Line #36 ComicStrip/ThisModernWorld


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/this_modern_world.jpg]]
2
3	->''"Panel for panel, the most insightful political cartoonist is the hilarious @tomtomorrow- THIS MODERN WORLD is simultaneously the funniest, scariest & most accurate comicstrip out there!"''
4	-->--'''Creator/MarkHamill''', from [[https://twitter.com/HamillHimself/status/1067711959842414592 this tweet]]
5
6	''This Modern World'' is a weekly comic strip/political cartoon by Tom Tomorrow AKA Dan Perkins. Appearing in various [[UsefulNotes/AmericanNewspapers alternative newspapers]] around the US, and online at Daily Kos and The Nation, the strip takes a very, ''very'' liberal look at current events. Often stars Sparky, an acerbic sunglass-wearing penguin, and the Very Nice dog Blinky.
7
8	Tomorrow has also written a (non-partisan and theoretically non-political) children's book, ''The Very Silly Mayor.''
9
10	The strip's official site is [[http://thismodernworld.com/ here]]. The strip is also available [[https://www.dailykos.com/blog/Tom%20Tomorrow/ here]].
11
12	----
13	!!These Modern Tropes:
14
15	* AnimatedAdaptation:
16	** A WebAnimation during the dot-com boom.
17	** A second adaptation, to be animated by Creator/FilmRoman, was [[http://deadline.com/2016/10/film-roman-working-on-animated-series-based-on-this-modern-world-1201833138/ announced]] in 2016.
18	* AuthorAvatar: Sparky, although he sometimes interacts with Tomorrow in-strip as well.
19	* TheBlank: In one series of strips, one of these runs for president.
20	* BrainMonster: The titular terror in "[[https://images.dailykos.com/images/517153/story_image/TMW2018-03-14color.png?1520720102 The Thing That Ate America's Brain]]" (and [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/858490/story_image/TMW2020-09-23color.png?1600534632 its]] [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/996225/story_image/TMW2021-10-13color.png?1633900271 three]] [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/1154944/lightbox/TMW2023-01-23color.png?1674410238 sequels]]) is a tentacled EldritchAbomination that [[EmotionEater feeds on]] the "chaos, anger and turmoil" generated by UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump and his supporters. For his part, Trump denies colluding with "an ancient [[Creator/HPLovecraft Lovecraftian]] horror that thrives on psychic discord! [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg Or]] UsefulNotes/{{Russia}}."
21	* BrainUploading: When the titular character in "[[https://images.dailykos.com/images/1002704/story_image/TMW2021-11-03color.png?1635529951 The One Rich Guy]]" dies, his consciousness is transferred to an immortal robot body, which he uses to [[HuntingTheMostDangerousGame hunt humans for sport]].
22	* CoolShades: Sparky's futuristic sunglasses.
23	* CrapSaccharineWorld: The comic has bright pastel colors, but the tone is ruthlessly cynical.
24	* CutAndPasteComic: Tomorrow uses/traces over vintage clipart to create the strip's look.
25	* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Donald Trump, in an example that also involves elements of ExplainExplainOhCrap. (The strip is one of several portraying Trump as a parody of ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk, hence the HulkSpeak.)
26	-->'''UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton:''' And maybe he doesn't pay any taxes--\
27	'''Donald Trump:''' [[BluntYes That make Trump smart]]! Still, Trump hope no disgruntled former wife or acquaintance leak returns. ''[{{beat}}]'' Wait, did Trump say that out loud?
28	* EarthShatteringKaboom: Depicted more than once.
29	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Plutocrat Pete and Tea Party Tim both hate taxes, but unlike the latter, Plutocrat Pete doesn't want to force the government to default, which is why he sees Tim as a "nihilistic moron willing to crash the entire economy."
30	* Fiction500: The titular "One Rich Guy".
