History ComicBook / Alone

* {{Bowdlerization}}: In the official English translation of the first volume, there was a panel of showing Terry fully naked, which was edited so that he was wearing [[DigitalBikini underwear]].

* EldritchAbomination: The Dark Building appearing at the center of the Zone is horribly creepy and ominous, covered with (if not made of) billions of insects, and having God knows what inside of it. It is implied to be sentient and in control of the Red Zone. [[spoiler: It is in fact a Nadir of the Fifteenth Family, far and away the most powerful of the Last Families, spawned from the Midnight Child's subconscious. It takes this form because she died by jumping off a building.]]

* YourMindMakesItReal: [[spoiler:Anton theorizes that Limbo is formed by the collective consciousness of all the children who entered it after death.]]
** [[spoiler: Saul's MindOverMatter powers are implied to be in fact this.]]
** [[spoiler: Dodji can mimick actions with real results (firing real bullets by making a "finger gun") or make attacks miss and weapons fall by wanting to talk things out. Like Saul, it depends on how much he - and how many others - trusts in himself, with huge RealityWarper potential.]]
** [[spoiler:Terry builds "machines to make miracles" and his power makes them work.]]

** [[spoiler: [[BigBadFriend Camille will always treat the other children of Fortville as her friends and want them by her side]]. If only she wasn't so intent on corrupting them or cutting them limb from limb... Coincidentally, their refusal to treat her as an enemy leads them to saving her.]]

** [[TheAntiChrist The "Midnight Child", (''Enfant-Minuit'' in French) anointed by the forces of darkness]], is covered with red insects usually associated with cuteness (ladybugs and butterflies) but here creepy as heck. [[spoiler: Not unsurprisingly, considering that she was the sweetest character of all before her FaceHeelTurn.]]
** Spiders for the "[[BadassLongrobe Mad Master]]" ("Maître Fou" in French), who hides hundreds of them in the cage he wears on his head. [[spoiler: Or rather, which replaces his severed head, with the spiders being part of him.]]

** [[spoiler:Alexandre and Selene, who try to kill the Children of Fortville. But only because they want to prevent another war between the Last Families and the First Families. They think that one of them will become the "Midnight-Child", aka the [[TheChosenOne Champion]] of the Last Families.]]

** [[spoiler: The creepy "Mad Master" is in fact a mentor of sorts, trying to train Dodji. Each seemingly absurd and sadistic trials he inflicts is in fact a disguised lesson.]]
* BadassPacifist: [[spoiler:Dodji]] becomes this by the time of the Fourth Cycle, they will avoid violence as much as possible, but they '''will''' force you to listen, whether you want it or not.

** The Third Cycle has [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil Saul]] who is about to [[TyrantTakesTheHelm start a brutal military dictatorship in Neosalem]], the "[[TheBlank Mad Master]]" who abducts Dodji for his sadistic entertainment, and the "[[HumanoidAbomination Midnight Child]]" who takes control of the Last Families and prepares them for a new War of Limbo. [[spoiler: With the latter two being restored to normal at the end, only Saul remains a threat.]] And the aforementioned {{Eldritch Abomination}}s have yet to enter the fray...

* BladeEnthusiast: The fittingly named "Master of Knives". He wears dozens of them on his coat and is very good at fighting with them or at throwing them.

* BrattyHalfPint: Terry often acts like a brat, at least during the First Cycle. He is forced to grow up by the trial he has to face, and all traces of it is gone by the Third Cycle.
* BreakingTheFellowship: By the start of the Third Cycle, the main 5 characters are separated from each other. [[spoiler:Dodji is imprisoned by the Mad Master, Leila is recaptured by the First Families, Ywan finds himself in another town after drowning while trying to escape First Family soldiers and reviving, Terry is on the run with the Master of Knives, and Camille has become the Midnight Child, TheAntichrist of the Last Families. Fortunately, they are all back together at the end of the cycle, ready to assume their true role as leaders of the Mediators.]]

