History Literature / TalesOfTheAstonishingBlackSpark

* HeroesWantRedheads:
** Referenced by name briefly, partly as a possible foreshadowing of romantic woes to come.
** While not explicitly referenced in the first volume, it seems that Anyla M. Nessa is this. A ginger head reporter who is, before introduction, referred to as a nice girl repeatedly, much like a certain love interest from Marvel comics was.

* BareYourMidriff: Discussed with GRAVI-Tina. She is shown, at times, to be more powerful than The Almighty Asper, she [[spoiler:takes down the world’s greatest villain herself]], all while using her powers over gravity to fit into her absurdly tiny costume.

* DorkAge: Discussed, but most notably visible in DEATHRAGE.

* LikeBrotherAndSister: Kat and Donald. Kat’s full name being Kathryn Westermarck Oldgoer is also an indicator, as it references the Westermarck Effect.

** Kathryn Westermarck Oldgoer, Westermarck referring to a theory of familial bond occurring between individuals without blood ties when raised in close proximity.

* AngryBlackMan: Donald spends the novel, and possibly his entire life, attempting to avoid this trope.

** Donald [=McDougal=].
** Kendra Kanaway.
** Maria Martinez.
** Gunther Gray.
** Like, 80 more.

* SuperheroFiction

* HeroesWantRedHeads: Referenced by name briefly, partly as a possible foreshadowing of romantic woes to come.
* HeroesWantRedheads: While not explicitly referenced in the first volume, it seems that Anyla M. Nessa is this. A ginger head reporter who is, before introduction, referred to as a nice girl repeatedly, much like a certain love interest from Marvel comics was.

Trapped in a dead-end job in his Ohio hometown, watching the girl of his dreams move on to a glamorous new life in a big city— Donald McDougal’s aimlessness has held him back for a long time. When a lightning strike grants him superhuman powers, he jumps at his chance to finally be somebody. But the new abilities and the pursuit of super-heroic fame come with a price tag, and it may not be one he can afford.

* CodeName: As a Superhero novel this shows up frequently by Pantheus members. Subverted by Nikolas Tess, who seems to hate them, [[spoiler: Save for him also being The Emancipator, of course.]]

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Christopher Row, Donald's agent after arriving in New York to become a superhero. The chapter All This and Rabbit Stew is where he ramps it up to eleven, [[spoiler: manipulating Donald into taking advertisements that accentuate the stereotypes associated with his race.]]
* YouAreACreditToYourRace: The satire discusses this both in its subtext, and directly. Donald sees himself as "one of the smart ones" in reference to his race. He is constantly referenced as "speaking well" and lacks, for the most part, the ability to use AAVE (African-American Vernacular English). However, these things act just as detrimental to his psyche as they are in making him, to certain people, 'exceptional'.
* AngryBlackMan: Donald spends the novel, and possibly his entire life, attempting to avoid this trope.
* TheApprentice: Donald to Nikolas.
* NinetiesAntiHero: DEATHRAGE. HIS PARENTS ARE DEAD. AND THE CAPSLOCK KEY SEEMS TO BREAK WHENEVER HE SPEAKS. ALSO, HIS PARENTS ARE DEAD.
* AnythingYouCanDoICanDoBetter: Implied regarding Nikolas and Donald. Nikolas has had the same powers for a great time longer than Donald, and as such is more skilled at using them.
* EruditeStoner: Adam Robins, or Patches. He is constantly seen smoking pot, (or, teaming up with 'Green Freedom') but also delivers, arguably, some of the more aware moments of dialogue throughout the tale.

