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'''Tropes A-E''' | [[Girl Genius/Tropes F-J|Tropes F-J]] | [[Girl Genius/Tropes K-O|Tropes K-O]] | [[Girl Genius/Tropes P-T|Tropes P-T]] | [[Girl Genius/Tropes U-Z|Tropes U-Z]]
----
==A==
* [[Absolute Cleavage]]
** Makes a brief and remarkably subtle appearance in the last panel of [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070219 this page].
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051130 Lady Vrin], in her nightgown (or whatever it is).
* [[Absurdly Spacious Sewer]]: '''''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060501 Sturmhalten.]'''''
** Explained in the novelisation as a function of Sturmhalten having once been a much larger city and having been built over an extensive network of caverns.
* [[Accentuate the Negative]]
** The problem with kids these days.
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'''Old Man Death:''' Always you gotta find '''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date{{=}}20100602 problems!]''' }}
** And [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081008 the younger guard]:
{{quote|'''Guard 1:''' Of course... the castle is over ''there''. ''We're'' over ''here'', and [[Wreathed in Flames|those flaming things]] are ''coming back''...
'''Guard 2:''' Live in the moment, kid. Live in the moment. }}
* [[Accidental Truth]]
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** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081103 Here] the crowd calls {{spoiler|Zeetha}} the Baron's daughter, which according to [[Word of God]] is actually true -- if the sketch of her father which looks exactly like Klaus is to be believed.
* [[Aerith and Bob]]
** The list of Heterodyne names in the crypt includes [[The Caligula|Caligula]], the [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060712 Red Heterodyne], the '''[[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Black]]''' Heterodyne, Mordred, Oxalof, and [[Everything's Better with Bob|Bob]]. Also, the world is full of people with weird names like Gilgamesh, Moloch, and Theopholous living right alongside people with ordinary names like Bill, Barry, and Agatha; no one comments on it or seems to consider it odd.
** In a side-story: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090619 Flopsy, Mopsy, and Nietzsche].
* [[After-Action Patchup]]: After the fight with Dr. Merlot, Zola leaps to provide this for Gil.
* [[
* [[Alien Geometries]]: ...''what'' is Agatha holding in [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120109 Panel 3??]
** [[Don't Explain the Joke|It's a three-pronged blivit]].
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* [[Alternate History]]: Perhaps better called [[In Spite of a Nail|Parallel History]], because the Sparks have been around for long enough that even geography has been changed by their influence, and yet the world and its history are not completely dissimilar to ours:
** There were still Mongol Hordes on cue, German is still spoken as a European lingua-franca, R(embrandt) Van Rijn was still a famous genius and Casanova a famous skirt-chaser, the [Weather] King was still a towering historical figure...
** There is still a powerful church(es) with not one, but ''seven'' popes, according to [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080307 this] page. <ref>For those not in the know, there were several points in the church's history where either they went through a pope about every couple months to around 5 years, and another where there were 3 popes at once
** And there's "[http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1595797979 The Autonomous Library]" built by [http://twitter.com/Othar/status/1622338235 Voltaire].
* [[Alternate Universe Reed Richards Is Awesome]]: Together with the above [[Alternate History]].
Line 68 ⟶ 70:
{{quote|'''{{spoiler|Professor Tiktoffen}}:''' Franz here liked turning people into beetles. Zonia believed that orphan blood had medicinal properties. Krag put his feet on my bed.}}
** A villain [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110518 learns] why you must never punch a lady, or wake her up too early in the morning.
** Now why would anyone want to kill Klaus von Wulfenbach? [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070514 Let's see...]:
{{quote|'''Gil:''' ''Why?'' Because Wulfenbach troops turned her village into owls. Or maybe we deposed her favorite mad prince, or hung her lover for piracy, or banished the Heterodyne Boys, or poisoned the well, or raised the price of herring.}}
* [[Art Evolution]]
Line 82 ⟶ 84:
** Gil uses it on Captain Vole. (Twice.)
** Boris earns the respect of the Jägergenerals by beating their location out of a messenger.
* [[Attack Hello]]: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100526 Maxim is just saying "hello".]
* [[Author Appeal]]
** Phil Foglio is well-known (unabashedly so) for drawing his female characters with rather large "assets". But it's his wife (and co-author) who loves to get Agatha into the "lacy underthings." She's a big fan of Victorian-era undergarments.
Line 98 ⟶ 100:
** Most notable is probably [[Laughably Evil|Bangladesh DuPree]], whose axecraziness is frequently [[Played for Laughs]].
** Jägers are highly destructive, if not malicious, but "no-longer-a-Jäger" Vole manages to be axe crazy [[Up to Eleven|even]] by [[Blood Knight|their standards]].
** This is also pretty much a requirement for every Spark, especially when in their "madness place". The Heterodynes (with the exception of [[Big Good|the Heterodyne Boys]] and Agatha) deserve special mention [[Up to Eleven|for being batshit insane even by Spark standards]]. Naturally, other mad scientists tend to [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180604 find them inspiring].