* TheChosenOne: The Last Families and the First Families each have their champion, a child with enormous supernatural powers. [[spoiler:Saul]] is revealed in the seventh book to be the champion of the First Families. In the ninth album, we learn the identity of the "Midnight-Child" of the Last Families. [[spoiler:It's Camille]].

* CowardlyLion: Yvan is not as brave as Dodji or Leila. But, when push comes to shove, he's capable of being just as heroic. By the end of the Third Cycle, he is able to face TheDragon to [[TheAntiChrist the "Midnight Child"]] then the "Midnight Child" themselves.

* DragonInChief: Toussaint is this to Saul, the Imperator. He feigns obedience to bring out the worst in him, advocating for a military dictatorship and pushing him from a TotalitarianUtilitarian right into TheCaligula zone. [[spoiler: And by awakening the "Midnight Child" instead of sealing them, he kickstarts the War of Limbo that could still be avoided/delayed.]]
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Book 14 ends on TheReveal that Camille actually launched herself off a building the night she originally died.]]
* EldritchAbomination: The Dark Building appearing at the center of the Zone is horribly creepy and ominous, covered with (if not made of) billions of insects, and having God knows what inside of it. It is implied to be sentient and in control of the Red Zone. [[spoiler: It is in fact a Nadir of the Fifteenth Family, far and away the most powerful of the Last Families, spawned from the Midnight Child's subconscious. It takes this form because she died by throwing herself from a building.]]
** Its counterpart, [[spoiler:the Aeon has yet to appear, but it is stated to be equally Lovecraftian and dangerous. It is spawned from the Imperator's subconscious.]]

* EvilMeScaresMe: [[spoiler:After finally returning to normal self, [[TheHeart Camille]] compares the time she spent as [[TheAntiChrist the Midnight-Child]] as a waking nightmare. Though what made the experience most terrifying was that she could feel that it was still herself in control, just a more extreme version.]]

* FantasticCasteSystem: The First Families use a rigid social structure where the numbers of 6 (aristocrats), 7 (commoners), and 8 (slaves) are given to the incoming/[[spoiler:newly dead]] children based on their success in the game of trials.
* {{Fauxshadowing}}: [[spoiler:As the story goes on, Dodji is led to believe that he is the "Midnight-Child", the ChosenOne of the Last Families.]] But it ultimately turns out to be a RedHerring hiding the reveal that [[spoiler: it was Camille]].

** Even though at first glance, we are led to believe that [[spoiler:Dodji]] is the "Midnight-Child" of the Last Families, some clues actually point towards [[spoiler:Camille]] as soon as album four.

** The revelations that the children were [[spoiler:DeadAllAlong]] and [[spoiler:the entire "World of Limbo" saga of the First Families and the Last Families]] were hinted at the second volume of the series, where Yvan remembered him being with his parents getting into the car the night to run away from "Fifteen Families" before everyone disappeared [[spoiler:without realizing that he and his parents died in a car crash]].

** The biggest one is that of [[spoiler: The Midnight Child themselves, though they remain linked to the Lower Lands.]]
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Saul alternates between an enemy of the children of Fortville and a reluctant ally. [[spoiler:The reveal that his crush Camille was the "Midnight-Child" all along and his subsequent JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope cements his status as an antagonist.]] Having [[KnightTemplar Toussaint]] as his most trusted advisor does little wonder to his worsening mental state.

* JustifiedExtraLives: [[spoiler: Being dead, the children who die will reappear after a while, though they are well aware that it can end.]]

* LonelyRichKid: Yvan came from a wealthy family, which his father happened to be a banker. Though he has schoolmates, his parents are often absent as they were too busy. [[spoiler: At least he was with his parents in a car accident during the "Night of Angels" during which the Children of Fortville died and went to the World of Limbo]].

* TheManInFrontOfTheMan: Toussaint, yes him again, invokes it, openly (though out of earshot) describing Saul as a brat he shapes and use as he sees fit, by "teaching him how the war must be fought". However, his control over him is less strong than he thinks.

