1 | [[quoteright:333:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/doug_tennapels_cardboard.jpg]] |
2 | ''Cardboard'' is a graphic novel from Creator/DougTenNapel (creator of ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim'' and ''VideoGame/TheNeverhood'') and published as a part of Scholastic's Graphix imprint. |
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4 | The story starts with Mike, a carpenter who's been out of work for a while. He wants to give his son, Cam, a cool birthday present, but all he can afford is a 78-cent cardboard box from a mysterious old man with a lazy eye named Gideon. Mike and Cam make the most of the lame birthday present by cutting and pasting the box into the shape of a cardboard boxer – who magically comes to life. The worst present in the history of birthdays quickly becomes the coolest birthday present in the history of the universe. |
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6 | When their nuisance of a neighbor Marcus finds out about the cardboard boxer, he steals some of the magic cardboard to make his own monsters. It's a foregone conclusion that his creations turn on him. With cardboard creatures rampaging all over the neighborhood, Mike, Cam, and Bill the cardboard boxer must step in to save the day. |
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8 | ---- |
9 | !!This book provides examples of: |
10 | * AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: [[spoiler:The giant Cardboard Marcus in the cardboard monsters' world.]] |
11 | * BecomeARealBoy: Bill the Boxer wants to be human. [[spoiler:It's implied that he got his wish in the end.]] |
12 | * BiggerOnTheInside: The cardboard monsters somehow manage to build an entire world inside Marcus's house. |
13 | * BrickJoke: Early in the book, Mike snarks that Marcus should get a haircut. [[spoiler:At the end, after losing his house to cardboard monsters, we see Marcus got that haircut after all.]] |
14 | * CoolShades: Pink Eye has these to hide his, well, pink eyes. |
15 | * CreatorThumbprint: No cats, and not many blatantly Christian elements (although you will find some Christian messages if you look closely), but we've got monsters galore, a speechless final page and plenty of "reverse silhouette" panels. |
16 | * DeadpanSnarker: Mike has his moments. |
17 | -->'''Marcus:''' Hey, planet killer! Get a hybrid!\ |
18 | '''Mike:''' Right after you get a haircut! |
19 | * EldritchLocation: [[spoiler:The cardboard monsters dig up Marcus' house and create their own world underground.]] |
20 | * HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Bill]] uses the [[spoiler:cloud bomb]] to destroy the cardboard monsters at the end, knowing it will kill him too. |
21 | * KillItWithWater: [[LogicalWeakness The cardboard creatures are susceptible to water.]] |
22 | * MaybeEverAfter: [[spoiler:Mike with his neighbor Tina by the end.]] |
23 | * MissingMom: Cam's mom and Mike's wife, Carol, died before the story begins. |
24 | * NinjaPirateZombieRobot: [[spoiler: The pilot of the UFO that made the magic cardboard was an alien wizard who had an inhuman grasp of quantum particle science. And was also religious.]] |
25 | * NosyNeighbor: Marcus. |
26 | * RuleOfCool: The boxing match between Bill and the Death Boxer doesn't have much to do with the plot, but it's cool. |
27 | * RunningGag: Mike sure gets punched in the jaw a lot. |
28 | * ScrewTheMoneyIHaveRules: After Mike explains how he doesn't even have money for a birthday dinner for Cam, his boss, Mr. Machousky, tries to give Mike some money from his own wallet to help out, but Mike turns the offer down for this trope. |
29 | -->'''Mr. Machousky:''' Well, you're in luck! I've got a heart and you're breakin' it right now! Don't tell anyone...but I think I can float you a little something 'til things turn around for you. I know you're good for it.\ |
30 | '''Mike:''' Thanks, boss, but I came in for a job, not a handout. |
31 | * ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Marcus's henchman Pink Eye quotes this before bolting for the door. |
32 | * ShoutOut: |
33 | ** Wouldn't be the first time Doug [=TenNapel=] has a character called [[VideoGame/TheNeverhood Bill]]. |
34 | ** Bill the Boxer can be seen reading a book called [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan The Wrath of Khan]]. |
35 | * SorcerersApprenticePlot: Marcus steals Cam's cardbord maker and uses it to make a whole army of cardboard monsters, crowning himself king over them. However, the monsters quickly get tired of working for Marcus and [[spoiler:make a cardboard copy of him, making the cardboard Marcus king.]] |
36 | * WizardsFromOuterSpace: According to Old Man Gideon, [[spoiler:the magic cardboard aparently came from the parts of an alien ship that merged into the walls of the cardboard shipping boxes. Said alien ship was piloted by a alien wizard who was a particle physicist experimenting on subatomic space travel.]] It's ambiguous if this is actually true or if Gideon was just making it up. |
37 | * WhatTheHellHero: Cam calls Mike out for trying to leave Bill to fend for himself. |
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