Line #93 Webcomic/Shifters


1	!Shifters
2	!!AKA - Shifters Redux
3	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ShiftersRedux_Ferrah_4991.jpg]]
4	[[caption-width-right:200:Shifters Redux]]
5
6	''Shifters'' is a {{Web Comic}} created by Marie Tary in 1998.
7
8	The comic has been in various stages of publication and updates from that time until the present, including a long {{hiatus}} from November 2007 to July 2009. There was another long {{hiatus}} from late August 2007 to June of 2011 when circumstances were such that the author could resume updating on a weekly basis. Since this time updates have been regular with one a week.
9
10	Has now been on hiatus since December, 2018.
11
12	----
13	!!Shifters vs. Shifters - Redux
14
15	The "Original Run" (beginning [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20010810.html here]]) of Shifters, while conceived by Marie Tary, was initially a creative collaboration between herself and a writer named James Strocel. Tary herself wrote and illustrated the first two issues of the comic, bringing Strocel in at the third issue ([[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20011010.html "Tears of Blood"]] in 2001). Strocel continued writing for the series until the issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020911.html “Wolf’s Clothing”]] (in 2002) when creative differences between Tary and Strocel on the direction and content of the story forced a parting of ways. After this point Tary was responsible for both writing and illustration.
16
17	After this point in the "Original Run" several plot points and characters were scaled back or trimmed from the story alltogether to bring it back into line with the artist/creator's original vision through plot but the problem of creative differences in the past writing remained such that it would have led to eventual {{Canon Discontinuity}} and many {{Continuity Snarl}}s if the story was allowed to continue on its course.
18
19	Rather than institute several improvised adaptations to this that would result in numerous {{Adaptation Induced Plot Hole}}s, and instead of writing in a {{Reset Button}} by way of a {{Deus ex Machina}} or similar device, Tary decided to institute a full {{Continuity Reboot}} with [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter1-cover/ "Shifters - Redux"]].
20
21	While the overall plot arc remains the same between [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20010810.html Shifters]] and [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter1-cover/ Shifters - Redux]] the story and art are now under the sole control of Tary. Several characters and side-arcs have been eliminated or scaled back and as a result many background points relevant to later plot development have been expanded greatly to bring them into line with her vision. The overall tone is now much darker and grittier with less comedy and more drama.
22	----
23	!! Plot Summary
24	(Taken from the official [[http://shiftersonline.com/about/about-the-comic/ website]])
25
26	''Shifters'' is the story of a young woman and her friends who discover they share a unique fate.
27
28	Set in the [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture not-so-far future]] of an [[AlternateUniverse alternate earth]], there are two worlds. The Waking World that people know, and the world of [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]], which lies [[InvisibleToNormals hidden in the shadows]]. The secret world of [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]], harbors the [[NotSoExtinct monsters thought lost to time]], secretly alive and well in the dark places of the isolated [[MegaCity Shade City]]. [[AncientConspiracy The conspiracy]] to keep the knowledge of their existence [[{{Masquerade}} secret]], [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]] itself, has been kept, [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade by force]] , for centuries under the careful watch of the races that form it. Silent wars of [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]] races have raged [[InvisibleToNormals right under humanity's noses]], and continue to simmer on and under the streets of [[MegaCity Shade City]]. Currently the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent New Gen Vampires]] and [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Shifters]] have been silently escalating their [[FurAgainstFang long standing war]], and the [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampires]] have come up with a plan to win. But what they didn't count on was the re-appearance of an [[EldritchAbomination ancient horror]] so powerful and terrible that it is only spoken of with whispered hatred, [[TheScottishTrope its name cursed]].
29	----
30	!!Tropes included:
31
32	* AbandonedArea: Many sections of The Undercity, which also qualify as the subtrope [[GhostCity Ghost Cities]], as well as anywhere effected by the "Nuclear Incident".
33	* AboveGoodAndEvil
34	** [[spoiler:Din Tau doesn't care whether his actions are interpreted as 'good' or 'evil' as long as his objective is achieved.]]
35	%%* AdmiringTheAbomination
36	* AfterTheEnd: A "Nuclear Incident" led to the creation of the [[MegaCity MegaCities]].
37	%%* AgeAppropriateAngst
38	%%* AlphaBitch: Holly Tate
39	%%* AncientConspiracy: The Veil
40	* AttentionDeficitOohShiny
41	** [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Werebeasts]] in the Shifters universe are often subject to the drawbacks of their animal forms as well as the advantages.
42	*** Show in the "Original Run" by Holly Tate [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030808.html here]]
43	*** Shown in the "Original Run" by Ben Harkus [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20040916.html here]]
44	%%* BerserkButton
45	%%* BigNO:
46	** Ben Harkus gives us one of these [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20021202.html here]] after [[spoiler:[[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20021202.html failing to catch Ferrah and letting her fall from a crashed plane]] that had been [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20021120.html brought down by Maverick]].]]
