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''[http://www.outtherecomic.com Out There]'' is a webcomic[[Web Comics|web comic]] by R. C. Monroe. It focuses on the exploits of Miriam, a hedonistic, self-centered, self-destructive bartender with a good heart and a strong desire to change for the better—as long the change doesn’t interfere with her endless search for pleasure. Yes, she's a bit conflicted. ''Out There'' features an ensemble cast (Miriam’s various friends, lovers, ex-lovers, would-be lovers, etc.), some of whom are occasionally featured in their own arcs, but it’s mostly The Miriam Show, because she wouldn't have it any other way.
 
Using a four-panel (five in the early days), black-and-white [[Newspaper Comic]] format, ''Out There'' updated six days a week without fail from June 12, 2006 to June 4, 2011. The week of June 6-10, 2011 marked the beginning of a five week strip - the author citing time constraints and the inability to support himself solely on the strip as reasons why he cut the Saturday strip. On March 21, 2016, the comic went on hiatus.
 
''Out There'' is a "quiet" comedy; there's a punchline at the end of every strip but the humor is generally subtle, understated. At its heart, ''Out There'' is a character drama, and its characters are well-developed, complex, and realistic.
 
R. C. Monroe stopped updating the strip in 2016 (at the end of a story arc).
----
 
'''This webcomic series provides examples of: '''
{{tropelist}}
* [[Abhorrent Admirer]]: Sherry finds her admirer Clayton fairly abhorrent, and while he has many flaws (surly, shiftless, dishonest, alcoholic), the other notable female characters seem to like him.
* [[The Alcoholic]]: Clayton; Miriam is better represented by the [[Bottle Fairy]]
* [[Attention Whore]]: Miriam is an unabashed attention whore. She is [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20071126.html completely aware of it], and often [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100824.html refers to it self-deprecatingly]. At times she comments on how [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100821.html shallow and ultimately unfulfilling it is], but [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100825.html that doesn't mean she doesn't still really dig it].
* [[Bare Your Midriff]]: Miriam commonly sports a t-shirt or tanktop that extends to about mid-ribcage. Far less frequently, the normally more modestly-attired Sherry [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100222.html follows suit].
* [[Better Asas Friends]]: [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090203.html Miriam and Clayton]. Although Miriam being Miriam, [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100904.html one never knows for sure about the "never happening again" part]. Also, [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090701.html Miriam and Rod].
* [[Blonde, Brunette, Redhead]]: red-haired Miriam fits the [[Fiery Redhead]] trope reasonably well, but also has some [[Dumb Blonde]] tendencies; the usually dark-haired Sherry (who sometimes bleaches her hair blonde) can be seen as the [[Brainy Brunette]]; and the dark-haired Araceli, despite her occupation (she's an attorney) and hair color, is somewhat of a [[Shy Blue -Haired Girl]].
* [[Bottle Fairy]]: Miriam
* [[But I Would Really Enjoy It]]: Miriam has this dilemma [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20060707.html all] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080830.html the] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090128.html damn] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090228.html time]. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090417.html ALL] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090516.html the] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090828.html damn] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100405.html time].
Line 21 ⟶ 22:
* [[Career Versus Man]]: Sherry {{spoiler|until [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090807.html she thought better of it]}}.
* [[Cheated Angle]]: Miriam has two strands of hair that stick out from the top of her head, and always do so at the same angle, whether she's facing you, in three-quarters view, or in profile, as [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100929.html this strip] shows.
* [[Commuting Onon a Bus]]: Arguably, John. He certainly ''seems'' like a main character during the strip's initial 6-7 months (he's in almost every strip), but once he and Miriam reach Portstown, we start to see him far less frequently; sometimes several weeks will go by between his appearances.
** The latter can be said for ''all'' the other characters aside from Miriam, though; the only difference is John's first "co-starring" arc is at the very beginning of the strip, and lasts for a long time. It seems to establish him as a main character when perhaps all it ''really'' establishes is the pattern of long arcs starring Miriam and one of her supporting characters. Sherry, for instance, has a co-starring arc of about the same length a year later.
