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1* AbandonShipping: The aforementioned Black Mage MoralEventHorizon killed much of the fandom's interest in Black Mage/White Mage which Brian said was inexplicable to him anyway.
2* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
3** Is Fighter a naive idiot with occasional sparks of genius, or is he a brilliant mastermind lulling everyone into a false sense of security? [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/03/20/episode-822-too-many-light-warriors-spoil-the-npc/ Strangely enough, offered by Fighter himself.]] Further supported [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/09/23/episode-1041-the-only-logical-response/ here]]. (The Socratic Method is a method in which you ask questions and debate to get answers instead of just finding someone who knows. Also could reference the well-known Creator/{{Socrates}} quote, "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.") Oh, and [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/12/04/episode-359-flawless-victories/ here]].
4*** [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/04/12/episode-272-mind-games/ "You realize of course this means Fighter is the smartest."]] "I want to cry, but there aren't enough tears..."
5*** Further evidenced [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/08/12/episode-318-buckle-up-its-the-law/ here]] where Fighter displays a surprising grasp of physics.
6%%%%%%% Instance of what?. What is the Alternative Character Interpretation?
7%%%** Garland is another instance of this, as are the Forest Imps.
8* ArcFatigue: The last arc, which spent several months of what was essentially one continuous conflict which kept changing, then spent about 4 months on the Light Warriors screwing around to try and gain levels to face the final opponent. [[spoiler:It then becomes clear [[IntendedAudienceReaction this was completely intentional]] to make the ending all the more [[AntiClimax anti-climactic]].]]
9* ArchivePanic: 1,224 comics. Have fun.
10* CrazyIsCool: A majority of the cast qualify, from Black Mage's audacity to Red Mage's stunningly stupid plans that somehow, sometimes, work perfectly. However, special mention goes to [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/01/27/episode-1087-exalted-feat/ Ranger]], a supporting cast member, who dualdualwields long-bows.
11* CreepyAwesome: Black Mage is borderline evil personified, but being both a ra
12* CrossesTheLineTwice: Black Mage's relentless and shameless pursuit of White Mage goes so far beyond obnoxious and creepy that it wraps around to funny.
13** His regular blood thirst also qualifies at times, such as [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/11/13/episode-353-last-one-i-swear/ slaughtering Dwarf cities]].
14* EnsembleDarkhorse: King Steve, despite being prominent only in the first arc, and making scattered appearances afterwards, is one of the most popular characters in the strip.
15* GeniusBonus: The [=LaGrange=] Terrace joke in [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/09/18/episode-1039-luxury-accommodations/ this strip]]. [[spoiler:For those unfamiliar, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrangian_point Lagrangian points]] are the five locations in space where a small object can be in stationary orbit relative to two larger celestial bodies (such as a planet and its sun).]]
16* HarsherInHindsight: [[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bclev/8-bit-theater-20th-anniversary-book-wait-20-years-son-of-a/posts/3198688 Once Brian started revisiting the comic]] for the 20th anniversary complete script, he was impressed at how it wound up "predicting the downfall of democracy" with things like the Dark Warriors successfully creating a slander campaign based on false information that made the people of Corneria turn against the Light Warriors.
17* HilariousInHindsight:
18** The vampire from the game is replaced with an EmoTeen who says no one understands him. This was years before the ''[[Literature/TheTwilightSaga Twilight]]'' craze, although caricatures of Creator/AnneRice's work did often make them look like this. In fact, Vilbert is a stereotype of ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' LARP enthusiasts.
19** ObviouslyEvil, [[SharpDressedMan Sharp-Dressed]] ([[TechnologyMarchesOn considering the graphics]]) {{Cool Old|Guy}} responsible for his own StartOfDarkness [[ManipulativeBastard manipulating the heroes]]... [[Franchise/KingdomHearts Hello, Xehanort!]]
20** Given he was a CompositeCharacter designed to represent the first game, imagine the cocktail of insanity the [[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Warrior of Light]] would have been in this universe.
21** The idea of King Steve drilling for mana is considered ridiculous [[spoiler:until the final episode]]. Mining for mana would turn out to be a big deal in [[Franchise/DragonAge another fantasy setting.]]
22** Black Mage's Hadoken is considered a monstrous spell because it siphons love out of the universe with each casting. Now look up why Black Magic is a forbidden art in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV''.
23** [[VideoGame/StrangerOfParadiseFinalFantasyOrigin Garland ending up one of the heroes at the end.]]
24* HoYay:
25** Fighter and Black Mage, and [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/11/01/episode-1054-foursome/ foursome]].
26** Also, the Light Warriors inside a sack had [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2004/10/02/episode-465-all-sacked-out/ some uncomfortable groping]]...
27* JerkassWoobie:
28** Black Mage is a selfish and violent monster, who is never able to succeed at anything.
29** [[spoiler:Sarda]] is a manipulative and remorseless piece of work, but his backstory makes him sympathetic. This is subverted somewhat in that [[spoiler:he technically brought it upon himself]].
30** Thief stealing his class change from the future came back to bite him.
31* ItWasHisSled: The fact that [[spoiler:Chaos is defeated off screen by four white mages, a strategy dismissed in the seventh episode]] is one of the most well known aspects of the strip.
