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[[File:SpyBoy_3762.png|frame|You'll be seeing a lot [[Fan Service|of this]].]]
[[File:SpyBoy_3762.png|frame|You'll be seeing a lot [[Fan Service|of this]].]]


''Spy Boy'' is a comic book series created in 1999 by writer [[Peter David]] and artists Pop Mhan and Norman Lee, and published by [[Dark Horse Comics]].
''[[Spy Boy]]'' is a comic book series created in 1999 by writer [[Peter David]] and artists Pop Mhan and Norman Lee, and published by [[Dark Horse Comics]].


The series centers around Alex Fleming, an ordinary teenage boy who is secretly part of a project to create the world's most deadly and effective secret agent. Unfortunately, while the world's various spy agencies are after him for reasons of their own, Alex himself is unaware of his super-ruthless sleeper personna. The adventures start when Alex's Spyboy identity is activated, throwing Spyboy into various death-defying situations around the world while Alex struggles to maintain relevance against his super-capable alter ego.
The series centers around Alex Fleming, an ordinary teenage boy who is secretly part of a project to create the world's most deadly and effective secret agent. Unfortunately, while the world's various spy agencies are after him for reasons of their own, Alex himself is unaware of his super-ruthless sleeper personna. The adventures start when Alex's Spyboy identity is activated, throwing Spyboy into various death-defying situations around the world while Alex struggles to maintain relevance against his super-capable alter ego.


The basic idea for [[Spy Boy]] came from Dark Horse, who hired Peter David to develop the concept, including the cast and their back-stories. David has lamented that the ideas he had for the series' run were not completed, as Dark Horse did not continue with it.
The basic idea for ''Spy Boy'' came from Dark Horse, who hired Peter David to develop the concept, including the cast and their back-stories. David has lamented that the ideas he had for the series' run were not completed, as Dark Horse did not continue with it.


A crossover 3-issue miniseries, ''[[Spy Boy]] / [[Young Justice (Comic Book)|Young Justice]]'', was published in 2002. Also ''[[Spy Boy]]: Final Exam'', a 4-issue spin-off limited series by the same authors, was published in 2004.
A crossover 3-issue miniseries, ''Spy Boy / [[Young Justice (comics)|Young Justice]]'', was published in 2002. Also ''Spy Boy: Final Exam'', a 4-issue spin-off limited series by the same authors, was published in 2004.

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=== Tropes associated with this work: ===


