History JustForFun / TVTropesTheWebcomic

* DropTheHammer: Retrope finds a huge hammer with [[ShockAndAwe lightning powers]] and begins using it in battle in the ''Nine Realms'' arc. [[Myth/NorseMythology Whoever first owned the hammer is still a mystery...]]
** Even after the events of ''Nine Realms'', she kept the hammer.

** Downplayed in the Neon Age; the female Phaedra is the sole ranged fighter in her group, but the other girl, Sachi, wields [[DropTheHammer a giant hammer]].

''Website/TVTropes: The Webcomic'' is a very simple [[NotableSliceOfLifeWebcomics slice of life webcomic]]. Well, okay, perhaps with a little [[NotableEmbellishedWebcomics embellisment]] and some [[NotableSciFiWebcomics sci-fi]], maybe a little [[NotableFantasyWebcomics fantasy]], lots of [[NotableGagPerDayWebcomics gags]], and some [[CutAndPasteComic cut and pastes]]. And lots of {{Metafiction}}.

* ArcSymbol: ''The New Normal'', the first arc of the Neon Age, has mirrors: the new protagonists are referred to as the Mirror Brigade, their mentor is named Spiegel (which is German for ''mirror'') and mirror imagery crops up a lot whenever the [[PlotCoupon Lunar Crests]] are shown. The reason for all the mirror symbolism has yet to be explained.

** In the Neon Age: [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Umbral Court]] and [[HiddenAgendaVillain Tarot]][[spoiler:/[[TragicVillain Viel]]]]. The upcoming ''Dead Sea'' arc is posed to put [[FantasticRacism Maressa]] as the main villain.

* AwesomeUnderwaterWorld: The setting of the Neon Age's upcoming second arc, ''Dead Sea''; the Mirror Brigade discovers an UnderwaterCity populated with [[OurMermaidsAreDifferent merfolk]].

** The passage of time [[SubvertedTrope is more evident]] in the Neon Age; ''The New Normal'' began mid-November and is now in early January.

* {{Bishounen}}: The ArtShift that the Dark Age author brought with her led to every male character getting this treatment.

* TheStinger: At the end of the ''The Tröper Crüe Saves Santa'' arc, just before the comic went on Chrismas hiatus, a single strip entitled "Worst Case Scenario" was published. It consisted of six panels, depicting a nuclear explosion, Report and Yug wearing high-rank W.I.K.I. uniforms, Gabe carrying Regnis' bloodied body Pieta-style, Ere ordering a squad of W.I.K.I. commandos to open fire on another W.I.K.I. squad, Retrope pointing a revolver to her head with tears in her eyes, and a dark silhouette of someone overlooking a burning city. The strip ended with a promise: "The Dark Age Is Coming". Needless to say, the forums exploded with attempts to explain what is going on, as the WordOfGod has been silent on the matter.

''TV Tropes The Webcomic'' is a very simple [[NotableSliceOfLifeWebcomics slice of life webcomic]]. Well, okay, perhaps with a little [[NotableEmbellishedWebcomics embellisment]] and some [[NotableSciFiWebcomics sci-fi]], maybe a little [[NotableFantasyWebcomics fantasy]], lots of [[NotableGagPerDayWebcomics gags]], and some [[CutAndPasteComic cut and pastes]]. And lots of {{Metafiction}}.

[[/folder]]

* MultiEthnicName: The Neon Age's Merrill Nguyen, who is Vietnamese-American.

* CloningBlues: [[spoiler:The Why Me arc, with Shili being Ere's clone.]]

