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Pages 222-263; Such Stuff... 1-42
Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on
Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on
Such Stuff as Dreams are Made on (2012 Summer arc)
Pages: Extra Such Stuff Countdown 3..., 2...,1..., Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On - 0 - Cover, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, Extra CuddlepileCharacters: James (Shadow!James), Jareth (Mortal!Jareth), Javert (Shadow!Javert), Erik (Shadow!Erik), Sarah (Shadow!Sarah), Jadis, Erlkönig, Mr. Saito (Shadow!Saito).
New Characters: "Odile" Fake!Sarah, Shadow Beasts.
Running Gags: People fainting and Javert carrying them, The Magic Family Tree.
Summary: The Erlkönig decided to give his son the gift of mortality. For their misfortune his ex-wife had some things to say about this too. Expect Mind Screw.
- All Just a Dream: But one shared by (at least) part of the cast and one with consequences.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: The end for the main cast and Sarah especially because they are "With Friends Like These..." otherwise.
- Big Damn Heroes: Or Anti Heroes. The main Shadow!cast here. Perfectly in line with Jareth's Pre Asskicking Oneliner.
- The Big Damn Kiss: Motral!Jareth and Fake!Sarah. Because of the spoiler it's a subversion though.
- Blood Magic: The Erlkönig used his own blood to seal his son's magic.
- Book Ends: Begins and ends with the Erlkönig. At the beginning he arrives in an awesome dramatic manner, at the end he checks on his son and the cast one more time (and probably leaves). The imagery also mirrors Labyrinth a lot.
- Break Them by Talking: "Odile" attempted this with Jareth using the "You're trapped, alone. I have power over you. Why don't we make the best of it?" reasoning in Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made On. Doesn't work though.
- Call-Back: Jadis to the Dark!Jareth arc wondering what Dark!Jareth will do without a rooftop.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Jareth managed to do this to both of his parents.
- Casual Danger Dialog: "Odile" a lot.
- Cooldown Hug: James attempts to use this on Dark!Jareth (See also: Taking the Bullet).
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Sarah vs. "Odile"
- Deal with the Devil: The Erklönig offers one to Jareth, just to find that he isn't in the mood for games. Also a bit of an inversion as he offered a soul he already claimed for favors. Here.
- Divorce Assets Conflict: The whole arc turned out to be this.
- Dream Within a Dream: Mortal!Jareth's (mostly) nightmares are all these.
- Fairytale Motifs: This arc is full of them. As general classical archetypes (Jareth in shining armor facing a Saito dragon) and specifically Swan Lake allusions (Like a Fake Sarah going with the "Odile" alias).
- Gambit Pileup: Jadis and the Erlkönig play a round of mutual Xanatos Speed Chess over the head of their clueless son in. He won. Sort of.
- Ignored Enemy: "Odile" here before James plays the Only Sane Man.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Used by Shadow!Erik on Mortal!Jareth with some mixed results.
- Ironic Echo: Jareth repeats his father's advice about fighting for the ending he wants when he refuses his deal.
- Kick the Morality Pet: Dark!Jareth goes after Sarah and manages to kill James. Not that it's a good idea. See Berserk Button in Jareth's tropes.
- Let's Dance: "Odile" to Jareth to encourage him to enter the fight. "Come on, oh King of Goblins! Join the dance!"
- Literary Allusion Title: The Tempest
- Lotus-Eater Machine: The Erlkönig created a Dream Land like this for his son (and who knows who else, maybe the whole cast).
- Metafictional Device: The vine border is a lot more than just a flourish indicating "dreams". (Check the Nightmare Fuel page).
- Necktie Leash: Scarf leash but it fits. And the Erik/Jareth shippers rejoiced.
- Nonchalant Dodge: "Odile" does the third type while fighting three opponents and she even combines it with Evil Gloating. Later subverted when her opponents outright tell her that they did not intend to defeat her.
- Post-Modern Magik: In the days of old you communicated with powerful entities through elaborate rituals, nowadays you can have their phone number... labeled completely mundane.
- Pre Ass Kicking One Liner: Sarah to "Odile": "Hi. I'm here to tell you about the dangers of identity theft." *CLANG*
- Revised Ending: Discussed. The Erlkönig tells his son in this dream sequence (amongst other things) that stories can have several different endings (using Swan Lake as an example).
- Roaring Rampage of Rescue: Jareth went on one at the end of the arc to rescue James.
- Taking the Bullet: James' Heroic Sacrifice in in, he protects Sarah... and Jareth from himself.
- This Means War!: As a warning but perfectly straight: Jareth to his mother.
- True Companions: The Erlkönig thinks this is what Jareth won.
- Well, This Is Not That Trope: On the last page Jareth describes his family by listing what it isn't like.Jareth: "Do you know how some families fight and shout and curse each other, but at the end of the day they're still your family and you're with them to the end of the world because you love them and they love you? ... My family isn't like that."
- We Want Our Jerk Back!: Shadow!Erik's (and probably the other's) sentiments towards Mortal!Jareth after the appearance of Fake!Sarah. Justified by Jareth falling for this trap would have disastrous consequences and his good side was not at all up to the task.
- Your Soul Is Mine! / I Have Your Wife: The Erlkönig took James' soul here and put it into a crystal while his body is in coma or dying to extort favors from Jareth.
Pages 264-279
Gags and Greet the neighbors / Azi's phone
Gags and Greet the neighbors / Azi's phone
Standalone gags
Running Gags: Lampshading Fanservice, Drunk Antics, Javert's Bizarre Taste in Food, James being Covert Pervert, Being dead in canon, Science Bros.- Filler Strips: The Questions Pages.