** [[spoiler: Melchior, once freed]] becomes the poster child for the trope, explaining everything that was left to know about the Fifteen Families, the BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil, and most importantly the "Tiger-Striped Souls" and their PersonalityPowers.

* PersonalityPowers: Each "Tiger-Striped Soul wields a powerful ability, fitting their character.

** Edwige and Leila both show an interest in Dodji. In the seventh album, they both kiss him.

** At the end of the ninth album, we finally learn that [[spoiler: the "Messiah" and champion of the Last Families is '''not''' Dodji, as we were led to assume, but Camille]].

* SealedGoodInACan: [[spoiler: Melchior's head is imprisoned inside a chest, only accessible by the "Mad Master".]]

* SuperPoweredEvilSide: [[spoiler: It would be easier to think of the "Midnight Child" as a separate entity, but a restored Camille is adamant that it was this, and is understandably shaken.]]
* ThinkingUpPortals: The villainous "Mad Master" owns a key that can open doors out of thin air, leading to wherever he wants. [[spoiler: Dodji turns the tables on him by stealing it from him.]]

* VideoGameLives: [[spoiler:Turns out that being already dead, whenever someone dies they merely respawn somewhere else a bit later... However, while [[SanitySlippage Saul]] views it as ResurrectiveImmortality, the others are well aware that sooner or later they will get OutOfContinues.]]

** The 13th Album explains the real nature of the Eighth Family and the titular "Tiger-Striped Souls", [[spoiler: neither "good" nor "evil" and with the potential to bring peace between the First and Last Families.]]

* JustifiedExtraLives: [[spoiler:Being dead, the children who die will reappear after a while, though they are well aware that it can end.]]

** Enzo's father started beating him up for little reason after losing his job to the Covid 19 Pandemic. [[OffingTheOffspring To the point of eventually killing him.]] Yes, it's as disturbing as it sounds.
* AChildShallLeadThem: Justified and enforced. Since there are no adults anymore, some children take their place and assume the leadership. Saul leads a group of children and thinks he should be the only leader, even if it means getting rid of the competition. Dodji also become a leader, even though he doesn't want to. The leaders of the First Families are children too and [[spoiler: want Saul to become the champion of their empire]].

** Edwige is fearsome with a bat in hand, but her violent nature makes her somewhat of a deconstruction of the trope.

* AdaptationalVillainy: Saul is far worst in TheFilmOfTheBook than his comicbook counterpart. In the movie, his racism is far more explicit. He nonchalantly kills [[spoiler:the Master of Knives]] when the latter [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlives his usefulness]]. And his crush for Camille is displayed in a very creepy way. [[spoiler:At one point, he locks her in a cage.]]
* AffablyEvil: The Last Families, which contrasts with the First Families' restrained attitude and their rigid FantasticCasteSystem.
** Anyone corrupted by the Last Families become monstrous and willing to expand their ranks on hapless victims, but they keep treating the children as friends and playground buddies.
** [[spoiler: [[BigBadFriend Camille will always treat the other children of Fortville as her friends and want them by her side]]. If only she wasn't so intent on corrupting them or cutting them limb from limb... Coincidentally, their refusal to treat her as an enemy lead them to saving her.]]

* ImprobableInfantSurvival: Ultimately PlayedWith and {{Subverted}}. [[spoiler:It turns out that the children were all DeadAllAlong. However, in the World of Limbo, since they are already dead, they can't die again. Those who die always come back.]] It's later revealed, however, [[spoiler:that it's possible to die for real in the World of Limbo.]]

* VideoGameLives: [[spoiler:Being dead, the children who die will reappear after a while, though they are well aware that it can end.]]

** [[spoiler: Dodji's power enables him to imitate actions with real results (firing real bullets by mimicking a gun with his fingers) and neutralizing a weapon just by wanting to talk things out. Like Saul, it depends on how much he - and how many others - trusts in himself, with serious RealityWarper potential.]]

