History Webcomic / TheZombieHunters

The story centers on a [[RagtagBunchOfMisfits motley]] but [[ShellShockedVeteran seasoned]] crew of young, government-sponsored DisasterScavengers, (the eponymous "[[SuperFunHappyThingOfDoom Zombie Hunters]]") all [[TyphoidMary carrier]] {{Zombie Infectee}}s dividing their time between coping with their [[WeHaveReserves expendable]], [[FantasticGhetto segregated]] [[FantasticCasteSystem status]] at home, and trying [[EverythingTryingToKillYou not to get bitten]] in the [[DeathWorld wastelands]] filled with [[OurZombiesAreDifferent multiple]] [[SuperPoweredMooks "species"]] of zombies. When not fighting for their lives, [[ScavengerWorld searching for salvage]] or {{loot}}ing, they're training in NewMeat, [[TokenHeroicOrc among them]] a [[HalfHumanHybrid half-zombie]] who chafes as much at having to work [[TheGenerationGap with his juniors]] as he does at their treatment of him. Alongside all this, A.R.C [[MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate doctors and scientists]] keep working to FindTheCure for TheVirus, [[TheEngineer engineers]] keep technology running, Red Halos keep order, and ordinary civilians go about their lives.

* {{Plunder}}: What DisasterScavengers wouldn't skim a little off the communal salvage? Or hide contraband [[VictoriasSecretCompartment in their bra]] to smuggle in on the sly? Or foolishly [[TooDumbToLive lead their team]] [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb into a zombie-infested]] [[ForbiddenZone Red Zone]] while looking for things to loot? "I [[HeartSymbol <3]] looting" even appears as a FunTShirt slogan ''[[RefugeInAudacity worn]]'' by a Zombie Hunter.

* TheDeadHaveEyes: A new Basilisk zombie who has had his ''entire face'' eaten off is still able to use [[EvilEye a paralyzing gaze]] on his victim, employing only his empty eye sockets.

* OurZombiesAreDifferent: There are at least seven different types of zombie, ranging from the shuffling, pathetic Crawler to the deadly efficient Hunter. Two other types have superabilities to [[EvilEye paralyze]] or incapacitate humans, and yet another exists to give a sickeningly gentle MercyKill to the suffering. Perhaps the most feared are the Berserker zombies, which have near-human intelligence, are insanely strong, and like to kill slowly and creatively.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Basilisk class of zombie sports red irises instead of the typical [[GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath white]], to denote its uniquely [[EvilEye paralyzing gaze]].

** ''HalfLife''

* Cloud Cuckoolander: Katie, again. She's always been a little off, but it's recently been revealed that [[spoiler:she's a severe PTSD-case and ''hallucinates'' zombies when frightened]]. Her style of [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=252 being]] [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=282 friendly]] is likely a result of this.

* CloudCuckoolander: Katie, again. She's always been a little off, but it's recently been revealed that [[spoiler:she's a severe PTSD-case and ''hallucinates'' zombies when frightened]]. Her style of [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=252 being]] [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=282 friendly]] is likely a result of this.

* OverTheShoulderPose: Mocked [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=425 here]].
-->Show your best sides at the same time! Spine Removal!

* UndeathlyPallor: Apart from his [[MismatchedEyes mismatched]] zombie eye, this also more subtly marks Charlie as undead.

* MismatchedEyes: Charlie. Normally he wears contacts so he doesn't freak people out, but he lost one of them during the opening sequence.

* BreakTheCutie: Apparently happened to Jenny and Katie at some point in the past.

** Katie, according to WordOfGod

* EverythingIsTryingToKillYou: Life as a Zombie Hunter is usually measured in hours--days if you're lucky.

* ForegoneConclusion: [[spoiler: Milo will die.]] We already knew this because we are introduced to him ''after'' he's died. We see him only through flashbacks. A lot of them.

* MismatchedEyes: Charlie.

* InfantImmortality: Averted hard. A short strip details a kid running away from the zombies after the initial outbreak. Eventually they find an abandoned house in the woods, the kid goes to sleep hiding under a bed and is woken by a zombie dragging him out. It's heavily implied the kid is killed.

* NoodleIncident: "The Accident" The comic is inching ever closer to explaining just how [[spoiler:Milo died]].

* EvillyAffable: Jasper

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience: Zombies get the BlackSpeech bubbles, whether or not they're being "translated" .

* BottleFairy: Sammie

* OmnidisciplinaryScientist: {{Justified}}, perhaps... there aren't a lot of scientists left.

** And [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=289 here]] to inform people about the printed comic.

* CloudCuckoolander: Katie, again. She's always been a little off, but it's recently been revealed that [[spoiler:she's a severe PTSD-case and ''hallucinates'' zombies when frightened]]. Her style of [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=252 being]] [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=273 friendly]] is likely a result of this.

* DoesntLikeGuns: [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=328 Charlie]], as seen in this sequence.

* {{Hatedom}}: Mrs. Walters, Jameson's mom, got one after [[spoiler:attacking Katie out of nowhere. To the point some ''really'' wished [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=289 Sammie or Maureen got to her first]]...]]

