Line #53 Webcomic/HeroMaterial


1	[[quoteright:257:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heroestvt_3000.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:257:Our heroes.[[note]]From left to right: [[PrivateDetective Detective Noir]], Myth/KingArthur, [[SergeantRock Sarge]], [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Heracles]], CaptainObvious [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] [[TheStoner the Guitar Hero]].[[/note]] ]]
3
4	->'''Sarge:''' "So, you want us to [[ToHellAndBack ''go to Hell'']]?"
5	->'''Azrael:''' "Exactly."
6
7	''Hero Material'' (original Finnish name ''Sankariainesta'') is a webcomic by Rupert Fieth.
8
9	Archangel Azrael summons together six ''very'' different heroes: '''Detective Noir''', a drunk, chain-smoking private detective; '''King Arthur''' of Camelot, old and wise heir to the throne; '''Sarge''', grizzled and shell-shocked war veteran; '''Heracles''', the mythical Greek Demigod; '''Captain Obvious''', your friendly neighborhood superhero; [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and]] '''Guitar Hero''', a middle-aged junkie rock star. Azrael has a task for our heroes: Ominous dark powers are slowly corrupting the world. So our six heroes must journey to Hell to find out the source of the darkness. But first they would have to learn to get along...
10
11	''Hero Material'' is notable for that it takes it cliche'd premise and [[DeconstructiveParody parodies]] the hell out of it. [[DestructiveSaviour During their quest to save the world that probably causes more destruction than they manage to prevent]] [[TheHerosJourney none of the characters learn anything or become a better person]]. At best they just [[FireForgedFriends sort of tolerate each other because they have to]].
12
13	The sequel, titled ''"Hero Material 2"'', was announced on official HM facebook page in April, 2013, and the first part saw the light of day about a year later in April 25th, 2014.
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15	The comic can be found [[http://010001110101.deviantart.com/gallery/33793121 here]] in English, and for original Finnish version, go [[http://sankariainesta.blogspot.fi/ here]].
16
17	----
18
19	!!''Hero Material'' contains examples of:
20
21	[[foldercontrol]]
22
23	[[folder: Hero Material]]
24
25	* TheAce: Captain Obvious.
26	* AccidentalMisnaming: "Hey, doesn't this guy look a lot like Captain ''Oblivious''?"
27	* AerithAndBob: Well, ''Archibald'' and Bob, but...
28	* AffectionateParody: Of superhero comic books, and hero stories in general. One particular target seems to be [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers-style]] [[CrisisCrossover Crisis Crossovers.]]
29	* TheAlcoholic: Detective Noir carries a bottle of whiskey with him at all times in best FilmNoir fashion.
30	* AppliedPhlebotinum: The titular [[GreenRocks Hero Material]], which works as a natural protector agains [[TheCorruption the corrupting powers of Evil.]]
31	* ArtShift: [[http://010001110101.deviantart.com/gallery/33793121#/d4yoj4v Page 10]], which uses different kind of shadowing to make more of a storybook look.
32	** Whenever the Detective Guy starts his [[PrivateEyeMonologue monologuing]], everything turns more [[BuffySpeak Film Noir-ish]] and the shadows become more prominent.
33	* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Despite being a good 20-30 years older than other heroes, King Arthur can still lay the smack down as everyone else.
34	* BadassLongcoat: Detective Noir.
35	* BeatPanel: On [[http://010001110101.deviantart.com/art/Hero-Material-23-306966100?q=gallery%3A010001110101%2F9444435&qo=6 page 23]] before the group completely cracks up.
36	* {{BFS}}: Fawsté's sword about twice as big as he is.
37	* BigBad: [[spoiler: Fawsté]], the Ruler of Hell.
38	* BigGood: Archangel Azrael. Though he is more of DeadpanSnarker than your usual benevolent divine entity.
39	* BigNo: Sarge at the end of his [[http://010001110101.deviantart.com/art/Hero-Material-03-296489032?q=gallery%3A010001110101%2F33793121&qo=2 introduction page]], when one of his privates [[DiedInYourArmsTonight gets shot]] [[PietaPlagiarism and dies]].