Without spoiling much more of the original arc (it was also the longest one, and rightly so), Report eventually leaves W.I.K.I. and starts a private OccultDetective business with Ere, [[SubordinateExcuse who follows him into retirement]]. Since then, the comic has consisted of largely standalone story arcs (though frequent {{Call Back}}s prevented it from becoming an utter ContinuitySnarl), which explored [[PostModernism all kinds of themes and settings]] over its [[ArchiveTrawl long,]] [[ArchiveBinge long]] [[LongRunner run]]. So far the comic featured, among other things: a TimeTravel arc, multiple AlternateUniverse arcs, a [[BeachEpisode Beach Arc]], a [[SickEpisode Blindness Arc]], a [[NoirEpisode Noir Arc]], a few FamilyDrama arcs, a [[MusicalEpisode Musical Arc]], multiple [[RPGEpisode Gaming Arcs]], a [[WhatDoTheyFearEpisode What Do They Fear Arc]], and, of course, [[ParodyEpisode Parody Arcs]] (but no [[RecapEpisode Recap Arcs]], we promise!). There's even going to be a TournamentArc. After a couple of years, the original author [[OrphanedSeries abandoned the comic]] and it was picked up by a series of "guest authors". The arcs written by the original author became known as the "GoldenAge", with numerous different authors contributing afterwards, creating their own "Ages" as the story grew more.

* BoobsOfSteel:
** Pyra, the Second Captain of R.E.T.C.O.N, has the largest bust size of any R.E.T.C.O.N member, and is also the strongest female.
** Ere also has a larger bust than Retrope, and she's more combat oriented.
** Inverted with Regnis, who has A-cups and is very much a combatant.

* RatedMForManly: Doog Gib, Head Captain of W.I.K.I, a man so badass that his pecs can stop bullets. [[spoiler: He was even able to survive death]]
---->[[spoiler: Doog:]] "Death is not enough to put me down."

* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Hyperion, the perennial ButtMonkey of ''The New Normal'', manages to ''successfully'' steal both the Pink and Hunter's Crests from the Mirror Brigade, and then [[spoiler:captures Merrill to blackmail them with a FriendOrIdolDecision.]] Even [[BigBad Lunaris]] is impressed. [[spoiler:Everything gets detailed when [[HiddenAgendaVillain Tarot]] shows up, though...]]

** The Neon Age went on a hiatus after [[spoiler:Dione's death, Tarot's {{Reveal}} as [[CanonCharacterAllAlong Viel]], and Hyperion's HeelFaceTurn.]] In this case, it had a more reasonable explanation: the author was getting married, and wedding planning ate up a lot of her time.

** It's [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] for [[spoiler:[[AbusiveParents Dione]]'s death. Given how she was, it's hard to feel sympathy for her, but the scene is still played for tragedy since Hyperion [[ForcedToWatch has to watch his mother die]].]]

* RippleEffectProofMemory: At the end of the original run, Retrope is the only one to remember the universe prior to the CosmicRetcon, and is thus the only one to remember [[RetGone Ere and Report]]. The Neon Age gives us [[MentorArchetype Spiegel]], who might have this too ([[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane or is simply a]] {{Cloudcuckoolander}}).

* StellarName: The Umbral Court are all named after moons. In order of appearance: [[StarterVillain Hyperion]], [[CuteAndPsycho Amalthea]], [[SinisterScythe Deimos]], [[EmotionlessGirl Helene]], [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Titan]], [[NobleDemon Janus]], [[LadyOfBlackMagic Dione]], [[TheJuggernaut Oberon]], [[WingedHumanoid Elara]], [[DragonWithAnAgenda Atlas]], and [[BigBad Lunaris]].

* TheBigDamnKiss: Yadayerf's unmasking as [[spoiler:Freyaday]] caused Ty to fall out of the plane they were in without a parachute. [[spoiler:Freyaday]] immediately jumped out of the plane, using his lightning powers to rocket down to the much more aerodynamic Ty. Catching up to her, then pulling out of the dive with her in his arms, earned the catboy a [[EarnYourHappyEnding Big]] [[TheBigDamnHeroes Damn]] [[RobotGirl Robotic]] [[TheBigDamnKiss Kiss]].

* InferioritySuperiorityComplex: It's implied that [[HarmlessVillain Hyperion]] suffers from severe self-hatred due to [[ButtMonkey the abuse he undergoes at the hands of the Court]], and his [[SmallNameBigEgo egotistical ways]] are a mask he uses to cope.

* LoveRedeems: Played with in the ''Family Matters'' arc. While both Report Taht and Ere D. Nay are definitely evil and sadistic (their normal communication best resembles TheMasochismTango), both show their more caring sides when the other is in danger. To elaborate, [[spoiler:Nay [[TakingTheBullet takes the magic bullet]] for Taht, after which he opens up to idea of teamwork with Siht, even if only to exact revenge upon the Guardian]].

