Line #53 YMMV/AwkwardZombie


1	* ArcFatigue:
2	** A story arc where [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/the-one-where-roy-comes-back-part1 Roy comes back]] went on for six strips, which, after the one week break after part four, was ''seven weeks'' in real life.
3	** On [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/blending-in October 26 of 2015]], [[Creator/KatieTiedrich Katie]] published a comic on ''Metal Gear Solid 3'', in which the author's note stated "I hope you're excited for six months of nothing but comics about METAL GEARRRRR". Following that comic, at least one comic out of every two for the next ''two years'' was on ''Metal Gear Solid''. Katie herself lampshades the long stretch of ''Metal Gear'' in the [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/the-flames-of-war December, 4th 2017 author's note]]:
4	---> '''Katie:''' I hope everyone who likes the games enjoyed METAL YEAR, even if it was actually two years. [[AuthorAppeal This goofy series means a lot to me, apparently]]. And to everyone who doesn't care about them at all: [[BrokenBase SORRY, YOU CAN COME BACK NOW]]
5	** The ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' comics have taken up just as much time, since it covers nearly all installments.
6	* BrokenBase: The aforementioned ''Metal Gear'' comics. While Katie made it so every other week wasn't from the series (except for multi-part ones), many people had gotten sick of the massive amount of them after they started at the end of October in 2015. However, some people didn't mind, either due to being big enough fans of the series or having a higher tolerance of its over-representation.
7	* CrossesTheLineTwice:
8	** The best way to follow up [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/easy-bake-coven burning someone alive]]? [[MoodWhiplash Confetti!]]
9	** Samus refuses to let Ridley in ''Smash'' because he killed her parents. [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/grudge-match Ridley's defense]]? He only killed her parents "one time!"
10	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/conserving-ammo Venom using a riot gun]] to tranquilize a ''zebra'' is funny enough, but Katie's justification?
11	---> [[RefugeInAudacity I don't know why you'd include a riot gun and a zebra in the same game if you don't expect me to interact with both of them at the same time.]]
12	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/rezzed-in-pieces Corpse explosion.]]
13	** The Zubat in ''Tricks of the Trade'' has an utterly suck-y life, [[IJustWantToHaveFriends just wanting a partner]] but being stuck in constant wonder trade limbo for being a ComMon. When it does find a trainer in Katie and [[TrueCompanions eventually evolves to a Crobat]], the punchline of the strip reveals she was doing it [[GottaCatchThemAll just for Pokédex completion]] before dunking it into the PC, presumably indefinitely. The look on Crobat's face is an expression of utter betrayal, and it's as hilarious as it is sad.
14	* FridgeBrilliance: The ''VideoGame/AlanWake'' parody has Alan try to exploit RewritingReality by pulling a happy ending out of his ass, which fails to work. A big part of the game's {{Meta Fiction}}al musings is that a story can't have a happy ending "just happen," it has to be true to the plot (ie, earned) or it's no good. The "real" Alan didn't even consider trying that because the Dark Presence shores up plot holes by exploiting them.
15	* HilariousInHindsight:
16	** In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM_JQUsovEM "Porcum Iacio"]] short (based on ''Series/MythBusters''), Katie shows the gang attempting to build a cannon made out of [[DuctTapeForEverything duct tape]] ([[AbnormalAmmo to fire a pig]]). While they didn't fire any pigs, guess what the ''Series/MythBusters'' later built on their show?
17	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/and-key This strip]] [[IKnewIt turns out to be spot on]] in ''Investigations''. [[http://www.gamespot.com/misc/presentations/ace-attorney/index.html?popup=1 See for yourself]]. This one is actually hinted at in the 5th case of the first game, where you can visit Edgeworth's office and examine everything within... including a Steel Samurai figure.
18	*** Hinted at even earlier on, in one of the main series' games, Edgeworth has the Steel Samurai theme music as a ringtone.
