Line #35 Webcomic/AirForceBlues


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cartoon063014.jpg]]
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3	Imagine the brave men and women of the [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks United States]] [[DeathFromAbove Air Force]] - Some of the finest, best trained and well equipped military forces on Earth. Now throw all that junk away and meet the men and women of the [=809th=] "Raging Peckers".
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5	Gentlemen, [[http://afblues.com/ we are boned]].
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7	For various reasons, the comic updated [[https://web.archive.org/web/20140924020919/http://farvatoons.com/ here from April 2012 to September 2013]].
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9	The strip updated fairly regularly from 2007 to 2013(at least as regular as you can get with the constraints of a deployment schedule). The strip went on a two-year hiatus from 2013 to 2015, and is back to updates as frequent as possible. The pre-hiatus archives can be found [[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Yv1M_nEZh3cHdoOWZaeXJJVlE/view?usp=sharing here.]]
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11	There is now a Characters page. Give it some love.
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13	----
14	!!Air Force Blues contains examples of:
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16	* AllMenArePerverts - Leia hints at this when Barbie is trying to guess the sex of his pet bird. Guess where the bird went for when it saw Leia.
17	-->'''Barbie''': I heard that they like melons.
18	-->''[Bird flies to and perches on Leia's chest.]''
19	-->'''Leia''': Melons, huh?
20	* AnimatedActors - Played with in the "Late Night With Lt. Dahl" strips.
21	* AuthorTract - Yeah, Farva. You think [=UAVs=] are a good concept. Got it.
22	** Seems more like he thinks the "haters" from the fighter pilot community (at least stereotypically) are... well, insecure, as several strips have alluded to.
23	** Also wanders into this territory on the subject of reflective belts.
24	* BrandX: The pilots' favorite place to eat out? Chesticles, a hot wing restaurant where the girls wear tight-fitting outfits.
25	* BringMyBrownPants: Barbie's wingman, Bert, suffers a bird strike on takeoff. Thankfully, he is uninjured, and the plane is not badly damaged. When Barbie gets on the radio with him, [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2010/03/22/03222010/ Bert asks Barbie to get him a new pair of underwear.]]
26	* BitingTheHandHumor: Comes closer than you'd ever think a public affairs officer (PAO) would ever be allowed to, but the dismissal of the Air Force Chief of Staff (military officer) and secretary (civilian official)[[note]]due to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_United_States_Air_Force_nuclear_weapons_incident a 2007 incident]] in which active nuclear weapons were mistakenly loaded onto a B-52[[/note]] resulted in a three-panel strip consisting of the author (voiced through Barbie) explicitly refusing to cover it: "NOT GONNA HAPPEN."
27	* CanCrushingCranium: Barbie is on a euphoric high from piloting the F-22, and blows Rowland off when he comes asking for Diet Cokes (Barbie, being the person with the least seniority in their top-secret outfit, is the snacko). When Barbie returns to consciousness two strips later, Rowland crushes an empty can of Diet Coke on Barbie's forehead to express his displeasure.
28	* CerebusSyndrome - At times, the series veers dangerously close to acquiring this. The author, Farva, is often quick to prevent this.
29	* ChallengeCoin: A meta example, the author of the comic offers up custom challenge coins from time to time as added incentive for his readers to donate to various charities.
30	** Not to mention the "Zaps", squadron stickers fashioned after the Raging Peckers' logo, which will turn up in the most unlikely places at Air Force installations around the world.
31	* {{Crossover}} - Various characters from other webcomics have guest stared in the comic, or have had outright interwoven plotlines. Among these are . . .
32	** ''Webcomic/CrewDogs''
33	** ''Webcomic/TheWhiteboard''
34	** ''Webcomic/PVTMurphysLaw''
35	** Jenny the Military Spouse
36	** [[Webcomic/TerminalLance A couple of disgruntled Marines]]
37	* CustomUniformOfSexy - 1st Lt. "Leia" Willows, who doesn't seem to wear a shirt under her flight suit, and who never gets the zipper up all the way. This gets noted by Barbie's ex-girlfriend when she's doing an inspection of the squadron as part of her job in the [[TheInquisitorGeneral Inspector General's office]].
38	* DisembodiedEyebrows: Aside from being the size of rainforest caterpillars, eyebrows in [=AFBlues=] generally float about the forehead and often climb ''above'' the hairline.
39	* EarWorm: Coffman shows up to work with Train's "Hey Soul Sister" stuck in his head. He mentions this to Barbie, [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2010/05/17/youve-been-songfcked/ who gets it stuck in his head as well.]] The author refers to this as being "songf*cked".
40	** Also, apparently [[{{Music/Aqua}} "Barbie Girl"]]. [[spoiler: It's how Barbie got his call sign.]]
