History WrongGenreSavvy / WebComics

%%* At one point in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', Minmax and his party encounter a rival party of [[OurZombiesAreDifferent zombie adventurers]], and Minmax lists a number of common zombie tropes, including the fact that [[ZombieGait they shouldn't be able to move faster than a slow shamble]]. When the zombies subvert this trope by charging towards him at running speed, he accuses them of being "cheater zombies".

%%* ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'': After all the manly guys are infected with [[{{Bishonen}} Nomura]] [[TheVirus syndrome]], Commander Badass decides to chase after [[spoiler: Creator/{{Gackt}}]] and defeat him in hand-to-hand combat [[NoOntologicalInertia in order to reverse the virus]], since as an ActionHero guy, that sort of response should fix his problem. As it turns out, [[spoiler: Gackt's]] death [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome doesn't magically get rid of the virus]]. The Commander admits in hindsight how [[DidntThinkThisThrough dumb he was]] [[LampshadeHanging to assume it would]].

** Tsukiko thinks she's the[[invoked]] MarySue heroine of a ''[[Literature/TheTwilightSaga Twilight]]''-style supernatural romance, while the comic is a ''D&D''-inspired high fantasy that loves subverting the tropes of the genre. She believes that the dead are better than the living [[InsaneTrollLogic because she thinks the living are all]] [[HumansAreBastards bastards]] [[InsaneTrollLogic and the dead are their exact opposites]]. She thinks that Xykon is an Edward Cullen-style paranormal romantic hero just waiting for the perfect girl (i.e. her) to "heal" him and she thinks that Redcloak is an ineffective spineless wimp who is just going to passively let her get away with absolutely everything [[spoiler:including outright informing Xykon of Redcloak's treachery. Redcloak brutally proves her wrong]] and Xykon doesn't really give a damn about her -- he can't even remember her name.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Storm}}'', Arche interprets the world in terms of the romantic adventures she's read. She thinks Eolill is a KnightInShiningArmor and wants to go on quests. Unfortunately, it's not that kind of world.

** Tsukiko thinks she's the[[invoked]] MarySue heroine of a ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''-style supernatural romance, while the comic is a ''D&D''-inspired high fantasy that loves subverting the tropes of the genre. She believes that the dead are better than the living [[InsaneTrollLogic because she thinks the living are all]] [[HumansAreBastards bastards]] [[InsaneTrollLogic and the dead are their exact opposites]]. She thinks that Xykon is an Edward Cullen-style paranormal romantic hero just waiting for the perfect girl (i.e. her) to "heal" him and she thinks that Redcloak is an ineffective spineless wimp who is just going to passively let her get away with absolutely everything [[spoiler:including outright informing Xykon of Redcloak's treachery. Redcloak brutally proves her wrong]] and Xykon doesn't really give a damn about her -- he can't even remember her name.

* ''Bogleech Comics'' did a series ([[https://www.deviantart.com/scythemantis/art/Zombie-Fans-163989330 1]], [[https://www.deviantart.com/scythemantis/art/Zombie-Fans-2-165069610 2]], [[https://www.deviantart.com/scythemantis/art/Zombie-Fans-3-165870312 3]], [[https://www.deviantart.com/scythemantis/art/Zombie-Fans-4-166768225 4]][[https://www.deviantart.com/scythemantis/art/Zombie-Fans-5-167727423 5]]) in which fans of [[Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968 Romero-style]] zombie movies go up against monsters that are [[OurZombiesAreDifferent similar to zombies, but not identical to them]]. It isn't pretty.

* ''Bogleech Comics'' [[http://www.bogleech.com/comics/comic90-zombiefans.htm did a series]] in which fans of [[Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968 Romero-style]] zombie movies go up against monsters that are [[OurZombiesAreDifferent similar to zombies, but not identical to them]]. It isn't pretty.

* ''Bogleech Comics'' [[http://www.bogleech.com/comics/comic90-zombiefans.htm did a series]] in which fans of [[Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968 Romero-style]] zombie movies go up against monsters that are [[OurZombiesAreDifferent similar to zombies, but not identical to them]]. [[KillEmAll It isn't pretty]].

