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How To Create A Works Page: "Things not to include: quality judgements (don't say how much it sucked/how awesome it was), critical reception (that's just a specific variant of quality judgements), recommendations (don't tell us whether or not we should check it out)"
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In 2018, the character was introduced to the main DC Universe in an issue of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRebirth'', to generally negative reactions from fans of the original series.
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In 2018, the character was introduced to the main DC Universe in an issue of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRebirth'', to generally negative reactions from fans of the original series.
''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRebirth''.
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* EldritchLocation: The Immateria is essentially the afterlife, the collective unconscious, the omnipresence of god, the metaphysical form of the universe and the human soul all rolled into one, so of course it can be one hell of a head trip navigating it.
* EmotionBomb: Because the Immateria are the memes and images of public consciousness without the filters that mankind is accustomed to, being within the physical vicinity of such symbols overwhelming the senses. For instance, the Weeping Gorilla is a cultural meme meant to make people experience sadness, so being within the vicinity of the Weeping Gorilla causes one to sob uncontrollably.
* EmotionBomb: Because the Immateria are the memes and images of public consciousness without the filters that mankind is accustomed to, being within the physical vicinity of such symbols overwhelming the senses. For instance, the Weeping Gorilla is a cultural meme meant to make people experience sadness, so being within the vicinity of the Weeping Gorilla causes one to sob uncontrollably.
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* EnlightenmentSuperpowers: Following with the theme of Hermetic spiritualism, magic (and those who wield it) is implied to be a power that everyone is capable of doing with an open enough mind through the use of symbols and art, the various incarnations of Promethea coming into existence through such means.
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* FreeLoveFuture: Implied to be one of the various outcomes of Prometheus's "apocalypse" AfterTheEnd.
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* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Creator/AleisterCrowley and his associates make various appearances throughout the comic's run.
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* OurDemonsAreDifferent: The various demons present are depicted in various forms, the Smee being a LivingShadow, Asmodeus shifting from a giant spider into a human form and the TheLegionsOfHell looking like the sort of things you would find among Jacques Collin de Plancy's illustrations of the ''Dictionnaire Infernal''.
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* RedIsViolent: Geburah is one of the branches of the Kabbalah, representing the universal qualities of strength, judgement, the planet Mars, the element of fire and the domain of {{War God}}s and enactors of justice. The entire area is illustrated with harsh red and black illuminated with flames, and being within it for too long influences Sophie and Barbara into a more aggressive state of mind, eventually losing track of themselves and accidentally falling into the domain of Asmodeus.
--> '''Sophie:''' Barbara, when I think of all the scum injustices ''hurting'' people, my wrath is ''mighty''.
--> '''Sophie:''' Barbara, when I think of all the scum injustices ''hurting'' people, my wrath is ''mighty''.
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* BodyBackUpDrive: [[spoiler:This is the secret of the Painted Doll's JokerImmunity - he's actually a series of robots, with a new one activated whenever the previous one is destroyed. At the climax, all of the currently dormant ones get simultaneously activated, and kill each other until only one is left.]]
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In 2018, the character was introduced to the main DC Universe in an issue of ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmericaRebirth'', to generally negative reactions from fans of the original series.
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* AntiHeroSubstitute: Stacia and Grace take over from Sophie as a SplitPersonalityTeam in the physical world during Sophie's quest into the Immateria. They have a somewhat more violent and hedonistic attitude to things, and end up fighting with Sophie when she gets back.
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* SexMagic: One issue of consisted entirely of a sex magic ritual between the hero Sophie Bangs and her TricksterMentor Jack Faust.
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* TheVerse: Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by Creator/AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
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* TheVerse: Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by Creator/AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen ComicBook/TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
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How To Create A Works Page explicitly says "No bolding is used for work titles."
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'''''Promethea''''' (1999-2005) was an award-winning comic book series by Creator/AlanMoore, published by Creator/AmericasBestComics. Sorry, we're probably going to have to be more specific, huh?
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* ShoutOut: Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
** Also references to everything from ConanTheBarbarian (Stacia) to Literature/TheBible (Solomon).
** Also references to everything from ConanTheBarbarian (Stacia) to Literature/TheBible (Solomon).
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* ShoutOut: ShoutOut:
** Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
**Also There are references to everything from ConanTheBarbarian Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian (Stacia) to Literature/TheBible (Solomon).
** Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
**
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Promethea (1999-2005) was an award-winning comic book series by Creator/AlanMoore, published by Creator/AmericasBestComics. Sorry, we're probably going to have to be more specific, huh?
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* Odd-Shaped Panel: Frequently used in the mystic realms.
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* Odd-Shaped Panel: OddShapedPanel: Frequently used in the mystic realms.
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* MonsterClown: Dollface of course.
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* MonsterClown: Dollface The Painted Doll, of course.
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* VillainWithGoodPublicity: The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity omnipath".