19	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/culture-schlock This strip]] was made before an ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' game (directed by Shu Takumi, creator of the franchise) was announced to take place during Meiji-era Japan, making it eerily prophetic, if not hilarious.
20	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/tossed-in-space This comic]] contains Marth and Wolf fighting on a ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''-themed stage. Although Wolf wasn't playable in ''Smash 4'', a ''Super Mario Galaxy'' stage [[https://www.ssbwiki.com/Mario_Galaxy is present in the Wii U version]]. This stage also returned in ''Ultimate'', and so did a playable Wolf.
21	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/the-one-where-roy-comes-back-part4 This comic]] claims that no one may come back to ''Smash'' after leaving the roster - except for at least two Links, Dr. Mario, and Mewtwo. Years later, the fourth game features the return of Dr. Mario and Mewtwo after their absence from ''Brawl''. Even better, ''Ultimate'' includes both Toon Link and Young Link, who were previously thought to be mutually-exclusive characters. And Marth's line "Nobody actually left, did they?" is a lot more accurate now that [[TagLine Everyone is Here]].
22	** Pretty much any strip about Roy not being allowed to return to ''Smash'' is this now that Roy has been revealed to be making his triumphant return as DLC in the fourth game.
23	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/the-pokemon-effect This cartoon]], which is the page image to the PopularityPolynomial page, predicts the ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' phenomenon six years in advance.
24	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/rules-of-engagement This strip]] features the Pokémon trainer defeating Lysandre's Pyroar by sending out all six of their Pokémon at once, using Lysandre's genocidal intention as justification for breaking the rules. About two years later in ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY'', [[spoiler:this is how the climatic battle between Ash and Lysandre went, albeit 7 Pokémon (with Alain aiding Ash) against 2. Lysandre's Pyroar even went out the same way thanks to a combination of different attacks from Ash's Pokémon at the same time.]]
25	** Wild Ditto being disguised as other wild Pokémon, only being revealed when captured, was the plot of a [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/what-a-catch post from 2010]]. ''Pokemon Go'' eventually implemented Ditto into the game in this manner.
26	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/disregard-that This strip]], which ended up serving as the Page Image for {{Alternate Character Interpretation}}, sees Katie struggling with the fact that Marth's personality in the comic is so different to [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight how he is in the games]]. Seven years on ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'' gives us Leo, who [[MemeticMutation famously]] ''looks'' like Their Marth, but whose personality is more in line with Our Marth.
27	** One of the earliest comics poked fun at the FridgeLogic of [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/drill-meal why rock-eating Gorons needed a mine]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''. Ten years later, come ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', it turns out the comic was RightForTheWrongReasons, as Gorons actually ''don't'' like the taste of gemstones and [[WorthlessYellowRocks trade them to other cultures as a by-product, instead.]]
28	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/grudge-match This strip from 2014]] reasoning that [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Ridley]] wasn't made playable throughout the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series because of his [[KnightOfCerebus much darker and vile nature]] (plus a [[YouKilledMyFather more personal grudge]] from Samus) in comparison to other Nintendo villains (barring Ganondorf) becomes a lot more hilarious now that in ''Ultimate'', not only is Ridley part of the roster, he's just as dark and sadistic as in his home series.
29	*** Mario is also one of the two people in that strip to speak up in defense of Ridley. What is one of the first things Ridley does in his official Smash introduction? ''[[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Kill Mario]]'', [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and steal his hat]]. Fox should probably count himself lucky he was busy with ''[[VideoGame/StarlinkBattleForAtlas Starlink]]'' at the time.
30	** One [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/trying-my-patience comic]] for ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies'' involves a fake case where the [[TheButlerDidIt butler]] obviously did the murder. Come ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneySpiritOfJustice'', [[spoiler:the DLC case has the butler indeed do it]].
31	** The final panel of [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/classy-part1 this strip]] has Chrom wondering why Robin set Nowi up as a wyvern knight (or as Chrom said, "Why is our dragon riding a different dragon?"), which became funnier in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', which has a wyvern-riding character [[spoiler:(Seteth)]] whose true identity is [[spoiler:Saint Cichol]]; in other words, a dragon who ''canonically'' rides another dragon.
