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raithe Since: Jul, 2010
Nov 2nd 2011 at 10:52:31 AM •••

Does Girl Genius really fit this trope? I know that's where we got the trope name, but there are a number of differences. Anyone appears to be able to use a spark's inventions, there are numerous non-sparks that perform minor operations and "minions" appear to become like sparks if they spend enough time with them (and survive), there are occasional mentions of sparks that are doing actual, documented research, when Agatha was still locked down she was attempting to build clanks and no-one thought this was odd despite her not being a spark, they seem to require some form of knowledge to begin (see Agatha being unable to cure Tarvek when she didn't know what he had, the baron was studying the spark in a way that was basically early psychology, and while the comic does mention warping the laws of science, its more of a throwaway line than an accurate statement. Am I wrong about this or is it not really this trope?

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Xzenu Since: Apr, 2010
Nov 2nd 2011 at 3:04:14 PM •••

I'd say that it includes this trope but is not limited to it.

raithe Since: Jul, 2010
Nov 3rd 2011 at 8:31:59 PM •••

I don't think so. Something feels off about Sparks. They're mad scientists, but the science is sound. I don't know, they just don't seem this trope.

On another note, should we even have this trope? If I'm reading it correctly, the basic idea is that it's nonreproducible "science". The vast majority of Strong Spark of Genius is just flavored reality warper, and would fit better as a mention on that page. We've got 4, maybe 5 examples of weak Spark of Genius. I'd dispute Girl Genius for the most part, Sluggy Freelance doesn't really fit since the Hereti-corp freelancers inventions were reproduced by Hereti-corp and arguably Riff is only ahead of the curve technology wise, since Schlock understands it and he's 30 years ahead of the main cast, and Kim Possible's mad scientists steal stuff as often as they build it, so it seems pretty reproducible. I don't know enough about A Miracle of Science or the Whateley Universe universe to talk about them. Also, how is weak Spark of Genius different from the cartoon/comic book version of science hero, like say Tony Stark or Jimmy Neutron?

Edited by raithe
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