Line #33 Webcomic/Avania


1	[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/avaniawebcomicv2_issue1_frontcover.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:1000:Yes, this is the first issue of a ''webcomic''.]]
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4	''[[https://worldofavania.com Avania]]'' is a webcomic created by Tristan Cobb featuring an EnsembleCast of anthropomorphic avian and equine characters in a military setting, spanning both DieselPunk and {{Magitek}} worlds.
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6	The comic follows several characters (and their friends, allies, and rivals) on different sides of a rising conflict. Much of the story takes place in the titular country of Avania, and centers on a crumbling fort known as Frontier HQ. Despite being home to the Avanian Army's [[ArmyOfThievesAndWhores less than motivated troops]], the base's reluctant commander Captain Hans Schmutzesser winds up playing host to a number of guests, including a company of prideful Royal Engineers under orders to renovate the base's unused airfield, a scrappy squadron of mercenary [[OurGryphonsAreDifferent Hequevar]] pilots searching for work after the occupation of their homeland, and an elite squadron of the Avanian Royal Navy--the famed White Knights. They aren't the only new faces on the Frontier, as two magical agents from the foreign world of Demonus carry out orders of their own.
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8	''Avania'' went live July 8, 2018 and ran weekly until October 25, 2020. Since then it has run chapters in weekly installments until conclusion, with a hiatus until the next chapter is ready.
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10	----
11
12	!! ''Avania'' contains examples of:
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14	* AcePilot: The pilots of the ARN White Knights would presumably all qualify, though Daniel Kruger is particularly noteworthy. Of the Black Lanners, Una Pennrose and Isla Moorsley certainly ''want'' to be aces.
15	* ActionGirl: Una Pennrose and Charlotte Burns can hold their own in a brawl just as well as their male crewmates.
16	* AerialCanyonChase: One occurs in chapter 3, introducing the Black Lanners.
17	* AgentPeacock: Agent Valenvarius Narscio is an intelligence officer sporting long eyelashes, even longer [[LongHairedPrettyBoy flowing golden locks]], and an exquisitely hilted rapier. Despite his fabulous affect, and regularly providing snobbish commentary and disparaging remarks for those he finds lacking in class, he is demonstrably capable at his job, and proves himself a powerful adversary in combat.
18	* AirborneAircraftCarrier: The Avanian Royal Navy possess at least one of these--The ''Lord Standish,'' as well as a number of airborne battleships and other craft seen around [[https://worldofavania.com/post/645043770390462464 their naval HQ]].
19	* AmazonianBeauty: Technical Sergeant Rolena Rissitia is taller and more muscular than all her Hequevar crewmates save for Major [=MacIntyre=], making her ''significantly'' larger than any of the Avian men at Frontier HQ.
20	* ArmyOfThievesAndWhores: Frontier HQ's garrison has a bad reputation among the Avanian armed forces, and many of the soldiers stationed at the fort demonstrate lax discipline and morals.
21	* ArtEvolution: The comic [[https://worldofavania.com/post/175689428128 starts]] with rougher line art, limited grey tones, and simple hard shading in the first three chapters. The hard shading is dropped starting in [[https://worldofavania.com/post/182720769123 chapter four]], but the artwork becomes more [[https://worldofavania.com/post/715433914413596672 polished]] with clean linework and detailed greyscale rendering of light and shadow as the comic goes on.
22	* BadAssLongcoat: Captain Abernathy frequently wears a greatcoat draped over her shoulders. Inspector Griffin wears a leather trenchcoat befitting his [[SecretPolice occupation]].
23	* BarefootCartoonAnimal: Avian, Equine, and Hequevar characters generally wear lower leg coverings of some kind such as canvas spats or leather gaiters, which leave the soles of their feet exposed. Full shoes do also exist in the setting, however, as Viktoria Lanius is seen wearing [[AllWomenLoveShoes high heels]] while dressed in civilian clothing. Valenvarius also laments not having his farrier fit him for full shoes appropriate for a rocky environment. Note that both types of ankle and footwear are TruthInTelevision for Equine characters, as real life horses are often given [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_boots bell boots]] to protect against injury or accidentally pulling off their horseshoes.
