The Most Overused Dialog in Comics

[Tony Bedard]

A few lines that always make me cringe:

1- "NOOOOOO!"

2- "This ends now!"

3- "My life, my choice."

Admittedly, some of these are hard to avoid, like a character crying out "no!". Are there any lines you've read too often? I'll see if I can think of more.

[Joe Acro]

There's a running joke in the X-Books forum regarding the noticeable overuse of some phrases within recent stories ("What the devil?!", as an example.)

There was even a back-up story in an issue of Excalibur where a thief comments on certain sound effects being things you never see outside of comics.

My main gripe is the use of swearing. Having the main character(s) swear seems to be a rising trend, even when using characters that aren't befitting. Not that I inherently have a problem with swearing, but it could stand to be toned down (man, those annoying cartoon symbols).

[Matthew E]

Not overused dialog so much as an overused situation, but:

"If you kill him, you'll be no better than he is!"

[Superheroic]

"How can something so big move so fast!"

"I'm the best there is at what I do..."

"Tally Ho!"

Ok, I just threw in that last one but the first two for sure!

[Duy]

"AIEEEE".

Which, while we're at it, can someone explain that to me? WHO screams "AIEEEE" ever?

[Tony Bedard]

"ENOUGH!"

Usually shouted when someone shows up dramatically to stop a fight.

"I'm the best there is at what I do" is one that I give a pass to, since it's more of a catch-phrase tied to one specific character. Increased repetition of those can actually make them more fun. "Sweet Christmas!" and "...like unto a thing of iron" are two that I'd never get tired of.

So, let's review:

1- "NOOOOOO!"

2- "This ends now!"

3- "My life, my choice."

4- "What the devil?!"

5- "If you kill him, you'll be no better than he is!"

6- "How can something so big move so fast!"

7- "AIEEEE"

and I'll throw in

8- "What the--?!"

9- "Sigh"

[Ron Marz]

"Let's do this."

"Let's dance!" And by "dance," they mean "fight." Especially prominent in X-Men issues of a certain era.

"Listen up, people." Who actually says "people" with stuff like this? Anybody?

[Matt K]

"Now its my turn"

Just awful and surprisingly another X-Men staple from years past.

[Jack Zodiac]

!@#$%, or any variation thereof. I think Bendis and Winick on their own have buried any good those little symbols ever did for dialogue.

[Tony Bedard]

Y'know, I actually don't mind the old @%#* swear words. In a way, it's better to have something for which you can instantly substitute "fuck" or "shit" than using some euphemism like flippin' or crap.

But it's a pure judgment call.

Ron -- some classics there. I just put "Let's dance" in a screenplay I'm working on. Thanks a flippin' lot for making me go back and actually think up a decent line!

[Matthew E]

Y'know, I actually don't mind the old @%#* swear words. In a way, it's better to have something for which you can instantly substitute "fuck" or "shit" than using some euphemism like flippin' or crap.

How do you feel about sprock, nass, grife and squaj?

[Tony Bedard]

Good question. I think when you're writing the Legion, it's easy to overdo it with the future-cussing. A little of that goes a long way, and there actually should be a greater variety of futurespeak.

Another thing that gets worn thin is the "clever" use of Superman catch-phrases, like "Look! Up in the Sky!" and "Up, up and away!"

I know I said I don't mind "Sweet Christmas" and "With great power..." and such character-specific phrases. But the cutesy use of Superman catch-phrases somehow rubs me the wrong way more often than not. Go figure.

[Jack Zodiac]

Eh, I think "Look, up in the sky" could get a pass in Superman comics, specifically, because it isn't really used that often. I think I've seen that joke maybe twice between Kurt Busiek's runs on both Superman and Action. But it's definitely a joke that gets a lot of use even outside of Superman stories. Hell, outside of comics, even.

I thought of another one today. "We'll talk about it later." I love Dwayne McDuffie, but he dropped that line, like, seven or eight times alone in the latest Justice League of America, and I've seen it in almost every team book at some point, and y'know what? They hardly ever talk about it later, even off-panel.

[Brian Cronin]

How about superheroes calling each other "old friend."

"Good to see you, old friend."

And, as an aside, for an overused TYPE of dialogue, I'd like to point out the whole bit where two characters misunderstand each other because one character says something that no one would actually say.