{{tropelist}}
* [[Abnormal Ammo]]: [[Spy Boy]]'s gun, the [[Magnum Opus]], fires a variety of these.
* [[Abnormal Ammo]]: [[Spy Boy]]'s gun, the [[Magnum Opus]], fires a variety of these.
* [[Armor-Piercing Question|Armor Piercing Discourse]]: Butch give an epic one to {{spoiler|both Anita and Gila at the end of the Confidential arc}}.
* [[Armor-Piercing Question|Armor Piercing Discourse]]: Butch give an epic one to {{spoiler|both Anita and Gila at the end of the Confidential arc}}.
* [[Art Shift]]: During the middle of the Marispan affair (or the beginning of the Bet Your Life arc) the art changes from anime-style to something out of [[Mike Mignola]]'s mind and back again.
* [[Art Shift]]: During the middle of the Marispan affair (or the beginning of the Bet Your Life arc) the art changes from anime-style to something out of [[Mike Mignola]]'s mind and back again.
* [[Banana In the Tailpipe]]: Messed with in one of the early issues, where Bombshell stops a (moving) car of bad guys by tossing what appears to be a lit cigarette into the tailpipe. The car blows up several blocks later. Considering that Bombshell is an explosives expert, however, [[Justified Trope|it's not quite as far-fetched]].
* [[Banana In the Tailpipe]]: Messed with in one of the early issues, where Bombshell stops a (moving) car of bad guys by tossing what appears to be a lit cigarette into the tailpipe. The car blows up several blocks later. Considering that Bombshell is an explosives expert, however, [[Justified Trope|it's not quite as far-fetched]].
* [[Becoming the Mask]]: {{spoiler|This is literally with Anita, for her mask became her permanent face after the [[Time Skip]]}}
* [[Becoming the Mask]]: {{spoiler|This is literally with Anita, for her mask became her permanent face after the [[Time Skip]]}}
* [[Because You Were Nice to Me]]: For Butch, {{spoiler|it doesn't matter if Anita is her mother or not, she's the only person who ever gave a crap about him and he loves her deeply}} and the reason of why he is self-defined best friend with Alex.
* [[Because You Were Nice to Me]]: For Butch, {{spoiler|it doesn't matter if Anita is her mother or not, she's the only person who ever gave a crap about him and he loves her deeply}} and the reason of why he is self-defined best friend with Alex.
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Spygirl and Bombshell. Even their fake identities in Alex's high school parody this.
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Spygirl and Bombshell. Even their fake identities in Alex's high school parody this.
* [[Changeling Fantasy]]: Alex wishes at the beginning for one to escape his crappy school life until he realize how brutal the espionage world really is. {{spoiler|For Butch it's to escape the living hell that is his family life... it never truly sticks}}.
* [[Changeling Fantasy]]: Alex wishes at the beginning for one to escape his crappy school life until he realize how brutal the espionage world really is. {{spoiler|For Butch it's to escape the living hell that is his family life... it never truly sticks}}.
* [[Children Raise You]]: According to Rita Moody.
* [[Children Raise You]]: According to Rita Moody.
* [[Cool Bike]]: The Spy Cycle
* [[Cool Bike]]: The Spy Cycle
* [[Cliff Hanger]]: The final exam ends with {{spoiler|Spyboy incriminated as a terrorist, Anita discovered, the agency and the echelon hunting down Spyboy, and Lori showing she was a spy all along and offering a very [[Empty Promise|dubious]] offer while suffering an existential crisis}}. It is either the most epic or the most sadistic ending you would ever see.
* [[Cliff Hanger]]: The final exam ends with {{spoiler|Spyboy incriminated as a terrorist, Anita discovered, the agency and the echelon hunting down Spyboy, and Lori showing she was a spy all along and offering a very [[Empty Promise|dubious]] offer while suffering an existential crisis}}. It is either the most epic or the most sadistic ending you would ever see.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: Don't let the design and quirky humor fool you, this a very bloody and violent adaptation to the usual teenager spy theme.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: Don't let the design and quirky humor fool you, this a very bloody and violent adaptation to the usual teenager spy theme.
* [[Dead Person Impersonation]]: Spygirl during the Spyboy Manga affair and {{spoiler|Alex's mother to Butch's mother}}.