- Fourth-Wall Mail Slot: All the Questions Pages.
- Continuity Nod: James to the Movie Night and Erik to the Killed For Canon Meeting.
Greet the new neigbors arc / Azi's phone arc
Pages: 268 - Muffin, 269 - Beep, 270 - Detective, 271 - Mobile, 272 - Toothless, 273 - I.T., 274 - Doctor, 275 - Game, Roommates 276 - Priorities (SPOILERS)277 - BOOM, 278 - RoommatesCharacters: James, Jareth, Javert, Erik, Aziraphale, Crowley Death, Support group, Saito.
New Characters: Darcy, Holmes, Jhon, Hiccup, Toothless, Tony Stark, Scotty, Jake Jensen, Lucius Fox, Loki, Thor, Hawkeye, Nyan-cat, Dr. Lecter, Phil Coulson.
Running Gags: Fruit Basket well Muffin Basket, Javert being unsympathetic, Actor Allusion, Being dead in canon.
Summary: While James and Javert greet the new neighbors with Muffin Basket and visit the support group, Erik messes with Azi's lost mobile with the help of his internet buddies, there is also Stuff Blowing Up.
- Accidental Misnaming: For some reason Tony Stark just can't get Jake Jensen's name right.
- Brain Bleach: Jareth and Loki here. They played The Sandman style Battle of Wits game ... seems like Nyan cat beats The Mighty Thor.Jareth: "Look, it was your idea to play The Game, so it's hardly my fault we need Brain Bleach!"
- Call-Back: James to the Kids arc (Evil Is Petty and revenge is petty too), also later Jareth to the Copies arc (they still have the copy machine and it won't be wise to let Stark close to it).
- Crash-Into Hello: Azira and Darcy met this way. They both had both hands full of books and not looking.
- Faking the Dead: Jensen is in hiding after his movie.
- For Science!: Erik's reaction (mixed with "What Does This Button Do?") when he got his hands on Aziraphale's mobile. Also the reaction of his Internet buddies, most prominently Tony Stark's... even after blowing up Erik and Jareth's apartment (Here).
- Heart Symbol: In-universe according to Jensen some code segments of the software on Azira's cellphone are formated into hearts.
- Heroic BSoD: Azira a perfectly heroic one, on noticing that his work-phone is missing. Jareth is also close but not too heroic, after Erik and Tony blow up their apartments... as someone is in trouble and for the first time he is perfectly innocent!
- Holographic Terminal: Tony Stark's computer has transparent, floating, multi-touch screens.
- Holy Halo: James is soooooo pure and innocent in his efforts to avert the dreaded Fruit Basket that he got an Anti Gravity ring halo here.
- I'll Take That as a Compliment: When James forced his Roommate to greet the new neighbors with a gift basket... again.Javert: "...we've all been operating under the horrible misconception that you reformed. I shall set the record strait: You are evil incarnate."James: "I shall take that as a compliment."
- Implied Death Threat: Lucius Fox to Tony Stark here. In more depth he implies that Tony shouldn't forget who screens Bruce's technology so he doesn't have to try it out on his teammates.
- Loophole Abuse: James invented the fruit muffin basket to get around the dreaded fruit basket "curse". See also: Overused Running Gag
- No One Should Survive That!: Even lampshaded by the rest of the cast when Erik and Tony Stark blew up the apartments and survive comically unharmed (the reason in unknown, maybe luck, maybe heaven doesn't kill accidentally but it isn't above causing property damage).
- Overused Running Gag: Javert thinks that the "Greeting New Neighbors With Fruit Basket" one (and any permutation of it) became one of these and should be abandoned (not that he ever liked it). James on the other hand does his darnedest to succeed in Gag Necromancy. See also: Loophole Abuse
- Patron Saint: Javert tells James to "Go St. George on" the dragon here.
- Precision F-Strike: Crowley when he realizes that something important is missing here "Oh. (Censor Box)".
- Readings Are Off the Scale: Tony Stark about the power levels of Azira's mobile, twice. The second time the Readings Blew Up the Scale.
- Tempting Fate:Page 273 - I.T. - Tony Stark: "Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"
- Two Lines, No Waiting: It's alternating between: Plot A - James and Javert greet the new tenants. and Plot B - Erik unwittingly messes with the Balance Between Heaven and Hell.
- Video Phone: Erik apparently keeps in touch with his internet friends through voice/video chat (Word of Ashe that he tends to shut off the camera though). He called them because of his interesting new find (Az's phone).
- Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Hiccup remarks this, when he notices what his pet's playing does to the residents (at least a really bad first impression).
Standalone gags
Characters:: Erik, Jareth, James, Javert, ErlkönigRunning Gags: Actor Allusion.
279 - Guest
New Character: 15ImaginaryRabbit15.
- Mythology Gag: The thing about Legolas patroling the grounds comes right out off GND.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Lord King horrifies the cast with this, but subverts later when he appears to greet the guest.
- Wrong Turn at Albuquerque: How the random fangirl happens on the building.
Pages 280-304
Wild Hunt, Visuals and gags
Wild Hunt, Visuals and gags
Wild Hunt arc (2012 Halloween / Christmas arc)
Pages: 280 - Invitation, 281 - Exchange, 282 - Payoff, 283 - Riders, 284 - Quarry, 285 - Shadowhunt, 286 - Chase, 287 - Consume, 288 - Drown, 289 - Crumble, 290 - Crush, 291 - Skeptic, 292 - Wish, 293 - Winner, 294 - Gift, 295 - UnplannedCharacters: James, Jareth, Javert, Erik, Elkönig, Sarah, Dresden, Shadow Beasts.
