Line #55 Webcomic/ThePirateBalthasar


1	Take a bunch of faceted hotties of both sexes, all of different ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation as mains along with colourful side characters, add some thorough historical research on pirates and 17th century society in Europe, romance, comedy, many many tropes ([[Administrivia/TropesAreTools all very sensibly used]]), some Disney-flavoured art, blend them together and get ready to happily feast your eyes, mind and soul on ''The Pirate Balthasar'', a HistoricalFiction treat. [[http://sjawards11.smackjeeves.com/comics/1281162/best-romance-winner/ It has also won the 2011 Best Romance SmackJeeves Award too.]]
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3	The plot of ''The Pirate Balthasar'' is as follows: Wilson Kane wins a fortune and his future bride at a game of dice from the former pirate Balthasar. When he decides to go and get the girl, he does it the pirate way: [[AbductionIsLove by kidnapping her]]. Not only does he find out that she is more than a pirate could ever want from a wife... but that she has four identical sisters as well! This discovery hits him when his men, who were supposed to help him out, each kidnaps a different girl... and none of them gets the right one! But Wilson Kane wants the girl he had met and no one else! Luckily for him, it will be the girl herself to solve his problem and put an end to his dilemma... a solution that will eventually fling her into a new way of life, aboard the Alidivento, across the Mediterranean sea!
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5	The webcomic is available both in English and in Italian at the sites listed [[http://www.thepiratebalthasar.com/2016/05/blog-post.html on the author's blog]]. Lots of BonusMaterial there too.
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7	!!Tropes:
8	* ActionGirl: Castalia Papadopulos, the heroine and aspiring PirateGirl.
9	* AFatherToHisMen: Wilson Kane, although a pretty mercurial one. Uh, he's pretty mercurial, period. And there is also the 'Mommy' [[spoiler:Westley]].
10	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Both played straight ''and'' subverted.
11	* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: In conjunction with GoldDigger, ArrangedMarriage, and MarryForLove. All both played straight and subverted.
12	* AntiHero: With possibly sprinkles of LoveableRogue.
13	* BarBrawl: The fateful meeting in the tavern.
14	* BattleCouple: [[spoiler:Kane and Castalia]] with much sword DualWielding.
15	* BigEater: Cassandra/Kes especially. [[spoiler:But both her sisters and cousin can hold their ground here, really]].
16	* BiggerIsBetter: Sometimes overlapping with GagPenis and lampshaded for good measure.
17	* BlueBlood: [[spoiler: Kane]] is a duke.
18	* BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine: Cat and Foxy mostly, occasionally the other characters.
19	* BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:childhood and relatives' fate of some of the characters. Namely Kane's, Cat's, Westley's.]]
20	* Casual Kink: See SafeSaneAndConsensual.
21	* ChekhovsGun: Quite a lot, from actual objects to bits of dialogue. Re-reading fuel, ahoy!
22	* ComingOfAgeStory: Not to mention a ComingOutStory.
23	* DeconReconSwitch: This comic is the embodiment of it.
24	* DudeLooksLikeALady: Foxy. In spite of his more than respectable toned body, his face is just sooooo cute that it [[spoiler: earned him the female shortname ''Sally'' (from Solomon) when he was a child which also lead to him avoiding smiling for years.]]
25	* DoubleEntendre: From veggies to literary quotes, have a party!
26	* EthicalSlut: And adorable.
27	* FauxYay: (particularly in its subtrope form GayBravado) Two of the characters, and they do it very good-naturedly too. Bow to the masters!
28	* FourTemperamentEnsemble: But reverted to become useful within the contest of the story.
29	* GoodFlawsBadFlaws: One the the strongest point in this comic probably. Those good flaws, let me count the ways.
30	* HappinessInSlavery: Happily played with.
31	* HiddenDepths: Uhm... every character basically?
32	* HospitalHottie: Westley [[spoiler:and Lio]].
33	* IDidntMeanToTurnYouOn: [[spoiler:Pifo, you GuyMagnet]].
34	* IUhYouToo: [[spoiler:Cat. My goodness, Cat!]]
35	* IWasQuiteALooker: Arguably the aunties trio.
36	* KissKissSlap: And SlapSlapKiss. And ShutUpKiss. AlmostKiss too. Popcorn, anyone?
37	* MagneticHero: The titular character(s). And quite TheDeterminator as well.
38	* MediumAwareness: Often as...
39	** InteractiveNarrator, specifically of the LemonyNarrator variety.
40	* MementoMacguffin: Played both in serious and comedic moments. [[spoiler:Kane's ''main gauche'' to Castalia, Westley's braid for... Pifo, Kane's scar]] In some cases it overlaps with OrphansPlotTrinket [[spoiler:a certain family ring...]].
41	* MenAreUncultured: Both subverted and played straight. Ditto on women.
42	* MentorArchetype: Kane's [[spoiler:grandpa and ThePatriarch]], Kane and Westley themselves to some of the younger characters.
43	* NoPeriodsPeriod: Subverted.
44	* {{Pirate}}: Of course. Type 2 to be precise.
45	* PirateParrot: [[spoiler:Not really a parrot...]] but definitely pirate pet.
46	* PrinceCharming: Martin Steeves. The man is KnightInShiningArmour material. He's also developing quite a spectacular case of TheDulcineaEffect for [[spoiler:Pea]].
47	** OfficerAndAGentleman: Literally.
48	** FriendlyEnemy In regards to Kane and his crew.
49	* RealMenWearPink: In more than one aspect!
50	* RousingSpeech: When Kane goes all out... oooh boy. The guy knows his stuff. Westley can do it on occasions, as long as it's related to the PowerOfLove for his lady fair.
51	* SafeSaneAndConsensual: No means no and yes means... oh yes! Occasionally -- and humorously -- reaching RightThroughTheWall levels.
52	* SexIsInteresting: Especially when used for character development.
53	* ShirtlessScene: Bless period fashion, part II.
54	* StayInTheKitchen: Never tell this to Castalia if you value your well-being. [[spoiler:especially if your name is Josh Habel]].
55	* TheHerosJourney: So far it fits comedy, quest, voyage, and return. And a good number of ProppsFunctionsOfFolktales.
56	* TheLadysFavour: Both played straight, subverted, and gender-switched. Aaaahh, that leather glove, for instance...
57	* ToiletHumour: The good kind!
58	* TricksterArchetype: Pifo... and Wilson Kane. Cassandra.
59	* WeaknessTurnsHerOn: [[spoiler:Lio likes 'em cute and submissive. She's the one to lead her love game, yo!]]
60	* WeddingsForEveryone: Played with.
61	* TheWomenAreSafeWithUs: [[spoiler:and also single young boys]]. And this leaves good ground for some healthy ArentYouGoingToRavishMe...

Context Webcomic / ThePirateBalthasar