** [[spoiler:Alexandre and Selene, who try to kill the Children of Campton. But only because they want to prevent another war between the Last Families and the First Families. They think that one of them will become the "Midnight-Child", aka the [[TheChosenOne Champion]] of the Last Families.]]

** [[spoiler: The creepy "Mad Master" is in fact a mentor of sorts, trying to train Dodji. Each seemingly absurd and sadistic trials he inflicts is in a disguised lesson.]]
* BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil: [[spoiler: The true role of the Eighth Family, whose real name is the Mediators, is to keep it intact. [[FallenHero Melchior]] prepared to become its Champion, until his disappearance. The other Families would rather avoid it, keeping them as slaves under their control.]]

* BreakingTheFellowship: By the start of the third cycle, the main 5 characters are separated from each other. [[spoiler:Dodji is imprisoned by the Mad Master, Leila is recaptured by the First Families, Ywan finds himself in another town after drowning while trying to escape First Family soldiers and reviving, Terry is on the run with the Master of Knives, and Camille has become the Midnight Child, TheAntichrist of the Last Families. Fortunately, they are all back together at the end of the cycle, ready to assume their true role as leaders of the Mediators.]]

** Cruelly played with in Saul's case. He first mellows out due to [[LoveInterest Camille]]'s PositiveFriendInfluence, and starts to respect the Children of Compton during their EnemyMine to escape the Lower Lands. Alas, he is promoted leader of the [[LightIsNotGood First Families]]. Just as it seems that Camille's pleas strike a chord, he meets [[TheCorrupter Toussaint]] and spirals FromBadToWorse.

** [[spoiler: The FiveManBand is revealed to be "Tiger-Striped Souls", children neither Light nor Dark with vast individual powers. Furthermore, Dodji is their champion, destined to end the conflict between both factions and to open the Gates of Heaven.]]

* DefectorFromDecadence: [[spoiler: Octave and Joachim join the rebels of the Eighth Family, out of disgust for what Neosalem is becoming under Saul and Toussaint. By the start of the Fourth Cycle, Isaure, Siegfried and Diane, the most ReasonableAuthorityFigure of the Ruling Council have deserted in turn.]]

* EldritchAbomination: The Dark Building appearing at the center of the Zone is horribly creepy and ominous, covered with (if not made of) billions of insects, and having God knows what inside of it. It is implied to be sentient and in control of the Red Zone. [[spoiler: It is in fact a Nadir of the Fifteenth Family, an extremely powerful ability that became independant from its wielder and the mightiest of the Last Families. It is born from the Midnight Child's spirit and takes this form because she died by throwing herself from a tall building.]]
** Its counterpart, [[spoiler:the Aeon has yet to appear and is stated to be equally Lovecraftian and dangerous.]]
* EldritchLocation: The Lower Lands (les Terres Basses in French), stronghold of the Last Families. They are implied to be [[GeniusLoci sentient]].

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Toussaint is a cruel and implacable KnightTemplar, as violent as the Last Families without the AffablyEvil package. [[spoiler: By revealing Camille as the "Midnight Child, he enables her to take her throne and ignite the war. Lucious points this out, but Toussaint does not care as he wants the war to happen.]]
* HeelFaceTurn: The Master of Knives, the antagonist of the second album, turns out to be [[spoiler: a child with an unspecified mental illness, who attacked the heroes because he thought they were a threat to the baby girl he was protecting. At the end, they let him go and he becomes an ally in his subsequent appearances.]]

*

* LonelyRichKid: Yvan came from a wealthy family, which his father happened to be a banker. Though he has schoolmates, his parents are often absent as they were too busy. [[spoiler: At least he was with his parents in a car accident during the night where he and the children went to World of Limbo/died]].

* MoralityPet: Camille, for Saul, doubling as PuppyLove. Even discussed in-universe at one point, when Camille points out that Saul seems less harsh when she's with him. Sadly, by the time of the Fourth Cycle it no longer works.

* NiceGirl:
** [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Camille]] is the nicest of the group.
** Also Zoe, who is met in the third album and later joins the group.

