Line #67 Webcomic/StickInTheMud


1	[[quoteright:253:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rod_paula_sitm.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:253:This is Rod on a good day.]]
3
4	''[[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM Stick In The Mud]]'' was an [[EmbellishedWebcomics Embellished webcomic]] by Konrad "Koko" Okoński, available in Polish (''[[http://www.konradokonski.com/KWD Kij W Dupie]]'' [[note]]"Stick Up the Arse"[[/note]]) and English, published between 2013 and 2020.
5
6	The main character, Rod, in [[ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime what seemed like a good idea at the time]], buys a bar. This gets him and his friends involved in a conflict between monsters and defenders of humanity, though he'd rather stay as far away from it as possible. You see, Rod is a bit... conservative. Stodgy. A real [[TitleDrop stick in the mud]], if you will. He doesn't deal with drastic change very well. Boy, is he in for a rough time...
7
8	----
9	!!''Stick In the Mud'' provides examples of:
10	* AdorableAbomination: Mr. Blueberry, [[EldritchAbomination the apocalypse-causing tentacle thing]] [[GoMadFromTheRevelation that can drive you mad by telling stories]] spends his days drinking with his friends at the pub and seems legitimately stoked at the prospect of getting a job as a bouncer there.
11	* AllThereInTheManual: WordOfGod states that the town where the action takes place is based on Szczecin, Poland. [[WriteWhatYouKnow Which happens to be Koko's home town]].
12	* AndTheAdventureContinues: The last strip has Rod and John [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-718-end/ witnessing some off-screen disaster]] and the former proclaiming it's probably the latter's fault.
13	* AsleepForDays: Subverted. After John wakes up after dropping acid, she thinks she's been out for a long time, but it was less than a day.
14	* AttackAttackRetreatRetreat: Cecil and Henry entering the demon realm.
15	* BaitAndSwitchComment: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/title-0018/ Of course.]]
16	* BedmateReveal: Rod with Lamia. At the same time, NotStayingForBreakfast, as Lamia vanishes as soon as she wakes up.
17	* BluntYes:
18	--> '''Rod:''' You wake up in a dungeon after a night drinking and the first thing you do is take more drugs?\
19	'''Paula:''' Yes.
20	* BookEnds: The story begins and ends with Rod [[WhatDidIDoLastNight getting shitfaced on alcohol of dubious quality]] and [[WhatDidIDoLastNight not remembering what happened]].
21	* {{Bowdlerise}}: A coincidental case - both the Polish and English titles of the strip come from an idiom meaning "to be an uptight person" with a word "stick" in it. It just happens that the Polish idiom in question is "mieć kij w dupie" - "to have a stick up your ass".
22	* BringMyBrownPants: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-109/ It's a nice kitten you have there.]]
23	* TheBrute: Cecil and Henry from the Order Of The True Human Race. They're being paid to hit people. Although they are able to elaborate on swords and magic runes, so there may be more to them than meets the eye.
24	* CarFu: Defied. John would like to use it against the Order Of The True Human Race, but Rod won't give her the keys.
25	* CatsAreMagic: Especially demon cats.
26	* CavalryRefusal: It's hard to be TheCavalry when you're drunk out of your skull, like John.
27	* ChangeTheUncomfortableSubject: When Rod doesn't want to explain what kind of monster Lamia is. %%elaborate?
28	* ChickMagnet: Jellybean. Very much. Whenever he appears, girls are bound to appear soon afterwards. Moreover, just a hug from him gives a succubus more energy than she is able to hold.
29	** Most of the time, though, Jellybean is a CluelessChickMagnet. He's worried about the girls writing giving their phone numbers to him. It's a weird custom, aren't they afraid of some creeps calling them? He won't call them himself, he doesn't want to be a bother.
30	* TheChooserOfTheOne: Mysterious naked man that appears in Rod's and John's dreams.
31	** CallToAdventure: The naked man gives this to Rod, who [[RefusalOfTheCall refuses]].
32	** JumpedAtTheCall: Now, John, on the other hand...
33	* CigaretteOfAnxiety: After finding a hidden door at the end of a dark corridor, Rod finally decides it's time to buy some cigs.
34	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: When Lamia talks about monsters that would dye their sweater with children's blood, Rod notes how impractical that would be. [[labelnote: Note]]He's doing this on purpose though. It's one of the rare occasions when he shows a smile.[[/labelnote]]
35	* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Of a Limited Palette variety. Aside from the title card, the comic is in black, white, and various shades of green.
36	** Blueberry's real name is painted in reddish hues, just to show how otherworldly it is.
37	* DisposingOfABody: In one of the first strips John calls Rod requesting help in burying a hooker. Trope subverted as 'the hooker' turns out ot be a bottle of GargleBlaster.
