Line #40 Webcomic/Deathbulge


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/treats2.png]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:"No doors were harmed in the making of this webcomic." This phrase applies to many webcomics. '''[[WellThisIsNotThatTrope Not to this one]].''']]
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4	''[[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics Deathbulge]]'' is a highly mature -- read, brilliantly immature -- comedy webcomic created by British cartoonist [[https://twitter.com/deathbulge Dan Martin]], which has been updated... ''mostly'' regularly since its [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/1 first comic]] was uploaded on June 13, 2012. The comic is characterized by outlandish hairstyles (if it's in the Scalp folder of the HairTropes page, Deathbulge has probably covered it), bowling ball heads ([[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/6 sometimes literally]]), and [[ToiletHumour humour your mother probably wouldn't approve of]].[[note]]There are many, many, ''many'' butt jokes.[[/note]]
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6	The comic initially detailed the [[SliceOfLife day-to-day exploits]] of a fictional band calling themselves Deathbulge, made up of four wackjobs- bassist Simmer, vocalist Bren, guitarist Lennox, and drummer Brovil, along with their manager, Nevin. [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/86 Emphasis on initially]], as for most of its run it has dedicated itself largely to one-off comics featuring one-off characters, with some recurring favourites such as the Baby Bin Guy and [[PunnyName Barry Friendly]]. Yes, it's that sort of webcomic.
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8	Occasionally, [[AuthorAvatar Dan himself appears in the comic]], usually accompanied by Ian the buff [[DemBones half-human half-skeleton]] fisherman (read: a skeleton who is a fisherman, and not a fisherman who specializes in skeletons).
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10	An [[RolePlayingGame RPG]] [[LicensedGame derived from the comic]] and inspired by titles such as ''[[Franchise/FinalFantasy Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[VideoGame/{{Grandia}} Grandia]]'', ''[[VideoGame/{{LISA}} LISA]]'' and ''VideoGame/{{EarthBound\|1994}}'' was released in 2023. Titled ''VideoGame/DeathbulgeBattleOfTheBands'', this game stars a metal band called Deathbulge who find themselves trapped in a cursed and rather literal battle of the bands. Please mind that this is a ''[[InNameOnly completely different]]'' Deathbulge from the aforementioned Deathbulge, made up of a guitarist named Faye, a drummer named Brov- er, ''[[{{Expy}} Briff]]''- and the aforementioned skeleton Ian on the bass guitar. Naturally, the battles and class system are entirely music-inspired, but note that it's not a RhythmGame.
11	----
12	!! ''Deathbulge'' provides examples of:
13	* AltText: A staple since [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/170 comic 170]], [[TheSwearJar Swear Jar]].
14	* ArtifactTitle: The comic ''was'' about the exploits of the band Deathbulge. They still ''exist,'' but their last appearance at the time of writing was on [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/311 November 2, 2015]]. The last time a comic was actually ''about'' them was [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/305 September 21 of that year]], and [[DontAsk don't ask]] when the last time they did band stuff was.
15	* ArtEvolution: The characters themselves have always been straightforward; it's the backgrounds Dan's really gotten ambitious with. It's not uncommon among the most recent strips to see lovely digitally-painted backdrops.
16	** Even more recently, he's also worked with a warm [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/429 digital painting]] style for whole comics, not just the scenery.
17	* ArtShift: Be thankful for Deathbulge's simple style. [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/24 It's protecting you.]]
18	--> '''Lennox:''' [[TemptingFate Why]] aren't we ''usually'' drawn like this?!!
19	--> '''Bren, now a full-bodied and very naked middle-aged man:''' Hey guys.
20	* AwesomeButImpractical: Lennox's [[BizarreInstrument pick-shaped guitar]] in the [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/1 first comic]].
21	* BadAssSanta: Arrives on the 24th day of [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/411 Deathbulge's 2017 advent calendar comic]] to, alongside a beefy Rudolph, [[spoiler: banish the chocolate dragon released by the opening of the 24th door.]]