To wit, a recent issue of Flash, when Superman drops by Wally and Linda's home to say: “Wally…we’re not here socially. We’re here about the way you take Jai and Iris into battle. We’ve come for the kids," when what Superman MEANT to say was, "we came on their behalf, to discuss the situation.”

I don't mind misunderstandings - but they have to be based on a semibalance of reality!!

-Brian

[Sean Whitmore]

"I taught you everything you know, but I didn't teach you everything I know."

Ugh. Just teach him everything you know, already! What kind of educator are you?


"Time travel makes my head hurt/gives me a migraine/gives me a headache."

Y'know, dude, it's not THAT hard to follow. The smart guy just explained it in very clear terms. And even if you still don't get it, why's it always have to be your head? Why can't time travel give you a leg cramp, or diarrhea?


"What's that mean in English?" (usually in response to someone using two big words in the same sentence)

It means "You're an idiot, Ben Grimm," and stop slowing everyone else down.


SEAN

[Linkara]

Here's another time travel gem that always just irritates the crap out of me:

"Where are we?"
"The question you should be asking is WHEN are we!"

I think I want to write a time travel story just so I can have a character interrupt them and say, "If the next thing you say is 'When are we,' I'm going to punch you. Twice.'"

[saintsaucey]

[I]"What's that mean in English?" (usually in response to someone using two big words in the same sentence)

It means "You're an idiot, Ben Grimm," and stop slowing everyone else down.


SEANlol sean really best dig ever. i think some catch phraises used by the wrong people or in a differet way is pretty neat. having the line on the cover you will beleave a man can fall) in the issue where clark meets supernova was pretty good

[Joe Acro]

One that comes up in mystical and mythological circles:

"By ______!"

The Vishanti, Odin's beard, the holy mother, etc.

[Sgt. Fuzzy]

I'd have to say anything regarding the odds of a small group of protagonists being vastly outnumbered. I used to think it was funny; now it's just overused.

Say, a protagonist something along the lines of "There's 1000 of them, and only two of us!" and the other replying "Yeah, that's not very fair to them."

[mattx110]

"
"What's that mean in English?" (usually in response to someone using two big words in the same sentence)

It means "You're an idiot, Ben Grimm," and stop slowing everyone else down.


SEAN::steps up to podium::
Look... it's not like he's an astronaut or anything...

he is?

I would like to retract my earlier statement, and umm... you should all vote Paulsen, or someone else might first.

[Michael P]

I, for one, am tired of Batman detailing, at great lengths, exactly how many ways he can incapacitate the nameless losers he's facing off against.

"From this position, there are ten ways I can put you down. Seven of them..."

*WHAM*

"There was only one way for me to drop that crate full of anvils on your head. Fortunately, it was all I needed."

[mattx110]

"Life isn't like a comic book where all the problems are solved with punching someone out". I remember one of these in green lantern (kyle) a few years ago, and I remember reading more similar statements. or stuff like "This ain't the movies kid" when wolverine is going to hurt someone in front of jubilee.

A bit like the "these aren't like movie vampires" kinda thing.

[Sean Whitmore]

"Life isn't like a comic book where all the problems are solved with punching someone out".

That line would be less ridiculous if it wasn't always being delivered by people who solve nine out of ten of their problems by punching someone out.


SEAN

[The Ray]

Gotta start hanging around the Tony Bedard forum more.

The only dialog I have is unspecific action line from nearly any action story you've ever heard. Particularly involving cops.


" You killed my partner. "


and of course, the staple of the action trailer.


" [vaguely witty quip, followed by an explosion of some kind] "

[jerrymcl89]

"What part of X did you not understand?" , where X is a phrase of four words or less.

But I'd tend to agree that "This ends now!!!!!" is probably the most overworked cliche.

[Tony Bedard]

This has turned out to be most enlightening.

That Batman's 72 ways to hurt you thing is definitely one of them, though I remember thinking how incredibly cool it was the first time I ran into it in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (I think).

[mattx110]

"I can't say he doesn't deserve it".

I'm thinking of examples in Daredevil (Manolis went dirty), X-men when Senator Kelly was being targeted one of 10 times. I think it was psylocke or someone back around Lee's X-men 1. Pretty much anytime the good guy has to save the badguy, or restrain from hurting him. Although wolverine's "finish it Piotr" was a nice variation of kicking a guy when he's down instead of being a hero about it, and probably it's own cliche.