New Characters: Odin, King Arthur, The Shadow Child aka Disbelief.
Running Gags: Jareth causing mischief, Javert's stress level, Uninvited poofing, The Magic Family Tree.
Summary: The Erlkönig names Jareth as the host of The Wild Hunt, that he first refuses, but after some bargaining accepts... and because this is Jareth the whole thing backfires spectacularly. Also Javert meets his long lost uncle again and conquers a power all fictional beings fear.
- Affectionate Gesture to the Head: Javert to The Shadow Child and Jareth.
- Appeal to Tradition: The Erlkönig's answer to Erik's lampshadetastic Wall of Text question, about The Wild Hunt example later, is "It is tradition." here.
- Artistic License – Economics: In this comic of all things. So it seems like the favor and wish based "economy" of the magical people is at least partially justified by the fact that messing with mortal economy (like giving away large quantities of gold) is even more bothersome. Exchange rates, inflation and whatnot.
- Commonality Connection: Arthur and Jamie seem to get along well through Token Good Teammate / Only Sane Man sympathy.
- Did We Just Have Tea with Cthulhu?: Or in this case "Did We Just Go Hunting With The Trickster God, a Fair Folk Death Avatar and a Legendary King?"
- Enemy Without / Shadow Archetype: Jareth's choice of prey for The Wild Hunt, and he meant the shadow part literally.
- Fear Is the Appropriate Response: Downplayed and Played for Laughs, as they are too powerful to just run but:King Arthur: Is it alright for me to have a bad feeling about this?Erlkönig: I would be more concerned if you did not.
- Halloween Episode: The 2012 one.
- Let Me Get This Straight...: Erik summing up the beginning of the arc. See Appeal to Tradition for the (non-)answer he receives.Erik: Excuse me, is there some kind of mystical significance to why a Scandinavian/Germanic death avatar has just appeared in the living room and bargained favors with my 1980's children's fantasy film villain of a flatmate? Because as far as I know, The Wild Hunt never involved goblins, and I really don't think I'll like where this is going.
- Make a Wish: The winner of The Wild Hunt got one wish from one of the traditional participants (and he was Genre Savvy enough to choose the Token Good Teammate not The Trickster God or The Fair Folk). According to Arthur in the old days it was a bag of gold but exchange rates became too much of a hustle when they got international.
- Mind Rape: The Shadow Child's "attacks" are this and push the target right through the Despair Event Horizon headfirst into Heroic BSoD or Angst Coma.
- Passive-Aggressive Kombat: The Erlkönig's explanation about the hunt. See Politeness Judo for his save.
- Politeness Judo:
- Jareth said please to make the other cast members attend the hunt.
- And there is this direct example that begins as a pretty standard argument between Jareth and the Erlkönig. but when it escalated:
Erlkönig: Listen to me.Jareth: Get out of my domain!Erlkönig: Hear me out.Jareth: LEAVE!Erlkönig: Please.Jareth: ...5 minutes. - Silly Rabbit, Cynicism Is for Losers!: Delivered by Javert of all people, accompanied by an Affectionate Gesture to the Head.The Shadow Child: I don't believe.
- Squick: The forming of The Shadow Child in-universe was "disturbing" according to Javert. The readers missed the motion and probably the more graphic parts so we have to take his word for it but from what we could see he was probably justified.
- Talking the Monster to Death: For a perfectly straight example see The Shadow Child and the earlier Silly Rabbit, Cynicism Is for Losers!.
- The Wild Hunt: Jareth got invited / named as host for it by The Erlkönig he didn't accept without a cost. And he described it as his father's "magical men's club running rampant in the common area", which gives us a glimpse of their power level.
- You're Insane!: The Erlkönig pretty deadpanly (but in barely contained rage) asking his son if what he did is wise.
Standalone page
Characters: Jareth.- Filler Strips: It is. But gives important world information.
- Bizarre Alien Reproduction: According to this the procreation and family forming ways and habits of the Magical Community are based more on concepts, than "biology".
Visuals mini-arc
Pages: 297 - Visualization, 298 - Short; 300 - ReversionCharacters: Erik, Javert, Jareth, James, Valjean.
Running Gags: Javert's stress level, Actor Allusion.
Summary: The newest Les Miserables adaptation hits its cast with The Nth Doctor.
- Affectionate Gesture to the Head: Jareth after Javert got a new actor and so visuals including a new haircut.
- Mundane Utility: Valjean The Nth Doctor to reach the top shelf.
- The Nth Doctor: Javert's and Valjean suffered this here. According to this they are also able to switch between their canonical versions at will.
Standalone gags
Characters: Aziraphale, Crowley; James, Jareth, Javert, Valjean, Erik, "Odile", The Erlking's Daughter, Sarah, Christine.Running Gags: Actor Allusion, Girls being sane/scary.
299 - Metatron
New Characters: Metatron.
301 - Devious Gingers
New Characters: The cast of Devious Gingers.
- Mythology Gag: "Dave, who's still not ginger, but we love him anyway."
- Show Within a Show: Devious Gingers.
- Relationship Upgrade: Now canon for Javert and Valjean.
- You Can See Me?: "Odile" says this almost word for word.
