History Webcomic / GrrlPower

* SpecificSituationBooks: Sydney [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1249-meet-the-boyfriends/ is seen reading]] a booklet titled ''Superpowers, Physics, and You. Or, How '''Not''' to Knock Over a Building Unless You '''Really''' Need To''. ARCHON being a superhero agency, however, this might very well be required reading for all members.

* TechnologyLevels: The basic division is between pre and post-FTL civilizations, but there's a third category that's extremely advanced but mostly keep to themselves. [[spoiler:Sydney's orbs might be the first real evidence of a fourth, even ''more'' advanced, "Nth" tier civilization.]]

** Upon meeting Sydney's parents, Maxima muses that she must take after her father. Sydney is too distracted to give a straight answer when Mr. Scoville Sr grabs her in his arms and excitedly babbles how proud he is she'd become a superhero fighting bad guys.

* YinYangClash: A minor supervillain claims to be ''both'' irresistible force and immoveable object in [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1331 this strip.]] It doesn't end well.

* AccidentalTruth: To get an annoying customer to stop lusting after Max, Sydney (unbeknownst to anyone in Archon much less Maxima or Hiro themselves) [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-426-it-was-inevitable-that-ship-would-sail/ tells him that Hiro represents Maxima's minimum physical standard, dating-wise]]. This eventually leads to a public rumor developing that the two supers are in a SecretRelationship. They're not -- by military regulations, Maxima would not be allowed to date a subordinate officer under her direct command -- but later events show that there's some attraction. In fact, even without the constant heavy-handed matchmaking attempts by Anvil, Max and Hiro have so many examples of [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-951-superheroes-on-melted-ice/ flirting while alone]], and more than just the basic friend/comrade level of [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-618-bridge-building/ care and concern for one another]], that it's almost sad that they can't get together.[[note]]It doesn't help that various battle shenanigans often result in the two of them being put into exceedingly racy situations involving [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-521-to-no-dress/ destroyed clothing and close proximity]].[[/note]] Maxima pretty much outright says [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-523-field-flirt/ that she's 100% onboard with hooking up if they are ever the same rank]].

** The official stance of the government is that a superpowered vigilante is still a vigilante, so Archon has been tasked to track them all down and give them the option of joining Archon or facing charges for vigilantism. That said, it's the vigilantism that's the crime, not being superhuman. Using superpowers to aid in a career doing something legal is legal, and people who do so are not required to join Archon.
** This eventually happens to [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-546-meet-the-new-grrl-same-as-the-old-grrl/ Jazza Ng/Jabberwokky]]. TheRant on one of her appearances says she's essentially under house arrest at Archon until she's finished training, ''and'' 90% of her at-least-five-digit paycheck is being garnished to pay bills associated with her former crimes -- mostly medical bills and a few cop cars.

* ClassifiedInformation: Archon inevitably has its share of secrets and security concerns, and the subject is sometimes PlayedForLaughs, as when Harem (presumably jokingly) notes that questions of which restaurant to use for a team dinner are [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1295 "all shadowy at that level"]].

---> '''Sydney:''' I think I landed on that same rock.

** The traditional superhero costumes are banned from the ground up at Archon. Thus far the team wears military clothes with personalized chokers, due to practical and traditional concerns (the latter due to Archon being a branch of the U.S. military).

** While not an exact trope, many comics have superheroes goofing around or horse-playing with their powers in public spaces. Peggy makes it clear that members of ARCSWAT ''cannot'' do this in uniform while in public, just like anyone else in the military. They are heavily discouraged from doing anything of the sort out of uniform too, because they are famous celebrities and any incident caused by them will inevitably cause issues for Archon.

** Given that the big fight with Vehemence was essentially just a brawl with superpowers, the non-ringleaders are immediately released from Archon custody unless they have outstanding warrants, with some put on probation, pending the trial. Vehemence's "[[LetsYouAndHimFight violence aura]]" power is also complicating the prosecution process immensely, since they can argue that they were forced by a superpower to attack law enforcement.

** There a very few, if any, censor jokes more amusing than [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-521-to-no-dress/ this strategically placed thought bubble from Sydney]] when Hiro has all of his clothes destroyed in a fight with the rest of the Archon crew looking on.

** Happens again [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-96-you-know-a-hair-tie-wouldnt-hurt/ during Math and Anvil's fight]], with TheRant pointing out that "Archon must go through popcorn like [[DonutMessWithACop civilian cops go through donuts]]".

