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{{work}}
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[[File:Qc-cast-poster20141.jpg|thumb|400px|link=https://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=QC-CASTPOSTER2014&Category_Code=QC]]
Marten Reed, an indie-rock fan living in Northampton, Massachusetts with an [[Comedic Sociopathy|adorably sociopathic]] [[Robot Buddy|little robot]], runs into a girl at a bar, Faye Whitaker, a barista who's just moved from Savannah and needs a friend, but adamantly [[Just Friends|no more than a friend]]. She then accidentally burns down her apartment building while making toast and needs a place to live— namely, Marten's couch. Before long, he meets Faye's sultry, gothy boss Dora Bianchi, and they have fun, hang out, and joke around.
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Then, beginning at strip 500, [[Wham! Episode|everything changes]]. The strip eventually got to the point where it shifted from having Marten and Faye as the main protagonists to having a full-fledged [[Ensemble Cast]]. And then just when you thought everything was safe, [[Wham! Episode|everything changes again]] at strip 1800. Only this time, where the comic is headed next is even more uncertain.
One of the most prolific webcomics out there, with [[Webcomics Long Runners|
QC updates every weekday, with remarkable consistency considering that Jacques has no buffer whatsoever and usually draws the comic--on live webcast--that night. The comic itself can be found [http://questionablecontent.net/ here]
Not to be confused with [[Questionable Consent]].
{{tropelist}}
* [[Aborted Arc]] / [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]: A lot. A few of these get picked up again later.
** Marten's blog
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* [[Ad of Win]]: [http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/3439350865/suck-it-willis Via Jeph's Tumblr]. Oh, Yelling Bird. You always know exactly what to say.
* [[Air Vent Passageway]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=849 Raven attempts this starting at strip 849]. It does not go well.
* [[Always V. Sexy]]: '''V'''eronica '''V'''ance, Marten's mom.
* [[Amazingly Embarrassing Parents]]:
** Dora suffers this when she and Marten visit her parents. [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1036 "MOTHER!"]
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* [[Anachronic Order]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1646 This guest strip], by Danielle Corsetto of ''[[Girls with Slingshots]]'', depends on being told backwards.
* [[Analogy Backfire]]: [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1571 Brilliantly averted.]
* [[And Now for Something Completely Different]]: Any one of Yelling Bird's strips.▼
* [[And That Would Be Wrong]]: Nat uses this in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=910 Strip #910] when Hanners tries to disembowel herself with Nat's guitar.
* [[Animesque]]:
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** [[Word of God]] says that one of the biggest influences on QC is ''[[Azumanga Daioh]]''. It's not hard to see some of the parallels. He also reads a lot of ''[[Yotsuba&!]]'' which is by the same author - Marigold even has a poster of her in her bedroom.
* [[Anthropomorphic Personification]]: [http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/8333786306/happy-birthday-qc Jeph drew an Anthro of QC for the 8th anniversary.]
* [[Anything That Moves]] / [[Depraved Bisexual]]: Pintsize [[Zig Zagged Trope|zig-zags both of these repeatedly]]. He flirts with/harasses women throughout the comic, steals Faye's underwear, and compliments random women on their breasts, but he has had at least one relationship with
* [[Arson, Murder, and Admiration]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=768 Tai thinks] that Jimbo's book is "trashy, poorly-written, incredibly sexist towards BOTH genders, and the most entertaining thing I've read all year."
* [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1902 Here]
{{quote|
* [[Art Evolution]]: The art style has and continues to evolve, and comparing the newest strip with the first one shows how striking the development has been.
* [[Artist Disillusionment]]: Jeph generally likes his fans, but he hates his discussion forum due to its tendencies towards [[Serious Business]] and Shipping. At one point it got so bad that he openly threatened to delete the whole forum should people keep posting that kind of stuff. He has considerably softened up since then.
* [[Art Shift]]:
** The flashbacks from Faye's past.
** When [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2175 Faye puts on Marigold's glasses], everything goes [[Animesque]], with ''[[Lucky Star]]'' and ''[[Death Note]]'' particular influences.
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** "Oh, ''[[Dune]]'' references, will I ever get tired of you? (The answer is no.)"
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1599 dancing comics every day, forever ]
** Short-haired girls. Jeph had to promise when Penelope was introduced not to "cut all her hair off" in an art-style change like he did most of the others (Hannelore once lost nearly all of her hair in mid-conversation with Marten & Steve as Jacques changed his mind on how it should look).
** You could count "girls with issues" into the Appeal-factor as well, considering how nearly the entire cast features them. The men are generally more weird and dumb/confused than neurotic.
** In interviews, Jeph has attributed to the high proportion of female characters in the cast to his finding female forms more interesting to draw, in contrast to male forms which are more flat and, in his opinion, boring.
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* [[Bondage Is Bad]]: Averted [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1302 here]. And most other times that the subject of Marten's mother's profession comes up.
