History ElGoonishShive / TropesFToL

** [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2005-11-05 This filler]] (based on [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=720 this page]]'s first panel) is the most over the top example of it.
** FemaleGaze: Guineas' transformation provokes some... [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2004-06-21 reaction]] from both Ellen and a female trooper. [[FunnyBackgroundEvent The next page]] has the latter blushing and demonstratively looking away while the Uryuom trooper, obviously, comments on this.
** InnocentFanserviceGirl: Grace, who initially didn't understand that nudity embarrasses people, or that shapeshifting can be {{Squick}}y to those unaccustomed to it. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-05-19 She catches on eventually.]] One of the best (and funniest) examples takes place during her birthday party, [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-10-10 here.]] Guineas, meanwhile, is a bit of a spear counterpart; he's loath to assume his human form because he thinks women are disturbed by it, judging by the way they stare. It takes his siblings pointing out that "they thought you were hot!" to clue him in. (Cue squee.)
** MostCommonSuperpower: More literal than usual for Ellen, who can use one of her powers to [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-04-11 expand her already-impressive bust.]]
** MsFanservice: In just about every one of her appearances, Amanda ends up transforming, usually shrinking or turning into a HalfHumanHybrid. This appears to be Fanservice for a particular segment of EGS's fanbase and [[AuthorAppeal Dan himself.]]
** TheNudifier: Dr. Germahn once invented a potion that caused your sweat to dissolve clothes.
** PlayboyBunny: [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2002-07-03 This]] is the first bit of FanService Shive gave us (as well as what he claims is "the first and last violation of the 'No Cleavage' part of Sarah's contract").
** SensualSpandex: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-12-29 Uryuom clothes]] give a considerable protection and are made for shapeshifters. The net effect, however, is that three {{Action Girl}}s have to wear outfits guaranteed to remain skin-tight in all and any circumstances. Later Grace starts to wear this [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-04-01 just in case.]] And that's ''before'' adding [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-05-23 some fun poses]]. And [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-05-21 combine in costumes]] that underscore this.
** SexySantaDress: Ellen tried to wear one in a filler strip but her mom thought she would catch cold.
** SexySilhouette: Of transforming [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-10-05 Susan,]] DualWielding [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-05-17 Susan,]] and [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1840 Diane.]]

* {{Fetish}}: Invoked. Grace can literally be everything Tedd has ever dreamed of, and more.

* FinishingStomp: Ellen crushes Goo Cell #0012 beneath her feet to permanently defeat it. Squishtality!

* FunctionalMagic: Nioi is a powerful sorceress, as is Nanase. Nanase in particular uses it very often and quite openly at times.
** MagicAIsMagicA: A significant portion of the "Sister II" arc is devoted to explaining ''exactly'' how magic works in EGS.
** WizardDuel: Magus vs. Terra's duel appears to be either sparring or a non-lethal quarrel. Abraham vs. [[spoiler:Raven]], with spells and weapons both.

* GogglesDoSomethingUnusual: Tedd's glasses, which can do just about everything except correct vision. Its features include ''enhancing'' vision and x-ray vision.

* IHaveNoSon: Or sister. Mrs. Kitsune [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-01-28 has no sister,]] and it's clearly unsafe to argue about the accuracy of this statement.

* HiredOnTheSpot: More or less the plot of the [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2012-05-21 Nepotism arc]].

* GirlfriendInCanada: Grace brings up the fact that some people thought she made her significant other Tedd up to turn down people asking her out in ''Hope Part 4''.

* KickedUpstairs: Mr. Verres winds up in [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-01-19 a position created just for him]] when his boss decides that it's best that he not be directly involved with [[ItsPersonal the frequent cases involving his son. niece, and their friends]], and keep away a [[TheMenInBlack cover-up specialist]] from the limelight. The last part may yet backfire due to BrokenMasquerade, but as Dan put it, "[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-01-10 There might be a good reason why they kept Mr. Verres employed]]" either way.

* KeepingSecretsSucks: This is a common theme in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''.

** Susan still works in a video rental store, despite them being very rare these days. {Lampshade|Hanging}d [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/ourf-005 near the start of the Our Future arc (2023)]], when Tensaided mentions that he doesn't know how long he can stay in business now that streaming is commonplace. The commentary adds to this by mentioning that the only reason the shop is still open is because [[WebcomicTime only about a year has passed in-universe]].