22	* TheBartender: Staniv, who is the only staff member of his own bar.
23	* BeTheBall: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/33 Bren should freelance as a ball, he'd make more money that way.]]
24	* BigFun: The large and universally-beloved Barry Friendly embodies this. Just look at his name.
25	** Just don't try to out-friendly him. [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/419 You'll lose.]]
26	* BlackComedy: This trope is a staple. The comic is called ''Deathbulge,'' for crying out loud. Consequently the comic is often BloodyHilarious, as bloody deaths are a time-tested punchline.
27	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Happens frequently. First notable instance [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/24 here.]]
28	* BullSeeingRed: If there is a bull in the panel, it is going to headbutt something.
29	** [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/193 If you give a bull a red tablecloth, he'll probably destroy a table.]]
30	** Subverted [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/159 here]], when a matador getting no reaction from a bull is told he was flaunting his cape the wrong way. When he flips it, he takes it from a yellow side to... ''another'' yellow side, this one reading [[YourMom "YO MOMMA."]] He is [[TemptingFate promptly]] [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice gored]], because that's the kind of comic this is.
31	** In a later comic, one bull [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/220 headbutts a kid wearing a red shirt]] who was [[TemptingFate challenging the bull to charge him because of said colour.]] The bull does indeed wallop the kid, and when asked about it by another bull reveals that the attack wasn't because he was mad at the colour red- rather, it was because he hates common misconceptions about bulls.
32	*** However, this incident [[AllForNothing just serves to bolster the stereotype]].
33	* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/424 Satirically]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/425 subverted]], [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/426 almost]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/427 into]] GoodParents. They're well-meaning parents, at least.
34	* EatsBabies: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/152 Nevin, or at least he'd sure like to.]] Y'know, maybe there's a reason he and he alone has white eyes and seemingly never wears clothes.
35	* ExpressiveHair: See above.
36	* FlamingHair: Played with. It's been played straight, and it's been mimicked to show someone is a certified cool-guy.
37	* ForbiddenFruit: Lennox is a slave to this, in classic rocker style.
38	--> '''Lennox:''' Oh God!!! Oh man!!! I just remembered that I only ever want what I can't have!!
39	* GlassesPull: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/201 Satirized.]]
40	* GrandfatherParadox: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/73 Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack went back in time to the night he was conceived and consequently deflated his father's-]]
41	* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: The [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/161 Ultimate Christmas Jumper]], which is decked out in fake snow, flashing lights, tree branches, ornaments, gift boxes, candy canes, and rotating visages of Santa Claus and Rudolph.
42	* ImprobableHairstyle: Many of them, and they only get less feasible as time progresses.
43	* InteractiveComic: Dan made variants of this for the 100th and 200th Deathbulge comics, wherein he asked readers for lines of dialogue which he then molded into narratives. [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/100 They're about as sensible]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/200 as one might expect]].
44	** There's also [[http://www.deathbulge.com/adventures/1 Bovril's Big Adventure]], a more traditional type of interactive comic which ran for 50 pages over about three years, alongside the main comic.
45	* JerkassHasAPoint: Young José's character more or less revolves around being this, with a sprinkling of RightForTheWrongReasons depending on whether he's deceptively smart or a lucky guesser.
46	* LosingYourHead: Many many people, very very often, as early as the [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/6 sixth comic]].
47	* MysteryBox: The band's reward for [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/100 saving the world from demonic trousers and saving an animé girl high school]] is a mysterious box... containing... [[spoiler:the board game [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Wonders_(board_game) 7 Wonders!]] Wheyyy!!]]
48	** A later comic introduces a '''Super''' Mystery Box, able to generate ''anything'' when it is first opened. [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/276 If you're lucky, maybe you'll even get more Super Mystery Boxes!]]
49	* NostalgiaFilter: One recurring character has this constantly on, spending ludicrous amounts of money in the pursuit of childhood bliss.
50	* NoticingTheFourthWall: An extreme example happens to Ian [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/313 here]]. While he does have MediumAwareness, he's still understandably horrified when he gazes upon concept art ''of himself'' in the Deathbulge Development Chamber- a grim reminder that he's no different from the rest of the comic world.
