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If this family seems to bear an uncanny resemblance to Creator/RayBradbury's eldritch Elliots, it's apparently pure coincidence. Addams created his family in about 1938, while the Elliotts first appeared in ''Mademoiselle'', in a story called "Homecoming" in 1946 -- which Addams illustrated. They wanted to get together on a collaboration, but it never happened. You may read about the Elliotts and see Addams' original illustration in Bradbury's 2001 anthology ''From The Dust Returned''.

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If this family seems to bear an uncanny resemblance to Creator/RayBradbury's eldritch Elliots, it's apparently pure coincidence.no accident. Addams created his family in about 1938, while the Elliotts first appeared in ''Mademoiselle'', in a story called "Homecoming" in 1946 -- which Addams illustrated. They wanted to get together on a collaboration, but it never happened. You may read about the Elliotts and see Addams' original illustration in Bradbury's 2001 anthology ''From The Dust Returned''.
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For many, ''many'' years, Creator/CharlesAddams drew single-panel cartoons for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker''. While these were standalone (and usually quite macabre) gag-a-day jokes, there were a few recurring characters: a creepy family of loners who were dark opposites of the normal American family. The first members of the family shown were the mother, the butler, and the "Thing", making their debut in [[http://comicsalliance.com/files/2016/01/addams-02.jpg this cartoon.]]

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For many, ''many'' years, Creator/CharlesAddams drew single-panel cartoons for ''Magazine/TheNewYorker''. While these were standalone (and usually quite macabre) gag-a-day gag-a-week jokes, there were a few recurring characters: a creepy family of loners who were dark opposites of the normal American family. The first members of the family shown were the mother, the butler, and the "Thing", making their debut in [[http://comicsalliance.com/files/2016/01/addams-02.jpg this cartoon.]]
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If this family seems to bear an uncanny resemblance to Creator/RayBradbury's eldritch Elliots, it's apparently pure coincidence. Addams created his family in about 1938, while the Elliotts first appeared in ''Mademoiselle'', in a story called "Homecoming" in 1946 -- which Addams illustrated. They wanted to get together on a collaboration, but it never happened. You may read about the Elliotts and see Addams' original illustration in Bradbury's 2001 anthology ''From The Dust Returned''.

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* AmbiguouslyHuman: The whole family, considering how much inedible materials they're shown to enjoy eating, but especially the Thing, who is a crouching figure that peers out at the family from different hiding places in the house.
** Also, they will sometimes appear alongside big groups of other people, presumably extended family, whose anatomy is often inhumanly bizarre.

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* AmbiguouslyHuman: The whole family, considering how much inedible materials they're shown to enjoy eating, but especially the Thing, who is a crouching figure that peers out at the family from different hiding places in the house.
**
house. Also, they will sometimes appear alongside big groups of other people, presumably extended family, whose anatomy is often inhumanly bizarre.
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* BanisterSlide: Done by the daughter in [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysf_i6peWB0/UX4OBRMGoiI/AAAAAAAAtUc/AWzu_ib1mMs/s640/charles+addams.jpg this cartoon]].
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* TheNameless: None of the family members have names; they were only given names for the TV series. Interestingly, extended relatives of the family avert this and are referenced by name, such as Uncle Eimar and Uncle Cosimo.

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* TheNameless: NoNameGiven: None of the family members have names; they were only given names for the TV series. Interestingly, extended relatives of the family avert this and are referenced by name, such as Uncle Eimar and Uncle Cosimo.
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[[folder:Other Recurring Characters in the ''New Yorker'' Cartoons]]
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* [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3d/f7/4d/3df74d1787499a0e2dfbf230dcff5f02--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg A blonde girl with flowers in her hair]] appeared in a few cartoons and artwork, probably inspiring the character of Ophelia in the TV series.

* [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/38/69/56386976a70b9a7d52e38efa804d218f--addams-family-cartoon-the-addams-family.jpg A short, hairy creature]]. He only appeared in the one cartoon, but was subsequently depicted with the family in much of Addams's cover art. Inspired by Cousin Itt from the TV show (see the entry for Canon Immigrant below).

