Mallory Bash
is a webcomic started in August of 2016. It follows the adventurous titular Mallory Bash as she and her friends, Isaac and Saki, uncover the truth about the long-held secret of her parents' death—and the great mystery of the Dreaming Tree, hidden deep within Brookwood Forest. Mallory follows a cryptic poem left by her mother, which leads her to a meeting with the enigmatic gravedigger, Cyrus, who knew her parents and the truth about what happened ten years ago at the Dreaming Tree. Along the way, an apparitional wild child named Ava joins the journey from the shadows, only appearing to Isaac. Ava has a connection to the world within the Dreaming Tree, and tries to guide Mal and her friends there while avoiding the forest's lost children, the Milk Carton Kids, and their leader, Animus—a bitterly malevolent runaway cloaked in a tattered teddy bear suit.
Mallory Bash provides examples of:
- Art Shift: When characters are at a distance, you'll often see only the whites of their eyes, no mouth, simplified anatomy, and diminished stature.
- Badass Adorable: Mallory is a cute, quirky, gap-toothed little ginger, but she also has a temper that gets her into trouble when she goes full tilt. Saki is quiet and intelligent, but she also has some intense martial arts skills, and regularly trains with her father, who was a Japanese Marine.
- Cute Bruiser: For all the same reasons mentioned above.
- Deadpan Snarker: Isaac's brother, Dustin, is often one to point out absurdity in the arrogance of his father and the merciless idiocy of his father's girlfriend. He's got a witty retort for everything, but he only uses his powers for good. He's sweet and genuine to good people.
- Deceased Parents Are the Best: Mallory's parents died when she was very young. She's guarded by her grandfather, Odran, and spends some of the series learning who her parents were when they were alive.
- Greasy Spoon: One of the most common tropes of Mallory Bash is the treasure trove of strange and absurd restaurants, including: ¡Ay Dios Taco!, Burger Czar, Big Figaro's Pizzarrhea, Nero's Gyros, and the Pork N' Hork.
- Innocently Insensitive: Mallory is one to point out the flaws of others without meaning offense. Although sometimes she does mean offense.
- Little Miss Badass: Mallory is an adventurous ten-year-old girl, and has above-average detective skills.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Isaac! He's literally a lonely rich kid. His father is a misogynistic billionaire playboy who gives little attention to Isaac, and when he does, it's generally critical.
- Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Mallory and Isaac.
- No Mouth: When characters are at a distance, sometimes you will see no mouth. Saki is also often depicted, even at close range, with no mouth. It lends to her stoic personality.
- Parental Obliviousness: Mallory's grandfather, Odran, is often oblivious to Mallory's adventures until it's too late.
- Parental Substitute: Mallory's guardian is her grandfather, Odran. Her parents died when she was very young.
- Plot Coupon: In Season Two, Mallory must find her mother's urn so she can take it to the Dreaming Tree in Brookwood Forest and resolve the entire season's conflict.
- Scary Shiny Glasses: When Saki is being vacant, menacing, or contriving, the shiny-glasses effect is used. Often for comedic effect.
- Tell Me About My Father: Mallory's parents are dead, and she's on the path to discovering who they were as people, but Odran is somewhat secretive in order to protect Mallory from certain truths that he's not sure she's ready for.
- Token Trio: The primary cast is Mallory, Isaac, and Saki. Mallory is a white ginger, Isaac is a white blond, and Saki is an Afro-Japanese girl with an afro haircut. Mallory is the leader, with great detective skills and a reckless taste for adventure. Isaac is a shy rich boy who tries desperately to be weird because he's afraid of being boring. Saki is quiet and intelligent, but also the brawler of the group due to her father's martial arts training.
- Two Girls and a Guy: Mallory, Saki, and Isaac.