** His publicity is ''too'' good. [[spoiler: One of his incarnations gets mobbed to death by fans wanting to be killed by him.]]
** His publicity is ''too'' good. [[spoiler: One of his incarnations gets mobbed to death by fans wanting to be killed by him.]]
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* VillainWithGoodPublicity: VillainWithGoodPublicity:
** The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrityomnipath".
** Hisomnipath". In fact, his publicity is ''too'' good. [[spoiler: One of his incarnations gets mobbed to death by fans wanting to be killed by him.]]
** The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity
** His
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* EthnicScrappy: The ''Little Margie'' strips spoof this with Chinky, a ridiculously racist Chinese caricature. The Little Margie comic started in ''1901''; realistically, it probably could have been much worse.[[invoked]]
** Although within ''Promethea'' itself Chinky only appears in Moore's prose prologue to the series, Steve Moore (no relation to Alan), in ''Tomorrow Stories'', included him in two SpinOff ''Little Margie'' tales in the form of ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-style NewspaperComics. The first tale plays the trope straight; the second [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it by having Chinky [[spoiler: reveal himself in his true form as a non-stereotypical Chinese prince, Ching-Ki]].
** Although within ''Promethea'' itself Chinky only appears in Moore's prose prologue to the series, Steve Moore (no relation to Alan), in ''Tomorrow Stories'', included him in two SpinOff ''Little Margie'' tales in the form of ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-style NewspaperComics. The first tale plays the trope straight; the second [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it by having Chinky [[spoiler: reveal himself in his true form as a non-stereotypical Chinese prince, Ching-Ki]].
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* TheScrappy: Little Margie is an in-universe example. As the fictional creation of Margaret, she's stuck [[TagalongKid hanging around]] for eternity in the Immateria with her and the other deceased Promethea hosts, and her ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-like exclamations get on their nerves.[[invoked]]
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Moved to YMMV
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* EthnicScrappy: The ''Little Margie'' strips spoof this with Chinky, a ridiculously racist Chinese caricature. The Little Margie comic started in ''1901''; realistically, it probably could have been much worse.[[invoked]]
** Although within ''Promethea'' itself Chinky only appears in Moore's prose prologue to the series, Steve Moore (no relation to Alan), in ''Tomorrow Stories'', included him in two SpinOff ''Little Margie'' tales in the form of ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-style NewspaperComics. The first tale plays the trope straight; the second [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it by having Chinky [[spoiler: reveal himself in his true form as a non-stereotypical Chinese prince, Ching-Ki]].
** Although within ''Promethea'' itself Chinky only appears in Moore's prose prologue to the series, Steve Moore (no relation to Alan), in ''Tomorrow Stories'', included him in two SpinOff ''Little Margie'' tales in the form of ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-style NewspaperComics. The first tale plays the trope straight; the second [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it by having Chinky [[spoiler: reveal himself in his true form as a non-stereotypical Chinese prince, Ching-Ki]].
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* TheScrappy: Little Margie is an in-universe example. As the fictional creation of Margaret, she's stuck [[TagalongKid hanging around]] for eternity in the Immateria with her and the other deceased Promethea hosts, and her ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-like exclamations get on their nerves.[[invoked]]
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Big Badass Wolf is no longer a trope. It has been replaced with an index for Wolf Tropes. Problems with the five man band: 1.) The Hero has been replaced by the Leader. 2.) No one can have more than one role 3.) The Chick can\'t be male. 4. Unless the Prometheas work together, they don\'t count.
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->"There are 1000 comic books on the shelves that don't contain a philosophy lecture and one that does. Isn't there room for that one?"
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->"There are 1000 1,000 comic books on the shelves that don't contain a philosophy lecture and one that does. Isn't there room for that one?"
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* AuthorAppeal: Creator/AlanMoore pretty much used the series to write about one of his favorite subjects, the western magic tradition.
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* AuthorAppeal: Creator/AlanMoore pretty much used the series to write about one of his favorite subjects, the western magic tradition.
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* BigBadassWolf
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* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys (well apes, technically): The Weeping Gorilla.
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* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys (well apes, (apes, technically): The Weeping Gorilla.
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* FiveManBand:
** The Five Swell Guys, the city's resident science heroes. One of them hasn't physically [[GenderBender qualified as a guy]] for quite some time though.
*** TheHero: Bob, though more officially than in practice.
*** TheLancer /TheBigGuy / TheChick: Roger.
*** TheSmartGuy: Marv/Kenneth.
*** TheBigGuy / TheSmartGuy: Stan.
*** TheChick: technically Roger, but Kenneth fits rather better.
** The various incarnations of Promethea that are active in the story also form a pretty solid band (though there are several additional positions filled beyond the standard five):
*** TheHero: Sophie
*** TheLancer / TheSmartGuy: Grace
*** TheBigGuy: Barbara (BoisterousBruiser variety)
*** TheChick: Anna
*** TheHeart: Bill (really is the nicest of the Prometheas)
*** TeamMom: Margaret
*** TagalongKid: Little Margie
** The Five Swell Guys, the city's resident science heroes. One of them hasn't physically [[GenderBender qualified as a guy]] for quite some time though.
