A picture of Tarquin getting shot.

[FujinAkari]

(After a little digging, it looks like it originated on a site called Websnark, c. 2004. Nothing comes up on Google from before 2004. That's the same year Television Tropes debuted, and ten years after Reads.)

Wikipedia credits it to "Why Serious Things Happen in Funny Webcomics: Investigating the Cerebus Syndrome", a paper written by Jason Turner-Maier on Feburary 22nd, 2004 in a publication by Stanford University.

Television Tropes wouldn't be launched for another two months and so it does appear that the term predates it, albeit barely.

[FlawedParadigm]

Wikipedia credits it to "Why Serious Things Happen in Funny Webcomics: Investigating the Cerebus Syndrome", a paper written by Jason Turner-Maier on Feburary 22nd, 2004 in a publication by Stanford University.

Television Tropes wouldn't be launched for another two months and so it does appear that the term predates it, albeit barely.

Few things are more beautiful than a well-researched post.

[Happy Gravity]

Wikipedia

Few things are more beautiful than a well-researched post.

If only...that would make college so much easier.

Just playing around, don't get mad. :3

[Michaeler]

That paper does not seem to be listed on Google Scholar. I don't suppose anyone is reading from Stanford Uni who could (legally) get us a copy to peruse? It would be enlightening.

[NihhusHuotAliro]

Well, that's official, I just got my first forum kiss.

Still haven't got one of those.

Still haven't gotten a real-life one kiss.

Only time anyone ever asked me out what when said person confused me with my cousin.

[F.Harr]

well, if oots didn't have a good plot, i won't be reading it. jokes alone can only bring you that far.

True.

How does "Cerebus Syndrome" not refer to the creator of a work going crazy and filling his magnum opus with off-topic sexist rants?

HA!

I'm pretty sure that's sarcasm. Never interpret anything that Gift Jeraff says as serious.

Yeah, just look at the name. I took it seriously at first, too.

Still haven't got one of those.

Still haven't gotten a real-life one kiss.

Only time anyone ever asked me out what when said person confused me with my cousin.

Oh, let's not get into a fight for who's the least loved. You and me will just start a club.

[Tiiba]

Back to the topic:

Spoiler

Show

DON'T LOOK!

Spoiler

Show

DO NOT LOOK IF YOU'RE A MINOR! EXTREME GRIMDARK!

Spoiler

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And it's literally true, too.

[Luna_Mayflower]

Back to the topic:

Spoiler

Show

DON'T LOOK!

Spoiler

Show

DO NOT LOOK IF YOU'RE A MINOR! EXTREME GRIMDARK!

Spoiler

Show

What a stabbing cabin.

[Gift Jeraff]

Back to the topic:

Spoiler

Show

DON'T LOOK!

Spoiler

Show

DO NOT LOOK IF YOU'RE A MINOR! EXTREME GRIMDARK!

Spoiler

Show

I'm surprised this hasn't been taken due to inappropriate content and/or leaking spoilers from future strips. . .

[SaintRidley]

There has been a lot of good humour in the recent strips, IMHO:

"--then let me friends go. Dinnae kill them too. Tha's me last request. Tha's all tha matters."

"What's real...is that my family is screwed up and broken. And it's not going to just get magically fixed, ever."

"NERRRGHHALLL! SSAVE MEEE!"

"I never wanted him dead. Ever."

Two humors, if I'm reading you correctly. I detect mostly black bile with a little tinge of yellow bile from Malack. This strip needs to get its gall bladder checked for melancholy.

[4here4]

I am personally a big fan of the dramatic turn in the strip, but I want to see some more Zykon. I'm absolutely dying to see what he's been up to since he teleported away. Once the giant wraps up the current scene, I hope he'll grant us a brief peek at the lich's escapades.

[Skarn]

Yeah, but compare that to this:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0012.html

There are no straightforward gag strips like that anymore. Even on a relatively light-hearted strip like the one you linked to, they're in genuine danger of getting killed by a giant Silicon elemental and acknowledge such. The stakes are too high for strips that are 100% aiming for a laugh, without injecting some drama and actual danger into the mix.

Yep. Cerebus syndrome. Though it should be pointed out that, while the comic has definitely tipped much more towards the serious stuff, I can't even remember if there's ever been a strip which is pure drama, without even a single attempt made at getting a laugh. Drama and humor are still very well balanced.

That's probably because back then they were "new to the game", trying to learn everything and screwing up a lot. And arguing over the meanings of terms like "level". Also learning to play.

Since then, things have changed. They became more experienced so there's fewer things to joke about, they've become emotionally invested in the plot(going from what they thought was a minor clichè villain to "the continued existence of the world is at stake"), their subplots got filled out, most of the characters have developed to be a bit less one-dimensional, etc.

So yes, Cerebus Syndrome. Though I have no clue why it's called a syndrome when it seems like a perfectly natural progression of the plot. The story was never truly 100% comedy in the first place, even if an individual chapter might have been.

[F.Harr]

So yes, Cerebus Syndrome. Though I have no clue why it's called a syndrome when it seems like a perfectly natural progression of the plot.

I don't know. Maybe 'cause it alliterates.

[ReaderAt2046]

Yeah, but compare that to this:

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0012.html

There are no straightforward gag strips like that anymore. Even on a relatively light-hearted strip like the one you linked to, they're in genuine danger of getting killed by a giant Silicon elemental and acknowledge such. The stakes are too high for strips that are 100% aiming for a laugh, without injecting some drama and actual danger into the mix.

Yep. Cerebus syndrome. Though it should be pointed out that, while the comic has definitely tipped much more towards the serious stuff, I can't even remember if there's ever been a strip which is pure drama, without even a single attempt made at getting a laugh. Drama and humor are still very well balanced.

Actually, I believe there have been two. This and This.