Pages 305-312
Whose minions? and gags
Whose minions? and gags
Whose minions? arc
Pages: 305 - Manners, 306 - Ducklings, 307 - Missed, 308 - Lost WordCharacters: Sarah, James, Jareth, Socks.
New Characters:Slump, Pengy and other Goblins.
Summary: Fae being posessive... mostly Jareth takes kind of hard that his minions listen to his friends.
- Machiavelli Was Wrong: Jareth's rule, however misguidedly well-meaning it is, mostly based on birthright, power and fear... but his minions also follow his friends, who basically just ask nicely and say please.
- Politeness Judo: James shows that it also works on goblins.
Standalone gags
Characters: Javert, Sherlock, James, Eponine, Jareth, Erik, Elkönig.- Analogy Backfire: Did you know that a Falling star was never an actual Star? Which was a metaphor used in most of Javert's canonical songs.
- April Fools' Day: 2013 April 1th. James shows he is still The Gadfly.
- Commonality Connection: Javert and Sherlock over their shared hatred astronomy.
- Parodies for Dummies: "Wiki's Astronomy for Beginners"
- Foreshadowing: Read the poem after the setup of Kings War and tell us it isn't.
- Grand Romantic Gesture: James courting by quoting the 29th sonnet by Shakespeare.
- Meaningful Background Event: The first time the "Scribble Person" was spotted.
- Ninja Prop / Breaking the Fourth Wall: James fixes the dialog icons. By climbing up one panel and drawing it in the speechbubble.
312 - Fear
New Characters: The Sender Man, Sadako, Pitch.
- Did We Just Have Tea with Cthulhu? / Chess with Death: They invite James to play poker with them. We don't see if he refused or won.
- Midnight Snack: Technically 2 AM snack but James was out in the kitchen raiding the fridge.
Pages 313-328
Spring Break, Love Never...
Spring Break, Love Never...
Spring Break arc (2013 Spring arc)
Also known as the Third Vacation arc.Pages: 313 - Planning Stages, 314 - A Taste of Things To Come, 315 - Lemon, 316 - Snapshots, 317 - Gird, 318 - Masquerade, 319 - Damocles.
Characters: Erik, Tony, Javert, James, Jareth, Valjean.
New Characters: Arthur Shapey, Douglas Richardson, Carolyn Knapp-Shapey, Martin Crieff so the people of MJN Air, "The Scribble Person".
Running Gags: Girls being sane/scary, Jareth causing mischief (or not causing in this case), Actor Allusion.
Summary: Thanks to Tony's advice and the wonders of modern marketing Erik buys tickets to Italy.
- Advice Backfire: All this happened thanks to Tony's advice.
- Cool Shades: Jareth got a pair for the occasion.
- Some readers pointed out that it makes him look like Vash at times.
- Costume Porn: Their Masquerade Ball costumes definitely qualify.Imaginary-Shadow: ...any particular inspirations for the costumes??
- Establishing Team Shot: The last panel of Grid for their costumed badassitude. Accompanied by Erik's one liner: "Let's rock this town."
- Good-Times Montage: Snapshots. They in-universe look through their travel photographs taken till that point.
- Impossibly Tacky Clothes: Also in Grid. Jareth gets called out on his Villainous Fashion Sense by James. Waaaaaay too many Spikes of Villainy and Shoulders of Doom. He *poofs* it away and feigns ignorance in the next panel.
- Invisible to Normals: ??? in Masquerade. Only Jareth sees him/her (didn't go near to Javert).
- Lipstick-and-Load Montage: Gird. Masquerade Balls are serious business for at least half of the cast.
- Masquerade Ball: Yes. They go to one in Italy.
- My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Jareth on A Taste of Things To Come "I feel like we are set up for a joke..."
- Tempting Fate:
- On A Taste of Things To Come Erik tempted it, Javert lampshaded it, Jareth's significance sense tingled, James resigned to it, and Javert lampshaded it again.
- On Damocles Erik and Jareth tempted it everybody reacted with dread (even them after they noticed what they said).
- To date it's Subverted, though, but everybody including the characters can see the brick shaped shadow on the horizon.
Love Never...
Pages: 320 - Burn, 321 - All-Win, 322 -Good Intentions, 323 - Scapegoat, 324 - Apologize, 325 - For Jack Frost, 326 - Quis Custodiet, 327 - Ipsos Custodes, 328 - Temet NosceCharacters: Erik, Javert, James, Jareth, Sarah, Christine, The Erlking's Daughter, Tracy.
New Characters: Jack Frost, the Sandman
Running Gags: Erik hurting Jareth, Jareth causing mischief (as he still isn't), Girls being sane/scary, Jareth tries to help
Summary: The Drama department announces this years musical production. It's Love Never Dies.
- Death Glare: Erik to Jareth when he dares to ask what the problem is.
- Exact Words:Erik: ... I have no intention of disrupting their little... show.note
- Gratuitous Latin: #326-#327 -> Quis Custodiet-Ipsos Custodes(?) -> Who guards the guardians(?). Guess which movie's characters debut in this arc!
- Insult Backfire: What could that young boy know about loneliness? A whole lot.
- Piano Drop: Snarked about. Wasting a good piano is not Erik's style.
- Questionable Casting: In Universe! They casted the personification of fun, who also looks like a teenager Jack Frost to play the brooding anti-hero/villain, who finds his ten years old son Erik.
- School Play: The main conflict.
