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- Papa Wolf: Dan.Dan McNinja: OH YOU SONS OF SEA COWS WILL WISH YOU HAD NEVER BEEN BORN WITH LIMBS ON YOUR BODIES! BECAUSE I'M GOING TO COME ONTO THAT SHIP AND SHOW YOU HOW MANY DELICIOUS STOCKS AND BRAISES I CAN MAKE WITH THEM!
- Paper-Thin Disguise:
- Gordito has been
donning a couple lately. - Also here. Keep in mind that our protagonist is already a doctor and is already dressed in full medical garb, so his disguise consists of a nametag. It is apparantly not the first time he's done this. To that particular doctor either.
- Lampshaded here. The nasaghasts believe Doc was trying to fool them by putting on another astronaut's suit. This just annoys them further.
- Gordito has been
- Parental Abandonment: Gordito's parents are dead.
- Pirates vs. Ninjas: The McNinja clan and a specific group of pirates have their own personal feud. But pirates and ninjas in general are rivals because ninjas think it's funny.
- Police Are Useless:
"It's the mayor's job to deal with weird stuff. Look it up." - Poor Communication Kills: Responsible for every major problem in both "Space Savers" and "Futures Trading."
- Post-Victory Collapse: After jumping from the moon, once the adrenaline is out of his system, Doc just collapses. "Ohgodmylegs"
- Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: "We are on Eastern Pain Time, and it is Dan O'clock."Alt Text: From Dan O' Clock to Dan Thirty, all mixed drinks are half-priced.
- Pre-emptive Declaration: At the beginning of D.A.R.E To Resist Ninja Drugs And Ninja Violence:Dan: Ha. Alright kids, not bad. Not bad. How about a drink in honor of all your beginners luck? Here. I'll pour you a Molson. It's got a higher alcohol content than most American beers. And maybe that will help sterilize all those cuts on your face.
Punk: Uh, what cuts, my man?
*SMASH*
Dan: I have no idea. - Pre-Mortem One-Liner:
- Gordito has a little trouble executing his properly. He's getting better, though.Gordito: [talking to a midget doctor] Hey... cut the small-talk.
- "I spy with my little eye... a ninja who's about to die." Subverted on the next page, of course.
- "I AIN'T AFRAID OF NO GHOSTS!" *ghostpunch*
- Gordito has a little trouble executing his properly. He's getting better, though.
- President Evil:
- The President of the future. He's a dinosaur too.
- Later, King Radical.
- Pressure Point: "Your turn to go to sleep."
- Pretty Fly for a White Guy: Dark Smoke Puncher, though he does it so his parents won't find out how nerdy he really is (though Doc does remark that it sounds like he stole the name from someone he beat in Counter-Strike).
- Product Placement: In this strip as an April Fool's Day gag. The page was edited back to normal on April 2. For those who missed it, Dr. McNinja was wearing a red t-shirt of himself instead of his labcoat.
- Professional Killer: Being a ninja at least theoretically implies being an assassin for hire. The Doctor isn't having any of that, and his parents see it as a serious defect.
- Properly Paranoid: Doc was right to be suspicious of King Radical.
- Pseudo-Crisis: Played for laughs. When the Doc is trying to infiltrate NASA, a cop gets the drop on him. The next comic reminds you that "HE IS A NINJA." and cuts to him driving the cop's car.
- Psychological Torment Zone: The White House uses one called the Negazone as a security system. Since most of its victims are super villains or the mentally disturbed, they succumb and lose their sense of self rather quickly. This also has the consequence that the visions used by the keeper of the Negazone are less than effective against a heroic character, at least beyond freaking him out briefly.
- Punch! Punch! Punch! Uh Oh...: Not so much "punch" as "sword swing", as when Doc desperately swings at the final Nasaghast's head but is horrorstruck when his sword simply passes through it without doing any damage.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: Done quite frequently, usually by separating the words in different speech bubbles.Mitzi: That. Was. Pathetic.Dr. McNinja: Please. Don't. Stabmeintheeyeballs.
- Punny Name: Gordito Delgado. Translated from spanish it roughly means "Slim Fatty".
- Purgatory and Limbo: While Ben Franklin is dead (again) he spends his time in Purgatory, which resembles a ritzy restaurant, waiting for meals representing his sins. After two hundred years he's still on the bread.
- Pyrrhic Victory: "Doc Gets Rad". Doc defeats Sparklelord... but learns that said bike was the only way he could find to defeat King Radical.