47	%%* BitchAlert: Holly Tate
48	%%* BodyHorror: Ferrah turning into a Kinsmir
49	* BreaktheBadass
50	** The fight between John Sterling and Maverick (established earlier in the comic as a badass in the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20040211.html "Dogfight"]] shows this trope. [[spoiler:While the battle is in favor of Maverick in the beginning John Sterling eventually goes {{OneWingedAngel}} on him at [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20040514.html this]] point whereupon it becomes a {{CurbStompBattle}} in favor of John Sterling.]]
51	*** [[spoiler:Not long after his {{CurbStompBattle}} victory John Sterling has this trope inflicted on him by Din Tau (beginning [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20040618.html here]] in the same issue), thus shoing that Din Tau is also a major badass]]
52	%%* CardCarryingVillain: Maverick; literally, as seen by his costume.
53	* CityOfAdventure: [[MegaCity Shade City]] and the other [[MegaCity MegaCities]], as well as their associated "UnderCities" in the Shifters Universe are prime for this trope.
54	* ContemplativeBoss: Din Tau
55	* CoolestClubEver: "Club Estranger", as seen [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030507.html here]] (and several panels after) in the "Original Run", issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030312.html "The Other Team"]].
56	%%* CurbStompBattle
57	%%* DangerousWorkplace: Tartarus, in the "Undercity" is a very DangerousWorkplace.
58	%%* TheDarkSide
59	%%* DirtyBusiness
60	%%* EldritchAbomination: Kinsmir and Maverick.
61	* {{Fanservice}}
62	** The character X from "Shifters - Redux" has become infamous for this. (See {{Underboobs}} below).
63	** The "Original Run" of Shifters has many instances of {{Fanservice}} as well.
64	*** In the first page of the "Original Run", issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20010810.html "Awakenings"]] you can see Ferrah in nothing but her underwear.
65	*** In the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020218.html "Cat Fight"]] you get a [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020412.html rear view of a nude Holly]].
66	*** Later in the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020218.html "Cat Fight"]] you see Ferrah [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020705.html bare but for a covering of blood and shadow]].
67	*** In the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020911.html "Wolf's Clothing"]] there is a panel with Vicne of Vamp Squad PI [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020925.html in an open-backed hospital gown]].
68	*** In the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030312.html "The Other Team"]] there is a page with Ferrah [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030430.html barely covering herself and getting groped]].
69	*** Later in [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030312.html "The Other Team"]] you see Ferrah in a [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030505.html very revealing corset]], then in [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030512.html a more than 'sexy' club outfit]].
70	*** In the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20031021.html "The Price of Power"]] Ferrah is shown displaying her (involunatary) vampiric power while [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20031112.html nude except for being covered by shadow power]].
71	*** Shown extensively in "Shifters - Redux" issue 3 ([[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-3-nightmare/ Nightmare]])) where Ferrah ends up [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NakedOnArrival Naked On Arrival]] but preserves her modesty through [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HandOrObjectUnderwear Hand or Object Underwear]]. This also ends up showing [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Sideboob Sideboob]].
72	* FillerStrips: Several of these have popped up in the "Original Run" of the comic when [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030113.html disaster]] or circumstance has prevented the artist from updating on time or for special occasions such as holidays (such as [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20021225.html this]]), [[FourthWallMailSlot "reader mail"]], or other extras.
73	%%* FinaglesLaw
74	%%* FlyingDutchman: [[spoiler:John Sterling]]
75	* ForbiddenZone
76	** Much of Tartarus is considered a ForbiddenZone for most people but those that work there and the security forces.
77	** Anywhere in the areas involved in the "Nuclear Incident" is a ForbiddenZone.
78	* FourthWallMailSlot: Happens several times in the "Original Run" of the comic. An example can be found [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030420.html here]].
79	%%* FunctionalMagic
80	* FurAgainstFang: [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]] and [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Werebeasts]] in the Shifters universe do NOT like each other.
81	* TheFuture: Shifters is set in [[TheFuture the future]]. Though this trope is more TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture as the comic is set in 2034.
82	* GhostCity: Several cities now located in The Undercity, beneath the current [[MegaCity Shade City]].
83	* GovernmentConspiracy: The Government is an integral part of [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]].
84	%%* HandOrObjectUnderwear
85	* HealingFactor: [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Shifters]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]], and many other [[NotSoExtinct Veil races]] have an enhanced healing factor that enables them to survive what would be lethal damage to most normal humans.
86	** [[spoiler:Kinsmir regeneration is "off the charts".]]
87	*** [[spoiler:Shown where Ferrah [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20031121.html regrows her tongue]] in the "Original Run" issue "[[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20031021.html The Price of Power]]".]]
88	*** [[spoiler:John Sterling [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20031212.html regenerating his ear]] within seconds of it being torn off in the [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20031021.html same issue]].]]
89	* HeinzHybrid: Kinsmir, A mix of Vampire and Werewolf
90	* HighSchool: The main characters of the comic are in the equivalent of HighSchool.
91	** Shown [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20010914.html here]] in the "Original Run"
92	** Shown [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-2-pg-1/ here]] in "Shifters - Redux"
93	* HulkingOut
94	** [[spoiler:Ferrah after receiving what should be near lethal damage in the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020515.html "Out of Control"]], seen [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20020522.html here]].]]