{{quote|They've always had such a... unique vision! ''Horrifying'', of course, but ''still unique!''}}
* [[Back From the Dead]]▼
==B==
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100514 "Seriously? The old 'bring her family back from the GRAVE gambit? Have you no SHAME?"]
** The simplest cure for some ailments. {{spoiler|Zulenna got this ordered for her by Klaus.}}
** Captain Vole tells Dr. Sun that an enemy officer needs medical attention -- and holds up the man's severed head.
{{quote|'''Dr. Sun''': Yes. Well. ''Tricky''. But I've seen worse.}}
* [[Back-to-Back Badasses]]
** Gil and Tarvek, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090114 on the cover of Volume 9].
** Zeetha and Higgs [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080609 during the bar fight].
* [[Badass]]: Most of the main cast fit into several subtropes; many of the secondary cast fit at least one.
* [[Badass Abnormal]]: Would most Spark characters who have "broken through" and Boris Dolokhov count?
* [[Badass Boast]]: Lots and lots.
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** Axel Higgs, fullstop. Quiet, unassuming, half-asleep, and [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070402 nigh-invincible]. {{spoiler|It is suggested by Mama Gkika that he's actually a Jager in disguise.}}
** Zeetha. [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041103 Versus a pirate stronghold] (she won). Versus [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050413 a demon-horse-thing-monster]. (She didn't win, but it cheated by growing a new mouth and tentacles after she cut its head off.)
** Bangladesh DuPree, and Violetta. Moloch von Zinzer seems to be heading towards this, [[Refusal of the Call|somewhat unwillingly.]]
** Many people might have thought Wooster was on the low end of the [[Badass Normal]] spectrum. Then [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100827 this] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100830 happened]. Now he's basically [[James Bond]] [[What Do You Mean It's Not Awesome?|in a steampunk/mad science setting.]] He also gave Bangladesh DuPree an [[Offhand Backhand]].
** Sanaa is pretty badass when she needs to be.
* [[Badass Princess]]: Not only is Zeetha a warrior princess, she doesn't seem to be aware there's any [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120420 other kinds of princess.]
* [[Bag of Kidnapping]]: Sanaa and Othar do this to Tarvek, mistaking him for Gilgamesh Wulfenbach.
* [[Bar Brawl]]: Apparently there's one every evening in Mamma Gkika's. Except on Thursdays; that's poetry slam night.
* [[Bash Brothers]]: Da Boyz and the Jägergenerals. Klaus and the generals were having fun at some points of the wasp attack. The Heterodyne Boys were a more literal example.
* [[Battle Butler]]: Ardsley Wooster and Boris Dolokhov, though, technically speaking, neither is an actual butler. Wooster is a {{spoiler|spy posing as a}} valet or gentleman's gentleman; Dolokhov is more of an aide-de-camp, librarian, accountant, and general manager.
* [[Battle Couple]]: To an extent, Agatha and Gil during the wasp outbreak on Castle Wulfenbach. Now that she, Gil, and Tarvek are battling with and through Castle Heterodyne, they're a Battle Threesome.
* [[Battle Cry]]
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* [[Behind the Black]]
** Gil didn't notice Agatha [[Big Damn Kiss|launching herself at him]] while he was yelling at Tarvek?
*** He'd probably started yelling before turning and only spun around to dramatically punctuate his final words, at which point Agatha would already be on top of him.
** Lampshaded [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071109 here], where Jenka points out that they should have heard the army of giant clanks (helpfully called War Stompers too) marching up to their tower.
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Gil & Tarvek, to Agatha.
* [[Beware the Nice Ones]]
** Agatha. She really is a very nice, pleasant, easy-going girl. Until she goes to The Madness Place or you hurt or threaten one of her friends. Then the [[Death Ray]] comes out.
** Gilgamesh is usually rather pleasant and doesn't scream and beat people to get his way. Piss him off. Go on. Gilgamesh managed to scare the crap out of a ''Jäger'' (one completely off the deep end [[Up to Eleven|even for Jäger standards]]) and the resident version of ''James Bond.''
** Tarvek is the [[Red Oni, Blue Oni|blue to Gil's red]]. He's rather charming and civil by default. When he gets mad, {{spoiler|Zola}} up and surrenders. He doesn't let it end there. Oh, no.
** Violetta is a cute young lady whose greatest desire is to go to a fancy party in a pretty dress and dance with the boys, and is perfectly happy just being Agatha's maid or secretary. She's also carrying more knives and poison than the average Assassin's Guild... because she ''is'' a professional assassin, and rather good at it.
** And lets not forget The Indestructible Airman Higgs...
* [[Big Book of War]]: Agatha brains {{spoiler|Zola}} with one of these, entitled [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|"Using Found Objects as Weapons."]] The [[Unsound Effect|sound effect]] when she beans them is [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110103 "TOME!"]