* An odd example that may be both a subversion and a straight example occurs [[http://somethingpositive.net/sp11232008.shtml here]]. Lucy believes that she and the rest of the group are in a horror movie plot, which the current arc certainly resembles. This worries her because, due to the tropes associated with horror movies, none of them will survive. However, she isn't in a horror movie; she's in a webcomic. Given that the webcomic is ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'', her chances of survival might be even ''worse''.

* In [[https://www.swordscomic.com/swords/CCCXXI/ this]] short ''Webcomic/{{Swords}}'' strip, an adventurer is pretty aware that AllThatGlitters isn't always good for him. He later learns the hard way that anything that ''doesn't'' isn't always the right choice, either.
-->'''Troll''': You may take one sword from my treasured collection! But be warned - many carry terrible curses!
-->''(Adventurer picks up a wooden sword)''
-->'''Adventurer''': A simple test! Only a humble sword such as this will be safe!
-->'''Troll''': *snort* It wasn't a test, you dumb idiot.
-->''(The Adventurer's whole arm is now a tree)''
-->'''Adventurer''': Oh. ...Is it too late to pick again?

* The title character of ''Webcomic/MechagicalGirlLisaANT'' sees the events of her story as following the tropes of [[MagicalGirl magical girls]] anime... including when they don't.

* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'' has exaggerated this, with characters thinking and arguing as if highly unrealistic conventions of various genres should apply to their situation:
** In "The Storm Breaker Saga", Torg [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/19990723 tries to command a medieval army based on his experience of computer wargames]]:
--->'''Torg:''' All ''right'', we'll need some of the townsfolk to chop down trees, mine for gold, and set up solar collectors in case we need to build more troops. Do we have any dragons yet?
** In the chapter "Paradise", story "Displacement", Torg [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/20091207 becomes]] [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/20091208 convinced]] [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/20091209 he's inside]] a VideoGame. In all fairness, he did have a mild concussion at the time.
** In [[http://sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/971212 this strip from "Sluggy of the Living Freelance"]], Zoe gives General Mayhem a WhatTheHellHero speech for wanting to use the undead as soldiers, unaware of what kind of movie the arc is parodying, and thus having a more idealistic view of the military.
--->'''Zoe:''' I can't '''believe''' you hired scientists to raise the dead to be soldiers! I thought the military was made up of brave people. Where is your ''honor''?\\
'''General Mayhem:''' [[ShutUpKirk Sorry, miss]]. You have to understand, there are basically two divisions in the collective we call "the military." There is the heroic military, as represented in most of your early war movies, and the conspiratorial military (filled with subterfuge and deception) as represented in bad sci-fi films and ''Series/TheXFiles''.
* In [[https://www.swordscomic.com/swords/CCCXXI/ this]] short ''Webcomic/{{Swords}}'' strip, an adventurer is pretty aware that AllThatGlitters isn't always good for him. He later learns the hard way that anything that ''doesn't'' isn't always the right choice, either.
-->'''Troll''': You may take one sword from my treasured collection! But be warned - many carry terrible curses!
-->''(Adventurer picks up a wooden sword)''
-->'''Adventurer''': A simple test! Only a humble sword such as this will be safe!
-->'''Troll''': *snort* It wasn't a test, you dumb idiot.
-->''(The Adventurer's whole arm is now a tree)''
-->'''Adventurer''': Oh. ...Is it too late to pick again?
* ''Webcomic/MegaTokyo'':
** Poor Piro thinks romance works like either a Japanese DatingSim or a {{Shoujo}} manga, and constantly beats himself up for not being able to live up to the kind of situations he figures romance should entail. It's hard not to laugh when he whines about how he ''should'' be an "expert" at the subject considering [[IKnowMortalKombat all the games and manga]] he's played and read, totally without irony.
** Largo on the other hand defines himself by ActionAdventureTropes, playing the {{hotblooded}} action hero in totally inappropriate situations. Ironically, his girlfriend actually finds herself oddly attracted to this, despite or possibly due to her own deep-seated cynicism.
** When Yuki [[spoiler:is awakened as a MagicalGirl,]] she instinctively reacts by seeking out [[ImpossiblyCoolClothes cute, impractical uniforms]] and acting as if she were the main character in a series of that genre. She gets this drummed out of her when the "impractical" part makes itself apparent.
** Thankfully, the ''second'' thing she does is meet Largo, who immediately dresses her in something resembling tactical gear. Also a wonderful example of how Largo is both GenreSavvy and Wrong Genre Savvy [[TheCuckooLanderWasRight at the same time.]]
** The setting in ''[=MegaTokyo=]'' runs in multiple, overlapping genres at a time, and most characters have a WeirdnessCensor for genres that don't overlap with their own. (Piro/Largo is only the most flagrant divide.) Most moments of Wrong Genre Savvy happen when a character wanders into an element of someone else's story or when the fantastic fails and SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome occurs.
* In ''WebComic/GirlGenius'', when Gil shows Tarvek off Castle Wulfenbach while staying himself, [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120229 Tarvek accuses him of having been inspired by a penny dreadful.]]
* An odd example that may be both a subversion and a straight example occurs [[http://somethingpositive.net/sp11232008.shtml here]]. Lucy believes that she and the rest of the group are in a horror movie plot, which the current arc certainly resembles. This worries her because, due to the tropes associated with horror movies, none of them will survive. However, she isn't in a horror movie; she's in a webcomic. Given that the webcomic is ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'', her chances of survival might be even ''worse''.
** Shortly afterward Creator/WilWheaton gets his arm cut off because one of the survivors is acting like it's a zombie movie, and thinks a bite means infection... the catgirls don't work like that. [[spoiler:Given the way the guy cuddles and licks the severed arm at the end of the storyline, it's likely he was just making up an excuse.]]

