Line #44 Main/SpeechBubbleCensoring


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9	[[quoteright:349:[[ComicBook/AvengersAcademy https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/speech_bubble_censoring.jpg]]]]
10	[-[[caption-width-right:349:If [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules he]] were to stop talking, it would be a bit [[{{Pun}} em-bare-ass-ing]].]]-]
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15
16	A subtrope of SceneryCensor specific to comic style formats. Simply, a character's nudity is covered by a speech, thought, or sound effect bubble. It's usually used to imply that characters within the work are getting a full eyeful, while still preventing the audience from seeing anything.
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18	See also CensorSteam, SpeechBubblesInterruption. Not to be confused with SymbolSwearing, where the text ''within'' the speech bubble is censored.
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20	----
21	!!Examples
22
23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
26	* In the ''VideoGame/AliceInTheCountryOfHearts'' manga, there's a point where Blood, Elliot and the twins are having an [[{{Fanservice}} obligatory bathhouse scene]] and the twins make a few smart remarks. After Elliot stands up to reprimand them, a speech bubble repeatedly manages to show up to cover up his bare butt (he's only shown from the waist up in front views).
27	* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'':
28	** One chapter has Matsuri's guarding Suzu from an attack while she's taking a bath. This leads to a page where she is [[HandOrObjectUnderwear covering her breasts with her hands]], but her genitals are only obscured by her speech bubble. Matsuri ends up looking down despite himself, which is actually what Suzu wanted.
29	** A stranger possible example occurs when Matsuri ends up with his head under Suzu's skirt. The ensuing PantyShot is as detailed as usual (including visible cameltoe), but Suzu's sigh of surprise covers a ''very'' small portion in the center of her crotch. The dialogue [[NoPeriodsPeriod vaguely suggests Suzu was on her period]], and the speech bubble was obscuring the indent of a tampon.
30	* In chapter 78 of ''Manga/BlueExorcist'', speech bubbles are used to cover Shura's nipples in several panels.
31	* ''Manga/ChainsawMan'':
32	** One panel in Part 1 has Denji telling himself to be faithful to Makima and turn down SkinnyDipping with Reze. [[GilliganCut In the following panel]], Denji has stripped down and his crotch it obscured by the only thought bubble, labelled "''Dammit.''"
33	** Part 2 has a speech balloon obscure view for a RevealShot rather than censorship. The instant [[spoiler:Public Safety]] breaks into Asa's home, her arm is obscured by her speech balloon in the corner of the page. Several pages later, we see [[spoiler:Yoshida attacked so fast, he'd already [[AnArmAndALeg cut the arm off]] before Asa could touch something with it to create a weapon]].
34	* Non-nudity related example: In the manga of ''Manga/DeathNote'', the Third Kira of Yotsuba Group ([[spoiler:Higuchi]]), whose identity is meant to be a surprise in the manga, thinks that he should use his Death Note to kill Matsuda, but can't because if he went home alone, the others would suspect him, and his thought balloon obscures his face, preventing the reader from finding out who it is. By contrast, the anime does not attempt to hide that [[spoiler:Higuchi]] is Kira.
35	* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
36	** At the end of the ''Fairy Tail Special'' chapter "Welcome to Fairy Hills", when Lucy's cat costume disappears, a narration box is placed in front of her butt, which is a bit weird since it isn't censored in a later chapter [[ItMakesSenseInContext where she flies naked around the country's capital]], but then again, the series continually goes HotterAndSexier.
37	** In chapter 365, when [[spoiler: Erza is held captive and stripped naked]], the censoring of her nipples alternates between sound effects, speech bubbles, [[GodivaHair her hair]], and occasionally, her captor.
38	* In the [[Manga/HetaliaBloodbath2010 2010 Christmas episode]] of ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'', when the characters all have to strip to check their bodies for a special mark, copious amounts of speech bubbles are used to cover up all "vital regions".
39	* A rather disturbing instance in ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' with [[MonsterClown Hisoka]]. While naked and chatting with two twelve-year-old boys, [[SomethingElseAlsoRises his speech bubble shifts upwards as he becomes... excited]].
