Line #58 Webcomic/BasketsOfGuts


1	[[quoteright:239:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bog12.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:239:It's only [[{{Deuteragonist}} the half]] of the story. Or some part of it.]]
3
4	->'''[[VillainProtagonist The Lich]]:''' Actually, the comic isn't about baskets.\
5	'''Anna:''' Neither it's about guts.
6
7	''[[http://acomics.ru/~baskets-of-guts/ Baskets of guts]] (rus. Корзинки из кишок)'' is a DarkFantasy webcomic by [[http://joe-duncan.deviantart.com/ JoeDuncan]], following the three hundred years old [[OurLichesAreDifferent lich]] on his epic quest to TakeOverTheWorld or at least some part of it. However, it quickly turns out that the said world [[DungeonPunk has changed]] a little since the times the Lich has [[SealedEvilInACan sealed]] himself in a crypt.
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9	Baskets' setting is basically what StandardFantasySetting should once become if not for MedievalStasis: [[FunctionalMagic magic]] [[MundaneFantastic is ubiquitous]] (magical ed is like university ed in this universe) and the whole technology is [[{{Magitek}} based on it]], [[AllMythsAreTrue loads of fantastic races]] have finally organized into a stable multiracial country (there's downright no FantasticRacism), and though [[FeudalFuture some traditions persist]], the society has become more enlightened and bureaucratic.
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11	The comic doesn't have a strict plotline. Author [[InteractiveComic takes suggestions]] from the readers, picking the ones he likes most, be it protoganists' choices, minor characters' appearances or complete plot twists.
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13	Also, there is quite a bunch of well written [[AvertedTrope aversions]] and [[LampshadeHanging lampshadings]] of the StandardFantasySetting [[{{Cliche}} cliches]]. Author is kind of fond of this fact.
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15	And it's a bit {{NSFW}}.
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17	Currently russian only.
18
19	----
20	!!This story provides examples of:
21	%%
22	%%* AbortedArc: Several, due to instability of the plot based on readers' suggestions. Siege of Maria's house in Chapter 5 is the most notable, since it was actually written, but later replaced due to readers' complaints about how illogical it was.
23	%%* AffablyEvil:
24	%%** The Lich, for all the people!
25	%%** Anna seems to be a bit [[BloodKnight too enthusiastic]] about explosions and world domination, but she's still a cutie.
26	%%** None of the characters in the story [[BlackAndGrayMorality is actually good]], but many are sympathetic. The Butcher's Gang is a good example.
27	%%* AllMythsAreTrue:
28	%%** Racial variability is stunning.
29	%%** InUniverse at least some Gods are real (see GodOfEvil below).
30	%%* ApocalypseCult: Cult of the Night Walkers, founded by Marasmir.
31	%%* ArsonMurderAndLifesaving:
32	%%** Lich [[spoiler:is proclaimed Ancard's hero for preventing a terrorist attack.]] He did that between his attempts to create an army of undead to conquer the world.
33	%%** He also screws up the work of local mafia, though this one isn't recognized by the authorities.
34	%%* AtopAMountainOfCorpses: The protagonists on [[CoversAlwaysLie Chapters' covers]] on occasion.
35	* BaitAndSwitch: The Queen is first introduced as a sphinx staring at her visitors... then it turns out that's her pet sphinx.
36	%%* BigBad: The Lich can be considered one.
37	%%* BigGood:
38	%%** Pangreedi, the head of the Royal Secret Chancellory (or RSC for short).
39	%%** [[TheHighQueen Queen of the United Kingdoms]] can also count. [[OurGiantsAreBigger She IS actually big]].
40	%%* BlackAndGrayMorality
41	%%* BlackMage: The Lich is only really proficient at necromancy and harming spells. It backfires several times.
42	%%* BodyHorror: The comic has some really gruesome scenes. Especially those involving magic.
43	* CastOfSnowflakes: One can say that not even two InnocentBystanders or {{Mooks}} are alike.
44	* CitadelCity: Ancard is built on a mountain, and the walls enclose the entire city. It also quarters a large military garrison.
45	%%* CityOfAdventure: Ancard.
46	%%* CuteMonsterGirl: Most of the female cast.
47	* DirtyCop: [[spoiler:Lt. Rikleeno, [[DaChief his chief]] and at least one of his collegues.]]
48	* {{Deuteragonist}}: Anna. At one point of the plot she and the Lich get separated. They join up only much, ''much'' later.
49	* TheDreaded: Pangreedi is described as "a beast, not a human" with scars all over his face. It turns out to be quite far from truth though.
50	* DungeonPunk: A shiny example. {{Magitek}}, widespread magical education, CityGuards in police uniform with heraldic badges and so forth.
51	* DuringTheWar: Alnia, the myconid state, is at war with United Kingdoms.
52	* {{Familiar}}: General Creedy is a one to the Lich. Actually, [[AmbiguousGender it]]'s just an [[TheUndead undead]] [[YouDirtyRat rat]], but it's still the most long living servant of the Lich.
53	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: The Daddy is less than pleased to hear that his sons got murdered.
54	* FantasticRacism: Averted. However, it's mentioned that it was a thing back in the days of Lich's youth.
55	* FishOutOfWater: The Lich. The world as he had known it has changed a lot after three hundred years.
56	* FloatingContinent: City of Lingrhyme is located on one.
57	* TheFundamentalist: Cult of the [[PunnyName Sunfollowers]] will make you [[VideoGame/DarkSouls praise the sun]] or die.
58	* GasmaskMooks:
59	** Animalculists in Chapter 1.
60	** City Guard's special forces in the deleted arc.
61	** Soldiers sieging the hotel in Chapter 7.
62	* GenieInABottle: After the lich's phylactery gets hidden in a teakettle, he pretends to be one to trick a myconid to take him to a dead body.