*** TheHero: Bob, though more officially than in practice.
*** TheLancer /TheBigGuy / TheChick: Roger.
*** TheSmartGuy: Marv/Kenneth.
*** TheBigGuy / TheSmartGuy: Stan.
*** TheChick: technically Roger, but Kenneth fits rather better.
** The various incarnations of Promethea that are active in the story also form a pretty solid band (though there are several additional positions filled beyond the standard five):
*** TheHero: Sophie
*** TheLancer / TheSmartGuy: Grace
*** TheBigGuy: Barbara (BoisterousBruiser variety)
*** TheChick: Anna
*** TheHeart: Bill (really is the nicest of the Prometheas)
*** TeamMom: Margaret
*** TagalongKid: Little Margie
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* GenderBender: While Promethea is always female, one of the incarnations was actually male, and transformed when needed - the fact that he was a gay man was a factor in some unfortunate circumstances. There's also one of the Five Swell Guys, who seems to have suffered a [[MandysLawOfAnimeGenderBending permanent one-way transformation to female]]
to:
* GenderBender: While Promethea is always female, one of the incarnations was actually male, and transformed when needed - the fact that he was a gay man was a factor in some unfortunate circumstances. There's also one of the Five Swell Guys, who seems to have suffered a [[MandysLawOfAnimeGenderBending [[FirstLawOfGenderbending permanent one-way transformation to female]]
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* AuthorAppeal: AlanMoore pretty much used the series to write about one of his favorite subjects, the western magic tradition.
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* AuthorAppeal: AlanMoore Creator/AlanMoore pretty much used the series to write about one of his favorite subjects, the western magic tradition.
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* TheVerse: Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
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* TheVerse: Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by AlanMoore Creator/AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
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* RealPersonCameo: repeatedly, especially [[spoiler: the near-ubiquitous AleisterCrowley]]. Toward the end, [[spoiler: [[BreakingTheFourthWall Moore and series artist [=J.H.=] Williams [=III=]]]]] also have a one-panel cameo each.
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* RealPersonCameo: repeatedly, especially [[spoiler: the near-ubiquitous AleisterCrowley]].Creator/AleisterCrowley]]. Toward the end, [[spoiler: [[BreakingTheFourthWall Moore and series artist [=J.H.=] Williams [=III=]]]]] also have a one-panel cameo each.
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** [[spoiler: AleisterCrowley]] smiles and makes an "Oh well, I tried" gesture at the reader after Sophie rejects his lewd proposition.
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** [[spoiler: AleisterCrowley]] Creator/AleisterCrowley]] smiles and makes an "Oh well, I tried" gesture at the reader after Sophie rejects his lewd proposition.
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added Monster Clown if thats okay.
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* MonsterClown: Dollface of course.
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* NoSenseOfHumor: One of the female [=FBI=] agents, [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous named]] LucilleBall.
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* NoSenseOfHumor: One of the female [=FBI=] agents, [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous named]] LucilleBall.Creator/LucilleBall.
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Promethea (1999-2005) was an award-winning comic book series by Creator/AlanMoore. Sorry, we're probably going to have to be more specific, huh?
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Promethea (1999-2005) was an award-winning comic book series by Creator/AlanMoore.Creator/AlanMoore, published by Creator/AmericasBestComics. Sorry, we're probably going to have to be more specific, huh?
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* FoeYay: Promethea and [[spoiler: Jack Faust]].
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* HoYay (mostly LesYay)
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--> "'All shall kiss my smouldering hoof', said the Mayor in a statement yesterday."
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--> "'All shall kiss my smouldering hoof', said "'Hail Satan!', quipped the Mayor in a statement yesterday.increasingly popular Mayor."
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* {{Expy}}: The Painted Doll inevitably reminds one of the [[{{Batman}} Joker]].
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* {{Expy}}: The Painted Doll inevitably reminds one of the [[{{Batman}} Joker]].SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.
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** [[spoiler: AleisterCrowley]] smiles and makes an "oh well, I tried" gesture at the reader after Sophie rejects his lewd proposition.
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** [[spoiler: AleisterCrowley]] smiles and makes an "oh "Oh well, I tried" gesture at the reader after Sophie rejects his lewd proposition.
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* ClicheStorm - The entire point of the Weeping Gorilla, an in-universe comic book character whose only function is to spout such maudlin, commonplace sayings as "Why do pets have to die?" and "I hate my body."[[invoked]]
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* ClicheStorm - ClicheStorm: The entire point of the Weeping Gorilla, an in-universe comic book character whose only function is to spout such maudlin, commonplace sayings as "Why do pets have to die?" and "I hate my body."[[invoked]]
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* {{Expy}} - The Painted Doll inevitably reminds one of the [[{{Batman}} Joker]].