32	** The [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/awkward-zombie/the-leading-edge 700th strip]] is this once you learn that Katie drew it ''before'' Sephiroth was announced for ''Smash''. It also becomes this post-publication after [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 Pyra/Mythra]] were revealed to be the next DLC characters after Sephiroth.
33	*** Even more hilarious after the reveal that Daisy's counterpart [[VideoGame/PrincessPeachShowtime has a sword of her own]] in her upcoming game. Maybe she was on to something, after all!
34	** [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/locked-in-conflict This strip]] jokes about all of Fódlan's barbers being conscripted into the war, which comes off as prescient considering all of the jokes about how terrible the new hairstyles look in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes''.
35	** The ''Smash''-themed strip titled [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/rat-king-of-fighters "Rat King of Fighters"]] was drawn three months before the ''Smash'' series announced its upcoming ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'' representation.
36	** The final panel of [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/awkward-zombie/double-take this strip]] has both Byleths not understanding the concept of Tandemaus being [[TheDividual considered as one guy despite being two guys]]. About three weeks later, Duo Byleths were announced in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes''.
37	** [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/the-flames-of-war "The Flames of War"]] is about how political people on the internet are triggered by ''anything'', even an adorable animal video. Six years later, the White House posts [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRtgsdtDc-4 a video of its new cat]], and [[https://www.rawstory.com/willow-biden-white-house/ the news]] saw that the comments were basically exactly the same:
38	--->'''Jay.rutland.77:''' The cat was probably sacrificed for some demonic ritual
39	--->'''Patsygram:''' They'll euthanize the cat when it scratches someone. Poor abused cat.
40	--->'''Jenirunsdisney:''' Grow a brain and think for yourself instead of being in mango Mussolini’s cult. Can’t wait to see you cry in November. Or sooner when your orange overlord is in prison.
41	--->'''sharonxxrose:''' Biden will be in jail or dead and a Republican will take over again… either Trump or Ramaswamy. No more corrupt Biden’s trying to throw their opponents in jail. Get your safe space ready.
42	--->'''_jesslev1981_:''' Can’t people just enjoy the cat?!
43	--->'''[=Kro5tanussey=]:''' Me thinking this was a cute video and the comments would be civil.
44	* MemeticBadass: [[https://twitter.com/itsjefftiedrich Katie's dad]], if the forumites are to be believed.
45	* MemeticMutation:
46	** According to comments on Website/KnowYourMeme, Katie is the master of facial expressions and every comic she draws spawns at least one [[ReactionShot reaction image]].
47	** In the comic's [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=a4d6eee790d758b5059f4a6a242edc16 forums]], there are a number of ''Awkward Zombie'' comics that have turned into memes that people like to edit into the latest comic. These include the impossible-to-catch Entei (often accompanied by someone shouting "ARGRARJGHH DARGHRAUGH"), Nowi's AgeInappropriateDress, [[OffModel long-neck]] Caesar, and bread. It has gotten to the point where people are making meta edits about these popular edits (for example, [[http://i.imgur.com/TAte7fW.png these]] [[http://i.imgur.com/oxaJUZi.jpg?1 ones]]).
48	** "''One'' time!" [[labelnote:Explanation]][[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/grudge-match "Grudge Match"]] became much more popular after Ridley finally joined the roster in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. The aforementioned punchline is frequently used whenever somebody brings up how he killed Samus' parents.[[/labelnote]]
49	** "Eat your hamburgers, Apollo."[[labelnote:Explanation]]The punchline to [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/culture-schlock "Culture Schlock"]], which pokes fun at the English localization of the ''Franchise/AceAttorney'' series and its attempts at hiding the Japanese setting. The line-- said by Phoenix in reference to sushi-- quickly became a catch-all phrase among fans of the comic and ''Ace Attorney'' series to mock perceived flaws in a CulturalTranslation.[[/labelnote]]
50	* NauseaFuel:
51	** The "Gut Reaction" strip depicts what Guts Man's weapon should logically be: a stream of literal human internal organs.
