''[[http://www.zapinspace.com Zap!]]'' is a science fiction webcomic centering around the eponymous main character Zap Vexler. Started in 2003, the already written story is about halfway through being drawn and released. Chris Layfield is the writer, and Pascalle is the artist.

In the story so far, [[LaserGuidedAmnesia amnesiac]] Zap finds himself the captain of a CoolStarship called the ''Excelsior''. He discovers that he is [[PsychicPowers psychic]] and falls for the first officer, Reona, who is still heartbroken over the previous captain, Efrem. He had been apparently killed by an enemy, Naveed. Reona and the ship's mechanic, Grontar, and navigation droid, Robot, aren't too thrilled about Zap being picked as the captain. This is mostly because Zap is a doofus and far from captain material. They fight their way through the [[TheEmpire GEF]], crash land, fight their way through the GEF again, take off, and pick up an ally: Kasey. Another Resistance member, Kasey is infatuated with Robot and helps repair Reona's artificial arm. Zap runs into a stranger (to him at this point), Gunner that claims to be a friend from his forgotten past. Gunner retrains him to use his powers, helps them fight off a nasty blob, then [[spoiler: reveals his true intentions, shoots Zap, and absconds with a nearly dead Zap, a never dead Efrem, and Naveed.]]

At this point in the story there are about five separate plot threads, one involving space pirates, one involving a government conspiracy, and some others following the now split up crew of the ''Excelsior''.

The characters:
* Zap, a [[LaserGuidedAmnesia amnesiac]] [[PsychicPowers psychic]] [[CoolShip spaceship]] [[TheCaptain captain.]] He sometimes lapses into a CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass, especially when Reona is in danger. Most of the time he's the IdiotHero, though. Currently kidnapped by people who knew him before his amnesia.
* Reona, [[HeroesWantRedHeads redhead]] [[NumberTwo first mate]] of the ship with an ArmCannon. In the current arc she'll learn to be more assertive.
* Grontar, a huge [[MultiArmedAndDangerous four armed]] GeniusBruiser, with OverprotectiveDad tendencies towards Reona.
* Robot, formerly named XR-7439-Q, is the SnarkyNonHumanSidekick, a [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots sentient]] RobotBuddy (though the "buddy" part is involuntary and quite questionable).
* Kasey, WrenchWench and BunglingInventor.
* Gunner, a mysterious psychic from Zap's past with a MeaningfulName.
* Naveed, deadly [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana wielding]] CatGirl. She cut off Reona's arm in a flashback.
* Efrem, the LeftForDead former captain, and is not as he first seemed.
* William, a GEF commander and the head of the Psychic Academy. His character is gaining importance in the story.
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Tropes used by the webcomic:
* ArtEvolution: Pascalle's art noticeably improves over the years.
* ContestWinnerCameo: A archive search contest winner was inserted into a comic as a speaking character.
* GuestStrip: A few.
* HalloweenCosplay: One or two {{Filler Strips}}.
* TheMerch: Not a big part of the site, but there is a book out.
* TheRant
* ScheduleSlip: This hasn't happened for some time, as Pascalle has a StripBuffer.
* TitleConfusion: Due to the URL, the comic is often called "Zap [- [[RecycledInSpace IN SPACE]]-]".
* WebcomicTime: A few years of comics following a few weeks of plot.