** The characters sometime distract each other by asking "Is that a demonic duck of some sort?" Subverted, there really ''is'' a demonic duck of some sort except [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-02-23 during the strike.

* {{Irony}}: [[spoiler:Tedd successfully convinces the Will of Magic to not change the rules of magic, but this results in a whole lot of changes in how it is used in practical terms. Firstly, it is no longer feasible to grant everyone even the extremely minor boost to magic resistance. Next, old systems of magic become available once more, and this includes Uryuoms and hybrids descended from them regaining access to magic. Finally, the Will of Magic can no longer find it feasible to assist people in the actual magic casting, changing spells from auto to manual. It gets to the point that InUniverse, the characters refer to magic not changing in air quotes]].

** Almost made literal in Elliot's imaginary scenario of [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1782 Tom manipulating Susan into date him.]] Of course, Elliot thought Susan's most [[TalkToTheFist likely]] [[DropTheHammer answer]].

** "Is that a demonic duck of some sort?" Subverted -- there really ''is'' a demonic duck of some sort [[spoiler:except [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-02-23 during the strike]]. Or his [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-07-10 high school reunion]]. Or [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2006-07-14 vacations]]]].
** Also, used without the duck during Elliot vs. Noah [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-03-22 Epic Race.]]
* LoopholeAbuse: The immortal contract that restricts them to "empowering and guiding" has one of the biggest loopholes in the universe -- [[spoiler:it's enforced ''automatically'', and only if the violator breaks it ''on purpose''. If they can utilize InsaneTrollLogic to convince themselves that they're abiding by the contract, [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=2226 they can do whatever they want]].]] Unsurprisingly, Pandora exploits this, to [[spoiler:cause the energy clog on the grounds that it's "empowering" all of Moperville.]]

** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2013-03-14 ...Uh-oh.]] [[spoiler:Elliot realises he likes Susan after listing several qualities he likes about her]].
** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2013-06-05 Also.]] [[spoiler:Diane realises she wants a real relationship with Elliot]].
*** Later on, [[spoiler:she finds that the romance she has been wishing for is actually the kind of relationship she has with ''Lucy''.]]

* LaughingMad: Ellen, when she's first created and [[spoiler:thinks she's going to die.]]

* LetUsNeverSpeakOfThisAgain: Elliot tells this to Tedd [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-06-15 here]]. Not that it stopped them [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-10-05 from speaking of it again.]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-11-19 Grace's suggestion that Elliot turn into her to be sexy in front of a mirror]] seems doomed to a similar fate.

* ALightInTheDistance: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-10-08 "What is..."]] [[{{Incoming}} THWACK]]!
* LongRunnerTechMarchesOn: In ''Shade'' (2002), Elliot had a landline [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=22 phone extension in his room]] (with then-old-tech corded handset); later on all telecommunication among the teenage cast is via cellphone and even adults are shown using landlines only at their workplaces.

** Almost made literally in Elliot's imaginary scenario of [[spoiler:[[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1782 Tom manipulating Susan into date him.]]]] Of course, Elliot thought Susan's most [[TalkToTheFist likely]] [[DropTheHammer answer]].

* KickedUpstairs: Mr. Verres winds up in [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-01-19 a position created just for him]] when his boss decides that it's best that he not be directly involved with [[ItsPersonal the frequent cases involving his son and niece]], and keep away a [[TheMenInBlack cover-up specialist]] from the limelight. The last part may yet backfire due to BrokenMasquerade, but as Dan put it, "[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-01-10 There might be a good reason why they kept Mr. Verres employed]]" either way.

* KnightInSourArmor: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-08-14 Elliot describes Susan as something like this.]]

* KudzuPlot: Alongside ScheduleSlip - two nasty tastes that really don't go together.

** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-11-26 Mr. Verres']] transformation into the newest MrExposition.

** Mr. Verres [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-11-26 gets his moment,]] even if only for one panel.

** Melissa to Justin.
** Also [[spoiler:Elliot to Nanase.]]
* LastBreathBullet: [[spoiler:How Pandora commits Abberation genocide]].

* ItsASmallWorldAfterAll: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-02-17 Hello there.]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-07-26 You're dating Tedd Verres]]?! And... [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-05-27 haven't I seen you cosplaying as Chun-Li?]]
* IWasJustJoking: In [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=56 El Goonish Shive: NewsPaper: Non-gratuitious Nudity - Part 3]]:
--> ''Sarah'': I really want to get better at draw-ing people, and a book of nude people in everyday poses would help with that,\\
...\\
''Susan'': Just get yourself some adult magazines: It'd be less expensive and just slightly less dignified.\\
''Sarah'': Of course! Susan, you're a genius!\\
''Susan'': I was joking.