Q
- Quip to Black: The Doctor pulls this off when he gets the opportunity to try out his new bike.Dr. McNinja: Judy!
Judy: Ugh. [tosses sword and motorcycle helmet to Doc]
Dr. McNinja: [catches and puts on the sword and helmet] Let's practice.
Alt Text: Then Horatio jumps out of the bushes andputs on his sunglasses. - Quirky Doctor: The entire premise of the title character is this: he's a doctor, who's also a ninja.
R
- Ramp-rovisation: These three examples.Doc: Man is only separated from heaven by that which he will not ramp.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: After a time-traveller from a dystopian future sits down with Cyberdyson to explain how their robotic vacuum cleaners eventually become sentient and take over the world, Cyberdyson makes sure the culprit chip is never put into production. Later on, the President is shown to be a decent, reasonable person who just wants to save her country during the events of "All the King's Dirtbikes and All the King's Men." She does get a little overexcited at the prospect of piloting a giant raptor-eagle robot, but who wouldn't?
- Rebus Bubble: Gorilla + Bazooka > Ninja
- Reckless Sidekick: Gordito at times, can be incredibly gung-ho. Especially as a gun-toting and raptor-riding sidekick.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Frans Rayner's prosthetic robot eye.
- Redshirt Army: The future rebels are not terribly bright. Lampshaded in the Alt Text, where they're referred to as "La revolution incompetente."
- Retcon: On January 30 2012, the return of the McNinja burger in-comic, Hastings went and changed all "McDonald's" references to "McBonalds" so that he wouldn't have any legal issues printing the book later, including a modified logo and renaming Ronald McDonald to Donald McBonald. The protest signs on this page only had strokes added over the D's to change them to B's, rather than the letters being redrawn.
- The Reveal:
- About what King Radical is actually planning: The world of Dr McNinja was created when bleed off from our universe and the Radical Land mixed together. King Radical's master plan is to merge the two universes completely, replacing all the Muggles (including his Army of the Common Man) with Radical citizens, but leaving everyone already Radical (like most of the main characters) untouched.
- Of King Radical's identity: King Radical is the version of Charles "Chuck" Goodrich from the Radical Lands!
- Rise from Your Grave: The zombies, and Both Ben Franklins.
- The Rival: Doctor McLuchadore is this to Dr. McNinja. Apparently the former's tendency to treat his patients via insane wrestling moves got on the latter's nerves and the ninja-doctor ran the wrestler-doctor out.
- Robotic Reveal: Played straight with Robot Dracula, inverted with Hortense
- Rocketless Reentry: In the finale of "Punch Dracula", Doc grabs Dracula and jumps off the moon hard enough to take them both on a collision course with Earth. But "Dracula" turns out to be just be a robotic duplicate. So Doc uses the robo-Dracula as a heat shield and safely surfs it down to Earth's surface.
- Rule of Cool and
- Rule of Funny: Together with Refuge in Audacity, these rules cover everything that happens. Everything. There's considerable overlap, such as blocking a sword swing from Dracula with a stethoscope. In the words of the creator, "Dr. McNinja lives in a world that operates like a Mortal Kombat stage."
- King Radical defies this with his office, it's completely normal and bland with a plain desk loaded with paperwork and a water cooler (albeit one filled with Mountain Dew) against the wall; it's because he hates paperwork, so he made his office as lame as possible so that he doesn't want to spend time there.
- This actually gets an in-universe explanation. The McNinja universe is crammed in-between the Radical Lands and our universe in the multiverse, and there's some bleed-over from both due to the vortex below Cumberland.
- King Radical defies this with his office
- Running Gag:
- Charles "Chuck" Goodrich: *Insert title here*
- The Most Radical Man in the Radical Land.
- It's Dr. McNinja's birthday? He's going to die. Spectacularly.
- In the early days of the comic, an ad had the scene in which Doc punches a snake in the face as a selling point. Having dramatic scenes where he punches increasingly awesome beings in their faces has become something of a requirement for each story since then.
- The seemingly unkillable "Birdosaurus" stalking Doc.
- At least, until "Paleontologists, Politicians, and Prologue".
- Why a gorilla?
Doc: "Because she is a PROFESSIONAL, and she BEHAVES like one!" - Charles "Chuck" Goodrich: *Insert title here*
- Run the Gauntlet: In The End: Part 2, all of the Dr.'s enemies seek Revenge and trap him in a magic maze with the intent of causing him emotional trauma then killing him. They fight him with new tricks meant to counter how the Dr. beat them before. The Alt Text outright Lampshades that yes, it's a Boss Rush.