This thread is really making me rethink a writing career.

[Tony Bedard]

"This thread is really making me rethink a writing career."


Me, too!


Y'all be sure and bust me if I use any of the aforementioned cliches!

[OverMaster]

"No one could have survived THAT!".

Surefire guarantee that person did indeed survive it somehow.

[mattx110]

"No one could have survived THAT!".

Surefire guarantee that person did indeed survive it somehow.
Super-Shredder didn't. TMNT2=originality! Sorry if that's too off-topic.

[Karl O'Neill]

Grant morrison likes using the line *go forth like thunder*

[Michael P]

This has turned out to be most enlightening.

That Batman's 72 ways to hurt you thing is definitely one of them, though I remember thinking how incredibly cool it was the first time I ran into it in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (I think).

Well, that's how these things become cliches, usually. They're so cool the first time someone does them, that everyone starts stealing them. Fast forward ten or so years, and people are sick and tired of them.

[Brad Barton]

Funny this topic comes up, I just read a copy of Nova where they say "D'ast" about every other word. Apparently D'ast is a Kree catch-all curse word. Handy, that. Also monotonous.

Also, "...Let's try that again." (usually after a devastating blow that by all accounts should have hurt/killed them) and "Just sayin'" are quite overused these days.

[OverMaster]

Grant morrison likes using the line *go forth like thunder*

On that topic, Doug Moench really overuses the "What the--?!".

[trickster]

If you want him, you'll have to go through me.

[Tony Bedard]

Yeah, "What the--?!" may just be the most ubiquitous of all.

"Y'think?" is another rising star. As in, "That Angelina Jolie sure is pretty." "Gee, y'think?"

"Who dares?!" is another classic. In fact, I might have Monarch saying that in an upcoming COUNTDOWN, but I hope I was smart enough to re-word it.

[Karl O'Neill]

On that topic, Doug Moench really overuses the "What the--?!".

grant does the whole go forth like thunder my loyal acolytes!

it's biblical and funny, i love it

[spidervenom]

Yeah, "What the--?!" may just be the most ubiquitous of all.

"Y'think?" is another rising star. As in, "That Angelina Jolie sure is pretty." "Gee, y'think?"

"Who dares?!" is another classic. In fact, I might have Monarch saying that in an upcoming COUNTDOWN, but I hope I was smart enough to re-word it.

you should have him say "who dare's disturb the prescence of The Monarch" That be so awesome and so funny.

[Superheroic]

How about the Villain/Guest Star announcing himself.

I was glancing through an Uncanny X-men Essential last night and in almost sequential issues the villains of the books announce:

"I...AM...THE JUGGERNAUT!" - Uncanny #103

"I...AM...MAGNETO!" - Uncanny #105

"I...AM...FIRELORD!" - Uncanny #106

I'm sure if I glanced at another 30 seconds there would have been more.

[Linkara]

How about the Villain/Guest Star announcing himself.

I was glancing through an Uncanny X-men Essential last night and in almost sequential issues the villains of the books announce:

"I...AM...THE JUGGERNAUT!" - Uncanny #103

"I...AM...MAGNETO!" - Uncanny #105

"I...AM...FIRELORD!" - Uncanny #106

I'm sure if I glanced at another 30 seconds there would have been more.

It's the sort of thing that works better on television. "I... AM... THE MASTER!" for Doctor Who or "I. AM. APOCALYPSE!" for the 90s X-Men series.

[MWGallaher]

A few from the Bronze Age:
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."
(Man, I hated every time somebody used that one.)
"...a rip in the very fabric of time and space..."
(always...always the "very" fabric! Grrr..)

[thorionthei]

I agree with most of these. The future or alien cussing can get out of hand. D'ast in Annhilation is just getting silly. I don't mind the Legion future cuss words but less is more.

And many of these cliches read like an old Claremont Uncanny comic. :) (and I love CC)

[Crimson]

Y'know, I actually don't mind the old @%#* swear words. In a way, it's better to have something for which you can instantly substitute "fuck" or "shit" than using some euphemism like flippin' or crap.

But it's a pure judgment call.

Ron -- some classics there. I just put "Let's dance" in a screenplay I'm working on. Thanks a flippin' lot for making me go back and actually think up a decent line!