32* LoveToHate: All of the Light Warriors, except [[TokenGoodTeammate Fighter]], are, in the words of Sarda "all evil monsters who need to die for the good of everybody else", but their antics are such BlackComedy gold that the fandom loves both their antics and the terrible things that happen to them as as a result of said antics.
33* MemeticMutation:
34** '''''"I am the Black Mage! I casts the spells that makes the peoples fall down!"''''' A reference to Black Mage's less than intimidating description of himself.
35** "I like swords." Fighter's catchphrase, which also pretty much sums up his personality.
36** "Sword Chucks, yo!" A reference to Fighter inventing a new weapon, placing two swords on the ends of a chain and wielding them like nunchucks.
37* MoralEventHorizon:
38** It is acknowledged that Black Mage has crossed the point of unredeemable evil, the discussion is when he crossed it.
39*** Shortly after [[spoiler:he becomes evil incarnate in the Temple of Fiends.]]
40*** His plan to either [[ButLiquorIsQuicker get White Mage drunk and then rape her]], or - if the thing he bought was paint thinner rather than liquor (not that he cared) - [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/07/24/episode-874-silence-implies-consent/ make her drink it anyway and then rape her corpse]]. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Thief and Red Mage treated this as his MEH in-universe]].
41--->'''Thief:''' You know she could die if she drinks this.\
42'''Black Mage:''' The way I see it, the body takes a while to cool. So, either way, I get what I want.\
43'''Red Mage:''' That... may be the worst thing you've ever said.
44*** When the living embodiment of evil is sickened by you, you know you have done something ''seriously'' wrong. [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2006/03/23/episode-676-supernatural-selection/ See for yourself.]]
45** Red Mage's infamous Chocobo experiments were his crossing of the MEH. Even ''Black Mage'' was horrified.
46** King Steve [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2003/12/23/king-steve-theater-new-shoes/ in what may be the most disturbing clothing ever. ...EVER!]]
47* NightmareFuel:
48** '''''[[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/06/18/episode-044-what-the-hell-just-happened-in-survivor-8-bit-style-part-9/ DON'T LOOK AT ME!]]'''''
49** [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2006/07/15/episode-720-a-lesson-is-learned-but-the-damage-is-going-to-take-forever-to-clean-up/ The implication]] that Black Mage is actually TheCorruption and is the reason the other Light Warriors act like they do.
50* OlderThanTheyThink: Many concepts which some believe originated in 8-Bit Theater are actually much older, and appeared because Brian Clevinger was part of Final Fantasy Fandom. For instance: the Black Mage being non-human (this came from Final Fantasy IX and there are clues to this effect as far back as Final Fantasy III), White Mage being a woman (this was a common perception among fans), and the grouping of four White Mages defeating Chaos (winning the game with this party is an old test of mettle for players).
51* ParodyDisplacement:
52** Some of the things that people believe to be true about ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'' is stuff that was invented by Clevinger rather than things that were inherent in the original game, such as Fighters being dim, Black Mages being sarcastic, etc.
53** The idea that White Mages are women was present long before this comic, but it was cemented here.
54* RewatchBonus: A lot of the brick jokes and the extent of the StableTimeLoop will only become apparent on second readings. For example, the significance of [[spoiler:Thief stealing his future self's power]].
55* {{Squick}}:
56** [[InterspeciesRomance Witch-dragon relationship]], "animal husbandry", most of the killings... you pick.
57** One of Red Mage's plans involved him watching chocobos mate for a few hours; when asked by Black Mage why he had to watch, he replied: ''Oh, I never said I '''had''' to''.
58** Also, the cultists' [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2005/03/08/episode-524-facts-concerning-the-cultists-and-their-families/ "tea parties"]].
59** The whole FaceFullOfAlienWingWong thing with that eye monster and Red Mage.
60** What Black Mage does with the dead body of his doppelganger. See ScrewYourself on the main page.
61* TearJerker:
62** [[spoiler:The death of Black Belt.]] As seen [[http://www.nuklearpower.com/2004/10/16/episode-471-first-attack/ here]].
63--->'''[[spoiler:Black Belt]]:''' Life is funny. You start out with limitless potential, but time is always shaving away the possibilities. Every choice you make is the choice not to do a thousand other things. What’s important when all is said and done is that you made a difference. Your choices and everything undone, have to mean something. Otherwise, what was the point? I’m lucky that way. My path was already there. I had only to walk it. I often thought even if '''no one''' knew of the good I had done with my life, it didn’t matter. That it was done is all that counts in the end. But then I died.\
64'''White Mage:''' [[spoiler:Black Belt?]]\
65'''[[spoiler:Black Belt:]]''' And I hadn’t gotten to do any of it yet.
66*** White Mage's panicked attempts to heal him in the subsequent strip reinforce how severe the situation got.
67---> '''White Mage:''' I can't do this! He's in pieces! He won't stop bleeding!
68** Fighter's reaction to [[spoiler:Black Mage being killed by Lich]]:
69--->'''Fighter:''' [[spoiler:Black Mage? Get up and yell at me. Black Mage, '''get up'''. Please.]]
70* TheWoobie: White Mage, a NiceGirl living in a CrapsackWorld where NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished. To make matters worse, the most evil person in said world has a crush on her. Though at least she gets the last laugh in [[spoiler:saving the world, if only for the sake of an AntiClimax BrickJoke.]]

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