History Webcomic / ThePackrat

* BoldInflation: In [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb052.jpg March 2014]], Packrat predicts that the prices of vintage synthesizers will eventually approach infinity.

* AllJustADream: In [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat_kiwi.jpg the 2013 Kiwitechnics promo]], [[Film/BackToTheFuture Marty McFly]] (actually Packrat) discovers a modified Roland Juno-106 in Doc Brown's lab. The latter tells him that he had taken it to the future and upgraded in ways downright imaginable in 1985. Turns out that this is what Marty actually dreamed when he was out cold in Lorraine's bed in 1955.

* GetBackToTheFuture: The 2011 storyline begins with Packrat inventing a keytar with a built-in [[Film/BackToTheFuture flux capacitor]] to capacitate the flux of 88 voltage-controlled oscillators. However, not only does the keytar work as a time machine, it also burns one VCO per year traveled. Packrat accidentally lands in 1939, burns through the remaining [=VCOs=] trying to get back, and in the times where he ends up, it's often hard enough to find even one oscillator. He spends the rest of the storyline trying to get his hands on oscillators to travel forth in time.

** Packrat [[Film/BackToTheFuture invents a keytar with a flux capacitor and meets Dr. Emmett L. Brown after ending up in 1955]] ([[http://www.umop.com/art/kb017.jpg March 2011]]).

** On December 5, 2013, Lovelace published [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat_kiwi.jpg another comic]] for that month as a promo for Kiwitechnics' Roland Juno-106 upgrade. It's a parody on ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' starring Packrat as Marty.

* CollectorOfTheStrange: There are synthesizer collectors in real life, but Packs takes this [[UpToEleven to ludicrous extremes]]. Then again, he actually ''parodies'' synth collectors.

* DirectDemographic: Synth freaks. Nobody else would even understand the stories and the jokes.

* AgonyOfTheFeet: In [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat_kb003.jpg August 2005]], a Yamaha [=CS80=] fell onto Packrat's feet.[[note]]That thing is infamous for weighing some 200 pounds.[[/note]]

'''The Packrat''' is a series of comic strips created by David C. Lovelace (of ''WebAnimation/RetardedAnimalBabies'' and Metasonix front panel design fame) in 2005. They're all available [[http://www.umop.com/packrat.htm online]], some of the older ones including the first four ones exclusively, so the series does qualify as a web comic, but some of the strips, including the current ones, made it into print media.

** The [=MAD-Ray=] is a shout-out to ''SpiesLikeUs''.

*** Howard Jones, StevieWonder, Thomas Dolby and HerbieHancock appear in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb026.jpg December 2011 strip]] in a parody on their 1985 "live" appearance.

* TheCameo: During his time travel, Packrat meets a whole line of famous persons from along the history of synthesizers whom he asks (that is, he sometimes doesn't) to help him get back to his present.
** Of course, there are synth inventors [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb018.jpg Hugh]] [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb019.jpg LeCaine]], [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb020.jpg Robert A. Moog]] and [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb022.jpg Don Buchla]].
** In California in 1968, Packrat meets Music/TheBeachBoys who happen to have a {{Theremin}} (see below).
** Howard Jones, StevieWonder, Thomas Dolby and HerbieHancock appear in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb026.jpg December 2011 strip]] in a parody on their 1985 "live" appearance. Also, several Website/YouTube "celebrities" in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb013.jpg November 2010 strip]].

The main character, Packrat, not only is a rodent, he's also the stereotype of a gear-hogging but largely uncreative synthesizer nerd taken to the extreme. He is one of the worst cases of Gear Acquisition Syndrome ever seen. He buys every synthesizer he can get, no matter how overpriced (but not if it's seriously damaged [[SkewedPriorities by his definition]]), and he prefers real hardware synths, preferably but not exclusively vintage analog ones, no matter how expensive. Yet, he rarely ever puts his synths to good use. It is a kind of RunningGag that Packrat never actually does anything creative with his gear such as recording and producing his own electronic music. All this gets him into frequent arguments with his wife, at least before his divorce which grants him more time and space for more synths.

