Irregular Webcomic!: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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{{quote|''[[Suspiciously Specific Denial|No, I'm totally not trying to get]] ''[[Suspiciously Specific Denial|Irregular Webcomic!]]'' [[Troperiffic|mentioned on every single page of TV Tropes.]]'' |'''David Morgan Mar''' }}
{{quote|''[[Suspiciously Specific Denial|No, I'm totally not trying to get]] ''[[Suspiciously Specific Denial|Irregular Webcomic!]]'' [[Troperiffic|mentioned on every single page of TV Tropes.]]''
|'''David Morgan Mar''' }}


A webcomic done with [[LEGO]] figures and [[Tabletop Games|roleplaying]] miniatures, by David Morgan-Mar, an Australian physicist, who also perpetrates ''[[Darths and Droids]]''. Yes, he's [[One of Us]]. No need to run.
A webcomic done with [[LEGO]] figures and [[Tabletop Games|roleplaying]] miniatures, by David Morgan-Mar, an Australian physicist, who also perpetrates ''[[Darths and Droids]]''. Yes, he's [[One of Us]]. No need to run.
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* Fantasy: A group of roleplayers guide their party through a quest that tips the hat to Tolkien... before laughing at him.
* Fantasy: A group of roleplayers guide their party through a quest that tips the hat to Tolkien... before laughing at him.
* Space: A [[Space Opera]] [[Gone Horribly Wrong|gone bad. Very, very bad]]. Like Fantasy, also intended to be chronicling the events of an RPG, rather than directly telling a story. [http://irregularwebcomic.net/850.html With one of the same players, no less]. [http://irregularwebcomic.net/1009.html They transpose rather neatly].
* Space: A [[Space Opera]] [[Gone Horribly Wrong|gone bad. Very, very bad]]. Like Fantasy, also intended to be chronicling the events of an RPG, rather than directly telling a story. [http://irregularwebcomic.net/850.html With one of the same players, no less]. [http://irregularwebcomic.net/1009.html They transpose rather neatly].
* ''[[Myth Busters]]'': Adam and Jamie test somewhat more unusual myths than normal (this one crosses over with the Death one, below, [[Stuff Blowing Up|a LOT]]).
* ''[[MythBusters]]'': Adam and Jamie test somewhat more unusual myths than normal (this one crosses over with the Death one, below, [[Stuff Blowing Up|a LOT]]).
* Steve and Terry: The adventures of a crocodile hunter ([[No Celebrities Were Harmed|no, not THAT one]]), his long-suffering wife Terry, Dame Jane Goodall, and [[Cthulhu Mythos|Cthulhu]].
* Steve and Terry: The adventures of a crocodile hunter ([[No Celebrities Were Harmed|no, not THAT one]]), his long-suffering wife Terry, Dame Jane Goodall, and [[Cthulhu Mythos|Cthulhu]].
* Nigerian Finance Minister: The source of [[419 Scam|all those spam e-mails]] and his quest to raise money. Funnier than it sounds.
* Nigerian Finance Minister: The source of [[419 Scam|all those spam e-mails]] and his quest to raise money. Funnier than it sounds.
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{{tropelist}}
{{tropelist}}
* [[And Stay Out!]]: Invoked by name in [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/4686.html this instalment], which provides the trope's page image.
* [[And the Adventure Continues...]]: When the crossover problems were resolved all of the different themes finished their quests and then had this ending.
* [[And the Adventure Continues...]]: When the crossover problems were resolved all of the different themes finished their quests and then had this ending.
* [[Art Evolution]]: Or Photo Quality Evolution, anyway.
* [[Art Evolution]]: Or Photo Quality Evolution, anyway.
* [[A Wizard Did It]]: Paris {{spoiler|clone}}. Although at that point we almost have the explanation.
* [[Author Guest Spot]]
* [[Author Guest Spot]]
* [[Back to Front]]: [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1667.html "My personal time stream has been running backwards for some reason, and this strip doesn't have a punchline."]
* [[Back to Front]]: [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1667.html "My personal time stream has been running backwards for some reason, and this strip doesn't have a punchline."]
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* [[Book Ends]]: The final panel (other than guest strips and "The End") is a reshoot of the very first panel.
* [[Book Ends]]: The final panel (other than guest strips and "The End") is a reshoot of the very first panel.
* [[Brain In a Jar]]: [[Adolf Hitler]] himself.
* [[Brain In a Jar]]: [[Adolf Hitler]] himself.
* [[Call Back]]: Monty and hand tools, in the ''Cliffhangers'' theme - strips [https://www.irregularwebcomic.net/995.html 995] and [https://www.irregularwebcomic.net/4744.html 4744].