40	* BittersweetEnding: Sort of. [[spoiler: The world is saved, but Hell is now in absolute chaos, they lost two of their teammates and [[NowWhat the surviving heroes seemingly have no way back home]].]]
41	* BoisterousBruiser: Captain Obvious.
42	* BoringReturnJourney: Averted. They run the whole trip back as a part of a chase sequence.
43	* BottomlessMagazines: [[SubvertedTrope Subverted.]] Sarge runs out of bullets [[FinaglesLaw just when the biggest monster shows up.]] He [[CombatPragmatist then throws his now useless assault rifle straight in the face of the beast.]]
44	* CaptainObvious: Captain Obvious. Duh.
45	* ClarkKenting: Captain Obvious' secret identity disguise consists of fake moustache and glasses. [[PaperThinDisguise He even leaves his superhero mask under them]].
46	* CoolOldGuy: King Arthur. See AuthorityEqualsAsskicking.
47	* CrazyEnoughToWork: Captain Obvious' plan to distract the guards. See InsaneTrollLogic.
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49	* CurbStompBattle: When our Heroes first take on the BigBad, he defeats them all with little effort. [[http://010001110101.deviantart.com/art/Hero-Material-32-309365864 While fighting Captain Obvious he looks bored.]]
50	* DealWithTheDevil: Fawsté the Victorious does this to avoid dying in the battlefield.
51	* DeconstructiveParody
52	* DeconstructorFleet
53	* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler: Fawsté]] eventually does this to the Devil.
54	* DoubleMeaningTitle: Hero Material as in the actual piece of materia the heroes receive from Azrael, and also as in the potential our main characters possess to become true heroes.
55	* EvenMooksHaveLovedOnes: Invoked with Skeleton Soldier Colin's skeletal wife and children.
56	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Sarge, who is only referred by his military rank.
57	** Detective Guy and Guitar Hero also qualify, though [[NoNameGiven no names are used for them]] in-work.
58	* EvilGloating: Because it gets lonely in hell and it's nice open your heart to someone for a change.
59	* EvilIsHammy: Averted with [[spoiler: Fawsté]], who is very calm and [[FauxAffablyEvil almost polite]]. His OneWingedAngel form hams it up for all it's worth, though.
60	* EvilMakesYouUgly / EvilMakesYouMonstrous: [[spoiler: Fawsté]] See FisherKingdom.
61	* ExactWords: "We need a ''way'' to crosseth this lake!"
62	* ExpressiveShirt: King Arthur's sun eblem changes it's expression depending on the surrounding events.
63	* FacePalm: Several, usually from Detective Guy.
64	* FallenHero: Fawsté the Victorious.
65	* FireAndBrimstoneHell
66	* FisherKingdom: Hell. Any mortal not equipped with the protective Hero Material will over time be robbed from their human features.
67	* FloatingContinent: Azrael's Castle.
68	* FluffyCloudHeaven: Where Azrael's Castle is located.
69	* FlyingBrick: Though flying isn't one of many superpowers Captain Obvious possesses, he still manages to be rather destructive...
70	* FunetikAksent: Interesting variation: King Arthur speaks YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe complete with different font and big, ornated initial letters.
71	* FunnyBackGroundEvent: Everywhere. For [[ShoutOut Shout-Outic]] ones, see ShoutOut.
72	** When Heracles releases Cerberus, it can be seen chasing one of Azrael's servants and eventually catching him.
73	** Outside Arthur's Castle there are a bunch of cows assembling as a tower in order to climb up the castle wall.
74	** After sitting by the campfire Sarge accidentally sets the photo he's holding on fire without him noticing it. It burns in his hand for couple of panels before he eventually shakes the fire out.
75	** Heracles is seen [[AnachronismStew quoting Hamlet]] with one of the skulls he has decapitated. Then he collects a few more, starts juggling with them and eventually gets his head stuck inside one. Then he proceeds to scare the crap out of Detective Noir.