- Xanatos Gambit: Christine, of all people, pulls one by deciding to avoid the whole Love Never Dies mess altogether. Either it will blow over without her having to deal with it, or Erik will do what he does best and wreak terrible vengeance on the drama department. "Either way, I have to win."
Der Erlkönig
Also known as the Father's Day special.
Pages: Der Erlkonig 1, Der Erlkönig 2, Der Erlkönig 3
Characters: The Erlkönig, The Erlking's daughter.
New Characters: A Father with his son, Goethe.
Summary: This comic's take on The Erl-King.
Pages: Der Erlkonig 1, Der Erlkönig 2, Der Erlkönig 3
Characters: The Erlkönig, The Erlking's daughter.
New Characters: A Father with his son, Goethe.
Summary: This comic's take on The Erl-King.
- Blood from the Mouth: The littel boy in his death scene.
- Bloodier and Gorier: Not with much but manages to have two bloody tropes when the original had none.
- Chase Scene: A really intense one.
- Changeling Tale: Subverted. The fae doesn't seem to want to hurt the boy in this version, but he still dies thanks to them.
- Compressed Adaptation: It leaves out parts of the poem. More specifically the poem goes three rounds with the child being not believed, which this adaptation compresses to one by taking parts from all three.
- Downer Ending: The child dies. Also one of the bloodier renditions.
- Metafiction: Well, the original blurred the boundaries of reality and fantasy by Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane, here the story is clearly magical, but...In the middle, at the "Ich liebe dich" part, the King seems to realize that something is very wrong, but still completes the story till the Downer Ending, while juxtaposed by Goethe writing the ballad. Which leads to very interesting Fridge Logic questions as it almost, but not quite, implies Noticing the Fourth Wall.The biggest question from a longer comment by Dantemew: But now I wonder, did this truly happen to the Erlkoenig and Goethe heard about it (and wrote it down)? Or did this happen to the Erlkoenkig because Goethe wrote it?
- Invisible to Adults: The father doesn't see the fairy creatures at all.
- Spared By Adaptation: Averted. Most adaptations of the Erl-king that ditch the original's Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane approach to focus on the mystical tend to downplay the Downer Ending (like the child is stolen either in body or his soul but lives on), this one plays it painfully (and bloodily) straight.
- These Hands Have Killed: The Erlkönig in his last panel stares in disbelief at the blood on his hands
Pages 329-435; Kings War 1-107
Kings War
Kings War
Kings War arc
Also known as THE BIG EVENT of 2013. No kidding. It got two trailers! And then a health related hiatus struck. But as things stand this will be also the big event of 2014 (pagecount: 107 plus extras).Pages: Roommates - Kings War - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58. 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 - END.
Characters: Schmendrick, Jareth, Erlkönig, "The Scribble Person" aka Story, Sarah, Toby, Legolas, James, Javert, Erik, Eponine, Death (of the Endless), Morgan, Odin, Jadis, Mrs. Norrington, The Wizard, The Shadow Beasts, The Shadow Child aka Disbelief, Socks, Goblins and other assorted denizens of the Labyrinth.
New Characters: The Goblin King, Thranduil, Despair, Desire, Dream, Delirium, Destiny, Anansi, Glinda, Sun Wukong, Isis, Baba Yaga, Prospero and Ariel, Oberon and Titania, The Wolves, The Ozian army, Ozma, The Sea.
Running Gags: Girls being sane/scary, This Means War!, Jareth causing mischief, Javert's stress level, Uninvited poofing, Instant Cosplay Surprise, Eponine pouncing her boyfriend, The Magic Family Tree, Being dead in canon.
Summary: An accident involving a magic sword and an easily startled six year old has dire consequences.
- Adaptation Decay: Discussed and also lampshaded that this can very easily turn into the meta equivalent of Reality Warping Is Not a Toy here by the Shadow Child. And poor Glinda has an exceptionally bad luck with adaptations.
- After-Action Healing Drama: Over Jareth's accident. Did we mention that he is ridiculously cute when sick? And that he was the closest thing to The Medic around?
- Almost Kiss: Sarah and the Goblin Regent. They both got very embarassed. Was it a joke or Foreshadowing? Only time will tell.
- Amazon Brigade: Glinda's offensive force.
- Appeal to Flattery:Jareth: "Surely someone as venerable and wise as the great Glinda, the Good is not advocating that..."
- Arc Words: Good. In connection also Hero, Villain and King. (Possibly also Story and Blood.)
- Bad Future: What the two see in the Held Gaze. Both would turn out Knight Templar conquerors with blood on their hands if one of them kills the other.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Literally what you can read in the scribbles when Socks makes his pact
- Bittersweet Ending: They won the war... it came with a great price.
- Burial at Sea: The Champion gets an awesome one. Subverted as it's revealed that the kid is only canonically dead... still can't stay in the comic but better than being dead.
- The Big Damn Kiss: Erik/Mag on page 22.
- Canon Welding: The History of the Goblin Monarchy page basically forges direct connection between The Hobbit, Norse / Germanic folklore (and by extension The Dresden Files) and Labyrinth.
- Later the Wolf's explanation between The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia.
- Changeling Tale: Erik's theory about Sock's sudden change of appearence is that the kid must be a changeling and broke the spell that made him a goblin by willpower. This is partially correct at best.
- Costume Porn: The whole arc is full with very elaborate and cool outfits.
- Cryptic Conversation: Jareth warning James to not listen to the story can be read at least as a warning against the corrupting influence of Power, and a call to Screw Destiny, or maybe it was more literal.
