History Literature / AttackOfTheMutant

It was adapted into [[Recap/GoosebumpsS2E2E3AttackOfTheMutant the second and third episodes of the second season]] of [[Series/{{Goosebumps}} the TV series]], with a novelization based on the episode being released as book 12 of the ''Goosebumps Presents'' series. It was also adapted into the 1997 PC game ''VideoGame/AttackOfTheMutant'', which had a different plot from the book and episode.

** The comics that Libby likes, High School Harry & Beanhead, is one to the Archie comics. Skipper is not fond of them at all, as he thinks the art style is lame, and that the two main girls of the story are [[OnlySixFaces drawn exactly the same]], only that [[BettyAndVeronica one girl has blonde hair and the other girl has black hair]].

It was adapted into the second and third episodes of the second season of [[Series/{{Goosebumps}} the TV series]], with a novelization based on the episode being released as book 12 of the ''Goosebumps Presents'' series. It was also adapted into the 1997 PC game ''VideoGame/AttackOfTheMutant'', which had a different plot from the book and episode.

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!!The episode provides examples of:
* AdamWesting: The TropeNamer himself as the Galloping Gazelle in the TV episode and video game. It seems fitting that the Galloping Gazelle is a LargeHam and a DirtyCoward.
* AdaptedOut: Mitzi
* ChewingTheScenery: The Masked Mutant absolutely ''devours'' every scene he's in.
* EvilLaugh: The Masked Mutant has a very distinctive one. After Skipper defeats him, he lets out one of his own as an IronicEcho.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: When Libby is walking away and Skipper turns away for a moment, she vanishes. After TheReveal, we see that [[spoiler:the Masked Mutant's powers apparently include teleportation too.]]
* RecursiveCanon: An advertisement for the ''Goosebumps'' TV show appears on the side of the bus Skipper rides in.
* SurprisinglyHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Skipper finds out he has become Elastic Boy for real, superpowers and all. He gives an [[EvilLaugh excited laugh]] about it]].

* SurprisinglyHappyEnding: [[spoiler:Skipper finds out he has become Elastic Boy for real, superpowers and all. He gives an excited laugh about it]].

* ShoutOut: The comics that Libby likes, High School Harry & Beanhead, is one to the Archie comics. Skipper is not fond of them at all, as he thinks the art style is lame, and that the two main girls of the story are [[OnlySixFaces drawn exactly the same]], only that [[BettyAndVeronica one girl has blonde hair and the other girl has black hair]].

* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler:It turns out that Libby was actually the Mutant in disguise all along. But this doesn't reveal if there ever ''was'' a real Libby who was impersonated by the Mutant, or Libby was just made up by him.]]

* {{Understatement}}: When Skipper is told to jump a bit far down a flight of stairs, he is hesitant to do so, saying, "I'm not very athletic."

* AnimalMotifs: Skipper's father reminds him of a big bear. Not only because he growls a lot. But because he is big and broad. He has short, black hair and almost no forehead. And he has a big, booming roar of a voice, like a bear's roar.

* YouExclamation: The Mutant does this trope when he spots Libby entering his office. [[spoiler:This was actually the real Mutant, and the fake Mutant was the Magnificent Molecule Man who probably recognized him for who "Libby really was.]]

* TransformingConforming: Near the end of the book, ''Literature/AttackOfTheMutant'', Skipper tricks [[BigBad the Masked Mutant]] by making him turn into HollywoodAcid. The Masked Mutant splashed into the carpet, making a big hole in it. Since the Masked Mutant can transform anything solid and change back, but he can change into a liquid he can't change back.

* SurprisinglyHappyEnding: Skipper finds out he has become Elastic Boy for real, superpowers and all. He gives an excited laugh about it.

* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler: It turns out that Libby was actually the Mutant in disguise all along. But this doesn't reveal if there ever ''was'' a real Libby who was impersonated by the Mutant, or Libby was just made up by him]].
* AndTheAdventureContinues: Implied by the end of the story; [[spoiler:Skipper bleeds ink, as the Masked Mutant warned him what would happen after the laser hit him. After a moment's panic, he takes a deep breath and asks his little sister to pass him the comic book that just came in the mail, figuring that he may as well know what his next story is]].

