Line #100 Webcomic/TheMeek


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Meek_Poster_4156.png]]
2	[-[[caption-width-right:300:"Find the center, the lost one will know the way. A woman who cries but sheds no tears, and a man who hates in the name of love."]]-]
3
4	''[[https://www.meekcomic.com/comic/chapter-1-cover/ The Meek]]'', by writer and artist Der-shing Hilmer (''Webcomic/MareInternum''), is a graphic novel about Angora, an inexperienced young girl who has been sent on a quest to save the world. War looms on the horizon, and at its helm is Luca [=DeSadar=], the Emperor of the North, and his hellish adviser. The two countries are overwhelmed with as much terror, crime, disease and revolution as they are with those who wish to create peace. Soli is a woman looking for money and revenge, though not necessarily in that order; what's her role in all this? Armed with only her instincts and an unexplainable power Angora must experience and judge the world to decide once and for all if it is truly worth saving.
5
6	Readers take warning, the first chapter is definitely NotSafeForWork. You know, [[InnocentFanserviceGirl 'cause she's naked for most of it]].
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8	[[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shingworks/the-meek-volume-1?ref=project_link Its Kickstarter for print publishing for the first Volume (aka the first three chapters) is here]], a prequel is on Der-shing's Website/{{Patreon}} [[https://www.patreon.com/posts/meek-short-pg-1-49766235/ here]] and a mirror to the comic can be found [[https://archive.org/details/meek_20210613 here]].
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10	While the comic has not been officially cancelled, Chapter Six's cover was posted in December 2018 and the first page was not published until February 2020 with no pages published since then.
11
12	----
13	!!''The Meek'' contains examples of:
14
15	* AccidentalPun: See CurseCutShort.
16	* AllThereInTheManual:
17	** [[http://wiki.shingworks.com/Main_Page The Meekipedia]] provides loads of background information on the setting, characters and different cultures.
18	** The comic's [[http://meekery.deviantart.com/gallery/ DeviantART gallery]] contains several sketches, including those of characters who won't be appearing for a few chapters.
19	* ArrangedMarriage: In chapter five we find out that [[spoiler: Luca has arranged for his teenage daughter Rana to marry to his friend Ulyer Derisma, a man his own age. Needless to say, Rana isn't happy about it, especially since she's already in a SecretRelationship with someone else.]]
20	* AssInAmbassador: Tesa, though it bites her in the ass in the next page. Her companion Lethy on the other hand seems to be much better at it.
21	* AttemptedRape: The very first scene features Angora dashing naked through the woods, pursued by three men who haven't "seen one woman for months," and are "not losing this one." She's saved by her own running skills and the interference of an angry drunk. Worth noting is that Angora appears to have no idea what they wanted to do to her.
22	* AuthorAppeal: The author admits to liking sideburns and gloves, Pinter has sideburns while Luca happens to have both. The author is also a trained biologist, and though not blatant this knowledge does show up in the comic.
23	* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Rana acts like an AloofBigSister to Suda and Hyla, but she clearly cares about them, especially since [[spoiler: they recently lost their mother.]]
24	* BackgroundHalo: The cover of the first chapter.
25	* BarbieDollAnatomy: Pretty much averted in the first chapter, but Angora's showing signs of it in the fourth.
26	* BananaRepublic: The Northern Territories ruled by Emperor Luca seem to have aspects of this, including [[AllThereInTheManual background information]] that he dissolved the cabinet and essentially became a dictator.
27	* BelligerentSexualTension: Luca and Phe started out like this (it's stated in the Wiki that they didn't get along too well when they first met) and even after about two decades of marriage still have a bit of this, including fairly frequent arguments that involve things getting thrown. They do however deeply and sincerely love each other and always make up.
28	* BenevolentDictator: Emperor Luca [=deSadar=] ''began'' as this, having been genuinely popular, a soldier who rose from obscurity and fought against a foreign nation who had a system of torture and murder against the people of his nation, made many reforms and was fairly elected to office before he seized power with an iron grip. His character arc seemed to be heading steadily toward being an AxCrazy GeneralRipper before the comic stopped updating.