* MaleGaze: In-comic example [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=283 here.]]

* MentorOccupationalHazard: Was strongly, strongly implied to be the case for Megan for a long time. [[spoiler:[[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=379 Confirmed]] during the flashback arc.]]

* OverTheShoulderPose: Mocked [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=416 here]].

** ''{{Bladerunner}}''

* SlasherSmile:[[AllThereInTheManual The Manual's]] Berserker is a [[TriumphantExample/SToU Most Triumphant Example]]Charlie had one, but he got better.

* VictoriasSecretCompartment: According to Sammie, the perfect place in which to smuggle beer. Jenny tries it, but... [[{{Pettanko}} well]]...

----

* ApocalypseHow: Class 1: Human Die-Back, but only just. In this [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture near-future]] [[AfterTheEnd Post]]-ZombieApocalypse, TheVirus was a DepopulationBomb, humans are an EndangeredSpecies, and Earth is [[DeathWorld overrun]] by TheUndead. The [[FightingForSurvival struggle]] to avoid ''[[InferredHolocaust becoming]]'' a full-bore Class 2 is a driving force in the plot.
* ArtEvolution: In the early chapters, the character designs were simpler, with some {{Animesque}} stylistic conventions, particularly during comedic moments. Beginning at Chapter Three, and coinciding with the plot's turn for the [[GenreShift dark]], the designs become more realistic and the atmosphere more gritty and detailed.
* ArtShift: The details get cranked up to 11 whenever a zombie shows up. On the other hand, {{Animesque}} facefaults still manifest at given comedic moments.

** Jenny-As-Author shows up in [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=92 this strip]] to [[FlippingTheBird respond]] to readers pointing out a PlotHole.

* BaldOfAwesome:

* BewareTheNiceOnes:

* BodyCountCompetition

* CaliforniaDoubling: Romanchuk uses Sault Ste. Marie Ontario for wherever her Hunters travel.

* TheDeadHaveEyes: A new Basilisk zombie who has had his ''entire face'' eaten off is still able to use [[EvilEye a paralyzing gaze]] on his victim, employing only his empty eye sockets.

* DoomedByCanon:

* EverythingIsTryingToKillYou: Life as a Zombie Hunter is usually measured in hours--days if you're lucky.

* FantasticRacism: Jenny makes her attitude towards Charlie [[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=239 very]][[http://www.thezombiehunters.com/index.php?strip_id=253 obvious]].

* ItSeemedLikeAGoodIdeaAtTheTime: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] as a [[TitleDrop chapter title]]

* JerkAss: Jasper

* MercyKill:

* NotGoodWithPeople: As the cast page notes, Charlie has trouble understanding why pointing out the flaws in his teammates' plans doesn't get him any respect.
* OlderSidekick: The role Charlie's handlers have forced him into alongside more experienced Zombie Hunters, [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb all of whom are under thirty]]. His resentment is palpable.

* OneHeadTaller: Milo and Jenny

* {{Plunder}}: What DisasterScavengers wouldn't skim a little off the communal salvage? Or hide contraband [[VictoriasSecretCompartment in their bra]] to smuggle in on the sly? Or foolishly [[TooDumbToLive lead their team]] [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb into a zombie-infested]] [[ForbiddenZone Red Zone]] while looking for things to loot? "I [[HeartSymbol <3]] looting" even appears as a FunTShirt slogan ''[[RefugeInAudacity worn]]'' by a Zombie Hunter.

* RedEyesTakeWarning: The Basilisk class of zombie sports red irises instead of the typical [[GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath white]], to denote its uniquely [[EvilEye paralyzing gaze]].

* ShoutOut:
** ''{{Halo}}''

* SlasherSmile:[[AllThereInTheManual The Manual's]] Berserker is a [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/TriumphantExample/SToU Most Triumphant Example]]Charlie had one, but he got better.

* SourSupporter: Charlie, chafing against his position as OlderSidekick and the foolhardiness and immaturity of his more seasoned, but much ''younger'' teammates.

* TakingTheBullet: [[JustifiedTrope Justified]]. Charlie puts up an arm to block a zombie bite intended for his [[NoOneGetsLeftBehind wounded teammate]] Katie. Since he's a [[HalfHumanHybrid Half]]-[[OurZombiesAreDifferent Zombie]], it [[spoiler:[[MajorInjuryUnderreaction barely]] [[NighInvulnerable registers]] as [[OnlyAFleshWound painful]]]] to him.
* TeamDad: Charlie is a dysfunctional version towards Jenny, lecturing and yelling orders he knows will go ignored, but when his teammates are threatened, he becomes brutally efficient.

* TearOffYourFace: One MauveShirt gets his face eaten off. He is [[AndIMustScream alive and paralyzed]] during this process. He shows up in the next couple pages as a faceless zombie.

* MentorOccupationalHazard: Strongly, strongly implied in the case of Megan.

* PosthumousCharacter: [[spoiler:Milo]]

** ''DeadSpace''