Line #85 Webcomic/Newshounds


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/newshounds.png]]
2
3	''[[http://www.newshounds.com/ Newshounds]]'' and its continuing series ''Newshounds II'' are a [[WebcomicsLongRunners long-running]] UsefulNotes/{{Furry\|Fandom}} WebComic by Thomas K. Dye (the author of, among other things, ''Webcomic/SomethingHappens''). It's about a human woman, Lorna, and the six (originally four) dogs, one cat and one rat she has adopted and employed to work in television news. The original strip lasted from November, 1997 to December, 2006. The continuation started in July, 2007 and ended on September 29th, 2014. Rebooted as ''Newshounds Remastered'' in March 2016.
4
5	In the original ''Newshounds'' comic strip run, the team ran KPET, a television channel operating out of Lorna's home.
6	* Kevin J. Dog was the cameraman.
7	* Wolfram Blitzen and Renata Fayre (both dogs) were the news anchors.
8	* Alistair Katt (a cat) was the meteorologist.
9	* Sam Shepherd (a dog) was the sports reviewer.
10	* Ferris the Rat was the janitor.
11	* Rochelle O'Shea (a dog) was later hired then permanently adopted as an on-location news correspondent.
12	* Della (a dog), Kevin's steady girlfriend later in the story, was hired as a technician, then was stranded in a remote location after her owners abandoned her, but had moved in permanently by ''Newshounds II''.
13
14	In ''Newshounds II'', the comic developed a more page-oriented layout, with the entire team moving on to Mega News West to moderate video blogs as they slowly work to build lives of their own.
15
16	----
17	!!''Newshounds'' has the following tropes:
18	* AbortedArc: [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19980105.html Dorian looking for job]] originally was envisioned to take much longer, also making him a recurring character. But then the authour decided to [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19980110.html end it]] in the the 6th strip.
19	* AffablyEvil: "Crazy but polite napalm smuggler", who took Wolfram hostage. Lampshaded by Wolfram himself [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19980724.html here.]]
20	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
21	** [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh2/20100426.html Lorna's parting words:]] "You guys do whatever you want. Blow up the house. Nuke the neighborhood. Organize a terrorist strike against the Pork Council for not having strict enough standards for fat content."
22	** [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010226.html Ferris' bad day:]] "First, I accidentally tripped Renata with the microphone cord... then I dropped the Mayor's Palm Pilot into his jacuzzi... '''then''', as if it couldn't get any worse, I put too much ketchup on my curly fries."
23	** [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010406.html Renata's interview with adult film star Angie Lishus:]] "Let me get this straight... you're '''not''' doing a TV special on my work for charity... I came '''all''' the way down here '''just''' so you could pester me with some '''stupid''' questions about Virgiltech... and you '''still''' won't pay for my jumbo parsley?"
24	* AssholeVictim: Randy, Della's cousin who used Sam for his money, cheated on him, got Della kicked out by her owners, [[spoiler:and sold out Rochelle, was sold to a lab and experimented on. Not even her new eyepatch earned her any sympathy, although the fact that she clearly felt no guilt over selling Rochelle up the river and felt KPET owed her in a big way for the information didn't help.]]
25	* AttemptedRape: Sam's new boss Slab tries to rape him after seeing him being chummy with Nigel. Sam does a GroinAttack and the two fight each other until the police arrive.
26	* BabiesEverAfter: The original run of the comic ended with Rochelle giving birth.
27	* BackForTheFinale: Della returns at the very end of the original Newshounds, and a very briefly mentioned character is reintroduced in the distant finale at the end of Newshounds II as Sam Shepherd's girlfriend.
28	* BarefootCartoonAnimal: Some of the characters.
29	* BestialityIsDepraved: Slab Hannibal, a human who has sex with dogs. The BestialityIsDepraved trope is played with -- the dogs in the series are sentient and verbal, and are perfectly capable of making informed decisions and saying yes or no, sidestepping a lot of the {{Squick}}y moral consent questions usually associated with sex with animals. But Hannibal ''[[RapeAsDrama rapes]]'' his canine bodyguards. He tried to rape Sam, but he fought back.
