Big Screwed-Up Family: Åland can be a real jerk to his cousin, Finland. As for Scania and Fenno-Swede, the author says, "All the children in SatW are completely fucked."
Norse By Norsewest: Mainly averted. The comic shows the countries' stereotypes of each other rather than the Hollywood stereotype of them, and goes out the way to show that each country has their own distinct cultures.
Power Trio: Denmark as the Id, Norway the Ego and Sweden as the Superego.
Extreme Omnisexual: Word Of God is that his specific orientation is "everythingsexual." He does seem to end up with guys more often, though, and not just because of the gender bias in the cast.
Character Development: Sweden is the character who by far has changed the most since the beginning. He started off with his sexuality being only a subtle implication that was never spoken of and he always dodged about, but over time he slowly has been opening up, and recently acquired a boyfriend.
"I don't like the zoo. I prefer seeing the animals out in the wild..."
The Beastmaster: A fantasy sketch depicts him as a Viking warrior with command over wolves and eagles. (Probably not intended to carry over to the main comic.)
Kissing Cousins/Fridge Horror: Norway introduced the others to his cousin Jan Mayen as his “friend”. Sweden commented that he looked dead. It was later revealed that Norway and Jan Mayen used to have an incestuous relationship, and that Jan Mayen got killed for it. That means Norway is keeping the corpse of his dead lover somewhere in his house...
The Quiet One: Humon originally wanted him to be medically mute, but later decided he's mute by choice. He'll really only swear, and talk if he has to.
"Come out come out wherever you are, Russia!!! You wanted my "special services" didn't you!? Then come over here and get it!!"
Beware the Nice Ones: Seems like a fairly nice and unassuming guy on the surface, but just ask Russia or Finland what happens when you push his buttons.
Disappeared Dad: Subverted—Denmark is his father, though neither of them knows it. (When Sweden finds out, he tells Scania his father was killed in a car accident so that the boy wouldn't look up to the irresponsible Denmark as a role model.)
Fenno-Swede
Cheerful Child: Despite his insane family. Apparently it's because his mother spoils him.
The Voiceless: He doesn't have even one line of dialogue in the four five strips where he's appeared.
No, scratch that. The only things he's ever said are "Yes!" and "No sir!"
He speaks Swedish (shown by the flag in his bubble) which pisses Finland off to no end. This is a reflection of real life Fenno-Swedes.
Posthumous Character: Was apparently executed during the Renaissance for having an incestuous relationship with Norway, which is only revealed several strips after his first appearance. Sweden points out that "he looks dead". That's right, Norway introduces his friends to the dead body of his onetime lover/cousin. Which he keeps around to have conversations with. (In real life, Jan Mayen is an inhospitable volcanic island with no real population other than some researchers.)
"Well, if you must ask; I'm an intellectual who speaks more than 20 languages, my food is excellent, my art is deep, I'm a great lover who is sexy without being vulgar, I rule my kingdom with peace, and I ride a mean scooter."
Serious Business: Food, apparently. He ordered Åland to move back in with Finland over the former's strenuous protests so that the latter would have a decent cook around the house.
Did Not Do the Research: S/he wears the flag of the Republic of Ireland (which is not part of the UK), but complains with Scotland about England wearing the flag of the United Kingdom.
Cut Humon some slack, Northern Ireland doesn't have its own flag.
Can be forgiven given that all of the characters are stereotypes and a surprising number of people don't know that there's different parts of Ireland, let alone that not all are part of the UK.
Also, the St. Patrick's Cross in the Union Jack does represent Ireland.
Dark-Skinned Blond: He starts turning into one when he realizes white people are becoming a minority in his country.
Eagleland: While America certainly has most of the Flavor 2 traits, he does genuinely want to help others and is seen as the peace keeper when things get too out of hand (if only because he's dumb muscle). Essentially he's a Type 2 who aspires to be Type 1.
Everything Is Big In Texas: Word of God says "He is a tall guy because everything in America has to be BIG."
Happily Adopted: Adopted by England, his mother was France. He seemed to be the only one of England's kids who didn't have a lot of trouble growing up.
Everything's Better with Princesses: She's not allowed to attand the royal ball because Australia doesn't have its own royal family, so Denmark lets her be a Danish princess for one night. Aaaawwwww...
This plays on the stereotype that Nordics know nothing about South America and North Americans know nothing about Denmark or assume Sweden and Norway are the same.
Awesome McCoolname: Averted. He represents Eyjafjallajökull, but he is refered to as Volcano because Eyjafjallajökull is difficult to spell and pronounce.