* [[Bottle Fairy]]: Partial deconstruction. Faye adopts many of the traits involved (funny accent- her original Southern one, a more comical, boisterous attitude, etc.), but then comes deconstruction- others become concerned for her alcoholism, and parts of her personality are much more [[Broken Bird|reserved]]. The rest of the cast are better matches- being college-town musicians and young adults in general, they partake in the booze with great regularity. It's pretty much their token "This is how we introduce people to the group" scene now.
* [[Brain Bleach]]:
** What Marten needs after he finds out how Dora [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1047 discovered she was bi. "Oh god, please don't tell me..."]
** [[I Need a Freaking Drink|Jesus CHRIST do I need a drink right now.]] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=513 To throw in my EYES.]
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* [[Brick Joke]]:
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1555 Maybe if we put on a spoiler] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 it will go faster.] It came back [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1594 again] and looks to be starting a new plot line. Chekhov's Boomerang, perhaps? ([http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1643 All signs] [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1666 point to yes.])
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=719 Marten's beast of Bourbon] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1816 came back after] ''four years.'' Made even funnier (and potentially creepier) by the Beast's similarities to [[Something
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1829 Less bricky than a lot of these examples], but [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1836 still qualifies.] Doubles as a [[Funny Background Event]], since it's very easy to miss Pintsize being thrown in the first strip.
** Dora's response to Raven in panel three of [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=764 this strip] comes up again in panel four of [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1030 this one.] Apparently, Raven is convinced Marten's junk is spectacular.
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** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1992 Hannelore grounding Marigold.]<ref> Now, if the plot wasn't Marten-centric, and Marigold and Hanners weren't background characters, we could count this as a [[Story Arc]], but as this isn't the case, it counts as as a [[Brick Joke]] instead.</ref> [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2035 It ends forty-three strips later, as soon as Marigold can't take it anymore.]
** [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2115 Return] [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2116 of] [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2167 Holopony!]
{{quote|
** Apparently, [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 this comic] happened 96763 seconds (which is a bit more than a day) after [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1948 this one]. Either that, or Raven's calculations were a little off.
* [[Bromantic Foil]]: Steve
* [[Brutal Honesty]]
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* [[Calling Your Bathroom Breaks]]: In [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1467 #1467] Faye cuts Dora off this way, mid-apology.
* [[Cannot Spit It Out]]: Played with. Although she can acknowledge they're dating, {{spoiler|1=[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1943 Faye is having trouble calling Angus her "boyfriend"]}}:
{{quote|
'''{{spoiler|Angus}}''': No no, keep trying! This is way cuter than I was expecting.
'''Raven:''' I want a boyfling! }}
* [[Casanova]]: Sven, who may need to be upgraded to [[Memetic Sex God]]. [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1658 Even the robots want him.] Also deconstructed, as he's been showing signs of maturity (or at least boredom) lately; he ignored an attractive girl trying to pick him up while he was eating, then asked the barman for a fresh napkin because, "[http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1650 this one's got phone number all over it]". Footnotes also mention that that may have been the THIRD such napkin that night.
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* [[Cat Smile]]: Marigold is fond of these
* [[Cerebus Syndrome]]: The strip started as a boy and his robot, but in no time moved to sarcasm and joking about music and music fans, while developing the relationships between the characters before taking a turn for the dramatic about #500, while retaining the joke-a-day format. Jeph lampshades this in the commentary/news for [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1481 strip #1481.]
* [[Character Blog]]: Marten, briefly; every major character has a Twitter feed. Hannelore even has her own ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20120420051401/http://www.formspring.me/hanneloreEC Formspring]''.
* [[Characterization Marches On]]: Hannelore was certainly odd when [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=515 first introduced], but she becomes a much [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1046 different] character than she was before, [[Author's Saving Throw|explained]] by her trying out new medication. It's [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1824 #1824] and mentioned in-universe by Dr. Case in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2134 #2134 as she recounts Hannelore's childhood.]
* [[Chaste Hero]]:
** Hanners, mostly due to her being grossed out and/or freaked out by bodily contact. However, it should be noted that she does have a lot of fetishes and is more than interested in romantics.
** Marigold, though not entirely by choice, and [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1630 she is definitely trying to change that.]
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* [[Chekhov's Gag]]: [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=828 You gotta break some] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=792 lions to make an omelet.]
* [[Children Are a Waste]]: This is what all the characters (except those which are parents of others, obviously) seem to agree on implicitly. In several cases justified since they came from families where... something went wrong. But apparently not even Marten Reed (for example) seems to think that the world needs another Marten Reed. Jeph has expressed the same opinion in the footnotes that accompanied one comic where this was expressed, so it's apparently a case of [[Writer on Board]].