* JawDrop: The last two panels of [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-08-08 this strip.]] And [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-07-26 this.]] And [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-09-21 this.]] Multiple instances plus Elliot closing Tedd's jaw [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1806 in this strip.]]
* [[JugglingLoadedGuns Juggling Charged Rayguns]] : Sarah is scared of ShapeShifting and holds a grudge against Tedd after his "just ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-12-02 joking around]]''" with a supposedly "not charged" TransformationRay gun.
* JumpingTheGenderBarrier
** Elliot and Nanase's relationship had no spark and eventually failed, and she couldn't explain why...until Ellen.

* KansasCityShuffle: Magus, when begging Sirlek to help him in his last (ultimately successful) plot to regain a corporeal body, dangles the prospect of having a powerful wizard in his debt. When Sirlek appears reluctant, he appears to emphasize the value of the debt by pointing out that he literally has no one else to turn to; it's Sirlek or nothing. With this, Sirlek accepts... but not because he wants Magus in his debt, but because he notices that Magus's body is young, fit, magically powerful, and utterly undocumented and without allies. A perfect crime. Except it was exactly Magus's intent that Sirlek would notice this, get greedy, and agree to help.

* KaleidoscopeHair: Happens to Nanase (whose hair turns black when her magic burns out) and Susan (when she goes through an angst-induced awakening)

** [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-05-05 Used here,]] though YMMV on whether it makes sense or not.
** Also 95% of what comes out of the Principal's mouth.

* InstantSedation: Abraham got a useful spell.

* InsultedAwake: Ellen did this to Susan once. At the ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-07-03 second]]'' try.

* InterspeciesRomance: Tedd and Grace; Second Life Ellen and Archie; the demonic duck also admits to preferring human women. For Uryuom it's quite normal to create chimerae, fertile at that. Isn't done obliviously, as at least psychophysiology matters even with shapeshifting seyunolu.

* IronicName: Tiffany "Susan" Pompoms always goes by her middle name, because she considers her actual first- and last-name to be too "perky and upbeat" for her cynical, sardonic personality. (Ironically, it's been made quite clear that if it wasn't for ONE [[ForWantOfANail traumatic childhood event]], she would've wound up fitting her name just perfectly.)

* ItMakesSenseInContext: [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/party-228 "Pressure release chopsticks."]] {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in TheRant.

* InfoDrop: Sarah's last name was revealed in this manner; the principal used it to refer to her while rebuking her for breaking the dress code. The name? [[spoiler:[[AntiClimax Brown]].]]
* {{Infodump}}: Shive is ''really'' thorough when it comes to describing the capabilities of Tedd's technology, the mechanics of alien and hybrid genetics, and more recently, magic. Anything left for the readers to guess about is practically guaranteed to be a ChekhovsGun.

* InformedAbility: Susan's magical powers, which are seen exactly once and then aren't visible for many arcs. Then Susan explains that Nanase's powers are of a different order than hers ("Awakened" vs. "Dreaming") without going into detail. Until ''much'' later Susan explained her magical abilities with a big {{flashback}}. [[spoiler:and she is properly "Awakened"]].

* IdenticalStranger: Susan seems to be some sort of fundamental archetype within the EGS universe. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2007-10-10 Diane]] at MSHS is a [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1687 very close match]], barring dress sense (note: Susan is naturally blonde). Even stranger, she is also a dead ringer for ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-01-17 a hypothetical niece of an elf (i.e. half-immortal)]]''.
** As it turns out, [[spoiler:Diane is Raven's daughter and Susan is a more distant descendant. Which makes Diane some form of extended great-aunt to Susan.]]

** [[spoiler:Abraham]] really ''[[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2009-03-10 does not]]'' want to kill [[spoiler:Ellen Dunkel]], but his oath was too inclusive, so... [[spoiler:and he's quite happy to be pushed into what sounds like a legitimate loophole.]]

* IgnoredEnemy: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-05-06 Sort of, at least.]]
* IHaveNoSon: Or sister. Mrs. Kitsune [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-01-28 has no sister,]] and it's [[BerserkButton clearly unsafe]] to argue about the accuracy of this statement.

