History Webcomic / ThatDeafGuy

''...Is my Deaf dad doing the inner dishes!''

''[[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/ That Deaf Guy]]'' is a SliceOfLife webcomic about the daily life of Desmond, a somewhat nerdy, laid-back stay-at-home dad, his wife Helen, and their son, Cedric. Ah, and Desmond is the titular Deaf Guy, while Helen works as an ASL-English interpreter. Cedric is a CODA (hearing Child Of a Deaf Adult), enthusiastic about deaf culture and bringing it to the masses.

** One strip ([[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=175 #175]]) occurs at a Deaf Convention, so Cedric signs really small to ask permission to use the bathroom. He calls it "whispering" because he doesn't want other people to notice what he's saying. In an [[AvertedTrope aversion]] to this trope, his father (who normally understands American UsefulNotes/SignLanguage) can't understand him because the signs are ''too small'' (quiet)!

** In strip [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=347 #347]], Cedric is at a doctor's office and Desmond brought an interpreter so the Doctor could understand him (because he's Deaf and doesn't speak English). When the interpreter tells the doctor that Desmond gave permission for the shot, Cedric interrupts and claims the interpreter got the signs wrong and he ''doesn't'' need the shot. The doctor and interpreter look worried, but Desmond--who can also read lips--knows Cedric is trying to lie (in English) about the ASL conversation.
** In strip [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=398 #398]], the (Deaf) family is eating out at a restaurant and signing together. The first panel has people commenting about them, then the other panel has Helen turn to say that ''she'' can hear.
* BilingualBonus: While most strips have the hand gestures matching up with some of the speech bubbles, in [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2014-05-15/]], Desmond's response in the last panel isn't translated (he's saying, "hahaha, okay, I'll go get some").
* BreakingTheFourthWall: In strip [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=370 #370]], Desmond tries to start a t-shirt business with his friend, with [[UsefulNotes/SignLanguage ASL]] references. When his friend points out that [[http://www.handsay.com/ Handsay is a real company]], Desmond just claims that it doesn't exist in this webcomic and you see his friend dodging a fine-point drawing pen in surprise.

* ConspicuousTrenchcoat: Part of the joke [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=412 here]].

* DisabledMeansHelpless: An occasional source of annoyance. Observe [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2010-02-23/ the annoyingly proud of herself waitress]].
* DreadfulMusician: Stereotypical karaoke singers [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2015-10-08/ have no effect on Desmond]]

* FirstGrayHair: Desmond spots a grey hair on his wife [[https://thatdeafguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TDG-02-2021-284x300.png here]].
* FunWithSubtitles: Cedric and Desmond have some [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=676 here]]. VisualPun included, no charge.

* GirlsAreReallyScaredOfHorrorMovies: Helen is even scared of her husband reenacting them in ASL. Also see her CatapultNightmare [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2014-10-23/ here]].
* HappilyMarried: Desmond and Helen.
* IdeaBulb: [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=653 Here]].

* NoIndoorVoice: [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible In a nonspeaking variation of this trope]], Desmond--who is deaf--has no idea how much racket he makes. For example, [[https://thatdeafguy.com/3-26-2021/ here's Cedric's description of Desmond washing dishes.]]
* NoSell: [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2013-10-31-2/ It's hard to scare deaf people]]...
* {{Pun}}: Abound. For example - [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=670 loud clothes]].
* RightWayWrongWayPair: A variant in his "Do's and Don'ts", which in includes things like [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2010-04-06/ gesturing to communicate instead of shouting (which does no good)]], and [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2010-03-02/ a light tap on the shoulder instead of a firm grab]].

** [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=561 Vulcan death grip.]]
** [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=669 Use the Force, Desmond.]]
** [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=183 Deaf Wizard]].
** [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=130 Sparkly]]. [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=131 And werewolves.]]
* SliceOfLife

* TalkingInYourSleep: [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2014-03-27/ Well, signing, anyways]]

* TrademarkFavouriteFood: [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=592 This strip]] suggests Desmond is really fond of hot chocolate.
* TranslationByVolume: Doubly useless in [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=612 this strip]].
* UnsoundEffect: [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2013-01-31/ Drag!]] But not [[SinisterScrapingSound SCREEECH!]]
* VisualPun: Sometimes, usually when Helen describes her work to someone. [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=486 Example]].
* WrittenSoundEffect: Lots!

The comic is written and drawn by Matt and Key Daigle. It ran from 2010 to 2016, and restarted in late 2020.

* ExplainExplainOhCrap: [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2016-03-17/ A dive instructor is reluctant to bring Desmond on a scuba dive because Desmond can't hear.]] Helen asks him how they communicate with the hearing, and the dive instructor tells her about the hand signals--which he immediately realizes do not require a person to hear. He feels rather silly and apologizes to Helen.

* MotorMouth: Or Motor Hands, in any case. Desmond can sign ''fast''. Some of his [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=565 friends]] run into this issue while talking with inexperienced ASL speakers.

** One strip ([[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=673 #673]]) is set at a beach, where the roar of the ocean makes it [[ICantHearYou hard to hear]] distant conversations, so the characters have to [[UsefulNotes/SignLanguage sign]] instead.

* BilingualBonus: While most strips have the hand gestures matching up with some of the speech bubbles, in [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=577 #577]], Desmond's response in the last panel isn't translated (he's saying, "hahaha, okay, I'll go get some").

* GirlsAreReallyScaredOfHorrorMovies: Helen is even scared of her husband reenacting them in ASL. Also see her CatapultNightmare [[http://www.thatdeafguy.com/?p=600 here]].

'''Cedric''': And you don't look ignorant.

* TalentDouble: [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible Not done for filming, but similar idea.]] Cedric's friend wants to have Cedric over for the night, but doesn't know sign language. [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2013-05-16/ Cedric comes up with an idea where he stands behind his friend, tucks his arms under his friend's armpits, and signs for him.]] Desmond is impressed with Cedric's ingenuity.

* TalentDouble: [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible Done in the same way, anyways.]] Cedric's friend wants to have Cedric over for the night, but doesn't know sign language. [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2013-05-16/ Cedric comes up with an idea where he stands behind his friend, tucks his arms under his friend's armpits, and signs for him.]] Desmond is impressed with Cedric's ingenuity.

* AlreadyTheCase[=/=]ExplainExplainOhCrap: [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2016-03-17/ A dive instructor is reluctant to bring Desmond on a scuba dive because he can't hear. Helen asks him how they communicate with the hearing, and the dive instructor tells her about the hand signals--which he realizes is a) the basis of all sign languages and b) do not require a person to hear. He feels rather silly.

* AlreadyTheCase/ExplainExplainOhCrap: [[https://thatdeafguy.com/2016-03-17/ A dive instructor is reluctant to bring Desmond on a scuba dive because he can't hear. Helen asks him how they communicate with the hearing, and the dive instructor tells her about the hand signals--which he realizes is a) the basis of all sign languages and b) do not require a person to hear. He feels rather silly.