** First off, when Akuma's facing off against Carissa:
-->'''Carissa:''' If I had known you'd end up so defiant, [[spoiler:I would've killed you the moment I saw you, Uso!]]
** Then, when Lyon is speaking to Lyrica:
-->'''Lyon:''' [[spoiler:Uso Tsuki is alive. His name is Akuma now, and he's not quite as timid...but your brother is alive.]]
** [[RuleOfThree And before Carissa starts the ritual:]]
-->'''Carissa:''' [[spoiler:Nothing lives, Uso. You were born to carry it and bring the end times, and by Nothing you are going to do it!]]
** The biggest one of all in the last strip:
-->'''Ere:''' People are dropping dead, the world's unraveling around us, [[spoiler:one of my assistants has been possessed by an almighty god and is going to end the omniverse...]] [[TemptingFate This cannot get worse]].
-->'''Retrope:''' Actually...it can.
-->'''Ere:''' How?
-->'''Retrope:''' [[spoiler:The comic is ending.]]

** In ''Grew Into a Flame'', Akuma finally takes off his glove to reveal [[spoiler:the [[BirthmarkOfDestiny Mark of Ilya]].]]

* StellarName: The Umbral Court all have code names after moons.

** Discussed and [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructed]] in ''The New Normal''. Sachi argues that no matter how much of a {{Jerkass}} someone is, that doesn't mean they deserve to have bad things happen to them. Considering that [[spoiler:[[ArrogantKungFuGuy Titan]]'s death at the hands of [[BigBad Tarot]] is [[AlasPoorVillain played sympathetically for the former]],]] the narrative seems to agree.

* MagicAIsMagicA: The Neon Age goes into more detail on WikiMagic: as [[MentorArchetype Spiegel]] explains, it's basically recognizing the narrative devices in your life and twisting them to suit your own purposes.

* ImAHumanitarian: Taffy Sab

The original run of the webcomic ended on February 28th, 2019, with a total of 1001 chapters, and over 9000 pages worth of material. On January 4th, 2023, it was announced a new run was planned, set in the ContinuityReboot from the end of ''Ended with a Bang'' and focusing on [[AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent a new cast of characters]]. The new run, dubbed the Neon Age, began on February 28th, 2023 (the date was intentional) and follows [[FourTemperamentEnsemble four friends]]--[[GenkiGirl Sachi]], [[HairTriggerTemper Chase]], [[SugarAndIcePersonality Melvyn]], and [[TheReliableOne Phaedra]]--as they uncover evidence of a strange conspiracy in their hometown surrounding the [[PlotCoupon Lunar Crests]], learn WikiMagic (and get some cool weapons) from the...''[[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} odd]]'' [[FourthWallObserver Spiegel]], and come into conflict with [[BigBad Tarot]], a mysterious magician who desires the crests for his own purposes.

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: The Neon Age sees [[FourTemperamentEnsemble the Mirror Brigade]] (Sachi, Chase, Melvyn, and Phaedra) take the place of the W.I.K.I. agent’s and their associates as protagonists. WordOfGod has stated that, given the SerialEscalation the original comic underwent and the cast having largely completed their character arcs (plus Report and Ere being unavailable to how the comic ended), she felt there was nowhere else for the original cast to go and chose to let them [[EarnYourHappyEnding enjoy their happy ending]], making way for the new guard. He has stated, however, that he'd like to revisit them in a WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue, and that it's possible some of the more minor characters will return.

* ArcSymbol: ''The New Normal'', the first arc of the Neon Age, has mirrors: the new protagonists are referred to as the Mirror Brigade, their mentor is named Spiegel (which is German for ''mirror'') and mirror imagery crops up a lot whenever the [[PlotCoupon Lunar Crests]] are shown. The relevance of the mirrors have yet to be explained.

** Melvyn is Melancholic, being [[TheQuietOne quiet]], [[AwesomenessByAnalysis analytical]], and organized, but also a MoodSwinger with a major case of SugarAndIcePersonality.

* GenderEqualEnsemble: The Mirror Brigade of the Neon Age comprises two girls (Sachi and Phaedra) and two boys (Chase and Melvyn).

