Superline (sometimes stylized as SUPERLINE!) is a webcomic written by diddle-ex-machina on Tumblr that began updating December 3, 2017. It follows the FDR Memorial High School Marching Band’s drumline and drum majors after they discover that they have superpowers. As of May 19, 2018, the author chose to put regular updates of Superline Volume 1 on hiatus, and instead jump ahead to work on Volume 3. The beginning of Volume 1 can be read here
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Tropes used in “Superline” include:
- Alternate Identity Amnesia: Jacob blacks out after transforming into Radical Jacob and does not retain any of his alter ego’s memories, and vice versa.
- Bad Powers, Good People: Shadow manipulation is a stereotypical “bad guy” power, but Maria is one of the friendliest characters in the comic.
- Colour-Coded Emotions: Erin’s emotion manipulation powers manifest physically through bursts of multicolored sparks, the color of the sparks correlating to various emotions. As a subset of these powers, Erin's eyes also chage colors when she feels a certain emotion strongly.
- Does Not Know His Own Strength: Logan has a tendency to break everything he touches, from door handles to drumsticks.
- How Do I Shot Web?: It takes a LOT of time and training for the line to get their powers under control enough to even keep them hidden.
- Inexplicably Identical Individuals: In addition to a striking physical resemblance, both Caleb and Max are rowers, play a string instrument, and have aspirations of becoming a drum major.
- Life Embellished: The author of this comic was in marching band herself, so the events and characters are based on her own experiences (with a few minor changes).
- Magic Meteor: At the beginning of the comic, the line gets their powers after discovering a mysterious space rock in the middle of the woods.
- Power-Strain Blackout: After discovering his powers for the first time and attempting to copy three different power sets in a very short amount of time, Domenick passes out from overexertion.
- Pstandard Psychic Pstance: Even though she technically doesn’t need to, Erin will sometimes do this while reading someone’s mind because Rule of Cool.
- Required Secondary Powers:
- Matt cannot be burned or affected by smoke.
- Logan has Super-Strength and also has superhuman durability so he can lift heavy objects without injuring himself.
- Sleepyhead: Collin can (and often does) fall asleep anytime, anywhere, no matter what is going on around him.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Even when he isn’t using his powers, Collin has a tendency to sneak up on people (usually on accident) or be in the room one second and gone the next.
- Wake Up, Go to School & Save the World: A decent chunk of the comic takes place at school, although the line's school day is often interrupted by missions.
- Webcomic Time: Superline's events take place over the course of several marching band seasons (about three months each), but the comic itself only updated bi-weekly.
- With Great Power Comes Great Perks: The first time we see Harris using his powers, he’s cloning himself so that he can skip a test and get himself a coffee.
