History ComicBook / StuckInTheMiddle

%% * CoolLoser: The majority of the protagonists are depicted this way, but we don't see enough of them to gauge what they're really like.

* AbusiveParents: "Fair Weather", "Never Go Home".

* AllGirlsLikePonies: "Horse Camp".
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: "Anxiety", "Shit", "Hit Me", "Tina Roti", "Snitch", "The Disco Prairie Rebellion of '81".
* AlphaBitch: Ashleigh Thomas from "Tina Roti".
* ArtShift: Art styles vary wildly between the 17 artists, as is expected.
* BlackBeadEyes: The characters in "Anxiety".

* BrosBeforeHoes: "A Relationship in Eight Pages".
* ClingyJealousGirl: "Watch your step, new girl! Alex is mine!"
* CoolLoser: The majority of the protagonists are depicted this way, but we don't see enough of them to gauge what they're really like.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome

* DrivenToSuicide: Discussed in Terry's internal monologue in "Anxiety".
* GirlishPigtails: Daisy Mae in "The Disco Prairie Rebellion of '81", complete with flower pinafore and dorkishly wide grin.
* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters
* LoserProtagonist: Everyone, really.

* [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Ordinary Middle School Student]]
* RiseOfZitboy: The plot of "Crater Face".

''Stuck in the Middle'' is an anthology of short black-and-white comics about middle school, drawn by 17 different artists and edited by Ariel Schrag. The comics do not follow one central plotline; rather, each features an episode in the life of a middle school student, and all of them seem to have the view that [[HighSchoolIsHell Middle School Is Hell]]. Loss of friends, bullying, and the obliviousness of adults are prominent themes, and few of the comics end on happy notes.

* [[HighSchoolIsHell Middle School Is Hell]]: About the only comics that don't end on a depressing note are "A Relationship in Eight Pages", "Simple Machines", and, ironically enough, "Crater Face".

* BizarroEpisode: "The Adventures of Batboy and Starling".

* AdultsAreUseless: "Anxiety". It takes a special kind of oblivious to listen to a kid talk about his problems at school for an hour and then deduce that he's stressed by the possibility of his parents getting a divorce.

* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Good ''lord.''

* ArtShift: The wildly varying art styles are a little jarring, but add to the book's overall appeal.
* BizarroEpisode: "Batboy and Starling".

* CoolLoser: The majority of the protagonists are depicted this way more or less, but we don't see enough of them to judge what they're really like.

* SkintoneSclerae: The protagonist of "Like a Weed, Joe". It's rather strange-looking because everyone else in the comic is drawn with realistic eyes instead.

* ArtShift: Each comic is drawn by a different artist, and it shows.

* BlackBeadEyes: The characters in "Anxiety" and the protagonist of "Like a Weed, Joe". The latter case is rather jarring because everyone else in the comic is drawn with realistic eyes instead.

* ArtShift: Each comic is drawn by a different artist.

** Averted in "Simple Machines". Instead of scolding him for doodling, Aaron's teacher encourages him to use his art/design skills in the school play.

* CoolLoser: The majority of the protagonists are depicted this way more or less, but we don't see enough of them to judge what they're really like.

* LoserProtagonist

''Stuck in the Middle'' is an anthology of short black-and-white comics about middle school, drawn by seventeen different artists and edited by Ariel Schrag. The comics do not follow one central plotline; rather, each features an episode in the life of a middle school student, and all of them seem to have the view that [[HighSchoolIsHell Middle School Is Hell]]. Loss of friends, bullying, and the obliviousness of adults are prominent themes, and few of the comics end on happy notes.

* DisproportionateRetribution: In "Fair Weather", Joe doesn't mow the lawn when his mother asks him to. Her reaction is to throw his entire comic collection in the garbage.

* ThereAreNoTherapists: Double subverted in "Anxiety". The protagonist does see a therapist, but she [[AdultsAreUseless doesn't help him.]]

* [[HighSchoolIsHell Middle School Is Hell]]: About the only comics that don't end on a depressing note are "A Relationship in Eight Pages", "Simple Machines", and "Crater Face".

* AdultsAreUseless: "Anxiety". It takes a special kind of oblivious to listen to a kid talk about his problems at school and then deduce that he's stressed by the possibility of his parents getting a divorce.
* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Good ''lord,'' yes.

* ArtShift: Inevitable, given that each comic is drawn by a different artist.

* ThereAreNoTherapists: Double subverted in "Anxiety". The protagonist does see a therapist. She [[AdultsAreUseless doesn't help him.]]

* AdultsAreUseless: "Anxiety".