95	* IKnowYourTrueName
96	** [[spoiler:This trope is displayed in the "Original Run" of shifters [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030219.html here]], where Raven states Ben Harkus' "Veil Name".]]
97	* InvisibleToNormals: The majority of humanity doesn't know that [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Shifters]], [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]], or any of the other [[NotSoExtinct Veil Races]] exist due to the AncientConspiracy called The Veil.
98	%%* InvoluntaryShapeshifter
99	%%* KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade
100	%%* LayeredWorld
101	** Detailed in the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20061017.html "On Gossamer Wings"]].
102	* LivingADoubleLife: Most [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Shifters]] and [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampires]] do this, along with all the races of [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]].
103	* LosingYourHead
104	** [[spoiler:Dream Gods such as Coyote don't appear to mind much about this. Shown in the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20040901.html "Surfacing"]] [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20050420.html here]].]]
105	* LoveTriangle:
106	** [[spoiler:Ferrah loves Ben, who loves Alice, who appears to be attracted to Ferrah.]]
107	* TheMasquerade: [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]] is a prime example of this trope. Punishment for breaking it can be [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade very severe]].
108	* MegaCity: The comic takes place in [[MegaCity Shade City]], a MegaCity that encompasses a vast amount of territory in the Pacific North West.
109	* MentalWorld
110	** [[spoiler:Ferrah ends up in her own one of these while hypnotized or dominated by a vampire's mental power. She also shows up there [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NakedOnArrival Naked On Arrival]]]]
111	* NakedonArrival
112	** Ferrah ends up in this trope when she arrives in a [[spoiler: Mental World after being hypnotized or dominated by a vampire's mental power]], though she quickly employs [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HandOrObjectUnderwear Hand or Object Underwear]] seen [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-3-pg-3/ here]].
113	%%* NoPlaceForMeThere
114	%%* NotSoExtinct: Most of the races in [[AncientConspiracy The Veil]].
115	* OneWingedAngel
116	** The "True" form of a Kinsmir.
117	*** [[spoiler:Shown in the "Original Run" by John Sterling [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20040514.html here]].]]
118	*** [[spoiler:Shown in the "Original Run" by Ferrah Rolly [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20041015.html here]].]]
119	* OurDragonsAreDifferent
120	** The issues [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20061017.html "On Gossamer Wings"]] and [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20051024.html "In The Company Of Dragons"]] show this trope.
121	* OurVampiresAreDifferent:
122	** In the Shifters Universe Vampires are not truly [[TheUndead Undead]].
123	** Explained in the "Original Run" issue [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030205.html "Blood Bonds"]] [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030207.html here]] and [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20030210.html here]].
124	* OurWerebeastsAreDifferent:
125	** [[OurWerebeastsAreDifferent Werebeasts]] are not limited to wolves in the Shifters Universe. They can be any type of animal.
126	*** [[spoiler:This is not limited to mamals.]]
127	* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent:
128	** In the Shifters Universe being a Werecreature of any sort is hereditary and has a genetic component. It cannot be transmitted by bite.
129	%%* PlausibleDeniability
130	* PollutedWasteland
131	** Anywhere in the areas effected by the "Nuclear Incident"
132	** Some parts of Tartarus in the Shade City.
133	%%* RichBitch: Holly Tate
134	%%* RockBottom
135	%%* TheScottishTrope
136	* SentientCosmicForce:
137	** [[spoiler:The Forge]] as presented in [[http://shifters.comicgenesis.com/d/20061017.html "On Gossamer Wings"]]
138	* ShiningCity: [[MegaCity Shade City]], or any of the other [[MegaCity MegaCities]] (Provided you're in the 'Upper' portion of them).
139	* Sideboob
140	** Ferrah ends up showing this when she ends up [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NakedOnArrival Naked on Arrival]] in a [[spoiler: Mental World after being hypnotized or dominated by a vampire's mental power]].
141	%%* SpoiledBrat: Holly Tate
142	%%* SupernaturalFiction
143	%%* TemptingFate
144	* ToplessnessFromtheBack
145	** Shown [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-3-pg-1/ here]] in [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter1-cover/ "Shifters - Redux"]] [[spoiler:when Ferrah arrives in a [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MentalWorld mental world]] quite naked.]]
146	%%* TransformationComic
147	* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Shifters is set in the year 2034.
148	* {{Underboobs}}
149	** In [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter1-cover/ "Shifters - Redux"]] a character named X is now infmaous for this.
150	*** See [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-1-pg-32/ here]], [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-2-pg-12/ here]], [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-2-pg-6/ here]], and [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-2-pg-7/ here]]
151	*** And if you're wondering how she stays contained in that top, the Creator's explanation is in the comments [[http://shiftersonline.com/chapter-2-pg-6/ here]]. "The shirt is made of Smart Fabric. A high tech textile of the future designed to hold you in ways that other materials simply can’t. Allowing for the type of wear you see here."
152	%%* UrbanFantasy
153	%%* WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong
154	%%* TheWorldIsNotReady
155	%%* TheMasqueradeWillKillYourDatingLife
156	%%* VampireFiction

Context Webcomic / Shifters