History Webcomic / BasicInstructions

* AuthorAvatar: Scott shows up as himself in the comic, and is also "Omnipresent Man" for good measure. (And despite looking the same, [[TheAce Rocket Hat]] is [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2010/1/6/how-to-kill-off-a-fictional-character.html explicitly a different person]].)

* RougeAnglesOfSatin: A frequent issue of Scott's - the comment pages typically have a number of corrections in them, and he fixes misspellings as they are pointed out to him. [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2010/2/3/how-to-correct-your-mistakes.html Lampshaded in the comic.]]
** I'll say [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2010/5/5/how-to-bother-someone-back.html this comic]] is more representative of this trope. Also serves as a TakeThatAudience.

* TheAce: Mullet-Haired Boss and Jenkins... believe themselves to be this.

* InvincibleHero: Rocket Hat. The mortal-but-badass type.

** This probably means there's another Basic Instructions book coming out soon.

A [[CutAndPasteComic cut-and-paste]] [[http://basicinstructions.net/ web-comic]] by Scott Meyer, which offers, well, basic instructions on modern living. And how to deal with moon invaders. Features cartoon/traced versions of Meyer, his wife, his friends and co-workers, random annoying strangers, moon invaders...

* StockholmSyndrome: [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2008/12/15/how-to-watch-a-movie-you-are-told-you-will-love.html Scott explains]] the {{Disney}} movie ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast''.

* InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja: One of Scott's coworkers was complaining about how her son wanted to be a ninja when he grew up. Scott spun it [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2012/1/19/how-to-help-your-child-pick-a-role-model.html in the most positive light possible]].

Falls somewhere between being a SliceOfLife and LifeEmbellished comic. Strips appear frequently on Website/{{Cracked}}. For a short time, Rick had his own spinoff series, ''Asking the Wrong Guy,'' though lack of interest led to its cancellation.

After 10 years of comic creation, Scott [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2015/7/28/how-to-announce-the-imminent-end-of-your-comic-strip.html decided to conclude the comic in July 2015]], citing repetition as the primary reason, along with a desire to focus on writing full-length novels. The final strip was posted on August 24th, 2015 and the comic then began rerunning with creator commentary added.

After 12 years of comic creation, Scott [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2015/7/28/how-to-announce-the-imminent-end-of-your-comic-strip.html decided to conclude the comic in July 2015]], citing repetition as the primary reason, along with a desire to focus on writing full-length novels. The comic then began rerunning with creator commentary added.

* CelebrityEndorsement: Scott Adams, creator of ''{{Dilbert}}'', was a great fan of this strip right from the beginning and his support and endorsement helped establish it and spread its popularity.

* DontExplainTheJoke: One of the two problems [[http://www.gocomics.com/basicinstructions/2013/10/21#.UmV1QBDwrJs here]], the other being DudeNotFunny

* EvilTwin

After 12 years of comic creation, Scott decided to conclude the comic in July 2015, citing repetition as the primary reason. The comic then began rerunning with creator commentary added.

Falls somewhere between being a SliceOfLife and LifeEmbellished comic. Strips appear frequently on Website/{{Cracked}}.

For a short time, Rick had his own spinoff series, ''Asking the Wrong Guy,'' though lack of interest led to its cancellation.

* HerCodeNameWasMarySue: Jenkins wrote a StarTrek FanFic in which "Admiral Jenkins" saves the day.

* WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer: When the Knifeketeer comes under suspicion of attempted murder, his "defense" is that he always wants to stab everyone. Turns out he thinks that "defense" is a kind of stabbing in its own right.

* BadassNormal: Rocket Hat. Played with with The Knifeketeer: he's ''effective'', but nowhere near badass.
** He isn't considered badass because heroes are judged by their recurring villains, and he has no living enemies. Except Macra Mayhem.

* HerNameWasMarySue: Jenkins wrote a StarTrek FanFic in which "Admiral Jenkins" saves the day.

Rick got his own SpinOff blog series, [[http://askingthewrongguy.com/ Asking The Wrong Guy]].

* ComicallyMissingThePoint

* TakeOurWordForIt: In every panel with Rocket Hat, he's in exactly the same pose, facing the same direction. Anything he does is described after he's off panel.

* ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne: [[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2010/4/28/how-to-fulfill-the-prophecy.html Word for word.]]

* WriterRevolt: Scott Meyer got several comments asking him to make his wife look hotter, and 'less like a lesbian'. He responded by replacing her with pictures of [[LipstickLesbian Portia de Rossi]].

* FandomNod: "[[http://basicinstructions.net/basic-instructions/2012/7/24/how-to-re-explain-details-in-a-long-running-narrative.html How To Re-explain Details In A Long-Running Narrative]]".

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: "''Jack and the Beanstalk'' teaches kids the following: sell your parents' stuff for things you want. If a deal sounds too good to be true, take it. And worst of all, "fum" rhymes with "Englishman"."