Line #56 Webcomic/GoneWithTheBlastwave


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20170901_002436.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''This.''[[note]]''[[MemeticMutation Is a spoon.]]''[[/note]][==]]]
3
4	->''"Because war can be boring too."''
5
6	''[[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=1 Gone With The Blastwave]]'' is a webcomic created by Kimmo Lemetti. It follows a group of soldiers fighting (for reasons they're more than a little hazy about) in a ruined city of a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] world. It "is not a very serious comic", having a lot of BlackComedy - the author advises you to "think of it as some kind of a parody" of more serious post-apocalyptic settings.
7
8	Compare ''Webcomic/RomanticallyApocalyptic''.
9
10	It doesn't update very often at all, but not so much because of ScheduleSlip as because the author has decided not to try for a schedule - it's a side-project, and the update arrangements are unashamedly on a "whenever-I-feel-like-it" basis.
11
12	Was on a hiatus for almost a year, returned with the author promising an update once a month, twice a month if the readers bribe him, then slipped back into hiatus with few sporadic strips since.
13
14	----
15	!!This webcomic contains examples of:
16
17	* AfterTheEnd: The whole setting. {{Subverted\|Trope}} in the 2015 April Fool's Day comic, in which [[spoiler: it's restricted to only the city which was nuked in 1985]].
18	* AmbiguousSituation: There's a war going on. There are sides fighting each other. Why? We dunno; they just are.
19	* AmusingInjuries: "Friendly fire you goddamn son of a b-"
20	* AprilFoolsDay: One with cats as soldiers. The 2015 April's Fool had the City be revealed as a "historical preserve" showing the dangers of nuclear warfare, with the world outside being an idyllic {{Utopia}}.
21	* ArmedFarces: A good number of the characters we run across clearly don't have any idea how to do their jobs properly. Played to the extremes with The Green Army as their ranks seem to [[SuspiciouslySpecificTense have consisted]] entirely of these people.
22	* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety: Our nameless protagonists, being incompetent, psychotic, depressed, apathetic, or all four, really couldn't care less about handling their guns properly. See AmusingInjuries above.
23	* BadassLongcoat: What everyone; Red, Blue, or Yellow, would be if they weren't all crippled by varying degrees of stupidity, disinterest, or incompetence.
24	* BadassNormal: The two main protagonists, who, despite being lowly grunts, manage to keep up with and even outperform a Red army [[SuperSoldier Special]] [[OneManArmy Forces]] guy they encounter in their journey.
25	* TheBet: Many, but in here, it's mundane, since everyone is probably quite bored from the lack of direction and hope in general being stuck in a ruined city.
26	* BigDumbObject: Lampshaded in [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=51 this comic]]
27	* BlackComedy: The whole thing, really.
28	* BodyCountCompetition: The Reds appear to be constantly using this as a way to amuse themselves. According to [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=33 this comic]], [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership it also determines rank]].
29	** To Crosshairs' misfortune, the Spec Ops fellow named North [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=87 is no different]] in this regard to Pyro. Actually, considering he went {{Scrub}} about it, he might be even worse.
30	* CarFu: Fun things to do: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=28 Drop tanks on enemies]].
31	* CastFullOfCrazy: the exact form ranges from ConditionedToAcceptHorror to TalkativeLoon, but they're all a bit mad.
32	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Pyro deserves a special mention for qualifying even by the standards of this setting. Which is impressive.
33	* CloudcuckoolandersMinder: Crosshairs to Pyro, most of the time. Downplayed in that as previously mentioned, Crosshairs is closer to ''less'' insane man than OnlySaneMan.
34	* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: The three known factions in the war are simply called the Reds, the Blues, and the Yellows. The story follows a group of Reds. The Reds and Blues aren't really characterized much more than that, though - they seem fairly interchangeable. The Yellows are said to have superior firepower, and speak a different language, but still seem to be just as lost as the other two sides.
35	* ComedicSociopathy: In fact, if it wasn't for the prominent comedy aspect of the comic, you'd probably say that all characters were [[SociopathicSoldier sociopathic soldiers]].
36	* CosmeticallyDifferentSides: The Reds, Blues and Yellows all wear identical uniforms distinguished only by bright spot-colors.
37	** As the series goes on, though, [[DownplayedTrope small differences emerge]] - The Yellows don't speak English and are shown to be far more numerous and supplied with tanks, while a brief conversation with a Blue soldier reveals that Blue rifles are sturdier and better-designed than Red rifles.
