Line #61 ComicBook/Travis


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]].

Context ComicBook / Travis