* [[Chuck Cunningham Syndrome]]:
** Sara. Created without any real character, she just vanished after Dora appeared. It became a long-running gag that she was "eaten by an Allosaurus", but no characters would ever mention her after the first 100 strips except in one or two [[Mythology Gag|Mythology Gags]]: in 149 Dora mentions leaving Sara in charge of the coffee shop, and her absence is lampshaded [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=325 here]. Also counts as a case of [[What Happened to the Mouse?]].
** Steve lampshades one of his first disappearances when he returns in the guest comic [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=155 155], coming gasping out of the hall closet. When Marten asks what he is doing there he says:
{{quote|
* [[Clasp Your Hands If You Deceive]]: Dale pulls off a classic Gendo Pose, complete with [[Scary Shiny Glasses]], [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1693 here]. It's even Lampshaded in the title.
* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]:
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1323 Dora drifts into this at times], but [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1467 she's trying to get better about it], [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1742 albeit not always succeeding].
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1877 Cosette also acts like this at times.]
* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: [[Word of God]] has explicitly compared Hannelore to [[Azumanga Daioh|Osaka]].
* [[Cluster F-Bomb]]: A handful of regular strips, and anytime Yelling Bird shows up.
* [[Commuting on a Bus]]: This or [[Put on a Bus]] for many cast members.
** Raven in particular was focusing on scholastic pursuits, and didn't show up for ages, despite once being a huge part of the strip. As of [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1939 Strip #1939,] she's back and appears to be staying for a while.
** Arguably Steve as well; he'll play a major role, then not show up for months or years due to post-breakup alcoholism or [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1350 secret agent recruitment].
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** Hannelore does a lot of this, as evidenced by [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1100 this strip].
** Faye in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=697 this strip].
{{quote|
** Padma is always mistaking Marten's emotional crises for more mundane complaints about the quality of service at the bakery.
** Marten has his [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2034 moments]:
{{quote|
'''Marten''': Yeah.
'''Steve''': And that turned into a depressing conversation about how much she misses her poor, sick grandmother.
'''Marten''': Uh huh.
'''Steve''': But then '''''that''''' somehow inspired her to ask you to go '''''dancing'''''.
'''Marten''': *sigh* Yeah...
'''Steve''': And for '''''SOME GODDAMN REASON''''', you're '''''SAD ABOUT THIS'''''.
'''Marten''': I don't know how to dance! }}
* [[Continuity Nod]]: Common, and as this page demonstrates, very noticeable to longtime readers.
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* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Pretty much everyone, sans Marigold. Even [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1411 Momo] gets in on this.
* [[Death Glare]]: Don't get between Cosette and her date. [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1547 Not ever].
{{quote|
Marten: Jesus, I thought she was going to go all Temple of Doom on you and pull your heart out through your chest! }}
* [[Deface of the Moon]]: In one of the [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1570 Sweet Tits strips].
* [[Defictionalization]]:
** Most of the T-shirts sold in the store were first worn by members of the cast.
** Jeph has released quite a bit of music under the Deathmøle name, enough for several albums, in fact. It's quite good -- wholly instrumental post-metal composed entirely by Jeph.
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* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: Angus.
* [[Doom Magnet]]: Cosette, [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1710 big time.]
* [[Doomy Dooms of Doom]]:
** The coffee shop at the center of the series is called Coffee Of Doom. The sign on its bathroom door says "Restroom of Doom!", exclamation theirs, though they once lovingly referred to it as "The Cave Of 40 Asses".
** The news post for [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1108 this strip.]
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* [[Dream Sequence]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1168 Here], [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1169 here], [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1170 and here]. To quote Deathmøle Jacques, "I could do one of these dream-comics for every single character and I STILL wouldn't be tired of the conceit. I am so weird."
* [[Drink Order]]: As with real-life indie coffeehouses, Coffee of Doom customers are advised ''not'' to use Starbucks' faux-Italian size names, at penalty of [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=419 markup]. Over-flavored or overly-pretentious drinks are likewise bad ideas. Though if you're [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1723 hazing a newbie, anything goes].
* [[Drop
* [[Dropped a Bridget On Him]]: Early on Pintsize went on a date with another AnthroPC over the internet that he thought was a "girl", but turned out to be a "guy" when they chatted the day after they had the robot equivalent of sex. Though he wasn't bothered about doing it with an anthropc set to male, just surprised because he was pink.
* [[Drowning My Sorrows]]: Happens quite often, what with all the issues and drama the characters suffer.
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** Frequently invoked by the characters, with more than a bit of Western-Massachusetts "alternative" condescension.
* [[Early-Bird Cameo]]: Reneé is probably the one mentioned in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1363 comic 1363.]. She is introduced in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1845 strip 1845], and still it takes [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1859 14 strips more] to mention her relationship with Angus.
* [[Early Installment Weirdness]]:
** Both Hannelore and Marigold showed pretty stark contrast to their introductions once they settled into character.
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1298 Momo], who grew into being kind of prim and schoolgirl-ish.
