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1[[quoteright:308:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/selkie_cover.jpg]]
2 [[caption-width-right:308:Two Worlds, one family!]]
3
4A webcomic, written by Dave Warren, about adoption... [[InterspeciesAdoption with a twist]].
5
6''[[http://www.selkiecomic.com/ Selkie]]'' follows the adventures of an amphibious young girl, and the man who adopts her. No one knows exactly what she is, but somehow she ended up in the municipal orphanage, where she was recently adopted by Todd Smith. The comic follows her trying to adapt to her new life... and Todd and his family trying to adapt to her.
7
8Also see ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfSueAndKathryn'', another webcomic by Warren that also happens to be a ShowWithinAShow cartoon franchise in this one.
9
10----
11!!This webcomic provides examples of:
12* FiveFiveFive: When Pohl gives his number to Todd, it's shown as [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie375/ 534-555-3474.]] The "534" places him in northern Wisconsin, where the comic is set. The "555" places him in fictionland.
13* AbuseMistake: Briefly teased [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1016/ when Miss Lillian is cheerfully told by Selkie]] that her shades are "sos nobodys sees what happeneds to my eyes."
14-->'''Lillian''': I'm sure that statement isn't as much of a red flag [[NotWhatItLooksLike as it sounds]], but maybe I should go say hello to Mister Smith all the same.
15* AllCrimesAreEqual: Selkie runs afoul of the school's No Tolerance Policy when [[spoiler: she [[GroinAttack kicked a boy in the groin in self-defense]].]] Both Selkie and the bully receive the same punishment.
16* AllTakeAndNoGive: : Jessie's relationship with her girlfriend Alexis casts her as the giver, and Alexis as the freeloading, irresponsible taker. This is most obvious financially, where Jessie is the only one who is actually employed, while Alexis is the one with the expensive shoe habit, but it's also true emotionally, where Jessie is supportive and considerate while Alexis is willing to [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie255/ pull a prank that might cost Jessie her job]] in order to amuse herself. That prank, and Alexis' lack of remorse, ends up being [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie266/ what ends the relationship.]]
17* AllThereInTheManual: There are several physiology sketches, and Dave was nice enough to actually type up a couple pages of Selkie's case file, print them out and scan them for us. Also, reading through the comments reveals a wealth of information from replies to reader questions.
18* AltText: Called Secret Director Commentary, it's basically little facts about either the making of the strip or the continuity. Later altered to be viewable below the comic, because some browsers were having trouble viewing it.
19* AnalogyBackfire: Theo states "[[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie718/ You can't choose your family]]". His wife Mari quickly points out that, by adopting their three children, they did choose their family.
20* AnythingYouCanDoICanDoBetter: Amanda has one ''hell'' of a [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie913/ competitive streak]], especially in regards [[TheRival to Selkie]].
21* ArtEvolution: The comic started out with hand-drawn black and white lines. Over the course of its run, it has gained smooth vector lines, followed by color, and then, finally, shading. The skill at which the art is drawn has also increased noticeably.
22* ArtificialLimbs: Scar has an artificial arm to go along with his voice replacement collar and serious facial scars.
23* AscendedExtra: Thanks to her popularity with both the readers and Dave himself, Jessie the Wool-Mart clerk is now [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/?p=677 Jessie the third grade student teacher]].
24* TheAtoner
25** Scar is a character we meet at the end of his atonement arc. He's introduced as a scary-looking but friendly sarnothi who uses his skills to help a town full of refugees. However, years beforehand, he was the notorious figure known as "The Farmer" who lied about the dangers of war to use refugees as free labor, and sold many of them to the very government they were fleeing from. It's implied that his redemption arc started when one of his intended victims fought back and gave him the scars that are the source of his nickname.
26** Andi's character arc is driven by a desire to atone for one specific act: At the age of 17, she gave her newborn daughter up for adoption and told the girl's father that she had been stillborn. She blames herself for all the consequences of that decision, some rightly (such as the damage to her relationship with the girl's father), and some not so much (it's not her fault that the girl was adopted and returned by an abusive family), and she wants to make things right.
27* BadLiar: Pohl has absolutely no ability to tell a convincing lie. [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie399/ Even children can see through him.]] This is a problem because he happens to know quite a bit of highly-classified information.
28* BaitAndSwitchComment: Todd's landlady [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie280/ delivers a good one]] to establish herself as the CoolOldLady.
29-->'''Euphemia''': Is [the boardgame] Satanic?
30-->'''Mary''': Oh good ''lord''! ''No''!
31-->'''Euphemia''': Well then, how is it a horror story?
32* BarbieDollAnatomy: Sai Fen often uses artistic nudity in her sculptures, but doesn't make them anatomically correct for "escalatingly uncomfortable reasons." When Selkie sees one, she asks why it doesn't have "girl-parts".
33* BerserkButton:
34** Do not call Selkie a fish (or anything implying such). She will not be happy.
35** Also, it's [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie308/ not a good idea to yell "Smear the orphans!"]] while [[InsultFriendlyFire working alongside 3 of them]].
36** Calling Heather stupid generally seems like a bad idea, and don't even mention Amanda's pre-orphanage past...
37* BigWhat: Amanda's reaction to finding out Heather got adopted is a "WHAT?" of impressive volume.