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** Zeetha and her [[Magic Skirt|carefully placed clothing]] swing in to [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100210 save the day].
** When a humanoid killing machine is lying on the floor [[Not Quite Dead]] and you're caught up in your evil plans to enslave several main characters, frankly [[Genre Blind|what do you expect?]]
** Dimo and the Boyz show how it's done in Sturmhalten.
* [[Big Damn Kiss]]: As of August 17, 2011, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110817 it has happened]. ''[[And the Fandom Rejoiced]]''. So very big, it had to be continued on [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110819 the next page]. ▼
{{quote|'''Abner:''' Are you seriously thinking we should go back, into a hostile town full of armed soldiers, to rescue a girl from a madboy's fortress?!?
'''Lars:''' Yes! Yes I am!
'''Abner:''' There's a ''million'' reasons why that is not going to work!
'''Dimo:''' (dramatic entrance) Dun vorry. Dere's ''three'' reasons it ''iz''.}}
***
▲* [[Big Damn Kiss]]: As of August 17, 2011, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110817 it has happened]. ''[[And the Fandom Rejoiced]]''. So very big, it had to be continued on [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110819 the next page].
** And then a year later, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120713 Tarvek got his turn]. Also had to be [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120716 continued on the next page].
* [[BFG]]
** The [[Gatling Good|gatling guns]] carried by the Wulfenbach clanks. [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030430 Sometimes used by Jägers.]
** Agatha's Death Rays. Played with, when she made a "very small" death ray. That she used to blow a hole out of the castle, taking out a chunk of a nearby mountain. And a hole from fairly high in the castle, to the basement. [[Comically Missing the Point|What a magnificent death ray!]]
* [[Big Labyrinthine Building]]: Castle Heterodyne, and the Wulfenbach airship.
* [[Big No]]: Several times.
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20030704 Crashing] Gil's "falling machine" into Castle Wulfenbach.
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041029 Zeetha], after she finally finds someone who knows about her homeland Skifander, but doesn't know where it is, breaks out in a rage.
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* [[Big Screwed-Up Family]]
** House Sturmvoraus, aka "[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110422 a bunch of evil-minded, cynical, backstabbing old fools]". Occasional kinship feelings... [[Vitriolic Best Buds|such as they are]]... get expressed in [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110909 hilariously twisted ways].
{{quote|'''Martellus von Blitzengaard:''' I can kill family members all day and '''know''' I'm making the world a better place.}}
▲** The Old Heterodynes, as seen [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110209 here], for instance.
** The Old Heterodynes, as seen [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110209 here], for instance.
{{quote|'''Gil:''' So this was the ''nursery''?
'''Tarvek:''' It explains... so ''much''... }}
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** "Si vales valeo" is Latin for "If you are well, I am well", a phrase used in ancient Roman times to start writing a letter like "Dear Mister Smith". In the world of ''Girl Genius'', it has a [[Synchronization|more literal]] meaning.
* [[Black and Gray Morality]]: Agatha and Klaus are both sympathetically gray and fighting for perfectly reasonable reasons. There are several villains that are clearly black, and both of them want those destroyed.
* [[Bleached Underpants]]: A variant, in that prior to ''Girl Genius'', Phil Foglio was the author and artist of the ''[[XXXenophile]]'' series of pornographic comics, and unlike many artists with a similar background makes no attempt to hide it. However, before ''XXXenophile'', he was already well known for ''[[What's New with Phil and Dixie]]'' for ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' Magazine, and ''[[Buck Godot: Zap Gun for Hire|Buck Godot Zap Gun for Hire]]'', and did book covers and illustrations (most memorably, for Robert Asprin's ''[[Myth Adventures]]'' series), as well as the classic ''Con Reports'' and a trio of excellent, funny updates of old '60s humor comics for [[The DCU|DC Comics]] at about the same time as ''XXXenophile''
** A lot of ''Girl Genius'' is made up of brilliant little ideas that Foglio didn't use in his pornographic work. The Jägers' speech pattern and dental work? From ''XXXenophile'': "A Beautiful Tail" and "My Favorite Oitling". Zeetha's jewelry, with the little faces that mimic whatever her current facial expression is? From ''XXXenophile'': "Blue Opal".
* [[Blessed Are the Cheesemakers]]: Cheese appears often, and sometimes seems to be employed as a symbol of romance. And a barfight projectile. Sometimes both at the same time. See Zeetha and Higgs. [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050316 Lars] was a cheesemaker's apprentice before he joined the Circus.
* [[Blessed with Suck]]
** The Spark itself. If you have it, you can warp the laws of physics with the contents of the average [[Locking MacGyver in the Store Cupboard|Store Cupboard]]. Bad part? ''[[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity|You go insane to varying degrees whenever you do it]]''. The natural result of that is that most Sparks, and Agatha in particular, have to deal with being shunned, used, or attacked by most everyone they meet. And that's if they don't get killed by one of their own creations.