I agree. Reading some of the West Coast Avengers stories the other day I couldn't help but be removed from the story everytime USAgent said "Well freck them" or "What the freck?"

Honestly, once you've read one comic book with &%@#! in you instantely know what it means.

It doesn't distract you.

It does distract me when the number of symbols doesn't match up with the intended swear word, or any known swear word

[werehawk]

This one is from the 7th trade of Walking Dead, but that's only the most recent showing:

"Kill them. Kill them all!"

We get it. You're bad and you don't like the heroes (but when are they all actually killed?)

[Wenatchee the Hatchet]

Yeah, the fabric of space and time is another one. Why not just the fabric of space but not time, or of time and not space? Why does it have to be fabric and not the woolknit sweater of the cosmos? Part of what makes it cliche is the inevitable combination of space and time.

Watch me unravel the knit cardigan of the cosmos!

That's starting to sound like something Invader Zim might say.

One time where "no one could have survived that" worked was Batman talking to Supes in Justice League at the end of "Twilight" Of course the reason it worked is when Darkseid comes back he explains that he really did die. If Darkseid said Superman killed him in that continuity probably no one is going to contest it.

[Tony Bedard]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's always space and time because space-time is one thing, not two -- at least in Einstein's view (as opposed to Newton's).

So if you're coming at it from a classical Newtonian view, then I guess you can rip either space or time, but if you're taking a relativistic approach, then it's always gotta be time and space, or spacetime.


So there. :-)

[Grimm]

"This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you".

"Well, it's a long story".

"This is what happens to those who defy me".

"We have one last chance to save earth/the universe/all of humanity".

"Only one chance to make this work".

[Drew Geraci]

When someone walks into a room (off-panel), a surprised occupant declares: "You!!!!" or "You!---"

I have never come across an occasion where I addressed someone as simply "You!"

A couple unfortunate cliche's from the early X-men days that are burned into my head:

"IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!":mad:
"Life aint fair, kiddo";)
(apply liberal dosages in scenes w/Kitty Pryde or The New Mutants)

"No quarter asked, none given."

"Any plane crash you can walk away from is a good one"

Byrne was big on "With a little help from my friends", quoting from Sgt. Pepper.

The "Not in Kansas anymore" one was a perfect example!! That was old in the '80's!

I think that's why I love Whedon's Astonishing X-Men: It reminds me what I loved about The X-Men but the situations and dialogue are fresh!

[skeetsHD]

I was glancing through an Uncanny X-men Essential last night and in almost sequential issues the villains of the books announce:

"I...AM...THE JUGGERNAUT!" - Uncanny #103

"I...AM...MAGNETO!" - Uncanny #105

"I...AM...FIRELORD!" - Uncanny #106



"I AM BAYTOR!"

(yes, I registered just to post that...)

[Jeff N.]

"AIEEEE".

Which, while we're at it, can someone explain that to me? WHO screams "AIEEEE" ever?

Ha, ha...I hear teenage girls at the mall shriek and giggle like this a lot unfortunately. "OMG! AIEEE!! I haven't like seen you for like two hours since school!" LOL I think this one is true to life.

I'd like to add "I will find you." I remember it from Last of the Mohicans and just heard it again in a tv ad for Atonement. I know I've heard it a lot...usually spoken very dramatically. (I'm sure it's been used in comics as well.)

And: "It was YOU all along!!"

[mattx110]

Ha, ha...I hear teenage girls at the mall shriek and giggle like this a lot unfortunately. "OMG! AIEEE!! I haven't like seen you for like two hours since school!" LOL I think this one is true to life.

I'd like to add "I will find you." I remember it from Last of the Mohicans and just heard it again in a tv ad for Atonement. I know I've heard it a lot...usually spoken very dramatically. (I'm sure it's been used in comics as well.)

And: "It was YOU all along!!"
Even I've used that one. Like... in real life.

I'm a bit of a melodrama... american actors... feh!

[OverMaster]

"I AM BAYTOR!"

(yes, I registered just to post that...)

"I am Darkwing Duck!".

:)

[Mormel]

How about:

Character A: 'It CAN'T be!'
Character B: 'But it IS!'

That one almost never fails to crack me up. It was also done by the Angry Beavers once.


