Not a Villain is a webcomic by Aneeka Richins. It tells the story of Kleya Smith, who is attempting to reform her hacker ways.Richins has also written a novel, The Wanted Child, whose heroine strongly resembles Kleya.The webcomic has nothing to do with the Most Definitely Not a Villain trope.
This webcomic provides examples of:
Adult Fear: Imagine being Danni's parents. Reality has deemed their daughter "useless", and they've been working themselves to death to try and put off that decision. And it all ends up being useless, because their city officials decide that she's not going to be successful in L.i.F.e. or The Game.
After the End: Some unspecified catastrophe called "The Ending" has destroyed civilization except for a few surviving Cities.
Allegedly Free Game: in-universe: LiFe is free for Outsiders, but many basic features, such as clothes, cost money.
Alt Text: This is usually Aneeka's thoughts or opinions on the page.
Anti-Hero: Kleya, though she's trying to just be a hero, period.
Art Shift: Reality looks much darker and grainier, and has more shading.
The Conspiracy: Sandra and Kleya suspect TenKA of sinister intentions.
Cracker: Hackers have caused much mayhem and destruction in the past, so they're the object of paranoia and Witch Hunts.
Crapsack World: Although we haven't seen the outside world, there are enough hints to make it clear that something is very wrong out there. Inhabitants call it 'The Ending' and are still dealing with it after two years. But then again, LiFe isn't exactly sunshine and roses, either.
A sidestory summary showed a range from many survivors in a "stable" area to "miracle" areas of sole survivors of severe trauma who are nearly suicidal from constantly fending off death.
It's implied that something caused a disruption of the geomagnetic field. Cause, effect, and duration (is it still a problem?) are still unknown. Movement in the earth's poles are probably connected.
Digital Avatar: There are two levels of Avatar: LiFe and the Game.
Dynamic Character: Kleya is trying to be one. She's a Sore Loser who would rather cheat than lose, but she's trying to change this so she won't get caught — and possibly out of guilt over her past actions.
Face Death with Dignity: Danni, after receiving notice that she will "be replaced" at the end of Reality's day, decides to spend her last hours dancing.
Faceless Masses: or the blobs, the artist has quite a bit of fun with their ambition to get faces in her vote incentives.
Mae: It tastes like they stuck salted dirt in rotting yogurt!
Game-Breaking Bug: Kleya/Kat exploits an underflow bug in the Game trials.
I Miss Mom: Kleya's mother is dead, and it's Kleya's fault.
In and Out of Character: In character, Bloody Mary is an Ax Crazy murderer who recites nursery rhymes before attacking with dolls. But it's probably just an act.
Sandra: She messaged me earlier. Said she'd be late. Something about her kids. The Dude: Kids? Bloody Mary has kids?
The Metaverse: LiFe is a Second Life-like environment where survivors of the apocalypse can socialize.
Online Alias: Most characters use aliases in the Game, and some in LiFe as well. Even "Kleya" is an alias.
Point Build System: The Game uses one. Its basic stats are Strength, Agility, Speed, Stamina, Intellect, and Luck.
The Cracker is hyped in-story as well, with some claiming the person Kleya's suspected of being (still pending confirmation) hacked the geomagnetic field. Reminders that such a thing is impossible are not sticking.
At the same time, however, being a hacker in LiFe is essentially the same as being a Reality Warper.
Show Within a Show: More like a virtual reality within a virtual reality, The Game is inside LiFe, which is not the real world.
Sore Loser: Kleya hates losing, and tends to instinctively hack when she's in danger. It's to the point that her enemies assume she can't possibly be the person they're hunting, since that girl would never forfeit a match.
Special Attack: "Specials" are an important part of the Game. Kleya invents her own.
Stylistic Suck: If you don't have the money to buy an avatar, you have to draw it yourself, and Kleya is a horrible artist. She gets to use one in the Game due to a loophole, and the proportions are so bad she can barely hold her head up.
Tournament Arc: the Game trials in chapters 2 and 3 are a double-elimination tournament.
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