What's Shakin'

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

What's Shakin' is a fantasy webcomic by Shawn Tommelleo, creator of Coffin Comics. The story follows Coffinshaker, Nith, and Ell. Coffin, a born fire mage and last of his kind, travels with his two mage friends (ok, Nith is a battlemage, but close enough) to uncover a wicked plot to use his unique abilities to power the evil "fire god" Fred.

Tropes used in What's Shakin' include:
  • Action Girl: Ell, but only in time of need. Mostly defensive, but she can kick a butt or two.
  • Aerith and Bob: Ell, Nith, Pai... and Coffinshaker... and Fred.
  • Exclusively Evil: Pretty much just Fred. He has an irrational need to gain power and destroy.
  • Art Shift: Each flashback has a different art style.
    • Page 37 - Ell's flashback uses the old B&W animation style.
    • Page 38 - Pai's flashback uses a childish crayon style.
    • Page 39 - Nith's flashback is in a B&W manga style.
    • Page 40 - Coffin's flashback uses an old disco painting/tarnished style.
    • Page 49 - Fred's flahback has a monochrome red grunge style.
    • Page 52 & Page 53 - The Sister's flashback uses an old cartoon, like Scooby Doo kind of style.
  • Big Bad: Fred. He's just a big bad jerk.
  • Big No: Nith discovers his home has been destroyed.
  • Combat Medic: Ell.
  • Cleavage Window: Ms. Apple.
  • Cute Monster Girl: Ell and Pai.
  • Daydream Surprise: Coffinshaker does this at times where his fantasies blend into the story layout without notice.
  • Does Not Like Shoes: Coffin and Pai don't wear shoes!
  • Elemental Absorption: Fred, a fire elemental, absorbs fire magic, which is why he hunts fire mages to consume their powers.
  • Elemental Embodiment: All the elementals are called Eternals, which are embodiments a single element. The only eternal seen so far has been Fred.
  • Elemental Powers: Mages and Battlemages have the ability to use all types of magic, but excel in only one type.
    • Fire Magic: Coffinshaker, who is also the only one that can use fire magic.
    • Holy Magic: Ell and Nith use holy magic. Though Ell mostly heals, but can sometimes attack too.
    • Spirit Magic: Pai is a spirit mage, a type of mage that can gain the powers from creatures from the spirit world. Granted, she can't use these powers just yet.
    • Summon Magic: Spirit mages like Pai are able to summon their spirits in the form of "haints" aka ghosts. Of course... Pai is not able to use these powers yet.
  • Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: In contrast to typical canon, ice and water elements are weak against fire as seen in the fight against Fred.
  • Embarrassing First Name: The evil fire god's name is Fred. This is lampshaded with the heros saying, "Wow, worst villain name ever!"
  • Final Boss Preview: Fred.
  • Glass Cannon: Coffin is a fairly powerful fire mage, but without his reliance of fire, is mostly vulnerable to all other attacks. He does seem to have some bit of acrobatic skills though.
  • Impossibly Low Neckline: Ell and Pai.
  • Oh Crap: Coffin experiences this when Fred absorbs all of his fire attacks and is cornered with no way to defend himself.
  • Power Glows: Ell powers up with anger!
  • Scenery Porn: Many large panel scenes are drawn this way to emphasize something dramatic going on. Or transitional pages to help break the mood, like THIS one.
  • Silence Is Golden: The last page of every issue has absolutely no dialog or narration.
  • Southern-Fried Genius: Basically all of the mages.
  • The Speechless: Coffinshaker never speaks! Neither does Berry.
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