Line #37 Manga/Offbeat


1	[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hrdb_8084.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:260:Meet your heroes (from right): [[StalkerWithACrush OCD Stalker]] and [[TheShutIn Extreme Recluse]]]]
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4	Tory Blake is [[EmoTeen fifteen]], a [[TeenGenius genius]], and [[BrilliantButLazy bored]]. He spends his time breezing through school, doodling, worrying his mother, playing 90s computer games with his college-aged neighbor, and documenting everything that happens in his life in worrying detail. One night, something happens that promises to alleviate his boredom: a mysterious boy, Colin Stephens, and his guardian move into the duplex next door. Over the next year, Tory becomes increasingly obsessed with [[SeekerArchetype figuring out the mystery]] behind his neighbors' bizarre actions, to the point of transferring schools to [[StalkerWithACrush get closer to]] Colin. What secrets could Colin be hiding? What is the Gaia Project, and how does Colin fit into it?
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6	''Offbeat'' is an OELManga by Jen Lee Quick, the first two volumes of which were published in 2005 and 2006 by Creator/{{Tokyopop}}. Despite the efforts of its small but devoted fanbase, the third and final volume is still in limbo. However, Jen posted a notice on her Website/DeviantArt page assuring her followers that ''Offbeat'' would be concluded sometime in 2012.
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8	By the same author, a webcomic named ''[[http://sparklermonthly.com/series/witchs-quarry/ Witch's Quarry]]'' was started in 2012, also containing LGBT themes.
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10	A Kickstarter was successfully funded on May 3rd, 2013 for reprints of volumes 1 and 2 by the new publisher for the series, Chromatic Press, as well as a serialization of volume 3 to begin summer 2013.
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12	----
13	!!Tropes:
14	* AwkwardlyGayDream: In Chapter 15, Tory has an ImagineSpot where he and Colin face off against Dr. Garrets in a ''Franchise/StarWars''-esque world. After defeating Dr. Garrets, Tory pats Colin on the shoulder-- and accidentally strips him down to his underwear. They draw closer as if to kiss... and [[http://sparklermonthly.com/ob/offbeat-chapter-15-page-384/ cut to the next morning, where Tory's mother tucks him in before leaving]].
15	--> '''Tory:''' ''(ducking underneath the covers while blushing)'' Ah, shit!
16	* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler:The penultimate chapter ends with Colin leaving Tory, never to return to Queens. However, before he leaves, he hands Tory a packet of "Grow-Pak" plant food, leaving Tory to figure out just where he's going.]]
17	* TheBigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Tory and Colin finally kiss in Chapter 18, cementing them as the OfficialCouple.]]
18	* {{Cliffhanger}}: The first volume ends with Colin [[ArmorPiercingQuestion asking]] Tory, "Why are you always around? What do you want?" The second volume ends with [[spoiler:the two of them getting in a ''fist fight'']].
19	* ConspiracyTheorist: Tory has moments of these, particularly involving Colin and Dr. Garrets.
20	-->'''Tory''': Are they counterfeiters? Arms dealers or illegal immigrants? Spies, drug dealers, part of the occult, the Mafia, KKK or maybe aliens...
21	* CrashIntoHello: Purposefully invoked by Tory. To get Colin's attention, he bumps into him while Colin is holding a stack of papers, giving him the chance to pick them up and chat with Colin. However, it completely backfires on him.
22	* CrazyPrepared: Tory's alleged reason for keeping his journals as obsessively detailed as he does.
23	* DisappearedDad: We don't hear much about Tory's father, except that he was apparently kind of a {{Jerkass}}.
24	* DoNotCallMePaul: Despite his first name actually being Christopher, our hero prefers to be called by his middle name, Tory. Mostly because he shares the name with his {{Jerkass}} [[DisappearedDad absentee father.]]
25	* {{Foreshadowing}}: A big, unsubtle one from Chapter Nine [[spoiler:is the ending closeup on Colin's backpack. In it is one of Tory's stalker journals from 1st quarter of school.]]