- Deal with the Devil: Socks makes a pact with Story for a story and a chance to be a hero and help the Goblin Regent... Thing is calling the guy not trustworthy is like saying water is slightly wet.
- Disbelief also offers his help to Javert. Let's just say this spanned a new entry on NightmareFuel.Roommates
- Death Glare: Glinda in the last panel of page 14.
- Defeat Means Respect: Well, as much as beating the scary relative makes him support your ship. A ship you aren't even sure you want. Way to go Sarah.
- Slightly more obvious in the Hungarian translation as this is the point where he switches from formal to informal speech when addressing the girl.
- Directionless Driver: The boys trying to navigate the Labyrinth. Erik even made a map... not that it helped.
- Dope Slap: Anansi to Sun Wukong.
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: The exchange that leads up to the It May Help You on Your Quest trope example sounds suspiciously like something right before The Talk.
- Dramatic Irony: Going to war with an evil, greedy and glory seeking villain, who unbeknown to you tries to save even your army from the death and destruction this choice of yours would cause. Nice work Glinda.
- Evil Is Easy: Many characters face temptation of this kind.
- Jareth: Make Sarah regent and thanks to the power of the Fisher Kingdom bind her to it, making her yours aginst her will and wishes. He didn't do it.
- James: Use the power of Leviathan to destroy Glinda's army, and with this corrupt and break children's dreams and wishes. Also becoming the very thing they accused him to be. He didn't do it either.
- Javert: Take Disbelief's offer and Mind Rape the attackers into submission... with similar results to James' bad option. He trusted his friend enough to not do it.
- Erik: Take the Wizards offer to bring peace and restore your face. This is definetelly not betraying your friends, they will never ask for that of course. He played them to the Regent's advantage.
- Fisher King: The kings of the magical people are conneted to their lands and people this way according to the Info Dump. How much the Goblins a form Terminally Dependent Society is open though, as it's imlied that the existence of a king is more important than his actual person.
- For Your Own Good: Glinda's excuse to why she went to war without even talking about it with Ozma. She reacted: "No. It was your decision. I hope you can live with it."
- A Friend in Need: Erik and Javert volunteer helping out James because:Javert: We've done more foolish things in the name of friendship.
- Full-Contact Magic: The short magic battle between James and Glinda.
- Geographic Flexibility: New ruler and someone attacking? Sea from nowhere!
- Ghibli Hills: Lord King has an uncomplicated Dream Land like this.
- Godzilla Threshold: The Goblin Regent hits this after the death of Socks and promptly does a Summon Bigger Fish move. Then he enters full on Heroic BSoD.
- Good Versus Good: Centered around the Sliding Scale of Unavoidable vs. Unforgivable it's the Goblin Regent (who believes in redemption, the good in people, and that every person's life matters) versus Glinda (who is a Knight Templar, and deeply believes in The Needsof The Many). Oddly despite standing here on the unforgivable side the Regent comes from the greyer and more cynical story... he even lampshades that this is the very reason why he understands the gravity of the situation better, and doesn't want to taint another tale with the blood on his hands.
- Great Big Book of Everything: Well, everything magical that is. Fruit of Erik's relentless efforts to analyze the shit out of magic. He also made an ebook version.
- Great Offscreen War: As most of the actual war is shown from Socks point of view it comes off as this. We get an occasional montage but nothing concrete enough to put together more than Glinda was winning.
- Held Gaze: Pages 95-97 where Glinda and Goblin Regent engage in a supernatural version, while we get a narration about the "story behind the sea-glass stare".
- Heroic BSoD: The goblin regent after the thing about the Nobody Can Die trope example sinks in.
- I Know You Know I Know: Anansi very much. Even in "he knows that we know..." variation.
- Info Dump: The 1th and 2nd page about magical kings and the history of the Goblin Monarchy.
- It May Help You on Your Quest: Mrs Norrington hands a nail to Eponine with such words. Then she quickly lampshades that it's Cold Iron.
- Kraken and Leviathan: The Leviathan. You literally don't have many options for a bigger fish. Here it actually looks like a giant sea snake/dragon.
- The Lancer: Discussed by Story as the reason why Jareth's regent can't be The Hero. It's literally written on his/her face while talking about it.
- Last Chance to Quit: The Goblin Regent gives one for the opposing commander, because Good needs to give Good a chance, doing otherwise would be unforgivable for him.
- Magic Dance: Magic tango to summon a storm. Yes. Being goblin ruler comes with dancing around.
- Nobody Can Die: So painfully subverted. For the shock and horror of both the Ozian soldiers, the Goblin Regent and the readers. Thanks Story!
- Non-Lethal Warfare: The Goblin Regent explicitly aimed for not killing anybody. Not even members of the attacking Red Shirt Army. For Erik's great dismay. Probably related to his own experiences with war and fighting. Until he hit the Godzilla Threshold
- "Not So Different" Remark: What Glinda realizes at the end of the Held Gaze... that the story about the possible future in her eyes is the same as the Goblin Regent's.
- Painful Transformation: Socks' transformation judging by his screem being audible at least in the whole castle if not the whole Labyrinth.
- Passing the Torch: Apparently the title of the Goblin King, and the whole magical kingdom with it got to Jareth this way.He (the previous king) passed the crown to his son as soon as the boy (Jareth) was at age,"Commenter: Passing on the crown Erlkönig style was probably around the lines of mailing the kid (Jareth) the crown, with a Birthday card and no explanation.Ashe: And thus Jareth remains especially suspicious of packages appearing on the table with his name on them.