* PersonalityPowers: Each "Tiger-Striped Soul" wields a powerful ability, fitting their character.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Diane is the most willing to welcome the Children of Compton and to explore new theories about their predicament, warning against ruling through fear and worrying about the WarHawk Magisters. Lucius is this as well, to a lesser extent.

** The thirteenth album introduces the titular "[[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil Tiger-Striped Souls]]."

* DefectorFromDecadence: [[spoiler: Octave and Joachim join the rebels of the Eighth Family, out of disgust for what Neosalem is becoming under Saul and Toussaint.]]
* DragonInChief: Toussaint is fully loyal to Saul, who is much more powerful and does rule the First Families. But he is the one who advocates for a military dictatorship and brings the worst in him, pushing him from a TotalitarianUtilitarian right into TheCaligula zone. [[spoiler: And by awakening the "Midnight Child" instead of sealing them, he kickstarts the War of Limbo that could still be avoided/delayed.]]
* EldritchAbomination: The Dark Building appearing at the center of the Zone is horribly creepy and ominous, covered with (if not made of) billions of insects, and having God knows what inside of it. It is implied to be sentient and in control of the Red Zone. [[spoiler: It is in fact a Nadir of the Fifteenth Family, an extremely powerful ability that became independant from its wielder and the mightiest of the Last Families. Its counterpart, the Aeon has yet to appear and is stated to be equally Lovecraftian and dangerous.]]

* MindOverMatter: Saul develops extremely powerful telekinesis as TheChosenOne of the First Families. It is hinted that he would be a full-fledged RealityWarper at full capacity.
* MoralityPet: Camille, for Saul, doubling as PuppyLove. Even discussed in-universe at one point, when Camille points out that Saul seems less harsh when she's with him.
* MrExposition: Several people explain our hero what is going on.

** [[spoiler:Terry's power in a nutshell.]]

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: The highest in the First Families and lowest in the Last Families are the most powerful children in their side. [[spoiler: Justified in that every children appearing in Limbo has a dormant power, with only the mightiest developing, for better or worst, while the other are assimilated by the Limbo World.]]

** Implied to be the case with Edwige's parents, if the bruises on her back are any indication. That would explain [[AmbiguousDisorder her destructive behaviour]].

** Edwige is fearsome with a bat in hand, but the violence caused by her AmbiguousDisorder makes her somewhat of a deconstruction of the trope.

* AmbiguousDisorder:
** It's clearly shown that the Master of Knives has a mental illness, [[spoiler:with his inability to talk, the violence he can show and his reasoning which is sometimes more of a young child, in spite of the fact that he's a teenager.]] But what he has is not clear.
** Also Edwige, who can be really violent and likes to havoc apartments ForTheLulz.

[[caption-width-right:350:The [[FireForgedFriends children of Fortville]]. From left to right: [[BrattyHalfPint Terry]], [[TheLancer Leila]], [[TheLeader Dodji]], [[TheChick Camille]] and [[TheSmartGuy Yvan]].]]

* AffablyEvil: Anyone corrupted by the Last Families become monstrous and willing to expand their ranks on hapless victims, but they keep treating the children as friends and playground buddies.

** Between Camille and Saul.

''Seuls'' (''Alone'') is an on-going Franco-Belgian comic series, written by Fabien Vehlmann and drawn by Bruno Gazzotti. Its first volume was published in January 2006, with a release schedule of one volume per year. It is currently composed of thirteen volumes divided into three complete cycles, and, according to the authors, should amount to a total of twenty volumes.

''Seuls'' follows the adventures of a group of five children [[note]]Dodji, Leila, Terry, Camille, and Yvan[[/note]] from a fictional town named Campton (Fortville in French), who wake up one day to discover that everyone else has disappeared. All the adults are gone, and the only other living creatures they meet are animals and, later on, other children. Of course, the heroes attempt to discover what happened, while also trying to survive by themselves. There are many dangers to be faced, from animals gone wild to rival groups of children.