24	* BellyScrapingFlight: Una Pennrose and Charlotte Burns kick up a dust cloud with their aircraft's props while [[spoiler:recovering from an aborted emergency landing]]. Also, while not the ''belly'' of the aircraft, Una also scrapes the antenna mast on top her Lancer during the AerialCanyonChase in chapter 3, resulting in a bend which [[ContinuityNod persists]] through subsequent chapters.
25	* BespectacledCutie: Junior Warrant Officer Rhys O'Shaughnassy at your serv--er, is as excitable and talkative as her glasses are large.
26	* BlingOfWar: The [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars Napoleonic]]-inspired service uniforms of the Demonian characters are typically quite blingy, featuring bold colors, ample gold braid, embroidery, and fancy epaulettes. Of the Avian uniforms, only the Avanian Royal Navy's comes close, in particular Admiral Von Strackte's uniform.
27	* CasualDangerDialogue: Una and Charlotte's [[https://worldofavania.com/post/180734784975 running banter]] during bouts of aerial action.
28	* CigarChomper: Captain Eraclare (...except when she drops it mid-sentence). Major [=MacIntyre=], though his cigar is usually seen in his hand.
29	* CleanCut: The results of Eiserne's swordwork on [[spoiler:the hapless Avanian investigators.]]
30	* CoolShades: Rick Detleff is often seen rocking a pair of aviator sunglasses.
31	* ComingInHot: Una tells Charlotte to "brace for impact" after [[spoiler:their Lancer's displacement arrays fail, leaving them unable to sustain flight]].
32	* CommandingCoolness: Wing Commander Blanche Von Strauss (her initial reaction to hearing her squadron's new assignment is at least somewhat ''warm'' though).
33	* CustomUniform:
34	** Lieutenant Schmitt always wears a black turtleneck sweater that may or may not be regulation, but is implied to be unusual given the local temperature.
35	** Corporal Detleff has so far always worn a (presumably army-issue) t-shirt while everyone else wears collared fatigue blouses He tends to wear [[CoolShades aviator sunglasses]], either on his face or hooked in the collar of his shirt.
36	** Being a mercenary company, the Black Lanners have a much more loosely defined uniform with most of their personnel wear various pieces of uniform clothing from their former military. The officers generally avert this as they appear to wear full pre-mercenary uniforms. Olivia Mayfaire and Bart Karabyrn are the only junior personnel who don't wear a different blouse, trousers, or non-standard accessories.
37	** Una and Charlotte are the least standard of the Black Lanners, with the former only wearing cut-off shorts made from uniform trousers and canvas spats, and the latter wearing only the fur-trimmed bomber jacket or tied-up fatigue blouse.
38	* CustomUniformOfSexy:
39	** Lieutenant Viktoria Lanius' black leather flight suit is as noticeably form-fitting as the rest of her [[FormFittingWardrobe wardrobe]].
40	** Captain Fontania Eraclare's combo of [[OfCorsetsSexy corset]] and open cropped jacket stands out from the ornate, but far more buttoned up jackets of other (male) Demonian officers.
41	** Una and Charlotte's usual outfits may be sexy, but they are composed more of civilian clothing than uniform.
42	* EarNotch: Una Pennrose has one on her right ear and two on her left. Major [=MacIntyre=] has several, and is even missing a substantial portion of his left ear.
43	* EnsembleCast: The first issue introduces three main viewpoints: The Demonian agents: Valenvarius Narscio and Eiserne Maggunus, Una Pennrose and the Black Lanners squadron, and Captain Hans Schmutzesser and the men of Frontier HQ. Events are later seen from other characters' perspectives as well, including a chapter with Wing Commander Blanche Von Strauss, and smaller scenes often with Lieutenant Gustav Schmitt or Lieutenant Harry Heathridge.
