History ComicStrip / HeartOfTheCity

* TheGhost: Dean's father is referred to several times, but is never seen.

** [[https://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2020/12/25 Heart's dad finally appeared in a December 2020 storyline]], under the new artist Steenz
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In a 1999 sequence, Dean is absolutely shocked to learn that Heart didn't like ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', and then tries to argue why it's good. While this lines up with fan opinion at the time, it reads oddly in retrospect, since Dean has spent the 00's complaining about the prequel movies [[note]]And about Han not shooting first. Did we mention that he hates the idea of Han not shooting first?[[/note]] as much as any other disappointed Franchise/StarWars fanboy since then.

* AllJustADream: Several arcs end this way. For instance, the arc where Heart travels to the world of Dr. Seuss is naturally a dream.

* BlandNameProduct: Heart is often seen playing with [[{{Franchise/Barbie}} Karlie and Ben]] dolls.

''Heart of the City'' is a comic strip that has been running in newspapers since 1998. Created by Mark Tatulli, who also writes and draws the macabre ''ComicStrip/{{Lio}}'', it focuses on Heart Lamarr, a [[GenkiGirl high energy]] elementary schoolgirl in UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}}; her [[ProudToBeAGeek proudly geeky]] best friend Dean, and her frequently overwhelmed single mother.

%% * ItsAllAboutMe: Heart.
%% * LittleMissSnarker: Heart.

* SoapOperaRapidAgingSyndrome: A mild case: [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2020/03/08/ The March 8, 2020 comic]] shows a visibly taller and older Heart, with no explanation or acknowledgement. A similarly aged-up Dean appears a week later. Though due to the lack of acknowledgment, it's unclear if this was an age-up or just a redesign.
* TimeSkip: When Steenz took over the comic, Heart, Dean and Kat started junior high.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: As of August 2022, Mrs. Angelini has yet to appear in the post-Tatulli era.

* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: As of May 2021, Mrs. Angelini has yet to appear in the post-Tatulli era.

* CatchPhrase: Heart's "Holy Shamoly!"

* DeadpanSnarker: Heart to Dean; Heart's mom to Heart.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In a 1999 sequence, Dean is absolutely shocked to learn that Heart didn't like ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', and then tries to argue why it's good. While this lines up with fan opinion at the time, it reads oddly in retrospect, since Dean has spent the 00's complaining about the prequel movies [[note]]And about Han not shooting first. Did we mention that he hates the idea of Han not shooting first?[[/note]] as much as any other disappointed StarWars fanboy since then.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch: {{Subverted}} for the most part: While the longer arcs do tend to drift a little, they almost always come back around by the end. A straight example: A 2006 story arc that starts [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2006/04/10 here]] begins with Dean creating his own ''StarWars'' movie, then eventually changes to Heart dreaming she has to go to summer school.

%* VolumetricMouth: Often.

%* ItsAllAboutMe: Heart.
%* LittleMissSnarker: Heart.

%* MoodWhiplash: The Kristallnacht arc.
%* NotAMorningPerson: Heart.

-->'''Heart's Mom:''' [[LetMeGetThisStraight Let me get this straight.]] You're ''mad'' at me because I married the scary lollipop guy from ''Film/ChittyChittyBangBang'' in your ''dream?!''
-->'''Heart:''' Not only that! You should have seen the ugly dress you made me wear!

-->'''Heart's Mom:''' [[LetMeGetThisStraight Let me get this straight]]. You're ''mad'' at me because I married the scary lollipop guy from ''Film/ChittyChittyBangBang'' in your ''dream?!''
-->'''Heart:''' Not only that! You should have seen the ugly dress you made me wear!\\

-->'''Heart:''' Not only that! You should have seen the ugly dress you made me wear!

* BlackAndNerdy: Charlotte. She could be a case of WriteWhoYouKnow to Steenz, who introduced her.

* TheCity: Center City Philadelphia, to be exact.

* FurAndLoathing: [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2003/03/30 One]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2006/01/15 of the]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2001/01/28 comic's]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2004/02/15 recurring]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/1999/11/07 themes]].

* ItsAllAboutMe: Heart.
* LittleMissSnarker: Heart.
* MoodWhiplash: The Kristallnacht arc.
* NotAMorningPerson: Heart.

* VolumetricMouth: Often.

* DisappearedDad: Heart's father left right after she was born to pursue a career in acting.

%%* TheCity: Center City Philadelphia, to be exact.

%%* DeadpanSnarker: Heart to Dean; Heart's mom to Heart.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In a 1999 sequence, Dean is absolutely shocked to learn that Heart didn't like ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', and then tries to argue why it's good. While this lines up with fan opinion at the time, this reads oddly in retrospect, since Dean has spent the 00's complaining about the prequel movies [[note]]And about Han not shooting first. Did we mention that he hates the idea of Han not shooting first?[[/note]] as much as any other disappointed StarWars fanboy since then.

%%* FurAndLoathing: [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2003/03/30 One]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2006/01/15 of the]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2001/01/28 comic's]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2004/02/15 recurring]] [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/1999/11/07 themes]].

%%* ItsAllAboutMe: Heart.
%%* LittleMissSnarker: Heart.
%%* MoodWhiplash: The Kristallnacht arc.
%%* NotAMorningPerson: Heart.

%% ** To [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2008/09/08/ Salad Fingers]], of all things.

%%* TheUnsmile: [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2010/12/19/ Heart's "innocent smile".]]
%%* VolumetricMouth: Often.

* ParentalAbandonment: Heart's father is absent from her life, pursuing a career as an actor. This accounts for her showbiz fixation.

* HalfwayPlotSwitch: {{Subverted}} for the most part: While the longer arcs do tend to drift a little, they almost always come back around by the end.
** A straight example: A 2006 story arc that starts [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2006/04/10 here]] begins with Dean creating his own ''StarWars'' movie, then eventually changes to Heart dreaming she has to go to summer school.

* ShoutOut: %%To [[http://www.gocomics.com/heartofthecity/2008/09/08/ Salad Fingers]], of all things.
** One series of strips parodied Literature/{{Cinderella}}, with Heart being helped by her "fairy bird-mother" to attend a Jonas Brothers concert.