38* BilingualBonus: Tony often speaks in untranslated French. Understanding what he's saying isn't necessary to understand the action, but his dialogue is still there for the reader who can understand it.
39* BigEater: Selkie has an endless appetite, especially when it comes to fish and other seafood.
40* BizarreAlienBiology: Selkie herself. Blue blood, gills, no external ears, a flattened nose with slit-like nostrils, an obligate carnivore with a healthy appetite for seafood and who "pukes purple" if she consumes plant matter ... and [[spoiler:poisonous saliva]] to boot.
41* BizarreTasteInFood: Selkie's favorite food is raw fish eyes. While she offers to share, her grandfather is the only one to take her up on her offer.
42* BlandNameProduct: Apparently Selkie enjoys watching movies on Flixnet. Dave also enjoys a nice cold "Dew of the mountains". And then there's [[UsefulNotes/{{Walmart}} Wool-Mart]].
43* BodyHorror: In the ShowWithinAShow superhero cartoon, the character [[ComicBook/SpiderMan Web-Spitter]] has a spider for a head (complete with legs) after eating radioactive spider eggs, and also pukes webbing. Selkie finds this more disgusting than disturbing.
44* TheBully: Tommy Trunchbull is a large kid who frequently uses force to get his way. Unlike many fictional cases, [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie486/ Tommy comes from a loving household]] albeit with a father whose forceful personality naturally steamrolls most opposition.
45* BunnyEarsLawyer: Subverted with Dr. Pohl De'Madiea. [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie367 When we first meet him,]] we're told that he's the only expert who can deal with a sick Selkie, and he's literally wearing bunny ears. However, we quickly learn that he's actually a competent and sensible doctor who has a logical reason for wearing the bunny ears: They help him avoid frightening children (he's a pediatrician and rather scary-looking).
46-->'''Dr. De'Madiea''': I use these to place patients' children at ease. [[CaptainObvious I look very scary, you see.]]
47* CassandraTruth:
48** The comic has a number of speculative fiction elements, as well as imaginative children who often know far more about what's going on than the adults around them. As such, there are multiple cases of children telling the truth, only to be brushed off with "Stop playing make-believe."
49*** Amanda tells Ms. Flower that the bottle of goldfish water conditioner in Selkie's bag is her medicine because, [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie326/ "She has gills and webs. She breaths water."]] Ms. Flower brushes her off with, "Amanda, I can't play make-believe right now," but thankfully decides that Selkie must keep the medicine in the conditioner bottle.
50*** Andi [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1042/ tells Todd]] about the ridiculous stories Amanda has told her about Selkie. They include that she breathes water (true), that Selkie and Todd took a trip to a secret underwater city (also true), that the CIA is marrying fish people (Agent Brown of the CIA is married to a fish person), and that Selkie has poisonous spit (also completely true). Only once Todd confirms the stories is she able to accept them as true.
51*** Thankfully, when the unbelievable story is about Amanda, she is able to break through the initial round of disbelief with [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1578/ a demonstration and a hole in the wall.]] (link contains spoilers)
52----> '''Amanda:''' Wait you mean that wasn't a fib? Selkie gave me [[spoiler:eye lasers]]?!
53----> '''Andi:''' Ha ha, [[spoiler:eye lasers]]?! Kiddo, it's a bad time to play pretend, okay?
54----> Amanda [[spoiler:burns a hole in the wall with her eye lasers.]]
55----> '''Amanda:''' ...[[spoiler:Eye lasers.]]
56*** Selkie tells her grandmother about [[spoiler:the eye laser thing]]. Her grandmother's response: "[[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1627/ Well at least she's keeping her imagination active.]]"
57*** Amanda [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1008/ lampshades the whole thing.]] She thinks that every adult that learns about Selkie is just really stupid about it.
58----> '''Amanda:''' Hell, we've TRIED telling people, but they just act like we're fibbing.
59** On a less comedic note, Amanda knows that a number of kids are being false friends to Heather, but, because Amanda and Heather have had a falling-out, [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie442/ Heather doesn't believe her.]]
60* CatsAreMean: The first thing Todd's cat, Crook, does upon meeting Selkie is to bite her.
61* ChekhovsGun:
62** In a blink and you'll miss moment, when Theo is trying to learn more about what Selkie's true species is [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie221/ the bottom of the webpage]] has an article about two fishermen who claim to have caught a merman on the great lakes. Later we learn that this is not only true but it's the inciting incident that eventually led to [[spoiler:the Sarnothi civil war]].
63** For a smaller scale one, [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie438/ Todd's mysterious present to Selkie]] turns out to be [[spoiler:a phone that she uses to record Tommy in the act of bullying her friends, her, and then threatening a teacher.]] Justice is served!
64* CloudCuckooLander: The cast page describes George as "A daydreamer with an active imagination."
65* ColorFailure:
66** Selkie [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1262/ spends an entire page without color]] after being lectured for using her father's credit card without permission while at school.
67** Todd goes white and [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1805/ takes the color of the rest of the panel with him]] when his sister asks him a question that he could get in a lot of trouble for answering.
68* CoolOldLady: Lillian Haversham-Zhang is a grey-haired woman who is one of the caretakers at the orphanage. She's trained in judo, is always impeccably dressed, and typically has a much better grasp of the situation than the people around her.