30	* {{Brainwashed}}: [[spoiler:Wolfram has been brainwashed into thinking he has always been a fighting dog and doesn't recognize Rochelle, his wife.]]
31	* CerebusSyndrome: Can anyone still remember when this was a light but somewhat political GagADay comic?
32	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Turns out that AOL Time Warner Corporate military's takeover of Starbuck's outlets has been largely unsuccessful. Why? Because the Starbuck's baristas [[CurbStompBattle wipe the floor]] with AOL Time soldiers. How? Because they know how to "[[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20000221.html handle caffeine crazed coffee addicts.]]"
33	* ClosetKey: Nigel. Alistair was ''already'' uncloseted when he and Nigel met, but Alistair's relationship with Nigel brings out his StraightGay side.
34	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Ferris.
35	* CoolandUnusualPunishment: How do you force a trespasser to tell you why he was spraying dangerous chemicals on your lawn? Simple: Force him to watch ''Baywatch'' [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19990705.html with "Carl's Jr" commercials.]]
36	* CorporateWarfare: AOL attempted a military takeover of Starbucks, but their troops proved no match for stressed out baristas.
37	* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Hal O'Peridol was more delusional than corrupt, but then there's General Swallowemup and several executives that the KPET crew interviewed back in the gag-a-day days.
38	* DarkerAndEdgier: ''Newshounds II'' takes on some significantly more mature themes, to say the least.
39	* FakeMemories: [[spoiler:Rochelle's memories of being a death-defying thrill-seeker never happened.]]
40	* ForegoneConclusion: Thanks to ''Kid Gloves'', we know that no matter what, Alistair and Nigel are staying together. Not to mention that things with Rochelle and Wolfram end up okay.
41	* FunnyBackgroundEvent: In the gag-a-day era, there would often be a panel showing some people watching KPET at home while doing something (such as swearing while adjusting the rabbit ears on a television to clean up picture problems).
42	* GenreSavvy:
43	** Granted Sam takes it too far, [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010926.html but he has some very realistic notions of relationships while on active military duty.]]
44	** Lorna also is not impressed when something bad happens to Alistair [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20011026.html after he rants about 9/11.]]
45	* HeelRealization: Virgil realizes how counterproductive his virus [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010510.html would really be.]]
46	* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: According to Lorna's mother, [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20001227.html her dad's lover was one of these.]]
47	* InsaneTrollLogic: Or as Lorna calls it, "[[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20001101.html Bankers' logic.]]"
48	* LamePunReaction: [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19971225.html Renata does not appreciate Wolfram's holiday-themed renaming of himself.]]
49	* LionsAndTigersAndHumansOhMy
50	* LoveHurts: Kevin brooding over Stormy, and then again over Della when she's stranded far away.
51	* LogicBomb: "It would be irresponsible to hail who was responsible for making us responsible?" Lampshaded in the [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010713.html next panel.]]
52	* MegaCorp: Swallowemup/Kerslake Enterprises. Also AOL once attempted a military takeover of Starbuck's.
53	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: "[[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20000717.html Read the story of Pandora's Box, kid. You'll learn something.]]"
54	* NiceGuy: Nigel.
55	* NearDeathExperience: Renata deliberately causes one for most of the main cast after she sees everyone drifting apart, to remind them of what's truly important in life.
56	* OfficialCouple:
57	** Wolfram and Rochelle.
58	** Alistair and Nigel (currently separated).
59	** Sam and Randy (broke up).
60	** Kevin and Della.
61	* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: One would think that flying in a helicopter with an 19-year-old amateur pilot who was freaking out over sharing a cockpit with a rat (Ferris) would have appealed to Rochelle's dangerlust. It didn't... [[spoiler:because she was pregnant (but didn't know it yet) and her maternal instincts had subconsciously kicked in]].
62	* OpenMouthInsertFoot: When you're trying to cover the kidnapping of several rats and mice, do '''not''' talk about [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19990308.html Area 51.]]
63	* ParentalSavingsSplurge: [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19981026.html During the introduction of Lorna's parents]] she learns that her father had been repeatedly raiding her piggy banks, when she was little. Her Christmas presents were always her cousin's hand-me-downs and her college fund also went missing. Her father is a gambler with too many get-rich-quick schemes. He's introduced being on the run from the mob after embezzling their money.