* The "Wall-Eyed Couple": [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/ed/15/c7/ed15c75d6c3ed180b84dc6c7202cb2e2--charles-addams-cartoons-adams-family.jpg A bald man with bulging eyes and a blank smile and a short woman with scraggly hair and a nervous smile.]] In the cartoon shown, they even have a baby. They are shown visiting the family a lot.

* A weird, cocoon-like... thing that has formed in a tree. It first appeared in [[https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1HxLB6ctIdo/VDSv-zK4ANI/AAAAAAAAk-8/BMfGAI90-SM/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-10-07%2Bat%2B11.20.39%2BPM.png this]] cartoon, unrelated to the family. But then, it started to appear in the background of many of the family's scenes, such as [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CRjiU3czL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg this one]].

* Disembodied hands reaching out from strange places had appeared in Addams's art before, but they were connected with the family when one cartoon showed two arms reaching out of a phonograph to change the records (see the page image). These were [[CompositeCharacter givien the Thing's name and role]] in the TV show.

* The Baby. In a couple of cartoons, the mother is said to be pregnant. According to the KnittingPregnancyAnnouncement, it will have four legs, and if it's a boy it will be given "a Biblical name, like Cain or Ananias." It was never referenced again, which is understandable as the cartoons' continuity was loose, but it did inspire Pubert in Addams Family Values.

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* DIYDentistry: Parodied in a cartoon which has the daughter sitting in a chair with a string running from her mouth to a creepy-looking trapdoor in the floor.
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* ChristmasCarolers: A [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.jpg classic cartoon]] (replicated at the start of ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' movie) has the Family preparing to drop boiling oil onto a group of carolers gathered at the front door of their house.

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* ChristmasCarolers: A [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.[[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0c/53/a3/0c53a3c9f87bd0182e99e8f7c1251853.jpg classic cartoon]] (replicated at the start of ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' movie) has the Family preparing to drop boiling oil onto a group of carolers gathered at the front door of their house.
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* FashionDissonance: The [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/addamsfamily/images/0/08/Af_my_crowd.png/revision/latest?cb=20160929005324 cover illustration]] for Addams's 1970 book ''My Crowd'' depicts the family in hip, "mod" attire of the era.

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* FashionDissonance: The [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/addamsfamily/images/0/08/Af_my_crowd.png/revision/latest?cb=20160929005324 cover illustration]] for Addams's 1970 book ''My Crowd'' depicts the family in hip, colorful "mod" attire of the era.
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* FashionDissonance: The [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/addamsfamily/images/0/08/Af_my_crowd.png/revision/latest?cb=20160929005324 cover illustration]] for Addams' 1970 book ''My Crowd'' depicts the family in hip, "mod" attire of the era.

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* FashionDissonance: The [[http://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/addamsfamily/images/0/08/Af_my_crowd.png/revision/latest?cb=20160929005324 cover illustration]] for Addams' Addams's 1970 book ''My Crowd'' depicts the family in hip, "mod" attire of the era.
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* PutOnABus: Then-''New Yorker'' editor William Shawn wanted nothing to do with characters that had appeared on so vulgar a medium as television, so for a while Addams's cartoons in the magazine were family-free.

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* PutOnABus: Then-''New Yorker'' editor William Shawn wanted nothing to do with characters that had appeared on so vulgar a medium as television, so for a while Addams's cartoons in the magazine were family-free.Family-free.
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* FamilyValuesVillain: The parents a caring of their family, whatever else they are.

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* FamilyValuesVillain: The parents a are caring of toward their family, whatever else they are.
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* ChristmasCarolers: A [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.jpg classic cartoon]] (replicated at the start of ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' movie) has the Family preparing to drop boiling oil onto a group of carolers in front of their house.

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* ChristmasCarolers: A [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.jpg classic cartoon]] (replicated at the start of ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'' movie) has the Family preparing to drop boiling oil onto a group of carolers in gathered at the front door of their house.
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* AmbiguouslyBrown: The father and the grandmother. You can't always tell, but it's especially noticeable in [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5c/5f/f9/5c5ff9f99700cbc5f974d6d3d94ed33a--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg this Christmas cartoon]] and [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CRjiU3czL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg this cover]].

