Line #5 Recap/TheYellowM


1	[[quoteright:299:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/la_marque_jaune_4.png]]
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3	''The Yellow "M"'' is the sixth album in the BelgianComics series ''ComicBook/BlakeAndMortimer'', and possibly the most iconic in the franchise. It's praised for its story and art work and hailed as a landmark in the history of FrancoBelgianComics. In 1999 it was named the ''Best Comic Strip Album of All Time'' by European comic strip critics.
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5	The plot revolves around a mysterious villain who terrorized London by informing the press in advance of his robberies. As a signature he leaves an ''M'' in a yellow circle behind. When the Imperial State Crown is stolen from the Tower Of London Blake and Mortimer are put on the case...
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7	The album cover in itself has become a StockParody and StockPose in European comics and has been referenced and spoofed so much that it has its own section in [[ReferencedBy/BlakeAndMortimer the series' "Referenced By..." page]].
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9	The album was adapted into a two-parter episode in the [[WesternAnimation/BlakeAndMortimer 1997 animated series]].
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11	!! Yellow "M" tropes:
12	* BigBad: Dr. Septimus against the people who attacked his theories exposed in his book "The Mega Wave".
13	%%* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Olrik.
14	* BritainIsOnlyLondon: All action takes place in London.
15	* CallBack: Near the end plot elements from "The Great Pyramid" are referenced.
16	* ContinuityNod: A discreet one, but Mortimer carries on with the habit of keeping a revolver in his bedroom, as he did in ''The Mystery of the Great Pyramid''.
17	* CoolCrown: Stolen from the London Tower.
18	* TheDragon: A brainwashed Olrik to Dr. Septimus. Olrik does all the muscle work for his master assuming the ''Yellow M'' identity.
19	* EvilIsNotWellLit: All crimes are committed in the foggy dark.
20	* FakedKidnapping: Septimus faked his own kidnapping.
21	* FamilyFriendlyFirearms: Of a sort. Weapons could not be drawn on covers, so on the cover Mortimer is shown reaching into his pocket to (presumably) get one.
22	* AFoggyDayInLondonTown: Prevalent when Blake and Mortimer walk the London streets at night.
23	* Foreshadowing: There are two particular hints that the ''Yellow M'' is none other than Olrik:
24	** When the ''Yellow M'' intrudes himself in Blake and Mortimer's home, he is uncharacteristically perturbed and terrified by the egyptian decorations from "The Great Pyramid" expedition. In the preceding album, Olrik was rendered insane by the Sheikh Abdel Razek and is terrified of him.
25	** Any assassination attempt from the ''Yellow M'' against Blake and Mortimer results in a failure. Something Olrik is very familiar to.
26	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: A two-fold one. Septimus meets his end vaporised by his own machine, at the hands of Olrik no less, someone he brainwashed to do his bidding. Doubles as LaserGuidedKarma.
27	* KidnappedScientist: Several doctors and scientists are kidnapped.
28	%%* MadScientist: Septimus
29	* ManOnFire: The ''Yellow M'' rams a bus, causing both his car and himself to catch fire.
30	* MindControlDevice: The Mega Wave.
31	* MysteriousEmployer: The mystery criminal who writes the letter "M" everywhere is mind-controlled by Septimus.
32	* MysteriousMist and OminousFog: A lot of actions takes place in foggy mist. The reader can anticipate something is about to happen when characters are in this situation.
33	* NonActionBigBad: Septimus is the brains behind the ''Yellow M'' but all the physical work is given to the latter. When Olrik is eventually freed, Septimus is helpless against him.
34	* ShoutOut: The yellow 'm' signed on Blake's coat was inspired by the film ''Film/{{M}}'' by Creator/FritzLang.
35	* ShownTheirWork: As usual the backgrounds are beautiful to look at. The house in Park Lane, London, actually exists, only the number on the door is different: 94.
36	** There's only one minor mistake to be spotted. The steering wheel in the ''Austin'' police car is on the left side, when it should be on the right.
37	* StolenGoodReturnedBetter: The Royal crown is stolen.
38	* ThrowAwayGuns: Mortimer fires four shots at the intruder, realizes they have no effect, and throws the gun at him.
39	* ATasteOfTheLash: Septimus uses a whip to disciplinate the ''Yellow M'' Olrik. The latter furiously returns the favor when he is freed.
40	* UnstoppableRage: A spectacular one. When Olrik is freed from Septimus' control, he immediately turns against the Doctor, chases him with the whip the latter used to subdue him, ignores Septimus' pleas for mercy before vaporising the Doctor with his own machine, screaming angryly during all this.
41	* WhosLaughingNow: Septimus turned evil after his theories were ridiculed by other scientists. Then he brainwashed them into believing he was their god.
42	* YoureInsane: Mortimer's eventual reaction to Septimus, who does not take it well.
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Context Recap / TheYellowM