Mega Man (comics)

A Comic Book series based on the Classic Mega Man series (though there are plans to cover the latter series as well), produced by Archie Comics and written by Ian Flynn, current^[when?] writer of Sonic the Hedgehog. Unlike the Sonic adaptation, this one will stick to the source material, adapting the series as closely as possible. It's even planned to incorporate elements from the obscure Game Boy titles.

In a similar vein to Sonic's Off Panel, this series features Short Circuits in the back, which is a short, comic strip style gag based on the events on the issue.

Not to be confused with the So Bad It's Good Brazilian Mega Man comic, Novas Aventuras de Mega Man. Nor would you want to confuse it with the recently localized Manga, Mega Man Megamix.

The first issue was released in May 2011.

Tropes used in Mega Man (comics) include:

Actually a Doombot: After Time Man & Oil Man are dealt with and Dr. Wily is cornered, Rosalyn reveals that the latter is really a hologram placed by the real one.
Adaptation Expansion: Given that the original games were largely Excuse Plots, this was inevitable.
Ambiguously Brown: Rosalyn Krantz.
Art Shift / Off-Model: Happens when Chad Thomas pens the artwork, as his art style is noticeably different from Spaz's and Bates's in some ways.
Ascended Meme: Air Man's line "You can't beat me."
As You Know: The first issue uses of this.
Big Damn Heroes: The first Robot Masters
Coincidental Broadcast
Continuity Cameo: Along with the robot reporters from Battle and Chase, Neige is present at Dr. Light's speech.
- Likewise, the Kattelox police and KTOX news reporter from Mega Man Legends show up in issues #5 and #1 respectively.
- As Mega Man downloads Heat Man's weapon data, there's a picture of circuitry in the shape of Mr. Match's emblem, HeatMan.EXE's operator.
Dangerously Genre Savvy: Dr. Wily manages to display this in the third story arc. He deliberately installed bits of malware in his Robot Masters' weapon data, in order to slowly corrupt Mega Man. By the time he reaches Wily's castle, Mega Man will have fallen under his control.
Deconstruction: Surprisingly enough, this adaptation takes a more realistic approach to the Classic series' events and shows its consequences. For example, what would really happen when the pure-hearted, peace-loving Rock wants to fight for justice and gets into a combat situation for the first time...
Do Not Adjust Your Set: Dr. Wily, demanding for the world's leaders to surrender and to be recognized as the genius he is.
Don't Explain the Joke: Issue #1's Short Circuits explains the origins of Mega Man's "upgrade" in a footnote. This footnote was removed from the paperback editions of the first arc.
Drunk on the Dark Side: In the first arc as Mega Man continues on to Elec Man, Ice Man and Fire Man. He begins to grow overconfident, thinking no robot can oppose him, and he mercilessly fights the remaining three robot masters. When Roll isn't too happy about this, Mega Man breaks down in tears.
Early-Bird Cameo: Short Circuits #4 has Bass, Treble, Rush, and Proto Man demanding their turn in the comic.
- In issue 2, Dr Light mentions a name, "Blues", when he sees a Sniper Joe. We later see Blues'/ Proto Man's face when Light gives a "story" in issue 3.
Emotionless Girl: Tempo/Quakewoman, in stark contrast to every other robot featured thus far.
Exact Words: The Robot Masters taking down the Copy Robot instead of the real Mega Man in issue #4, with Elec Man explaining that they were "ordered to destroy one Mega Man".
Expy: Hey, Detective Gumshoe's in 200X! Well, maybe his dad, he's looking a little old.
Fair Cop: The federal agent Rosalyn "Rosie" Krantz is both this and a Reasonable Authority Figure.
Foreshadowing: As Dr Light explains to Mega Man how the prison system works, he tells him that, unfortunately, neither Mega Man nor any other robots from his generation have true free will. He hopes to one day capture that X Factor...
- On top of that, as he says this, his reflection in the window beside him is seen. One day, a transparent image will be all that remains of him...
- Pharaoh Man comments in issue #13 that he's not sure what he'd do if Wily reprogrammed him.
Glowing Eyes of Doom: All the Robot Masters at the end of issue #3.
Hair-Trigger Temper: Crash Man.
How We Got Here: The first issue opens with Mega Man about to storm Dr. Wily's fortress, then goes into a flashback on how it happened.
"I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Mega Man does this on the first Robot Masters. It works on half of them, who begin fighting the other half. Then they all get free thanks to some Loophole Abuse.
Imagine Spot: Short Circuits issue #3.
Incredibly Lame Pun: After all of Cut Man's puns, Mega Man makes one himself, then immediately notes it was lame.