* FiveManBand -
* FiveManBand -
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* {{Expy}} - {{Expy}}: The Painted Doll inevitably reminds one of the [[{{Batman}} Joker]].
*FiveManBand -FiveManBand:
*
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* FoeYay - Promethea and [[spoiler: Jack Faust]].
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* FoeYay - FoeYay: Promethea and [[spoiler: Jack Faust]].
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* GenderBender - While Promethea is always female, one of the incarnations was actually male, and transformed when needed - the fact that he was a gay man was a factor in some unfortunate circumstances. There's also one of the Five Swell Guys, who seems to have suffered a [[MandysLawOfAnimeGenderBending permanent one-way transformation to female]]
to:
* GenderBender - GenderBender: While Promethea is always female, one of the incarnations was actually male, and transformed when needed - the fact that he was a gay man was a factor in some unfortunate circumstances. There's also one of the Five Swell Guys, who seems to have suffered a [[MandysLawOfAnimeGenderBending permanent one-way transformation to female]]
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* IAmLegion - The Howling are a series of demons - who eventually all find an already troubled person to possess.
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* IAmLegion - IAmLegion: The Howling are a series of demons - who eventually all find an already troubled person to possess.
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* IntercourseWithYou - There was a whole issue dedicated to this, and it got an award for how it handled the subject.
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* IntercourseWithYou - IntercourseWithYou: There was a whole issue dedicated to this, and it got an award for how it handled the subject.
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* LegacyCharacter - There were several incarnations of the Promethea character, and the latest one seems to have had to deal with some common adversaries.
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* LegacyCharacter - LegacyCharacter: There were several incarnations of the Promethea character, and the latest one seems to have had to deal with some common adversaries.
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* LivingShadow - The smee.
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* LivingShadow - LivingShadow: The smee.
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* MentalWorld - Trips into the Immateria seem to qualify as this.
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* MentalWorld - MentalWorld: Trips into the Immateria seem to qualify as this.
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* ShoutOut - Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
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* ShoutOut - ShoutOut: Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
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* TheVerse - Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity - The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity omnipath".
* VillainWithGoodPublicity - The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity omnipath".
to:
* TheVerse - TheVerse: Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
*VillainWithGoodPublicity - VillainWithGoodPublicity: The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity omnipath".
*
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added comma to 2nd paragraph
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The protagonist, student Sophie Bangs, while researching a college paper discovers several references to a character named Promethea. These references are in a variety of literary works including epic poetry and comic books. Curious Sophie investigates and eventually finds Barbara Shelley, the wife of the now-deceased author of the latest incarnation of the character. Her attempt to interview Ms. Shelley is unsuccessful.
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The protagonist, student Sophie Bangs, while researching a college paper paper, discovers several references to a character named Promethea. These references are in a variety of literary works including epic poetry and comic books. Curious Sophie investigates and eventually finds Barbara Shelley, the wife of the now-deceased author of the latest incarnation of the character. Her attempt to interview Ms. Shelley is unsuccessful.
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->"There are 1000 comic books on the shelves that don't contain a philosophy lecture and one that does. Isn't there room for that one?"
-->--'''Alan Moore'''
-->--'''Alan Moore'''
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This series provides examples of:
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Promethea.jpg]]
Promethea (1999-2005) was an award-winning comic book series by Creator/AlanMoore. Sorry, we're probably going to have to be more specific, huh?
The protagonist, student Sophie Bangs, while researching a college paper discovers several references to a character named Promethea. These references are in a variety of literary works including epic poetry and comic books. Curious Sophie investigates and eventually finds Barbara Shelley, the wife of the now-deceased author of the latest incarnation of the character. Her attempt to interview Ms. Shelley is unsuccessful.
Her investigation has been noticed, and she is warned by Barbara Shelley. On her way home she's attacked by a LivingShadow, but is rescued by a curious figure - Barbara, dressed as the latest incarnation of the Promethea character.
After they escape, Barbara tells Sophie how her husband's imagination made it possible for her to become Promethea. She explains to Sophie that in ancient Egypt a magician tried to save his daughter from the religious persecution that would kill him by getting his gods to preserve her forever as a story. Barbara further explains that some authors including her husband enabled her to cross back into the material world through the power of imagination as the superhero Promethea. Barbara warns Sophie that they have only managed to slow the LivingShadow down. She suggests that Sophie try and use her creativity to summon Promethea or they are both doomed. Sophie retreats and writes about the character, imagining herself as Promethea, and succeeds in fully embodying her. She manages to fight back the creature as it returns, but her troubles have only just begun.