Originally, Lovelace drew ''The Packrat'' mostly for himself and had it posted on [=MatrixSynth=]. After a couple of irregularly published strips, he got the chance to have ''The Packrat'' printed in the Keyboard magazine where it ran for eight issues until its hiatus in February 2006. Said hiatus lasted for more than four years, only interrupted by three special occasion comics. In August 2010, ''The Packrat'' returned to both the Web and the Keyboard Magazine.

* AgonyOfTheFeet: In [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat_kb003.jpg August 2005]], a Yamaha [=CS80=] fell onto Packrat's feet.
* BoldInflation
* BrandX: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]; every single brand name is real, although they're mostly reduced to manufacturers and models of electronic musical instruments.
* TheCameo: Howard Jones, StevieWonder, Thomas Dolby and HerbieHancock appear in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb026.jpg December 2011 strip]]. Also, several Website/YouTube "celebrities" in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb013.jpg November 2010 strip]].
** During his time travel, Packrat meets a whole line of famous persons from the history of synthesizers whom he asks to help him get back to his present.
* ChristmasEpisode: [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat_kb007.jpg December 2005]]. Complete with a Buchla serving as the Christmas tree.

* EldritchAbomination: The Demon of Waste from [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb014.jpg December 2010]], basically a typical Lovelace creature, but with countless eyes and a mouth full of keyboards. His only effect on Packrat is that the latter realizes there are still instruments he hasn't owned yet.
* ExposedAnimalBellybutton

* GeniusBonus: Most of the series seems to be one big one, but a possible actual bonus is to spot and name synthesizers and other devices which appear in the strips but remain unmentioned.

** Packrat [[Film/BackToTheFuture invents a keytar with a flux capacitor and meets Dr. Emmett L. Brown after ending up in 1955]].

** [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb010.jpg August 2010]], Packrat's double-sized return-to-Keyboard strip, has him redo the famous synthesizer scene from ''CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'' (and pay {{homage}} to the appearance of a giant ARP 2500 synth in custom cases).

* GetBackToTheFuture: The 2011 storyline begins with Packrat inventing a keytar with a built-in [[BackToTheFuture flux capacitor]] to capacitate the flux of 88 voltage-controlled oscillators. However, not only does the keytar work as a time machine, it also burns one VCO per year traveled. Packrat accidentally lands in 1939, burns through the remaining [=VCOs=] trying to get back, and in the times where he ends up, it's often hard enough to find even one oscillator. He spends the rest of the storyline trying to get his hands on oscillators to travel forth in time.

** Packrat [[BackToTheFuture invents a keytar with a flux capacitor and meets Dr. Emmett L. Brown after ending up in 1955]].

* TheCameo: Howard Jones, StevieWonder, Thomas Dolby and HerbieHancock appear in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb026.jpg December 2011 strip]]. Also, several YouTube "celebrities" in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb013.jpg November 2010 strip]].

* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Packrat's time in 1939.

* TheCameo[=/=]RealPersonCameo: Howard Jones, StevieWonder, Thomas Dolby and HerbieHancock appear in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb026.jpg December 2011 strip]]. Also, several YouTube "celebrities" in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb013.jpg November 2010 strip]].

* BeyondTheImpossible:
** The Yamaha GX-1 is already huge, expensive and hard to get, but on [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat04.jpg March 24, 2005]], Packrat dreams of a custom-made GX-2.
** In [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat_kb004.jpg September 2005]], we learn that Packrat has a 19" rack that goes over at least three floors of his house.
*** FridgeLogic[=/=]RuleOfFunny: Anyone with common sense would simply line up multiple racks next to one another.
** [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat06_2007_0504.jpg May 2007]] reveals that Packrat owns every single Moog model ever made, including Voyagers in all 40 possible wood and backlight combinations.
** Some of Packrat's orders for [=CustomSynth=] in [[http://www.umop.com/art/packrat07_2007_0706.jpg July 2007]].

* TheCameo: Howard Jones, StevieWonder, Thomas Dolby and HerbieHancock appear in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb026.jpg December 2011 strip]]. Also, several YouTube "celebrities" in the [[http://www.umop.com/art/kb013.jpg November 2010 strip]].