38	* CuteKitten: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=55 This joke page.]] Somehow manages to be both cute ([[FacePalm Face paw!]]) and fully immersed in its black comedy in spite of [[TheUnintelligible not knowing what Crosshairs-cat and Pyro-cat are saying]].
39	* DeathSeeker: "Will to live" is considered something of an optional extra. At one point Pyro's ''only'' objection to being used as an ActionBomb is that his fuel tank's explosion wouldn't be large enough to take out all the enemies.
40	* DeusExMachina: Lampshaded [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=17 here]].
41	** Somewhat averted because as Crosshairs (and the other reds in the next strip note) "There is a war on"
42	* DopeSlap (And Dope Gunbutt): strips 40 and 46, respectively.
43	* DrivenToSuicide: Arguably the one point where it momentarily stops being black comedy and starts becoming [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=14 a bit depressing.]] Or even more hilarious.
44	* DueToTheDead: SubvertedTrope. [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=48 Think of it like a last service to the army!]]
45	* EnemyMine: Crosshairs ends up helping a blue sniper take down a yellow tank (they only realise afterwards they're on different sides).
46	** Subverted: They have a moment talking about rifles and maintenance before another Red guns him down. Crosshairs looks upset but he's actually just contemplating stealing the rifle
47	* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies: Lampshaded; the zombies are just civilians in makeup and tattered clothing. They dress like that in order to frighten soldiers away from their campsites. They even place bets on whether or not it will work.
48	* ExpressiveMask: Page 50, "25 Essential Expressions Challenge". They're mostly head tilts.
49	* FailedASpotCheck:
50	** The two soldiers who don't notice the tank about to land on top of them.
51	** Similarly, Crosshairs and Pyro are ambushed by 3 Yellows. Twice.
52	* FlamethrowerBackfire: Crosshair at one point suggests destroying a group of [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Yellows]] by having Pyro run into the middle of them and then shooting his fuel tank. Pyro replies that the blast radius wouldn't be big enough.
53	-->'''Crosshairs''': Wait, so that's the ONLY reason not to do it?
54	-->'''Pyro''': Well it's a good plan...
55	* FlatWhat: General reaction to [[spoiler: Crosshair guy being a wolf.]] Luckily, it's an April fools joke.
56	** BigWhat: Crosshair's reaction to [[spoiler: getting out of the city, only to find out that it was just a nature reserve site all along]]. Another April's Fool joke, though.
57	* ForeverWar: We don't know how long the war has been going on, but it has obviously been long enough that the participants don't know why or how it started, or why it has to continue. Heck, if the one-shot spin-off comic's title is to be taken literal it will continue on a on-and-off basis for at least 250,000 years. And in another spinoff comic the war is occurring during fantasy medieval times.
58	-->''[[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=1 "Why do we fight?" "To win the war." "Meh... Works for me."]]''
59	* GasMaskLongcoat: All of the soldiers, regardless of their side, wear identical getups like this.
60	* GasMaskMooks: Every character is one of these. The marks on their helmets seem to indicate their job specification, and are the only way to tell them apart. [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=50 Page 50]] filler shows "25 essential expressions" of these guys... such as they are.
61	* GirlOnGirlIsHot: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=54 Used in a joke page.]] Last panel:
62	-->[[TheRant "I ran out of ideas so I let my friend write a page."]]
63	* GreyAndGrayMorality: None of the factions are presented as obviously right, although since we're never even told what the war is about, this might just be lack of information. The individual soldiers often seem to be more driven by a desire to avoid boredom than anything else, and sometimes just to escape the bombed out crumbling city they've been hopelessly lost in for months.
64	* HeadPet: One of the characters has a [[MacabreMothMotif giant moth]] perched on his helmet in strip 24. He tried getting it to leave, but it just wouldn't. Now he just takes it in stride. Bit of a [=BLAM=], as it never shows up again.
65	* [[HighlyConspicuousUniform Highly Conspicuous Markings]]: Due to everyone wearing identical GasmaskLongcoat combinations, the three sides are differentiated by bright primary-color markings.
66	* IfYouDieICallYourStuff: See [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=29 this strip]].
67	* ImprobableAimingSkills: Crosshairs is [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=2 really]], [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=7 really]] good at his job. Of course, he's had time to practice.
