of the author, but beyond that "El Goonish Shive" is entirely meaningless. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-08-13 here.]] |
| 426 | ** In-universe, spellbooks are automatically given fake names as part of the {{Masquerade}}. Only, Magic has a hard time understanding humans, so the books end up with titles like "The Tacos of Yesteryear" and "The Ecology of Anteaters ([[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Not a Spellbook]])". |
| 427 | * WorldHealingWave: [[spoiler:Pandora's final act is to force the rest of her kind to cast a spell that manifests as a light wave that destroys Aberrations on contact, destroying most of the Aberrations in the world, with the only ones left being those out of range or otherwise not detectable that way]]. |
| 428 | * TheWorldIsNotReady: [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1692 This is the official reason]] for TheMasquerade on magic. It is theoretically possible for almost ''anyone'' to gain magical powers, and since few of magic's limitations are known, it is impossible to predict and deal with the many abuses that could be committed with such power. As such, it is kept a secret to restrict access to a manageable number of people. Tedd's current goal is to ''make'' the world ready by searching for an easy way to give everyone [[AntiMagic magic resistance]]. [[spoiler:The real reason magic is not widely spread is because for unknown reasons, magic itself wants to be exclusive. If too many people cast magic at the same time, the metaphysics of magic will be re-written, and humanity will have to re-discover spellcraft from scratch. WordOfGod says that it's entirely possible early wizards only came up with TheWorldIsNotReady as an excuse to coverup the real reason not to spread magic.]] |
| 429 | * WorldOfBuxom: Enough so to lead to the theory that it's being caused by the fact magic can affect physiology and is extra concentrated around Mopperville, which WordOfGod has acknowledged as a fitting theory, but is mostly actually just [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2015-06-10 because of art style]]. |
| 430 | * WorldOfTechnicolorHair: |
| 431 | ** As explained [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-055 here]], hair colours like purple, green, and blue are entirely mundane. However, they are considered a scientific anomaly, unexplained by genetics, so magic is probably responsible. When magic changing your hair and/or eye colour is common enough that it's registered as an actual disorder, it makes sense that those hair colours would become commonplace over generations. |
| 432 | ** There is some implication the hair color a person has after burnout is their genetic hair color. |
| 433 | ** According to [[https://twitter.com/dantheshive/status/25314052263649280 Dan's]] [[https://twitter.com/dantheshive/status/25314173504196608 Twitter]] account, Tedd's purple hair was [[PurpleIsTheNewBlack intended to be black]], but by the time he learned how to paint it without ending up with an ink blob, colors were already established and he liked the idea of this being a natural color. |
| 434 | ** This is brought up in one of the [[FourthWallMailSlot Q&A]] sessions. Upon reading a question asking whether strange hair colors are natural in the EGS universe, Chika wonders if the person writing it lives in a universe without brown, black, or blonde hair before giving a somewhat hesitant "yes". |
| 435 | * WritersBlock: Shive has this, and many filler strips consist of him chasing a box-like creature labeled as such. |
| 436 | * WrongBathroomIncident: Arc "Night Out", subarc "Elliot's Crew". Tedd uses a GenderBender gun to transform himself into Grace's female human shape and masquerade as her. When he and the others go out to the movies, [[http://egscomics.com/?date=2003-05-29 he ends up in the girl's bathroom]]. |
| 437 | * WrongContextMagic: Werewolves once existed in this setting. They were victims inflicted by a contagious {{Curse}} that turned them into wolves the size of bears every night. No wizard ever managed to find a true cure for it. The curse was dangerous enough that it could have very well inflicted a werewolf style ZombieApocalypse and caused TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt had Pandora not intervened. The werewolf curse is very different from all other brands of magic seen so far. According to Noah, no magic users are publicly known to have any idea where the curse came from or how it was even possible. |
| 438 | * XanatosGambit: Ellen considered her fight with the goo to be a [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-01-23 "win-win,"]] given that loosing the physical fight would have resulted in a [[HeroicSacrifice "noble death"]]. |
| 439 | * XRayVision: Tedd's glasses used to have an x-ray feature that was originally designed to check for concealed weapons, although Tedd removed that feature because it wouldn't be right for him to have. Grace suggested a version that would ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-05-21 remove the wearer's clothing]]'' when taken off and vice versa (ItMakesSenseInContext). |
| 440 | * XtremeKoolLetterz: Used in the narration for [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-09-20 this strip.]] |
| 441 | --> ''Laterz... What? Z's are cool.'' |
| 442 | * YearX: WordOfGod likes to joke that the comic takes place in the year 20XX, partially as a ''Franchise/MegaMan'' reference. The comicverse is intended to be an AlternateUniverse Earth with some shared history with our universe. However, in order to keep the comic contemporary while dealing with WebcomicTime, the exact year is vague. Services like video rentals are still popular, because they were in 2001 in our world. In the comicverse, losing business to internet streaming [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/ourf-005 is a recent phenomenon]]. |
| 443 | * YouAndWhatArmy: Gerald asks Tedd what army is going to get him to stop bothering the double date Tedd, Grace, Ellen, and Nanase are on. The answer is [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-09-29 Grace, Ellen, and Nanase]]. Gerald immediately backs down. |
| 444 | * YouSayTomato: There is a quick gag where two hypothetical non-human species wage war over how to pronounce "potato". |
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