44	* EverybodySmokes: Much of the cast smoke, be it cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. Not that surprising considering the comic is based in a 1940s-ish setting full of military personnel.
45	* EvilDuo: The inseparable intelligence agents Valenvarius Narscio and Eiserne Maggunus.
46	* FantasticSlurs: An incensed Una Pennrose calls Osprian soldiers "streaky" several times during a tense encounter, and Major Beckinridge's colonel, as well as Sergeant Hemlock both refer to "the stripes." Both cases seem to refer to the dark eyestripe markings commonly seen on Osprans, though the later may be more a case of NicknamingTheEnemy. Osprans are also several times referred to as "fish-eaters" or with other remarks concerning their presumably fish-based diet (which would make sense if they are inspired by RealLife osprey. Also, some of them just ''[[https://worldofavania.tumblr.com/post/652017810361499648 really like fish]]'').
47	** Fontania Eraclare speaks of making the "fowls" know their place, while also dissing Valenvarius' clandestine ways.
48	* FantasticRacism:
49	** Many Avian and [[OurGryphonsAreDifferent Hequevar]] characters would appear to be racist against Osprans, at least owing to the context of war (particularly Hequevars, as their homeland was conquered and occupied by Osprian troops).
50	** Major Beckinridge says some not nice things to say about Hequevars, seemingly holding their culture in low regard.
51	** Valenvarius Narscio seems to revel in his elitism in general, but is particularly disdainful of the Avian races, describing them as "barbarians."
52	* FormFittingWardrobe: Both Viktoria's uniform and civilian clothing tend to be ''very'' well-tailored. Rolena's coveralls are also remarkably snug for a normally loose-fitting garment (though she's [[AmazonianBeauty large enough]] to fill out basically anything she wears).
53	* GeodesicCast: ''Avania'' has a huge cast of named characters, spread across various factions. Owing to several of the main characters belonging to completely different military units, each has their own supporting cast and background crew.
54	* GuyInBack: The Lancer aircraft operated by the Black Lanners are all seen to have a pilot and a navigator. Charlotte Burns sits behind Una Pennrose (sometimes to the former's consternation), Olivia Mayfaire sits behind Isla Moorsley, and Erwin Longmeadow sits behind Harry Heathridge.
55	* HatOfAuthority: Admiral Von Strackte sports an ornate bicorn hat on the cover of issue 6. To a lesser extent, Major Beckinridge and Sergeant Hartwin are both often seen wearing caps befitting their ranks.
56	* IKissYourHand: Squadron Lieutenant Daniel Kruger kisses the hand of Airwoman Charlotte Burns upon their mutual introduction at the end of chapter 16. Judging by her expression, Una is ''not'' impressed.
57	* ImmigrantPatriotism: Junior Warrant Officer Rhys O'Shaughnassy is ''very'' proud to be Avanian.
58	* ImprobablePilotingSkills: During the first chapter she appears in, Una Pennrose flies her Lancer into a canyon in pursuit of a much smaller aircraft, [[spoiler: narrowly avoiding a fatal crash in the process.]] Later, while engaging in a mock battle with the White Knights squadron's [[AcePilot ace pilots]], she pulls off a fancy stunt with the help of [[GuyInBack Charlotte Burns']] manipulation of the flight systems [[spoiler:only for it to be predicted and lead to an uncontrolled dive, saved at the last minute by a high-G pull-up.]]
59	* LongHairedPrettyBoy: The fabulous Agent Valenvarius Narscio and his flowing golden locks.
60	* MindProbe: Agent Valenvarius Narscio uses his magical abilities to obtain information from the memories of a stupefied [[spoiler:Major Beckinridge]].
61	* NerdGlasses: Junior Warrant Officer [[BespectacledCutie Rhys O'Shaughnassy]] wears large, round-lensed glasses with bulky frames. Major Beckinridge of the Royal Corps of Engineers, and Lieutenant Ingwin Iverness of the Black Lanners both wear oversized round hornrim glasses. Ministry Secretary Jane Darcy wears half-moon spectacles.