- Rural Gangsters: Lampshades and Zigzags this; the comic's Myth Arc after it transitions into colour involves Doc fighting against the "Cumberland Mafia". When he first learns of its existence, a footnote appears saying that Cumberland has a population of about 21,000, too small for any serious organized crime outfit. However, as pointed out in a later chapter, Cumberland is a few hour's drive from Washington, D.C. and is part of a larger metropolitan area with a population of about 90,000.
S
- Scenery Censor: A gust of papers come out of nowhere to block Martin's genitals when he goes back to normal.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: While fighting Paul Bunyan, the cops see Yoshi. They draw the line at dinosaurs.
- Screw Yourself: Dan suspects it of the Doc and his clone. "It's what any of us would do!".
- Seadog Peg Leg: As the Doc gleefully slaughters a pirate ship, he proclaims, "Oooh, sorry. You're going to need a second peg leg. Woaah! And you're going to need a peg face! Haha! Peg faces for everyone!"
- The next chapter has a Call-Back when some of the same pirates reappear—and do have peg faces.
- Secret Stab Wound: Doc spends over an hour being pummelled by a gorilla before knocking it out with Pressure Point technique. He then nonchalantly says he "needed a nap", (having been unconscious for most of the fight), and retires to a private room to "clean up". He then leans over a nearby washbasin and pulls out the bottom of his mask, causing a small waterfall of blood to pour out.
- Send in the Clones: Frans Rayner's plan once he learns about Old McNinja.
- Serious Business: Tennis, and with damn good reason. Misunderstood reason, anyway.
- Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: The good Doctor. "Pirate, you have got some straight up testicular elephantitis, comin' in here, and sittin' next to a ninja."Alt Text: He's saying the pirate has major balls.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: The entire "Death Volley" arc appears to have been one. Or not?
- Shaped Like Itself: Used in this strip.Alt Text: There's a hilarious joke that I snuck into panel 1753.
- Ship Sinking: A pretty conclusive and concise two-for-one deal.
- Shirtless Scene: The Doc has one here.
- Shooting Superman: "Hello? Ninja?"
- Shoot the Shaggy Dog: Agent Bearclaw's rescue after falling out of an airplane.
- Shown Their Work: The Alt Text usually confirms what they've studied in regards to things such as blood transfusions or submarine classes.
- One hilarious example is a sequence involving decompression on an airplane, the dramatic "hole blown in the side" type. While the sequence is proceeding, the Alt Text goes on about how Hastings asked his dad (who had flown a similar plane) what would probably happen, but decided to go with Rule of Cool.
- Maybe not always "studied", but hey, same diff.
- In "Why A Gorilla?", which takes place during Doc's college days, he gives a presentation on vampire myths, indicating that it's true vampires don't resolve on film. Afterward, a student excitedly asks if a bunch of other myths are true, including whether or not vampires are compelled to count rice if you throw it on the ground. A couple pages later, Doc escapes a pair of vampires by doing exactly this, and threatens that if they attack him again, he's telling everyone that myth is real. The Alt Text suggests burying loved ones with a bag of sand if you suspect they might be vampires to keep them busy—an actual 'remedy' included in early vampire myths.
- One hilarious example is a sequence involving decompression on an airplane, the dramatic "hole blown in the side
- Signature Laugh: Dr. Knickerbockers, the evil midget doctor: "Eeeheeeheheheheheh!".
- Single-Stroke Battle: Subverted
- Sky Face: At the end of the "DARE to Resist Ninja Drugs and Violence" arc, Doc explains to the readers that Frans Rayner's plan (to become the US President by killing the President) would have failed even without Doc's intervention.Dr. McNinja: You see, we were safe from Frans all along... Thanks to the real hero of this story... Ben Franklin. Thanks, Ben... wherever you are.
[The face of Ben Franklin appears in the clouds. Doc's eyes grow wide with shock.]
Ben Franklin's sky face: I didn't come up with those parts of the Constitution. - Sky Pirates:
Kidnapped the Doc.Thought they kidnapped the Doc, but it was actually his clone. Later, Gordito singlehandedly kills them all because he gets stuck behind on the ship. - Slow Clap: Dan McNinja thinks the first recorded Slow Clap was delivered by the ninja who witnessed the ancient McNinjas staving off a Pirate attack. Then the Alt Text informs us that this is incorrect: the first Slow Clap was Peter's reaction upon seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.