26	* GaiasLament: Judging from Colin's sickly-looking visualization of Mother Earth, the Gaia Project may have had something to do with this.
27	* GirlPosse: Mandy's two friends, who start out as unsympathetic harpies but turn out to only have Mandy's best interests in mind. After all, they're right that [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Tory]] tends to step all over other people's feelings.
28	* GuileHero: Tory, although he hasn't yet learned to use his powers for good instead of stalking.
29	* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Breaking into a guidance counselor's office for information on Colin is just another one the tasks on Tory's list.
30	* IfMyCalculationsAreCorrect: Apparently Tory does a risk analysis every night before he goes to bed to see the odds of anything happening.
31	* ImagineSpot: Tory has a tendency to daydream about everything from {{Mad Scientist}}s to {{Ninja}}s to a ShowdownAtHighNoon, complete with [[ButYouWereThereAndYouAndYou casting his friends and family as characters]].
32	* IncurableCoughOfDeath: Colin has one of these, although he insists he isn't sick.
33	%%* InHarmonyWithNature: Colin is implied to be this.
34	* IntertwinedFingers: Colin "tests" Tory by holding his hands like this in the park. [[spoiler:He thought Tory had "attunement," based on his awareness of his surroundings, but what exactly that has yet to be explained.]]
35	%%* KindheartedCatLover: Colin has at least six cats.
36	%%* LimitedWardrobe: Pleasantly subverted.
37	%%* LonersAreFreaks: Both of the leads fit this. Tory gets a little better. Colin doesn't.
38	* LudicrousPrecision: Tory tends to be very exact with dates and times.
39	* LuminescentBlush: Tory gets a fair bit of this, especially around Colin.
40	* MagicVersusScience: Implied with Tory's skill at math and physics contrasted with Colin's association with plants, animals, and the Gaia Project, as well as his dislike of physics, which he feels is frustratingly "arbitrary."
41	%%* NoSocialSkills: Both protagonists, though Colin's got it worse.
42	* OneHeadTaller: Would be a straight example... if not for the fact that Colin's height seems to [[YourSizeMayVary keep changing.]] At one point he'll be a head shorter, then eye level with Tory, and then half a head shorter. ''All in the same volume.''
43	* ParentalAbandonment: Colin lives with his guardian, Dr. Garrets.
44	* PhotographicMemory: Tory, although it isn't perfect, so he obsessively writes things down in his notebooks.
45	* QueerRomance: The central point of the story is the developing love between Tory and Colin.
46	* RoomFullOfCrazy: Tory's closet full of journals documenting everything that happens to him kind of comes off as this.
47	* ShipperOnDeck: Mandy seems to know there's something going on between Tory and Colin. On a slightly more malicious note, Mandy's friend Mira invokes this when she tells Mandy to 'give the newlyweds some space'. In her defense, Tory is kind of [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold a huge jerk]] and had just blatantly ignored Mandy's attempt at small talk.
48	* TheSlacker: Paul, Tory's upstairs neighbor, a college student who tends to skip class and mooch off the Blakes.
49	* SnowMeansLove: Tory and Colin go to a bakery to get Colin's favorite cake. Guess what happens on the way back? Coupled with a short moment of HoldingHands.
50	* StalkerWithACrush: Tory. First, he keeps strange notes on the weird neighbor kid. Then he transfers to the weird neighbor kid's school. Then he sets up a study group in his physics class to spend time with the weird neighbor kid. He's aware that he's a creepy stalker and seems mostly fine with it, but it's unclear whether he's picked up on the crush part yet.
51	* TheEndOrIsIt: [[spoiler:The final page of the comic is Colin smiling at Tory with the words "The End...?" at the bottom of the page, hinting at a SequelHook.]]
52	* WhatTheHellHero: Tory gets a succession of these as his obsessive behavior alienates his mother, Paul, and Mandy. He gets better, and then [[spoiler:manages to accidentally bait his LoveInterest into taking a swing at him]]. Go figure.
53	%%* YaoiGenre: A PG-rated version.

Context Manga / Offbeat