* [[Contemplate Our Navels]]: Many of the characters get introspective and philosophical at times. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081006.html Sometimes] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081007.html a] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081008.html whole] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081009.html week] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081010.html of] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081011.html strips] will be devoted to someone's (usually Miriam's) inner monologue.
* [[Cool Shades]]: James has yet to be pictured without his Ray-Bans (if that's what they are). You can't even see his eyes when he's in [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100724.html profile]. Since you ''can'' see the eyes of the [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100922.html other characters] when they're viewed from the side (even when they're wearing glasses), it's hard not to wonder: does James even ''have'' eyes?
** Yes. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110226.html Yes he does.]
* [[Did You Just Have Sex?]]: [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100602.html The insightful Miriam concludes that Sherry has broken her long dry spell upon observing the latter's visible discomfort with discussing the topic]; [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100707.html James makes a lucky guess based on a similar observation], and [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100708.html Clayton explains the most compelling reason she's unable to conceal what everybody else can see].
* [[Disappeared Dad]]: Miriam's mother makes occasional appearances, but [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20091218.html the first time Miriam mentions her father], she implies she hasn't seen him for awhile, if ever.
** Turns out [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110712.html there's a pretty good reason].
* [[Ethical Slut]]: Miriam's promiscuous past is strongly hinted at, and she seems to be constantly at odds with the question of continuing along that path, or abandoning it. Her trepidation with the Ethical Slut lifestyle seems to be based not on moral or societal grounds, but with the fact that she finds it ultimately unsatisfying.
* [[Fiery Redhead]]: Miriam
* [[French Maid]]: Miriam decides the costume is ideal for cleaning {{spoiler|Ari's condominium, and also for seducing her}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319075331/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100511.html\]
* [[Friends Withwith Benefits]]: Most notably, Miriam and Steven, post-breakup. A few other pairings have taken place (or are implied to have taken place) as a part of the back story: [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080423.html Sherry and Steven], [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20071204.html Miriam and Wally], and possibly even [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081126.html Miriam] and [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100526.html Sherry]; there is also a reference to a Friends With Benefits relationship between Miriam and a character named Carlos in one of the flashback stories in the third ''[[Out There]]'' book.
* [[Good Bad Girl]]: Miriam
* [[Good Smoking, Evil Smoking]]: Miriam gets the "Smoker is sexy" rule suspension
* [[Harem Seeker]]: Rod is rarely seen ''not'' hitting on Miriam, Araceli, Sherry, or some other nameless female who works in his office. He's successful far more often than he deserves to be.
* [[Hair Antennae]]: Miriam
* [[Ho Yay]]: Miriam and Sherry often coyly [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100403.html joke about a mutual attraction], but sometimes [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100406.html act jealous of each other in a way that lends credence to the theory that the attraction might be real]. Some of the characters have speculated that [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20101022.html they may have had some sort of relationship in the past]; even Miriam's '''mom''' [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110914.html assumed that at one point they were dating].
* [[Ignored Confession]]: Araceli, who is drunk, is talking to Sherry. Ari likes Sherry, and [[Incompatible Orientation|Sherry is straight]].
{{quote| '''Ari:''' I wish '''you''' could do whatever '''I''' want.<br />
'''John:''' Aw, she's '''really''' drunk.<br />
'''[[Deadpan Snarker|Sherry]]:''' It's a bar, John. These things happen often. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090404.html\] }}
** [[Bi the Way]]: Araceli does this with a man also. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319065612/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110729.html\]
* [[I Have This Friend]]: Ari is at Sherry's bar, commiserating:
{{quote| '''Ari:''' I have a hypothetical question for you.<br />
'''Sherry:''' Shoot.<br />
'''Ari:''' ''[Incredibly detailed summary of her most recent character arc.]'' }}
::Sherry, knowing ''everyone'' who was given a hypothetical persona, figures it out. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319083320/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090716.html\]
* [[Incompatible Orientation]]: Rod and Araceli, Araceli and Sherry
* [[Incorruptible Pure Pureness]]: John. It tends to drive everyone else (especially Miriam) nuts, but at the same time he is respected by all for it.