63	* GodOfEvil: It's implied that a raw [[DealWithTheDevil deal]] with a certain Evil Goddess was the reason why the Lich has been hiding in a crypt for three hundred years.
64	* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Rikleeno's underpants are dotted with [[WearingAFlagOnYourHead bourbon lilies]].
65	* GrumpyOldMan: Richard Rosencliff complains or snarks about everything the lich does (though not without reason, since the lich is currently inhabiting his body and giving it haircuts Richard hates).
66	* TheHighQueen: Gunehilde, Queen of the United Kingdoms.
67	* InterspeciesRomance: Rikleeno's wife/lover is a spider taur.
68	* TheMafia: Active and very powerfull.
69	* TheMenInBlack: The RSC agents have the reputation of these.
70	* MundaneFantastic: {{Magitek}} and hordes of battle mages are trivial for everyone except the protagonist.
71	* MushroomMan: Myconids.
72	* NotAMorningPerson: The very first strip features Anna snapping the Lich's staff in half because he's chanting spells at 10 in the morning.
73	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname:
74	** The Lich's real name is never revealed.
75	** Anna was unnamed for a good part of the story, so the readers came up with the nickname ''Kiki'' (short for [[NatureSpirit Kikimora]]).
76	** [[OverlyLongGag The Daddy, the Butcher, the Druid...]]
77	* OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: Dwarves look like the ones of the standard flavor, but their personalities are as variable as of any other race. Many of them do sport long beards, but it's probably because dwarves are physiologically inclined to have them, since they grow [[GirlsWithMoustaches even on females]].
78	* OurLichesAreDifferent: Liches are wizards who somehow bound their soul to an inanimate object (a phylactery) and thus kept their link with the mortal world after their technical death. Though a phylactery can't actually move, the bound soul can still cast spells. Your guess [[{{Necromancy}} what kind of magic]] comes in [[IncrediblyLamePun handy]] first.
79	* PersonOfMassDestruction: Any powerful battle mage.
80	* PlagueDoctor:
81	** Animalculists have a touch of this. And especially their horses.
82	** Some of paraanatomists also sport familiar masks.
83	** One of the criminal barons is a more classic example.
84	* PosthumousCharacter: Richard Rosencliff, the [[OurGhostsAreDifferent previous owner]] of the Lich's [[BodySurf second body]].
85	* PredecessorVillain: Marasmir the Mad.
86	* PunchClockHero: Every and all of the non-villanious characters are basically this.
87	* PuppeteerParasite: WordOfGod mentioned that myconids can control those who are infected with their spores, and they're well aware of this fact.
88	* RefugeInAudacity: The way the Lich does his stuff. It works, somewhat.
89	* RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain: Nope! There is no real way to kill TheUndead, save for killing [[KeystoneArmy the one who raised it]]. Tiny moving pieces of flesh are hardly considered effective fighters though. [[spoiler:And the same goes for undead fur coats, belts and chickens.]]
90	* ShoutOut:
91	** [[{{Franchise/SuperMarioBros}} Maria]], Ancard's sewer system worker.
92	** Daddy's sons and co. are [[Literature/AClockworkOrange a gang of quite dashing hooligans]].
93	** [[http://acomics.ru/upload/!c/JoeDuncan/baskets-of-guts/000116-ovd4qrbtf7.jpg Image cover]] of Chapter 3 is a one to [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian Conan]].
94	** [[http://acomics.ru/upload/!c/JoeDuncan/baskets-of-guts/000595-21gmb1fstn.jpg Cover]] of Chapter 8 parodies [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_with_a_Parasol_-_Madame_Monet_and_Her_Son "Woman with a Parasol" by Claude Monet]].
95	** Paraanatomists on the last panel of [[http://acomics.ru/upload/!c/JoeDuncan/baskets-of-guts/000300-0vpbbhczam.jpg this strip]] resemble [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anatomy_Lesson_of_Dr._Nicolaes_Tulp "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp"]] by Creator/{{Rembrandt\|VanRijn}}.
96	** [[https://acomics.ru/~baskets-of-guts/696 Image cover]] of chapter 9 is a shout-out to [[{{Film/Jaws}} Jaws]].
97	* SimpleSolutionWontWork: [[https://basketsofguts.thecomicseries.com/comics/371#content-start The lich reveals]] that he didn't kill Anna when they first met because she's a NatureSpirit (a kikimora), which come in two varieties: guardian and vengeance, the latter occurring when the former are murdered, at which point they exist only to avenge themselves and only grow stronger with every failure to do so.
98	* TheSlowPath: the Lich's voluntary three hundred years exile in a crypt.
99	* SquareRaceRoundClass:
100	** Queen is a jotun wizard. The absurdity is brought up by the Lich.
101	** Half-orc secret agent can also count.
102	* StateSec: The Royal Secret Chancellory.
103	* {{Stripperiffic}}: Anna spends most of the early arc in nothing but a loincloth and GodivaHair. However, she later explains that's not how she dresses at all, it was laundry day and ''somebody'' set fire to the swamp, including her clothes.
104	* SuicideAttack:
105	-->'''Myconid terrorist:''' Spores of the Evergrowing!
106	* SupportingProtagonist:
107	** Lt. Rikleeno got his own small arc. Later, he even joins the Lich for some time.
108	** Jacob Gardier.
109	** The male naga and female half-orc pair of RSC agents. Their storyline is closely connected to Jacob's.
110	* SympatheticInspectorAntagonist: The RSC agents.
111	* VillainProtagonist: The Lich. Though for the most of the story he may seem to be funny, reasonable and [[VillainsActHeroesReact kind of passive]], his evil intentions are genuine.

Context Webcomic / BasketsOfGuts