* LikeBrotherAndSister: Kat and Donald. Kat’s full name being Kathryn Westermarck Oldgoer is also an indicator, as it references the Westermarck Effect.
* DumbMuscle: Subverted by Afrolicious Samson, played straight by Alvin, and Asper.
* KidHero: Patches, the Human Bandaide. A 16 year old talented individual, allowed by age restrictions due to his healing ability.
* DarkAgeOfSupernames: DEATHRAGE. HIS PARENTS ARE STILL DEEEEEAAADDDD.
* CombatPragmatist:Both Nikolas and Donald, while Nikolas seems more adept to begin with, Donald takes a level up in this by the end of the book.
* FriendlyRivalry: Doll and Spark. As they are both vying for the only position in the American Collective for Resolving Overtly Negative Yowled Misconducts they are in direct competition, but they are cordial, and even friendly with one another.
* SuperheroFiction

* HeroesWantRedHeads: Referenced by name briefly, partly as a possible foreshadowing of romantic woes to come.
* PlayingWithFire: The White Flame.
* SuperHero: Like, over 50% of the characters.
* ReferenceOverdosed: Donald is frequently referencing pop culture, as well as African-American history in a myriad of ways; sometimes humorous, sometimes reflective, and sometimes tragic.
* AlternateHistory: The world of the novel is mostly like our own, paralleling save for the whole Superheroes are real thing.
* FirstPersonSmartass: Donald lives on this.
* DawnOfAnEra: The first chapter introduces Almighty Asper, and with him the beginning of the superheroic age.
* SuperRegistrationAct: In-universe there is one referenced, but it takes a back seat as part of the superheroic institute and not a major plot point.
* TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening: Donald’s first time using his powers is after nearly losing his father’s NA coin- summoning it back with a surprising flash of electricity.
* DominoMask: Referenced by name when Donald receives his costume. Without a mask he asks for one of these from the designer, who rejects him under the assumption that as a superhero it’d just pop off of his face anyway.
TheBigGuy: Nikolas Tess has one that works for him.
* Fanboy: Donald.

* Satire
* InvincibleHero: The Almighty Asper. Some Onyx level threats are arguably stronger, but as he is the Superman expy it's rare.

* AlliterativeName: As expected, or required, of a Superhero story.

** Donald McDougal.

* LaResistance: Nikolas Tess is a leader of one, also [[spoiler: The Spark is hinted at doing the same in the *BottleEpisode chapter, titled...Bottle Episode. He discusses a group of talented individuals he has worked with after the events of the first book]]

* CareerEndingInjury: Applies to both [[spoiler: The Spark, and GRAVI-Tina, following the battle with White Flame.]]

** Donald McDougal, as a nod to the late, great, Dwayne McDuffie. Also, possibly, a reference to a rather popular Blerd, Donald Glover.

* DisposableWoman: Discussed directly with Thandie D. Nettle, and the references made to The Invisible Woman, Sue Storm. Donald eventually recognizing that his views of her may be askew, and just plain wrong. GRAVI-Tina also, who is the only female member of the American Community for Resolving Overtly Yowled Misconducts. Specifically, [[spoiler:after losing her abilities in the battle with White Flame. She is ultimately forgotten by the public and resumes her job as a police officer]].
* DeceptiveDisciple: Donald, after learning everything he needs from Nikolas, and deciding to use it in becoming a superhero, the one thing his mentor is most opposed to.
* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: Alluded to with Nikolas Tess, and his handful of talented individuals. They are fighting to dismantle the ‘superhero structure’ in the United States. Gunther goes so far as to call him a terrorist directly.
* DorkAge: Discussed, but most notably visible in DEATHRAGE.
* MonsterOfTheWeek:Used, expectedly, in the chapter Monsters of the Week. Also subverted in the same chapter by the introduction of a more predominant threat.
* PosthumousCharacter: Donald’s parents, as well as his local comic book shop owner and friend, Aedan, who died during the first appearance of White Flame and The Almighty Asper.

* BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu: [[spoiler:Donald, after his battle with the White Flame. He is revived too late after his death, and as a result loses control over his abilities.]]
* GhettoName: Referenced as the reason Donald’s father decided to name him as he did. His belief being that his son would never be taken seriously with a name that wasn’t Eurocentric.
* ColorCharacter: Black Spark, and White Flame.

* SuperheroFiction

* FacelessGoons: Deconstructed. After the first use of his powers on an un-talented individual is left bed ridden, Donald sees that "Goons" don't actually exist, and proceeds to use his powers with more caution.

* DeadpanSnarker: Donald can be this, though, he is often overshadowed by 90% of the people surrounding him

* TheExtremistWasRight:[[spoiler:Nikolas Tess]]

* ColorCharacter: Black Spark, and White Flame.
* TheOneThatGotAway:Thandie D. Nettle is introduced as this.

