History Literature / JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy

* CoolLoser: Subverted, as Johnny notes that his friends should be this but fail at it -- Wobbler the computer geek is terrible with computers, Big Mac the skinhead is wimpy and has asthma, and Yo-Less is the world's most strait-laced and rhythm-free black kid (this was before BlackAndNerdy was a thing).

** Around Halloween, the Blackbury Odeon screens ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'', ''[[Film/LivingDeadSeries Wednesday of the Living Dead]]'', and one of the ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' films.

* ExtravertedNerd: Yo-less.

* CanonWelding: The shop from ''Literature/{{Truckers}}'' has been relocated to Blackbury. It might well be a different branch of Arnold Bros, as in their heyday big department stores had multiple branches in nearby towns and cities. The local newspaper makes a big point of serving both Grimethorpe and Blackbury, suggesting these are neighbouirng towns.

* HauntedTechnology: Premature computer pioneer Addison Vincent Fletcher and Solomon Einstein, taxidermist cousin to [[UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein the famous one]], seem able to directly commune with a telephone's inner workings. By the canal, they attune a broken old telly to the ghosts of its inner workings, and get a crystal-clear broadcast of ''[[Series/{{Neighbours}} Cob]][[Series/HomeAndAway bers]].

** While they tend to look grey, as though by a trick of the light, older ones look less substantial; some variably transparent. Mr Vicenti claims the cemetery's dead to be something other than ghosts; and that Johnny's attention somehow rouses them to engage with the living world. Premature computer pioneer Addison Vincent Fletcher and Solomon Einstein, cousin to the [[UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein famous one]], attune an abandoned telly to the ghosts of its long-defunct workings, and receive a broadcast of ''[[Series/{{Neighbours}} Cob]][[Series/HomeAndAway bers]]''.
-->'''Johnny:''' It's the ''ghost'' of a television? ...But... look... machines aren't alive, so how can they have ghosts?
-->'''Solomon:''' But zey have ''existence''. From moment to moment. Zo, we find the right moment, yes?
-->'''Johnny:''' ...Nothing ever finishes. Nothing's ever really over.

** While they tend to look grey, as though by a trick of the light, older ones look less substantial; some variably transparent.
** Premature computer pioneer Addison Vincent Fletcher and Solomon Einstein, cousin to the [[UsefulNotes/AlbertEinstein famous one]], attune an abandoned telly to the ghosts of its long-defunct workings, and receive a broadcast of ''[[Series/{{Neighbours}} Cob]][[Series/HomeAndAway bers]]''.

* {{Dreamland}}: In ''Only You Can Save Mankind'', Johnny, on falling asleep, finds himself in a highly realistic version of the starship depicted in the game. Having encountered Kirsty here, the two establish having both dreamed themselves into "game space," whereupon they dream themselves onto the Screewee flagship.

* EmpathicEnvironment: [[DownplayedTrope Slightly]] - on Johnny's arrival on the [=ScreeWee=] flagship, the Captain's features are non-threatening. On Kirsty's arrival, the Captain's teeth and claws seem more emphasised; [[DoNotCallMePaul Kir]]... Sigourney being keen on the ''[[Franchise/{{Alien}} Alien]]'' films. The corridors also suddenly seem to have fewer nuts and bolts, and acquire a [[OrganicTechnology moist, cave-like curvature]].

* PoliceAreUseless: Not only do they get in the way, but they fail to get in the way very successfully.

* XenomorphXerox: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]]. In game space, whose structure is affected by Johnny and Kirsty's expectations, the war-crazed Gunnery Officer abruptly appears larger, with barely visible eyes; huge teeth, and [[InsectoidAliens insectoid]] features. [[spoiler: Defensively shot dead by Johnny, the Gunnery Officer reverts to his smaller [=ScreeWee=] form]].

%%* MagneticMedium: Johnny.

** Around Halloween, the Blackbury Odeon screens ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'', ''[[Film/LivingDeadSeries Wednesday of the Living Dead]]'', and one of the ''Franchise/NightmareOnElmStreet'' films.

** Around Halloween, the Blackbury Odeon screens ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' and ''[[Film/LivingDeadSeries Wednesday of the Living Dead]]''.

* Kirsty has a poster of a [[Franchise/{{Alien}} Xenomorph]], and in game space, goes by the name of [[Creator/SigourneyWeaver Sigourney]].
* Around Halloween, the Blackbury Odeon screens ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' and ''[[Film/LivingDeadSeries Wednesday of the Living Dead]]''.

* Flat Earth Atheist: William Stickers, despite acknowledgement of his own death and proximity to his own gravestone, dismisses the notion of life after death.

%%zce* Flat Earth Atheist: William Stickers, despite acknowledgement of his own death and proximity to his own gravestone, dismisses the notion of life after death.

-->'''William Stickers:''' Don't think you can get round me just because you're accientally right!

* {{Dreamland}}: In ''Only You Can Save Mankind'', Johnny, on falling asleep, finds himself in a highly realistic version of the Starship depicted in the game. Having encountered Kirsty here, the two establish having both dreamed themselves into "game space," whereupon they dream themselves onto the Screewee flagship.

%%zce* Flat Earth Atheist: William Stickers.

%%* FiveManBand:
%%** TheHero: Johnny
%%** TheLancer: Kirsty
%%** TheBigGuy: Big Mac
%%** TheSmartGuy: Yo-less
%%** TheChick: Wobbler (because Kirsty point-blank refuses to fill this role).
%%* FlatEarthAtheist: William Stickers.
%%* ForWantOfANail