52	** "Zip of the Iceberg" has Sora decide to unzip Donald Duck's ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' hat and find out the hard way that it was ''keeping his brains from spilling out''.
53	* OneSceneWonder:
54	** [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Ridley]], for five years, had [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/grudge-match only appeared in a single comic]] and only had one line of dialogue in said comic, but [[CrossesTheLineTwice the sheer hilarity of the punchline]] made him leave a very lasting impression until his return in [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/turn-the-other-clique 2019]].
55	** Technically, by now he's a Two Scene Wonder, but for the longest time Katie's dad qualified as this due to [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/harassoline his unusual method of trying to find out where policemen get gasoline.]]
56	* ParanoiaFuel:
57	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/overboard Health Class]]. Better make sure you're getting your Vitamin C!
58	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/family-resemblance-2 Anyone could be a Ditto. Even your closest loved ones.]]
59	--->''It's always the person you least expect.''
60	* {{Squick}}:
61	** [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/exposure Played for laughs in this comic.]]
62	--->''Stop reading my comics, mom and dad.''
63	** [[https://www.awkwardzombie.com/awkward-zombie/brothers-in-arms This]] comic hangs a lampshade on the rather...[[NotBloodSiblings iffy]] relationships one can form in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates''. Corrin seems to think this way, too; she [[TakeAThirdOption goes off to join a monastery]] rather than marry ''either'' of her brothers.
64	* TearJerker:
65	** Believe it or not, [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/situational-gravity Situational Gravity]] is a minor one. Anyone who's played Skyrim knows how unforgiving the physics are, and that poor Khajit just looks ''so'' depressed in the final panel...
66	** Poor unloved, unwanted [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/tricks-of-the-trade-part1 Zubat]]. [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/tricks-of-the-trade-part2 And when it finally finds a trainer who seems to love it]], [[YankTheDogsChain the poor guy gets stuffed in the PC.]]
67	* UnpopularPopularCharacter:
68	** [[ButtMonkey Roy]]. He often comes across as crass and rude, and most of the Smash Bros. contestants either barely remember him or [[TheFriendNobodyLikes barely tolerate his antics]]. Despite this, he's one of the more popular characters in the comics, and is often cited as one of the main reasons they wanted Roy to come back into ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Smash]]'' at all. Crosses into FridgeBrilliance for ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' fans. Roy is something of a LowTierLetdown, as his stats make him one of the worst lords in the entire franchise.
69	** Speaking of which, Marth applies as well. He's a narcissist and an UpperClassTwit, making him an easy ButtMonkey for the antics of the Smashers. Peach is known to get into {{Cat Fight}}s with him, Samus finds the concept of giving him respect to be laughable, and the only person who likes him that isn't a complete idiot is [[IdenticalGranddaughter Lucina]]. It's exactly this characterization that makes Marth one of the comic's most iconic characters, simply because he's so fun to abuse.
70	* ViewerGenderConfusion: If her name weren't Katie more people would probably mistake her AuthorAvatar for a guy, it doesn't help that she almost always wears the [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/pokes3.png male protagonists' outfits in her Pokémon strips.]] Anyone who was still confused for some reason finally got the answer shoved in their faces with the Kickstarter video, which shows her in person. [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/hair-of-the-cat Her new haircut]] doesn't help either.
71	* {{Wangst}}: [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/subtlety Poor Their!Marth.]] [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation The other Marth's]] wangst is [[http://www.awkwardzombie.com/comic/the-one-where-roy-comes-back-part1 even funnier.]]
72	* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: The comic has a cutesy art style, but many of the jokes involve M-rated video games.
73	* TheWoobie: The Zubat from ''Tricks of The Trade''. [[IJustWantToBeLoved Poor, poor Zubat]].

Context YMMV / AwkwardZombie