Line #103 Webcomic/Multiplex


1	[[quoteright:342:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/multiplex_1102.png]]
2	''[[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/ Multiplex]]'' is a completed webcomic by Gordon [=McAlpin=].
3
4	Set in the (fictional) Multiplex 10 Cinema, the strip is an interesting blend of {{Comedy}} and TeenDrama, littered with lots of movie (and movie theater industry) commentary and criticism about everything from actual movies, to directors and actors, to the debates underlying certain documentaries. The various antics, misadventures, and industry-speak of the cast form the basis for a lot of the humor, and the entire basis for said drama (which thankfully comes in small doses).
5
6	The strip manages to create a good balance between all these elements, interspersing the movie commentary and relationship drama between lots of gags, more than one video game challenge, and a good dose of character development.
7
8	Despite its setting and the characters, it is very accessible, and the author is part of a podcast panel that goes into more detail on many freshly released movies, as just one of several projects.
9
10	The strip also has several things which make it easier to read, including a fairly helpful comments section, with a "related strips" sub-section, and it is one of the many webcomics starting to use a "tagger," which lets the reader cookie the strip they were reading.
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12	----
13	!!Provides Examples Of:
14	* AffectionateParody: ''Multiplex of the Dead''.
15	* ArmoredClosetGay: Chase, before an accidental threesome made him come to terms with his gayness.
16	* ArtShift: The standard style is vectorized characters and settings, but when the staff begins filming a zombie film the "camera view" is a sketchy black-and-white/gray-scaled graphic novel-esque style.
17	* [[ActorAllusion Author Allusion]] [=McAlpin=] makes numerous references to his (former) movie review site Movie Makeout.
18	* AuthorAppeal: Movies
19	** His knowledge of the inner workings of movie theaters is actually pretty impressive considering he's never worked in one. He's just really determined to have accurate details.
20	* BaitAndSwitchTyrant: Norma, whose strict adherence to company policy earns her the hatred of the staff who is used to laissez-faire management. She quickly proves that she truly cares about the staff, shows appreciation for a job well done, and even learns to loosen up a bit.
21	-->'''Melissa''': (After Norma hands out promotions and raises to the majority of the cast) So... do we ''like'' Norma now or...?
22	* BetterAsFriends:
23	** Jason and Angie came to an agreement that his atheism and her Christianity was something he was incapable of getting around, and for the sake of keeping him from bickering about it, they broke up. They're still good friends and hang out after work though.
24	** Jason and Devi cycle in and out of this over the course of the strip.
25	* BetaCouple: Kurt and Melissa have dated pretty uneventfully for the entire run of the strip.
26	* BigNo: ironically.
27	* BewareTheNiceOnes: When Sunny finds out that Brian has been cheating on her with Gretchen for months, she snaps and decks both of them.
28	* BrickJoke: Melissa chews Jason out because she suspects he wants to hook up with an underage employee. Over a year later, he finds out Franklin did just that and calls Melissa in the middle of the night to simply tell her "I hate you."
29	** Jason promises to stop using "gay" as an insult and [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/218 work the kiddie matinees as punishment if he slips up.]] Three months later, he can't help himself when [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/247 he sees Chase's new Camp Gay persona]] and decides working the kids matinee is worth getting in the gay joke.
30	* CampGay: Chase, who finally comes out of the closet after posing as a macho womanizer, immediately turns into a camp gay. The other gay character (whose most overt homosexual characteristic is a penchant for pink shirts) goes back and forth between confused and offended.
31	* CharacterDevelopment: Jason's been opening his mind to things that he's never thought to even give a chance before, after coming face to face with the idea of having to work in a movie theater the rest of his life. He's been reviewing movies for blogs and going to see movies he doesn't ''expect'' to be good.
32	** Whitey went from the PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy stereotype to a well rounded, intelligent and talented person.
33	* UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}: The comic is set in the northern suburbs.
34	* TheChosenOne: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/534 parodied]] by Kurt.
35	* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/529 Rookie's punishment]] for not doing the homework Kurt assigned him.
36	* {{Cosplay}}: One of the favorite activities of the staff is to dress up for big premiers.
37	* CurseCutShort: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/archive.php?name=298 This]] strip.
38	* CutawayGag: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/463 Discussed and parodied]].
39	* DeadpanSnarker: Jason.
40	* {{Defictionalization}}: Whenever a character in the strip is wearing a T-shirt with some slogan on it (for example, "Michael Bay is the Devil"), Gordon will typically make it available in the comic's store.
