* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Relative to the [=TF2=] canon. Loads; no two members of a class act exactly the same way, or exactly like the canon depiction of their class.
** Justified since the classes that die are taken over by newly-hired recruits, bringing their own personalities and baggage to the job.
** Analysis of various characters can be found [[http://nocturnalsoldier.org/cv/ here]].
* AngstWhatAngst: [[spoiler:BLU Engineer takes losing his hand to Rojo surprisingly well.]]
* DeliberateInjuryGambit: It's never specifically stated whether [[spoiler: Bleu's BareHandedBladeBlock]] is this or not, but given how he seems to have turned around and noticed [[spoiler: Rojo]] standing behind him just before it happened, it's possible that he let it happen on purpose to prevent more grievous injuries.
* FanNickname: Sort of averted. The names used by the fandom are all [[WordOfGod official,]] but are never used within the comic itself. Played straight with the new [[spoiler: RED]] Sniper, who's referred to as Elvis Sniper.
** [[spoiler:The escape committee formed by a coalition of RED and BLU team members is sometimes referred to as Team Purple. The term also suggested when some people thought the RED and BLU soldiers would declare a ceasefire and hunt down the deserters, but that never actually came to pass.]]
* FridgeBrilliance: On page 66, Bleu said Sniper "didn't seem to want to talk" when he gave Bleu the suitcase with the cameras. Red said on page 67, which takes place in the BLU base, "I stayed here last night." With their relationship and all, what else could it be?
** Page 70, in which Bleu tells the devastated [[spoiler: RED Scout]] about [[spoiler: Red's]] death, is titled "He's Dead, Jim." Only a mildly amusing Franchise/StarTrek reference, unless and until you read Kytri's interview and learn that [[spoiler: the RED Scout's real name is James.]]
* HarsherInHindsight: "If I kill them, they'll just be replaced with ones that are harder to hit." Just a little aside at the time; not funny at all now that [[spoiler: Rojo's]] shown up.
* HilariousInHindsight: [[http://tf2.skyscrapersoup.com/2009/02/07/34-amontillado/ This page here was written Feb. 7, 09.]] It depicts an old German doctor who recorded a video diary for posterity somewhere in the badlands of New Mexico (180 miles from Los Alamos) on August 17, 1968. The story involves a [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]], a [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt corporation]], and ForeverWar that people can't escape from and that takes many lives. In the real world, the game Videogame/{{Outlast}} was released on September 4, 2013. At one point, the story depicts Doctor Rudolf Wernicke, an old German doctor who had an interview of his filmed for posterity in Los Alamos, New Mexico on December 27, 1985. The story involves a [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]], a [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt corporation]], and an experiment GoneHorriblyWrong that leads to many deaths. The stories also involve a lot of money. In the former, cameras are found to recording every nook and cranny of the battlefield. It is theorized the records are broadcast to the IdleRich as some kind of creepy [[DeadlyGame game show]]. In the latter, [[CorruptCorporateExecutive former executive Trager]] refers to money as turning into an article of faith.[[note]]See Videogame/{{Outlast}}'s TheCuckoolanderWasRight entry to see how this relates to the plot.[[/note]] That means that both stories problems are related to the idea of [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney using money for evil]]. Finally, both doctors use the phrase, "I have theories" in their recorded videos. Isn't that coincidental? It's also strange to think that the story of Team Fortress is kind of like the story of Outlast relating to experimental technology and [[MegaCorp Mega Corporations]].
* MemeticMutation: Pickle thief!
** Also, in the forums: "EVERYTHING IS [[spoiler:ROJO IN DISGUISE]]!!"
* MemeticBadass The Snipers, The Engineers, and the Spies.
* {{Moe}}: The Meganedanshi RED Medic.
* NightmareFuel: Good grief, panel 10 [[https://web.archive.org/web/20190905210553/http://tf2.skyscrapersoup.com/2011/03/16/135-one-good-reason/ here]].
* {{Paranoia Fuel}}: [[spoiler:Rojo]] is a good source. To quote Kytri: ''"I like how I seem to have accidentally trained a bunch of you to expect [[spoiler:Rojo]] and/or something horrible around every corner. To the point where some suggested [[spoiler: he would have killed every one in the little underground hideout here. He doesn’t know they’re down there, and there are like six guys in there. He’s scary but he’s not superhuman.]]"''
* {{Squick}}: [[spoiler:The fate of BLU Sniper's eyes.]]
* StoicWoobie: [[spoiler: BLU Sniper, after Red's death.]]
* TearJerker: [[spoiler: Red's death]] and the many aftereffects, including [[spoiler:Sniper's death.]]
* {{Trivia}}: Kytri drafted [[WhatCouldHaveBeen several versions of the beginning]] before settling on the first page we know now.
* TheWoobie: BLU Spy, BLU Pyro, [[spoiler: BLU Sniper]], the RED Medic.
** The Red Medics have a history of being woobies. The Medic in 1968 was locked in a room by the Announcer and his teammates never found him or his body. His successor in modern times was murdered by the Blu Soldier in order to make him "defect". His body is implied to have been cut apart somehow and that not every piece was found. His successor, Anton, is coerced by Rojo and Rojo scares the poor guy to death with implied death threats if he doesn't obey. Likewise, the Red Heavy doesn't protect him and Anton is afraid that the Red Pyro may kill him.[[note]]the [=TF2=] Heavy and Medic are best friends in the story and compliment each others skills.[[/note]]