* [[Eldritch Abomination]]:
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1753 This comic], [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 and the next one].
** Randy [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1815 is eternal]. Note that ''[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1826 he really is]''.
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* [[Embarrassing Middle Name]]: Marten Tiberius Reed. Or it would be, if his father wasn't such a stick in the mud.
* [[Entendre Failure]]: When Sven gives his jacket to Hannelore:
{{quote|
'''Sven:''' I love it when girls say that.
'''Hannelore:''' It must happen a lot! You're so tall! }}
* [[Ethical Slut]]:
** Dora Bianchi is an excellent example, albeit one in a committed, monogamous relationship. Still, this characteristic [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1556 reveals itself] by her willingness to address and discuss sexual concerns. Interestingly enough, her being an Ethical Slut doesn't stop her from having relationship issues, for example an almost pathological jealousy and suspicion of any woman who may appear to be trying to steal her man, the uber-example perhaps threatening Cosette with a broadsword for innocently revealing that she had a crush on Marten.
** Her brother, Sven, proves to be a counterexample to this trope, considering [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1338 he had to be coerced to be honest with Faye].
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** Faye herself points out that she used to be a "bitch with issues", but now that she's in counseling and getting to the root of her issues, she's "just a bitch".
* [[Flash Step]]: Practiced by Hanners in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1633 this strip], to get out of the way of an impending barf.
{{quote|
* [[Flat What]]: By Sven in [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1212 this strip]. Faye in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1481 this strip]. Faye yet again [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1978 here].
* [[Flipping the Bird]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=324 Faye to Pretentious Record Store Dude]; [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=873 Faye to Sven];{{spoiler|Momo}} [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1631 to Angus.]
* [[Flock of Wolves]]: Minor example, but in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1384 this strip], Angus describes his job as a [[Strawman Political]] - he's paid to take a side in a political debate and lose. Unfortunately for him, one day...
{{quote|
* [[Foreshadowing]]:
** "[http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=313 It's pretty quiet, although the lady who lives in 226 vacuums at odd hours sometimes]." This is an actually an error, as Hannelore apparently [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1224 lives in 33]. The mistake is the room number, as [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=533 Hannelore's introduction] has a [[Call Back]] to the mentioning of her vacuuming at odd hours.
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=685 This strip] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=175 and this one] foreshadow the [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=720 VespAvenger].
** This exchange from [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=161 strip 161]:
{{quote|
'''Marten:''' [[Be Careful What You Wish For|You'll have to tell me the rest sometime.]]
'''Faye:''' Bribe me with ice cream and I will! }}
** Note the record that Faye is checking out in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1537 this strip]. It foreshadows into [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1737 this strip], which forshadows [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739 this strip]. {{spoiler|Which Toto song a character likes most, or indeed, whether a character likes Toto at all, seems to indicate compatibility. Thus, Angus and Faye work very well together thus far, while Marten and Dora have broken up.}}
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** Marten's mother [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1835 calls him] Marten [[Star Trek|Tiberius]] Reed when se gets mad at him, even though Tiberius isn't really his middle name.
** Hannelore calls Marigold [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1992 by her full name] when she's upset with her.
* [[Funny Background Event]]:
** Momo tends to be part of silent gags, such as [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1657 here] and [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1738 here].
** Often the title of the strip points out or creates a funny background event out of something that was just scenery.
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* [[Gargle Blaster]]: The vintage whiskey they bought once. Delicious as it was, it glowed and came with a [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=718 health warning]. A guest strip is also centered around one.
* [[Generic Cuteness]]: Most of the cast is quite young: early to mid-20s., and the parental characters are somewhat unconvincing. For instance, Marten's mom has facial characteristics similar to the core cast, but with a single wrinkle and an older-woman's hairstyle. Dora's father only manages to look his age because he's portly and bald. And Faye's mom looks like Faye with gray hair. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] when [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1515 Dora meets Marten's dad], who looks just like Marten with gray hair and tiny lines under his eyes for wrinkles.
{{quote|
''[[Beat Panel]] looking at Marten''
'''Dora:''' '''OH MY GOD YOU ARE GONNA BE SO HOT WHEN YOU GO GRAY'''
'''Henry:''' Hear that, Maurice? I'm still hot.
'''Maurice:''' Smoking, darling. }}
* [[Genius Ditz]]: ''Raven''.
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* [[Hates Being Touched]]: Hannelore initially, though she's slowly grown out of it. She's a [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1659 total] [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1660 pokeslut] now, and even [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1709 hugs Marten] when she gets a job at Coffee of Doom. Reverts back to it briefly when [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1900 a fanboy of her father's goes creeperiffic on her] to the point where [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1902 Marten kicked him out via a broadsword.]
