History Recap / PennyAndAggiePreHistory

* LeaveMeAlone / StopHelpingMe: Michelle's initial response when Penny chases her down the hall after Michelle walks away from Stan. She relents somewhat when Penny answers "Never," and when Brandi adds that she won't ignore Michelle being in pain.

--> And that's why we study history. To learn what's not working for us and leave it in the dustbin.

* AccidentalMisnaming / TheNicknamer: When Penny finally tires of Stan calling her by the names of blonde celebrities as an insult, and tells him to knock it off, he says, "Okay, Petty."

** A sans-dialogue preview of 2010 storylines.

* MyNameIsNotDurwood / TheNicknamer: When Penny finally tires of Stan calling her by the names of blonde celebrities as an insult, and tells him to knock it off, he says, "Okay, Petty."

* BewareTheNiceOnes

Aggie, having discovered in the previous arc she's interested in girls, asks Fred to point this classmate of his out to her. Minutes later, she nervously approaches the sweatshirt-hooded girl and asks if she can study for the history exam with her. The girl accepts, enthusiastically doffing her hood to reveal herself as Xena, a manic, self-styled L. Ron Hubbard follower. (Although previously unnamed within the comic, she had made a couple of memorable one-line appearances previously.) As Xena offers a psychotic take on the causes of the American Revolution, Aggie regrets having introduced herself and is about to disengage when she sees Charlotte happily interacting with Duane and decides to give Xena a chance.

* AllThereInTheManual - In the aftermath of this arc, readers wondered what happened when Giuliani caught Elmer joking over the unconscious Xena. Did he think Elmer was the assailant? Did Elmer face expulsion for the assault? If so, why didn't Aggie come forward if she's so concerned about justice? Nearly a year later, Campbell answered this in the forum: Giuliani did indeed expel Elmer, not for the assault (because there was no direct evidence he'd done it and Xena hadn't seen who did) but for his callously joking upon discovering her knocked out rather than calling for help. However, as Elmer has no friends except Bob, no one else at school knew why, or even that, he'd been expelled; it was assumed he'd just disappeared.
* AscendedExtra - Brandi, previously a relatively minor character, becomes a more prominent one beginning with this arc. Xena, with only two prior, one-panel appearances, would count had she appeared in a significant capacity beyond this arc. (She does have a line in "Missing Person," and is depicted in [[SuperDeformed chibi]] form in the background, in "June.")

* ChurchOfHappyology - Note, however, the WordOfGod that Xena is not an official member of the religion in question. (An actual initiate wouldn't learn about Xenu, and his imprisonment of souls in volcanoes, to which she alludes in her "history" speeches, until the third course level, and would be strictly instructed not to reveal these teachings to outsiders, nor to initiates at lower levels.) Rather, she's a do-it-yourselfer who's read indiscriminately through the organization's documents as leaked online, as well as those not part of its official policy, such as Hubbard's personal correspondence, from which the above racist quote comes.
* CirclingBirdies - [[ParodiedTrope Parodied]]. When Xena hits the floor, ChurchOfHappyology logos circle her head.

* TheCuckoolanderWasRight - Xena's comments about the purpose of studying history not only make sense to Aggie but inspire Michelle to stop living in the past with regard to Stan.
* FillerStrip - Several filler pieces (strips and otherwise) ran in the middle of the arc in order to give Waltrip a Christmas vacation:

* {{Gaydar}} - Fred claims to get a gay vibe from both Stan and Xena, which says something about how well his gaydar [[MistakenForGay actually works]].
* HeteronormativeCrusader - Xena.
* {{Jerkass}} - Elmer.
* LeaveMeAlone / StopHelpingMe - Michelle's initial response when Penny chases her down the hall after Michelle walks away from Stan. She relents somewhat when Penny answers "Never," and when Brandi adds that she won't ignore Michelle being in pain.
* MyNameIsNotDurwood / TheNicknamer - When Penny finally tires of Stan calling her by the names of blonde celebrities as an insult, and tells him to knock it off, he says, "Okay, Petty."
* OddShapedPanel - When Brandi knocks Xena out, the panel borders themselves buckle, as if from the force of the blow.
* PrecisionFStrike - The comic's first, as Xena utters the word "niggers" uncensored.
* RageBreakingPoint - For Brandi, it's Xena's racial slur.
* RelationshipUpgrade - Stan and Brandi go from FriendsWithBenefits to exclusive couple status.
* RightBehindMe - Stan tells Penny he doesn't owe anyone notice that he and Brandi have gotten serious. Brandi then points out that right behind him is Michelle, the one person they ''didn't'' want to know about their going steady, because the reason he'd given her for ending ''their'' relationship was that he didn't want to be tied down to anyone. On top of that, the breakup had contributed to Michelle's eating disorder. No wonder Stan, upon seeing Michelle, feels so guilty he tries to flee.
* ThereAreNoTherapists - [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. Michelle, in recovery from an eating disorder, mentions that she's seeing a therapist and implies that it's been helpful.
* UnresolvedSexualTension - Between Penny and Stan.
* YouAreNotAlone - Penny and Brandi, concerned that Michelle's about to have another emotional health crisis (she isn't), insist on sticking by her when she walks away from Stan.
* YourHeadAsplode - This happens, metaphorically, to Aggie when Xena (before clarifying what she means) tells her that the purpose of studying history is "So we can forget it."