41	* EmbarrassingCoverUp: To cover for Barbie's time away from the 809th, Lt. Col. Rowland has to [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2008/10/22/10222008/ cook up a story]] for the rest of the unit about how Barbie was sent to fly [=UAVs=], then crashed one and had to get sent back. Further, to prevent people transferring into the "special assignment" squadron (masquerading as a flight of the 809th) he and Barbie is in, Rowland has it designated as a [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2008/10/23/10232008/ "remedial training flight"]].
42	* EnemyMine - Barbie [[spoiler:forces himself to help some [=UAV=] pilots on several occasions]]. He doesn't like it though.
43	** Also, [=SSgt.=] Coffman once took a break from being a merciless pain in Barbie's side in order to bring [[TheRival RC]] down to size, partially because RC really was just more of a screw-up and a tool than Barbie ever was, but mostly because [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou only Coffman gets to give Barbie shit.]]
44	* EscalatingWar - Between Barbie and RC after Barbie decided to learn to fly remote planes. Barbie [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2011/02/23/i-did-it-with-a-wiffle-ball-bat/ crashes]] a model plane into RC, and RC does [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2011/02/25/revenge/ this]] in return.
45	** The topic of the first "Red Flag" {{Crossover}} storyline with ''Webcomic/CrewDogs'', with two squadrons trying to out-do each other in pranks, culminating in the kidnapping of each others' commanders.
46	* FailedASpotCheck: Barbie [[GroinAttack nut-checks]] himself on a piece of ground equipment because he [[SunglassesAtNight was wearing aviator shades under his helmet visor.]]
47	* {{Fanservice}} - Lt. Willows. Princess Leia slave-girl outfit. Cue drooling.
48	* FunWithAcronyms: [[spoiler:The 69th '''P'''re-'''E'''mptive '''N'''uclear '''I'''ntercept '''S'''quadron.]]
49	* GargleBlaster - Some of the [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2011/04/13/genetically-engineered-coffee/ beverages]] served at Jurassic Java.
50	* GroinAttack: Barbie, Self-inflicted due to wearing his [[CoolShades aviator sunglasses]] [[SunglassesAtNight under his helmet's tinted visor]], leading him to boldly march groin-first [[FailedASpotCheck into a parked generator cart.]]
51	* HomeGuard: The Civil Air Patrol turns up from time to time. Barbie typically comes off as a fool while trying to treat them with contempt.
52	* HypocriticalHumor - Barbie decides to learn how to fly a remote-controlled model plane. Even one of his fellow officers lampshades this.
53	* ICanExplain - Barbie's room mate comes home to find him in his underwear watching [[HoYay Top Gun]]. Subverted, in that the explanation consists entirely of "''You came home early."''
54	* IndyPloy: How Barbie takes down [[spoiler:the F-117]].
55	* TheInquisitorGeneral - Barbie's ex-girlfriend Capt. Dhart works for the Inspector General's office.
56	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold - Dahl, in some rare moments, can actually be quite nice and amicable. These times are [[StatusQuoIsGod short and not often seen]].
57	** The rest of the time, he's just a JerkAss.
58	** Coffman also sometimes has shades of this, though usually more heart of gold and less [[JerkAss jerk]] than Barbie.
59	* JizzedInMyPants: Barbie [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2010/03/08/03082010/ reacts]] [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2010/03/09/03092010/ this way]] when he gets to pilot an F-22 for the first time.
60	** Alluded to as well in an earlier strip where he's in a bathroom stall with a magazine ''about'' the F-22...
61	* KingIncognito: At one point, the colonel's "father" visits the 69th. Dahl needs it spelled out to him that this is in fact General [[spoiler:Willows]] trying to be discreet.
62	* KlatchianCoffee: [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2011/04/13/genetically-engineered-coffee/ The "Bitter Spitter"]], by virtue of extreme--in fact, toxic--effects.
63	* LaxativePrank: Coffman to Dahl on a near daily basis. Willows seems to have adopted the squadron coffee as a weight-loss plan.
64	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2009/09/21/09212009/ "It all seems a little far-fetched, you know? Like something you'd only find in comics."]]
65	* MathematiciansAnswer: RC gloats to Barbie that he is flying an [=UAV=] mission in Afghanistan using an iPhone app. Barbie points out that they are in the BX, asking RC whether he can get signals inside the building. After a beat, [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2010/10/25/crapple/ this exchange follows:]]
66	--->'''RC''': It seems to have crashed.
67	--->'''Barbie''': The app or the plane?
68	--->'''RC''': Yes.
69	* MildlyMilitary - To varying degrees depending on the character. Coffman is usually being a pain in Barbie's ass over various uniform violations due to their being on opposite ends of this spectrum, though most of it seems to be just another thing he uses to annoy Barbie.
70	** The Civil Air Patrol as well, though since they are a [[AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle civilian auxiliary to the Air Force]].
71	* MilitaryBrat - Barbie. Not that he'd admit it.