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* AmbiguouslyBrown: The father and the grandmother. You can't always tell, but it's especially noticeable in [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5c/5f/f9/5c5ff9f99700cbc5f974d6d3d94ed33a--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg this Christmas cartoon]] and [[https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CRjiU3czL._SX398_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg this book cover]].
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* CoolUncle: The uncle has fun with the kids by [[http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4002/4654750589_a0c014ee2a_z.jpg taking them fishing with dynamite.]]
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* StuffBlowingUp: The uncle believes that using dynamite is [[http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4002/4654750589_a0c014ee2a_z.jpg the way to fish.]]
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* PerkyGoth: Both the father and uncle act gleeful and upbeat, despite their dark and creepy attire.
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* BadassAdorable: The daughter can withstand poisons and poison her brother right back, and also apparently get out of being ''walled up alive'' unscathed.
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* HouseFey: The Thing appears to be this sort of creature.
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* BigScrewedUpFamily: Played with. On the one hand, they're often shown having fun together and being content... on the other hand, they do have friction at times, it's not uncommon for the kids to make attempts on each other's life, and their encounters with the outside world often seem to end with unpleasent fates for the outsiders...

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* BigScrewedUpFamily: Played with. On the one hand, they're often shown having fun together and being content... on the other hand, they do have friction at times, it's not uncommon for the kids to make attempts on each other's life, and their encounters with the outside world often seem to end with unpleasent unpleasant fates for the outsiders...


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* ABoyAGirlAndABabyFamily: Downplayed. The boy and girl are frequently seen, but the baby is only hinted at on occasion.


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* SilentSnarker: The butler is not unknown to sport a raised eyebrow or skeptical expression.
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* EldritchLocation: The family's property seems to be one. It has a [[HauntedHouse haunted]] OldDarkHouse full of [[SpookyPainting spooky paintings]] and [[HouseOfBrokenMirrors broken mirrors]], AlienGeometries, a CreepyCemetery, a GardenOfEvil, and the whole thing is somewhat both a {{Mordor}} and a HalloweenTown. See the entries on those tropes for more details.

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* EldritchLocation: The family's property seems to be one. It has a [[HauntedHouse haunted]] OldDarkHouse full of [[SpookyPainting spooky paintings]] and [[HouseOfBrokenMirrors broken mirrors]], small AlienGeometries, a CreepyCemetery, a GardenOfEvil, and the whole thing is somewhat both a {{Mordor}} and a HalloweenTown. See the entries on those tropes for more details.



* TheFamilyThatSlaysTogether: A very happy family who enjoy inflicting harm. They [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.jpg pour boiling oil on carolers]], [[http://theaddamsfamilymusical.com/img/cartoon_3.jpg set traps for the postman]], [[http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b5/fb/ed/b5fbedcdeca512d6daa63aaadf05dbd8.jpg encourage bad behavior at school]], [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/80/39/33803985d7787791385916f7e2a74dc5--charles-addams-humor-negro.jpg usher a car into a collision with a truck]], and [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4b/41/31/4b41317561a762131b5be560590ce6fe.jpg set traps for Santa Claus]], and [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/42/cd/88/42cd88548b97fd161549e96186c7335a--addams-family-values-the-addams-family.jpg build torture racks for fun]], and just generally value [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/5f/59/a1/5f59a1e4a9020cb4e13935077acd9955.jpg making the world a worse place]].

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* TheFamilyThatSlaysTogether: A very happy family who enjoy inflicting harm. They [[http://forbiddenplanet.blog/wp2013/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mfcv3y64pL1qf83cro2_1280.jpg pour boiling oil on carolers]], [[http://theaddamsfamilymusical.com/img/cartoon_3.jpg set traps for the postman]], [[http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b5/fb/ed/b5fbedcdeca512d6daa63aaadf05dbd8.jpg encourage bad behavior at school]], [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/80/39/33803985d7787791385916f7e2a74dc5--charles-addams-humor-negro.jpg usher a car into a collision with a truck]], and [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4b/41/31/4b41317561a762131b5be560590ce6fe.jpg set traps for Santa Claus]], and [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/42/cd/88/42cd88548b97fd161549e96186c7335a--addams-family-values-the-addams-family.jpg build torture racks for fun]], and just generally value [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/5f/59/a1/5f59a1e4a9020cb4e13935077acd9955.jpg making the world a worse place]].place]].
* FamilyValuesVillain: The parents a caring of their family, whatever else they are.



* UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/b3/b7/0cb3b73c984efd6f5b805551f8110366--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg Bats]], [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysf_i6peWB0/UX4OBRMGoiI/AAAAAAAAtUc/AWzu_ib1mMs/s640/charles+addams.jpg lizards]], and... ''[[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/7f/90/d17f908e5692cb896941c657f0934c4c--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg something]]'' lurking in the basement. The uncle is also shown to keep vultures.
* VillainProtagonist: Most of the family, as shown by many of their encounters with the outside world.

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* UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/b3/b7/0cb3b73c984efd6f5b805551f8110366--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg Bats]], [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysf_i6peWB0/UX4OBRMGoiI/AAAAAAAAtUc/AWzu_ib1mMs/s640/charles+addams.jpg lizards]], Bats, lizards, and... ''[[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/7f/90/d17f908e5692cb896941c657f0934c4c--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg something]]'' lurking in the basement. The uncle is also shown to keep vultures.
* VillainProtagonist: Most of the family, as shown by many of their unpleasant encounters with the outside world.world (unpleasant on the outside world's side).
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* SlaveGalley: The uncle is shown to have a slave galley in his motorboat.
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* BloodlessCarnage: The family's acts against outsiders are either implied or only shown ''about'' to happen. The children's sibling rivalry also seems to leave them unscathed, despite their unusually deadly methods.


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* EvilWearsBlack: Most of the family wears black whenever they're seen.


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* ExtremelyDustyHome: A given, seeing as how old and decrepit the house is.


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* {{Troll}}: The son is almost always this, and sometimes the uncle is too.
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* TheNameless: None of the family members have names; they were only given names for the TV series. Interestingly, extended relatives of the
family avert this and are referenced by name, such as Uncle Eimar and Uncle Cosimo.

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* TheNameless: None of the family members have names; they were only given names for the TV series. Interestingly, extended relatives of the
the family avert this and are referenced by name, such as Uncle Eimar and Uncle Cosimo.
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* BreakoutCharacter: They were all this, which led to all the adaptations.



* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: All of them.



* SlasherSmile: The boy is often shown sporting one. Occasionally the uncle as well.



* UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/b3/b7/0cb3b73c984efd6f5b805551f8110366--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg Bats]], [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysf_i6peWB0/UX4OBRMGoiI/AAAAAAAAtUc/AWzu_ib1mMs/s640/charles+addams.jpg lizards]], and... ''[[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/7f/90/d17f908e5692cb896941c657f0934c4c--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg something]]'' lurking in the basement.

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* UnusualPetsForUnusualPeople: [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0c/b3/b7/0cb3b73c984efd6f5b805551f8110366--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg Bats]], [[http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ysf_i6peWB0/UX4OBRMGoiI/AAAAAAAAtUc/AWzu_ib1mMs/s640/charles+addams.jpg lizards]], and... ''[[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/7f/90/d17f908e5692cb896941c657f0934c4c--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg something]]'' lurking in the basement. The uncle is also shown to keep vultures.
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* ByTheLightsOfTheirEyes: Used to spooky effect [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/7f/90/d17f908e5692cb896941c657f0934c4c--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg in the cellar]] and [[https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/b1/28/0e/b1280e92d38364550a2363e22fe4b55a.jpg a crypt.]]
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* [[BuriedAlive Walled Up Alive]]: The son [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b5/2f/ba/b52fba93137debda2142232dbe57e00d--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg once did this to his sister.]] She seems to have gotten out just fine, though, not surprisingly considering ''this'' family.

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* [[BuriedAlive Walled Up Alive]]: The son [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b5/2f/ba/b52fba93137debda2142232dbe57e00d--adams-family-the-addams-family.jpg once did this to his sister.]] She seems to have gotten out just fine, though, not surprisingly considering that she's a member of ''this'' family.

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