* [[I Need a Freaking Drink]]: Miriam ''always'' needs a freaking drink. Sherry, Araceli, Rebecca, et. al. ''sometimes'' need a freaking drink. Clayton never needs one, but he'll have one anyway, thank you.
* [[Istanbul (Not Constantinople)]]: The main action takes place in Portstown (Boston), with occasional sojourns to Los Vicios (Las Vegas) or Oceanic City (Atlantic City). It is a bit jarring to see Boston called "P'Town"...
** Also, Wally Green plays for the Arch City Starlings (St. Louis Cardinals).
* [[Jerk Withwith a Heart of Gold]]: To varying degrees, almost ''all'' of the major male characters (the exceptions being John and Chuck). James is selfish and abrasive, arrogant, constantly borrowing money without paying it back; {{spoiler|he also volunteers at a homeless shelter}}. Clayton is surly, has been known to steal alcohol from his favorite bar, and is constantly seen mooching off of others; {{spoiler|but he refused to take advantage of Miriam when she was drunk}}. Steven and Rod are unrepentant philanderers, but are generally loyal and respectful towards their ex-flame-cum-best-friends (Sherry and Araceli, respectively). Wally is a ''repentant'' (and ''former'') philanderer. Considering the fact the main character, Miriam, has enough flaws to fill a book (while remaining unerringly sympathetic) ''Out There'' seems to be a world where everyone is a ''little'' bad, but nobody is ''too'' bad (although the near-saintly John is an idiosyncratic exception).
* [[Lady Drunk]]: Martha (Miriam's mom)
* [[Ladykiller in Love]]: Rod is genuinely in love with [[Lipstick Lesbian|Ari]]. It's a bit more complex than a standard [[Incompatible Orientation]]; he's still playing around, but has made it perfectly clear that [[Reformed Rake|he'd give it up in a heartbeat if she ever decides she wants him.]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319084850/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090328.html\]
** Wally's philandering ways began well [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20060913.html before] his marriage to Rebecca, and continued [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070427.html after they were wed]; when he quit playing around, however, it seems he [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100126.html quit for good].
** Steven fell in love with Sherry, and later, Miriam, [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319083853/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090605.html\], but was unable to maintain fidelity to either of them [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319085330/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090220.html\] [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319082926/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090815.html\].
* [[Last -Name Basis]]: The number of times Clayton's first name has been said can probably be counted on one hand. It's Craig.
* [[Lie Back and Think of England]]: Sherry uses "while I think of my homeland" in reference to ''hand-shaking'', in a parody of this trope. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319083028/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090807.html\]
* [[Lipstick Lesbian]]: Araceli
* [[Little Black Dress]]: A favorite of both [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100828.html Miriam] and [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081225.html Sherry].
* [[Love Dodecahedron]]: All of the major characters, with the notable exception of John, have at one time or another been infatuated with at least one of the other major characters. Miriam, as the main character, has dated, had flings with, or been otherwise at least temporarily fascinated with no less than 8 major characters: {{spoiler|'''John''' (unrequited love/lust), '''Wally''' (fling, as part of the back story), '''Chuck''' ("officially" dated), '''Clayton''' (aborted fling), '''Sherry''' (unconfirmed, but strongly implied, past fling and/or relationship), '''Rod''' (fling), '''Steven''' ("officially" dated), and '''Araceli''' (infatuation)}}; this doesn't even cover the list of characters (most of them minor or non-recurring characters) who have been at least temporarily captivated by ''her''. While Miriam holds the record in all love/lust categories, Sherry's list is almost as impressive (embarrassing?): {{spoiler|'''Steven''' (dated, as part of the back story), '''John''' (brief, and relatively mild, infatuation during a short period of essentially platonic dating), '''Chuck''' (big-time crush, finally culminating in an "official" relationship that is ongoing), '''Rod''' (brief interest until he "blew it"), '''Clayton''' (one-sided—he wants her, she's repulsed), '''Araceli''' (one-sided—Sherry is clueless about Ari's infatuation), and of course, '''Miriam''' (unconfirmed).}} ''Out There'' is unabashedly a soap opera.