* [[Dead Person Impersonation]]: Spygirl during the Spyboy Manga affair and {{spoiler|Alex's mother to Butch's mother}}.
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* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Even [[The Bully|Schweitzer]] finds a little absurd the reaction of his father to the Class president's campaign: hire a hitman to take both Alex and his ex-girlfriend.
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Even [[The Bully|Schweitzer]] finds a little absurd the reaction of his father to the Class president's campaign: hire a hitman to take both Alex and his ex-girlfriend.
* [[Distaff Counterpart]]: SpyGirl.
* [[Distaff Counterpart]]: SpyGirl.
* [[Doting Parent]]: Rita Moody truly believes that Butch is the kindest person you could ever met.
* [[Doting Parent]]: Rita Moody truly believes that Butch is the kindest person you could ever met.
* [[Elaborate Underground Base]]: [[Spy Boy]] had a modest one of these hidden out in the woods.
* [[Elaborate Underground Base]]: [[Spy Boy]] had a modest one of these hidden out in the woods.
* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Say what you will about Gila's ruthlessness, but {{spoiler|she has a soft spot for orphans and broke into tears hearing Butch's family life}}.
* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Say what you will about Gila's ruthlessness, but {{spoiler|she has a soft spot for orphans and broke into tears hearing Butch's family life}}.
* [[Evil Matriarch]]: {{spoiler|Butch's mom was a physical and emotional abuser}}.
* [[Evil Matriarch]]: {{spoiler|Butch's mom was a physical and emotional abuser}}.
* [[Evil Parents Want Good Kids]]
* [[Evil Parents Want Good Kids]]
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* [[Fake Memories]]: {{spoiler|Spygirl #2}}
* [[Fake Memories]]: {{spoiler|Spygirl #2}}
* [[Fire-Forged Friends]]
* [[Fire-Forged Friends]]
* [[Fun With Acronyms]]: The opposing spy teams are named S.H.I.R.T.S and S.K.I.N.S. The good guys occasionally team with their oriental counterparts, M.A.N.G.A.
* [[Fun with Acronyms]]: The opposing spy teams are named S.H.I.R.T.S and S.K.I.N.S. The good guys occasionally team with their oriental counterparts, M.A.N.G.A.
* [[Good Feels Good]]: Butch and {{spoiler|Anita, both times}}.
* [[Good Feels Good]]: Butch and {{spoiler|Anita, both times}}.
* [[Government Agency of Fiction]]: S.H.I.R.T.S for United States and M.A.N.G.A for Japan.
* [[Government Agency of Fiction]]: S.H.I.R.T.S for United States and M.A.N.G.A for Japan.
* [[Happily Adopted]]: {{spoiler|Butch doesn't care Anita is not his real mother; she is the only person who has ever gave a crap about him}}.
* [[Happily Adopted]]: {{spoiler|Butch doesn't care Anita is not his real mother; she is the only person who has ever gave a crap about him}}.
* [[Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy]]: Amusingly enough, in the comic book crossover between Spy Boy and [[Young Justice (Comic Book)|Young Justice]], Robin actually asks Spy Boy's team if they indeed took the Stormtrooper Marksmanship course — never realizing that HE was also displaying Stormtrooper level of accuracy.
* [[Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy]]: Amusingly enough, in the comic book crossover between Spy Boy and [[Young Justice (comics)|Young Justice]], Robin actually asks Spy Boy's team if they indeed took the Stormtrooper Marksmanship course — never realizing that HE was also displaying Stormtrooper level of accuracy.
* [[Innocent Fanservice Girl]]: Spygirl can be found giving constantly bra and panty shots.
* [[Innocent Fanservice Girl]]: Spygirl can be found giving constantly bra and panty shots.
* [[Just for Pun]]: As with much of David's work, [[Spy Boy]] is ''littered'' with wordplay.
* [[Just for Pun]]: As with much of David's work, [[Spy Boy]] is ''littered'' with wordplay.
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* [[Manchurian Agent]]: Alex is a good version.
* [[Manchurian Agent]]: Alex is a good version.
* [[Comic Book Adaptation|Manga Adaption]]: ''SpyBoy: The Manga Affair''. Notable for being drawn in a more traditional [[Anime]] artstyle than when compared to the original comic.
* [[Comic Book Adaptation|Manga Adaption]]: ''SpyBoy: The Manga Affair''. Notable for being drawn in a more traditional [[Anime]] artstyle than when compared to the original comic.