41	* DistaffCounterpart: Becky mentions that Lydia is [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/363 like Jason with boobs]].
42	* DistractedByTheSexy: Becky has Sunny do this to the Flickhead Video staff in [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/286 Secret Weapon]].
43	* DreamWithinADream:
44	** [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/590 Jason has one]] after seeing ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984'' for the first time.
45	** And of course, the trope features in a spoof of ''Film/{{Inception}}'' that the cast pulls at one point.
46	* DreamworksFace: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/468 Jason makes one]] to sum up his expectations of ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon''.
47	* DumbBlonde: Sunny.
48	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first few years of the comic were significantly more filled with office drama. "will they wont they" romantic tension, lying and backstabbing, and villainous employees. These days most of the comic is focused on introspective examination of the characters growing into adults.
49	* EnforcedMethodActing: Becky has an established weak stomach for horror gore. [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/689 She's not faking it in this strip]].
50	* EngineeredPublicConfession: Gretchen catches [[spoiler: Brian]] this way.
51	* EvenTheGirlsWantHer: Lizzie is among the men [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/423 drooling over Ariela]]
52	* FleetingDemographicRule: Expect Jason to point out when this rears its ugly head in any new movie.
53	* HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday: Chase before he comes out and becomes the CampGay.
54	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Jason and Kurt, to the point where Kurt admits after ''one week'' with Jason gone [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/165 that his life is empty without him to banter with.]]
55	* HiddenDepths: Everyone. Particularly:
56	** Angie: Believed to be an EmoTeen, turned out to be a PerkyGoth who is a devout Christian.
57	** Sunny: DumbBlonde cheerleader who dated Brian with major PDA and would sleep with him in the theater. Turns out she is also a devout Christian, becoming [[ChasteHero chaste]] because she wanted to focus on her faith, and aspires to be a social worker. Also, you should really [[BewareTheNiceOnes watch out for her]].
58	** Brian: The resident [[TheDitz ditz]]. [[spoiler: [[ObfuscatingStupidity Turns out it was all a scam]]]].
59	** Whitey/Dub: Seems like your average [[TheStoner dumb stoner]]. Turns out to be a very talented funk & soul bass player with a bit more intelligence than his [[PrettyFlyForAWhiteGuy accent]] lets on.
60	* HollywoodAtheist: Jason had a problem dating Angie because he is an atheist and she is a Christian, and despite the fact that she has no problems with his lack of faith, he was always the one to bring up the topic and try to fight about it. It's [[JustifiedTrope justified]], however--Jason is argumentative and opinionated about ''everything'', it's his major character flaw and was presented as such before the subject of religion even arose.
61	* HurricaneOfPuns: Kurt is enjoying his [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/354 hand costume]] way too much.
62	* HypocriticalHumor: Melissa [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/76 uses it]] to call Jason on some of his B.S [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/116 regularly]].
63	** [[CampGay Chase]] [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/374 complains about homosexual stereotypes]].
64	* ICallHimMisterHappy: Jason has named his "[[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/360 The Night Projectionist]]."
65	* IceQueen: Norma, who even looks pale and frosty. Gretchen has several of the trope's traits too.
66	* {{Jerkass}}: Jason. Occasionally a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. Occasionally.
67	* MamaBear: Norma is protective of her employees.
68	* ModestyBedsheet: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/366 Invoked]] by Jason.
69	* MrFanservice: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/355 Jamal]].
70	* NakedPeopleAreFunny: Used several times. Melissa sets Kurt up to walk naked into a theater and the punchline of [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/337 this strip]].
71	* NeverHeardThatOneBefore: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/archive.php?name=1 Kurt, in the very first strip.]]
72	* ObfuscatingStupidity: [[spoiler:Brian]]
73	* OhCrap: [[spoiler:The ending of ''Multiplex of the Dead'', where after all the zombies return to normal, the cast realizes that they just murdered a whole bunch of people and that that's going to be hard to explain.]]
74	* OnceDoneNeverForgotten: Jason checks out a girl's ass, not knowing that she's Melissa's little sister and ''12''. Melissa harps on it for years.
75	* OneSteveLimit: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/513 Discussed]].
76	-->'''Jason:''' [[{{Lampshading}} "This never happens in movies or TV..."]]
77	* OpinionMyopia: InUniverse. Jason believes Creator/MichaelBay is the devil and woe be to anyone who disagrees with him.
78	* OscarBait: Referenced, by name, in [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/541 this strip]].