69* CoolOldGuy: Todd's father, as it turns out. He has parenting advice for Todd, and has no problem trying Selkies rather...odd...favorite food. He's also the first [[spoiler: to really forgive Andi for her ''massive'' lie regarding Amanda]], as he was [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie708/ the first to extend an olive branch]].
70* CryIntoChest: After witnessing [[spoiler:her daughter using eye lasers]] and getting dragged into a meeting with the CIA, Andi wants nothing more than to [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1586/ find a chest to cry into.]]
71-->'''Andi:''' The only fully-formed thought I can process right now is an escalating urge to go fling myself into my girlfriend's bosom and panic-cry.
72* CurseCutShort: "[[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie200/ Someone stole her SHIRT]]?! What the f-" "Marta, SwearJar" "...fudge. Fudge ripple."
73* CuteMonsterGirl: Selkie is a [[FishPeople fish person]] with razor-sharp teeth and webbed fingers and toes. She's also roughly as adorable as any other child her age.
74* DeadpanSnarker: Marta is typically the most sarcastic member of the Smith family.
75--> '''Marta:''' The absurdity of life is its own punchline.
76* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: As a FunnyBackgroundEvent [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie145/ in the last panel,]] the class rules are perhaps overly clear on the subject of spitting.
77-->'''Rule 6''': No spitting.\
78'''Rule 10''': Seriously. No spitting.\
79'''[[RuleOfThree Rule 11]]''': Actually, that bears repeating. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis NO. SPITTING.]]
80* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Said word-for-word [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie560/ by the Principal]] after he says "[Selkie]'s lucky not to be sent [to the hospital] every other ''week''!" In front of the assembled PTA.
81* DirtyOldWoman: Downplayed, [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie19/ but Todd's landlady]]'s reply to Todd mentioning he's not her husband? "Yet."
82* DoNotAdjustYourSet: From [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1050/ strip 1050]] through 1052, [[spoiler: Cern, the new Emperor of Sarnoth, hijacks the TV broadcast and pulls down TheMasquerade and summarily exiles any Sarnothi not belonging to Clan Sar'teri]].
83* DramaQueen: Selkie gets called one, and responds [[IResembleThatRemark about as well as you'd expect]].
84-->'''Giselle''': "I rule with an iron fist." Literally you. Literally two minutes ago.
85* DrowningMySorrows: At the art exhibit, Amanda, [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie737/ having just been called "awful" by her former best friend's father]], decides to go drink some "juice" - [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie739/ downing 3 shots of wine]] before the attendants can intervene.
86* EpicFail: Benny tries to ask [[TwinThreesomeFantasy both]] twins, Ke Ban and Ke Nan Be'Mara, out on a date. They are extremely ammused.
87* FaintInShock: When Amanda's mom comes to retrieve her from the orphanage, the sheer amount of emotion causes Amanda [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie606/ to faint.]] Turns out it's not just negative emotions that can lead to unconsciousness.
88* FantasticRacism: Mr. Trunchbull doesn't seem to have much concern over the safety of the frightened sarnothi children and is insinuating that they are a danger to the human students.
89* FashionShopFashionShow: Selkie tries on a variety of clothes [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie56/ on their initial trip to]] [[BlandNameProduct Wool Mart]] after she's first adopted.
90* FishPeople: Sarnothi are an amphibious, cold-blooded humanoid species native to the great lakes.
91* FlippingTheBird: Selkie flips off some other kids to taunt them during a snowball fight.
92* FreakyIsCool: Selkie was always passed over for more "normal" kids by prospective adopters, until Todd showed up and was drawn to her.
93* FreudianExcuse: Amanda's treatment of Selkie first seems like either FantasticRacism or her being a BitchInSheepsClothing, until it's shown that [[spoiler: she hates Selkie because her arrival at the orphanage meant Amanda had ''no'' help in figuring out why her adoptive parents would dump her.]]
94* FullNameUltimatum: Professor Trunchbull [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie493/ finally learns what his son has been doing]].
95--> '''Professor Trunchbull:''' Thomas Alva Trunchbull! You have been hitting people and LYING to me! I see nothing... Nothing! to be PROUD of here!
96* GenkiGirl: Sandy is endlessly cheerful and endlessly energetic, [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie38/ as shown here]].
97* GenreSavvy: When Todd's father finds out Selkie is a mysterious non-human species, he quickly things to asks whether they need to worry about TheMenInBlack kicking down their door. Luckly, Agent Brown is friendly.
98* GettingSuspendedIsAwesome: When Selkie is told that being suspended means that you have to stay home from school, she is overjoyed. The principal isn't pleased.
99* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: Downplayed in that Selkie and Amanda were rivals before becoming sisters and their rivalry lessens over time. Still, [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie684/ this strip]] encapsulates their initial dynamic quite well.
100-->'''Grandma Mari''': Oh my Lord, you two are going to be ''those'' kids, I can already tell.
101* GoodAngelBadAngel: When Todd is presented with the opportunity to throw Principal Ashton to the proverbial wolves, we get to see [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie508/ a classic angel versus devil debate]]. Unusually, both the angel and the devil agree that Principal Ashton should suffer, but disagree as to the method.