40	* Used in the ''Anime/MagicalShoppingArcadeAbenobashi'' manga once or twice.
41	* In the first chapter of ''Minimum'', as the miniature girl takes care of her PottyEmergency in the sink, her genitals are covered up by her speech bubble at one point.
42	* ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'': In ''The Adventure of the Four Servants'', Moran is naked in the changing room when Louis shows Bond around--and he stands up proudly claiming his body a work of art when demanding Bond leave--and that speech bubble covers any naughty bits.
43	* In one chapter of ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', Momo destroys her top with her [[ThePowerOfCreation creation power]], and her modesty is only preserved by her dialogue. Jiro gets an eyeful, though.
44	* A non-nudity related example in ''Manga/OnePiece'': the perpetually-hidden left eye of Sanji was once blocked by a word balloon when he was hanging upside down, and thus could not hide it with his hair as he usually does.
45	* The published English language version of ''Manga/TenjhoTenge'' has a lot of this artificially inserted for censorship purposes.
46	* ''Manga/ToLoveRu'': Yui's panties were accidentally ''cut off'' at the beginning of the chapter, so only Rito's exclamation prevents readers from seeing ''everything''. And as for Rito, on the next page he gets hit on the head by a [[ItMakesSenseInContext flying teapot]] and [[LaserGuidedAmnesia forgets about it]].
47	[[/folder]]
48
49	[[folder:Comic Books]]
50	* An issue of ''ComicBook/TheDandy'' has a single speech bubble covering up Winker Watson and a school friend's bits during a shower scene (and a sign being held up by an off-screen character, saying "Not a pretty sight", over another schoolboy).
51	* Creator/DCComics:
52	** In ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightStrikesAgain'', The "News in the Nude" anchorwoman is naked with only word balloons covering her regions.
53	** The ''ComicBook/HarleyAndIvy'' miniseries shows us the women's shower at Arkham Asylum, allowing Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy to appear in the nude. While their private parts are mostly concealed using CensorSteam, CensorSuds and SceneryCensor, one panel has Harley's speech bubble covering up one of her breasts.
54	** Joker actually evades this in ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke'', but his word bubble did probably take your eye off an unconscious Barbara's chest sitting right next to it.
55	** When ComicBook/RedRobin breaks into Promise's hideout to confront her only to discover she's showering and then she spots him and starts a fight before he has a chance to decide how to deal with a surprisingly naked criminal the architecture and speech bubbles manage to maintain her decency for the reader.
56	** ''ComicBook/SecretSix'' #11: A rear end view of Jeanette blocked by a word balloon. [[http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/606004.html Writer Gail Simone was disappointed when she found out.]]
57	** ''World's Finest'' #253 uses an ''[[https://theragingfanboy.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/worldsfinestcomics253-dinahlancecensored001.jpg editorial footnote]]'' to obscure Dinah Lance's breasts as she's searching through her closet in the nude.
58	** In ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}: Shadow of the Bat'' #2 when Mr. Zsasz strips off his clothes to reveal his many self inflicted scars to demonstrate to the police how many people he’s killed, his genitals are covered by his speech bubble.
59	** Issue 60 of ''ComicBook/AnimalMan'' has one panel where a naked Buddy Baker's crotch is obscured by a woman's speech bubble.
60	** ''ComicBook/TimDrakeRobin'': The bloody stump of [[spoiler:Cam]]'s neck is obscured by a speech bubble after she's decapitated.
61	** The fourth issue of ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol: Weight of the Worlds'' ends with the villain Skarg left naked when the Secret Spandex is separated from his body. His groin is obscured by his own speech bubble exclaiming "My bits!"
62	* Done in ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'' when Emp demonstrates her suit's ability to turn invisible. Her pubic region is obscured by Ninjette's exclamation of surprise. Another time when the Caged Demonwolf discovers that Ninjette is shaved "down there", his exclamation of surprise obscures the visual proof.