* ''Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'': Wonderella after finding a Djinn, [[http://nonadventures.com/2007/11/10/djinn-there-done-that/ here]].
* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
** Tsukiko thinks she's the[[invoked]] MarySue heroine of a ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''-style supernatural romance, while the comic is a ''D&D''-inspired high fantasy that loves subverting the tropes of the genre. She believes that the dead are better than the living [[InsaneTrollLogic because she thinks the living are all]] [[HumansAreBastards bastards]] [[InsaneTrollLogic and the dead are their exact opposites]]. She thinks that Xykon is an Edward Cullen-style paranormal romantic hero just waiting for the perfect girl (i.e. her) to "heal" him and she thinks that Redcloak is an ineffective spineless wimp who is just going to passively let her get away with absolutely everything [[spoiler:including outright informing Xykon of Redcloak's treachery. Redcloak brutally proves her wrong]] and Xykon doesn't really give a damn about her -- he can't even remember her name.
** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and [[spoiler:his son]] Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]] The book commentary also points out another flaw of his: He's too dedicated to the StrictlyFormula he's used to (for example, he assumes that being [[spoiler:his son]] and [[WhiteMaleLead the only white male human of the group makes Elan the leader]]), and hasn't caught on that the comic, and the genre of high fantasy itself, has evolved and can be quite subversive in its adherence to old tropes on occasion.
--->'''Tarquin:''' [[spoiler:Elan! This arc isn't over yet! Where's the growth? You didn't lose anything! Nothing has changed! YOU GET BACK HERE AND GIVE THIS PLOTLINE A SATISFYING RESOLUTION THIS INSTANT!! ELAN! ELAN, THERE'S NO SENSE OF CLOSURE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! '''THIS IS A TERRIBLE ENDING!!!''']]
* ''Webcomic/SparklingGenerationValkyrieYuuki'': "Repeat after me: Despite what [[MagicalGirl magical girl anime]] has taught me, the monster does not go down with the first strike."
* ''Bogleech Comics'' [[http://www.bogleech.com/comics/comic90-zombiefans.htm did a series]] in which fans of [[Film/NightOfTheLivingDead1968 Romero-style]] zombie movies go up against monsters that are [[OurZombiesAreDifferent similar to zombies, but not identical to them]]. [[KillEmAll It isn't pretty]].
* [[OccidentalOtaku Eri-Chan]] from ''Webcomic/OkashinaOkashi''. She views her group and every world they end up in through Shojo-colored glasses.