* [[Mata Hari]]: Bombshell's fake identity is Martha Hari.
* [[Missing Mom]]: Alex mom was killed during a mission, forcing the Fleming family to lay low for more than a decade.
* [[Missing Mom]]: Alex mom was killed during a mission, forcing the Fleming family to lay low for more than a decade.
* [[Mr. Smith]]: In this world most cover names go with Girl, Guy, Dude and in one case [[Awesome McCoolname|Main Man]]
* [[Mr. Smith]]: In this world most cover names go with Girl, Guy, Dude and in one case [[Awesome McCoolname|Main Man]]
* [[Noodle Incident]]: Apparently Bombshell managed to reunite with her parents during the [[Time Skip]].
* [[Noodle Incident]]: Apparently Bombshell managed to reunite with her parents during the [[Time Skip]].
* [[No One Could Survive That]]: {{spoiler|Spygirl didn't}}
* [[No One Could Survive That]]: {{spoiler|Spygirl didn't}}
* [[Older Than They Look]]: Annie Mae is probably over eighty but she looks and had quirks like a 5 year old girl.
* [[Older Than They Look]]: Annie Mae is probably over eighty but she looks and had quirks like a 5 year old girl.
* [[The Omniscient Council of Vagueness]]: Is never truly revealed what the echelon truly is or what are his goals.
* [[The Omniscient Council of Vagueness]]: Is never truly revealed what the echelon truly is or what are his goals.
* [[Parental Abandonment]]: Alex suffer from the "Mommy Dead Syndrome", {{spoiler|doubly so because her mother is actually next to him... deeply caring for his [[Vitriolic Best Buds]] Butch}}
* [[Parental Abandonment]]: Alex suffer from the "Mommy Dead Syndrome", {{spoiler|doubly so because her mother is actually next to him... deeply caring for his [[Vitriolic Best Buds]] Butch}}
* [[Paper-Thin Disguise]]: Spyguy disguises himself as a substitute teacher named "Guy Mcguffin"
* [[Paper-Thin Disguise]]: Spyguy disguises himself as a substitute teacher named "Guy Mcguffin"
* [[Pants-Positive Safety]]: Behold [[wikipedia:File:Spyboy3.jpg|the cover]] of ''[[Spy Boy]]'' #3!
* [[Pants-Positive Safety]]: Behold [[wikipedia:File:Spyboy3.jpg|the cover]] of ''[[Spy Boy]]'' #3!
* [[Play-Along Prisoner]]: It never works.
* [[Play-Along Prisoner]]: It never works.
* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: Butch gives a unintended one to {{spoiler|her deceased mother}} at the end of Confidential.
* [["The Reason You Suck" Speech]]: Butch gives a unintended one to {{spoiler|her deceased mother}} at the end of Confidential.
* [[Rose-Haired Girl]]: SpyGirl
* [[Rose-Haired Girl]]: SpyGirl
* [[Rogue Agent]]: {{spoiler|Seems to be a possible future for Alex}}
* [[Rogue Agent]]: {{spoiler|Seems to be a possible future for Alex}}
* [[Ship Sinking]]: Bombshell and Alex after the [[Time Skip]].
* [[Seductive Spy]]: Bombshell's fake identity is Martha Hari.
* [[Ship Sinking]]: Bombshell and Alex after the [[Time Skip]].
* [[Shout-Out]]: [[Spy Boy]]'s civilian identity is Alex Fleming, a nod to [[James Bond]]'s creator [[Ian Fleming]]. Continuing the [[Shout-Out Theme Naming|theme]], his father's first name is Sean (after [[Sean Connery]]).
* [[Shout-Out]]: [[Spy Boy]]'s civilian identity is Alex Fleming, a nod to [[James Bond]]'s creator [[Ian Fleming]]. Continuing the [[Shout-Out Theme Naming|theme]], his father's first name is Sean (after [[Sean Connery]]).
** To the [[Powerpuff Girls]] of all things in one issue.
** To the [[Powerpuff Girls]] of all things in one issue.
* [[Split Personality]]: [[Spy Boy]] himself is an artificial persona buried inside a normal high school student named Alex (arguably making him a [[Badass Normal]] [[Sealed Inside a Person Shaped Can]]). Or, possibly, Alex is an artificial persona created to provide [[Spy Boy]] with a perfect cover. This is one of the main ethical questions explored by the series, in its more serious moments.
* [[Split Personality]]: [[Spy Boy]] himself is an artificial persona buried inside a normal high school student named Alex (arguably making him a [[Badass Normal]] [[Sealed Inside a Person-Shaped Can]]). Or, possibly, Alex is an artificial persona created to provide [[Spy Boy]] with a perfect cover. This is one of the main ethical questions explored by the series, in its more serious moments.
* [[Spy Couple]]
* [[Spy Couple]]
* [[Spy Glasses]]: Alex's goggles.
* [[Spy Glasses]]: Alex's goggles.
* [[Spy Tux Reveal]]
* [[Spy Tux Reveal]]
* [[Spy-Versus-Spy]]
* [[Spy-Versus-Spy]]
