1 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9782847894158_cg.jpg]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:350:Vlad and Travis, ready to kick ass.]] |
3 | |
4 | ''"For everybody else, Steve Travis is just the victim of an unfortunate turn of events. [[BigBad I]], however, see him as an unexpected and, by definition, unpredictable [[SpannerInTheWorks agent of chaos]]."'' |
5 | ----------------- |
6 | |
7 | ''Travis'' is a French ComicBook series created by writer Creator/FredDuval and artist Creator/ChristopheQuet, set in the same world as ''[[Franchise/CarmenMcCallumAndTravis Carmen Mc Callum]]''. |
8 | |
9 | The year is 2052, and the world is ruled by [[MegaCorp Megacorporations]]. Steve Travis is a freelance SpaceTrucker, using his shuttle to resupply various [[SpaceStation space stations]]. Unbeknownst to him, however, a bunch of terrorists led by [[{{Nanomachines}} nano-augmented]] [[ProfessionalKiller killer]] Vlad Nyrki have been hiding in his cargo deck in order to infiltrate [[MeaningfulName ''Huracán'']], a [[WeatherControlMachine weather-control]] satellite, where Travis is headed. Vlad has [[ItsPersonal old scores to settle]], but who is he really working for? And is Travis truly just a RightManInTheWrongPlace, or is there more to him than meets the eye? |
10 | |
11 | While the first volume of ''Travis'' is basically [[RecycledInSpace ''Die Hard'' in space]], the series quickly develops complex stories of corporate intrigue, industrial espionage, cybernetic conspiracies, and adventure. |
12 | |
13 | 15 volumes have been published between 1997 and 2019, divided into several story arcs: |
14 | |
15 | * '''Cyberner Arc''' (volumes 1 to 5): deals with the ''Huracán'' crisis and the following CorporateWarfare. |
16 | * '''Vitruvia Arc''' (volumes 6.1, 6.2 and 7): revolves around the schemes of the Vitruvia corporation to expropriate the denizens of the ''Hameau des Chênes'' ("the Oak Hamlet"). |
17 | * '''[=H2O=] Arc''' (volumes 8 to 10): deals with the attempt of a [[AIIsACrapshoot rogue AI]] with a [[AGodAmI God complex]] to poison the water reserves of Earth. This story actually continues and ends in the sister series, ''Carmen Mc Callum''. |
18 | * '''Marcos' Children Arc''' (volumes 11 to 13): Travis has disappeared and a dangerous drug-trafficking [[TheCartel Cartel]] seems involved. |
19 | * '''Europe Mission Arc''' (started in volume 14): Travis finds himself in the middle of a revolt of the [[BioAugmentation genetically-enhanced]] workers of the megacorporations' space colonies. |
20 | ---- |
21 | |
22 | ---- |
23 | !! This ComicBook series provides examples of: |
24 | * AGodAmI: Dommy. The leader of the Merida cartel also counts, as he has renamed himself Buluc Chabtan, "god of death and sacrifice". |
25 | * AIIsACrapshoot: Averted with Peggy. Played straight with Dommy. |
26 | * AllThereInTheManual: Understanding the conclusion of the Marcos' Children arc relies heavily on the reader's knowledge of the sister series, Carmen Mc Callum. |
27 | * AntiHero: Vlad, after his HeelFaceTurn. |
28 | * ArmorPiercingQuestion: Pacman delivers an epic one to the Cyberner Construct. |
29 | ---> '''Pacman''': Tell me sir, do you even know ''who'' you are? |
30 | * AtrociousAlias: Vlad uses "Bram Tepes" as an alias at some point. |
31 | * BackFromTheDead: Harry Hausen is decapitated in volume 4. He comes back in 6.2 as a {{Cyborg}}. |
32 | * BaitAndSwitch: in the Marcos' Children Arc, the characters (and so the reader) believes the [[spoiler: Winged Serpent AI]] that controls the cartels is actually [[spoiler: Dommy]]. It's not. Although [[spoiler: Dommy]] is up to no good [[OutOfFocus in the background]]. |
33 | * BadassNormal: Travis is an ordinary man. Don't let that fool you. |
34 | * BerserkButton: God helps you if you hurt someone Vlad cares about. |
35 | * BigApplesauce: New York figures prominently during the [=H2O=] Arc. |
36 | * BigBad: The Cyberner Construct in the first arc. [[DragonAscendant Harry Hausen]] in later stories. |
37 | * BioAugmentation: Hinted at in Marcos' Children arc, where human-feline hybrids can be seen among the cartels' forces. Becomes the main focus of the following Europe Mission arc. |
38 | * BloodKnight: Even after his HeelFaceTurn, Vlad's methods are pretty... brutal. |
39 | * BrainyBrunette: Anna Carlsen. |
40 | * BoomHeadshot: How [[spoiler: Harry Hausen]] is finally killed for good at the end of the [=H2O=] Arc. It's even a bit [[CombatPragmatist anticlimatic]]. |