* The unfortunate torturee in [[http://exterminatusnow.co.uk/2007-02-02/comic/black-and-white/the-soundproofing-also-makes-it-a-good-recording-studio/ this]] ''Webcomic/ExterminatusNow'' strip gets it ''half'' right. He's spot-on regarding the comic's goofy sense of humor, but makes the mistake of assuming that that implies an aversion to violence. Either that or he thought the Mobian Inquisition operated like [[Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus a certain other Inquisition.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', Winston manages to invert this after Florence -- a [[UpliftedAnimal Bowman's Wolf]] -- startles him when he opens the door to a knock during a hurricane... [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff400/fv00351.htm while he's watching a werewolf-movie marathon.]] Fortunately, while [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff400/fv00355.htm he realizes he just made the classic mistake of the horror-movie protagonist]], he survives because he's in a science-fiction webcomic.

* ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'':
** In the [[Film/ANewHope fourth arc]], a new player named Corey was introduced in the role of Luke. He keeps treating the game as if it was a video game rather than a {{tabletop game|s}}. For example, when treated with {{exposition}} about the plotline thus far, he responds, "Can I replay this {{cutscene}} later?" He soon grows out of this.
** Corey falls for a form of it when [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/1000.html he reaches Dagobah]] in the ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' arc. He goes in with no active sensors to avoid detection by the native population (for security reasons, assuming they're all Imperials). This leads to him [[http://www.darthsanddroids.net/episodes/1002.html faceplanting in a swamp]] because he couldn't tell what kind of planet he was ''actually'' landing on (he thought the fog was smog).

* Mrs. Blake of ''Webcomic/PennyBlackfeather'' persistently tries to set Penny up with a man Penny unambiguously hates.
-->'''Mrs. Blake:''' If novels have taught me anything it is that [[BelligerentSexualTension couples that argue will eventually fall head over heels in love]] and have dozens of babies. La!
* The webcomic ''{{Webcomic/Sire}}'' has a force of fate known as The Binding which forces characters to stick to the narratives and morals of their Sire/Dame's story. The only way to survive is to learn lessons and not get caught in the same traps of their forbears. However, those who learn the wrong lessons or ignore them completely? [[http://sire.thewebcomic.com/comics/1439466/chapter-4-page-21/ They receive a tragic ending.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Storm}}'', Arche interprets the world in terms of the romantic adventures she's read. She thinks Eolill is a KnightInShiningArmor and wants to go on quests. Unfortunately, it's not that kind of world.
* Chris, a minor character in ''Webcomic/ErrantStory'', believes he's the hero of a Shōnen fight manga. He's wrong on both counts. Amazingly, he survives.
* In ''Webcomic/PlatinumGrit'', Jack Leaderboard was a private eye who thought and acted like the protagonist in a hardboiled detective story, going undercover as a removalist to crack a case. He thought he was uncovering a sordid tale of black magic and human sacrifice featuring Nils as seductive FemmeFatale and Jeremy as a cold-blooded murderer with a perfect poker face. Nobody else even noticed his existence.
* Ensign Sue from ''Webcomic/EnsignSueMustDie'' is quite firmly convinced that she is the PuritySue protagonist of a ''Franchise/StarTrek'' suefic. Unfortunately for her, she's actually the ParodySue antagonist of a comic about how ''annoying'' such a character would realistically be. Her WrongGenreSavvy about this often reaches IRejectYourReality levels. [[spoiler: She gets forcibly dragged back to reality in the sequel.]]
%%* ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'': After all the manly guys are infected with [[{{Bishonen}} Nomura]] [[TheVirus syndrome]], Commander Badass decides to chase after [[spoiler: Creator/{{Gackt}}]] and defeat him in hand-to-hand combat [[NoOntologicalInertia in order to reverse the virus]], since as an ActionHero guy, that sort of response should fix his problem. As it turns out, [[spoiler: Gackt's]] death [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome doesn't magically get rid of the virus]]. The Commander admits in hindsight how [[DidntThinkThisThrough dumb he was]] [[LampshadeHanging to assume it would]].

