History ComicBook / MouseGuard

Imagine a cross between ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'' and ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', add in some very lush illustrations, and you get ''Mouse Guard.'' This bi-monthly comic book by David Peterson is published by Creator/ArchaiaEntertainment and features [[TalkingAnimal talking mice]] in a [[MouseWorld medieval-type setting]], where there are no humans, but plenty of predators.

On the sidelines, there is a mini-series called ''Legends of the Guard.'' It takes place in an inn, where the innkeeper holds a contest for the best storyteller, promising to clear the winner's tab. The stories are written and illustrated by David Peterson's friends and co-workers, and are mostly non-canon, but offer beautiful illustrations and a good insight into the fictional culture being created. And, of course, Peterson offers some gorgeous artwork of his own, along with snippets of some of his own legends.

* MisplacedWildlife: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. David Peterson has stated he has no intention of introducing cats as he doesn't want to give the impression that there is some human town or city nearby the forest, although it's unclear if this ban includes wild cats such as bobcats or the like. He also stated he has no intention of introducing rats into the comic as they're an urban species of rodent and he doesn't want the mice to have a "big brother" species.

* ShoutOut: David Peterson has already done two of these for ''Franchise/StarWars''. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo can be seen in the crowd during the duel between Saxon and Kenzie, and on one of the Winter covers there is a miniature Millennium Falcon hidden amidst a pile of bones.

* BladeOnAStick: Gwendolyn wields a mean halberd. Spear-like weapons are also implied to be a traditional weapon for the Matriarch.

* ShoutOut: David Peterson has already done two of these for StarWars. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo can be seen in the crowd during the duel between Saxon and Kenzie, and on one of the Winter covers there is a miniature Millenium Falcon hidden amidst a pile of bones.

%%* AnimalStereotypes: Played straight and subverted with every species shown.

%%* BattleCouple:
%%** Kenzie and Sadie.
%%** Saxon and [[spoiler: Gwendolyn]].
%%* BattleInTheRain

%%* BeautyBrainsAndBrawn: At one point, Sadie, Kenzie, and Saxon, as a rare not-completely-female PowerTrio of this type.

* BigBad: [[spoiler: Midnight]] during the Fall story arc. He gathers an army and leads a violent insurrection against Lockhaven in an attempt to take over and become a tyrannic warlord.
%%* BigDamnHeroes: Celanawe, Saxon, and Kenzie have one in the last Fall issue. Lieam gets one all to himself in that same story.

** [[spoiler:The ending of Winter is another one: they got the medicine back safely, and found their traitors, but Celanwe was killed in the process]].
%%* BlackCloak: [[spoiler:Midnight]] and all the rest of the Axe wear these.

%%* BoisterousBruiser: Saxon.
%%* CannotSpitItOut: In Winter, we discover that [[spoiler:Saxon, of all mice, can't. The object of his affection? The Matriarch, Gwendolyn. He can and does by the end.]]

%%* CoolOldGuy: Celanawe, and Conrad (middle-aged, whatever).

%%* DeadpanSnarker: Lieam.
%%--> Your [[BigBad commander]] lives in a rotten log?
%%* {{Determinator}}: Lieam and Celanawe are this in moderation. Saxon is a more bull-headed example of this.

* DressingAsTheEnemy: Lieam who [[spoiler:pretends to be a part of the Axe.]]

%%* FreudianTrio: Lieam as TheEgo, Kenzie as TheSuperEgo, and Saxon as TheId. When Rand was around, he took Kenzie's place as TheSuperEgo and Kenzie was TheEgo.

%%* HeldGaze: Sadie and Kenzie realize they love each other when they have a couple of these in short succession.

%%* TheHighQueen: Gwendolyn, along with all the Matriarchs who came before her.
%%* HoldingHands: Kenzie and Sadie do this often.

%%* HotBlooded: Saxon, fitting his cloak color (red). This actually works against the group in ''Winter'', as the reason Kenzie and Sadie are separated from him is that he can't keep his mouth shut when they are accosted by the bats.

* InvoluntaryGroupSplit:
%% Happens when they discover the cave.
** In ''Winter 1152'' Kenzie, Saxon and Sadie fall into an underground cavern, forcing Lieam and Celanawe to continue on without them.

%%* LeafBoat: Sadie uses one to travel to Calogero.

%%* {{Macguffin}}: [[spoiler: The Black Axe]] functions as one in the Fall arc. Celanawe soon puts an end to that, though.
%%* ManlyTears:
%%** Lieam when [[spoiler: Celanawe is mortally wounded]].
%%**Saxon when [[spoiler: he finds his old mentor's remains in Darkheather]].
%%**Sadie's tears at [[spoiler: Conrad's death]] qualify too.

%%* {{Matriarchy}}
%%* MeaningfulFuneral: For [[spoiler: Celanawe]].

%%* MomentKiller: Saxon, particularly when it is Kenzie and Sadie having the moment.

%%* RedheadInGreen: Lieam again.
%%* RedOniBlueOni: Saxon and Kenzie. Their cloaks even match the colors!

%%* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Justified in that mice are the protagonists, and snakes generally eat mice.

%%* SecretUndergroundPassage: [[spoiler: There is one in Gwendolyn's study]].

%%* SleepCute: Kenzie and Sadie in Winter. Naturally, Saxon makes fun of them.

%%* SnowMeansDeath: The Winter 1152 cover says it all.

%%* TheSiege

%%* TwoGuysAndAGirl:
%%** Kenzie, Saxon, and Sadie again.
%%**This also goes for Celanawe, Conrad, and Em in the prequel.
* UnholyMatrimony: [[spoiler: Midnight]] promised this to [[spoiler: Abigail]] in return for [[spoiler: her]] help in defeating Lockhaven.

%%* VitriolicBestBuds: Saxon and Kenzie.