* PretentiousLatinMotto: Archon's motto (notably seen on Maxima's shirt at the [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1159 beginning]] of the parking lot fight, and also in the background during press conferences or graduations) is "Cum Amplus Potentia Venit Amplus Onus" -- "With Great Power ComesGreatResponsibility". [[note]]In Latin that Google Translate doesn't care for; it prefers "Cum Potestate Magna Venit Magnus Responsabilitate"[[/note]]

* RewritingReality: Krona, a magic user (not a proper mage or super), can do this to a degree, though it's easier to alter existing objects, like defusing grenades or changing her hair color, than doing things like creating fireballs, and it's a lot like programming apparently. Her abilities are also apparently entirely unique. She later demonstrates predictive text that literally predicts the future by a few seconds, and hacks Sydney's bladder so she can wait on going to the bathroom. [[spoiler:She can use SaveScumming in real life.]] [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy This leads Maxima to bring her into ARCHON so they can make sure that she can't cause a]] RealityBreakingParadox by accident.
** Viewing Sydney's orb skill tree, Krona discovers that she could potentially change what gravity ''is'' rather than what it ''does'', had she full access to Sydney's orbs.

* TheSwearJar: Sydney uses one, and it apparently got full enough that she [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-424-the-curse-of-curse-aint-no-curse-of-course/ put a down payment on a car with it]]. After her trip to space, she started up Swear Jar II, and drops ten grand in it to compensate for everything she said while in space. (Swear Jar II was started within about two weeks (personal time) of starting her job with Archon, so she may not have made the adjustment yet from "$5 per tirade" (being cheaper for Sydney than "$1 per word"; she had still sometimes ran low on money per month). Again, Swear Jar II is inaugurated... with $10,000.)

** The costumes. Thus far the team wears military clothes with personalized chokers.

** While not an exact trope, many comics have superheroes goofing around or horse-playing with their powers. Peggy makes it clear that members of ARCSWAT ''cannot'' do this in uniform in public, just like anyone else in the military.

** Math being a LovableSexManiac gets him in trouble because it distracts him in a fight. Seeing Jabberwokky's rack [[DistractedByTheSexy froze him up so much]] that she took him out easily. Max calls him on it during the full debriefing.
** There's no such thing as a "[[PowerNullifier power inhibitor]]", [[http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1881 so more creative methods must be undertaken to jail criminals]]. Vehemence must be kept in isolation but also from acting violently himself, so [[spoiler:he is kept high as balls and given unlimited video games to occupy him]]. Opal, the dangerous portal maker, is kept in a pressurized cell where making a portal will cause explosive decompression that will kill her.
** Given that the big fight was essentially just a brawl with superpowers, the non-ringleaders were released unless they had outstanding warrants, with some put on probation, pending the trial. Vehemence's "[[LetsYouAndHimFight violence aura]]" power is also complicating the prosecution process immensely.
** Dabbler and other succubi are incredibly attractive, lustful, have all sorts of powers based around sex, and are overall just sex on legs. Unlike most works that have succubi as {{Cute Monster Girl}}s, this comic points out how improbable such a race naturally evolving is and [[spoiler:reveals that all succubi are the result of thousands of years of trying to build perfect sex slaves from the ground up]].
** The ElaborateUndergroundBase of one group of villains is noted to actually be poorly guarded in TheRant because large amounts of guards, cameras, and physical fortifications would draw attention to it.

** HellishPupils gets a deconstruction [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1244-meyegraine/ when Sydney's eyes change back to normal]] after [[spoiler:Lapha leaves her body]]. Many works tend to overlook the fact that it would be '''very''' {{painful|Transformation}} for eyes to undergo radical physical changes. She also worries that it may have affected her glasses prescription.

--> '''Maxima:''' Stupid boobs.

** Harem's seen [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/518 wearing sweatpants]] that literally say "[[LampshadeHanging Gratuitous Fan Service]]" on the rear.
** And just so the readers interested in men aren't left out, we have [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/672 Hot Beefcake Injection]]. Complete with [[EatingTheEyeCandy drooling Sydney]]. The women can be seen under PowerPerversionPotential.
** The above began the running gag of Harem regularly finding ways to separate the male members of ARCHON from their shirts when the ladies are around. As the series progresses, this tends to be focused mostly on Hiro. With bonus points awarded for [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-951-superheroes-on-melted-ice/ doing it when/specifically because Maxima is around him shirtless]].

** There is a race known as the ætholiths, who are essentially magic [=AI=]s in the form of small flames who gained rights. They can partially or fully control an unwilling person by jumping onto their body, but the majority refuse to do this to avoid proving anti-ætholith sentiments.

* FilmTheHand: On Arianna's phone, when Maxima is calling the picture is of her angrily reaching for the camera.