62	* NicknamingTheEnemy: Avanian soldiers often refer to Osprian soldiers / Ospran individuals as "stripes" due to their characteristic eyestripe markings.
63	* NonUniformUniform:
64	** Captain Schmutzesser's typical garrison uniform includes a number of decorative pins affixed to the collar. Averted when he dresses up for special occasions.
65	** Averted with Sergeant Hartwin, who, perhaps most appropriately, wears standard garrison fatigues with no modifications; he even remembers to wear his [[HatOfAuthority cover]] while outside most of the time.
66	** Of the White Knights, only Daniel Kruger appears to typically forgo a tie, instead wearing his aviator's scarf under the open collar of his shirt.
67	* OfficerAndAGentleman: Squadron Lieutenant Daniel Kruger of the White Knights squadron, and Agent Valenvarius Narscio of the Demonian Ministry of Intelligence both seem to espouse good upper class manners of their respective cultures.
68	* PortalDoor: The forces of Demonus make use of a large portal to travel between worlds. The entrance to the Chief Minister's office also appears to be some form of portal.
69	* PowerCrystal: Seemingly the energy source for Demonian {{Magitek}} equipment such as their [[https://worldofavania.com/post/656455173215076352 portal door]]. Dialogue implies that the crystals function similarly to electrical capacitors. Valenvarius is also seen to wear a small crystal pendent.
70	* RingRingCrunch: Captain Schmutzesser wakes up [[https://worldofavania.com/post/178394313050 and shoots his alarm clock]].
71	* ShadowedFaceGlowingEyes: Valenvarius and Eiserne are initially cloaked in opaque shadow during their introduction in the first chapter.
72	* SmokingIsCool: Captain Schmutzesser in particular is seen lighting one or more cigarettes per chapter, and early on lights a cigarette from the stub of his last cigarette. Lieutenant Schmitt is seen to smoke unusual dark-colored cigarettes. Captain Abernathy and Admiral Von Strackte smoke pipes. Captain Eraclare is a CigarChomper, and Major [=MacIntyre=] is also seldom seen without a big cigar. Averted when Corporal Detleff tries to light his cigarette while riding his motorcycle.
73	* TankTopTomboy: Scrappy [[TheLadette ladette]] Una Pennrose is nearly always seen wearing a ragged white ribbed tank top. Charlotte Burns is usually seen wearing a black tank top, though she has a more typically feminine affect than her friend Una.
74	* TheOneWhoWearsShoes: Lieutenant Viktoria Lanius's civilian outfit in chapter 3 features fully-enclosed patent leather high heels.
75	* TheRival: Black Lanners squadron's junior pilots Isla Moorsley and Una Pennrose have a rivalry when it comes to who is the better flyer, who can become an ace first, who is faster in a foot race, and pretty much anything else they can find to compete over.
76	* TheCaptain: Captain Hans Schmutzesser is the commander of Frontier HQ (though he is apparently not thrilled about this). While scruffy and sarcastic at times, he is still a skilled soldier and wants to improve the men under his command.
77	* TheEngineer: Major Albert Beckinridge commands the unit of Avanian Royal Engineers ordered to Frontier HQ. While his leadership style can be abrasive, he is clearly dedicated to his job and does get things done.
78	* TransformationSequence: Agent Valenvarius performs a magical transformation, [[spoiler:disguising himself as an avian to infiltrate Frontier HQ.]] However, he does have to manually undress first.
79	* VitriolicBestBuds: Una and Charlotte often direct snarky remarks at one another as part of their running banter, but when faced with real danger, they show a deep concern for each other. Hans and Rick also hint at this relationship dynamic, though it is tempered by the former being an officer and the latter being an enlisted man. In both cases, the "Avania Mail" Q&A side-comics shed light on the pairs' histories.

Context Webcomic / Avania