* GottaCatchThemAll: The Lunar Crests in ''The New Normal'', of which there are twelve: The Wolf Crest, the Snow Crest, the Worm Crest, the Pink Crest, the Flower Crest, the Strawberry Crest, the Buck Crest, the Sturgeon Crest, the Corn Crest, the Hunter's Crest, the Beaver Crest, and the Cold Crest. They seem random [[FridgeBrilliance until you realize]] they're named after the full moons of the lunar calendar.

* InterchangeableAsianCultures: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]--Sachi is Japanese, Melvyn is Vietnamese, and neither appreciate being confused for another.

** The Mirror Brigade, the protagonists of the Neon Age, are a FourTemperamentEnsemble: Sachi (as in '''sa'''nguine), Chase ('''ch'''oleric), Melvyn ('''me'''lancholic), and Phaedra ('''ph'''legmatic).

* MultiEthnicName: The Neon Age's Melvyn Nguyen, who is Vietnamese-American.

** When Ecivres came out in a [[{{BarelyThereSwimwear}}bikini]] during the Trope Team's stay on the beach, everyone in the generally vicinity (Report, Ere, Yug, Betrand, Retrope, Gabe and Axel) all got massive nosebleeds.

** Both Trope-tan and Wikipe-tan are proficient with "[[Administrivia/TVTropesGlossary Wiki Magic]]", which is basically shaping the universe in accordance to basic narrative rules ("tropes"). The word "wiki" is actually a mistranslation from Adamic "wei ki", "story flow" or "story power". [[spoiler:Report Siht and Report Taht also learn it from Report Nwonknu]], because they need it for fulfill their duties as Entropy Shields.

* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Neeuq delivers percussive maintenance to Eibwen after [[spoiler:the loss of the New Trope City]] in "Worst Case Scenario".

** A revived Doob says this to Yug and Dayg right before they go to hold off Noah long enough for the S.C.I.KILLER to charge up and drain his RealityWarper powers.
--> '''Doob:''' Yug, it's been the greatest honor of my life to see the man you've become. And Dag, I've always loved you and I always will. Even if we die, it'll have been a pleasure to fight alongside you again. [[BadassBoast Now let's go kill this asshole.]]

* RippleEffectProofMemory: At the end of the original run, Retrope is the only one to remember the universe prior to the CosmicRetcon, and is thus the only one to remember [[RetGone Ere and Report]]. The Neon Age gives us [[MentorArchetype Spiegel]], who might have this two ([[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane or is simply a]] {{Cloudcuckoolander}}).

* RobotGirl Ty
** Ella as well

Without spoiling much more of the original arc (it was also the longest one, and rightly so), Report eventually leaves W.I.K.I. and starts a private OccultDetective business with Ere, [[SubordinateExcuse who follows him into retirement]]. Since then, the comic has consisted of largely standalone story arcs (though frequent {{Call Back}}s prevented it from becoming an utter ContinuitySnarl), which explored [[PostModernism all kinds of themes and settings]] over its [[ArchiveTrawl long,]] [[ArchiveBinge long]] [[LongRunner run]]. So far the comic featured, among other things: a TimeTravel arc, multiple AlternateUniverse arcs, a [[BeachEpisode Beach Arc]], a [[SickEpisode Blindness Arc]], a [[NoirEpisode Noir Arc]], a few FamilyDrama arcs, a [[MusicalEpisode Musical Arc]], multiple [[RPGEpisode Gaming Arcs]], a [[WhatDoTheyFearEpisode What Do They Fear Arc]], and, of course, [[ParodyEpisode Parody Arcs]] (but no [[RecapEpisode Recap Arcs]], we promise!). There's even going to be a TournamentArc. After a couple of years, the original author [[OrphanedSeries abandoned the comic]] and it was picked up by a series of "guest authors". The arcs written by the original author became known as the "GoldenAge", with numerous different authors contributing afterwards, creating their own "Ages" as the story grew more.[[note]]In order, there was the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the Bronze Age, the Steel Age, the Dark Age, and the Jade Age. The Dark Age had a brief period where another author took over, [[FanonDiscontinuity but we don't talk about that]].]]