* GayBestFriend: Kat to Donald.

* TheOneThatGotAway:Thandie D. Nettle is introduced as this.
* StalkerWithACrush: Deconstructed with Donald. In the introduction of Thandie D. Nettle he describes it passively, almost endearing, Later, however, the narrative discusses the creep factor of his infatuation with her.

** Donald in the present narrative, is in hiding using the name Cliff Fern. Ferncliff Cemetery is the resting place of many celebrities and political figures including James Baldwin, Malcolm X, just to name a few.

* TheApprentice: Donald to Nikolas, also Donald to his father…also Donald to Patches. Also Donald to-

* BlackandNerdy: Donald, who lives by way of pop culture references.

** Malik McDougal. His first name is a reference to one Malcolm X had assumed after his pilgrimage to Africa near the end of his life, el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz

* Discussed directly with Thandie D. Nettle, and the references made to The Invisible Woman, Sue Storm. Donald eventually recognizing that his views of her may be askew, and just plain wrong. GRAVI-Tina also, who is the only female member of the American Community for Resolving Overtly Yowled Misconducts. Specifically, [[spoiler:after losing her abilities in the battle with White Flame. She is ultimately forgotten by the public and resumes her job as a police officer]].

* Discussed directly with Thandie D. Nettle, and the references made to The Invisible Woman, Sue Storm. Donald eventually recognizing that his views of her may be askew, and just plain wrong. GRAVI-Tina also, who is the only female member of the American Community for Resolving Overtly Yowled Misconducts. Specifically, [[Spoiler: after losing her abilities in the battle with White Flame. She is ultimately forgotten by the public and resumes her job as a police officer.]]

* DeadpanSnarker: Donald can be this, though, he is often overshadowed by 90% of the people surrounding him.

** Dr. Heller, the head scientist of the PantheUS biological defense unit, who shares a name with a lead doctor of the Tuskegee Experiments.

** Donald McDougal, as a nod to the late, great, Dwayne McDuffie.

* TheExtremistWasRight:[[spoiler:Nikolas Tess]]

* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: Alluded to with Nikolas Tess, and his handful of talented individuals. They are fighting to dismantle the ‘superhero structure’ in the United States. Gunther goes so far as to call him a terrorist directly.

* BareYourmidriff: Discussed with GRAVI-Tina. She is shown, at times, to be more powerful than The Almighty Asper, she [[spoiler:takes down the world’s greatest villain herself]], all while using her powers over gravity to fit into her absurdly tiny costume.

* BareYourMidriff: GRAVI-Tina. She is shown to be more powerful than The Almighty Asper, she single handedly takes down the world’s greatest villain, all while using her powers over gravity to fit into her absurdly tiny costume.

** DevilsJobOffer: Either Nikolas, or Gunther to Donald can be seen as this, depending on your vantage point.

** Like, 80 more.

Trapped in a dead-end job in his Ohio hometown, watching the girl of his dreams move on to a glamorous new life in a big city— Donald McDougal’s aimlessness has held him back for a long time. When a lightning strike grants him superhuman powers, he jumps at his chance to finally be somebody. But the new abilities and the pursuit of super-heroic fame come with a price tag, and it may not be one he can afford.

Trapped in a dead-end job in his Ohio hometown, watching the girl of his dreams move on to a glamorous new life in a big city— Donald McDougal’s aimlessness has held him back for a long time. When a lightning strike grants him superhuman powers, he jumps at his chance to finally be somebody. But the new abilities and the pursuit of super-heroic fame come with a price tag, and it may not be one he can afford.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CareerEndingInjury
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BareYourMidriff
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DorkAge
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MonsterOfTheWeek

Trapped in a dead-end job in his Ohio hometown, watching the girl of his dreams move on to a glamorous new life in a big city— Donald McDougal’s aimlessness has held him back for a long time. When a lightning strike grants him superhuman powers, he jumps at his chance to finally be somebody. But the new abilities and the pursuit of super-heroic fame come with a price tag, and it may not be one he can afford.

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