History ComicBook / PS238

* MemeticBadass: In universe -- as Moon Shadow, Tyler somehow gains a huge cult following at the school who equate him to the superhero version of Chuck Norris, including everyone thinking he has a ton of powers he doesn't really have. Tyler is understandably very confused about it.

* TooMuchInformation: [[http://ps238.nodwick.com/?p=235 EEEEEEWWWW!]]

Created by Aaron Williams, who is also known as the maker of ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'' and ''Webcomic/FullFrontalNerdity'' -- all of which can be viewed [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/index.htm here]] -- it has been described as "Take the kids from [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Springfield Elementary]], give them ComicBook/{{X-Men}} powers, and send 'em to [[Franchise/HarryPotter Hogwarts]]."

* BerserkButton: [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2011-04-20 Don't rip Julie Finsters' cape]].

* DroolHello: When Malphast [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2008-06-20 accidentally summon a tentacled thing]], it naturally drools on Tyler.

* PimpDuds: As a practical joke, [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2010-04-28 some tampering with Zodon's holographic disguise]] makes him look like he's wearing Pimp Duds.

* SuperRegistrationAct: Averted. None is enforced, though many superheroes choose to anyhow. One of the early comics, a mock advertisement, indicates that [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2006-12-10 "full disclosure gains access to scholarships, grants, and placement assistance"]].

* TooMuchInformation: [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2007-06-04 EEEEEEWWWW!]]

* UnusualEuphemism (mixed with TongueTied): Whenever Zodon tries to cuss, the chip in his head causes him to say a random innocuous word instead. If he goes on a [[ClusterFBomb rant-length obscenity crawl]], it switches into "Showtunes Mode"... "{{Oklahoma}}", for example. Or "ManOfLaMancha"... Or "Theatre/TheMusicMan". {{Lampshaded}} by Victor Von Fogg once.[[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2009-09-16 "And you swear like a G-rated sailor."]]

* WriteWhoYouKnow: Every one of the class' 'creative writing' exercises is a story that is rather transparently about the person who wrote it (Though Tyler's classmates don't see this in his story about Moon Shadow). Most of them are describing events that actually happened.

Created by Aaron Williams, who is also known as the maker of ''{{Webcomic/Nodwick}}'' and ''Webcomic/FullFrontalNerdity'' -- all of which can be viewed [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/index.htm here]] -- it has been described as "Take the kids from [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Springfield Elementary]], give them {{ComicBook/X-Men}} powers, and send 'em to [[Franchise/HarryPotter Hogwarts]]."

Originally a print comic, Aaron has followed the example of [[Webcomic/GirlGenius the Foglios]] and released it as a webcomic, but the free online version is still well behind the print-version. Recently, a licensed RolePlayingGame using the ''[[{{TabletopGame/Champions}} Hero System]]'' has been published.

Name a superhero-related trope. ''Any'' superhero-related trope.

** The Revenant, Tyler's mentor (who bears a [[CaptainErsatz striking resemblance]] to {{Franchise/Batman}}/MoonKnight, right down to most powered heroes not trusting him or thinking he's crazy).

* CaptainErsatz: ''[=PS238=]'' is ''made out of'' this trope. Two of the more outstanding examples are [[{{Franchise/Superman}} Atlas]] and [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Emerald Gauntlet]], although both have developed points of distinction from the originals as the series progresses. Among the students, there's also [[ComicBook/TheSandman "Murphy"]], the "Prince of Daydreams" (whose older sister is often mentioned in passing...), and [[DoctorDoom Victor Von Fogg]], heir of the Von Fogg family of supervillains.

* ConspiracyTheorist: Cecil Holmes. He actually gets pretty close to figuring out the truth about [=PS238=], but Tyler derails him with alien stuff. Ironically, Cecil can unconsciously detect superpowered beings (who he thinks are aliens) unless they are, in fact, aliens. He thinks Propero, the resident alien kid, is a normal, if weird and foreign, kid.

* CrossOver: In issue 39 it was revealed that the events of ''{{Webcomic/Nodwick}}'' take place in the distant past of ''[=PS238=]''. Thanks to some time-travelling and a PredestinationParadox, some of the characters from ''[=PS238=]'' briefly meet the main characters from ''Nodwick''.

** Flea, who is probably a collective CaptainErsatz of similar characters {{Deadpool}} and AmbushBug. (He also has elements of {{Spider-Man}}, {{the Tick}}, and the most recent BlueBeetle -- there's a whole big arthropod-themed hero mashup going on here.)