63	* Creator/MarvelComics:
64	** Used with Domino in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulks'' #608, during the Red She-Hulk backup story.
65	** ''ComicBook/LokiAgentOfAsgard'' starts with a ShowerOfAwkward -- and once Loki's out of the shower there's a ''very'' strategically placed speech bubble, just barely in place.
66	** ''ComicBook/MightyAvengers'' #12 features a scene with ComicBook/NickFury in bed with Countess [=DeFontaine=], where her bare behind is hidden by one of these.
67	** ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'' #14: a scene of ComicBook/SpiderWoman I (Jessica Drew) on an operating table nude, surrounded by doctors. Her right breast is hidden by a utensil tray held up by one of the doctors. Her left is covered up by a word balloon. Recreated in #42.
68	** ''Son of M'' #1 gives ComicBook/{{Quicksilver}} a ShowerScene. His butt is partially covered by a narration box.
69	** In ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'' #245 we see a room full of dead bodies, Tessa’s word balloon covers up one of the men’s heads, implying he’s been decapitated.
70	** The 24th issue of ''What The--?!'' had a segment called "Misprints in the Comics", which had humorous situations and premises happening to Creator/MarvelComics characters because of a single word in the series' title being changed. The panel for ''ComicBook/NewWarriors'' had the team become the Nude Warriors and forced to go home naked except for their masks after a stay in Las Vegas. Nova's crotch is covered up by his speech balloon, [[LampshadeHanging pointing out how handy it is to have it censoring his naughty bits]].
71	** The final page of ''ComicBook/XFactor'' #47 (current volume) where Monet is nude and her butt is covered up by a word balloon.
72	* ''ComicBook/TomStrong '': America's Best Comics' ''The Many Worlds of Tesla Strong'' features an alternate reality with No Nudity Taboo. Discomfort ensues. For [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ts.jpg Tesla]] [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ts2.jpg anyway.]]
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
76	* Used as a gag in the August 12, 2009 ''ComicStrip/BeetleBailey'' strip, where Miss Buxley tore her skirt and is covered up by a speech bubble from another character who [[LampshadeHanging acknowledges that she's talking so that Miss Buxley is covered up until she can repair her skirt]].
77	* In ''ComicStrip/{{Luann}}'', word bubbles were often used to cover Tiffany’s father's face before it was revealed in a later storyline.
78	* In 1954, The Providence Bulletin complained about the ''ComicStrip/{{Pogo}}'' character Simple J. Malarkey (a caricature of [=Joseph McCarthy=]), saying that they would drop the strip if Malarkey "ever showed his face again." Walt Kelly continued to use Malarkey, but [[ExactWords covered his face in every panel]], including a sequence in which his face was always behind his own speech bubble.
79	* In the November 15, 2023 installment of ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'', semi-heroic pirate Savarna is staying with the Walkers and using one of the cave showers. Her ass is covered up by one of Diana's speech bubbles, thanking a Bandar woman for bringing towels.
80	[[/folder]]
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82	%%[[folder:Fan Works]]
83	%%* Lampshaded in [[http://Loopydave.deviantart.com/art/Old-Amnesia-IX-spoof-page-two-216429484 this parody]] of ''Aphrodite IX''.
84	%%[[/folder]]
85
86	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
87	* In the Creator/MattHelm film ''Film/TheSilencers'', a stripper's breasts are covered up by the title.
88	* Same effect, but more (in)famous: ''Film/{{Barbarella}}''.
89	* And again with the sexually explicit film ''Film/Romance1999'', whose cover art depicts main character Marie topless with the title of the film across her bust.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Literature]]
93	* Creator/ScottMcCloud does this in ''ComicBook/MakingComics'' when he talks about talk bubbles. When he mentions the placement of talk bubbles, the panel shows him as Creator/{{Michelangelo\|Buonarroti}}'s ''Art/{{David}}'' with his hair and NerdGlasses, and his speech is covering where the statue's penis would be.