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', the Storytime Zombie doesn't realize [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4243 that news stories are not straight stories]], and that [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=4244 elections are not choose-your-own-adventure.]]

** Thankfully, the ''second'' thing she does is meet [[CrazyAwesome Largo,]] who immediately dresses her in something resembling tactical gear. Also a wonderful example of how Largo is both GenreSavvy and Wrong Genre Savvy [[TheCuckooLanderWasRight at the same time.]]

** The setting in ''[=MegaTokyo=]'' runs in multiple, overlapping genres at a time, and most characters have a WeirdnessCensor for genres that don't overlap with their own. (Piro/Largo is only the most flagrant divide.) Most moments of Wrong Genre Savvy happen when a character wanders into an element of someone else's story or when the fantastic fails and RealityEnsues.

%%* ''Webcomic/ManlyGuysDoingManlyThings'': After all the manly guys are infected with [[{{Bishonen}} Nomura]] [[TheVirus syndrome]], Commander Badass decides to chase after [[spoiler: Creator/{{Gackt}}]] and defeat him in hand-to-hand combat [[NoOntologicalInertia in order to reverse the virus]], since as an ActionHero guy, that sort of response should fix his problem. As it turns out, [[spoiler: Gackt's]] death [[RealityEnsues doesn't magically get rid of the virus]]. The Commander admits in hindsight how [[DidntThinkThisThrough dumb he was]] [[LampshadeHanging to assume it would]].

** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and his son Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]] The book commentary also points out another flaw of his: He's too dedicated to the StrictlyFormula he's used to (for example, he assume that, being his son, and [[WhiteMaleLead the only white male human of the group makes Elan the leader]]), and hasn't caught on that the comic, and the genre of high fantasy itself, has evolved and can be quite subversive in its adherence to old tropes on occasion.

** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and his son Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]] The book commentary also points out another flaw of his: He's too dedicated to the StrictlyFormula he's used to (for example, he assume that, being his son, and [WhiteMaleLead the only white man of the group makes Elan the leader]]), and hasn't caught on that the comic, and the genre of high fantasy itself, has evolved and can be quite subversive in its adherence to old tropes on occasion.

* As a transmigrator, Bai Ting of ''Webcomic/CheatingMenMustDie'' is convinced that she's the heroine entitled to anything and anyone she wants. RealityEnsues as her arrogant behaviour causes her to be unpopular with both her colleagues and clients, and her wilful homewrecking makes her the ''villain'' of the story.

** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and his son Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]] The book commentary also points out another flaw of his: He's too dedicated to the StrictlyFormulahe's used to, and hasn't caught on that the comic, and the genre of high fantasy itself, can be quite subversive in its adherence to old tropes on occasion.

** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and his son Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]] The book commentary also points out another flaw of his: He's too dedicated to the StrictFormula he's used to, and hasn't caught on that the comic, and the genre of high fantasy itself, can be quite subversive in its adherence to old tropes.

** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and his son Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]] The book commentary also points out another flaw of his: He's too dedicated to the StrictFormula he's used to, and hasn't caught on that the comic, and the genre of high fantasy itself, can be quite subversive in its adherence to old trops.

** Tarquin knows perfectly well what genre he's in -- high fantasy -- and at first glance seems to be even more GenreSavvy than Elan. But as the story goes on, it becomes clear that he has one major flaw: His ego is such that he believes the story is [[ItsAllAboutMe all about him]]. He believes that he's the BigBad and his son Elan is the hero destined to overthrow him. In reality, he's just an ArcVillain, and Elan is the PluckyComicRelief of his party. [[spoiler:Elan eventually shows him CruelMercy by denying him the climactic confrontation he was hoping for, instead letting him fall off the airship and be stranded in the desert.]]