-->Skipper: (''narrating'') There was just no pleasing Mom today.

* TheDogWasTheMastermind: [[spoiler: Skipper's new friend Libby, who is actually the eponymous villain in disguise.]]

* ExplainingYourPowerToTheEnemy: Played with in the climax, when main protagonist Skipper Matthews is facing villain "The Masked Mutant", but then claims that he's not a normal human -- he's actually a superhero, the "Colossal Elastic Boy", and quite happily explains the only thing that can destroy him -- sulfuric acid. The Masked Mutant quickly thanks him for revealing this, and prepares to kill him. [[spoiler: The catch? Skipper was lying, or so he thinks. His real motive was to take advantage of a weakness in the Masked Mutant's own powers -- the Mutant can rearrange his molecules and become anything solid. Skipper changed him into becoming a ''liquid'', which he can't turn back from.]]

* HappyDance: [[spoiler: After getting rid of the Mutant once and for all, Skipper does a little dance on the carpet in which the Mutant melted on]].

* ImMelting: [[spoiler: Skipper manages to trick the Mutant into doing this trope himself by shapeshifting into sulfuric acid - whch he cannot change back from. He thejn is left to simmer on a carpet that he landed on]].

* MalevolentMaskedMen: Kind of inverted in with The Masked Mutant. [[spoiler: He spends most of his book in the form of a twelve-year-old girl, and doesn't show his mask until his true nature is revealed.]]

'''Libby:''' Huh? (''narrows her eyes at him'') You said you were going to a comic book store.\\
'''Skipper:''' (''feels his face going red'') Uh... I'm going to the comic book store ''after'' my appointment.

* YouExclamation: The Mutant does this trope when he spots Libby entering his office. [[spoiler: This was actually the real Mutant, and the fake Mutant was the Magnificent Molecule Man who probably recognized him for who "Libby really was]].

* CharacterDevelopment: After all his adventures, Skipper decides that life is too short and he shouldn't spend it all on comics. When his little sister asks if he'll play catch with her, Skipper happily agrees, and even slices some chocolate cake for her afterward. [[spoiler:That's when he learns he is bleeding ink, and asks her to pass him the latest comic book he received in the mail, to find out what the next chapter of his story is]].

* TooDumbToLive: Skipper Matthews. He sees a building vanishing and reappearing, learning it was covered by a hologram. It also ostensibly belongs to a supervillain. So what does he do? Go ''inside'' the building after verifying it was real. Unsurprisingly, the Mutant has plans where Skipper doesn't live.

* RiddleForTheAges:

* ProperlyParanoid: Skipper's dad warns that his comic book obsession will cause Skipper to be out-of-touch with reality. How right he is?

* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: The random ice hockey penguins in the PC game based on the story.

* MalevolentMaskedMen: Kind of inverted in with The Masked Mutant. [[spoiler: He spends most of his book in the form of a twelve year old girl, and doesn't show his mask until his true nature is revealed.]]

* WorthyOpponent: The Masked Mutant considers Skipper this, because he knows everything about him and no other superheroes were able to defeat him.

* RecursiveCanon: An advertisement for the ''Goosebumps'' TV show appears on the side of the bus Skipper rides in.

* GreaterScopeVillain: Jimmy Steranko, The Masked Mutant's comic creator... possibly.

This book was adapted into episode 21 and 22 of [[Series/{{Goosebumps}} the TV series]], as well as [[VideoGame/AttackOfTheMutant a PC game.]]

* FantasyForbiddingFather: Skipper's dad hates comic books and frequently threatens to throw out his collection, but never goes through with it.

* TrickingTheShapeshifter: [[spoiler:Skipper tells the Mutant that his only weakness is sulfuric acid, and the Mutant immediately transforms into just that. He remembers too late that he can only safely transform into ''solid'' objects, but once he turns into a liquid, he's stuck in that form.]]

This book was adapted into episode 21 and 22 of [[Series/{{Goosebumps}} the TV series]], as well as a PC game.