94	* Rare non-comic-book example: in the ''Series/SesameStreet'' picture book "Do You Want to Play Hide-and-Seek with Lovable, Furry Old Grover?" Grover tries (unsuccessfully) to hide behind his own word balloons.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Video Games]]
98	* In ''VideoGame/ProjectHospital'', the patient's groin gets censored by a thought bubble whenever they use the toilet.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Web Comics]]
102	* ''Webcomic/ApricotCookies'': When Apricot is hesitating to put on her bikini in the BeachEpisode, her lower parts are covered up by Butter's talking.
103	* ''Webcomic/{{Ayuri}}'': Accidentally used in one strip due to poor planning, for which the author apologizes in TheRant.
104	-->This was supposed to be the first instance of full frontal (well, lateral) nudity in the comic. But then there wasn't enough room at the top of the image for a text box. So now it looks like Ayuri is censored. Oh well, I'll plan these out better in the future.
105	* [[http://bcdecomic.com/comics/223/ Used in one strip]] in ''Webcomic/BecauseImDepressed'' to spare us the sight of Ben's Levitra-induced stiffy.
106	* Seen in ''Webcomic/BlasterNation'' -- e.g. [[http://www.blasternation.com/index.php?id=358 here.]]
107	* ''Webcomic/{{Blip}}'' has [[http://rakugakiwall.com/blip/archive/188 Bishop's roommate naked.]]
108	* [[http://www.hirezfox.com/km/co/co1024/d/20240329.html This]] ''Webcomic/CarryOn'' strip owes ''a lot'' to Fred's carefully-placed speech bubbles.
109	* Used once with an unusually oblong bubble in ''Webcomic/TheClassMenagerie''.
110	* [[http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Crossoverkill/5367109/ A shower scene]] in ''Webcomic/{{Crossoverkill}}'' uses this to hide Webcomic/{{Mindmistress}} and Hoodoo's assets. Poor [[Webcomic/SparklingGenerationValkyrieYuuki Yuuki]].
111	* ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'': In [[http://www.missmab.com/Comics/Vol_690.php this strip,]] Abel demonstrates his shapeshifting abilities to Dan by changing into a [[GenderBender female form]]... without putting on a shirt first. Guess where one of his speech bubbles is located.
112	* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''
113	** [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=720 Used on Nanase]] during the birthday party arc, and more so in a filler artwork drawn soon after.
114	** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-02-19 No topless Lisa either]] for you, folk.
115	** Used again, this time for Grace [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-121 here]].
116	* Jane [[https://eheroes.thecomicseries.com/comics/91 taking a shower]] in ''Webcomic/EverydayHeroes''.
117	* Very common in ''Webcomic/{{Exiern}}''. [[https://exiern.thecomicseries.com/comics/8#content-start Just one prominent example.]]
118	* Used in ''Webcomic/{{Fite}}'' after Guz's FullFrontalAssault. Made stranger by the [[http://home.comcast.net/~x8099/thomasblue/fite1to4.html#26 bubble in question]] being VisibleSilence.
119	* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': In Mamma Gkikia's [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080505#.Wy2ZzSAh270 dressing screen panel]] presumably featuring a naked girl, is obscured by Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, saying:
120	-->'''Gil:''' So -- does this place have a '''''back door?'''''
121	* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'':
122	** Dabbler, [[SuccubiAndIncubi a succubus]], [[http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/2542 pulls off a non-nude variant]] while sporting some SensualSpandex poolside, both of which espouse just ''how'' tight the suit is.
123	** [[AmazonianBeauty Anvil]] gets it while having a discussion with Sydney about body types, specifically that while Anvil might have [[NoGuyWantsAnAmazon problems with guys who dislike dating women stronger than they are]], she has [[MostCommonSuperpower enough in the chest]] that unlike Sydney she's never actually been ''mistaken'' for a guy. For bonus points, [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-340-shared-insecurities/ note the exact shape of the speech bubble]].
124	** When Super Hiro is [[ClothingDamage rendered naked]] by an energy blast, his manhood is concealed from the reader by [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-521-to-no-dress/ Sydney's thought balloon]] as she stares wide-eyed.