* [[Hates the Job, Loves the Limelight]]: Sven doesn't exactly fit the trope because he's a. young, and b. a writer, not a performer; but he has the ''mindset'' of writing music for [[Money, Dear Boy]].
{{quote|
* [[Head-Tiltingly Kinky]]: First Marten, then Tai, [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1117 here].
* [[Heavy Metal Umlaut]]: Not an umlaut per se, but the "Ø" used in Deathmøle's title falls into this trope.
* [[Heterosexual Life Partners]]: Hanners and Marigold
* [[Hollywood Atheist]]: Averted (mostly) with Penelope.
* [[Hollywood Pudgy]]: Jacques has a tendency to draw ''all'' his "overweight" characters as merely Hollywood Pudgy.
** Faye arguably [[Playing with a Trope|averted]] -- she's regarded as a very attractive woman in-universe, but is a bit self-conscious about her weight (her rear end is quite large, but this is seen as a plus by many). Many [[Real Life|real]] people have the same hang-ups, so it's a kind of deconstruction of the trope. Oddly enough, Jacques drew Faye with the same build as Dora early in the comic's run, though this has gradually changed due to [[Art Evolution]].
** Marigold considers herself fat as well (despite being thinner than Faye -- she has ''really'' low self-esteem), so counts in her own mind.
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* [[Hurricane of Euphemisms]]: [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1779 EUPHORIA FLUID.]
* [[Hypocritical Humor]]:
{{quote|
* [[I'm Not Angry]]
* [[I Am Not Pretty]]: Marigold. So much. She goes on multiple sobbing rants about how bad-looking she is, despite actually being cute.
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** Also {{spoiler|Station and Hannelore}}, mixed with [[Did Not Get the Girl]].
* [[I Will Show You X]]: When Angus compliments his shy, socially awkward roommate Marigold on her haircut, then slips in an affectionate insult:
{{quote|
'''Marigold:''' (not amused) I'll—I'll wash you more than twice a year! B-because you're a stupid jerk! Who smells!
'''Angus:''' O venom-tongued maiden! Stay your barbs, I beseech you! }}
* [[Identical Stranger]]: Happens in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1932 Strip 1932], thus chopping the {{spoiler|"Penny is Pizza Girl" theory}} into itty bitty pieces, if the strip was true as shown.
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** Marigold gets one [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1613 of her in a maid's outfit] due to some words of Angus's.
* [[Incredibly Lame Pun]]: Plenty, but [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=316 Oh gods], we get a bad one in strip 316. No, Marten, [[Lampshading]] it doesn't take the pain away.
* [[Informed Attribute]]:
** Faye has always supposed to have been quite curvy and big-bottomed. The first [[Art Evolution|hundred or so]] strips utterly failed to show this, with no discernible difference between her and Dora. Currently she actually fits: made more notable by the fact that the rest of the main cast are built like bulimics (or at least your average indie concert-goer), with the exception of Marigold.
** After Marten is invited to dinner by Dora's parents, Dora remarks that, among other disasters on previous dates, one of her boyfriends was distracted by her mother's particularly substantial endowment -- "Imagine my head on Heidi Klum's body", she tells Marten. When pressed for details after the meeting, Marten awkwardly confirms to Faye that Mrs. Bianchi's bust is rather generously proportioned. And yet when we actually see her during the date, her chest is at best only slightly larger than Dora's, and in some panels the difference is almost imperceptible.
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* [[It Meant Something to Me]]
* [[It Makes Sense in Context]]:
{{quote|
* [[Jet Pack]]: An unusual use of it on [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 Hannelore's roomba]. Held on by what appears to be [[Duct Tape for Everything|scotch tape no less.]] And yet, it seems to be [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1643 inheritable]...somehow.
* [[Juggling Loaded Guns|Juggling Armed Tasers]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=529 Marten doesn't observe] ''taser'' safety and accidentally shocks himself. Of course, he ''was'' drunk.
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** SSTO space travel.
** Quasi-civilian space stations.
** Occasional hints of the supernatural (witches, voodoo dolls that work for ass-grabbing).
** Space owls are apparently a plausible lie.
** (The filler strips with talking animals and the Shame Orb are probably not canon, even though Sweet-+!+$ has been seen in the main continuity.)
Line 452 ⟶ 443:
** Marten's Mom warns Faye off of hurting him.
** Later on, when Marten's mom found out about his break-up with Dora and is on the plane to visit.
{{quote|
'''Dora:''' Eesh, I feel like a goose just walked over my grave. }}
** And once they finally meet, {{spoiler|1=it turns out to be a subversion, since she actually [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1833 hugs Dora] and says she's sorry it didn't work out}}.
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* [[Nobody Over 50 Is Gay]]: Averted. Marten's dad, Henry is happily engaged to a guy named Maurice. Also, seeing as he got married and had a son before coming out, he must have figured out his sexuality pretty late in life.