68	* InsertGrenadeHere: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=58 #52 provides the page picture.]] Crosshairs and another soldier attack a Yellow tank in the classical manner, shooting the machine-gunner before throwing in a grenade and running. [[spoiler:Then it turns out the other guy is a sniper from the Blues.]]
69	* KillSteal: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=40 "Would you tell anyone if I shot him?"]]
70	* MadArtist: Downplayed in that he's only mad due to boredom. [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=56 Steve wears a mask made out of a human skull mainly because he can.]]
71	* {{Minimalism}}: Both the setting and design. This comic has the barest essentials of a war scenario, and most of it isn't even explained. Design-wise, using a '''''very''''' limited color palette.
72	* TheMovie: A half-hour short film, which can be accessed on page 49. AdaptationDistillation, as there's not much of the black comedy and is simply depressing post-apocalyptia.
73	* ApocalypticLog: the dry radio announcements at the start
74	* FantasticDrug: A.T.A.C. syringes, which Gunless is hopelessly addicted to. Sniperguy bumming one off him signals his DespairEventHorizon at the very end.
75	* GloriousMotherRussia: The actors have Russian, or some kind of east European, accents.
76	* LandMineGoesClick: One scene has the two stumble into a minefeild; Gunless just runs across, trusting to blind luck.
77	* NoNameGiven: While secondary characters such as West and Steve are given first names, at least, the two recurring protagonists (to use the term loosely) are known only by their helmet symbols. We've elected to call them Crosshairs and Pyro for the purposes of this page. (We don't call them [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Sniper and Pyro]] because [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 that would just cause confusion.]])
78	* NoSenseOfDirection: Just about everyone is completely lost, and everything they do just seems to make them even more hopelessly lost. Something of a RunningGag: "How the hell did we get lost in a city?!"
79	--> [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=41 "Hey, it was upside down."]]
80	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=48 Just how DID they take that tank down?]]
81	* OneManArmy: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=82 North]] has apparently killed 2172 people himself.
82	* OneSteveLimit: Averted ''and'' lampshaded:
83	--> [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=56 "Why is almost everyone we meet named Steve?"]]
84	* OneWayVisor: In "GWTBW 250K" only.
85	* OnlySaneMan: West, the machine gunner in command of the lost company seems to be more or less the most competent character. Crosshairs has his moments of madness but mainly acts as the straight man for Pyro.
86	* PostApocalypticGasmask: The setting is pretty apocalyptic (radiation and buildings appear to be in a state of disrepair). It's not apocalyptic enough that it prevents 3 factions fighting using tanks and planes. Each of the three armies has its own design. All the characters wear gas masks, due to the city's high levels of pollution, poison gas and fallout.
87	* PsychoForHire: Almost all characters appear to, more or less, fall into this category. And when we find out that soldiers get promoted based on their "body count", it pretty much seems like this is whomever's-in-charge's idea of his/her troops as well. Of course, it could also be because they're all bored out of their minds.
88	* PyroManiac: Pyro, naturally. He wears fuel tanks, has a flame for a helmet insignia, and [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=9 is mesmerized by the notion of the world burning.]]
89	* RagnarokProofing: In [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=30 this strip,]] Pyro finds a car that somehow still runs, even after presumably sitting for many years in the midst of a war-torn city. Not to mention the fact that gasoline only lasts [[GasolineLastsForever for a few months anyways.]]
90	* RocketJump: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/images/green4.jpg Invoked, attempted, and averted.]] The outcome is as messy as expected, both for the idiot that tried it and the other two idiots who stood there watching him.
91	* SamusIsAGirl: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=54 A joke page]] reveals that the Red unit are all lesbians.
92	* SchmuckBait [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=25 Might be worth it]] (he's demolition after all)
93	* ShoutOut: Has a few to ''Manga/{{Blame}}'', most notably the second 250k comic. One of the yellows also wears a helmet with The Authority's insignia on it.
94	* SnipingTheCockpit: Crosshairs does this to a moving plane, causing the plane to crash into a crowd of enemy soldiers. However, it was done only as a stupid bet out of boredom.
95	* ShellShockedVeteran: Pretty much everyone who appears in panel long enough to achieve MauveShirt status is suffering from this one way or another.
96	* ShootTheShaggyDogStory: Turns out the the soldiers were the lost and forgotten survivors of a devastating nuclear war and they were all fighting in a sealed-off memorial site, while a lush and beautiful new city was built around it. [[spoiler: [[AprilFoolsDay Or not.]]]]