76	* GroundShatteringLanding / MegatonPunch: See RedHerring, below.
77	* HammerSpace: Sarge pulls an assault rifle out of nowhere at one point. Naturally this is [[LampshadedTrope lampshaded]].
78	* IWillOnlySlowYouDown: Watch what you say, [[spoiler: Detective Noir]]...
79	* IdeaBulb: When Captain Obvious get his EurekaMoment.
80	* IdiotHero: The whole group of Heroes, all the time.
81	* InsaneTrollLogic: The Guards accept Captain Obvious's PaperThinDisguise because even though he could have grown the moustache, he couldn't have grown ''a refractive error.''
82	* IronicEcho: ''"Welcome, 'heroes'!"''
83	* KilledMidSentence: Twice, both times the victim is one of Hell's Guardians.
84	--> '''Skeleton Soldier:''' (After cathing a live grenade) ''"Ha! Catched it in midair!"''
85	--> '''Demon:''' ''"What do you think of that? We can easily just toss it back to y-"'' '''BOOM'''
86	* KlingonPromotion: [[spoiler: Fawsté took this up to eleven by offing Satan and becoming the new ruler of Hell.]]
87	* LegionsOfHell: Mainly of [[DemBones skeletal]] and [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demonic]] variety.
88	* TheLoad: Guitar Hero. Having no combat skills and being constantly stoned out of his head do not exactly make you an effective part of a team of heroes.
89	* LoveMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: Fawsté.]]
90	* ManlyTears / SingleTear: [[http://010001110101.deviantart.com/art/Hero-Material-19-304237569?q=gallery%3A010001110101%2F33793121&qo=18 Here]], where Sarge is remembering his fallen friend.
91	* MeaningfulName: Fawsté is weird derivative from Faust. Fitting considering his DealWithTheDevil.
92	** Detective Noir is every FilmNoir protagonist distilled into one. And then we have CaptainObvious...
93	* MookChivalry: Inverted, only ones to utilize this are [[GenreBlind the heroes]].
94	* MoreDakka: Sarge and his assault rifle.
95	* OhMyGods: By Heracles, [[TropeNamer naturally]].
96	* OneWingedAngel: Utilized by the BigBad, of course. It doesn't help.
97	* OralFixation: Sarge is constantly chewing on some kind of straw.
98	* PermaStubble: Sarge and the Detective Guy.
99	* PhraseCatcher: "Thank you, Captain Obvious!"
100	* PunchClockVillain: Many of the guardians of Hell seem to be this.
101	* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "You. Can't. Be. SERIOUS!"
102	* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: The group of six heroes. While they're claimed to be the greatest heroes of their times, that still doesn't prevent them to not being able to stand each other.
103	* RedHerring: Captain Obvious gets and idea how help his teammates escape the hordes of Hell. After he ponders his own words "Burden" and "Carry", it seems obvious that his EurekaMoment would lead to using his SuperSpeed and SuperStrength to carry his allies to safety, right? [[spoiler: Nope. He hits the ground so hard that the wall that ''carries'' the ceiling breaks, causing the roof to collapse on the chasers.]]
104	* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: King Arthur Again.
105	* RunOrDie: See ScrewThisImOuttaHere, below.
106	* SanityBall: Tossed around a lot, but Detective Noir and Sarge are the most prominent holders.
107	* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: The heroes decide not to accept [[EvilOverlord Hell's Ruler's]] invitation to stay.
108	* ShieldBash: Utilized by Heracles against hordes of Skeletal Soldiers.
109	* ShooOutTheClowns: Averted, as the biggest clowns of the story are [[IdiotHero our heroes]].
110	* ShoutOut: Apart from Arthur's numerous Creator/MontyPython references, we have following:
111	** Heracles's shield is identical to the one Hercules carries in the [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} adaptation.]]
112	** The MadScientist Captain Obvious catches during his introduction page is called [[Film/DrStrangelove Dr. Merkwürdigliebe]].