* IntercontinuityCrossover: Sort of -- the Revenant was created by MichaelStackpole for the TabletopGame ''{{TabletopGame/Champions}}'' and was "donated" to the ''[=PS238=]''-verse. The Stackpole version also appears in the short story "Peer Review" and in ''InHeroYearsImDead''. The Revenant mentions this role-playing game to Tyler in passing.

* LittleProfessorDialogue: From GadgeteerGenius kids, supernatural kids, and [[PatrioticFervor politically backed]] kids.

* OurGhostsAreDifferent

** Spell Syrin tells off her magic students for trying to start a [[Franchise/HarryPotter Quidditch]] game.

** Tyler finds himself in a ''{{Film/Tron}}'' costume from his clone's superpowers leaking out.

* StrangerInAStrangeSchool: Tyler doesn't pretend to be anything else, but between the fact that both his parents are legendary superheroes and the school being a constant WeirdnessMagnet, he has no choice but to become an ActionSurvivor in order to, well, survive. Currently in training to become BadassNormal.

* [[KilledMidSentence Teleported Away Mid-Sentence]]: [[spoiler:Charles]] tends to do this.

* UnusualEuphemism (mixed with TongueTied): Whenever Zodon tries to cuss, the chip in his head causes him to say a random innocuous word instead. If he goes on a [[ClusterFBomb rant-length obscenity crawl]], it switches into "Showtunes Mode"... "{{Oklahoma}}", for example. Or "ManOfLaMancha"... Or "Theatre/TheMusicMan". {{Lampshaded}} by Victor Von Fogg once.[[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2009-09-16 "And you swear like a G-rated sailor."]]

* {{Wingdinglish}}: Alien tongues are in strange font, but otherwise readable. Prospero's walls of text in his introductory chapters starts off with "If you can read this" and goes on with MontyPython quotes, a recipe, etc, to avoid heavy spoilers, but in the rest of the series, his utterings are often hilarious. (some of them are available [[http://forcesinbalance.livejournal.com/651.html here]].)

* XMeetsY: As mentioned in the description, this has been described as "Take the kids from [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Springfield Elementary]], give them {{ComicBook/X-Men}} powers, and send 'em to [[Franchise/HarryPotter Hogwarts.]]"

!!Provides Examples Of:

* CaptainErsatz: ''[=PS238=]'' is ''made out of'' this trope. Two of the more outstanding examples are [[{{Franchise/Superman}} Atlas]] and [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Emerald Gauntlet]], although both have developed points of distinction from the originals as the series progresses. Among the students, there's also [[ComicBook/TheSandman "Murphy"]], the "Prince of Daydreams" (whose older sister is often mentioned in passing...), and [[DoctorDoom Victor VonFogg]], heir of the [=VonFogg=] family of supervillains.

* ConspiracyTheorist: Cecil Holmes. He actually gets pretty close to figuring out the truth about [=PS238=], but Tyler derails him with alien stuff.
** Ironically Cecil can unconsciously detect superpowered beings (who he thinks are aliens) unless they are, in fact, aliens. He thinks Propero, the resident alien kid, is a normal, if weird and foreign, kid.

* CutLexLuthorACheck: The Crystal Skull, an ex-supervillain, has since turned his intellect to taking money from people legally, and runs one of the higher-class casinos in Las Vegas.
** A minor supervillain known as The Headmaster (No connection to the Headmaster of Praetorian Academy), who had the power to detach his head and throw it at people, retired from a fairly unsuccessful life of crime to become the spokesman for a chain of bowling alleys.
* DaddysLittleVillain: [[spoiler:Alexandria von Fogg, Victor's sister and a student at the Praetorian Academy.]]

* FantasyKitchenSink: As usual for a Superhero setting, they have {{Mutants}}, [[FunctionalMagic magic]], aliens, [[PhysicalGod gods]], beings from AnotherDimension, [[TimeTravel time travellers]], and SchizoTech galore.

* MalignedMixedMarriage: Malphast's parents, an angel and a demon who have kept their relationship, and particularly the fact that it has issue, secret because they expect unpleasant consequences if they're found out.
** It turns out that their superiors had known all along.

* PaperThinDisguise: In the ''[=PS238=]'' universe, a simple mask can fool your best friends and family into thinking you're a completely different person. Tyler is highly worried by the implications this has. Notably, it only seems to work on people who are part of the whole "superhero" shtick -- even teachers and super-intellects are fooled by it, but Cecil isn't.
** Cecil has jokingly suggested that Tyler's inexplicable ability to not be recognized by any of his metahuman acquaintances when dressed as Moon Shadow is his superpower.

* RunningGag: Whenever anyone new shows up, Zodon and [=VonFogg=] will hand them minion application forms sooner rather than later.

