Schindelschwinger

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Our hero... er, protagonist!


Schindelschwinger (or Schindel-Schwinger) is a German 5-volume comicbook series from 1975-77, written by Peter-Torsten Schulz and drawn by Michael Ryba.

The Backstory: In the beginning, God created the world (apparently, with a literal finger snap). With his work done, he took a deep swig of his favorite drink and fell asleep -- next to the clay pit where he had formed the animals (including man) of Earth. In the aforesaid clay pit, the "prototypes" he had made before he had formed the real things beings were still lying around. When his breath fell upon them, they came to life and scurried away the very same night.

When God saw this in the morning, he wanted his prototypes back (because otherwise, people could get a wrong impression of him) and thus told his sons, Saint Peter and Lucifer (wait, sons? And where's that Jesus guy gone?), that the one who'd bring the prototypes back would rule the Earth. So they started to search, which took several years (off-panel). Meanwhile, the prototypes had settled in a nice valley, founding the city of Flohheim ("Flea-home"); Lucifer and his red devils settled in a volcano next door, while Saint Peter and his blue(ish) angels built a skyscraper on the opposite side.

Tropes used in Schindelschwinger include:

Devil: "Is this [pointing to prototype's apron] white?"
Female prototype: "Nope, that's blue!"
Devil: "Aahh, you see it too!"

  • Kavorka Man: Schindel-Schwinger has a horse's head with long blond hair, a human-sized lizard body (with big scales), but manages to seduce many female devils.
  • Luke Nounverber: The eponymous protagonist.
  • Mad Scientist: Denk-Dätz, somewhat. In his first panel, he's shown preparing an experiment involving a bunny - while having a Playboy Bunny in mind. (The bunny lampshades this asking: "What are you planning, playboy?")
  • Meaningful Name: Several of the prototypes.
  • Mix-and-Match Critters: All the prototypes, of course. (Some of them even are partly plant!)
  • Ms. Fanservice: Many prototypes look just like attractive human women.
  • Napoleon Delusion: One devil seems to suffer from this, for whatever reason.
  • One-Gender Race: The angels.
  • Parental Bonus
  • Pinch Me
  • Plant Person: Trudel-Blume.
  • Scenery Censor: In the first book, two witches fly on their broomsticks over two angels. The first one is young and very hot, and in the next panel you see the angels blushing. The second one is an old crone, and in the next panel the angels seem to want to vomit. Now guess what they saw.
  • Screw the Rules, I Have Money: The Pinke-Pos bribe the angels(!) so they won't fight.
  • The Slacker / The Stoner: Many of the prototypes.
  • The Smart Guy: Clever-Clou. Subverted with Denk-Dätz whom everyone thinks is super-smart, but in one situation where they need an idea, he thinks very hard - and comes up with the great solution of human ladders. Which works, but honestly, anyone could've come up with. (And later, in an unrelated similar situation, someone does.)
  • Solid Gold Poop: Literally the case with the Pinke-Pos. In coin form.
  • Speech Bubbles: One in the shape of Schindel-Schwinger's head when he's in the dark.
  • Spoonerism: Schindel-Schwinger is prone to this.
  • Sweet Tooth: Schleck-Zahn (all of them)
  • Theme Naming: All of the prototypes.
  • Verbal Tic: For Schindel-Schwinger, everything is Egregious "extraordinary"! Whether it fits or not.
  • Weather Control Machine: Saint Peter has one.
  • Welcome to Marklar: Some prototypes like the titular protagonist are individuals, others... there are several of them, all of which look the same, have the same name and do the same job.
  • Worthy Opponent: Red Jesse and Blue Gary, for each other.
  • Zany Scheme: What the devils and angels try to get the prototypes.
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