* [[Nobody Poops]]: Frequently averted with the girls. It's not unusual for their bodily functions to be acknowledged, and Tai was actually shown [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1694 on the toilet] at an . . . inopportune moment.
* [[Noodle Incident]]:
** [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=402 Number 472].
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=499 How does Pintsize know that?]
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* [[Not Good with People]]: Marigold and Hannelore, type 1. To a ''much'' lesser extent, Dora and Faye, type 2.
* [[The Not-So-Harmless Punishment]]: Hanners is checking some bookkeeping for her [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] mother, trying to find the source of an error. Faye asks her what will happen to the employee who made the mistake once he's found, and Hanners replies that he'll be fired.
{{quote|
'''Hanners:''' Out of a cannon, into a volcano.
'''Faye:''' Oh. }}
* [[Nothing Is the Same Anymore]]: Following the [[Wham! Episode]].
Line 518 ⟶ 509:
* [[Off-Model]]: As an artist with an [[Art Evolution|evolving art style]] Jeph produces comics from time to time where single characters look a bit strange and then return to their normal self in the next one.
* [[Oh Crap]]: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1557 For Science!] Pintsize and Winslow's faces in [[Gone Horribly Wrong|the last panel]]. Natural conclusion of strip [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1555 #1555].
* [[Oh Crap, There Are Fanfics of Us]]: [http://jephjacques.tumblr.com/post/1456308074/fffffffff Marigold] hits [[Fanfiction.net]] in Jeph's Tumblr.
* [[Older Than They Look]]: Amir is thirty-five but looks like he's in his mid-twenties, he claims "good genes".
* [[One of Us]]: Possibly [https://web.archive.org/web/20131001223754/http://jephjacques.com/post/5819937113/this-troper Marigold], which would make some sense, given her copious amounts of time on her computer, reading manga, and not going out.
* [[One Steve Limit]]:
** When Marigold is introduced, her first words are "Damnit Angus, I told you I have a raid!". Sure enough, it is later revealed that recurring character Angus is her roommate. Dora even says "I thought she said your name earlier!" as if there was only one person named Angus in the world.
** And, of course, ''literally'', since there's only one Steve in the cast.
* [[One-Two Punchline]]: Used periodically; [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1812 #1812] is one example.
* [[Only Six Faces]]: Despite the improved art, everyone still looks the same.
* [[Orphaned Punchline]]:
** In [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1479 1479]. Might be doubling as [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]], save that there isn't a radar for webcomics.
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=35 I realized he was using the Alphabet trick on me] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1733 so I went all "That's right, spell my name, bitch!"]
* [[Orwellian Retcon]]: When Dora makes fun of Raven for apparently styling her hair with Crisco, Raven objects that she'd never use Crisco [[I Take Offense to That Last One|because of "cute vegan boys."]] When someone pointed out to Jeph, or he found himself upon checking, that Crisco not only ''is'' vegan, but [[Did Not Do the Research|came about as a vegetarian substitute for animal tallow]], Jeph [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=703 changed the word to "lard."]
* [[Out of Focus]]:
** Steve; once a major character, he'd all but disappeared for a year, leading many readers to e-mail Jacques asking about his whereabouts, leading in turn to a [[Lampshade Hanging]] strip and a request from the cartoonist to stop asking. The worry was he'd been [[Put on a Bus]]. It wasn't the first time, either; early in the strip he disappeared for nearly a hundred pages. Then again, it is [[Webcomic Time]]... He returned a few months after a [[Lampshade Hanging]], having had some rather interesting adventures while he was gone.
** The above-mentioned Angus McPhee also qualifies, though this is arguably justified by {{spoiler|Faye's and Sven's frenemies-with-benefits relationship}}. He then started appearing as a semi-regular again, and has finally become a regular character, while {{spoiler|Sven}} has slipped into the background somewhat.
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* [[Performance Anxiety]]: [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=553 Marten suffers from it.]
* [[Perky Goth]]: Formerly Dora, although Dora and Raven each abandoned the goth look a long time ago now.
{{quote|
'''Faye:''' That feeling is what we non-goths call "happiness". This record is its most condensed form. It is like a crack-rock of pure joy! }}
* [[Pet Homosexual]]: Scott, Tai, and probably any future bosses Marten will have.
Line 560 ⟶ 551:
* [[Real Life Writes the Plot]]: A week of unplanned guest comics ran in late October and early November 2011 due to an extended power outage caused by the late-October snowstorms' damage to what were already temporary post-Hurricane Irene repairs to the Western Mass power grid.
* [[Reckless Gun Usage]]: Marten [[Juggling Loaded Guns|doesn't observe]] ''taser'' safety and [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=529 accidentally electrocutes himself]. Of course, he ''was'' drunk.
* [[Red Eyes, Take Warning]]:
** {{spoiler|Faye issuing a death mandate to Pintsize against Sven's latest hook-up.}}
** Dora gets her turn when [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1754 Hanners asks Sven] on a pretend date.