* SpecialGuest: In a very bizarre but hilarious situation, WilWheaton guest stars in the comic about superpower career day, as the representative of meta-humans who go into the Entertainment industry. In the ''[=PS238=]'' universe, he not only played Wesley but single-handedly used his psychokinetic superpowers to do most of the special effects for ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', which apparently helped cancel out some of his character being [[CreatorsPet Creator's Pets]] in this universe. Zodon still hates him, though.

* UnusualEuphemism (mixed with TongueTied): Whenever Zodon tries to cuss, the chip in his head causes him to say a random innocuous word instead. If he goes on a [[ClusterFBomb rant-length obscenity crawl]], it switches into "Showtunes Mode"... "{{Oklahoma}}", for example. Or "ManOfLaMancha"... Or "Theatre/TheMusicMan". {{Lampshaded}} by Victor [=VonFogg=] once.[[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2009-09-16 "And you swear like a G-rated sailor."]]

* WiseBeyondTheirYears:

* SpecialGuest: In a very bizarre but hilarious situation, WilWheaton guest stars in the comic about superpower career day, as the representative of meta-humans who go into the Entertainment industry. In the ''[=PS238=]'' universe, he not only played Wesley but single-handedly used his psychokinetic superpowers to do most of the special effects for ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', which apparently helped cancel out some of his character being [[CreatorsPet Creator's Pets]] in this universe. Zodon still hates him, though.

!!''[=PS238=]'' provides examples of the following tropes:

* IJustWantToBeNormal: Captain Clarinet.[[spoiler:... Or so you'd think. Subverted ''hard''.]]

* BadBadActing: When Zodon sarcastically "acts" to keep up the illusion of being a normal child: "Oh, ow, ow, ow. My innards. I fear I shall never recover." Cue FacePalm from Ms. Kyle.

* {{Hologram}}: Those [=PS238=] students who can't just change into normal clothes (because they're part-machine, or bright blue, or whatever) get image emitters to help them blend in with the oblivious above-ground {{muggle}}s.

Created by Aaron Williams, who is also known as the maker of ''{{Webcomic/Nodwick}}'' and ''FullFrontalNerdity'' -- all of which can be viewed [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/index.htm here]] -- it has been described as "Take the kids from [[TheSimpsons Springfield Elementary]], give them Comicbook/{{X-Men}} powers, and send 'em to [[HarryPotter Hogwarts]]."

Basically concerned with the general, superpowered going-ons of a school filled with superpowered children (most of whom are the children of {{Lawyer Friendly Cameo}}s of various well-known [[MarvelUniverse Marvel]] and [[TheDCU DC]] heroes), ''PS238'' follows a small core cast of about ten to twelve kids, with plenty more who make cameos. The closest thing the series has to a protagonist is Tyler Marlocke, the notably only non-superpowered student on campus.

Originally a print comic, Aaron has followed the example of [[Webcomic/GirlGenius The Foglios]] and released it as a webcomic, but the free online version is still well behind the print-version. Recently, a licensed RolePlayingGame using the ''[[{{TabletopGame/Champions}} Hero System]]'' has been published.

!!''[=PS238=]'' provides examples of:

Name a superhero-related trope. ANY superhero-related trope.

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Anything to do with Order and Chaos.
-->'''Lord of Order:''' When you observe the actions of an ''imp'' and ''cherub'' who influence the clone of [[spoiler:Tyler Marlocke]]...
-->'''Lord of Chaos:''' ...what you see them doing isn't truly ''real''. It's just how your eyes try to explain what's going on to your brain, which is sensitive and doesn't do metaphysical stuff if it can avoid it.

* TheAtoner: Cranston is attempting this [[spoiler: but Toby may have inadvertently messed this up for him as a side-effect of his RealityWarper powers.]] Depending on how closely you're reading, the scene is either an OhCrap moment or a moment of FridgeBrilliance, because [[spoiler: neither Toby nor Tyler realize the significance of the exchange demanded by Toby's powers, and thus Toby's statement passes without comment]].

** The Revenant, Tyler's mentor (who bears a [[CaptainErsatz striking resemblance]] to {{Batman}}/{{Moon Knight}}, right down to most powered heroes not trusting him or thinking he's crazy).

* CaptainErsatz: ''[=PS238=]'' is ''made out of'' this trope. Two of the more outstanding examples are [[{{ComicBook/Superman}} Atlas]] and [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Emerald Gauntlet]], although both have developed points of distinction from the originals as the series progresses. Among the students, there's also [[ComicBook/TheSandman "Murphy"]], the "Prince of Daydreams" (whose older sister is often mentioned in passing...), and [[DoctorDoom Victor VonFogg]], heir of the [=VonFogg=] family of supervillains.