* [[Mile -High Club]]: Implied, subtly, [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070608.html here]
* [[Modesty Bedsheet]]: Characters (mostly the females) are sometimes shown bathing, undressing, or lounging in bed. Usually they are seen from the shoulders up, or from the rear (so that [[Toplessness From the Back|only a naked back is visible]]); otherwise, a bedsheet provides cover. Interestingly, Rebecca and Wally, the only ''married'' couple in the strip, are also the only people ever portrayed under the sheets ''together'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20180216151425/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100428.html\]; non-married couples are usually seen fully clothed, laying on ''top'' of the sheets [https://web.archive.org/web/20180130062220/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070928.html\]
* [[Modesty Towel]]: Miriam on occasion, others (like Sherry) less frequently [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319101020/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070901.html\]
* [[Motor Mouth]]: Miriam
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]: Miriam, most obviously, who is often seen in states of [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100323.html undress] or [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100325.html semi-dress]; even when she's "fully" clothed she usually [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100305.html shows a lot of curves and/or skin]. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090403.html Sherry], [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090324.html Araceli], and [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100501.html Rebecca] also have their showoff-y moments but not with the same frequency or intensity.
Line 71 ⟶ 72:
* [[Mysterious Past]]: John
* [[Noodle Incident]]: Miriam makes a list of wild things she's done and shows it to Chuck. We never see what they are but we learn that some of them [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080318.html seem impossible and require at least two people]. One of them [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080319.html involved Sherry in some way, much to her embarrassment (and attempted denial)]. Another one (which also involved Sherry) was [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080320.html "stupid", but apparently fun enough that Sherry would be willing to do it "once more", but "only once"]. Chuck responds by writing down some things he did, one of which makes Miriam's eyes widen and results in this exchange:
{{quote| '''Miriam:''' You are '''so''' doing that with me tonight.<br />
'''Chuck:''' I don't think we can. The supplies are usually on back order. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080321.html\] }}
** Some or all of these "Noodle Incidents" could also be examples of [[Comic Sutra]].
* [[Not a Date]]: Sherry and John "didn't date" for awhile, awakening Miriam's curiosity [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319094424/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080205.html\] and penchant for [[Shipping|shipping]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319092846/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080605.html\]. {{spoiler|It ended, painlessly, when Sherry decided she was interested in someone else.}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319091435/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20080915.html\]
* [[Oblivious to Love]]: Sherry is so oblivious to [[Lipstick Lesbian|Ari]]'s attraction to her, she thinks that since Ari looks at her differently than she looks at Miriam, it means Ari's attracted to… Miriam. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319075033/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100601.html\] Meanwhile, Miriam, who has decided she's attracted to Ari, can't get Ari to realize it; Ari thinks she has embarrassed Miriam by offering her menial work. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319075801/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100407.html\]
* [[One Dialogue, Two Conversations]]: A rather subtle example (keep in mind that Clayton's serious, and Sherry's just bantering):
{{quote| '''Clayton:''' I can't believe someone as unconfident as you won't at least '''consider''' giving someone as unchallenging as ''me'' a shot.<br />
'''Sherry:''' Another in a series of life's paradoxes. [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090923.html\] }}
* [[OOC Is Serious Business]]:
{{quote| '''Chuck''': Does this seem like a particularly awkward silence?<br />
'''James''': ''[[Lampshade Hanging|Dude,]] '''[[Motor Mouth|Miriam]]'s''' [[Lampshade Hanging|not saying anything. It's the end times, man.]] [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081223.html\] }}
* [[The Philosopher]]: The whole cast occasionally takes turns playing this role.
* [[Really Gets Around]]: Miriam, Steven, Rod
* [[Reformed Rakes]]: Rod offers this. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319084856/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090326.html\]
** And Wally ''does'' it...after being married a while. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319102848/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070427.html\]
* [[Ship Sinking]]: Martha, echoing a large part of the audience, thought that Sherry and Miriam [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110913.html had been sleeping together in their younger years]; Sherry [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110914.html shoots the idea down flat], apparently genuinely surprised Martha thought so—although Martha herself [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20110916.html still isn't convinced].
* [[Shrug of God]]: Since sex is never actually depicted in ''Out There'', Monroe states in his blog that it's up to the reader to decide how far things go.