** Vlad is abnormal even among shapeshifting chimera in that he was made using the DNA from so many different animals that he can't transform without risking death. This leads him to be jealous of his "brothers" ability to transform into human forms and blend in with society.[[spoiler:He gets his desire partially fulfilled when he is [[GenderBender transformed into a human woman]] by [[TransformationRay Ellen's beam]] becoming Vladia.]]

** '''''[[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=427 WHOOSH~R-R-RIP!]]'''''

** The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Immortals]] are basically spiritual beings who never die, but the way they go about it is almost a [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] of the concept. They continue to get older, smarter, stronger, [[WhoWantsToLiveForever more bored]] and [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity less sane]] until the point comes where they basically become [[PersonOfMassDestruction Persons Of Mass Destruction]]. To prevent this, they voluntarily undergo a kind of ritualistic death/rebirth cycle every couple centuries to lose most of their power and memories so they can start over and keep things interesting. Which is a good thing, as [[spoiler:Pandora Chaos Raven (name chosen by self) shows to full extent with her crazy, and EldritchAbomination / CreepyChild forms...]]

* ImplausibleDeniability: Susan definitely didn't [[http://www.egscomics.com/?id=2278 summon a magic sword.]]
* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum: [[spoiler:The TFG is Uryuom technology.]]
* ImpossibleInsurance: George has car insurance that covers monster-related damage (obviously just to advertise "completeness"). The result: [[SubvertedTrope surprise, they have to pay for repairs of a car damaged in a fire monster's attack (and on camera at that).]]

** A whole ''chain'' of them: Catalina ->Susan ->Justin ->Elliot ->Nanase (not all at the same time, mind)
** Allows [[http://www.egscomics.com/sketchbook/?date=2010-11-30 rather funny Sketchbook entries,]] though.
** The Elliot/Nanase dilemma, at least, is neatly resolved with [[OppositeSexClone Ellen]].

* INeedAFreakingDrink: [[AlphaBitch Diane]] has this reaction in [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2013-06-05 this comic from "Family Tree"]] after [[spoiler:realizing she wants a real relationship with Elliot]].
* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Technically, [[spoiler:Magus]] apparently was behind the [[spoiler:[=FV5=] Elliot incident]] and tries to manipulate Ellen within some plot that sounds [[{{squick}} quite dubious]]. And is not very good at this. But he's in desperate straits, which isn't even his own fault (unlike Abe's case). And he's still reluctant to kill a guy who stands in his way even when pushed hard to do this. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-04-14 He knows it, too.]]
* INeverSaidItWasPoison: Susan was already starting to grow suspicious of [[spoiler:Tom]]'s behavior, but it comes to a head when she realized he apologized for missing her online the night before. She hadn't said for certain that she would even be on, concluding that he ''had'' been online, but in invisible mode.

* HoldYourHippogriffs: On [[https://www.egscomics.com/comic/2017-11-20 this page]], Magus compared the first few Immortals he encountered in the spirit plane to "[[OurMermaidsAreDifferent mermaids in chummed water]]".

* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Tara believed everything [[spoiler:Voltaire]] told her, because [[spoiler:Immortals in her world cannot lie, and she assumed the same thing was true on Earth. It's not.]] Bonus points for actually having been informed of this difference beforehand, only to get DistractedByTheSexy.

* HugAndComment: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-10-03 "You're better than a Neanderthal."]]
* HybridMonster: The result of Uryuoms' eggs through MixAndMatchCritters, thus Here There Be Chimerae.

** Information gathering is Hedge's strong side. Maybe he's no Sherlock Holmes, but he grasps any clue present, like occasional slips of [[spoiler:Elliot knowing Grace]] or [[spoiler:Grace being in a relationship]].

* HyperCompetentSidekick: In the BSideComics, [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Minion]] is this to Shive himself.
* HyperspaceMallet:
** As with everything else in the series, [[MagicAIsMagicA rules for when, where, and why it can and can't appear]] eventually were provided.
** At least Susan and Abe did summon actual weapons out of thin air.
** Now it got even [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-04-26 better,]] but hammers are off-line.
** Dan {{lampshaded}} his reasoning behind changing the hammer origin in the [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-07-02 later story arc.]] The old guy who looks vaguely like Santa explains his initial reasoning for using the hammer gag to humorous effect... that is, the same as out of the 'verse.