38	* DisproportionateRetribution: Rod asks Blueberry to take care of the bar for a while, he does so by literally eating a beer thief whole and spitting him out a long time later.
39	* DontTouchItYouIdiot: No tequila for Jellybean. He tries, but never gets any. Rod still remembers all those animals. The fear in their beady eyes... %%you sure it's this trope?
40	* DrowningMySorrows: According to John, the real man faces his problems through alcohol. If you can't find a problem, you drink problemless.
41	* EldritchAbomination: Mr. Blueberry is one occasionally.
42	* EruditeStoner: John on acid, analysing the flame. %% ?
43	** Paula's default setting.
44	* EuphemisticNames: The first name of Jellybean/Kisiel in the Polish version of the comic is "Wacek", a Polish equivalent for ADickInName (full form of "Wacek" being Wacław). When Lamia learns of it, she almost immediately declares she'll stick to calling him Kisiel.
45	* EyeTake: Rod, when he realizes from where the money for buying the bar came from.
46	* FlashBack
47	** Rod needs it to remember how he made a decision to buy a bar.
48	** Later, he remembers a night with Lamia.
49	* FlippingTheBird: As seen in the image, Rod has a shirt that displays a hand doing this.
50	* FortuneTeller: Lilith. %%elaborate?
51	* GargleBlaster: The mysterious booze John was sent anonymously. Induces MushroomSamba and MissingTime. The cause of Rod buying the bar in the first place. %% the specific gargle blaster or just being drunk?
52	* GenderBlenderName: John. It's probably not her real name, but everyone calls her that.
53	* GeometricMagic: The Sign of Eel reveals monsters disguising as humans.
54	* GoingCommando: Normal for Lamia.
55	* HairOfTheDog: John's favorite hangover cure.
56	* HangoverSensitivity: Many times. %%elaborate
57	* HealingFactor: Apparently, if one loses only a small part of one's soul, it will grow back. %%is it this trope?
58	* HumansAreTheRealMonsters: Monsters only want to chill and have a drink while the "true humans" group is willing to kill anyone standing in their way, including other humans.
59	* HumblePie: [[TheBrute The Brutes]] Cecil and Henry get beat up by carpenters.
60	* IntoxicationEnsues: Happens many times. John never really leaves this state.
61	* IronicName
62	** The true name of The Man In The Hat is unpronouncable by humans, but it sounds a bit like "Blueberry" ("Jagódka" in Polish version), so [[FluffyTheTerrible that's how he ends up being called]].
63	** The Demon Lord's name is Goodwin ("Dobromir" in Polish version).
64	* KnewItAllAlong: Lilith knew Lamia's plan won't work. She's a fortune teller, duh.
65	* KnightTemplar: Men from the Order Of The True Human Race. Even if they beat you up, it's for the sake of the whole humanity. And you're a part of the humanity too, right?
66	* TheLadette: John is sexually promiscuous, hard-drinking and an overall lout.
67	* LOL69: John's pre-prepared password for whenever [[ScrewYourself she encounters an alternate version of herself that she wants to sleep with]] is "Order 69!".
68	* LipstickLesbian: John. %% how can she be ''both'' lipstick (i.e. girly) and ladette? explain!
69	* MissingTime: An effect of the GargleBlaster John has obtained at the beginning of the story. A couple of times over.
70	* MisterMuffykins: A woman walks into a funeral parlor with five small dogs in a basket. The same one where John is [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-365/ impersonating a corpse]]. HilarityEnsues.
71	* MsFanservice: John. Let her relax and she'll be topless in a second.
72	* MundaneUtility: Rod learns a freezing spell. He uses it to cool beer.
73	* MushroomSamba: Another effect of John's GargleBlaster. That's where characters usually meet TheChooserOfTheOne.
74	* NewAgeRetroHippie: Paula. ''[[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/title-0020/ The god of chill incarnate. She came to Earth to not mind about things and fall asleep in random spots.]]''
75	* NominalHero: Rod. His RefusalOfTheCall only made TheChooserOfTheOne more determined.
76	* NoodleIncident: Why Jellybean is not allowed to drink tequila. The last time it happened, the incident involved lots of terrified small animals, and Rod didn't appreciate having the handle the situation.
77	** The incident gets [[ResolvedNoodleIncident resolved]] when he finally gets to drink some tequila. [[spoiler: It gives him animal-whisperer skills. And an epic, brooding beast lord appearance once he passes out.]]
78	* NoSenseOfHumor: Rod. %% ??
79	* NotStayingForBreakfast: That's how succubi are supposed to conduct themselves. Lamia just sleeps on the job.