Also, when someone says 'We come in peace' and a belligerent character answers 'And you'll LEAVE in PIECES!'. 'Rest in pieces' is related to this one.

[the4thpip]

Has somebody mentioned "Why won't you die?" yet?

[Stuart Sayger]

I think that the "most over used line" that I was most sick of when growing up reading comics was, "YOU..!?" as said when a character looks at another character that the reader can't see... This usually happened on the last panel of the last page setting up the splash page of the next issue...

.... Truth be told, now that I'm older, I would love to use this gag on about 4 issues in a row... most people would hate me... but some would love me! It seems like such an "Eric Larsen" kinda move, don't ya think..?

[Tony Bedard]

yeah. 4 issues in a row iot would actually be great.

My pet peeve remains "Enough!"

Happens all the time to end hero skirmishes.

[Tor]

you should have him say "who dare's disturb the prescence of The Monarch" That be so awesome and so funny.

That sounds more like a line from Venture Bros. than it does DC.
And it is DAMN funny.

[dogzilla]

LOL good thread

Someone should write a comic where all of these different phrases get used in a single issue

[the4thpip]

"We've got company" when the villains arrive.

[JohngPR]

I'm sure these have been mentioned but I don't remember the ones that people have already posted. lol

"Now it's my turn."
"Is that all ya got?"
"You should have killed me when you had the chance!"

Not all of these are bad, but they are a bit overused.

[Crimson]

The new issue of Serenity pointed one out to me I'd forgotten:

"I'm not big on speeches..." and then they preceed to make a speech.

That's a dialog cliche in pretty much every format.

[Chuck Dixon]

Not exactly a dialogue cliche but one I'd love to never see again.The hero is listening in on the bad guys and JUST HAPPENS to catch them just as they are discussing the details of their cunning plan that the hero can use to undo them."---and when the device explodes under their headquarters at midnight revenge shall be ours!"Or they conveniently mention where the person the hero is here to rescue is imprisoned."---our hostage is safely secured in the dungeon room on level three,the last door on the left---where no one will ever find her!"

[Ontir]

I love Chris Claremont, and fortunately he's gotten away from some of these, but "What's a body to do?" was one that he used so often it made me cringe every time I saw it in print, followed only by "Fortunatly ahm invincible when ahm blastin'" It always made me think of "Fortunately I keep my feathers numbered for just such an emergency!"

[Rags Morales]

"I AM BAYTOR!"

(yes, I registered just to post that...)

Master BAYTOR, we humbly acknowledge your presence. Welcome, welcome.
(said the guy with 3 whole posts)

Alright. The one that cheeses me, when it first came out and now when I hear it at cons-being that it really isn't used that much anymore, if at all, is:

BWA-HAHAHAAAAA!

[mattx110]

Not exactly a dialogue cliche but one I'd love to never see again.The hero is listening in on the bad guys and JUST HAPPENS to catch them just as they are discussing the details of their cunning plan that the hero can use to undo them."---and when the device explodes under their headquarters at midnight revenge shall be ours!"Or they conveniently mention where the person the hero is here to rescue is imprisoned."---our hostage is safely secured in the dungeon room on level three,the last door on the left---where no one will ever find her!"
It's either that or half the good guy corner the random badguy, all-black panel, and good guy knows all information, but we're supposed to assume the torture that just occurred wasn't thattttt bad, just enough that it shouldn't be seen. But people getting ripped in half and having their eyes pulled out are no biggie on-panel...


One I'm really getting sick of is "Avenger's Assemble"... It's like they say it every other issue! We get it, you avenge, you assemb...

[Cornelius Stirk]

My fav is the old hero/villain slugfest that ends with a huge explosion and the villain left underneath the wreckage, at which point the hero's voiceover intones something like;

'I wait for them to search for his body, but I already know they won't find it...'

This was original when Starlin did it at the end of 'A Death In The Family' when the Joker goes down in a fireball inside a helicopter, but then became a cliche when it came to Joker appearances where he wasn't captured and must have died, but of course managed to cheat death.

[Chuck Dixon]

How about stories that conclude with an open ending and, in a little caption: THE BEGINNING.
An editor stuck one of these on a story of mine once and I wanted to hamstring him with a dull soup spoon.
Another jarring cliche? Any mention of "the stink of cordite" when referencing a gun battle that took place at any time other than the 1880s (when cordite was an ingredient in gun powder for a short time).
Check out: http://www.dixonverse.net/articles/guns.html
for more common gun gaffes and cliches.