79	* PapaWolf: Neil, in [[http://multiplexcomic.com/strip/522 this strip]]
80	* {{Paparazzi}}: Gretchen considers herself an "investigative reporter" in training. Really, she's just a completely unlikable gossip who is willing to sleep around and use minor blackmail to dig up dirt on the personal lives of her fellow employees.
81	* PerkyGoth: Angie.
82	* PlaceWorseThanDeath: While they are discussing the source of the zombie invasion of [[ShowWithinAShow the movie theater]].
83	-->'''Franklyn''': So what if the projector is opening a portal to hell, or, uh, whatever.
84	-->'''Tease''': Hollywood?
85	* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "[[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/522 Nobody. Screws. With. My. Kids.]]"
86	* PutOnABus: Dom. Introduced as a member of Whitey's band in the same strip he starts up a relationship with Becky, his time in the strip ends [[spoiler:with her breaking up right after sex on Valentine's Day and then getting tossed out of his band for leaving them stuck playing covers because he doesn't practice.]]
87	* QueerPeopleAreFunny: Neil is highly annoyed with Jason and Kurt's attitude toward using gay jokes and using "gay" or "queer" as an insult.
88	* ReallyGetsAround: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/491 Max]].
89	* RunningGag: A few strips begin with this setting: "Someone left the west exit open. We need to check the building again."
90	* ShipperOnDeck: Oddly, the whole theater staff seemed to join in on an elaborate scheme to help Neil hook up with his crush.
91	* ShoutOut: Constantly and everywhere about any movie they can reference - and it works wonderfully.
92	* ShowWithinAShow: ''Multiplex of the Dead'', the zombie film the cast creates.
93	* ShownTheirWork: The author has never worked in a movie theater, but he goes out of his way to depict a realistic cinema, including back room staff-only areas like the projection booths.
94	* TheSnarkKnight: Jason's taste in movies is what he would consider to be distinguished and high brow. He has no problem admonishing others for their choice of films.
95	* {{Squee}}: Becky [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/717 lets out one]] after finding out that a school has hired her to be a substitute teacher.
96	* StalkerWithACrush: Keith for Angie. It gets so scary [[spoiler: he ends up fired after he attacks Jason and frightens Angie. It's even hinted that he came back to get Jason with a ''butcher's knife'', but aborted the plan when he found out Jason had borrowed the security guard's taser.]]
97	** Earlier in the strip, one of the running gags was Melissa's stalker, who was a much tamer version than Keith. He was more of an annoyance and faded away.
98	* TheStoner: Jason, when not on the clock, can almost always be seen blazed out. Whether in his home, at a friend's house, or even sitting out in public.
99	** Lizzie, on the other hand, doesn't even wait till she's off the clock.
100	* StopBeingStereotypical: Neil gets incredibly angry about the way Chase is such a flamboyant gay, and chews him out a lot for it, eventually causing Chase to have an emotional breakdown.
101	* StraightGay: Neil. He wears a pink shirt, but besides that he acts like any other employee in the theater. He's also been trying to "fix" the CampGay character who endlessly frustrates him.
102	--> '''Neil:''' "Just act like a normal person!!"
103	* TakeThat:
104	** [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/642 To [=AT&T=]]].
105	** The PlotTwist of ''Multiplex of the Dead'' reveals that the entire movie is one to [[spoiler:Michael Bay]].
106	* TeenDrama: In small doses.
107	* TropeName: In [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/archive.php?name=140 The One About Shrek the Third]].
108	* {{Tuckerization}}: Kurt Bollinger and Melissa Recar were both close friends of Gordan [=McAlpin=] when the comic started.
109	* TheTwink: Chase jumps into this role within a few days of his first homosexual experience. He then piles on the CampGay, much to the annoyance of the serie's other gay character, [[StraightGay Neil]].
110	* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Jason, and some other characters to lesser extents.
111	* WebcomicTime: Played with, in that [=McAlpin=] will generally inform us how long a story arc took and when we can start assuming its the present day again (as opposed to last Thursday or the previous week).
112	* WhatTheHellHero: Becky chews out Jason for ditching his date because she was obnoxiously texting in the middle of a movie. Jason then responds by pointing out that Becky waited to break up with her boyfriend until immediately after she got one last sex out of him first. They then concluded that they're both jackasses.
113	* WhiteMansBurden: Tease gets irate and [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/620 points this out]] about ''Film/TheHelp''.
114	* WrongGenreSavvy: Sunny thinks she has [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/341 romance all figured out]]. Too bad she's in a humor comic.
115	* YetAnotherChristmasCarol: [[http://www.multiplexcomic.com/strip/352 Pulled on Jason]].

Context Webcomic / Multiplex