72	* MoodWhiplash - Will likely result if you read the strips from 11/11/2010 to 11/22/2010 in succession: a Veteran's Day tribute, followed by two strips of ToiletHumor, then two strips in tribute to a downed pilot.
73	* MsFanservice - Lt. Willows, with the aforementioned low-cut uniform, and of course, Barbie's girlfriend, who works as a waitress at [[BrandX Chesticles]].
74	* MultipleChoicePast: TSgt. Drain keeps telling his coworkers outlandish stories of how he lost half an ear. This backfires when he says he visited a risque entertainer but forgot his wallet, so he paid the entertainer--a huge Van Gogh fan--with half of his ear; Barbie confirms that the entertainer is a real person.
75	--> Oh, yeah. The "Starry Night Senorita". Some of my students have had run-ins with her.
76	* NomDeGuerre - Every pilot character has a callsign. One arc is devoted to choosing one for Lt. Willows, and confirming Capt. Dahl as "Barbie."
77	* NoseArt - One storyline had the pilots adorning their new F-22s with custom artwork and names. Leia's appears fairly mild (aside from a PunnyName based on [[AllMenArePerverts her callsign]]), until it is viewed from above: The greyscale camo pattern [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2010/01/14/01142010/ a pair of Mudflap Girls on the wings]].
78	* ParentalAbandonment - Well, Dahl's parents didn't abandon him; his dad is merely stationed at a different base.
79	** Also subverted by the fact that Dahl seems happy enough to stay away from his father for being an enlisted airman.
80	* PornStache - Basically the whole of Moustache March. Barbie tries very, very hard to grow one, but has had little success until [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2011/03/16/even-so-its-allowed-now/ of late.]]
81	* PunnyName: We meet a cocky UAV pilot early on. His callsign? "RC."
82	** Also the "[=69th=] Pre-emptive Nuclear Intercept Squadron."
83	** Captain Dhart, whose name is a StealthPun based on the airframe she flies, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, or as it's known by F-15 Eagle pilots, the "Lawn Dart", for its relatively large single engine and alleged tendency to plow into the ground early in its career.
84	** Not to mention Ken "Barbie" Dahl. Or so we are lead to believe. [[spoiler: Barbie actually got the name after deciding, while on furlough and drunk off his ass, that [[{{Music/Aqua}} "Barbie Girl"]] was the greatest song ever and spent most of the night badgering the DJ to play it. The next day, Barbie was flying and began singing the song on a mic he didn't know was hot, and the result was played on the Laughlin AFB PA system.]]
85	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Lt. Col. Rowland, though even he gets tired of Barbie's antics from time to time.
86	* RedAlert: Dahl is sitting in the ready room eating a sandwich while the light flashes and the alarm blares until his commander comes in yelling for him to SCRAMBLE!
87	* ReversePsychology: Coffman applies this expertly [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2009/08/20/08202009/ when asking Barbie about his family]].
88	* RunningGag - You have a pick between fighter pilots being jerks, or reflective belts.
89	** The author also has a habit of making [[Franchise/StarWars The Empire]] a lot like the Air Force.
90	** More recently, Coffman spiking the officers' coffee with laxatives.
91	* SensorSuspense - The [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2008/04/30/04302008/ dogfight]] between a [=MiG=] and a UAV as seen from the perspective of [=AWACS=]. It isn't quite as exciting as many forms of media will have you believe.
92	* SergeantRock - Typical of Crew Chiefs, including Ken Dahl Sr. Also qualifying are the [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2011/03/25/truth-in-advertising/ Navy Chiefs]] mentioned in some of the strips, but that tends to cross into DrillSergeantNasty territory.
93	* SitcomArchNemesis - Dahl is split between [=SSgt.=] Coffman and the scourge of [=UAVs=].
94	** [[PunnyName RC]] also counts, whenever he turns up.
95	* ShoutOut - To...
96	** ''Franchise/StarWars''
97	** Film/JurassicPark
98	** Film/TopGun
99	* SmallNameBigEgo: Barbie and the new wing commander's egos are so thick, [[http://www.afblues.com/wordpress/2009/06/15/06152009/ they actually stuff up the air of the room they're both in]].
100	* [[ThatsWhatSheSaid So To Speak]] - Almost a catch phrase, with virtually everybody getting one off at some point. So to speak...
101	* TakeThat - [[http://www.afblues.com/comics/vetday2009.jpg Here]].
102	* TemptingFate "I think the only way this day could be ruined is if the entire F-15 fleet was suddenly grounded."
103	** Inspired, of course, by the real-life grounding of the F-15 fleet in 2008. RealLifeWritesThePlot indeed.
104	* TokenMinority - Lt. Willows. She didn't get her callsign for her personality. Nudge nudge.
105	* WeCanRebuildHim - Conversed when Barbie and Gordon discover that [[spoiler: the Snowman has melted in Gordon's squad car's back seat]].

Context Webcomic / AirForceBlues