64	* PsychicPowers: Renata somehow develops these in ''Newshounds II''. Up to and including [[TheOmniscient near-omniscience]].
65	%% * Reality Ensues: When two fishes planned to take the Panama canal by blocking its entries with a ''"chain of fish"'', Alistair [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20000112.html points out the obvious flaw on this plan.]]
66	%% ** Also [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20001011.html this]].
67	%% ** Also, as Renata soon found out, corrupt [=CEOs=] [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010412.html don't always conform to stereotypes.]]
68	%% * RedOniBlueOni: Quite figuratively ''red'' and ''blue'', with conservative Sam and liberal Alistair.
69	* SequelHook: The jobs offered to the characters at the end of the original Newshounds run to work at Mega News West.
70	* ShoutOut:
71	** To Website/TVTropes or Websnark, with [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh2/20100524.html this page's]] reference to CerebusSyndrome.
72	** And to ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20011213.html here]] with an extra:
73	--->'''Cat:''' Geez, I'll be late for my Fresh Fruit Defense class...
74	** And a subtle name-combining one to ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'' [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20030526.html here]] with the name of the "Grape Nuts for Tots" program head, Taran Dallben.
75	** A lampshaded Shout Out to ''Film/TheShining'' [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010201.html here.]]
76	** To ''WesternAnimation/TopCat'' in the third panel of [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010702.html this strip.]]
77	** To Nin Wah of ''Webcomic/{{Commander Kitty}}'' in the last panel of [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20030811.html this strip]].
78	** To ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'' [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20041108.html here]] with City Councilman Fred Daffney, who's decided to prepare the following year's haunted house early... and planning to build it in an actual cemetery.
79	** To Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''Literature/TheCaskOfAmontillado'' [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20060329.html here]].
80	%% * SpitTake: Subverted with the caption "spit take held in check excellently!" when Wolfram proposes to Rochelle.
81	%% * StraightGay: Alistair.
82	%% * StraightMan: Kevin.
83	* StrawCharacter: Ferris is one, not for any political or philosophical position, but for fans of any part of pop culture Dye doesn't like. If any performer or genre is going to be lampooned in the comic, Ferris is invariably portrayed as being slavishly devoted to them. (examples include Music/CelineDion, Music/BritneySpears and of course his long-time celebrity crush Tori Spelling)
84	* TakeThat:
85	%% ** [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/19971215.html This strip]] to Music/MichaelBolton.
86	-->'''Policeman:''' All right, Mr. Spleen, don't hurt anybody in there. Just tell us your demands.\
87	'''Mr. Spleen:''' I want someone to run over Michael Bolton with a steamroller!\
88	'''Policeman:''' ''({{Beat}}) (into bullhorn)'' WHAT'S THE CATCH?
89	** Apparently, the fact that Amazon [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010316.html once made]] Creator/JackieCollins author of the month is considered their darkest, dirtiest secret.
90	* [[ThrowTheDogABone Throw The Rat A Bone]]: [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh2/20101224.html Ferris has finally sold one of his many, MANY ideas, and it's being optioned as a TV Series.]]
91	%% * TwistingTheWords
92	* TWordEuphemism: Whereas the original ''Newshounds'' was almost completely devoid of harsh language, DarkerAndEdgier ''Newshounds II'' has some characters frequently cursing aloud, with their still-obvious words masked with strategic scribbles over most (but not all) of the letters. Sam, Slab and Randy do this the most.
93	%% * TheVamp: Randy owns this trope so bad.
94	* VillainBall: Swallowemup's less than ethical moves led [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20000810.html his enterprises into bankruptcy.]]
95	%% * VirtualGhost: Manny the mink, after being made into a stole.
96	%% * WebcomicsLongRunners
97	%% * WellIntentionedExtremist: Virgil wants to create world's peace and prosperity through [[http://newshounds.keenspot.com/nh1/20010417.html "Progressive Revolution".]]
98	%% * WhiteGloves
99	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Recently, Sam's legal rights have been brought into question by Alistair. Among an increasing number of other incidents.
100	* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Newshounds II ended with one of these, showing the lives that the characters had built for themselves after the end of the series.

Context Webcomic / Newshounds