{{quote| What I’ve tried to do with ''Out There'' is have it both ways. Whichever way you think it oughta be, you win. If you think that Miriam and Chuck should have had sex, and Araceli and Rod should have had sex, and Sherry and Steven ''must'' have had sex, then okay—they had sex. Everyone who you think should have had sex with whoever they should have had sex with, ''did''. You just didn’t see it. If, on the other hand, it makes you happier to think that Miriam and Chuck made out a lot but stopped before things got too out of hand, then that’s cool too—there’s nothing in the strip that proves otherwise. Winners everywhere.}}
* [[Sign of the Apocalypse]]: When Miriam stops talking. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319090104/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081223.html\]
* [[Sorry, I'm Gay]]: It's ''very'' strongly suggested Araceli only started identifying as fully lesbian to escape Rod's advances.
* [[Spicy Latina]]: Araceli is an aversion to this trope. She's more shy and vulnerable than the other two (white) female leads, and usually dresses more conservatively. Less of a tomboy as well. And a lesbian, if that means anything.
** Sherry actually fits the trope reasonably well, notwithstanding the fact that she's not a Latina.
* [[Toplessness From the Back]]: Miriam is seen shirtless from the rear occasionally [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319081628/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20091111.html\]; as are others (such as Rebecca), although less frequently [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319075443/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100501.html\]
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: ''Out There'' is something of a [[World of Snark]], so many of the close friendships therein follow Type 2 (Miriam and Sherry, Sherry and Steven, Araceli and Rod, James and Chuck), and a few of the relationships seem to embody Type 1 (Miriam and James, Sherry and Clayton, Miriam and Clayton). The schizophrenic nature of these relationships is well represented [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100222.html here]; Miriam and Sherry's volatile friendship borders on a parody of this trope at times; when they're not sniping at each other, they're often ''caressing'' each other.
* [[Wham! Line]]: When Clayton lobbies for Miriam to get a job as a stripper, Miriam gets offended—not so much at the notion of being a stripper, but because she suspects Clayton is just trying to get her to leave Sherry's bar. Clayton, offended that Miriam has taken offense, attempts to elucidate: "Anyway, don't you think any of '''these''' losers wouldn't '''flock''' to see you [work as a stripper]? {{spoiler|Hell, I'm sure '''I''' would."}} The {{spoiler|kiss}} afterward serves the same general purpose. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180319085709/http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090124.html\]
* [[What Did I Do Last Night?]] / [[Did They or Didn't They?]]: This trope is established early in the strip's run. On the first night they meet, Miriam and John end up spending the night in a hotel together after she ties one on {{spoiler|(nothing happens, except a [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20060710.html REALLY good dream])}}. In another arc about a year later, Miriam and Sherry go out drinking and the next day Miriam's memory of the night is so spotty that she can't remember {{spoiler|[http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070707.html if she cut her own hair] (she didn't; Sherry cut it [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20070630.html while she was sleeping])}}. Another time, a hung-over Miriam thinks she remembers Sherry sabotaging her one-night stand, and assumes she must be remembering wrong {{spoiler|([http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20081105.html she isn’t])}}. Not long after, Miriam and {{spoiler|[http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090131.html Clayton]}} end up in bed together, and Miriam needs a [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090202.html recap the next day] to find out what happened. Later, while touring with Steven's band, Miriam gets drunk at a party and and is later surprised to find {{spoiler|[http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090911.html a phone number written on her belly] in [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20090912.html indelible ink].}} Still later, Miriam wakes up on Araceli's couch and has trouble remembering what they did the night before, but she [http://outthere.keenspot.com/d/20100325.html figures it out on her own], confirming (in her own mind) that she doesn't have a drinking problem, after all.
* [[World of Snark]]: Almost all of the characters can be categorized, at least occasionally, as [[Deadpan Snarker|DeadpanSnarkers]]s.
 
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Webcomics Long Runners]]
[[Category:Gag Per Day Webcomics]]
[[Category:Slice of Life Webcomics]]
[[Category:OutWeb ThereComics]]
[[Category:WebcomicCompleted Web Comics]]
[[Category:Web Comics of the 2000s]]
[[Category:Web Comics of the 2010s]]