[JohnPopa]

One caught my ear this weekend.

The cops have arrested a suspected criminal with a salty past but in this case he's probably a red herring.

Being grilled by the investigator, he says: I may be a lot of things, but a killer's not one of them.

[Rags Morales]

Just once, I want to hear something else than:

"What did you wish for?"
"If I tell you, it won't come true..."Maybe that one was more for the movies.

[mattx110]

Just once, I want to hear something else than:

"What did you wish for?"
"If I tell you, it won't come true..."Maybe that one was more for the movies.
Wow... did you break up with someone on their birthday after spending deep on the cake or something?

Where's your sense of romanticism and mystery?

[mimic_616]

I don't know if its over used but my personal favourite is:

"You're done"

The last words of my all time fav Calvin Rankin (Mimic) before he was killed by that coward Proteus. Why? Is he gone? Whyyyyyyyyyy!? :mad:

[Tony Bedard]

Sorry, Mimic 616. In truth, the reason Cal's gone is because EXILES is that kind of book. Nobody's safe -- especially the ones you love best.

For what it's worth, Cal was my fave, too.

I know, you're still mad at me.


CHUCK: that gun article you linked to is AWESOME. I thought I caught a whiff of cordite as I read through it. But it was probably just that frozen burrito I had for breakfast...


Another tired line: "I will end you." Seems to be making the rounds a lot lately.

[Chuck Dixon]

I just remembered!
It was you that was with Jeff Johnson and me when we played hooky from Alessitown (or was it the Ginadome?) to go see UNDERWORLD. A great moment when all three of us said, "It has begun" just seconds before the character on screen said, "Now it begins."

[Tony Bedard]

Underworld DID feature one of the best special effects in the movies: Kate Beckinsale's rear in leather!

[Michael P]

Underworld DID feature one of the best special effects in the movies: Kate Beckinsale's rear in leather!

I thought it was her bust that was the special effect.

A friend of mine had a great capsule review of Underworld: "That movie was bad ass. The acting was bad, and the script was ass."

[mattx110]

Underworld DID feature one of the best special effects in the movies: Kate Beckinsale's rear in leather!
Myles is hotter!

Not that I place values on people based on looks.

umm...

yeah, gtg.

[veryvery]

ahhh yes! all of these make me cry! but nothing more than mythological-fake-religious cries and future-cursing.

legion's use of "sprock" et al destroys my sanity because it MAKES NO SENSE TO USE IT. they're not speaking English, kids! interlac! they're speaking something that IS NOT English, which means everything that we're reading we should understand to be TRANSLATED from futurespeak into English. Logically therefore?! for every sprock, they should be saying the appropriate curse word!!

but i liked the use of "GØd"!! a great word that didn't distract me and embarrass me but also signified that "this is not what you're used to".

[the4thpip]

I thought it was her bust that was the special effect.



It has been referred to as the "worst boob job in Hollywood" because of the visible stretch marks.

[Michael P]

ahhh yes! all of these make me cry! but nothing more than mythological-fake-religious cries and future-cursing.

legion's use of "sprock" et al destroys my sanity because it MAKES NO SENSE TO USE IT. they're not speaking English, kids! interlac! they're speaking something that IS NOT English, which means everything that we're reading we should understand to be TRANSLATED from futurespeak into English. Logically therefore?! for every sprock, they should be saying the appropriate curse word!!

but i liked the use of "GØd"!! a great word that didn't distract me and embarrass me but also signified that "this is not what you're used to".

I'm just amused of the notion of that word being used in context. You picture Phantom Girl and Ultra Boy in flagrante dilecto, and PG screaming, "Sprock me, you sprocking stud! Sprock me hard!"

[Robby Robot]

I was going to say "Enough!" but I see a few pages back that Mr. Bedard already did. Thank God. So, so tired of that one.

[Chuck Dixon]

The objections to "Enough" elude me.
Heck, I use it with my kids at least twice a week.

[mattx110]

The objections to "Enough" elude me.
Heck, I use it with my kids at least twice a week.
Were they fighting a destructive pointless war of attrition with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants too?