* GladYouThoughtOfIt: Vehemence personally organized the whole attack of supervillains on the ARCHON team a few days after the superheroes revealed themselves to the public, but he let Vekter, a powerful telekinetic, think it was his idea and lead the charge... until the moment of Vehemence's inevitable betrayal, of course.

** HellishPupils gets a deconstruction [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1244-meyegraine/ when Sydney's eyes change back to normal]] after [[spoiler:Lapha leaves her body]]. Many works tend to overlook the fact that it would be '''very''' {{painful|Transformation}} for eyes to undergo radical physical changes.

** HellishPupils gets a deconstruction [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1244-meyegraine/ when Sydney's eyes change back to normal]] after [[spoiler:Lapha leaves her body]]. Many works tend to overlook the fact that it would be '''very''' [[PainfulTransformation painful]] for eyes to undergo radical physical changes.

* GoodbyeCruelWorld: After Lapha is forced out of Sydney's body and onto the floor she realizes that her flame is fading and gives the universe a final "fuck you," telling it that it was not worth the price of admission, before Dabbler yoinks her into a containment vessel. And she doesn't seem too happy about surviving to go to prison.

* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: Sydney creates a literal example when possessed by Lapha. She orders a dish so spicy she's one of the very few people who likes it. Eating it causes Lapha physical pain, enough to force her to leave Sydney's body.

** PainfulTransformation gets a deconstruction [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1244-meyegraine/ when Sydney's eyes change back to normal]] after [[spoiler:Lapha leaves her body]]. Many works tend to overlook the fact that it would be '''very''' painful for eyes to undergo radical physical changes.

'''Dabbler:''' I"ll bring aspirin!

* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: Sydney creates a literal example when possessed by Lapha. She orders a dish so spicy she's one of the very few people who likes it. Eating it causes Lapha physical pain, until [[spoiler:Lapha's flame disappears from over Sydney's forehead]].

** Anvil seems to like the "closed fist on top of the skull" variant. [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-64-someone-skipped-the-harassment-video/ She does it to Harem for teasing Zeph.]] Of note, she bonks one of Harem's bodies for another one teasing Zeph, but they're the same person anyway. And later, [[https://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-77-shell-get-there-eventually/ again to the same Harem's body.]]

* TooSpicyForYogSothoth: Sydney creates a literal example when possessed by Lapha. She orders a dish so spicy she's one of the very few people who likes it. Eating it causes Lapha physical pain, until Lapha leaves her body.

** When Varia tries out her Gestalt power by touching Sydney, she's puzzled that their is no obvious power gain from the contact. Both she and Halo completely miss out the fact that [[spoiler:the orbs usually floating around Sydney's head expanded their orbit to the two of them. This has led to plenty of speculation from the readers, but the most probable meaning is that Varia might be able to use the orbs herself]].

** When Varia tries out her Gestalt power by touching Sydney, she's puzzled that their is no obvious power gain from the contact. Both she and Halo completely miss out the fact that [[spoiler:the orbs usually floating around Sydney's head expanded their orbit to the two of them. This has lead to plenty of speculation from the readers, but the most probable meaning is that Varia might be able to use the orbs herself]].

** Sydney manages to do this [[http://grrlpowercomic.com/archives/1015 mid-press conference]].

** Semi-jokingly {{invoked|Trope}} by Sydney when she states “mittens are my kryptonite” when explaining that [[http://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/589 she has to hold the orbs]] to use them.
** Later {{exploited|Trope}} by ARCHON when [[spoiler:the Lapha-possessed]] Sydney [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1236-bespoke-accommodations/ is incarcerated]]: not only are her hands [[spoiler:secured to the chair she’s bound to]], they’re in mitten-like gloves.

** Later {{exploited|Trope}} by ARCHON when [[spoiler:the Lapha-possessed]] Sydney is incarcerated: not only are her hands [[spoiler:secured to the chair she’s bound to]], they’re in mitten-like gloves.

* ApologeticAttacker: [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-1235-battle-of-the-attocentury/ Harem apologizes to Sydney [[spoiler:possessed by Lapha]] before doing "something that everyone who's ever met you has wanted to do at one time or another." [[spoiler:Then two of Harem's doubles teleports in to grabs Sydney, and she tazes her.]]

* FantasticRacism: When Sydney [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-990-read-my-lack-of-lips/ insensitively assumes]] that Thothogoth should be [[AlwaysChaoticEvil chaotic]] because his people are, he tells her she's being "very hurtful".

* OddReactionOut: [[https://www.grrlpowercomic.com/archives/comic/grrl-power-101-what-else-would-you-do-with-two-invisible-arms/ 101]] has mental reactions to a hot woman revealing that Harem is a lesbian, while the other two women in the room aren't.