** Faye gets HER turn when [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1808 "convincing" Dora to get a therapist.]
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]:
** Executed in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=982 982], somewhat [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=989 989].
** An unintentional example can be found in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1115 1115].
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* [[Robosexual]]: [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1900 Only hinted at].
** Some of the more humanoid AnthroPCs are [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1998 obviously meant to cater to this], such as the prototype of one that [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1459 looked like Jude Law] with a prehensile [[Gag Penis]]. It's also mutual. Momo has fantasized about Sven before, and Pintsize is a [[Lovable Pervert]].
{{quote|
** [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2158 And then Station confesses his love to Hannelore]. {{spoiler|Sadly for him, she platonically returns his feelings and wants to stay on Earth. He knew she'd answer that, and [[I Want My Beloved to Be Happy|he'd rather her be happy]].}}
* [[Robot Buddy]]: the AnthroPCs.
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* [[Self-Deprecation]]: [[The Rant]] in many strips:
** From [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1704 #1704]:
{{quote|
*watch- having said that, I'll introduce one tomorrow. }}
** From [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1705 #1705]:
{{quote|
j/k
I hope }}
* [[Serious Business]]: For Marigold, [[World of Warcraft|Horde vs. Alliance]] is [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1668 SERIOUS] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1680 BUSINESS]. Followed up on [[Clasp Your Hands If You Deceive|later with a]] [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1693 shout-out].
* [[Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness]]: Marten lapses into this when drunk.
* [[Sex for Solace]]: Referenced and [[Defied Trope|defied]] after {{spoiler|Dora breaks up with Marten...}}
{{quote|
'''Marten:''' OKAY THANK YOU BYE }}
* [[Sexy Santa Dress]]: QC's Christmas comics!
* [[She
* [[Shipper on Deck]]:
** Dora ships {{spoiler|Angus/Faye}}.
** Hanners ships Marigold/Francis (the scientist from John Ellicott's space station).
{{quote|
** Marten [[Lampshaded Trope|lampshades]] this immediately afterwards.
{{quote|
* [[Ship Sinking]]:
** Most vehemently, Marigold/Hannelore, complete with [[Lampshade Hanging]] (and [[Take That]]) [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1492 here] and more [[Heavy
** Faye/Marten. Although put on hold before The Talk and his relationship with Dora, it was specifically sunk [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1737 here,] [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1739 two strips later], and [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1807 these][http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1838 two].
** Marigold/Tai [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1792 here.]
** Tai/Dora (with perhaps a smidgen of [[Foreshadowing]] of a few strips ahead) [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1778 here], yet ''another'' unlikely lesbian pairing, although for once both canonically like women, at least.
*** Though given how Tai acts once {{spoiler|Marten and Dora break up}}, whether the ship is really sunk is debatable.
* [[Ship Tease]]:
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1740 You bastard].
** Hannelore/Sven: [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1768 Unexpected twist?] Well, [[Genre Savvy|not really.]] The possibility that some shippers out there probably are tearing their hair out? Likely.
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** A subtle reference to ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1844 this] strange lady's singing.
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=333 I can do it!] I can totally do it [http://www.hrwiki.org/wiki/Nine_Times nine] [[Homestar Runner|times]]!
** [[Something
** There's a [[Mass Effect|Geth]] and a [[Lucky Star|Konata]] chassis for sale in [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1998 this strip,] which is even called "Robocameos".
** To ''[[Weebl and Bob]]'' (more specifically, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140421172241/http://www.weebls-stuff.com/wab/
** If you look at the Hot Topic in the background of [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1996 this strip], you can see a poster advertising [[Homestuck|troll horns]].
** [[Dune|I must not laugh]]. Laughter is the Marten-killer. [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=351 Laughter is the little death that brings about total obliteration by an enraged Faye...]
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** Shortly after, a minor character by the name of [[Deadly Premonition|Francis York]] appears.
** Marten refers to Clinton as [[Mystery Science Theater 3000|Tom Servo]] during one particular moment of creepiness.
** Marigold has been shown wearing a "[[This Very Wiki|This Troper]]" T-shirt on [https://web.archive.org/web/20131001223754/http://jephjacques.com/post/5819937113/this-troper Jeph's Tumblr].
* [[Shown Their Work]]: Fans from the Northampton area are continually impressed by the backgrounds of the city, since anyone familiar with the real Northampton can recognize the slightly-changed version of real places.
* [[Show Within a Show]]: The manga/anime ''Magical Love Gentleman''; Marigold is a '''serious''' fan, and introduced Hannelore and Angus to it.
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** Faye's snarkgasm of '''SCORN!''': see [[Unsound Effect]] below. "Phew! I need a cigarette!"
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2050 Again,] from Hannelore of all people.