102* GoodScarsEvilScars: Scar's scars are highly disfiguring, and he's missing an eye, an arm, and much of his throat including his vocal cords. The latter two are replaced by prosthetics of his own making. These kind of textbook evil scars seem strange on an odd but kind man who spends his days building houses for refugees, but, back when he got the scars, he was at least as evil as they make him look.
103* HappilyAdopted:
104** Selkie enjoys a happy life as Todd's adoptive daughter.
105** Meanwhile, Todd, his sister Marta, and his brother Antoine were all also adopted. They don't take kindly to people who think this means that their family bond is any less strong.
106* HarmfulToMinors: Selkie got banned from watching spy movies after asking Todd how [[GroinAttack the chair and rope scene]] in ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' worked.
107* HeadDesk: Selkie bangs her head on her desk [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie-1241/ while trying to play matchmaker]] - she concludes [[CaptainObvious that it hurts when doing it for real]].
108* HeelRealization:
109** Tommy eventually comes to the realization that he might be the bad guy after attacking Selkie and Ms. Flower. Always tough [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie500/ when it's a 9-year-old kid having this realization]].
110** Giselle [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie513/ has this realization in detention]].
111--->'''Giselle:''' Miss A... Are we jerks?
112* TheHeretic: Ti'Veirn was a Sarnothi scholar who was exiled and declared a heretic for proposing that human legends of witches and wizards might have been inspired by humans who could tap into the resonance, a power universally considred to be Sarnothi-exclusive. Events in the comic proper suggest that he was probably right.
113* HidingBehindTheLanguageBarrier: When Pohl is [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie381/ talking on the phone to his wife]] about things that are heavily classified, he uses their native language, tensei, rather than English. His wife even comments that he wouldn't be using tensei unless he had a secret.
114* TheIllegible: When Pohl gives Todd a handwritten note [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie375/ explaining some details about Selkie]], none of the adults are able to read it (he is a doctor after all). Thankfully, as a third grader just learning cursive, Selkie has lots of experience with terrible handwriting.
115* ImprobableAimingSkills: Selkie demonstrates remarkably good aim with a playground ball. She bounces it off the heads of two trouble-causers, and [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie45/ right into the hands of her friend.]]
116* IncrediblyLamePun: The shoe store "C'est la Feet".
117* IndirectKiss: Carrie doesn't directly kiss her husband Avery, but instead [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1049/ places her palm over his mouth and kisses the back of her hand.]] This is not due to lack of closeness or emotional hangups, but rather [[InterspeciesRomance because her saliva is toxic to humans.]]
118* InhumanEyeConcealers: Selkie doesn't usually bother to hide her nonhuman features (not that it's easy to hide [[InsistentTerminology periwinkle]] skin, webbed hands and feet, and a mouth full of razor sharp teeth), but when her eyes start glowing, she [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1002/ wears sunglasses]] until she can learn how to make them stop.
119* InnocentlyInsensitive: Amanda, [[spoiler: post-adoption, [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie852/ manages to pull this with Selkie]] after remembering that "Your mom left, too."]]
120-->'''Selkie''': Oh for craps sake... This is whys I don'ts helps you. GO!
121* InsistentTerminology: Selkie isn't blue -- she's periwinkle.
122* InterspeciesAdoption: The premise of the comic is that a human named Todd Smith adopts a [[FishPeople sarnothi]] child named Selkie.
123* InterspeciesRomance:
124** [[spoiler:Agent Brown]] is married to a sarnothi woman and is her son's stepfather.
125** On the PuppyLove side of things, Georgie and Te Fahn (one of the Sarnothi students) [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1218/ develop an adorable mutual schoolyard crush.]]
126* LargeHam: Selkie has a flair for the overdramatic, as can be expected from a kid who aspires to be a MadScientist. For example, when asked what happened on her trip with her dad:
127-->'''Selkie:''' DRAMA! Drama most fouls! A forsakens lands! A lost peoples!
128-->'''Todd:''' Selkie, dial it back.
129-->'''Selkie:''' A mighty beast fells upons me! The lands dids quakes at its passing! The sky openeds! The angels wepts! A single tear fells upons Jerusalem!
130-->'''All:''' Dial it back.
131* LiterallyLovingThyNeighbor: After ending her difficult relationship with her freeloading girlfriend Alexis, Jesse finds a much better relationship with the woman who lives down the hall from her: Andi.
132* LongLostRelative: As it turns out, [[spoiler:Amanda is Todd and Andi's daughter, whom Todd thought had died at birth]].
133* LukeIMightBeYourFather: [[spoiler:Scar]] believes that he's Selkie's biological father. He was in a sexual relationship with her mother at around the right time. It's unknown if there are any other potential fathers, as Selkie's mother [[MissingMom isn't around to answer that question.]] When [[spoiler:Scar]] tells Todd, Selkie's adoptive father, of his suspicions, they agree not to tell Selkie about it until they can confirm one way or another. However, Todd does tell [[spoiler:Scar]] that he's welcome to be part of Selkie's life if he wants to be.
134* LuringInPrey: The sarnothi farm a species of massive eel that can mimic voices and phrases they hear to lure in lost sarnothi.
135* MadScientist: Aside from the ShowWithinAShow having one, [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkiegiving2/ Selkie also fantasizes about being one]].
136* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: When Theo is scouring the internet for information regarding a secret city of FishPeople that he (correctly) believes is located in Lake Superior. [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie221/ His computer screen is shown]] shortly before he gives up the search. This includes a search result for a tabloid article about a "merman" caught by fishermen on Lake Superior. Not only does that story turn out to be true, but [[spoiler:it was the triggering incident for a civil war that is currently tearing said hidden city apart.]]
137* MeaningfulName:
138** A [[SelkiesAndWereseals selkie]] is a creature from Irish mythology that can change from a seal into a person and back again-in other words, it can live both on land and in the water. This may also explain why she likes seals.
139** The Trunchbull's last name indeed comes from ''that'' [[{{Literature/Matilda}} Trunchbull]], as reflected by their venomous personalities.
140* MeaningfulRename: : Carrie and Bennie are refugees who [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie894/ opted to take English names]] when they moved to the United States in order to better fit in and move beyond their traumatic past. Their previous names were [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie405/ Thei Foh, and Voh respectively.]]
141* TheMenInBlack:
142** Todd's father expresses worry about the possibility of them showing up because of Selkie. Todd points out that Selkie has public records, including a medical one, meaning that such an event would be unlikely.
143** As it turns out, there are actual men in black. Specifically, there are CIA agents who deal with human-sarnothi relations. We meet two of them (both of which wear the suits typical of the role). Agent Brown is an alright guy who helps as much as he can within the limits he has to deal with. Agent Then is a bit more unpleasant, but he's still well-intentioned in his own abrasive way.
144* MissingMom: Selkie's mother left her at an orphanage several years before the start of the comic. Her reasons for doing so have not been fully explored.
145* MistakenForGay: After Selkie [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1258/ buys flowers for her classmate Te Fahn]] in an attempt at matchmaking gone wrong, her classmakes [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1280/ start to tease her]] for "Having a girlfriend." The student teacher, Miss Flower (who is gay herself) even [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1290/ offers help and advice]] before realizing what actually happened.
146* MomentKiller: When [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie662/ Selkie is having a heart-to-heart with her dad]] in line at the drive-through, someone ruins it by honking at them.
147* MoodWhiplash:
148** [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie186/ The fallout of Heather taking Selkie's shirt]] shifts from Tearjerker to Heartwarming before crossing into Funny with the last panel.
149** [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie407/ The comic rapidly shifts]] from [[spoiler:the war that's nearly wiped out Selkie's clan]] to a ''hilarious'' discussion of artistic nudity. It's Sai Fen's line at the end that really sells it.
150** When Amanda [[spoiler: finally meets her mother, Andi]], it goes from a stressful moment to [[CringeComedy awkwardly-hilarious]] when the revelation [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie606/ makes her pass out in shock]].
151* MyNewGiftIsLame: Amanda [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1028/ receives some very nice gifts at her birthday party]], but Keisha's [[WritingAroundTrademarks Peek-At-You]] backpack earns a very stilted "I. Love... this." Then Keisha reveals the ''real'' present is inside - [[spoiler: a self-written short story, carrying on a tradition they'd had at the orphanage]].
152* NamedAfterTheInjury: Scar takes his name from his multiple, disfiguring scars. His actual given name is never mentioned (and he seems to prefer the nickname to avoid association with the person he used to be). Everyone talking about him from back before he got the scars refers to him as "the old farmer."
153* {{NEET}}: [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji]] from one of the nearby apartments is too busy playing video games to look for a job.
154* NeverMyFault: When Principal Ashton is forced to resign over his mishandling of a bullying incident, he takes no responsibility for his actions and instead blames the bullying victim (Selkie) [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie565/ to her face.]]
155* NoYou: Amanda creates some MoodWhiplash [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie597/ when her Show & Tell story is criticized]].
156--> '''Amanda:''' YOU'RE A TERRIBLE STORY!
157* NonMammalianHair: Downplayed with the sarnothi, they have hair on their heads like humans but [[WordOfGod according to Dave]], he [[WhatCouldHaveBeen intended]] for Scar to have a large beard before deciding against giving them facial hair.
158* NonMammalMammaries: Selkie's species has them. She was also depicted as such in aged-up fanart before Dave posted the physiology sketch that proved it. Justified in that the reason they develop breasts is because they nurse their young for a few weeks [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily until teeth develop]].
159* NoodleIncident: Did ya hear the one about [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/?p=67 the frog and the cigar]]? Well, it earned Tony a week with no dessert...
160* ObfuscatingStupidity: Agent Brown allows Dr. Pohl to sneak a note to Todd containing classified information that he wants to know. After everyone has left, [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie377/ he makes it clear]] that he wasn't fooled.
161* OhCrap: Todd's realization in [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie764/ this comic]] that things may ''not'' be going well between Selkie and Amanda, [[spoiler:her arch-antagonist and recently-discovered adoptive half sister]].
162* OhMyGods: One common Sarnothi curse is "[[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie944/ teeth and scales]]" in reference to the eel god. Selkie herself, having lived among humans for much of her life, translates it to english and [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1773/ adds some human profanity for flavor.]]
163* OminousCrack: After a vicious attack by Pants the eel, a small crack is shown forming [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie979/ on the helmet of Todd's diving suit.]]
164* OneWordTitle: And that one word is the protagonist's name.