* ConspiracyTheorist: Cecil Holmes. He actually gets pretty close to figuring out the truth about PS238, but Tyler derails him with alien stuff.

** [[spoiler:Cecil goes for a "trip" with Malphast and ends up with a pair of wings (plus a lot of other EldritchAbomination traits that were suppressed).]]

* GadgeteerGenius: Herschel Clay/[[spoiler:Mantium]]

** Revenant's Alfred [[CaptainErsatz Ersatz]] is named Cranston, most likely a reference to Lamont Cranston, a.k.a. TheShadow. The Revenant also uses the alias Kent Allard, which happens to be another secret Identity of TheShadow.

** Tyler uses the StargateVerse to convince Cecil that one of the "aliens" is on their side.

* UnusualEuphemism (mixed with TongueTied): Whenever Zodon tries to cuss, the chip in his head causes him to say a random innocuous word instead. If he goes on a [[ClusterFBomb rant-length obscenity crawl]], it switches into "Showtunes Mode"... "{{Oklahoma}}", for example. Or "ManOfLaMancha"... Or "Theatre/TheMusicMan".

** {{Lampshaded}} by Victor Von Fogg once. [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2009-09-16 "And you swear like a G-rated sailor."]]

* XMeetsY: As mentioned in the description, this has been described as "Take the kids from [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Springfield Elementary]], give them {{ComicBook/X-Men}} powers, and send 'em to [[Literature/HarryPotter Hogwarts.]]"

* ConspiracyTheorist: Cecil Holmes

* HiveMind: The Commonality.

* BerserkButton: [[http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ps238/comics/index.php?date=2011-04-20 Don't rip Julie Finsters cape]].

* CrossOver: In issue 39 it was revealed that the events of ''''{{Webcomic/Nodwick}}'' take place in the distant past of ''[=PS238=]''. Thanks to some time-travelling and a PredestinationParadox, some of the characters from ''[=PS238=]'' briefly meet the main characters from ''Nodwick''.

-->'''Dylan:'''I consider this an assault on my basic freedoms and liberty.

* LookMaNoPlane: Captain Clarinet starts out with a pathological fear of flying, due to having repeated nightmares of being sucked into a jet-engine. It doesn't particularly improve matters when Zodon "helpfully" reminds him that his invulnerability ensures that, should that happen, he'd come out on the other side unscattered... while the plane plummets to the ground in flames with the passengers aboard. ... And then Zodon plays a "practical joke" on him that results in it happening in real life. It backfires spectacularly in that it ends up curing the good captain of his phobia instead of compounding it when is forced to use his flight to put the damaged plane down safely.

* MemeticBadass: In universe - as Moon Shadow Tyler somehow gains a huge cult following at the school who equate him to the superhero version of Chuck Norris, including everyone thinking he has a ton of powers he doesn't really have. Tyler is understandably very confused about it.

** Bernard has a [[{{Webcomic/PvP}} Skull]] doll.
** Spell Syrin tells off her magic students for trying to start a [[Literature/HarryPotter Quidditch]] game.

** When Alec's drawing causes the Headmaster's computer to crash, it begins to sing [[TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey "Daisy, Daisy"]].

Originally a print comic, Aaron has followed the example of [[Webcomic/GirlGenius The Foglios]] and released it as a webcomic, but the free online version is still well behind the print-version. Recently, a licensed RolePlayingGame using the ''[[TabletopGame/Champions Hero System]]'' has been published.

* BlessedWithSuck: Lyle is another example. He can't turn off his ability to "see patterns in things" and he spends most of his time in a featureless white room to keep his brain from overloading. On the other hand, he is effectively omniscient and at one point he [[spoiler:begins to set into motion a complicated scheme to allow himself and his classmates to escape unharmed from a pair of dangerous kidnappers several issues before the kidnappers have even decided to show up.]]

* BlessedWithSuck
** Guardian Angel is an arguable example. Though her invulnerability field makes her, well, invulnerable, it also [[spoiler:means her immune system never developed properly. When Rainmaker temporarily shut off her powers and left her in the rain, she caught a bad cold and ''died''. [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Sort of]]. The doctors couldn't do anything because her returned powers blocked them]]. [[spoiler:[[IGotBetter She got better]]. It's a little vague if her powers work the same way now, though.]]
** Lyle is another example. He can't turn off his ability to "see patterns in things" and he spends most of his time in a featureless white room to keep his brain from overloading. On the other hand, he is effectively omniscient and at one point he [[spoiler:begins to set into motion a complicated scheme to allow himself and his classmates to escape unharmed from a pair of dangerous kidnappers several issues before the kidnappers have even decided to show up.]]