** Agatha before her breakthrough, when she wore the locket to suppress her Spark. It undoubtedly saved her life, but it also made her completely incompetent and destroyed her self-esteem.
** Tarvek framed his cousin Violetta for incompetence so that she'd get relieved from being his bodyguard and [[Reassigned to Antarctica|sent to Mechanicsburg]] - immediately before a wave of assassination attempts began that killed twelve of his bodyguards in under three years. This very likely saved her life, but since he hadn't ''told'' her what he was doing it also gave her an inferiority complex that took her several years to start shedding.
* [[Bling of War]]: Most troops are trying to look cool -- some, too hard. Jägers tend to dress in less unified fancy clothes, with their own peculiar taste. Of "Da Boyz", Maxim wears the most fashionable set -- he's an ex-cavalry officer, after all.
* [[Blondes Are Evil]]: Played straight with Lucrezia and Zola; [[Playing with a Trope|played with]] by Von Pinn. Averted with Agatha (who's a strawberry blonde, therefore crossing into [[Heroes Want Redheads]]).
* [[Blood Brothers|Blood Sisters]]: Agatha and Zeetha are bound for life by the ancient Skifanderian tradition of ''kolee-dok-zumil'', which is essentially a sensei-student relationship taken [[Up To Eleven]].
{{quote|'''Zeetha:''' Know, Agatha Clay, that the warrior tradition of the Royal House of Skifander is old, proud, and jealously guarded. In this life I am allowed to train ''one'' other person besides my own daughters. I have chosen ''you''. The bond between us will be stronger than that of friends, of family, of lovers.}}
* [[Blue Blood]]: Noble families are sometimes mentioned as opponents for the Baron. Most notable characters are Zulenna and Tarvek.
* [[Body Count Competition]]: By the [[Jager Generals]], of course.
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** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080502 Jäger battle-draught]. Slightly Better than Death!
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20101013 "Moveit #11"] has also made an appearance. According to Violetta, using Moveit #11 would kill most people.
* [[Bow Chicka Wow Wow]]:
{{quote|'''Zeetha:''' ''(a green-haired Amazon)'' Hey, Skifander's patron Goddess is Ashtara, she who controls, among other things, fertility. Our holy-days are ''fun!'' (Cha cha cha!)}}
* [[Brain Bleach]]: Remember, the strip is full of [[Mad Scientist|Mad Scientists]].
{{quote|'''Snaug:''' ... spiky trap-doors... torture chambers... man-eating bats... [[Naughty Tentacles|impertinent mechanical squid]]...
'''Mittelmind:''' Oh, there is some psychological damage, but I always wipe her memory for her birthday.
'''Snaug:''' Happy birthday to meeeeeee... }}
* [[Braggart Boss]]: Minus the fact people of the street think he is a hero, Othar Tryggvassen ('''''[[Gentleman Adventurer]]!''''') fits the mold nicely.
* [[Breather Episode]]: Side stories every once in a while.
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100519 "Maxim Buys a Hat!"]
* [[Brick Joke]]
** A long time after Agatha is convinced that her battle merry-go-round is too dangerous to construct, a soldier who failed to capture her is diagnosed with a concussion for explaining that her injuries were sustained while destroying a merry-go-round.
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** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110325 "But why are there mechanical squid in the cistern?"][http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090703 Well, two years and two volumes earlier...]
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050420 Steam-powered feet?] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111019 Steam-powered feet!]
** So, about [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031001 Gil's intercepted mail]... [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20151030 Surprise!]
** 2011: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110912 Violetta dreams about dressing up for a party]. 2020: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20200520 Violetta finally gets to dress up for a party].
* [[Broken Angel]]: The muses, the delicate creations of the greatest spark of the time. Most of them are destroyed or damaged while sparks tried to reverse engineer them. Known examples are [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051107 Tinka], studied by Tarvek, and [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100120 Otilia], found beneath Castle Heterodyne. She manages to cause some trouble in her "broken" state though.
** Also Castle Heterodyne, damaged in the Other's attack.
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** Moloch Von Zinzer
** Tarvek in the Paris flashbacks.
==C==
* [[Caffeine Bullet Time]]: Agatha has it. It is implied to be a Heterodyne thing.
* [[Call Back]]
** After their reunion, one of the first things Agatha needs to get off her mind is [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090803 an apology to Gil]... [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040929 for yelling at him.][[Lampshaded Trope|Lampshaded]] when even Gil takes a while to remember about the incident. (It'd been a very hectic [[Comic Book Time|few months/years]].)
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090812 "Did you know he really] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110504 likes waffles?"]