29	* BerserkButton
30	** Don't spill any of Pinter's booze.
31	** Or badmouth Angora's hair.
32	** Or tell Luca the Carissi aren't enemies.
33	** Or tell Soli she doesn't understand sacrifice.
34	* {{Bifauxnen}}: Soli. Lethy, too.
35	* BigBrotherInstinct: Pinter towards Angora. Yes, he finds her irritating, but it's obvious he's protective of her, especially when would-be rapist Kiz is around.
36	** Suda and Rana towards Hyla, who's [[spoiler: grieving for their dead mother.]] The former gives her comfort and attention when no one else does, with their older sister hid in the shadow to watch over her. Both are at lost at words over how to break the news of [[spoiler: Phe’s untimely death to her.]]
37	* ABoyAGirlAndABabyFamily: Luca and Phe’s children, Suda, his older sister Rana and younger sister Hyla, respectively.
38	* BrickJoke: The [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/01/01/chapter-1-page-1/ wen]] in the first page of chapter one [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/07/18/chapter-1-page-45/ appears again]] at the end of the chapter, and he finally got his fruit.
39	* [[ByTheBookCop By The Book Officer:]] Amen.
40	* BystanderSyndrome: Queen Symon Amakessar refuses to take any responsibility for the brutal war that her father waged against the Northern Territories. Luca points out, quite rightly, that it was not her father alone that committed atrocities against his people. And then Phe points out that everyone who ''did'' commit those atrocities is now dead, so there's no one left to be held responsible.
41	* CastOfSnowflakes: As testament to the skill of the artist, despite the relatively simple art style no two characters look exactly alike.
42	* CerebusSyndrome: The first chapter is pretty lighthearted for the most part, but Chapters 2 and 3 certainly aren't following suit.
43	* ClosedDoorRapport: Phe locks her husband Luca out of their bedroom after a heated argument got out of hand and gives him an ultimatum; he can have his revenge, or her, but not both. It's not until Luca apologises does Phe open the door and drag him inside for make-up sex.
44	* ComicBookFantasyCasting: Unintentional; the author eventually realized that Luca and Phe bore an uncanny resemblence to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi the Shah of Iran]] and his wife.
45	-->"I hate when people retroactively steal my character designs."
46	* CradleOfLoneliness: [[spoiler:Luca cradles his wife's body for an extended period of time after her death [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/05/15/2-35/ here]].]]
47	* CrypticConversation: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/01/31/2-23/ Cryptic inner monologue]], technically. Although, if [[spoiler: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/02/21/2-26/ if you keep an eye out]],]] you may be able to find some answers.
48	* CurseCutShort:
49	-->'''Alamand:''' It's hotter than a donkey's buttho--
50	-->'''Soli:''' Alamand.
51	-->'''Alamand:''' --out there.
52	** Earlier:
53	-->'''Pinter''': What the h-
54	-->'''Angora''': [[AccidentalPun Hello!]]
55	* DecoyProtagonist: In a fit of GenreSavvy-ness, the author chose to have InnocentFanserviceGirl Angora head up the first chapter. After grabbing everyone's attention with RuleOfSexy, the more mature character of Luca was introduced in chapter two, and Soli in chapter three. Angora is still a main character, she's just OutOfFocus due to the comics use of RotatingArcs.
56	* DeliberateValuesDissonance: Luca's values (especially his views on women and his own wife and daughters) are quite deliberately politically incorrect and sexist, reflecting the culture he comes from.
57	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment:
58	-->'''Pinter:''' You can start by putting on a shirt like a god-damned normal, modest, respectable, civilized, sane, ''normal'' person!\
59	'''Angora:''' [[{{ComicallyMissingThePoint}} You said "normal" twice!]]
60	* DieselPunk: Emperor Luca's army and technology are pretty much [[TheThirties 1930s]].