* [[Sophisticated As Hell]]: The station computer [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2142 here].
* [[Sorkin Relationship Moment]]: Partial trope namer.
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* [[Time Skip]]: Between [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1310 1310] and [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1311 1311].
* [[Toilet Humor]]: A surprising amount.
* [[Took a Level
* [[Too Much Information]]: A common trope.
* [[Too Soon]]:
** After Faye {{spoiler|breaks up with Sven}}, [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1349 she finds Pintsize in her bed,] [[Ready for Lovemaking]] and sporting a Tom Selleck chest wig & moustache:
{{quote|
'''Faye''' The entire universe could have undergone HEAT DEATH and it'd still be too soon. }}
** Much later, after {{spoiler|Dora breaks up with Marten}}, he gives us [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1812 this delightful sight.]
Line 726 ⟶ 718:
** Angus, [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1691 at times]. Lampshaded by Marigold's giggle.
* [[Turned Against Their Masters]]: Mentioned by Faye when she issued a death warrant to Pintsize at someone.
{{quote|
'''Faye:''' Damn. Okay, okay, how about if you ever [[
'''Pintsize:''' I think I can do that. }}
* [[20% More Awesome]]: Fournier-Goldman Happiness Units.
Line 745 ⟶ 737:
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Faye and Dora and many others.
* [[Vomit Discretion Shot]]: Plenty, usually associated with all the drinking everyone does.
* [[Webcomic Time]]: Some stretches of ''years'' can be nailed down to a few days thanks to a particularly long stretch of 'later that day' or 'the next morning'-type events; problematized further by up-to-the-minute music references. When creator Jeph Jacques was asked about this on the comic's forum, he replied "[[Did Not Do the Research|You know how glass isn't actually a solid, but an extremely viscous liquid?]]
* [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]: The VespAvenger, arguably.
* [[Wham! Episode]]:
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** Marten's story about the [[Arcade Fire]] drummer. [http://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=178 "I AM MAKING MYSELF SOME CEREAL AND GODDAMN IF IT ISN'T GOING TO BE THE MOST DELICIOUS CEREAL IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND!"]
** [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1731 Once subverted.]
* [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?]]: Zig-zagged. [[A Is]] have been granted full civil rights and those which are "sold" in stores are ones that choose to meet and bond with people. [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1996 Such contracts can be ended by either party and the cost is refunded to purchasing party.] Generally speaking, they're treated like people, and this series is heavily on the idealistic side about human-robot interactions. However, people can and do return [[A Is]] that have bonded to them, though this is considered cruel, and Pintsize suffers a lot of violence in response to his [[Comedic Sociopathy]] that can only be justified by [[Rule of Funny]]
:It's also an open question when robots got full civil rights since it's [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2085 the first thing the first AI asked for]. However, earlier in the strip Pintsize and Winslow shrug off the idea of equal rights [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=668 since it would mean equal responsibility]. There was also Linux-based AnthroPC PT410x, who was a robot parody of the minority revolutionaries and who [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1105 rejected any name other than his serial number as a "slave name."] [[A Is]] can also voluntarily end up in menial jobs as appliances like [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=1999 toasters], [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2001 humidifiers], and [http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=2131 trash cans,] which would seem more like an [[And I Must Scream]] situation to a human.
* [[What the Hell, Hero?]]:
** Faye occasionally getting called on what a bitch she's being or some action of hers is probably all that's keeping her from sliding down the slippery slope towards being a complete [[Jerk Sue]]. Of course, since a [[Milholland Relationship Moment]] almost always turns her into a [[Karma Houdini]], just how much she avoids it may be a matter of opinion.
Line 774 ⟶ 767:
* [[Wimp Fight]]: Angus and Marten's ''[[Scott Pilgrim]]'' [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=1731 impression].
* [[With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility]]: Marten quotes this, and Hannelore turns it on its head.
{{quote|
* [[World of Snark]]: This is a defining trait of a fair number of the characters.
* [[A Worldwide Punomenon]]: Everybody makes lots of puns.
Line 792 ⟶ 785:
* [[Younger Than They Look]]: Momo in her new chassis doesn't look 2.7 years old, but she is.
* [[Your Answer to Everything]]:
{{quote|
'''Mieville''': Meow.
'''Dora''': No, murder is not the answer. You always suggest that. }}
** Also, a rather unconventional version in [http://questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=2137 comic #2137].
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----
{{quote|''[http://twitter.com/#!/jephjacques/status/73196546786729985 Okay], I like one thing about [[TV Tropes]], [[Take That|and that is the quote at the top of the page for QC.]]''|'''Jeph Jacques'''}}▼
▲{{quote|''[http://twitter.com/#!/jephjacques/status/73196546786729985 Okay], I like one thing about [[TV Tropes]], [[Take That|and that is the quote at the top of the page for QC.]]''|'''Jeph Jacques'''
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