** "[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070228 All of the dead soldiers] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20170331 rose up and swore fealty] --" Of course, that rumour could have been mixed with some old stories of the {{spoiler|Storm King after he became like this}}.
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021220 Remember the gag with the closet in Book One?] Almost ''ten years later'', Boris will use that incident [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120411 to figure out that the Baron is the one who's actually Slaver Wasped, not Gil]. The novelisation makes this scene even more explicit - Boris, who has an eidetic memory, is recalling that Agatha actually ''had'' given Gil a direct order once in his presence (not to open the closet), and Gil had ''disobeyed''.
* [[Calling Your Attacks]]: Done by {{spoiler|Zola}} under the influence of a massive overdose of battle stimulants, resulting in a cry of "Chophead Tinybits!"
* [[Came Back Wrong]]: Subverted. Apparently being brought [[Back
{{quote|'''Moloch:''' Uh... [[Look Behind You!|hey, check it out]].
'''{{spoiler|Tarvek}}:''' Good Heavens. }}
* [[Can't Live Without You]]: When Gil supports both {{spoiler|Agatha and Tarvek}} when they get infected by Hogfarb's Immolation.
* [[Cannot Talk to Women]]: ''Hilariously'' averted at Albia's royal ball. Tarvek "gentlemanly" agrees to give Gil the first dance with Agatha... because Tarvek's relying on Gil's well-known lack of aptitude at the sweet talk to put him a leg up. On the next page, Tarvek is incredulously watching as Gil and Agatha share the most intensely romantic moment they've had in years - because they're both getting so into the dance that they're just ''not saying anything''.
* [[Cartwright Curse]]: Being a suitor to Agatha is hazardous to your health.
* [[Catch Phrase]]
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* [[Chekhov's Gag]]: when [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090921 Tarvek relates all the trouble Gil got him into while they were in Paris], there is a very short gag (just one panel, the fifth) in which he complains about having to deal with pirates because of what Gil did. The pirate in that panel looks a lot like DuPree. It takes [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120222 two years and five months] to start to guess what exactly Tarvek went through then.
* [[Chekhov's Gunman|Chekhov's Clank]]: The creature who climbs out of the pit [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100120 in this comic] was first seen, looking much better for wear, in the back of {{spoiler|1=a fresco depicting [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050928 the Storm King's Muses]}}.
* [[Chekhov's Gun]]: Bunches of them, often coming back several '''books'' later.
** Gilgamesh's [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20040213 lightning generator] which was used again almost ''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071126 four years later]''.
** The Torchmen. Seen before activation ''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070427 here]'', although we didn't know what they did at the time.
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** Then there's the [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20041217 poison pellet] Gilgamesh gave Von Zinzer to use as a suicide pill if he chose. While Von Zinzer has shown up again (alive), the poison hasn't shown up again... '''''yet'''''.
** Agatha's locket. It is introduced at the very beginning, then disappears from the story within the first few chapters. Then its importance is revealed -- and then it comes back a second time, important in a brand new way.
** Dr. Vapnoople's "army" of teddy bears, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031210 way, '''way''' back] turns out to be a hint -- before his Spark was cut out of his brain, he built a real army of [[Everything's Worse with Bears|bears]]. '''Powerful''' bears with more-or-less human intelligence ... and [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150220 they recognize Krosp, by scent], {{spoiler|as their supreme leader. (He hadn't known they were anything more than another of Vapnoople's post-lobotomy delusions.) King of Cats? King of '''''Bears'''''}}.
** It took ''20 books'' to reveal the significance of the term "Spark". {{spoiler|1=[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20191021 The spark can be fanned into a flame], bringing on a "second breakthrough" into a Queen (if one is female)}}.
* [[Chekhov MIA]]: The Chekhov's Cannonball — one of Agatha's messenger clanks was found in England in the hands of a local secret society.
* [[Chekhov's Skill]]: Agatha's training under Zeetha. Mind you, it's not like it was ever a secret it would be useful.
* [[Cheshire Cat Grin]]:
** Agatha frequently sports these, as do many other Sparks when in [[The Madness Place]], sometimes reaching the level of [[Slasher Smile]].
** The Jägerkin sport those every time they're about to fight, so it also overlaps with the [[Slasher Smile]].
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** Agatha's little Clanks get ''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091012 circling gears]''.
** Maxim, on the other hand, gets ''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100609 circling hats]''.
** Jiminez Hoffman touches something he shouldn't have, gets a massive electric shock, and [http://girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160215 reports "electrical birdies."]
* [[City of Weirdos]]: Mechanicsburg. Lampshaded when one of the inhabited asked if growing up there made them weird.
* [[Cleavage Window]]: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070910 Ferretina's] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090617 default.] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080123 It's been noted.] [[Ms. Fanservice|Quite happily]]. [[Underboobs]] included.
* [[Close
* [[Clothing Damage]]: If you wear clothes and anything action-y happens, hope for the best. The fans certainly do.