61	* DivineChessboard: The gods of this universe interact with mortals and influence their decisions. One is starting a war between the humans, and the other is trying to prevent it.
62	* DisproportionateRetribution: A Parsoi sea captain allows a small smuggling boat with a all-Carissi crew to sail through Luca's territory. Rather than put the captain on trial or investigate the matter further, Luca executes him.
63	** Done with Tesa earlier as well. [[spoiler: There's no proof that she and Lethy murdered Phe. They're only suspects. Nevertheless, Luca kills her, because he just so happened to have his hands on her at the time, and because she's Carissi.]]
64	** It's heavily implied that Luca had the entirety of his palace's kitchen and serving staff, and possibly more, executed after [[spoiler:Phe's death]] to punish them for, in his eyes, [[spoiler: failing to notice and stop whoever poisoned her.]] As a result, the few servants left are stretched thin and are having to bumble through duties they have no proper training for.
65	* DomesticAbuse: Although it's well known that Luca and Phe fight and then make up, the arrival of the ambassadors causes Luca to [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/12/27/2-18/ cross the line]]. Der-Shing outright says that their relationship is unhealthy and dysfunctional on many levels. And yet, they're HappilyMarried with bouts of great make-up sex and plenty of heartwarming moments between them.
66	* ExactEavesdropping: Rana eavesdropping on her parents gives the reader backstory on Luca and the current political climate.
67	** Phe overhears Tesa's racist remark and throws it back in her face.
68	* EyepatchOfPower: The boss of Tyros wears one, which seems to cover his missing left eye.
69	* EyesAlwaysShut: Etan.
70	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Averted. The three ethnicities aren't like any found on earth, though the Pasori are kind of like very militant Finno-Ugric people and the Carissi have a Byzantium vibe to their architecture. Pinter is a member of a quasi-ethnic religious minority that proclaims their faith with distinctive clothing similar to Judaism. The physical setting somewhat resembles turn of the 20th century South America with both rainforest and desert frontiers.
71	* FanDisservice: [[InnocentFanserviceGirl Angora]] is not exactly meant to be played for fanservice, and Luca's [[spoiler: sending an enemy captain to drown and/or freeze to death ''buck naked'' in the sea]] isn't the prettiest sight in the world.
72	* FlashBack: Revealing that Angora was once more "normal" to use Pinter's expression, instead of the CloudCuckooLander nature girl she appears to be now. Presumably her "normal" stage was before she met "Grandfather".
73	* ForeignCussWord: When Luca gets mad he reverts to his native language of Basori, which apparently has quite colorful insults. The author won't say exactly what he's saying, but it's easy enough to fill in the blanks.
74	* {{Foreshadowing}}: [[spoiler:"You can have your revenge, Luca, or you can have me. But you won't have both."]] As one commenter put it after page 33 of chapter 2, [[spoiler:"Well, that solves that problem"]].
75	* FourthWallMailSlot: Soli has been known to chat with the readers.
76	* FreakOut: Luca after [[spoiler:Phe is killed]].
77	** Hyla in chapter five when Luca fails to show up at the promised time.
78	* FromBadToWorse: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/04/28/2-33/ Much worse]]. Also, Luca's life in general.
79	* GoodIsNotNice: Pinter's behavior toward Angora is rather cranky and he has a tendency to flip out, but he's also protective of her and agrees to help her on her quest.
80	* GreyAndGrayMorality: You know you have a complex plot when a dictator who silences dissidents is the only person holding the morally correct position in the aftermath of a war.
81	* GroinAttack: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/07/01/chapter-1-page-40/ Happens to Kiz]]. He deserved it, though.
82	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:The kid boss of the Tyros trade network]] is shot at the heart while trying to get [[spoiler:the kids]] to escape from soldiers.
83	* HopeSpot: The comic where it briefly looks like Luca [[spoiler:won't go on a murderous rampage after Phe's death.]]
84	* HypocriticalHumor:
85	** Pinter berates Angora for not respecting his personal space. Her response? Getting right into his face and screaming, "Yes I do!"