Now Sophie has to figure out how to be Promethea and herself. She has to learn to identify and deal with Promethea's enemies, and for that she seeks guidance from the former incarnations of Promethea. This involves journeys into the Immateria, where individual imagination and a more universal plane of ideas meet.
The series has a heavy focus on the occult, and its related spiritual and psychological questions.
----
This series provides examples of:
* ActionGirl: Most, but not all, incarnations of Promethea.
* AllMythsAreTrue
* AgentMulder: [[spoiler: Agent Brueghel, and most people on the planet, eventually]]
* AgentScully: Ball and Hansard.
* AsideGlance
** As Hermes explains to Sophie and Barbara that some gods who appear in stories may be real, he smiles at the reader.
** [[spoiler: AleisterCrowley]] smiles and makes an "oh well, I tried" gesture at the reader after Sophie rejects his lewd proposition.
* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler: Roger and Bill]]
* AuthorAppeal: AlanMoore pretty much used the series to write about one of his favorite subjects, the western magic tradition.
* AuthorCatchphrase: An implausible number of characters use the term "incidentally", all the time.
* AfterTheEnd
* BadBoss: Mayor Sonny Baskerville, when [[spoiler: possessed by the Howling]].
--> "THE ONLY PURPOSE OF YOUR MILDEW-LIKE EXISTENCE IS TO DO MY BIDDING!"
* BigBadassWolf
* BiTheWay: [[spoiler: Grace.]]
* BreakingTheFourthWall
** The Painted Doll is fond of addressing the reader, particularly after a murder.
** As TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt approaches, [[spoiler: the series writer and artist]] make cameo appearances, as does [[ItMakesSenseInContext the reader]], when [[spoiler: Promethea, in her final revelation to humankind,]] acknowledges the story she's a part of, while emphasizing it's not ''just'' a story.
* ClicheStorm - The entire point of the Weeping Gorilla, an in-universe comic book character whose only function is to spout such maudlin, commonplace sayings as "Why do pets have to die?" and "I hate my body."[[invoked]]
* ClarkKenting
* {{Crossover}}
** An issue takes place almost entirely in Tom Strong's city.
** As Promethea triggers TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, heroes from Moore's other [=ABC=] Comics titles team up in an attempt to avert it.
** The final issue of ''ComicBook/TomStrong'' parallels the [[AfterTheEnd events]] in the penultimate ''Promethea'' issue.
* DeadpanSnarker: Stacia, Barbara, Jack, Grace, Roger, agent Ball, the Doll, Boo-Boo, Sophie and Trish (sometimes)... actually, about half the cast.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt
* EthnicScrappy: The ''Little Margie'' strips spoof this with Chinky, a ridiculously racist Chinese caricature. The Little Margie comic started in ''1901''; realistically, it probably could have been much worse.[[invoked]]
** Although within ''Promethea'' itself Chinky only appears in Moore's prose prologue to the series, Steve Moore (no relation to Alan), in ''Tomorrow Stories'', included him in two SpinOff ''Little Margie'' tales in the form of ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-style NewspaperComics. The first tale plays the trope straight; the second [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it by having Chinky [[spoiler: reveal himself in his true form as a non-stereotypical Chinese prince, Ching-Ki]].
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys (well apes, technically): The Weeping Gorilla.
* {{Expy}} - The Painted Doll inevitably reminds one of the [[{{Batman}} Joker]].
* FiveManBand -
** The Five Swell Guys, the city's resident science heroes. One of them hasn't physically [[GenderBender qualified as a guy]] for quite some time though.
*** TheHero: Bob, though more officially than in practice.
*** TheLancer /TheBigGuy / TheChick: Roger.
*** TheSmartGuy: Marv/Kenneth.
*** TheBigGuy / TheSmartGuy: Stan.
*** TheChick: technically Roger, but Kenneth fits rather better.
** The various incarnations of Promethea that are active in the story also form a pretty solid band (though there are several additional positions filled beyond the standard five):
*** TheHero: Sophie
*** TheLancer / TheSmartGuy: Grace
*** TheBigGuy: Barbara (BoisterousBruiser variety)
*** TheChick: Anna
*** TheHeart: Bill (really is the nicest of the Prometheas)
*** TeamMom: Margaret
*** TagalongKid: Little Margie
* FoeYay - Promethea and [[spoiler: Jack Faust]].
* FriendlyEnemy: Jack Faust, initially introduced as an antagonist
* GenderBender - While Promethea is always female, one of the incarnations was actually male, and transformed when needed - the fact that he was a gay man was a factor in some unfortunate circumstances. There's also one of the Five Swell Guys, who seems to have suffered a [[MandysLawOfAnimeGenderBending permanent one-way transformation to female]]
* TheGhost: the Night Queen is referenced repeatedly, but never actually appears.
* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Trish, at first.
* HelloNurse: Uvula Cascade, who's also the most overt FanServicePack. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that she's a porn star.