* [[Compensating for Something]]
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{{quote|'''Castle Hetrodyne:''' [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date{{=}}20080829 All the Wulfenbach sparks are known for their oversized machinery, you know.] I mean, just '''look''' at castle Wulfenbach. What '''exactly''' are we trying to '''say''', here?}}
** The Heterodynes [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110420 never built] ''anything'' small either.
* [[Continuity Cameo]]: The main story has Ferretina's [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20161205 shop in Paris].
* [[Continuity Nod]]: Hundreds, and ranging from extremely obvious to incredibly subtle.
** While having tea with the Jägergenerals, mention is made of [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20031031 "gingerbread trilobites from Mechanicsburg"], and of the fact that Castle Heterodyne is mad, dying, and useless. Guess what Zeetha's eating as [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20081013 she stumbles across Gil] putting his plan in motion in order to enter the mad useless castle, six years later.
** Old Man Death has a mini-flashback of people who rode with the Jägers -- like the Seneschal. Still not sure if he's in there, though.
* [[Convection, Schmonvection]]: Averted beautifully [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051118 here]. Anevka pumping out enough electricity in her arm to {{spoiler|flash-fry her father}} releases enough waste heat to send her entire outfit and wig bursting into flames.
** For that matter, Anevka is mostly a Muse replica. Prende later also used built-in shocker on high power and torched her own wig and clothes (well, what was left of them after almost two centuries).
* [[Cool Airship]]
** ''Castle Wulfenbach'', of course.
** Zola's ship would qualify, but as [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080804 this] handy comic showing them both demonstrates, the Baron's ship is tough competition.
* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: Mamma Gkika wants you to remember that [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110518 it's bad to hit women or to wake her up too early in the morning.]
* [[Crapsack World]]: The world is dominated by people and things who'd fit right in with ''[[Warhammer
▲* [[Crapsack World]]: The world is dominated by people and things who'd fit right in with ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' Orks, and the only thing keeping them mostly in check is anti-villain dictator Klaus, who is quite willing to level cities in order to achieve such. His territory is described as containing a lot of empty space despite being central Europe, is littered with forgotten but highly-lethal Spark inventions, and walled-in cities are the closest one comes to safe. The Other systematically leveled much of Europe not long before that, {{spoiler|and currently has free reign of Sturmhalten, a large army, and has mind-controlled Klaus}}. Outside Europe, things aren't much better, with northern nations having a tax on fire. The greatest folk heroes are missing, and the second greatest folk hero is a serial killer.
{{quote|'''[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date{{=}}20110204 Rudolf Selnikov]:''' The depressing thing? ''Twisted and ruthless'' as you people are, throwing in with ''you'' is a step ''up''.}}
** Alternatively, [[A World Half Full]]. Europa has mostly recovered from a devastating genocidal war that employed mad science bioweapons just decades ago, and is ruled by an extremely intelligent benevolent dictator who keeps the peace and lets most people get on with their lives. There are systems in place to contain the mad monstrosities that arise, and the people {{spoiler|Othar}} has killed (usually) had it coming.
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* [[Crime of Self Defense]]: A short-lived running gag about Gil defending his killing Dr. Beetle with "He threw a bomb at me".
* [[Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass]]
** Da Boyz. Oggie is the least bright of the three, but don't let that fool you.
** Zola looks like a vapid fool, but then she drops the "vapid fool" mask and soundly beats Zeetha and Violetta, and matches Higgs -- three of the seven most capable physical fighters in the main cast. (The other four are Da Boyz -- Oggie, Dimo and Maxim; and VonPinn, who's a construct.) Though her physical abilities were boosted by a [[Deadly Upgrade]], she ''did'' have to steal the upgrade -- from a [[McNinja|Smoke Knight]] -- requiring a [[Manipulative Bastard|different kind]] of badassery.)
* [[Cry Cute]]: {{spoiler|1=DuPree}} of all people gets a moment [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120118 here].
* [[Crying Wolf]]: Martellus von Blitzengaard has such a bad reputation with the protagonists that even when he's being sincere ''while under a lie detector'', they still can't believe it.
* [[Cryptic Background Reference]]: All over the place, as [[Chekhov's Gun|Chekhov's Guns]], but [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100322 Sanaa's backstory] is one of the few that is likely never going to be explained further. ▼
{{quote|'''Krosp:''' (astonished) Uh... he's not lying.
'''Dimo:''' Maybe dot iz ''not him''.
'''Violetta:''' Maybe he's sick.
'''Bear Warrior:''' Maybe this bear is ''dreaming''.
'''Martellus:''' MAYBE I'M TELLING THE TRUTH! I actually ''do'' that sometimes!}}
▲* [[Cryptic Background Reference]]: All over the place, as [[Chekhov's Gun|Chekhov's Guns]], but [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100322 Sanaa's backstory] is one of the few that is likely never going to be explained further.