86	** Later on Luca insists to his wife Phe that he doesn't need her help, [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/09/16/2-04/ only to need her help fastening his jacket]]. Supplemental material says that several of his fingers were broken in the past so it's possible that he really can't do it himself.
87	* InelegantBlubbering: "Next time you’re at a dinner party at which you are [[spoiler: accused of murdering the host’s wife]], [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/06/13/2-41/ remember to wear waterproof mascara! Rookie error."]]
88	* InMediasRes: Angora and Soli's chapters start off this way.
89	* InnocentFanserviceGirl: Angora. She arrives in the comic nude, sees no need to dress, and is downright confused when people ask her about it. Interestingly, Angora lived in a commune called "The Monastery," a sort of druidic community deep in the jungle, however, they did not encourage (nor share in) her nudism. [[SubvertedTrope However]], Angora's nudism is not meant for fanservice[[note]]being a young teenager at around the age of 15[[/note]]; it's an allegory of her innocence that she slowly loses during her journey as she begins to wear clothes, starting with a pair of pants (and only pants) at the end of the first chapter.
90	* IResembleThatRemark: See HypocriticalHumor above.
91	* KidSidekick: Alamand appears to be this for Soli.
92	* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Phe.]]
93	* LaughingMad: Luca, when [[spoiler: Phe is dead]]. A much weaker, possibly mocking version comes from offscreen shortly afterward courtesy of [[spoiler:the Dagre]] . What shows someone [[SanitySlippage losing it]] better than DissonantLaughter?
94	* LiteraryAllusionTitle: To the Bible: "Blessed are '''the meek''', for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5)
95	* LittleNo: Luca, and the context is one hell of a TearJerker.
96	--> "Oh no. No. No. No."
97	* MalignedMixedMarriage: [[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v388/alexds1/Album2/QA-CanDan.jpg Luca and Phe]]. Subverted in that their children aren't persecuted for mixed heritage, and they don't seem to be either anymore (this could be because Luca is a badass dictator and you don't mess with him).
98	* MeaningfulBackgroundEvent: [[spoiler:The coughing]] in [[spoiler:[[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/03/28/2-31/ page 31 of chapter 2]]]]. See also [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/02/21/2-26/ this page]] and look very closely at [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/08/22/ch-2-cover/ the cover of chapter 2]].
99	* MoodWhiplash: Chapter three starts off as a rather hilarious chapter,[[spoiler: but then, shortly after introducing the boss, all the kids are forced to retreat from raiding soldiers[[WeHardlyKnewYe and a gunshot implies that the boss was killed.]]]]
100	* MrFanservice: Amen, if the reader's responses to his introduction are anything to go by.
101	* NakedOnArrival: Angora. It doesn't stop at "arrival."
102	* NightmareFace: Good God, [[spoiler:[[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/06/22/2-43/ Luca]]]].
103	* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: Angora heals Tanome after finding her wounded and unconscious in the forest. Unfortunately Tanome turns out to be a homicidal religious fundamentalist fanatic who responds with violence instead of gratitude.
104	* ObviouslyEvil: The Dagre may be this.
105	* OhCrap: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/03/07/2-28/ Tesa's face]] when she realizes Phe listened to her insulting her husband. Lethy, on the other hand, seems to be mentally screaming at her companion.
106	* OpenTheIris: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/06/27/chapter-1-page-39/ "Just watch!"]]
107	* [[ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish The Password Is Always Something's Butt]]: Apparently, the kids in the hideout [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2011/06/06/3-36/ have a one-track mind]].
108	* ParentalNeglect: By chapter five, Luca has lost all interest in his children, except for training his son Suda to be a ruthless leader. [[CallingTheOldManOut Rana confronts him about this.]]
109	* PostVictoryCollapse: Angora collapses after the first time she uses her nature powers.
110	* PreMortemOneLiner: [[spoiler:Delivered by Luca before burning Tesa's face off.]]
111	--> '''[[spoiler:Tesa]]:''' I was so ''worried''!
