History YMMV / WhenHeavenSpitsYouOut

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, Janie was supposed to be a red-headed boy named Jamie Niemczyk. [=MacVeigh=] decided to change the character to Janie to add a different dynamic to the characters, and her last name became Hanzlicek so that alphabetically, she and Ryan would come close to each other on the register and thus have the same dorm room. The "Jamie" name remains as an alias for Janie to hide the truth about her from Simon.

* ToughActToFollow: At the point this comic came out, [=MacVeigh=] had been writing the characters from the ''[[Webcomic/MaddieOnTheIslandHue Mad]][[Webcomic/MaddieInAmerica die]]'' series and ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' for almost five years, and suddenly [[MissingEpisode deleted them]] before finishing the latter, so ''any'' followup was bound to get this reaction. It didn't help that his first attempt at a comic unrelated to those characters ''Webcomic/Red348'' was considered by some to just be "meh" due to mainly being AuthorAppeal for [=MacVeigh=] to showcase his love of cars. That said, this comic seems to at least be doing a better job than that one due to focusing more on the characters, delving into backstories, and showcasing bonds more, all of which were what made his other comics so engaging. While some may be upset that ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' may never be finished, this comic is at least a respectable followup to it.

* BrokenBase: Regarding the portrayal of Christianity/Catholicism in the story. Is it painting the religion in a bad light by having characters like Simon and the pastor at Ryan's church who take what they hear and twist it into something that makes them blinded to some people's feelings, as well as having Ryan question his faith? Or, is it saying that it's OK to practice it as long as you're still a good person? Supporting the latter, it should be noted that although Ryan has a crisis of faith, he still feels no shame in confessing his guilt about lying to his family through praying to God. This coupled with the fact that [=MacVeigh's=] previous comics had at least two positive portrayals of practicing Christians in Andy Taylor and Matthew O'Rourke seem to support the latter more than the former.
* ConsolationAward: Though Ryan has to surrender his nomination for the English award after writing a piece about Janie for fear his parents, specifically Simon, would find out that he'd secretly gone to Israel and been associating with a Jewish girl, he takes comfort in the fact that the piece cheered Janie up, which to him was the real award.
* FakeAmerican: Ryan is basically narrating the entire story in this version, but the audiobook is narrated by [=MacVeigh=], who is British (and makes no attempt to hide his accent).
* FridgeHorror: In the book, it is stated that, by 1990, Mark and Ryan have been estranged for 12 years, meaning that something will happen during the course of the story that will result in the two brothers becoming estranged.
* GeniusBonus: After [[spoiler: Ryan's arm is broken]], he is seen the next morning reading Psalm 15 in the Bible (as commented on by Simon). Basically, the passage can be summed up as "Those who are righteous and caring will never be shaken." As Ryan himself is most likely feeling shaken at the moment due to [[spoiler: his father breaking his arm]], he could very well either be questioning, or trying to seek comfort in the passage.
* JerkassWoobie: [[spoiler: Jinny, in her younger years, was an immature prankster who ignored her sister and forced Simon into having sex with her. Still, it's hard to not feel sorry for her when she gets pregnant, as her family disowns her, she is forced into marriage before she's ready, and she winds up having to raise a child that her husband doesn't care much for. She also is a lot more caring towards Ryan and Mark, and it's clear that she doesn't want them to end up like she did. On the other side, Simon, while also being a delinquent who got in trouble with the law a lot when he was young, possesses some Woobie traits, like growing up a poor orphan, and getting in with the wrong crowd that helped him to make some of his decisions. However, any sympathy some may feel for him is thrown out the window due to his unapologetic treatment of Ryan]].

** [[spoiler: During Part 5, when an impregnated Jinny is forced out of her home and into the cruel world with her shotgun groom, Simon.]]

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the portrayal of Ryan's church in Baltimore was seen by some as [=MacVeigh=] painting Christianity in a bad light, Father Paul's church in Volume 7 is shown to focus a lot more on the teaching and communal aspects of the religion.