97	* SpinOff: A few rarely updated comics, some freely available, some available only to donors.
98	** Wasted People: A PerspectiveFlip featuring a blue soldier writing in his [[ApocalypticLog journal]].
99	** GWTB Legends: A DarkFantasy version, with Crosshairs using a crossbow and Pyro armed with a FlamingSword.
100	** GWTB 250K: A ScienceFiction version with the two in PoweredArmor wandering an [[BigDumbObject ambiguous landscape]].
101	** Green Army: A look into why the [[HufflepuffHouse Green Army]] [[TooDumbToLive is absent from the main comic]].
102	* TemptingFate: In [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=71 Depths 2]], Crosshair mentions that "at least the yellows won't follow us here." (As they are trapped underground). Cue a yellow tank crashing down.
103	--> '''Pyro:''' Do you think that was intended, or-
104	--> '''Crosshairs:''' The turret's still turning! RUN!
105	* ThreatBackfire: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=16 A Yellow threatens to kill Pyro]] if Crosshairs doesn't tell him how to leave the city.
106	--> '''Crosshairs''': Your interrogation technique is flawed.
107	* TomatoSurprise: The 2015 April Fools comic -- Crosshairs and Pyro are chased down the sewers by a yellow tank, they run through a nightmarish hellhole full of mutated animals and giant plants and finally find their way out of the city. [[spoiler: Which turns out to have been a fenced-in historical preserve site of a nuked city in memorial and as a warning about the dangers of WMD's all along.]]
108	* TooDumbToLive: According to [[AllThereInTheManual some doodles]] by Kimmo, a Green fraction was at one point involved in the war, but thanks to their own stupidity and incompetence (using cardboard boxes as bomb shelters and mistaking their own barely-disguised spies for enemies) they managed to eliminate themselves from the war very early on.
109	* TwistEnding: Played with. One soldier thinks it all a nightmare, another thinks it purgatory, and another thinks is a Virtual Reality game. Turns out they ate a rat.. [[SicklyGreenGlow That was glowing purple.]]
110	* UnsoundEffect:
111	** Can you name any other comic where the SFX "-bullet sound-" appears?
112	** One of the aforementioned doodles involving the Greens also gives us the self-explanatory "SHOTGUN!" sound effect, exclamation point included.
113	*** Same thing happens when the friendly Blue is eliminated by a Red unaware of the new relationship.
114	* WarIsHell: For a few characters, certainly. For example, when West asks whether he's "the only one without a death wish," the answer he gets is a flat "Yes." A lot of them seem to have seen so much that they've become completely desensitized to it all, and are bored to death even when they're killing or at risk of being killed.
115	* WeHaveReserves: On a local scale. The soldiers seem to take this sort of attitude towards each other. And [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=5 themselves]].
116	* WhatTheHellHero: Pyro orders a random to run a gauntlet of enemy fire [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=37 Subverted in the end]].
117	* WithFriendsLikeThese: The Yellows threaten to shoot the Pyro if Crosshairs doesn't talk [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=16 Here you are.]]
118	* WorthIt: Crosshairs' response to [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=23 telling Pyro]] that they'd found a way out of the city (and [[ExactWords technically being honest]]...it ''was'' a way out of the city, just not any useful or practical one).
119	** [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=25 Another one]] when the squad discovers a the corpse of a Red which is set up as an ObviousTrap. The dead soldier is from demolitions, though, which means he might still have some explosives. Cue trope name.
120	* WorthlessYellowRocks: Justified: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=75 someone went underground to mine for gold.]] Crosshairs appropriately asks why would he do that in a warzone. He...just wants to have gold.
121	* YellowPeril: Implied, though you never actually see what the Yellows really look like.
122	* YouCanSeeThatRight: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=70 this strip]]
123	--> '''Crosshairs''': Did you see that wall full of nightmarish creatures?\
124	'''Pyro''': Nope!\
125	'''Crosshairs''' Me neither! Let's go!
126	* YouNoTakeCandle: Yellows are shown [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=17 speaking English like this]]. Their own language is depicted as illegible scribbles.
127	* ZombieApocalypse: [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=22 Some Reds think there was one]], though they might be {{TechnicallyLivingZombie}}s instead.

Context Webcomic / GoneWithTheBlastwave