51	* OcularGushers: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/404 ft. the Baby Binner]].
52	* OddShapedPanel: There are instances here and there, but [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/274 using tree branches to outline the panels]] is perhaps the coolest.
53	* TheOmniscient: [[GeniusBruiser Buffasus]], the [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/136 Being of Unlimited Knowledge and Wisdom]].
54	* OnePersonBirthdayParty: A couple of times, once with [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/53 Simmer]] and once with [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/396 Ian]].
55	* OverlyLongGag: Bass the Bass is a bass named Bass who sells bass guitars from their home base, called Bass the Bass' Bass Base, and [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/28 you will be reminded of it]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/180 every time they show up]].
56	--> '''Bass:''' What about this [[BizarreInstrument double bass double bass with a bass bass strapped on to it with bass tape]]? [[ButWaitTheresMore It comes with a bass!]]
57	* ParlorGames: One pair of recurring characters is Dylan and Ricardo, who seem to [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/87 really]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/126 enjoy]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/153 Truth or Dare]]. Okay, perhaps only Dylan. Ricardo just [[ButtMonkey suffers somehow.]]
58	* ProWrestlingEpisode: While it's been a theme before in shorter strips, [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/400 the Deathbulge Rumble]] of the 400th comic is the definitive, 54-panel Deathbulge pro wrestling episode at the time of writing.
59	* ProWrestlingIsReal: When there's a pro wrestling gag- and there are a few- expect people to die.
60	* PunnyName: Bass the Bass sells bass guitars from their bass base, and Barry Friendly is the nicest guy you'll ever meet.
61	* RunningGag: It's a strip-format webcomic, so of course there are numerous.
62	** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Bass_Fishing Sega Bass Fishing]], and bass in general for that matter.
63	** Kicking doors open is a signature of the comic.
64	** Slam-dunking things into basketball hoops. [[BeTheBall People are often one of these things,]] and sometimes [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/386 are the hoop themselves]]. [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/298 Not always a]] [[GodIsDispleased good idea.]]
65	*** A similar gag is the dunking of objects- namely people, and [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/381 especially babies]]- into garbage cans.
66	* SharePhrase: "Wheyyy!!"
67	** Not an uncommon turn of phrase, given, but it popped up a lot in the early band-focused days of the comic.
68	* SpeechBubbles: Of course it uses them, being a webcomic, but boy does Deathbulge have fun with them. Speech bubbles in Deathbulge are often physical entities within the world, be they [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/369 outright sentient]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/370 beings]], [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/220 elements of people's hairdos]] (of course), or [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/174 forcibly clawing their way out of the mouths of infants]].
69	** [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/293 Side note:]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero never cut one open, even if someone manages to get stuck inside]]. It's not worth it.
70	* SpidersAreScary: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/144 Used a couple of times.]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/275 Both will make you antsy.]]
71	* SurpriseParty: The gang throws one for Simmer... six months in advance. On the plus side, that makes it all the more surprising. On the downside, well, [[OnePersonBirthdayParty when his real birthday rolls around...]]
72	* TearOffYourFace: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/351 Quite]] [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/321 a lot]], actually, among other types of FacialHorror.
73	* TemptingFate: Forms the basis of many Deathbulge punchlines, typically in the form of "you can't tell me what to do" and company.
74	* ToiletHumour: It's a staple of Deathbulge. Bums, barf, poo- you name it, urine for it.
75	* TrouserSpace: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/200 Bovril has access to one of these.]]
76	* WaddlingHead: Bren doesn't have a whole lot of body to speak of.
77	* WheelOfDecisions: [[http://www.deathbulge.com/comics/91 Lennox spins a globe to decide on a vacation spot]], and his finger stops it... [[LostAtSea in the middle of the ocean.]]
78	* WorldOfJerkass: If their name isn't Barry Friendly, they almost certainly suck in one way or another.

Context Webcomic / Deathbulge