** AuthorsSavingThrow: After the portrayal of Ryan's church in Baltimore was seen by some as [=MacVeigh=] painting Christianity in a bad light, Father Paul's church in Volume 7 is shown to focus a lot more on the teaching and communal aspects of the religion.
** BrokenBase: Regarding the portrayal of Christianity/Catholicism in the story. Is it painting the religion in a bad light by having characters like Simon and the pastor at Ryan's church who take what they hear and twist it into something that makes them blinded to some people's feelings, as well as having Ryan question his faith? Or, is it saying that it's OK to practice it as long as you're still a good person? Supporting the latter, it should be noted that although Ryan has a crisis of faith, he still feels no shame in confessing his guilt about lying to his family through praying to God. This coupled with the fact that [=MacVeigh's=] previous comics had at least two positive portrayals of practicing Christians in Andy Taylor and Matthew O'Rourke seem to support the latter more than the former.

** ToughActToFollow: At the point this comic came out, [=MacVeigh=] had been writing the characters from the ''[[Webcomic/MaddieOnTheIslandHue Mad]][[Webcomic/MaddieInAmerica die]]'' series and ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' for almost five years, and suddenly [[MissingEpisode deleted them]] before finishing the latter, so ''any'' followup was bound to get this reaction. It didn't help that his first attempt at a comic unrelated to those characters ''Webcomic/Red348'' was considered by some to just be "meh" due to mainly being AuthorAppeal for [=MacVeigh=] to showcase his love of cars. That said, this comic seems to at least be doing a better job than that one due to focusing more on the characters, delving into backstories, and showcasing bonds more, all of which were what made his other comics so engaging. While some may be upset that ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' may never be finished, this comic is at least a respectable followup to it.

** ToughActToFollow: At the point this comic came out, [=MacVeigh=] had been writing the characters from the ''[[Webcomic/MaddieOnTheIslandHue Mad]][[Webcomic/MaddieInAmerica die]]'' series and ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' for almost five years, and suddenly [[MissingEpisode deleted them]] before finishing the latter, so ''any'' followup was bound to get this reaction. It didn't help that his first attempt at a comic unrelated to those characters ''Webcomic/Red348'' was considered by some to just be "meh" due to mainly being AuthorAppeal for [=MacVeigh=] to showcase his love of cars. That said, this comic seems to at least be doing a better job than that one due to focusing more on the characters, delving into backstories, and showcasing bonds more, all of which were what made his other comics so engaging. While some may be upset that ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' may never be finished, this comic is at least a respectable followup to it.

** BrokenBase: Regarding the portrayal of Christianity/Catholicism in the story. Is it painting the religion in a bad light by having characters like Simon and the pastor at Ryan's church who take what they hear and twist it into something that makes them blinded to some people's feelings, as well as having Ryan question his faith? Or, is it saying that it's OK to practice it as long as you're still a good person? Supporting the latter, it should be noted that although Ryan has a crisis of faith, he still feels no shame in confessing his guilt about lying to his family through praying to God. This coupled with the fact that [=MacVeigh's=] previous comics had at least two positive portrayals of practicing Christians in Andy Taylor and Matthew O'Rouke seem to support the latter more than the former.

** ToughActToFollow: At the point this comic came out, [=MacVeigh=] had been writing the characters from the ''[[Webcomic/MaddieOnTheIslandHue Mad]][[Webcomic/MaddieInAmerica die]]'' series and ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' for almost five years, and suddenly stopped before finishing the latter, so ''any'' followup was bound to get this reaction. It didn't help that his first attempt at a comic unrelated to those characters ''Webcomic/Red348'' was considered by some to just be "meh" due to mainly being AuthorAppeal for [=MacVeigh=] to showcase his love of cars. That said, this comic seems to at least be doing a better job than that one due to focusing more on the characters, delving into backstories, and showcasing bonds more, all of which were what made his other comics so engaging. While some may be upset that ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' may never be finished, this comic is at least a respectable followup to it.

** ToughActToFollow: At the point this comic came out, [=MacVeigh=] had been writing the characters from the the ''[[Webcomic/MaddieOnTheIslandHue Mad]][[Webcomic/MaddieInAmerica die]]'' series and ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' for almost five years, and suddenly stopped before finishing the latter, so ''any'' followup was bound to get this reaction. It didn't help that his first attempt at a comic unrelated to those characters ''Webcomic/Red348'' was considered by some to just be "meh" due to mainly being AuthorAppeal for [=MacVeigh=] to showcase his love of cars. That said, this comic seems to at least be doing a better job than that one due to focusing more on the characters, delving into backstories, and showcasing bonds more, all of which were what made his other comics so engaging. While some may be upset that ''Webcomic/{{Outsiders}}'' may never be finished, this comic is at least a respectable followup to it.