* HermeticMagic: it's by Alan Moore, what did you expect?
* HigherSelf: Promethea herself is a higher self to the various people who embody her. The Angel Boo-Boo definitely is, [[spoiler: being the guardian angel and divine expression of the previous Promethea, Barbara Shelley]].
* HollywoodPsych
* HoYay (mostly LesYay)
* IAmLegion - The Howling are a series of demons - who eventually all find an already troubled person to possess.
* ImMrFuturePopCultureReference
* IntercourseWithYou - There was a whole issue dedicated to this, and it got an award for how it handled the subject.
* JokerImmunity: The Doll ''seems'' to have this [[spoiler: which becomes a plot point later]]
* KangarooCourt: Played with in "A Higher Court."
* KnightTemplar: The Temple, collectively.
* LaughablyEvil: The Painted Doll.
* LegacyCharacter - There were several incarnations of the Promethea character, and the latest one seems to have had to deal with some common adversaries.
* TheLegionsOfHell
* LittleRedFightingHood: A figment of Sophia's imagination that pops up when she fights the fear of wolves.
* LivingShadow - The smee.
* LovesMyAlterEgo
* MeaningfulName: [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext Sophie Bangs]]]]
* MentalWorld - Trips into the Immateria seem to qualify as this.
* [[MrExposition Mr (and Ms, and Mrs.) Exposition]]: About half the cast.
* NobleDemon: Asmodeus, so long as one treats him with respect.
* NoSenseOfHumor: One of the female [=FBI=] agents, [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous named]] LucilleBall.
* Odd-Shaped Panel: Frequently used in the mystic realms.
* PiecesOfGod
* PostModernism
* PygmalionPlot
* PygmalionSnapBack
* ParentsAsPeople: [[spoiler: Trish and Juan]]
* PassingTheTorch
* RealPersonCameo: repeatedly, especially [[spoiler: the near-ubiquitous AleisterCrowley]]. Toward the end, [[spoiler: [[BreakingTheFourthWall Moore and series artist [=J.H.=] Williams [=III=]]]]] also have a one-panel cameo each.
* RuleOfSymbolism
* TheScrappy: Little Margie is an in-universe example. As the fictional creation of Margaret, she's stuck [[TagalongKid hanging around]] for eternity in the Immateria with her and the other deceased Promethea hosts, and her ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-like exclamations get on their nerves.[[invoked]]
* ShoutOut - Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
** Also references to everything from ConanTheBarbarian (Stacia) to Literature/TheBible (Solomon).
* TheSmartGuy: The Five Swell Guys actually have two of these, which later becomes a plot point.
* SophisticatedAsHell: The Angel Boo-Boo.
* SuperGenderBender: One of the former Prometheas was a male comic book artist called Bill Woolcott.
* TarotMotifs
* TransparentCloset: [[spoiler: Stacia]]
* [[spoiler: TurnedAgainstTheirMasters / AIIsACrapshoot]]
* UnfortunateNames: Lucille Ball. Not kooky, not a redhead, and snarking apart, generally not inclined to see the humor in anything, including her name. Also [[spoiler: (lampshaded by the character) [[DoubleEntendre Trish Bangs]]]].
* UnusualEuphemism: Chemise-lifters.
* TheVerse - Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity - The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity omnipath".
** His publicity is ''too'' good. [[spoiler: One of his incarnations gets mobbed to death by fans wanting to be killed by him.]]
** Also the Mayor[[spoiler: post-possession]].
--> "'All shall kiss my smouldering hoof', said the Mayor in a statement yesterday."
* VillainsNeverLie: The Goetia.
* TheWatson: Sophie fills this role very heavily at first, and then goes [[MrExposition MsExposition]] as she learns more [[spoiler: to Stacia and Trish, and even to Barbara, of all people]].
* WriterOnBoard
* YourMindMakesItReal: This seems to define how things are handled in the Immateria.
----
Promethea (1999-2005) was an award-winning comic book series by Creator/AlanMoore. Sorry, we're probably going to have to be more specific, huh?
The protagonist, student Sophie Bangs, while researching a college paper discovers several references to a character named Promethea. These references are in a variety of literary works including epic poetry and comic books. Curious Sophie investigates and eventually finds Barbara Shelley, the wife of the now-deceased author of the latest incarnation of the character. Her attempt to interview Ms. Shelley is unsuccessful.
Her investigation has been noticed, and she is warned by Barbara Shelley. On her way home she's attacked by a LivingShadow, but is rescued by a curious figure - Barbara, dressed as the latest incarnation of the Promethea character.