125	* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' has a variant: the Norns look like younger, present-day, and older versions of [[AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder whoever's looking at them]]; when Brunhilde the {{Valkyrie\|s}} introduces them, their faces are [[https://www.gunnerkrigg.com/?p=2342 covered]] by the speech bubbles with their names, hiding how they appear to non-mortal eyes.
126	* [[http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/The_KAMics/5006745/ Done here]] in ''Webcomic/TheKamics''.
127	* ''Webcomic/LastRes0rt'' takes an entire page of Jigsaw ''and'' Daisy in the buff (for a clothing scan) and [[http://www.lastres0rt.com/2008/05/always-turn-down-the-embassy-tour/ obscures it with their conversation]].
128	* ''Webcomic/MenageA3'' employs this for comedy on occasion:
129	** See strip #750 (June 4, 2013; nonetheless NSFW) for one example. It's maybe doubly necessary and doubly funny here because Senna is UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}}, and casual readers may not realize exactly what they're not seeing.
130	** Strip #756 (June 20, 2013, probably NSFW) also uses this. The added twist here is that Yuki may be able see the thing which is covered by the speech bubble -- angles are hard to judge -- but it will be better for everyone if she can't.
131	* ''Webcomic/{{Misfile}}'' performs a variant, stretching one nude body (Ash's) across three panels following a ShowerOfAngst. [[http://www.misfile.com/?date=2008-11-02 The naughty bits are hidden behind the panel breaks.]]
132	* ''Mynarski Forest'' managed with mere large text, no bubble.
133	* ''WebComic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'': [[http://nonadventures.com/2013/12/14/panic-at-the-bistro/ "Panic at the Bistro"]] has Wonderella get embarrassed over answering "You too" to a waiter saying "Enjoy your meal." Then she just keeps thinking about it embarrasedly everywhere she goes after that, including in the shower, where the thought bubble comes in handy.
134	* Happens in a panel of the ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' when Roy and Durkon yelling NO briefly covers Elan's Genitals.
135	* ''Webcomic/ParadoxSpace'' uses this in the ''Summerteen Romance'' arc; at one point Tavros has a BizarreAlienBiology response when someone flirts with him. The imagery [[note]]Specifically, his head peels like a banana and sprouts a mushroom that sprays goo everywhere[[/note]] squicked out so many people that the authors covered it up with a bunch of speech bubbles of Dave humorously describing what was going on.
136	* ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'': Dora gets one for [[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2584 one breast only]], the other one is behind [[SceneryCensor Tai's arm]].
137	* ''Webcomic/ShotAndChaser'': Tre is introduced taking promotional photos for an [=OnlyFans=] creator, who is topless. Her breasts stay mostly covered by her arm and speech bubbles from the reader's perspective.
138	* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', for the "Years of Yarncraft" arc, [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/080812 Zoe's speech bubble covers the assets of a Rose Elf,]] while explaining why at the same time.
139	-->'''Zoe:''' Her outfit is totally see-through and she's not wearing any underwear!
140	* In a non-censorship example, ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'' uses this to obscure a revelation by covering other speech bubbles [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp11252008.shtml here]] and [[http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp03112009.shtml here]]. The first one is even part of a conversation {{lampshading}} its purpose.
141	* Thanks to this trope, ''Webcomic/{{Sunstone}}'' manages to be tasteful despite its status as an erotic character study of a BDSM relationship.
142	* In the ''Webcomic/TeamFortress2'' comic, when [[ItMakesSenseInContext Soldier is nude and covered in honey]] [[NoodleIncident again]], his crotch is covered by a text panel referring readers to the nonexistent comic ''Naked Tales of Valor''.
143	* ''Webcomic/TurnSignalsOnALandRaider'' did this with daemonettes. [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks They wouldn't have had to bother if daemons had appeared in the comic after]] [[BarbieDollAnatomy their recent set of models were released.]]
144	[[/folder]]

Context Main / SpeechBubbleCensoring