* [[Color-Coded Patrician]]: The head Death.
* [[Color-Coded Patrician]]: The head Death.
* [[Crisis Crossover]]: [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?current=2161&dir=next5 at the end of 2008], {{spoiler|the universe imploded due to [[Temporal Paradox|temporal paradoxes]] ocurring [[Meanwhile in the Future|simultaneously]] in most of the themes. The characters all ended up at the Infinite Featureless Plane of Death, but eventually managed to get their respective continuities [[Continuity Reboot|rebooted]]}}.
* [[Crisis Crossover]]: [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/comic.php?current=2161&dir=next5 at the end of 2008], {{spoiler|the universe imploded due to [[Temporal Paradox|temporal paradoxes]] ocurring [[Meanwhile in the Future|simultaneously]] in most of the themes. The characters all ended up at the Infinite Featureless Plane of Death, but eventually managed to get their respective continuities [[Continuity Reboot|rebooted]]}}.
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* [[Deep-Immersion Gaming]]
* [[Deep-Immersion Gaming]]
* [[Demoted to Extra]]: Quercus from the Space theme is currently this.
* [[Demoted to Extra]]: Quercus from the Space theme is currently this.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]]: Wrestle out Cthulhu, technically. Steve also wrestled to death {{spoiler|Death of Being Wrestled to Death by Steve when he showed up to collect the soul, which caused its own problems.}} That introduced the {{spoiler|Paradox Department, which is run by a giant frog.}} He has ''also'' wrestled a [[Lord of the Rings|Balrog]] to death. Without even getting any burns.
* [[Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?]]: Wrestle out Cthulhu, technically. Steve also wrestled to death {{spoiler|Death of Being Wrestled to Death by Steve when he showed up to collect the soul, which caused its own problems.}} That introduced the {{spoiler|Paradox Department, which is run by a giant frog.}} He has ''also'' wrestled a [[The Lord of the Rings|Balrog]] to death. Without even getting any burns.
* [[Done a George Lucas]]: Redirect Namer (with kind permission from Dr. Morgan-Mar), referencing his adding missing sound effects to a podcast.
* [[Done a George Lucas]]: Redirect Namer (with kind permission from Dr. Morgan-Mar), referencing his adding missing sound effects to a podcast.
* [[Don't Explain the Joke]]: This is the comic that averts this rule so hard and fast that you'd never know it existed. If there is any chance that a [[Viewers Are Geniuses|non-genius in the audience]] will not get the joke, it will be explained, in great detail. Not only are the explanations incredibly interesting in their own right but they often make the actual joke ''funnier''. [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2414.html This comic's] annotation brings explaining the joke [[Up to Eleven]].
* [[Don't Explain the Joke]]: This is the comic that averts this rule so hard and fast that you'd never know it existed. If there is any chance that a [[Viewers Are Geniuses|non-genius in the audience]] will not get the joke, it will be explained, in great detail. Not only are the explanations incredibly interesting in their own right but they often make the actual joke ''funnier''. [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2414.html This comic's] annotation brings explaining the joke [[Up to Eleven]].
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* [[Easter Egg]]: In [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1466.html this] strip.
* [[Easter Egg]]: In [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1466.html this] strip.
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: The Great Dragon Sage Ardaxar makes one in [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2252.html this strip], during {{spoiler|the simultaneous explosions the characters cause to restart the universe}}.
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: The Great Dragon Sage Ardaxar makes one in [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2252.html this strip], during {{spoiler|the simultaneous explosions the characters cause to restart the universe}}.
* [[Eighties Hair]]: In flashbacks to [[Myth Busters|Jamie and Adam]] in college.
* [[Eighties Hair]]: In flashbacks to [[MythBusters|Jamie and Adam]] in college.
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: [[H.P. Lovecraft|Cthulhu]] (in the form of a Lego octopus mounted on a tyrannosaurus miniature) is a recurring character, and often gets wrestled by Steve.