31	-->'''OpeningNarration:''' Billionaires made bank during the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic... but after the even worse pandemic of 2025, one rich guy ended up with as much wealth as the rest of humanity combined.
32	* HulkSpeak: Donald Trump's character sometimes speaks this way (when portrayed as an orange version of ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk), although while he uses the ThirdPersonPerson and poor grammar (particularly word agreement) elements, his vocabulary is relatively advanced for this trope.
33	* ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne: This exchange regarding Trump's presidency.
34	-->'''Sparky:''' We are completely and utterly screwed, but happy holidays!\
35	'''Trump:''' Hey! You ''have'' to say "[[InsistentTerminology Merry Christmas]]" now!
36	* ImAHumanitarian: All of humanity (except Donald Trump) gets eaten by aliens in [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/425845/story_image/TMW2017-07-26color.png?1500394246 this]] strip.
37	* JustJokingJustification: Donald Trump tries this in one strip about the "Donald Trump Comedy Hour".
38	-->'''Trump:''' Hey, how about those '''Second amendment people'''? Gotta love 'em! One of them oughta [[ImpliedDeathThreat take care of]] my '''[[UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton opponent]]''', amirite? Ha ha ha! '''Kidding!''' I'm just '''kidding!'''
39	* KentBrockmanNews: Broadcasts of the Action [=McNews=] Network.
40	* KidDetective: The RecurringCharacter "Conservative Jones, Internet Detective" is an ''Literature/EncyclopediaBrown'' parody who constantly takes right wing memes and claims at face value, no matter how false or absurd they are. His BeleagueredAssistant Moonbat tries to [[OnlySaneMan talk some sense]] into his boss, who [[BadBoss dismisses him with contemptuous condescension]].
41	* KillThePoor: One strip shows a post-apocalyptic world where the poor are fattened up on the available food and eaten by the rich.
42	* PooledFunds: The titular "One Rich Guy" tries this. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome It doesn't work out well for him.]]
43	-->'''The One Rich Guy:''' [[ComicBook/DisneyDucksComicUniverse Those old comic books about the rich duck]] did not mention this lack of ''buoyancy''!
44	* RightWayWrongWayPair: Goofball and Galahad (seen in [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/571670/story_image/TMW2018-08-01color.png?1532908420 these]] [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/1069227/story_image/TMW2022-05-18color.png?1652471924 two]] strips) are parodies of Literature/GoofusAndGallant, with the twist that Goofball brings up legitimate problems that Galahad tries to dismiss or explain away.
45	* ShoutOut: Characters such as WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead, Series/DoctorWho (specifically [[Characters/DoctorWhoTwelfthDoctor the 12th Doctor]]) and the cast of ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' have made guest appearances. [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/1167574/lightbox/TMW2023-03-06color.png?1678033586= This strip alone]] features cameos by WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}}, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] and ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}.
46	* ShutUpHannibal: In [[https://images.dailykos.com/images/1144074/story_image/TMW2022-12-21color.png?1671230791 this strip]], Sparky tells off a conservative by saying that he doesn't need to deal with him before walking off, leaving the conservative to sputter about his freedom of speech.
47	* TheSociopath: The strip unofficially diagnoses Trump as a low-functioning one, stating that he lacks any remorse for his actions, lies frequently and has an inflated sense of self-worth, and uses this as one of ''many'' arguments as to why he is a terrible president.
48	* StrawCharacter: Biff, the strip's resident Republican.
49	%%* StrawHypocrite
50	* TakeThat: Republicans and conservatives in general.
51	* ToiletHumor: Parodied when an ordinary social media user who calls himself "Smell My Farts" comes up with [[https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/16/2199520/-Cartoon-The-hot-take a hot take]] on UsefulNotes/TheMiddleEast that instantly solves the conflict. UsefulNotes/JoeBiden soon appoints him as his Secretary of State.
52	* WallOfText: Lampshaded by the artist on more than one occasion.

Context ComicStrip / ThisModernWorld