* HypocriticalHumor: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2010-04-26 Making fun of hacks]] and unnecessary {{exposition}}s (aside of the last panel, see the chapter's name).

** Ellen, though the whole EvilTwin thing was mostly caused by her thinking she was going to disappear in a month. [[PokeThePoodle She was never]] [[CantGetInTroubleForNuthin very good at it]], anyhow.
** Also, once Damien was no longer around to control them, Grace's brothers surrendered peacefully and now live comfortably in a new government facility.
* HeroicBSOD: Elliot suffers one after he realizes [[spoiler:he loves Sarah like a sister, not a girlfriend]].
* HeroWithAnFInGood: Abraham, neatly complementing his matching Fs in [[IneptMage enchantment]] and [[DidntThinkThisThrough strategy]]. He thought he was the good guy there, but...
* HerrDoctor: Doctor Germahn.

* HiddenDepths: A major theme of the comic to an almost absolute degree. As a general rule, any character who is introduced as a one note asshole will probably get the camera pulled back to reveal that they have friends and their own, possibly misguided, motivations.
** The one aversion to this is Aberrations--humans who have made the premeditated decision to become an immortal being who subsists on the life energy of other humans.
* HighOnCatnip: The mini-arc [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2002-05-05 "Catnip"]]; also, the plant itself reappeared later.

* HiroshimaAsAUnitOfMeasure: [[http://www.elgoonishshive.com/?date=2011-02-11 A thousand Seymours.]]

* [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend He Is Not My Boyfriend]]: Susan does this a lot with Elliot during the ''Summer'' arc. [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1607 This comic, in particular,]] holds links to most of the instances in the author commentary beneath it.
** It happens a lot with [[HeterosexualLifePartners Elliot and Tedd]].

* HairAntennae: Grace, [[ShapeShifting most of the time]]. She is part Uryuom though, and they have antennae, so... [[JustifiedTrope it makes a kind of sense]]. Also, Grace in squirrel form and [[AlternateUniverse General Shade Tail]].

* HalfHumanHybrid: Grace and her brothers, Nioi, [[spoiler:Mr. Raven]].
* HalfIdenticalTwins: Elliot and Ellen, though they're not actually twins.

** Lavender in when a tongue-slip [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2011-01-12 reveals]] [[SubordinateExcuse how she feels about her boss]].
** Tedd in CatGirl form, when [[http://www.egscomics.com/egsnp.php?id=188 its revealed he stored a form backup on Grace, without the form owner's permission.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: An in-universe example: On hearing that Susan fought a vampire in France, Grace immediately dubs her Susan the Vampire Slayer. Given that she [[TheseHandsHaveKilled still feels guilty about this]], it was exactly the wrong thing to say.

* GirlOnGirlIsHot: Played [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=676 with]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=837 every]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1305 imaginable]] [[http://www.egscomics.com/index.php?id=1804 way.]]

* GirlPosse: AlphaBitch Diane and her hangers-on Lucy and Rhoda. At least that's how it seems [[HiddenDepths at first....]]

* TheGlomp: [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2002-03-29 Frequently.]] a.k.a. [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-01-28 "Tackle Cuddle"]]
* GogglesDoSomethingUnusual: Tedd's glasses, which can do just about everything except correct vision.
* GoodAngelBadAngel: Susan's [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-01-17 Curiosity and Logic]] (Curiosity is a {{Catgirl}} and Logic is a [[Franchise/StarTrek Vulcan.]]) [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2005-01-19 They end up agreeing,]] to her chagrin. Later, Susan's [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-06-16 Nature and Nurture]] do not agree, and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic Nurture ends up gagging Nature.]]

* GotVolunteered: Susan and Nanase (especially Susan) during their trip to Paris.

* GrandTheftMe: Sirleck is a serial body-snatching [[OurVampiresAreDifferent vampire]] who does this to many people in order to maintain his own parasitic existence, up to and including [[spoiler::[[OppositeSexClone Ellen]].]]

* GrammarNazi: Mr. Raven is [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-04-18 presented]] and [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2008-06-20 referenced]] as one, and his Hitler Forelock does not help his case at all.

* GroinAttack: Sarah delivers a [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2003-10-27 very impressive]] one to Hedge.
* GuiltyUntilSomeoneElseIsGuilty: The Writer's Block is suspected to be the killer until the real killer is arrested.