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]: [[H.P. Lovecraft|Cthulhu]] (in the form of a Lego octopus mounted on a tyrannosaurus miniature) is a recurring character, and often gets wrestled by Steve.
* [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs]]
* [[Everything's Better with Dinosaurs]]
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* [[The Grim Reaper]]: An entire enterprise of them, manned by a cynical "Head Death".
* [[The Grim Reaper]]: An entire enterprise of them, manned by a cynical "Head Death".
* [[Her Codename Was Mary Sue]]
* [[Her Codename Was Mary Sue]]
* [[His Name Is]]: Parodied [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/443.html here.]
* [[His Name Is--]]: Parodied [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/443.html here.]
* [[Historical Badass Upgrade]]: Sir Isaac Newton is portrayed as a [[Doctor Who|Time Lord]], and gathers various scientists from history to fix the time stream.
* [[Historical Badass Upgrade]]: Sir Isaac Newton is portrayed as a [[Doctor Who|Time Lord]], and gathers various scientists from history to fix the time stream.
* [[Hook Hand]]: Colonel Haken
* [[Hook Hand]]: Colonel Haken
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* [[Tonight Someone Dies]]: Morgan-Mar announced the permanent death of a major character before the end of 2007. After setting up most of the regulars in highly perilous situations, {{spoiler|31 December came about -- and the "Me" character, Morgan-Mar in person, was killed.}}
* [[Tonight Someone Dies]]: Morgan-Mar announced the permanent death of a major character before the end of 2007. After setting up most of the regulars in highly perilous situations, {{spoiler|31 December came about -- and the "Me" character, Morgan-Mar in person, was killed.}}
* [[Too Soon]]: The "Steve and Terry" theme got a bit of flack when the real Steve Irwin died, though the fact that Steve woke up in the hospital from a serious injury when Steve Irwin died was entirely accidental, thanks to the miracle of comic buffers. He even apologized for the mix-up in the blurb.
* [[Too Soon]]: The "Steve and Terry" theme got a bit of flack when the real Steve Irwin died, though the fact that Steve woke up in the hospital from a serious injury when Steve Irwin died was entirely accidental, thanks to the miracle of comic buffers. He even apologized for the mix-up in the blurb.
* [[TV Tropes]]: [[The Rant]] frequently includes links to this very wiki, best summed up in [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1929.html this one-liner]: "It's really good when I can just [[A Wizard Did It|link to TV Tropes]], because then I know you'll have hours of reading without me having to do anything else."
* [[TV Tropes]]: [[The Rant]] frequently includes links to [[The Other Tropes Wiki]], best summed up in [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1929.html this one-liner]: "It's really good when I can just [[A Wizard Did It|link to TV Tropes]], because then I know you'll have hours of reading without me having to do anything else."
* [[Tropes Will Ruin Your Life]]: [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2177.html this strip] warns "Do not click if you have something urgent you need to do today!"
* [[Tropes Will Ruin Your Life]]: [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2177.html this strip] warns "Do not click if you have something urgent you need to do today!"
* [[Two Lines, No Waiting|Two]] ''[[Serial Escalation|Dozen]]'' [[Two Lines, No Waiting|Lines No Waiting]]
* [[Two Lines, No Waiting|Two]] ''[[Serial Escalation|Dozen]]'' [[Two Lines, No Waiting|Lines No Waiting]]
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* [[We Come in Peace, Shoot to Kill]]: The invading Martians in the theme of the same name.
* [[We Come in Peace, Shoot to Kill]]: The invading Martians in the theme of the same name.
* [[Weird Trade Union]]: Deaths on strike. {{spoiler|Which was eventually broken.}}
* [[Weird Trade Union]]: Deaths on strike. {{spoiler|Which was eventually broken.}}
* [[A Wizard Did It]]: Paris {{spoiler|clone}}. Although at that point{{when}} we almost have the explanation.
* [[Writer on Board]]: The Shakespeare theme started out as a one shot railing against the culture-deadening evils of Microsoft PowerPoint, though it moved away from this quickly.
* [[Writer on Board]]: The Shakespeare theme started out as a one shot railing against the culture-deadening evils of Microsoft PowerPoint, though it moved away from this quickly.
* [[You Have Failed Me]]
* [[You Have Failed Me...]]
* [[You Keep Using That Word]]: Used intentionally with "quantum leap".
* [[You Keep Using That Word]]: Used intentionally with "quantum leap".