- Pass the Popcorn: Anansi when Jareth begins the Conclave.
- Pietà Plagiarism: The Goblin Regent with Socks' body in his arms on page 75.
- Put on a Bus: Socks bordering on Killed Off for Real. He is only canonically dead but has to move to a different place because this comic is his canon.
- Royal Blood: Referenced as one way blood can exalt a King.
- Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: Story encourages this behavior in his new chosen. Because as (s)he put it:"Who became a hero by 'just following orders'?"
- Smooch of Victory: Éponine and James.
- Someone's Touching My Butt: James didn't say it, but from his face he wanted to, and the someone was Anansi. And the Yaoi Fangirls squeed.
- Straight for the Commander: After deciding to not use their Godzilla, our heroes go for this solution.
- Stating the Simple Solution: Javert asks if he has to do this after Leviathan is summoned. The Goblin Regent says no, and points out an obvious problem with the simple solution.
- Succession Crisis: Jareth aims to subvert this, or at least to not delay it after his death when he'll have no say in the person of his successor, so he makes his father call together a Conclave. Turns out the Underground is a pretty sought after property, as the attending nobility range from Anansi to freaking Odin. Also fails as some "loser" questions his judgement.
- This Means War!: After a failed attempt at diplomacyGoblin Regent James: Ultima Ratio Regum.
- Transformation Is a Free Action: The series normally plays this straight (because the chatacters have Stage etiquette) but Mrs. N subverts it by goosing Lord King in the middle of it.
- Transformation Sequence: James got two. One after he received the Goblin Regent title, and one when he found his Heroic Resolve.
- Unexpected Successor: Anansi expected one of these badlly enough to ask the main cast about, well, the Dark Horse as he put it.
- For the record: Most expected Sarah (despite not really having a right by blood), Sun Wukong expects some Long-Lost Relative to turn up, Anansi expects the unexpected.
- It also turned out to be James.
- Verbal Judo: Sarah vs. Erlkönig over Toby. Sarah won.
- Victory Through Intimidation: The Goblin Regent won through the shared "Not So Different" Remark and having the enemy commander at swordpoint. Glinda took her Last Chance to Quit.
- Walk and Talk: The Scribble Person and Socks for some exposition and a Deal with the Devil.
- Weapon of X-Slaying: Orcrist the Goblin Cleaver is especially effective against goblins. It made "slaying" (or at leas seriously wounding) the Nigh Invulnerabe Jareth a literal child's play. Even Toby could do it.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: The Champion to the Regent on the last pages. A bit more heartbreaking than warming as his only point of reference was his birth father.
- You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious: When the Heroic BSoD Goblin Regent calls Erik the Phantom.
- You Kill It, You Bought It: Well, the other way blood can exalt a King.
Pages 436-452
Standalone pages, Devious Gingers, The Morning After, Magic Lessons Mini-arc
Standalone pages, Devious Gingers, The Morning After, Magic Lessons Mini-arc
Characters: James, Jareth, Erik, Sarah.
436 - Lost
Characters: James, Erik, Dave, Cathy, Tommy, Benny, AsheRhyder, Judi Dench, Javert, Story.
Summary: After the last arc's drama, James curls up to watch TV.
Characters: Eponine, Erik, Sarah, James
Running Gags: Girls being scary/sane
Summary: Eponine talks to James about the fallout of the events of the "Kings Arc."
Characters: Erik, Jareth, Dresden, Schmendrick, Gandalf
Running Gags: Javert's stress level
Summary': Erik decides that, considering the sort of situations they find themselves in on a regular basis, he should learn more about magic and possibly how to use it.
436 - Lost
- Memento MacGuffin: Socks' hat becomes this here.
- Silence Is Golden: James brings the bad news to Jareth without a word.
Devious Gingers mini-arc
Pages: 437 TV Therapy, 438 - Devious Gingers Pt1, 439 - Devious Gingers Pt2, 440 - Devious Gingers Pt3, 441 - Devious Gingers Pt4, 442 - Devious Gingers Pt5, 443 - TuckCharacters: James, Erik, Dave, Cathy, Tommy, Benny, AsheRhyder, Judi Dench, Javert, Story.
Summary: After the last arc's drama, James curls up to watch TV.
- Addiction Displacement: James watches Devious Gingers instead of Drowning His Sorrows.
- Corner of Woe: Benny at the end. Why? See Memetic Mutation.
- Fan Convention: Where the Gingers (and Dave) go.
- Friendship Moment: The Stinger for the miniarc where the main cast tucks in James, who has fallen asleep watching the show. Then Story shows up all curly fonted.
- Cosplay: Cathy (Black Widow), Dave (Hawkeye), Art (Spartacus) etc.
- Easily-Overheard Conversation: "Did someone mention convention?"
- Memetic Mutation: In-universe for the show. Benny's "The Knights Who Say "Squee!"" reacion over Dame Judi Dench goes memetic. Tommy has all the YouTube links, and the video, and the reactions from Tumblr.
- "Open!" Says Me: Kat kicks the door in after Benny mentions Convention.
- Performance Anxiety: Benny's big problem until Tommy's motivational speech.
- This Is a Work of Fiction: from The Rant of every Devious Gingers page: "Any resemblance to actual living persons is for the purpose of gentle, loving parody."
- Sleepwalking: James manages to sleep Shape Shift, sleep fly... and sleep crash into a tree/window.
- Calming Tea: Sarah's solution for a distraught James showing up is to offer him some tea.