113	** A ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' Sentry can be seen among the Mad doctor's devastated machinery.
114	** The two cops arresting Dr. Merkwürdliebe are modeled after the idiot cops in ''{{Film/Superbad}}''.
115	** The flying house from ''WesternAnimation/{{UP}}'' can be seen drifting behind Azrael's window.
116	** A skeletal version of ''AmericanGothicCouple'' can be seen hanging on the wall of the Skeleton Mooks.
117	** The two skeleton soldiers we meet are named [[Series/WhoseLineIsItAnyway Colin]] and [[Series/DrewCareysImprovaganza Ryan]].
118	** The [[SinisterMinister priest]] orating Colin's funeral is [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameDisney Frollo]].
119	** Sarge's childhood flashbacks are very similar to several scenes in ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''.
120	** The BigBad's line when transforming to OneWingedAngel form are from [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]], word to word.
121	* SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness: ''Very'' deep in the Silly end.
122	* ToHellAndBack: The main objective of our heroes. Also, Fawsté's RoaringRampageOfRevenge consists largely of this. The result is ShroudedInMyth.
123	* UnreliableNarrator: Detective Guy's PrivateEyeMonologue doesn't always match with the actual events we see...
124	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: When the heroes first arrive at Azrael's Castle, nobody seems to give a second look to Heracles's ''three-headed dog''. Might be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] with King Arthur and Captain Obvious, who both have magical/supernatural home worlds, and with Guitar Hero, [[TheStoner who is as high as a kite]], but it doesn't explain why Sarge or Detective Guy don't react to him in any way.
125	* WhamEpisode: Pages 24-25, when it's revealed that [[spoiler: Fawsté has [[TyrantTakesTheHelm taken over Hell]] ]].
126	* WhatMeasureIsAMook: There's a two [[PerspectiveFlip pages showing us]] how one unlucky Skeleton Soldier gets mauled by our heroes. Then they thrash his funeral and kill all the skeletal guests.
127	* WholeCostumeReference: King Arthur has very similar attire to the one [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail Monty Python's King Arthur]] wore.
128	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: [[spoiler: Fawsté]]
129	* WrongGenreSavvy: Guitar Hero seems to be the OnlySaneMan of the hero group, and even acknowledges the fact that he's [[ImNotAHeroIm a musician, not a real hero]]. Then he lets the heroes carry on without him, which means leaving him alone and defenseless.
130	[[/folder]]
131
132	[[folder: Hero Material 2]]
133	* EvilInc: [=MalevoCo=], whose slogan seems to be "We're the good guys! Honest! Seriously! TRUST US!"
134	* GasMaskMooks: The [=MalevoCo=] guards, complete with appropriate [[GasMaskLongcoat longcoats]].
135	* ShoutOut: The main character tries to infiltrate the [=MalevoCo=] Facility [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid wearing a cardboard box]].
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder: Supplemental Material]]
139	* AnimatedActors: ''Making of Hero Material'' which presents the comic as a film studio -type project that was filmed rather than drawn. We see things like [[TheStoner Guitar Hero]] actually being a ClassicallyTrainedExtra in reality, and BigBad and BigGood having common actor background.
140	* BreakingTheFourthWall: ''Making of Hero Material'' is rife with these. Special mention goes to King Arthur's actor, as he apparently [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall leaned on the fourth wall]] so hard he fell out of the comic.
141	* CreatorCameo: Three times in the ''Making of Hero Material'' comic. [[TheFaceless Though his face is never seen.]]
142	* FunetikAksent: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] as the actor of Arthur explains how challenging it was to get those big ornamental initial letters to his speech bubbles. [[FridgeLogic Don't ask how it works.]]
143	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: You can see a pair of skeletons trying to break into the vending machines when Noir is being interviewed.
144	* WhoWritesThisCrap: Fawsté giving his opinion of the script is the opening scene of ''Making of Hero Material''

Context Webcomic / HeroMaterial