* [[Surveillance As the Plot Demands]]: Either it gets more silly or more awesome every single time.
* [[Surveillance as the Plot Demands]]: Either it gets more silly or more awesome every single time.
* [[Teen Superspy]]
* [[Teen Superspy]]
* [[Time Skip]]: 1 year in Final Exam.
* [[Time Skip]]: 1 year in Final Exam.
* [[Totally Not a Spy]]: Guy Mcguffin.
* [[Totally Not a Spy]]: Guy Mcguffin.
* [[Two-Person Love Triangle]]: Alex is attracted to Bombshell, but she's only interested in Spy Boy. Becomes a ''double'' [[Two-Person Love Triangle]] when Spy Girl shows up and decides Alex. Too bad Spy Boy is the only one interested.
* [[Two-Person Love Triangle]]: Alex is attracted to Bombshell, but she's only interested in Spy Boy. Becomes a ''double'' [[Two-Person Love Triangle]] when Spy Girl shows up and decides Alex. Too bad Spy Boy is the only one interested.
* [[Unreliable Narrator]]: It resulted that {{spoiler|the first meeting with Spy Girl in #10 was a complete fabrication by M.A.N.G.A.}}
* [[Unreliable Narrator]]: It resulted that {{spoiler|the first meeting with Spy Girl in #10 was a complete fabrication by M.A.N.G.A.}}
* [[Un Installment]]: The series skips issue number 13, but the miniseries The MANGA Affair published later contains issues 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3.
* [[Un Installment]]: The series skips issue number 13, but the miniseries The MANGA Affair published later contains issues 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3.
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Butch's relationship with Alex, Spy Girl and Bombshell.
* [[Vitriolic Best Buds]]: Butch's relationship with Alex, Spy Girl and Bombshell.
** Bombshell and Spygirl are literally two breaths from killing each other most of the time.
** Bombshell and Spygirl are literally two breaths from killing each other most of the time.
* [[What Happened to The Mouse?]]: BQ and Taketmatesa are never see or heard again after beeing hit by a Wave in the Marispan casino.
* [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]: BQ and Taketmatesa are never see or heard again after beeing hit by a Wave in the Marispan casino.
* [[We Have Reserves]]: This seems the default reaction to all the enemies of Spyboy, sending henchmen to their death without blinking and eye {{spoiler|and the response of M.A.N.G.A to Spygirl demise}}
* [[We Have Reserves]]: This seems the default reaction to all the enemies of Spyboy, sending henchmen to their death without blinking and eye {{spoiler|and the response of M.A.N.G.A to Spygirl demise}}
* [[Widget Series|Widget Nation]]: While the rest of the world of Spyboy is quite... colorful, the mission of Japan is flatout bizarre. Three words {{spoiler|Giant Iron Chef Mecha}}
* [[Widget Series|Widget Nation]]: While the rest of the world of Spyboy is quite... colorful, the mission of Japan is flatout bizarre. Three words {{spoiler|Giant Iron Chef Mecha}}
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Dark Horse Comics]]
[[Category:Dark Horse Comics]]
[[Category:Spy Boy]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:US Canadian Comics]]
[[Category:Comic Books]]

Latest revision as of 23:55, 25 March 2022

You'll be seeing a lot of this.

Spy Boy is a comic book series created in 1999 by writer Peter David and artists Pop Mhan and Norman Lee, and published by Dark Horse Comics.

The series centers around Alex Fleming, an ordinary teenage boy who is secretly part of a project to create the world's most deadly and effective secret agent. Unfortunately, while the world's various spy agencies are after him for reasons of their own, Alex himself is unaware of his super-ruthless sleeper personna. The adventures start when Alex's Spyboy identity is activated, throwing Spyboy into various death-defying situations around the world while Alex struggles to maintain relevance against his super-capable alter ego.

The basic idea for Spy Boy came from Dark Horse, who hired Peter David to develop the concept, including the cast and their back-stories. David has lamented that the ideas he had for the series' run were not completed, as Dark Horse did not continue with it.

A crossover 3-issue miniseries, Spy Boy / Young Justice, was published in 2002. Also Spy Boy: Final Exam, a 4-issue spin-off limited series by the same authors, was published in 2004.

Tropes used in Spy Boy include:
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