80	* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: John, Rod and Jellybean. The former two's last name is Branchett (Gałęziewska and Gałęziewski in the Polish version) and the latter's first name is Eugene (Wacek).
81	* OnlySaneMan: Rod.
82	* TheOrder: The Order Of The True Human Race. In a bit of LampshadeHanging, both sides agree it's a horrible name.
83	* OurMonstersAreWeird: Cerberus is mosty humanoid, but still has three heads. The first one has a long snake-like neck. The second head is his torso, with eyes in the place of nipples and mouth across the abdomen. His third head is even lower.
84	* PartingFromConsciousnessWords:
85	** Rod: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/title-0005/ YOLO.]]
86	** Rod again: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-158/ Well, fuck.]]
87	* PerpetualFrowner: Rod, as the picture on top of this page attests.
88	* PyrrhicVictory: The denizens of the monster world could stop restricting themselves and kill everyone in the Rod's bar, but where would they drink afterwards?
89	* RageAgainstTheReflection: Rod headbutts a mirror in the first strip.
90	* TheRunaway: Paula. Her family probably thinks she's a {{Hikikomori}}, though.
91	* RunawayHideaway: After running away from home, Paula lives in Rod's bar.
92	* SarcasmBlind: Jellybean.
93	---> '''Rod:''' Jellybean, spiked coke means coke with vodka in it.\
94	'''Jellybean:''' Oh, I thought it's one of those new, weird flavours.\
95	'''Rod:''' What do they teach you in school nowadays?\
96	'''Jellybean:''' Maths, mostly!
97	* ScrewDestiny: Neither Rod nor ultimately John care about the mission from TheChooserOfTheOne or prophecies about the end of the world.
98	* ScrewYourself: John is very eager to try this when she jumps back in time. [[PowerPerversionPotential And she had actually anticipated this]].
99	---> '''John:''' STOP! John! Order 69! (...) My top secret password [[CrazyPrepared I invented]] to avoid having to explain things to myself in case of ever traveling in time. If I...\
100	'''Past!Rod:''' Alright, fine. I don't want to know after all.
101	* SelectiveObliviousness: Rod is so uninterested with anything college-related that whenever Jellybean tries to talk about it, his dialogue gets replaced by rows of dashes.
102	* ShoutOut:
103	** ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Rod and Mike discuss the kind of moves Rod would know if he was a Pokemon.
104	** ''Film/TheMatrix'': A client of a fortune teller Lilith wonders whether he should ake [[RedPillBluePill red one or blue one]].
105	* SkullCups: How the demon lord likes to drink the finest liquor.
106	* SuccubiAndIncubi: Lamia's an inexperienced succubus. She ''does'' consume the soul of whoever she sleeps with, but apparently only a little bit that can regrow over time.
107	* TakeAThirdOption: After Rod's bar gets destroyed, John sees only two options possible. Rod just wants to clean the place up. %%explain?
108	* TheyLookLikeUsNow: Monsters visiting Rod's bar.
109	* TheThingThatWouldNotLeave: John crashing at Rod's place. Would be a [[PrettyFreeloaders Pretty Freeloader]] if she weren't his sister.
110	* TheThreeCertaintiesInLife: Even in the other world, taxes exist.
111	** Apparently you can take 23%[[note]]standard VAT rate in Poland, for the record[[/note]] of soul as a tax, if you have a set of special Egyptian scales.
112	** Even the Demon Lord Goodwin doesn't want to mess up with the "kingdom's treasury".
113	* TooDumbToLive: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-393/ Two human patrons]] who ask [[HumanoidAbomination Mr. Blueberry]] to tell them a story. Two strips later, they walk out of the bar, visibly shaken.
114	* TheTrickster: John. Don't question why she's doing things. Or how.
115	* TruceZone: What Rod wants his bar to be.
116	* {{Tuckerization}}: Several of the bar's human patrons are based on the author's Patreon supporters.
117	* UnfortunateNames: Jellybean's real name, [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-314/ Eugene]], is treated as such by Lamia. Polish version, Wacek, is actually unfortunate, since it's an old-fashioned name and a euphemism for a penis.
118	* UnsoundEffect: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/title-0010/ "Flashback"]].
119	* TheVoiceless: [[http://www.konradokonski.com/SITM/comic/sitm-431/ Alex]], one of the pub's patrons. Apparently her power is observation.
120	* WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong: Played straight with Lamia encouraging the team to drink more of that alcohol that started the story.
121	* YouDidntAsk: Are you going to eat my soul?
122	* YouMonster: Completely natural reaction after showing the Sign of Eel to The Man In The Hat.
123	* YourMom: John uses it against Rod even though they are siblings.

Context Webcomic / StickInTheMud