How sweet....:redface:

[botch]

9- "Sigh"

that ain't really a quote.

[Rik Levins]

Check out: http://www.dixonverse.net/articles/guns.html
for more common gun gaffes and cliches.

Ha! That's a great article, and I confess I drew a silencer on a revolver myself, in a comic back in the day. My brother, who is something of a gun aficionado, laughed at me when he saw the issue and told me pretty much the same thing you wrote.

The empty automatic locking in the open position is one cliche I've seen a time or two, and never thought anything of it, until you pointed it out, (Of course, you could always say that it wasn't empty, but simply misfired--a convenient excuse I'll have to remember if ever I make this mistake...)

I've always wondered about the phrase, "lock and load", that I've heard in countless movies and TV shows. Shouldn't it be the other way around?

[Cam63]

Another tired line: "I will end you." Seems to be making the rounds a lot lately.

Awww ! I was gunna use that one !

I'll go with at the climax of a battle, the hero through clenched teeth, " One...last shot... MUST... MAKE IT COUNT... ! "

[juggling man]

Did someone mention "This ends NOW!!" ?

[mattx110]

I've always wondered about the phrase, "lock and load", that I've heard in countless movies and TV shows. Shouldn't it be the other way around?
There's a semantic interpretation that makes it work, but it's garbage. It should be the other way around.

Except when Data says it. That's fricken badass.

[Larry Dixon]

How about:

The End...?

The only place that really works is in the 1970s Flash Gordon movie, because, c'mon, it's a bead-wearin' bald-psycho Ming Ring you're lookin' at.

Misty (Mercedes Lackey) and I had a Harry Potter Drinking Game. In any Harry Potter book, when:

Harry answers a long, complex question with nothing but "Yeah,"
Have a drink.

Some part of Harry's anatomy spontaneously swaps location, like "his heart fell to his stomach" or "his heart leapt to his throat,"
Have a drink.

When Harry experiences the worst pain he's ever felt in his life,
Have a drink.

[Buried Alien]

Everything gets overused eventually.

How many ways can you possibly string a series of words together to express the same sentiments?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Larry Dixon]

For comics, I know a groaner that gets me every time...

"There's no justice. There's just us."

Ow ow ow ow ow.

[Tony Bedard]

My God, this thread has been a gold mine!

[mattx110]

My God, this thread has been a gold mine!
You just wrote 3 months worth of books with only lines from this thread, haven't you?

[mattx110]

Umm... sorry if this is a repeat, but the old Twain standard, "rumors of my demise have been exaggerated."

[Extreme Content]

"That's far enough!"

"Oh my..." or "Oh my god!"

"This ISN'T over!"

"You haven't heard the last of me!"

[mimic_616]

Sorry, Mimic 616. In truth, the reason Cal's gone is because EXILES is that kind of book. Nobody's safe -- especially the ones you love best.

For what it's worth, Cal was my fave, too.

I know, you're still mad at me.



Actually knowing he was your favorite to actually takes the sting of it. Takes alot of stones killing your fav. You have my forgivness and respect. :smile: :biggrin:

Oh and I double checked and "Your done." wasn't Cal's last words, but even so it was a good line. The look on Proteus's face when Cal had him by the neck. Priceless. :wink:

[K-DoG7p7]

"Go limp" ......

[the4thpip]

The final issue of the latest Freedom Fighters mini used "ready when you are!" twice in the first 3 pages. I miss when DC had editors.

[Michael P]

"Do you know [bit of esoteric information that will nonetheless prove germane to the plot in a couple minutes]?"

"No, but I bet you're going to tell me..."

[Come To Deathstrike]

Two fo my current favourites are

"Give it to mama"

And

"You cretin"

Why these are over-used I do not know,
But Namora-Killer must be made aware of them!

[empty_handed]

well..

there is a phrase thats used almost in every "team" book out there... at one time or another...

"here comes the cavalry!"

or

"dont worry, the cavalry has arrived!"

:tongue:

there is another one that i dread so much... i noticed it in a couple of "teen" books...

"WHAT ARE YOU!?"... :mad:


and there is another one... thats been annoying me for a while... almost in every book that will guest star an "A" list hero... (supposed to be a surprise splash at the end of the issue)

well, it ends with this

"we need to talk!"


[-_-];