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Webcomics Long Runners]]
[[Category:Webcomics Long Runners]]
[[Category:Meta Webcomics]]
[[Category:Meta Webcomics]]
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[[Category:Sci Fi Webcomics]]
[[Category:Sci Fi Webcomics]]
[[Category:Fantasy Webcomics]]
[[Category:Fantasy Webcomics]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Web Comics]]
[[Category:Web Comics]]
[[Category:Web Comics of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Web Comics of the 2010s]]
[[Category:Web Comics of the 2020s]]

Latest revision as of 02:20, 28 September 2022

A webcomic done with LEGO figures and roleplaying miniatures, by David Morgan-Mar, an Australian physicist, who also perpetrates Darths and Droids. Yes, he's One of Us. No need to run.

Full of deliberately bad puns and surprisingly erudite references; one can learn a great deal just by reading the annotations. Despite the name it was updated daily. As of strip #3198 on October 29th 2011 the comic was declared finished, although weekly "annotations" (i.e. blogs) appeared nearly every Sunday. After a few years of re-running its archive with a new re-run annotation on each strip, IWC was Uncanceled on 2015-04-26 with the support of a Patreon campaign.

Covers a number of ongoing motifs and topics, including:

  • Fantasy: A group of roleplayers guide their party through a quest that tips the hat to Tolkien... before laughing at him.
  • Space: A Space Opera gone bad. Very, very bad. Like Fantasy, also intended to be chronicling the events of an RPG, rather than directly telling a story. With one of the same players, no less. They transpose rather neatly.
  • MythBusters: Adam and Jamie test somewhat more unusual myths than normal (this one crosses over with the Death one, below, a LOT).
  • Steve and Terry: The adventures of a crocodile hunter (no, not THAT one), his long-suffering wife Terry, Dame Jane Goodall, and Cthulhu.
  • Nigerian Finance Minister: The source of all those spam e-mails and his quest to raise money. Funnier than it sounds.
  • William Shakespeare: Shakespeare is a Fanfic-writing office worker.
  • Cliffhangers: an Indiana Jones spoof. In a few early strips, this is also an RPG campaign.
  • Espionage: a spoof of James Bond, this time directly following the plot of the movies and with very few crossovers with other themes. Currently on From Russia with Love.
  • Imperial Rome: Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
  • Scientific Revolution: An excuse for DMM to write heartfelt annotations about Newton, Halley, Pascal, Pasteur, Linnaeus and their contemporaries.
  • Martians: The attempts of a group of Martians to take over the world, and their encounters with an Ordinary College Student and overly zealous government agent.
  • Pirates: Exactly What It Says on the Tin
  • Supers: A hand-drawn theme featuring the adventures of some superhero RPG characters. Hasn't been done in a while as DMM doesn't draw those strips himself and the artist who did could only draw them in his spare time.
  • Me: the ongoing adventures of the comic's author. Who was dead for a long time. Specifically, murdered by himself from the future. He then went on the run from death, but now is on a mission to kill his past self....
  • Star Wars and Harry Potter parodies. The former isn't done much anymore, likely to leave some jokes for Darths and Droids, while the latter is often part of Shakespeare's fanfics.

The themes Crossover very, very often in combinations you would not expect.

Death is common in all the themes and has its own theme as well. There is not just one Death, but Deaths for different causes, who get moved around depending on job performance. One, Death Of Being Wrestled To Death By Steve, got wrestled to death by Steve. Twice. The favorite death is Insanely Overpowered Fireballs, who has been demoted and re-promoted several times.

Can be found here

There is an accompanying podcast (Irregular Podcast!), which does original material. Number #13 is particularly funny for tropers.


Tropes used in Irregular Webcomic! include:

Head Death: Alright, who destroyed the universe?

  1. Using strip count as a metric. He notes his strip-a-day schedule means his count increases more than twice as fast as the popular Monday-Wednesday-Friday pattern.