165* OrphanageOfLove: The Calumet City Municipal Orphanage is full of kind people doing their best for children in a tough situation. It isn't perfect, but nothing is.
166* OutcastRefuge: The [[FishPeople Sarnothi]] clan Jin'Sorai was on the wrong end of a civil war that turned into a genocide. Most of the survivors live in a secret underwater village known as Havei Jin'Suir.
167* PapaWolf: Todd is normally a fairly laid-back man, but he'll go to great lengths to protect his adopted daughter.
168* ParentNeverCameBackFromTheStore: Discussed trope. Dr. Pohl is the kind of responsible family man who would never even consider abandoning his children, but, before leaving on a day trip to visit a [[OutcastRefuge hidden refugee village,]] he promises his infant daughter, [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie932/ "I'll always come back from the corner store."]] His wife calls him a drama queen for it.
169* ParentalAbandonment: The story starts at an orphanage, so lots of characters have missing parents.
170** Selkie's mother left her at the orphanage for reasons that aren't fully explored three years before the story begins. Her biological father didn't even know she existed, so he wasn't in the picture either. Luckily, the story starts when she's HappilyAdopted.
171** Amanda was given up for adoption at birth by her mother who didn't believe she was ready to raise a kid. Her father, who was actually looking forward to parenthood, was told she was stillborn. She was later adopted, but her new siblings abused her, and the parents ended up returning her to the orphanage, abandoning her a second time. Thankfully her original parents return to her life, her mother deciding that putting her up for adoption was a mistake, and her father immediately agreeing to be a part of her life once he learned she was still alive, but the ordeal left her with some rather understandable issues.
172** Tony's parents are in prison. He remains in the orphanage until the authorities are able to track down his grandmother.
173
174* APigNamedPorkChop: The sarnothi people raise giant eels both for food and for their leather, which is traditionally used to make clothing. Hinting at this eventual fate, one particular eel is named [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie971/ Pants.]]
175* {{Pluralses}}: A feature of Selkie's speech. Fans initially speculated whether it was a side effect of trying to speak English through fangs. [[spoiler:It's actually because her native tongue has different rules for pluralization, and she learned English through 'crash-course immersion'.]] Selkie does not take kindly to having it implied to be a speech impediment. [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1186/ She eventually goes to speech therapy]] to help train her out of it.
176* PopCulturalOsmosisFailure: Being a member of an amphibious species who hasn't spent much time on the surface, Scar is [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie980/ confused by]] Then's ''Franchise/StarWars'' references.
177-->'''Scar:''' Something is wrong. I am feeling of it.
178-->'''Then:''' What are you, a Jedi?
179-->'''Scar:''' What is... "Jehd Eye"?
180-->'''Pohl:''' No... something is wrong. There's a tone shift in the Resonance. The Eternal Song has gone down in tempo a bit.
181-->'''Then:''' If you say so, Obi Wan.
182-->'''Scar:''' My translator is not knowing "Oh Bee Whan".
183-->Later
184-->'''Then:''' "Punch it"? Oh great, she's Han Solo.
185-->'''Scar:''' Stop making fake words, Then.
186* PossessionPresumesGuilt: Keisha grabs Selkie's shirt from Heather, who stole it, at the same time Mina and Jess walk into the classroom, making them think that she did it.
187* PosterPatchup: When Selkie accidentally causes burn damage to her bedroom wall, she tries and fails to [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1773/ cover it up with a picture.]] Luckily [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1774/ her dad isn't mad.]]
188* PottyFailure: PlayedForDrama (mildly) [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie276/ when Selkie literally]] [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie277/ scares the piss out of her friend]].
189* PowerNullifier: There exists a device to block echo powers. If used on an adult and calibrated properly, it should merely block said powers when worn. If miscalibrated, used on a child, and/or worn too long, it might cause the wearer's powers to atrophy entirely, even when removed. [[spoiler:Selkie's hair clip]] is one such device.
190* PragmaticVillainy: A low-scale variety with the Principal [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie335/ strictly adhering to the No Tolerance Policy]]. It's less that he thinks Selkie deserves punishment, and more that he doesn't want to deal with the Trunchbulls giving him grief over it. Unfortunately, they still do, getting their son off scot-free while Selkie gets suspended for the week.
191* ProtagonistTitle: The titular "Selkie" is the main character.
192* PunctuatedForEmphasis: "Ares. Yous. Fulls. Ofs. Craps?"
193* PubliclyDiscussingTheSecret: : Todd has the bad habit of talking about things that are heavily classified without checking to see who's in earshot. For example, when [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1036/ he tells his dad]] that the mysterious laser beam in the sky means that he has to tell Andi about Selkie, he doesn't realize that Kenneth and Barbara were [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1037/ close enough to hear him.]]
194* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Heather [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie360/ gives Amanda a withering one]] after Amanda hits her for telling Selkie a secret.
195* TheReveal: The name of Selkie's species is [[spoiler:[[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie375 sarnothi]]]].
196* RetCon: Originally, in the background of Todd's room there was a book clearly labeled ''The Secret Kingdom'', named so because it sounds like the title of a generic kids novel series, right? Turns out there was a book already written under the same title by Pat Robertson, [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/?p=448 "the person who blamed Hurricane Katrina and the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on homosexuality and abortion."]] Needless to say, a new title was quickly substituted.