41 | * BroughtDownToBadass: Vlad, after [[spoiler: getting rid of the {{Nanomachines}}]]. |
42 | * CodeName: "Nowhere Man" for [[spoiler: Travis]]. |
43 | * CorporateWarfare: What the Cyberners are trying to achieve. |
44 | * CorruptCorporateExecutive: It's {{Cyberpunk}}, so a whole lot of them. Sir Baxter and Lord Martin, in particular. |
45 | * CoolOldGuy: "Uncle" Terry Flint. |
46 | * CoolShip: Travis' shuttle. |
47 | * CrapsackWorld: Becomes increasingly obvious as the series progresses. |
48 | * {{Cyberpunk}} |
49 | * CyberpunkWithAChanceOfRain: Averted. All kinds of weather are seen in the series. |
50 | * {{Cyborg}}: Harry Hausen gets [[OffWithHisHead decapitated]], but his severed head is later mounted on a cybernetic body. |
51 | * DamselInDistress: Anna, and later Ashley. |
52 | * DarkActionGirl: Miss Thundercat. |
53 | * DeadpanSnarker: Vlad and Pacman. |
54 | * DeathSeeker: [[spoiler: Miss Thundercat]] after being freed from [[spoiler: the Cyberners' control]]. [[spoiler: She [[WorthLivingFor changes her mind]]]] after helping [[spoiler: save New York]] at the end of the [=H2O=] Arc. |
55 | * {{Determinator}}: All main protagonists. |
56 | * TheDragon: Harry Hausen is originally the Dragon of the Cyberners. |
57 | * DragonAscendant: Harry Hausen takes over the Cyberners' operation after volume 5. |
58 | * DumbBlonde: Averted big time in the series. Louise Beaulieu is a Tomboy and scientist, Sandy Strummer is a [[MegaCorp corporation]] CEO's HyperCompetentSidekick, Elena Dinova is an IntrepidReporter. |
59 | * EarlyBirdCameo: Harry Hausen appears on the first page of the first volume. |
60 | * EmbarrassingNickname: Travis really doesn't like to be called "Stevie". |
61 | * EverybodyCallsHimBarkeep: Everybody calls Terry "Uncle". |
62 | * EvilBrit: Sir Baxter and Lord Martin. |
63 | * TheFace: The Cyberner Construct is the mouthpiece of [[spoiler: the Cyberners' [[MentalFusion collective consciousness]]]]. |
64 | * FaustianRebellion: Vlad and Pacman both turn on the Cyberners. |
65 | * FieryRedhead: Mary Kate. |
66 | * FireForgedFriends: Travis and Vlad, against all odds. |
67 | * FrenchJerk: Averted, thanks to being a French ComicBook. |
68 | * FriendlyEnemy: At the end of the [=H2O=], [[spoiler: Miss Thundercat]] leaves the heroes on good terms. |
69 | * FromNobodyToNightmare: Pablo Sanchez used to deliver tacos. Now he runs TheCartel. |
70 | * GreaterScopeVillain: Dommy. Her schemes affect the whole franchise. |
71 | * GreyAndGrayMorality: Even heroic characters like Travis often take morally ambiguous decisions and side with questionable people. |
72 | * GoodScarsEvilScars: Played straight at first with Vlad, who has a scarred face and is a villain. Subverted later, when he becomes [[HeelFaceTurn one of the heroes]]. |
73 | * HappilyMarried: While not married per se, [[spoiler: Vlad and Ashley]] are living together and seem pretty happy by the beginning of volume 11. |
74 | * HeelFaceTurn: Both Vlad Nyrki and Pacman start as villains and become Travis' allies later on. Vlad is even the main protagonist of several albums. |
75 | ** Averted with Miss Thundercat, who becomes a FriendlyEnemy but is still a remorseless killer as of volume 14. |
76 | * TheHero: Steve Travis, complete with LanternJawOfJustice. |
77 | * HeroicBSOD: After the WhamEpisode described below, Travis [[spoiler: becomes depressed and alcoholic]]. |
78 | * HonestCorporateExecutive: Pierre Levallois. |
79 | * HonorAmongThieves: In the end, [[spoiler: Buluc Chabtan]] refuses to abandon his "brother", [[spoiler: the Winged Serpent AI]], even if it means going OffTheGrid and renouncing his plans. |
80 | * TheInfiltration: [[spoiler: Travis]] is actually working for [[spoiler: the European Parliament]] to keep an eye on the [[MegaCorp megacorporations]]' actions, using his work as a [[spoiler: SpaceTrucker]] as a cover. |
81 | * IntrepidReporter: Elena Dinova, bordering on [[ThrillSeeker being addicted to danger]]. |
82 | * KarmaHoudini: Vlad might become a good guy as the story advances, he still brutally kills a lot of innocent people in the early albums and never really faces justice for it. |
83 | * LanternJawOfJustice: Travis definitely qualifies. |
84 | * LastNameBasis: Travis. |
85 | * MeaningfulName: When he first meets Ashley, Vlad is amused that her family name is [[{{Literature/Dracula}} Harker]]. Travis [[LateToThePunchline doesn't get the joke]]. [[spoiler: Vlad and Ashley later begin a relationship]]. |
86 | * MeatPuppet: Contrary to Vlad and Pacman who were ForcedIntoEvil, Miss Thundercat is fully controlled by the Cyberners. |
