Line #35 Webcomic/Forming


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/forming_2.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350: Clockwise from left to right: the [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Archangel]] [[ArchangelMichael Michael]], [[OtherworldlyAndSexuallyAmbiguous Serapis]], [[TheChessMaster Lucifer]], [[ButtMonkey Atys]]]]
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4	-> ''"Particles drift apart...exchange... Coming and going between the grass, trees, animals, planets...till we become something else entirely...not the sum of my experience...but the sum of all experience."''
5	-->-- '''Serapis'''
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7	''Forming'' is a [[GenreBusting surreal fantasy/sci-fi/comedy]] webcomic written and illustrated by Jesse Moynihan of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' fame. Beginning with the arrival of AncientAstronauts on prehistoric Earth, the story follows along as gods, men and aliens all become involved in an epic struggle with cosmic implications. Orchestrating things behind the scenes is Lucifer (aka the Adversary), who has been scheming to escape the planet ever since being trapped there by the ArchangelMichael, as punishment for successfully escaping the infinite manifestation of God (aka Ain Soph, the Absolute) at the dawn of time and creating the universe as we now know it.
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9	The art and writing draws from the influence of Creator/AlejandroJodorowsky, Creator/JackKirby, [[EpicPoem epic poetry]], UsefulNotes/{{alchemy}}, the occult and ProgressiveRock, leading to a hefty dosage of MindScrew. The style is largely SophisticatedAsHell; despite the subject matter of religion, intergalactic empires, ancient history, and complex symbolism, it makes use of frequent sexual and scatological humor, and the dialogue is filled with slang and profanity. Nonetheless the narrative showcases [[ShownTheirWork an extensive knowledge of ancient and obscure mythology and mysticism,]] among other subjects.
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11	''Forming'' is ongoing and available on Moynihan's website [[http://jessemoynihan.com/?p=11 here]]. Since 2011 it is also being compiled as a graphic novel, two volumes of which have been published. They can be bought [[http://www.amazon.com/Forming-Jesse-Moynihan/dp/1907704132/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352884269&sr=8-1&keywords=forming&tag=viglink123231-20 here.]]
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15	!!''Forming'' contains examples of:
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18	* ActionGirl: Rhea.
19	* ADeathInTheLimelight: In the middle of the climactic battle between Mithras and his children, a few pages focus on a pair of dying soldiers as they discuss the existence of a soul and what happens after death.
20	* AdiposeRex: Angra Mainyu shows signs of it.
21	* AerithAndBob: Common Biblical names like Adam and Noah coexist with the likes of Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu.
22	* AGodAmI: Cain's goal in life is "to live forever and dominate all lesser beings." Meanwhile, his enemy Iapetus has been led by Lucifer to believe that he is some kind of reincarnated version of Nommo, destined to rule the world. Nommo himself has been placed in a hibernation where he dreams of being god... [[spoiler: unless of course, the dream is completely real.]]
23	* AllMythsAreTrue: Greek, Kabbalistic, Zoroastrian, Biblical, Tarot... they all show up in one way or another.
24	* AmbiguousGender: Serapis and the Nephalim Guard are variously described as transgender, hermaphroditic and androgynous.
25	* AmbiguouslyEvil: Iapetus.
26	* ANaziByAnyOtherName: Iapetus genetically engineers an army of idealized warriors under Lucifer's command.
27	* AncientAstronauts: Two major alien factions, one led by [[TheCaligula Ahura Mazda]] and one by [[BadBoss Angra Mainyu]], make up a significant part of the cast. Their struggles over the earth drive the beginning of the plot before the divine entities enter into things.
28	* ArchangelMichael: One of several angels to appear. Michael comes into existence only to defeat Lucifer, but finds himself unable to return to the Absolute once the universe has been created.
29	* AuthorAppeal: Geometric shapes, Kabbalah, mysticism, Greek mythology and Tarot are just a few motifs that recur throughout Moynihan's works.
30	* BadAssFamily: All of Noah, Gaia and Mithras' children are powerful and imposing in one way or another, whether physically, mentally or both.
31	* BecomingTheMask: [[spoiler: After Lucifer gives Iapetus the face of Nommo, Iapetus slowly seems to lose his identity and believe himself to be a different person.]]
32	* BigBad: Lucifer and Ghob are the major contenders.
33	* BlueAndOrangeMorality: The conflict between the divine/supernatural characters is largely based around whether Lucifer was right or wrong to isolate himself from God and thereby create the universe. That's right: God and his angels think the very existence of humanity is an act of evil.
34	* TheChessmaster: Lucifer manipulates pretty much everyone on prehistoric Earth to his own ends.
35	* CreationMyth: Features one, based off that of Kabbalah. In this case, the physical universe was actually created by ''Lucifer'' after he escaped the universal consciousness of God. Uniquely, almost every character is ignorant of this despite interacting with divine beings frequently; even the angels don't seem to fully understand it.
36	* EsotericMotifs: Too many to count. This trope is a defining aspect of the comic's narrative and style.
37	* EvilMask: For a certain definition of "mask": [[spoiler: Lucifer replaces Iapetus' disfigured face with a copy of Nommo's face, which soon seems to have possessed him and taken over his identity.]]
38	* {{Gorn}}: In several instances, notably when [[spoiler: when Rhea's arm gets eaten and when she is eventually cut in half.]]
39	* TheManInTheMirrorTalksBack: How Lucifer first contacts Iapetus. See MirrorMonologue below.
40	* MeaningfulName: Every single character is named after a figure from some kind of myth or religion, whether a god, monster or human. These range from Biblical and Greek to Zoroastrian and Kabbalistic.
41	* MindScrew: Tons of it, with plenty of [[TimeTravel time travel]], [[DreamSequence dream scenes]], and characters who blur the lines between aliens and gods.
42	* MirrorMonologue: Twice, both with signs of significant derangement. Atys gives himself a pep talk which includes [[{{Squick}} masturbation and fantasies of raping his enemies.]] Iapetus, meanwhile, worries over his [[BaldOfEvil hair loss]], until his reflection turns into [[TheManInTheMirrorTalksBack Lucifer,]] who has a message for him.
43	* NoodleIncident: We never find out the full details of the war between Serapis and the animals.

Context Webcomic / Forming