197* RhymesOnADime: [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie198/ Todd's family seems to have a knack for it]]. Or more accurately, Theo and Antoine accidentally make rhyming statements, and Marta deliberately continues the rhyming both to amuse herself and annoy her mother.
198* ShipperOnDeck: Jess [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie265/ encourages Mina's crush on Todd.]]
199* ShipTease:
200** Mina and Todd have obvious chemistry. Mina displays a crush [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie265/ early on,]] and Todd clearly reciprocates. The relationship looks like it's going somewhere [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie505/ with a "strategy meeting" over coffee]] to discuss the upcoming PTA meeting. And subsequently tabled when Todd is reminded that getting romantically-involved with his daughter's (current) teacher [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie572/ might not be the best idea]], with the ship [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie674/ officially sunk by Mina]], but with a mild HopeSpot.
201--->'''Mina''': Allah grant me wisdom, because I am making ''terrible'' choices.
202** And of the PuppyLove variety, April 2019 brought us [[spoiler: Georgie and Te Fan [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1218/ having an impromptu]] MeetCute moment]].
203--->'''Keisha''': (''Looking on'') Heh. [[ShipperOnDeck I think the movie's starting]].\
204'''Heather''': [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Is it? The TV's still off]]...
205* ShoutOut: Several.
206** Asuka and Shinji live in [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Unit 02]] of the apartment complex.
207** Two of Selkie's friends from the orphanage are [[Webcomic/SandraAndWoo Sandy and Wu]].
208** The kids at the orphanage play a video game called [[Toys/CabbagePatchKids "Cabbage Patch Commandos"]], which includes playing as animal [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 snipers, spies, and engineers]].
209** There are ''many'' shoutouts to ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes, including "Dr. Calvin and the Gooey Hamsters".
210** And with TheReveal of the name of Selkie's species, there's one to Creator/HPLovecraft, as the author mentions he took the name from [[spoiler: "The Doom That Came To Sarnath"]].
211** One of the questions Selkie has about the [[spoiler:sarnothi]] doctor is "Wills they teach mes [[Manga/OnePiece mermaid karates]]?"
212* SideBet: Dr. Pohl and Agent Then have an ongoing bet on [[spoiler:[[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1558/ the existance of human echoes.]]]] Agent Then wins $10 and the opportunity to give one hell of an "I told you so."
213* SlipperyAsAnEel: There is a species of giant eel that inhabit the same lake as the sarnothi that can [[http://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie957/ mimic their language]] in order to lure them into attack range and eat them. The Sarnothi farm them for meat and eelskin clothing.
214* SpoiledBrat: Truck's parents, [[MeaningfulName The Trunchbulls]], firmly believe that their son can do no wrong. This line of thinking led to Truck declaring "[[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie312/ When I tell you to do something, you gotta do it]]" to the victim of his bullying. This is later [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie486/ given some depth]], as Professor Trunchbull had legitimately never seen his son behave the way he does around others, and goes so far as to [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie521/ take him to a psychologist that very night]] when he learns about Tommy's issues.
215* ShowWithinAShow: Selkie loves The Adventures of Sue and Kathryn, which is a television cartoon about the misadventures of a ten-year-old zombie and wraith, respectively. There's even in-universe merchandise, as Selkie at one point wants a pair of Sue and Kathryn shoes. The author later spun it off into its own webcomic.
216* SneezeCut: After Pohl and Sai Fen talk about the difficult things they're going to have to tell Selkie, the comic [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie382/ cuts back to Selkie sneezing]]. Mari then discusses the trope, saying that a sneeze means someone is talking about you.
217* SommelierSpeak: Parodied when Selkie gives a stereotypical "wine snob" speech about her cup of chai tea. However, the real goal is to distract Andi and keep her from worrying too much about Selkie not being human.
218--> '''Selkie:''' Goods body. Excelents vintage. 1922 was the bests year for this vineyard.
219--> '''Andi:''' Who taught you how to "wine snob"?
220* {{Squee}}: Some of the kids (usually Selkie) tend to squeal with delight when they're really happy about something.
221* SteppingOutForAQuickCupOfCoffee: Agent Brown agrees with Todd's statement that Selkie deserves to know what she is, but he's only authorized to give out information related to physical care needs. However, what he can do is call in Dr. Pohl to help with those "physical care needs," and [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie377/ look the other way]] when Pohl [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie375/ gives Todd a handwritten note]] with the desired information.
222* StraightGay: Todd's brother, Antoine is a large, muscular man and an avid gamer. He also happens to be gay.
223* StunnedSilence: A background example [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie561/ is seen here]], in which a parent wants more peanut butter added to the lunch menu because it helps brain growth. Asked about a source for the dubious claim, they proudly state that they added it to Wikipedia earlier.
224-->'''PTA Member''': I don't even know how to respond to that.
225* SupernaturalSoapOpera: The comic features a mysterious amphibian humanoid, and is primarily about the chaos, drama, and wacky plans of the cast's social lives.
226* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: When Amanda asks Todd [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1007/ what the deal is]] with the [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1006/ mysterious laser beam]] coming from Lake Superior, Todd tries to claim he doesn't know, but does so in an overly-specific and not very convincing way. Luckily, Amanda doesn't notice.