112	--> '''[[spoiler:Luca]]:''' That was wise.
113	* RotatingArcs: so far it's been Angora, Luca, Soli by chapter. The comic is currently on Chapter five, meaning it's Luca's turn again, presumably Soli will be the focus of chapter six.
114	* SadisticChoice: Happens twice. First in chapter four, when Angora is forced by Tanome to choose between leaving the travelling group without a map (and dying in the jungle) or dying by spear impalement. [[spoiler: Neither happens. She and Pinter escape from her and her husband Etan.]] The second time happens in chapter five when Luca forces a sea captain to choose between SuicideBySea or InstantDeathBullet, for the crime of allowing a small Carissi boat (crewed by his friends) to sail through Luca's territory. [[spoiler: He chooses the sea, and Suda, who silently witnesses the whole thing in horror, throws up afterwards.]]
115	* SandInMyEyes: Luca would like you to know that he do not--- [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/02/21/2-26/ is not crying.]]
116	* {{Sarashi}}: Soli wears one as a chest-binding.
117	* SceneryCensor: Conveniently placed props or limbs obscure Angora's nether regions, but [[NippleAndDimed nipples are fair game to show]]. Although the penultimate panel of [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/04/05/chapter-1-page-15/ page 15]] resorts to BarbieDollAnatomy.
118	* SceneryPorn: The author is a biologist and she ''really'' knows her stuff. The whole comic is visually stunning.
119	* ShownTheirWork: Der-Shing is a biology major, and even thought the webcomic is fantasy, it shows. One prime example is [[spoiler: the depictions of a poisoning and a subsequent tracheotomy. All in lovingly non-GoryDiscretionShot rendered detail.]]
120	* SimultaneousArcs: Chapter one deals with Angora near a rural logging camp, while chapter 2 is focused on Luca within a (presumably) large city. Chapter 3 is about Soli, and begins in a desert.
121	* SlasherSmile: "[[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/11/03/2-11/ In Pasori culture, toothy smiling does not connote good humour.]]"
122	* SpitTake: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2009/04/30/chapter-1-page-22/ This comic.]]
123	* SupportingProtagonist: Most of Angora's story arc is actually told from Pinter's viewpoint.
124	* TankGoodness: Suda returns from the front in a beautifully rendered [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_II Infantry Tank Mark II]], aka "Matilda". Which is a good pick because it exemplifies all of the visual features people associate with tanks while also underlining the pre-modern atmosphere of the setting.
125	* TheConscience: Luca's conscience appears to him in the form of his own younger self. He's torn between listening to him and listening to The Dagre.
126	* TigerVersusDragon: [[spoiler: Angora's Grandfather, a giant olm (cave salamander), warned her cryptically of Luca, who associates with a giant, ghostly tiger]].
127	* TinyGuyHugeGirl: Luca and Phe. He's shorter than her and is implied to be TheNapoleon.
128	* TitleDrop: In [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2011/03/26/3-25/ this page]], Alamand refers to the chapter title "Water in the Desert."
129	* TreacherousAdvisor: Luca's SpiritAdvisor The Dagre doesn't come off as a very nice or benevolent sort. Not even to Luca.
130	* WallOfBlather: During Luca's dinner.
131	* WhamEpisode: [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/04/25/2-32/ Page 32 of Chapter 2]]. This can't end well. Adding to the wham this was the first page put up after a hiatus due to computer trouble and TheRant contained several bits of good news, resulting in a rather jarring experience.
132	* WhamLine: Chapter 5 closes with a hell of a wham line, particularly given ''who'' the speaker is. The author even lampshaded it in the commentary for the strip, saying "If you want, go back and reread [the chapter], some of the scenes might have a different weight now."
133	-->[[spoiler:'''Rana]]:''' [[spoiler:The Emperor must die.]]
134	* YourMakeupIsRunning: Happens to [[spoiler:Tesa]] [[http://www.meekcomic.com/2010/06/13/2-41/ here]].

Context Webcomic / TheMeek