Loophole Abuse: The first Robot Masters manage to overcome Wily's programming to "Destroy Mega Man" by following it...by destroying the Mega Man Clone.
Mundane Utility: Issue 2's Short Circuits has Dr. Wily using Cut Man for various unimpressive purposes, to his annoyance.
- Issue 7: Time Man as an alarm clock and Guts Man as the snooze button.
- Issue 10: Air Man as a fan and Wood Man as a post to tie his hammock to.
Mythology Gag: The first Short Circuits has Mega Man being upgraded into the infamous image from the cover of the first game.
- He also asks if he's now a super fighting robot.
- A news reporter covering the Robot Masters' attack wears blue and part of her name is Li.
- Oil Man and Time Man are described as Powered Up.
Oh Crap: Mega Man's reaction to teleporting into the first game's Boss Rush.
Only in It For the Money: Dr. Light mentions he designed several combat robots strictly for the money and notoriety to start Light Labs.
Original Character: Gil and Krantz, Tempo/Quake Woman, and Dr. Lalinde.
Pungeon Master: Cut Man.
Punny Name/Shout-Out/To Shakespeare: Rosalyn Krantz and Gil D. Stern.
Pyromaniac: Issue #3's Short Circuits. FIRE IS THE ULTIMATE CLEANSER!!!
"The Reason You Suck" Speech: Wily attempts to give one to Mega Man in issue 4. He responds by shooting another one back at Wily.
Red Eyes, Take Warning: The Mega Man Clone and Mega Man during issues #9-#10.
- The real Mega Man after downloading weapons data from Wily's robot masters.
Remember the New Guy?: Apparently, Auto has been under Dr. Light's employ since before Rock and Roll were created. He does not appear or is mentioned at all in issues #1-#4.
Self-Restraint: When Stern accuses Dr. Light of being allied with Dr. Wily and helping with his escape, the latter willingly turns himself in to prove his innocence.
Shout-Out: To The Protomen, with Sniper Joes being the first robots Light and Wily created. In the game, these robots were based off of Protoman's design, as he came first.
- In issue 3, Dr. Light quotes the chorus from "The Message From Dr. Light".
- Going by Flynn's track record in the Sonic comic, expect a lot of these to memes and more obscure titles.
- In Cutman's first appearance, he rattles off an entire page of puns, not unlike his cartoon counterpart.
- You can see an inverse of Hyadain's Mega Man songs. So far, only Heat Man was unwilling to really fight(he did, but complained about being too hot instead), where for Hyadain, Heat Man is seemingly the only one not after Mega Man's affection.
- In reference to the Japanese song 'Airman ga Taosenai', Airman tells Megaman that he can't beat him.
Slouch of Villainy: Wily near the end of the third issue.
Spell My Name with an "S": Referenced, Dr. Wily sarcastically suggests that "Light" makes "Right".
Spotlight-Stealing Squad: Once again, the first Robot Masters.
Swiss Cheese Security: Dr. Wily manages to break into Light Labs and reprogram the Robot Masters pretty easily. Probably justified, seeing as how Light and Wily were coworkers and friends at the time.
- Justified again when we take into account that Dr Wily could also disarm the security anyway; it is partially his lab, after all.
That Man Is Dead: Rock starts to refuse to go by his real name after having to blow up the other bots. Fortunately, Roll manages to snap him out of it.
Ungrateful Bastard: Mega Man saves Wily from the wreckage of his machine in issue #4. The moment he's sees the Robot Masters, he orders them to kill Mega Man.
Villain Exit Stage Left: Subverted. Wily attempts this in issue 4, but Mega Man's too quick for him.
- Averted in issue 8. Wily simply stands on top of his saucer with confidence, even as Mega Man shoots at it before he can use it. But then, it turns out that he's a hologram and not the real Wily (who had already left).
Villains Out Shopping: Issue 2's Short Circuits features Dr. Wily lounging by the pool and getting a haircut.
Visual Pun: Issue 8's Short Circuits shows Crash Man having crashed a go-kart into a tree, and working at a computer whose server just crashed. The last panel shows him walking into a stock-exchange building...
Voodoo Shark: Lampshaded for the second Generation of robots, but un-Handwaved.

Mega Man: So if you're so advanced, where are your hands?
Crash Man: Where are my...? Why would I need...? (Looks at the drills replacing his hands.) ...A pretty astute question, actually.

Waxing Lyrical: An unusual example, as Dr. Light does this in issue 3...to a song by The Megas that's supposed to be sung by him.
What Measure Is a Non-Human?: The Spiritus Ex Machina arc is all about this, including a fairly straw-free debate on the morality of machine sentience.
Yank the Dog's Chain: Played for laughs in Short Circuits #5, which has Proto Man believing that he's making his debut in the current issues, only to have his hopes repeatedly crushed.