227-->'''Todd:''' I-I don't know, Amanda. I have no knowledge of anything unusual that may or may not be located in Lake Superior.
228* SymbolSwearing: The author's [[AuthorAppeal preferred way]] of dealing with cursing. It comes either as a FunWithAcronyms version ('''S'''tar '''H'''ouse '''I'''ce-cream '''T'''urtle) or short-hand symbols (Such as crossed gender-symbols to illustrate a PrecisionFStrike).
229* ThatCameOutWrong: Due to the language barrier, Te Fahn [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1206/ proudly proclaims that she's going to be]] part of Selkie's [[HaremGenre harem]]. One whispered conversation later...
230-->'''Te Fahn''': [[WideEyesAndShrunkenIrises FRIEND]]! I meants "friend". I dids nots use the rights words. [[PunctuatedForEmphasis AT. ALLS]].
231* TeacherParentRomance:
232** Todd has some chemistry with Mina, his daughter's third grade teacher. While both of them would probably want a relationship, Mina calls it off because she doesn't think it's appropriate to date the father of one of her students.
233** Jessie is only a student teacher, but she still ends up romantically involved with Andi, the mother of one of her students. While the two didn't meet at any sort of parent-teacher night (instead they happen to be neighbors), there's still all the requisite awkwardness with Andi's daughter.
234* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: It's ''Professor'' [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie338/ Trunchbull]].
235* TimeSkip: A four month one, during which the adoption process takes place.
236* {{Unishment}}: Selkie's in tears over getting suspended for a week. [[http://www.selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie335/ Then she finds out what suspension]] ''means''.
237-->'''Georgie''': Dude! If I kick a kid in the nuts, I get to skip school for a whole '''WEEK'''?!
238-->'''Principal''': It's not a reward!
239* TheUnmasquedWorld: [[spoiler: After the use of a laser weapon visible throughout the entire Great Lakes region, and a [[DoNotAdjustYourSet hijacked television broadcast]], the Sarnothi go from a secret known to a select few to public knowledge]].
240* TheUnsmile:
241** Sai Fen [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie415/ suggests giving bullies a "big, friendly smile"]] if Selkie's threatened by Truck again.
242-->'''Selkie''': Okays, I have my owns fangs, and I stills poopeds myself a little.\
243'''Sai Fen''': Gentle discouragement of aggression [[ImpliedDeathThreat through implications of gruesome carnage]]. [[ObnoxiousInLaws Also works with in-laws]]!
244** Selkie [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie477/ later uses the creepy fang smile on Truck]].
245* UnsoundEffect: What's the correct sound effect for a woman who runs off in a panic to see what happened to her daughter? Why, "[[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1561/ MOMMA SWOOSH,]]" of course.
246* VerbalTic: Selkie frequently adds unnecessary esses to her words. [[spoiler: It's apparently a common issue with Sarnothi, and demonstrative of the differences between their language and English, as Pohl and his wife learned to overcome it.]]
247* WebcomicTime: Ignoring the TimeSkip, the entire comic so far has covered just a few days in-universe, with strips released over nearly a year in real time.
248* WeirdnessCensor: Adults not in the know can’t figure out that Selkie isn't human. The official story is that she's a human with a rare genetic condition. Sure, she has [[InsistentTerminology periwinkle]] skin, a mouth full of razor sharp teeth, and webbed fingers and toes. She's also an obligate carnivore, is cold-blooded, and her nose is blatantly non-human. However, her gills are typically covered by her clothing, and she wears her hair down to hide the fact that her ears are entirely internal. Notably, every child who has spent meaningful time around her knows the truth. [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1008/ Amanda says it best:]]
249--> '''Amanda:''' Ms. Flower WATCHED Selkie huff water, and just told me it was "medicine". Frankly, most of the adults that learn about Selkie are just really STUPID about it.
250* WhamEpisode:
251** TheReveal that Amanda is [[spoiler:Todd and Andi's daughter.]]
252** And the trip to the hospital, featuring several Wham Scenes in short order: [[spoiler: The formal reveal of Pohl De'Madiea, followed shortly by his wife and family; the name of Selkie's species, sarnothi; and, both in one page, the reveal that there was a civil war and that Selkie is from "Clan Jin'Sorai", a line that's followed by a major ReactionShot of despair from the listener.]]
253** The DoNotAdjustYourSet moment when [[spoiler: Sarnoth is forcibly revealed to the world]] on a hijacked TV broadcast.
254* WhamLine: "Todd...how aware were you that Selkie's been carrying [[spoiler:a hidden message from a war criminal?]]"
255* WhamShot: [[spoiler:[[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1538/ Amanda's eyes glow the same green energy]] as a sarnothi echo after being in proximity to Pohl and Selkie's lesson]].
256* WhosOnFirst: A sarnothi CIA agent is named "Then". When Agent Brown tries to mention him in conversation, an already panicking Andi [[https://selkiecomic.com/comic/selkie1585/ fails to recognize his name as a name and gets confused.]]
257--> '''Agent Brown:''' Then knew one day you would need approval to be told details about Sarnoth.
258--> '''Andi:''' Then who knew?
259--> '''Agent Brown:''' Then, my partner.
260--> '''Andi:''' Oh god, then your partner WHAT?!

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