* [[Cultured Badass]]: Klaus and Gil at times, but definitely Tarvek. The Jägergenerals can be this when they're not beating the hell out of someone. Wooster's [[Badass Normal]] status puts him here as well. Dolokhov can make tea or beat people up with equal effectiveness.
* [[Curb Stomp Battle]]
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* [[Cyanide Pill]]: One is offered to Moloch von Zinzer, but he obviously has yet to use it.
* [[Cyber Cyclops]]: Most little Clanks. Subverted, though, as it doesn't stop them from being more cute than sinister. Well, usually; except [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061227 here]. [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]], much?
==D==
* [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]]
** Castle Heterodyne. To the point where once it finds out that Othar Tryggvassen is a hero, it immediately dumps him down a bottomless pit. Of course, the castle knows all about [[Contractual Immortality|heroes...]]
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* [[Dark Action Girl]]
** [[Ax Crazy|Bangladesh DuPree]]. Don't let her [[Faux Affably Evil|cheerful attitude]] or status as perhaps [[Evil Is Sexy|the most consistently fully-clothed female]] semi-regular throw you. She's probably the most [[Ax Crazy]] [[Chaotic Evil|evil]] non-Spark in the series.
** These days, {{spoiler|Zola}} is giving DuPree stiff competition for that title.
* [[Dartboard of Hate]]: Violetta [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110909 had one] after she was [[Reassigned to Antarctica]].
* [[Deadly Upgrade]]: Moveit #11 makes the user a '''LOT''' stronger and faster. It is also fatal or nearly fatal to the user.
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* [[Death Is Cheap]]: The horrifying tendency towards murder that Sparks possess is made slightly less horrifying when you find out they can (under some circumstances) bring the dead back to life. Examples:
** {{spoiler|Punch and Judy;}}
** Agatha and Tarvek curing themselves of a disease by killing and reviving themselves.
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070209 "... Dot don't vork so much..."]
** Played straight [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100917 with] [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100920 Dr. Mittelmind], who apparently dies enough to have trained his assistant to revive him in under five minutes.
** The noble class has had to determine strict laws on the matter of [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090826 title inheritance after reanimation].
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** In the novelization, Agatha thinks she knows why Gil is denying having a [[Death Ray]].
{{quote|'''Agatha:''' I'm sure that next time you'll build a much bigger one, but trust me, right now any Death Ray, will do, no matter how--
'''Gil:''' [[
** [[Napoleonic Wars|Baron Wulfenbach is not on good terms with England.]]
* [[A Dog Ate My Homework]]: "[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20090717 Sorry, professor, my latest experiment] ''ate my lecture notes''..."
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** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070727 "Fool! Never total your points out loud!"]
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100305 And another one here], although frankly Moloch didn't deserve it; it's just that Sparks hate having their melodramatics cut short by perfectly mundane solutions.
** [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120402 Moloch gets his turn though], displaying his newfound [[Took a Level
* [[Double Entendre]]
** The Castle teasing Agatha about her attraction to Gil: "[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080829 All the Wulfenbach Sparks are known for their over-sized machinery...]" Also figures in about half the references to [[Death Ray|Death Rays]]. And almost every reference to toolbelts.
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{{quote|'''Professor Mezzasalma:''' And who the devil is ''this''?!}}
* [[Dysfunction Junction]]
** The Valois clans. Dear ''God'', the Valois clans. The Sturmvoraus and von Blitzengaard families have it the worst, but anybody even distantly related to these people is all caught up in the most insanely paranoid whirl of backstabbing you could imagine.
{{quote|'''Tarvek:''' You don't last very long in our family unless you've got a good nose for intrigue.
'''Tarvek:''' The only way to keep ''my'' family in line would be to ''bury them in a row''.
'''Martellus:''' Now don't get me wrong, I can kill family members all day and '''know''' I'm making the world a better place....}}
** Another of Tarvek's cousins, Violetta, gave this eulogy once for her Aunt Margolotta.
{{quote|'''Violetta:''' I'm sorry she's dead. She was always nice to me... well, she never tried to kill me... that is, I'm ''pretty'' sure those were all accidents... and if they weren't then she wasn't trying very ''hard''... which was awfully sweet of her, right?}}
** Earlier on, when Violetta was first told that her Aunt Margolotta was being pursued by assassins:
{{quote|'''Violetta:''' Well, ''sure''. She's one of my relatives.}}
** Even Tarvek and Violetta, who are ''legitimately on the same side'', can't entirely avoid the family paranoia.
{{quote|'''Tarvek:''' And how is it even ''possible'' that you're on my side here?
'''Violetta:''' Oh well, you know... family...
'''Tarvek:''' ''That'' means I should be looking for the knife in my back. (And in the novelisation, ''he actually pats his back to check''.)}}
** And then there's the Mongfish family, which is at least as dysfunctional as the Sturmvorauses (with the same occasional distribution of good guys).