The Morning After
Pages: 446 - Reception, 447 - Complicated, 448 - BetterCharacters: Eponine, Erik, Sarah, James
Running Gags: Girls being scary/sane
Summary: Eponine talks to James about the fallout of the events of the "Kings Arc."
- Glowing Eyes of Doom: When James' eyes start doing this on the last panel of 448 - Better, that is not a good sign.
- Not What It Looks Like: James disappears all night and returns in the morning from Sarah's apartment. Eponine Lampshades that it.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: James... really needs to work on his words.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Erik knows when to run.
Magic Lessons Mini-arc
Pages 449 - Teach Me, 450 Chandelier, 451 Magic Oops, 452 DealerCharacters: Erik, Jareth, Dresden, Schmendrick, Gandalf
Running Gags: Javert's stress level
Summary': Erik decides that, considering the sort of situations they find themselves in on a regular basis, he should learn more about magic and possibly how to use it.
- Gender Bender: Javert... again.
- Kill It with Fire: Neither Dresden nor Erik should work with fire...
- Erik has also been permanently banned from fireworks.
- Rule of Three: Erik picks out three magic teachers.
- Weirdness Magnet: All of Erik's magical blunders target Javert
Pages 453-461
Silver Streets
Silver Streets
Silver Streets
Pages:453 Silver Streets 1, 454 - Therapy, 455 - Silver Streets 2, 456 - Dinner, 457 - Silver Streets 3, 458 - Safe, 459 - Ironed, 460 Wake, 461 DenunciationCharacters: Eponine, James, Jareth, Sarah, Story, Erik, Javert
Running Gags: Girls being scary
Summary: James pulls a "Goblin King" and creates a beautiful dream world for Eponine. Meanwhile, Jareth is still healing and Sarah is taking care of him.
- All Just a Dream: One that James creates
- Armor-Piercing Question: "Are you trying to be the Goblin King because you think Jareth could have saved Socks?"
- Brought Down to Normal: Jareth is stuck powerless since James has his magic.
- Catapult Nightmare: Eponine awakens by bolting upright and in tears.
- Sleep Cute: Sarah dozes off on Jareth's shoulder.
- The Mirror Shows Your True Self: Eponine sees Story's presence in a reflection.
- Screw This, I'm Out of Here!: Javert and Erik know when to run.
- Two Lines, No Waiting: Plot A is about James and Eponine in the Dream Land. Plot B is about Sarah and Jareth while he is still healing.
Pages 462-484
Baby Snatching, Story's Return
Baby Snatching, Story's Return
Baby Snatching
Pages: 462 Metaphor, 463 Oh Brother, 464 Goblin King, 465 Return, To SenderCharacters: James, Erik, James Cobb, Phillipa, Dom
Summary: Still in "Goblin King" mode, James starts picking up more of Jareth's bad habits.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Phillipa wishes away her brother... while James is the "Goblin King"
- Bookcase Passage: Erik uses them.
- Parental Obliviousness: Dom doesn't even notice his son's disappearance
- Sleepwalking: Or sleep-kidnapping
- Unusually Uninteresting Sight: Phillipa is completely unconcerned that someone came through a secret passage in her home to return her little brother.
Story's Return
Pages: 467 Drawing Lines, 468 Shut Down, 469 Attrition, 470 Click, 471 On a Lonely String, 472 ffff, 473 Cram Session, 474 Suit Up, 475 Call Out, 476 Stakes, 477 Declaration, 478 Throw The Book, 479 Dirty Pool, 480 Claim, 481 Return of the King, 482 Tipping the Board, 483 Forgotten, 484 IsolaniCharacters: Eponine, James, Javert, Valjean, Erik, Story, Jareth, Erlkönig, Sarah
New Characters: Music
Running Gag: Actor Allusion
Summary: Story isn't quite ready to give up using James yet.
- Actor Allusion: Jareth dresses similarly to the David Bowie music video "Underground"
- Anguished Declaration of Love: "You. I choose you."
- Anthropomorphic Personification: In addition to Story, Erik brings out Music.
- Awesome Moment of Crowning: Jareth reclaiming his title of "Goblin King."
- Badass Boast: Erik gets an awesome one."Wouldn't I? I, who murders at my displeasure? I, who brought down the chandelier? I, who would have blown up the Opera House at a simple "no"? Do you think me so reformed by my complacency and comfort? Do you think I fear the coda?"
- Beat Them at Their Own Game: Eponine manages to use story conventions to defeat Story.
- Crucified Hero Shot: Story strings up James like a puppet
- Laser-Guided Amnesia: What Story does when he decides to Rage Quit. He wipes out the memory (if not more) of the events of the Kings War Arc. James ends up crying for a reason he can't explain even though he's forgotten about Socks' death.
- Leave Me Alone!: James asks his friends to leave him alone while he's feeling miserable... and Story tried to take advantage of it
- "Open!" Says Me: Suggested, but ultimately Averted. Erik picks the lock.
- Rage Quit: What Story ends up doing when they win.
- Retcon: Story is able to use this as a source of Laser-Guided Amnesia on the whole cast.
- Throw the Book at Them: Eponine throws a book at Story when she out-maneuvers him.
- Time-Passes Montage: James stays in his room for almost a week before his friends grow tired of it.
- [Verb] This!: One of Story's writings ends up saying "Retcon This."
- Visual Pun: Erik's "inkling." It's a winged humanoid made of staves, notes, and clefs...in other words, an Angel of Music.