Tropes used by the narrative:
* AGlassOfChianti: Billings does this on one scene where he tries to be serious.
* AirVentEscape: Zap does this.
* AmnesiacDissonance: [[spoiler: Zap, Efrem, and Gunner were on the same side, and Zap was much darker than his post amnesia personality.]]
* AmnesiaDanger: Zap has to figure out how to work the [[FasterThanLightTravel hyperjump]] with his forgotten powers.
* AmusementPark: Scene of the biggest fight so far.
* AnimatedActors: Not animated, but [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20040102.html one filler comic]] portrayed the characters as actors playing parts. It even included a ClassicallyTrainedExtra.
** The concept has since been revisited two or three times, making it a RunningGag.
* ArmCannon
* BattleAura
* BigEater: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20060522.html Grontar.]]
* BigRedButton: [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20031103.html This comic]].
* BishieSparkle: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20050302.html Kasey.]]
* BlankWhiteEyes: A few times. Here's an [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20060529.html example]].
* BloodFromTheMouth: Zap, after a [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20061012.html nasty gut shot]].
* BloodyBiometric: Naveed uses a guard's severed hand to retrieve her sword.
* BlueWithShock: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20050119.html This]] comic. Complete with OcularGushers.
* BodyHorror: The creature that kills the bounty hunters.
* BountyHunter: Four of them in one arc.
* CatsAreMean: Naveed.
* CatSmile: Kasey, who is vaguely lion-like.
* ClothingDamage: Zap, Reona, and Grontar ruin their nice clothes in the [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20060918.html amusement park battle.]]
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The three main psychics so far have different colored {{Battle Aura}}s and [[PowerGlows eye glows]].
* CrossPoppingVeins
* DeflectorShields, psychic controlled.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Sepia flashbacks.
* DracoInLeatherPants: Gunner has a few vocal fangirls on the forums. He has elements of EvilIsCool and EvilIsSexy (along with Naveed).
* DramaticPause: President Billings does this during a press conference, waiting three minutes to ramp up the drama.
* DreamSequence: A few symbolism loaded sequences here and there.
* ElementalPowers: The Elementaro race. The [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20050608.html last four members]] are recruited by Naveed.
* ElevatorSnare: Happens to [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20071203.html Grontar]].
* TheEmpire: The Galactic Earth Federation
* EvilLaugh: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20041101.html President Billings]].
* FallingIntoTheCockpit: Zap, on the run from the GEF, literally falls into the cargo hatch and is made captain by the ship.
* FemmeFatalons: Again, [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20080707.html Naveed]].
* [[FiveManBand/{{Other}} Five Man Band]]: fits, for the most part.
* {{Flashback}}: {{Lampshaded}} in [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20050107.html this]] comic.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom are an indication of often dangerous psychic powers.
* GovernmentConspiracy: not fully revealed yet.
* TheGuardsMustBeCrazy: The GEF grunts are usually idiotic and are [[RedShirt killed in droves]].
* HallOfMirrors: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20070215.html Here.]]
* IfYouKnowWhatIMean: Zap, upon meeting four-armed Grontar, asks if he has four other appendages.
* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: I believe the GEF have landed about 5 of their shots so far.
* JediMindTrick: Seemingly a standard psychic power.
* KickTheWrongDog
* KnowledgeBroker: Demonica
* * LaserGuidedAmnesia: Zap forgets nearly everything, leaving no remnant of his former skills, just his name.
* LaserSight [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20041231.html]]
* LastOfHisKind: Robot is the last robot left with a learning AI. The Elelmentaros are the last of their species.
* LaResistance: "The Resistance"
* LawOfAlienNames: Lots of the names fit.
* LeaveHimToMe: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20060828.html Reona vs. Naveed]]
* LetsGetDangerous: When you see Zap start to [[PowerGlows glow]], some shit's goin' down.
* LivingShip: the ''Excelsior'' is sentient and chooses its own captain.
* MindControlEyes: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20051215.html]]
* MomentKiller: Robot does this a few [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20031208.html times]].
* MsFanservice: Naveed provides lots of eyecandy with her {{stripperiffic}} outfit.
* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Come on, ''Gunner Stryfe''?
* NeverFoundTheBody: After Efrem's apparent death, the crew was [[TeleportersAndTransporters teleported]] back to the ship.
* NonSequiturThud: [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20031020.html This comic]].
* NotWhatItLooksLike: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20060116.html The title and the dialog.]]
* NumberedHomeworld: Sticklebat 7. The BunglingInventor Stickle race found their previous six planets "too flammable".
* RebusBubble
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Naveed's eye color.
* RobotNames: XR-7439-Q is Robot's former name.
* PeekaBoo: [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20060417.html Here]] Zap is naked, with Robot's head "tastefully" interposed.
* PrehensileHair: Demonica, though it's [[AlienHair not quite hair]].
* PresidentEvil - Not ''competent'', but evil.
* PstandardPsychicPstance: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20050831.html]]
* PsychicPowers: Of course.
* PsychoForHire: Naveed and her cat-like toying with her prey.
* PuppyDogEyes: [[http://www.zapinspace.com/d/20040825.html Here]].
* TheObiWan: Vitale, William's mentor and guardian.
* OminousMultipleScreens: During the computer failure scene.
* OneHandedIsCool
* OurPresidentsAreDifferent: President Billings seems like President Buffoon so far.
* OutrunTheFireball: Zap does this in the second comic.
* RestrainingBolt: the "crowns". And Robot's prgramming to obey the Captain, like it or not (He does not).
* ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder: The Stickle race
* ShirtlessScene: Zap, [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20060417.html trying out tuxedos]] going [[PeekABoo stark naked]].
* SlowMotionFall: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20070924.html]]
* SomeCallMeTim: Robot's renaming.
* SpaceIsNoisy: There are some sound effects during the space battle.
* SpacePirates: And a TerribleTrio, so far.
* SpaceshipGirl: A spectral woman from Zap's [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20090504.html forced flashbacks of his earlier life]] turns out to be the [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20090920.html holographic projection of the Excelsior's AI]].
* SpaceWhale: Space Squid, actually.
* SpitTake: [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20050627.html]]
* SpotTheImposter: The BodyHorror creature takes Zap's appearance. Side by side, everyone debates who to shoot. Gunner comes up and just unceremoniously shoots the fake.
**To be fair here, The monster was quite easily distinguishable ("Meeee, Reaaal Zaaaaaap...") when everyone was "Side by side" as it were, and the remark from Robot seemed like it was an obvious Lampshade hanging.
* SuperRegistrationAct: Psychics are being rounded up for nefarious purposes (implied to be made into {{Super Soldier}}s).
* {{Technopath}}: One of Zap's first displays of psychic ability is activating the ''Excelsior'''s hyperdrive. In fact his mental commands are apparently the only thing that can do so. Gunner, as his name implies, uses his to improve the function of his weapons.
* TheUntwist: speculation on if "The Serpent" was really Gunner was rampant. It seemed too obvious.
* ThrownOutTheAirlock: Zap, who was mistaken for a stowaway at first, is almost dumped with the trash into space (or so he thought).
* TheVamp: Naveed, again.
* WhyDontYaJustShootHim: subverted, Gunner gets tired of the psychic battle and just [[spoiler:shoots Zap]]. [[http://zapinspace.com/d/20070917.html]]
* WigDressAccent: Robot gets by a security checkpoint with pants, a wig and a sign the says "I am human". (The costume really didn't work, though, it was Zap doing a JediMindTrick type thing on the guards.)
* WingdingEyes: Kasey, of the HeartSymbol type, when she gushes over Robot.
* WordOfGod: You can get some spoilers and have some of your [[EpilepticTrees wild speculation]] quashed on the forum by the creators.
* YouDidntAsk


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