** The old Heterodynes were no pushovers in this. See [[Axe Crazy]] and [[Big Screwed-Up Family]].
==E==
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Oggie's [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20060726 great-great-grandson] is initially seen 4-years earlier telling kids the story [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021104 on the first page.]
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: The Dreen. They work with -- not necessarily '''for''' -- Baron Wulfenbach. A line in the novelization describes them as "unearthly, terrifying creatures garbed in dark, wide-brimmed conical hats and long, obscuring veils. They killed with but a touch...." They can blast a powerful war machine apart with just a touch, too. Tarvek shows terror at the sight of them. A Jaeger general shows terror at the sight of them. ''[[Up to Eleven|Bangladesh DuPree]]'' shows terror at the sight of them. The novelization says even '''Slaver wasps''' are scared of Dreen....
{{quote|'''General Zog''': '''Run'''! Der Baron iz not foolink around enny more! Doze tings iz '''unschtoppable'''! Vorse -- dey's '''scary'''!}}
* [[Emperor Scientist]]: The entire world is ''run'' by these. Baron Wulfenbach is an [[Mr. Fanservice|especially fine]] specimen.
* [[Enfant Terrible]]: Not quite yet, but when Gil rides out {{spoiler|with the "devil dogs" to defend Castle Heterodyne until it's all the way fixed and goes into full-on ape-shit Spark mode}}, this conversation happens:
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'''Vanamonde:''' Uh-huh.
'''Council Member:''' We're...we're going to have to break out those ''little iron cages'' for their children, aren't we? }}
* [[Entitled Bastard]]: The sneering [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080725 Strinbeck] orders the Pink Airship to stay in Mechanicsburg Airspace. A subsequent order to dump useless objects overboard suddenly becomes [[Karmic Death|most satisfying]]. A footnote in the novelization comments that when Strinbeck's death was logged as being "Lost Due to Own Stupidity," his next of kin felt no need to question this.
* [[Epic Hail]]
** Agatha's signal from Strumhalten.
**
* [[Everyone Can See It]]: Mostly played straight, in that anyone who meets either Gil or Agatha and merely hears them ''talk'' about the other knows they're madly in love, but they know it too -- they just refuse to admit it (though Zeetha finally got a confession out of Gil).
** Agatha '''did''' tell Franz the dragon that she was "somewhat" in love with Gil. She also, earlier, skated around the exact words but made it pretty clear how she felt, when she wondered how many other girls worried "about whether or not it's smart to really trust their... ah, you know, the guys they..."
* [[Everything Trying to Kill You]]: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070725 Castle Heterodyne]. Also, again, [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20061225 Showtime!]
* [[Everything's Worse with Bears]]: [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20050715 Da Boyz weren't fazed at all by the horde of things that infested Passholdt].
* [[Evil Albino]]: The Geisterdamen, an order of ghostly-white priestesses who are in the service of the Other.
* [[Evil Gloating]]: Sparks in general, and particularly evil ones, seem to be fond of doing this.
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** Hearing a report from Dr. Sun while [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070611 fighting against a pair of assassins sent after his father].
** Making some difficult [[Mad Science]] preparation... while [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120312 in the middle of a fight with DuPree]. She's even unwittingly helping him.
* [[Explain, Explain, Oh Crap]]: Provided the page image. [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20180207 Wooster's expression as he realizes] that the only person crazy enough to hijack one of Her Undying Majesty's warships single-handed is his former boss is ''epic''.
* [[Exploding Closet]]: In [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20021220 Volume 1] Agatha creates one. Gil opens it. The plot is off its leash and has soon crossed its event horizon.
* [[Explosive Overclocking]]: Movit #11, for most people. {{spoiler|Zola}} seems to have survived, but only because she is now under the care of Dr. Sun.
* [[Exponential Plot Delay]]: Agatha's efforts to repair Castle Heterodyne and officially be recognized as the Heterodyne heir lasted three years and ten months, starting from [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20071226 the time she entered the castle] and ending [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20111102 when she ordered the Doom Bell be rung]. The actual ringing of the bell lasted another three weeks. Tarvek was critically ill and about to die for just short of 15 months. The general concept is [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] in [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20091211 this strip]. And again [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100521 here], "It only seem like deyz been in de kestle a long time!"
* [[Expressive Accessory]]: Zeetha's headband, with the little face on it that always has the same facial expression as she does.
* [[Extremely Overdue Library Book]]: When Tarvek was kidnapped from Castle Wulfenback and taken to the Immortal Library, he thought that he ad an overdue book. But was reassured that his record was perfect, though it was definitely a library not to forget to return books to.
* [[The Extremist Was Right]]
** Klaus, former [[Trope Namer]].
** Also, Tarvek ("[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20051104 I'm not proud of that, but...]").
{{Split Trope List footer}}
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