Life's a Kick in this Town.
In the debut chapter of Pondovadia, Bell and her two best friends find a hidden secret of the city in their local lake.
This chapter contains examples of:
- 13 Is Unlucky: Averted. Minthe is the thirteenth Pinnegaden child, the only one alive, and she makes it out of her old home and put in foster care.
- Abusive Parents: The Pinnegadens big time.
- Big Bad: Venice and Scarlett (real name Rube) Pinnegaden.
- Damsel in Distress: Minthe is one, justified due to her sheltered nature.
- Deadpan Snarker: Bell and Ponce are more sarcastic in this chapter than their usual portrayals.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: This chapter is a lot longer than the rest afterwards and the main characters trust adults easily with their problems instead of doing it themselves.
- Establishing Character Moment:
- Bell's cheeriness and ladette energy are shown with her going "Alright, what the fuck is up!"
- Toshi's first response is to snark at his friend for an impulsive decision.
- Ponce's encouraging behavior is established in this scene.
- "It" Is Dehumanizing: The two orca guards refer to Minthe as number 13 and 'it'.
- Musical Theme Naming: Don Van Maskrep, the trout tour guide, gets his name from Trout Mask Replica
- Opening Narration: A short one is given to establish Pondovadia— an Appalachian city that blends urban and nature aesthetics.
- No Communities Were Harmed: Pondovadia is Morgantown, Monongahela University is West Virginia University, Deutschendorf Forest is the Coopers Rock State Forest, and Lake of the Unknown Knotts is Cheat Lake.
- The Ingenue: Minthe is around the protagonists' age yet sheltered to things like chimeras, death, different species, or other animals her age.
- Under the Sea: Well, under a lake, but the same idea nonetheless.
- Underwater Ruins: Court of the Epitaph's "house" is a junkyard version of this
- Villainous Incest: Venice and Scarlett engage in this and they're depraved animals.
- Wham Line: "Minthe’s in a cult!!"
- Would Hurt a Child: Venice and Rube are implied to have killed their past twelve children and have no problem thinking of killing Minthe OR Bell, Ponce, and Toshi.