After they escape, Barbara tells Sophie how her husband's imagination made it possible for her to become Promethea. She explains to Sophie that in ancient Egypt a magician tried to save his daughter from the religious persecution that would kill him by getting his gods to preserve her forever as a story. Barbara further explains that some authors including her husband enabled her to cross back into the material world through the power of imagination as the superhero Promethea. Barbara warns Sophie that they have only managed to slow the LivingShadow down. She suggests that Sophie try and use her creativity to summon Promethea or they are both doomed. Sophie retreats and writes about the character, imagining herself as Promethea, and succeeds in fully embodying her. She manages to fight back the creature as it returns, but her troubles have only just begun.
Now Sophie has to figure out how to be Promethea and herself. She has to learn to identify and deal with Promethea's enemies, and for that she seeks guidance from the former incarnations of Promethea. This involves journeys into the Immateria, where individual imagination and a more universal plane of ideas meet.
The series has a heavy focus on the occult, and its related spiritual and psychological questions.
----
This series provides examples of:
* ActionGirl: Most, but not all, incarnations of Promethea.
* AllMythsAreTrue
* AgentMulder: [[spoiler: Agent Brueghel, and most people on the planet, eventually]]
* AgentScully: Ball and Hansard.
* AsideGlance
** As Hermes explains to Sophie and Barbara that some gods who appear in stories may be real, he smiles at the reader.
** [[spoiler: AleisterCrowley]] smiles and makes an "oh well, I tried" gesture at the reader after Sophie rejects his lewd proposition.
* AttractiveBentGender: [[spoiler: Roger and Bill]]
* AuthorAppeal: AlanMoore pretty much used the series to write about one of his favorite subjects, the western magic tradition.
* AuthorCatchphrase: An implausible number of characters use the term "incidentally", all the time.
* AfterTheEnd
* BadBoss: Mayor Sonny Baskerville, when [[spoiler: possessed by the Howling]].
--> "THE ONLY PURPOSE OF YOUR MILDEW-LIKE EXISTENCE IS TO DO MY BIDDING!"
* BigBadassWolf
* BiTheWay: [[spoiler: Grace.]]
* BreakingTheFourthWall
** The Painted Doll is fond of addressing the reader, particularly after a murder.
** As TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt approaches, [[spoiler: the series writer and artist]] make cameo appearances, as does [[ItMakesSenseInContext the reader]], when [[spoiler: Promethea, in her final revelation to humankind,]] acknowledges the story she's a part of, while emphasizing it's not ''just'' a story.
* ClicheStorm - The entire point of the Weeping Gorilla, an in-universe comic book character whose only function is to spout such maudlin, commonplace sayings as "Why do pets have to die?" and "I hate my body."[[invoked]]
* ClarkKenting
* {{Crossover}}
** An issue takes place almost entirely in Tom Strong's city.
** As Promethea triggers TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, heroes from Moore's other [=ABC=] Comics titles team up in an attempt to avert it.
** The final issue of ''ComicBook/TomStrong'' parallels the [[AfterTheEnd events]] in the penultimate ''Promethea'' issue.
* DeadpanSnarker: Stacia, Barbara, Jack, Grace, Roger, agent Ball, the Doll, Boo-Boo, Sophie and Trish (sometimes)... actually, about half the cast.
* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt
* EthnicScrappy: The ''Little Margie'' strips spoof this with Chinky, a ridiculously racist Chinese caricature. The Little Margie comic started in ''1901''; realistically, it probably could have been much worse.[[invoked]]
** Although within ''Promethea'' itself Chinky only appears in Moore's prose prologue to the series, Steve Moore (no relation to Alan), in ''Tomorrow Stories'', included him in two SpinOff ''Little Margie'' tales in the form of ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-style NewspaperComics. The first tale plays the trope straight; the second [[SubvertedTrope subverts]] it by having Chinky [[spoiler: reveal himself in his true form as a non-stereotypical Chinese prince, Ching-Ki]].
* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys (well apes, technically): The Weeping Gorilla.
* {{Expy}} - The Painted Doll inevitably reminds one of the [[{{Batman}} Joker]].
* FiveManBand -
** The Five Swell Guys, the city's resident science heroes. One of them hasn't physically [[GenderBender qualified as a guy]] for quite some time though.
*** TheHero: Bob, though more officially than in practice.
*** TheLancer /TheBigGuy / TheChick: Roger.
*** TheSmartGuy: Marv/Kenneth.
*** TheBigGuy / TheSmartGuy: Stan.
*** TheChick: technically Roger, but Kenneth fits rather better.
** The various incarnations of Promethea that are active in the story also form a pretty solid band (though there are several additional positions filled beyond the standard five):
*** TheHero: Sophie
*** TheLancer / TheSmartGuy: Grace
*** TheBigGuy: Barbara (BoisterousBruiser variety)
*** TheChick: Anna
*** TheHeart: Bill (really is the nicest of the Prometheas)
*** TeamMom: Margaret
*** TagalongKid: Little Margie
* FoeYay - Promethea and [[spoiler: Jack Faust]].
