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Speak of the Devil: Difference between revisions
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''(the JSSDF begins a [[Macross Missile Massacre]] on the Geofront)'' }}
** "It would be disastrous if an Angel turned up right now."
* In ''[[Ranma ½]]'', [[Old Master
== [[Comic Books]] ==
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* In Brazilian comic [[Monica's Gang]], two characters have it: [[Grim Reaper|Lady]] [[Don't Fear the Reaper|McDeath]] appears whenever someone says "death" or something related to the verb "die"; and whenever something absurd occurs and someone asks "who would be nutty enough..." Nutty Ned appears.
* A more down-to-earth version of this is used for humor and to get around a real-world problem in [[G.I. Joe|the G.I. Joe comics]]. Hasbro created a character named Ghostrider, who is a stealth pilot. Nobody noticed that there was already a character in Marvel Comics with [[Ghost Rider|almost the exact same name]] before the figure went into production. Larry Hama worked around the issue by writing the character as being so stealthy that even his own teammates ''could never remember his codename''.
* In ''[[Zot]]'', the [[Psycho for Hire|assassin-for-hire]] 9-Jack-9 can be summoned by typing his name (actually spelled J9AC9K) into any computer terminal. Every single reader has tried it at least once... or considered it and then [[Nightmare Fuel|chickened out]].
* In an issue of ''[[Wolverine]]'', it was revealed that perennial ''[[X-Men]]'' villain Spiral is aware (or alerted) whenever anyone anywhere mentions her. She used this to track Wolverine and Mystique, the latter of whom could not spit out the warning in time.
== [[Film]] ==
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** In a more benign case, house elves automatically Apparate to the location of their owner when their name is called, regardless of any curses or protective magic that should prevent them.
* In the ''[[Young Wizards]]'' series, speaking any of the Lone Power's nicknames has the danger of drawing Its attention. Even ''thinking'' its [[I Know Your True Name|true name]] is ''guaranteed'' to get Its attention unless something is keeping It distracted.
* [[Discworld]]:
** In
*** Although if you're close enough to a portal even these pseudonyms will draw them.
*** This is actually based on old folk beliefs; there's a reason the trope's called [[The Fair Folk]].
** Another [[Discworld]] example is Igor (any Igor). When the master calls him, Igor will appear directly behind to answer. Makes no difference if Igor was in the basement or on the roof at the time, somehow he will also be out of sight behind his master when the master calls. Just part of the Igor service package.
** Yet another [[Discworld]] example, especially in the early books such as ''[[
** Inverted with the Auditors, which are [[Too Dumb to Live|instantly destroyed]] if they refer to ''themselves'' in the first-person singular.
** Wizards are forbidden from saying the number eight because it draws the attention of the [[Eldritch Abomination]] Bel-Shamharoth, the Sender of Eight.
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* In The ''[[Griffin's Daughter]] Trilogy'', the Nameless One's true name had been stricken from elven records and lore, to keep others from trying to invoke [[I Know Your True Name]] and claim the Nameless One's power, either becoming as big a threat as The Nameless One or inadvertently resurrecting him.
▲== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* The [[Monty Python's Flying Circus|Spanish Inquisition]], whom nobody expects.
* "Say my name and I appear. Why have you summoned [[Power Rangers|Quagmire]] here?"
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cuz I'm the-*GUNSHOT*"
== Oral Tradition, Folklore, Myths and Legends ==
* As mentioned above, [[Satan]] is the [[Trope Namer]].
** Depending on how strict their adherence to the 3rd Commandment is, some people refrain from saying God's name as well, though that's less out of fear of summoning Him (seeing as He's already, you know, omnipresent) and more because to do otherwise is seen as blasphemous.
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* [[Everybody Hates Hades|Hades]] of [[Classical Mythology|Greek Mythology]] is a good example. The Greeks believed saying his name drew his attention, so they called him by all sorts of nicknames and titles, like "The Wealthy One" or "The Host of Many."
▲== [[Tabletop RPG]] ==
* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'':
** In early editions, saying the name of a demon could cause it to turn its attention to the speaker and attack him if possible, and speaking the name of a devil (which was inscribed on its talisman) would call forth that devil. And although they aren't villains, in the "[[Forgotten Realms]]" campaign setting, saying the name of any of the Seven Sisters would allow them to hear the next nine words uttered by the speaker.
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** And Stef manages to avoid being shredded by an angry Indian god by calling upon Hastur, and letting the two duke it out.
* [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20110223 This] [[Girl Genius]] comic averts it. Not ''subverts'', but ''averts''. This is a trope-heavy world with [[Genre Savvy]] people (as a survival trait), and the named individual is a genuine [[Hero]].
== Web Original ==
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* The Makeover Fairy from [[The Nostalgia Chick]] can do this, appearing in a puff of sparkleswhenever somebody says her name. Either it's a new ability or the others didn't know about it yet, since at one point Chick comments that she wasn't sure if it would work.
** Earlier in the show's run, [[The Nostalgia Critic]] appeared to bitch her out for reviewing ''[[Transformers]]'' when she said the word "manchild".
== [[Western Animation]] ==
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* In ''[[Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law]]'', saying Mentok the Mind Taker's real name, Mufti, summons powerful magical winds.
* Said by one of the [[Ruthless Modern Pirates|bad guys]] in ''[[Jonny Quest]]'' episode "Skull and Double Crossbones," after his captain referred to the possibility of the Coast Guard showing up ... and they promptly did.
== [[Real Life]] ==
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]▼
[[Category:Narrative Devices]]
[[Category:Naming Conventions]]
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[[Category:Be Careful What You Say]]
[[Category:Entrance Tropes]]
▲[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
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