87 | * MegaCorp: Baxter & Martin, Transgenic, Vitruvia... |
88 | * MentalFusion: The true nature of [[spoiler: the Cyberners]]. |
89 | * MoralityPet: Elena becomes this for [[spoiler: Buluc Chabtan]]. |
90 | * MultiPartEpisode: Volume 6 is actually split in two separate albums, numbered 6.1 (focusing on Travis) and 6.2 (focusing on Vlad). |
91 | * NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Buluc Chabtan, "god of death and sacrifice", leader of TheCartel. His real name is actually Pablo Sanchez. |
92 | * {{Nanomachines}}: They keep Vlad alive and give him [[EmpoweredBadassNormal superhuman strength]]. Unfortunately, also used by the Cyberners' to [[PoisonAndCureGambit control him]]. [[spoiler: He's cleansed his system of them by volume 11.]] |
93 | * {{Narm}}: The series has a few narmy moments, especially when characters exchange romantic banter. |
94 | * NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: A few side characters look like famous actors. One of the Cartel leaders in the Marcos' Children arc is clearly based off [[Creator/DannyTrejo Danny Trejo]] for instance. |
95 | * OffWithHisHead: How Miss Thundercat kills Harry Hausen [[spoiler: the first time]]. |
96 | * PlayfulHacker: Pacman's persona is this at times, although he can also be dead serious if the situation calls for it. |
97 | * PoisonAndCureGambit: Vlad and Pacman need regular injections of {{Nanomachines}} to survive, which is how the Cyberners kept them under control. |
98 | * {{Portmanteau}}: Pacman's real name is Paquito Mannoni. Also Miss Thundercat is really Catherine Thunders. |
99 | * PutOnABus: Louise Beaulieu is an astronaut, and midway through the series she leaves Earth for several months, maybe even years, as part of a mission to Jupiter. Travis and her are still a [[OfficialCouple couple]] nonetheless, and he receives news once in a while. |
100 | ** TheBusCameBack: In volume 14, the Europe Mission is back, and Louise gets a lot of focus as a result. |
101 | * PrivateDetective: Jerry Dammers, of the PunchClockVillain variety. |
102 | * PsychoForHire: Vlad, in the beginning. Also Harry Hausen, especially after being BackFromTheDead. |
103 | * SadisticChoice: Harry Hausen seemingly puts Vlad through one, by forcing him to choose between [[spoiler: Pacman and Anna]]. Ultimately subverted as [[spoiler: Harry needs Pacman and always intended to kill Anna, the choice was just a way to make Vlad suffer]]. |
104 | * RedHeadedHero: Travis. |
105 | * RescueRomance: Travis and Louise Beaulieu. Later, [[spoiler: Vlad and Ashley Harker]]. |
106 | * RippedFromTheHeadlines: The story of the Oak Hamlet during the Vitruvia Arc is inspired by real estate scandals such as the "Ghost Village" of Pirou [[http://www.lemonde.fr/francaises-francais/visuel/2016/12/12/le-dernier-soupir-du-village-fantome-de-pirou_5047734_4999913.html]]. |
107 | * RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Seems to be Vlad's motivation at the beginning of the series. [[spoiler: While it's partly true, he's also being [[ForcedIntoEvil forced to do the Cyberners' bidding]] to get his dose of fresh {{Nanomachines}}.]] |
108 | * SharkPool: How Dommy decides to get rid of Ashley Harker. |
109 | * SmugSnake: "Slim City" Hunter. |
110 | * SpaceStation: A few of them. |
111 | * SpaceTrucker: Travis' job. |
112 | * TakeThat: One of the [[MegaCorp corporate]] reps in volume 14 looks suspiciously like [[UsefulNotes/ThePresidentsOfFrance French President Emmanuel Macron]], even using the exact same words regarding the "crazy money" improving the life conditions of space workers would cost them. Louise [[ShutUpHannibal promptly]] compares him to an 18th century slave trader. |
113 | * TheCameo: Carmen Mc Callum, after being namedropped a few times, makes a short appearance in person in volume 14. |
114 | * ThoseTwoGuys: Jeffrey and Howard, Pacman's protégés. |
115 | * TrueCompanions: Vlad and Pacman. |
116 | * VillainExitStageLeft: [[spoiler: Buluc Chabtan]] at the end of Marcos' Children arc. |
117 | * WarForFunAndProfit: Harry Hausen's main motivation for working with Dommy. |
118 | * WeatherControlMachine: The ''Huracán'' satellite. |
119 | * WhamEpisode: Volume 7, ''La Tarentule'' (The Tarentula): [[spoiler: both Anna and Mary Kate]] are killed, [[spoiler:Pacman]] is being held by the bad guys, and Travis [[spoiler:has blown his cover.]] |
120 | * WriteWhatYouKnow: Stories usually take place in [[CreatorProvincialism Europe or in France]]. |
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