* FriendlyEnemy: Jack Faust, initially introduced as an antagonist
* GenderBender - While Promethea is always female, one of the incarnations was actually male, and transformed when needed - the fact that he was a gay man was a factor in some unfortunate circumstances. There's also one of the Five Swell Guys, who seems to have suffered a [[MandysLawOfAnimeGenderBending permanent one-way transformation to female]]
* TheGhost: the Night Queen is referenced repeatedly, but never actually appears.
* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Trish, at first.
* HelloNurse: Uvula Cascade, who's also the most overt FanServicePack. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that she's a porn star.
* HermeticMagic: it's by Alan Moore, what did you expect?
* HigherSelf: Promethea herself is a higher self to the various people who embody her. The Angel Boo-Boo definitely is, [[spoiler: being the guardian angel and divine expression of the previous Promethea, Barbara Shelley]].
* HollywoodPsych
* HoYay (mostly LesYay)
* IAmLegion - The Howling are a series of demons - who eventually all find an already troubled person to possess.
* ImMrFuturePopCultureReference
* IntercourseWithYou - There was a whole issue dedicated to this, and it got an award for how it handled the subject.
* JokerImmunity: The Doll ''seems'' to have this [[spoiler: which becomes a plot point later]]
* KangarooCourt: Played with in "A Higher Court."
* KnightTemplar: The Temple, collectively.
* LaughablyEvil: The Painted Doll.
* LegacyCharacter - There were several incarnations of the Promethea character, and the latest one seems to have had to deal with some common adversaries.
* TheLegionsOfHell
* LittleRedFightingHood: A figment of Sophia's imagination that pops up when she fights the fear of wolves.
* LivingShadow - The smee.
* LovesMyAlterEgo
* MeaningfulName: [[spoiler: [[ItMakesSenseInContext Sophie Bangs]]]]
* MentalWorld - Trips into the Immateria seem to qualify as this.
* [[MrExposition Mr (and Ms, and Mrs.) Exposition]]: About half the cast.
* NobleDemon: Asmodeus, so long as one treats him with respect.
* NoSenseOfHumor: One of the female [=FBI=] agents, [[NamedAfterSomebodyFamous named]] LucilleBall.
* Odd-Shaped Panel: Frequently used in the mystic realms.
* PiecesOfGod
* PostModernism
* PygmalionPlot
* PygmalionSnapBack
* ParentsAsPeople: [[spoiler: Trish and Juan]]
* PassingTheTorch
* RealPersonCameo: repeatedly, especially [[spoiler: the near-ubiquitous AleisterCrowley]]. Toward the end, [[spoiler: [[BreakingTheFourthWall Moore and series artist [=J.H.=] Williams [=III=]]]]] also have a one-panel cameo each.
* RuleOfSymbolism
* TheScrappy: Little Margie is an in-universe example. As the fictional creation of Margaret, she's stuck [[TagalongKid hanging around]] for eternity in the Immateria with her and the other deceased Promethea hosts, and her ''ComicStrip/LittleNemo''-like exclamations get on their nerves.[[invoked]]
* ShoutOut - Every cover pays a homage to a certain artistic style, from Andy Warhol to Van Gogh's, including a simile of mid-20th century monster movies.
** Also references to everything from ConanTheBarbarian (Stacia) to Literature/TheBible (Solomon).
* TheSmartGuy: The Five Swell Guys actually have two of these, which later becomes a plot point.
* SophisticatedAsHell: The Angel Boo-Boo.
* SuperGenderBender: One of the former Prometheas was a male comic book artist called Bill Woolcott.
* TarotMotifs
* TransparentCloset: [[spoiler: Stacia]]
* [[spoiler: TurnedAgainstTheirMasters / AIIsACrapshoot]]
* UnfortunateNames: Lucille Ball. Not kooky, not a redhead, and snarking apart, generally not inclined to see the humor in anything, including her name. Also [[spoiler: (lampshaded by the character) [[DoubleEntendre Trish Bangs]]]].
* UnusualEuphemism: Chemise-lifters.
* TheVerse - Shares a verse with other America's Best Comics works by AlanMoore like Tom Strong, TopTen Splash Brannigan, Jack B. Quick, Cobweb and Greyshirt.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity - The Painted Doll is surprisingly popular, as some people even wear t-shorts depicting him. He's actually referred in the media as a "celebrity omnipath".
** His publicity is ''too'' good. [[spoiler: One of his incarnations gets mobbed to death by fans wanting to be killed by him.]]
** Also the Mayor[[spoiler: post-possession]].
--> "'All shall kiss my smouldering hoof', said the Mayor in a statement yesterday."
* VillainsNeverLie: The Goetia.
* TheWatson: Sophie fills this role very heavily at first, and then goes [[MrExposition MsExposition]] as she learns more [[spoiler: to Stacia and Trish, and even to Barbara, of all people]].
* WriterOnBoard
* YourMindMakesItReal: This seems to define how things are handled in the Immateria.
----