- The Slow Path: Taken by Mayor Chuck Goodrich after his plan to sabotage the McNinja clones goes wrong.
- Smoke Out: Played straight more often than not. Subverted once, when Doc deployed a smoke bomb as a startled response to encountering someone in public he was trying to avoid.
- Soft Glass: Lots of defenestrations or people using glass windows as entrances, without the worry of being hurt for the latter.
- Some of My Best Friends Are X: Parodied in the alt text here: Some of my best myselves are creepy lab clones.
- So Much for Stealth: While the Good Doctor and his Family are ninjas, sometimes even they can mess up when it comes to stealth. Mostly from things they weren't counting on or expecting.
- Sound-Effect Bleep: In the middle of a July day, Doc looks up to see a solid wall of snow falling from the sky and manages to stammer out "What. The. *FUMP*".
- Space "X": Space lasso, because how else can you snatch a time portal?
- Spanner in the Works: Old McNinja, for Rayner.
- Both Chuck Goodrich and Alt!Chuck Goodrich's co-pilot in the latest arc.
- Spontaneous Mustache: Gordito proves that he is a man at heart (and therefore should be allowed to claim his inheritence) when he concentrates and grows a handlebar mustache through sheer force of will.
- Spoof Aesop: Remember, it's better for people to think you're a moron than to think you're a jerk.
- Never forget the teachings of those whom you shoot in the face after they become zombies. In case you don't have the context for that, Gordito shot Ben Franklin after he became a zombie.
- Also, many of Dr. McNinja's Final Thoughts feature this.
- Never forget the teachings of those whom you shoot in the face after they become zombies.
- Stable Time Loop: Sparklelord's fate. Also an Ontological Paradox, because of the question of what happens to his mass.
- As it turns out King Radical knows about Chuck Goodrich being a chrononaut thanks to one (and because he's also one).
- As it turns out
- Starfish Character: At death's door, Dr. McNinja's soul splits into a doctor and a ninja.
- Stating the Simple Solution: The Doctor himself wonders why the not-quite-dead Frans Rayner doesn't just sic Mongo on him.
- Stealth Expert: While he doesn't always utilize stealth, Dr. McNinja is proficient in it. Perhaps his most notable accomplishment was when dozens of clones attended years of schooling to attain advanced degrees, all without being seen.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Utilized to great effect by the good doctor here. Somewhat understandable considering his love for one of the most prolific users of this trope.
- Stealth Pun:
- Stepping Stones in the Sky: Dark Smoke Puncher does this with angel-winged flying sharks.
- Stock Video Game Puzzle: When exploring an ancient temple, Dr. McNinja has to open a door by lighting two torches. He does so while sarcastically saying, "Huh! How do I open this? HURR. DURR.". The Alt Text says, "I dare a Zelda game not to use this puzzle.".
- Strong as They Need to Be: The Nasaghasts seem to work under this. Two are dispatched in short order by the doctor using holy shurikens, and the third taken by surprise and almost killed. Then it flies into space, catches and throws back a launched missile, and returns in a surprising Big Damn Heroes moment to save Chuck. Unfortunately, it only acts when astronauts are being immediately threatened and stands by passively while the newly-released second Horrorsaurus tears through the human army (seeing as he's the only NASA astronaut present). But then the Horrorsaurus kills Chuck. And the Nasaghast grows to immense size and rips the Horrorsaurus apart.
- Stuff Blowing Up: Cars, planes, ships, Mayincatec temples, trains, helicopters, airships, etc. The comic runs on this trope alongside Rule of Cool.
- Stunned Silence: Derek, the worst person you'll ever meet, is so awful that Dr. McLuchadore was rendered speechless after hearing three sentences from the man.
- Summon Bigger Fish: Doc deliberately sends a poorly armed Chuck Goodrich into battle against the dinosaur army, because the subsequent attempts to kill him summon a Nasaghast.
- Sunglasses at Night: Standard practice for Radical Landers, who tend to favor Cool Shades. It gets Lampshaded by Doc.
- Super Cell Reception: The doctor getting phone reception while traveling through space. He didn't lose his connection until he started atmospheric re-entry. It's lampshaded in the Alt Text that the other end of the call was in a submarine.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Beeman, a Batman wannabe, faces several bank robbers with guns. They open fire on him, he gracefully flips through the air....and then flops across the floor, riddled with bullets instead of miraculously avoiding the gunfire like a "real" superhero would.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Of the Soylent Green variety.
