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Phlegmings

 Phlegmings
type
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 Phlegmings
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings
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Phlegmings
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In comic books and animated works, one way to demonstrate that a character is a no-nonsense badass, creepy or just plain pissed is to show them with strands of saliva, phlegm, drool, or some other mucus dangling between their teeth. Popularized by the various Rob Liefeld clones during The Dark Age of Comic Books, but examples predate that period.
This occurs because drooling and oral messiness tends to invoke a Squick response in many people, making phlegmings a convenient visual shortcut for invoking Primal Fear. For instance, it may show anticipation of a good meal (e.g., the heroes/villains) in predator characters. Or, it may be a sign of disease, like rabies.
In comic book images like the one shown, a saliva trail between upper and lower jaws works as a visual shorthand, indicating that the mouth has just now been opened (since such trails would be expected to disappear after a moment). Thus their use helps create a feeling of immediacy, that what you're seeing is a "snapshot" rather than a posed image.
A common trope for characters with More Teeth than the Osmond Family. Contrast with Gonk, the blatant uglification of a character. See also *Drool* Hello, Perverted Drooling and Spit-Trail Kiss for other tropes involving high-viscosity saliva.
Cookie for you if you thought this was a trope about snot-based video game enemies. Or to do with a language spoken in Belgium.
Trope originally identified by the HeroMachine blog.
 Phlegmings
fetched
2024-03-24T13:30:56Z
 Phlegmings
parsed
2024-03-24T13:30:56Z
 Phlegmings
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Phlegmings / int_15c6ea92
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_15c6ea92
comment
Wonder Woman (1987): Used frequently for the overmuscled villains during Mike Deodato's time as an artist to show that they'd just opened their mouths, especially during Artemis's stint as Wonder Woman.
 Phlegmings / int_15c6ea92
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1.0
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1.0
 Wonder Woman (1987) (Comic Book)
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Phlegmings / int_15c6ea92
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Phlegmings
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While not uncommon among the more monstrous foes Samurai Jack fights, a particularly thick and nasty example◊ comes courtesy of a zombie, freshly raised from the dead, opening its mouth to scream.
 Phlegmings / int_1869a077
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1.0
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 Samurai Jack
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Phlegmings / int_1869a077
 Phlegmings / int_22946233
type
Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_22946233
comment
My Little Pony Generations: When the shriek-yowls are shown shrieking in anger, the tops and bottom of their beaks are connected by long strings of saliva.
 Phlegmings / int_22946233
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_22946233
featureConfidence
1.0
 My Little Pony Generations (Comic Book)
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Phlegmings / int_22946233
 Phlegmings / int_26ef42e7
type
Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_26ef42e7
comment
Kevin & Kell: R.L.'s drooling jaws are almost all we ever see of him.
 Phlegmings / int_26ef42e7
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_26ef42e7
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1.0
 Kevin & Kell (Webcomic)
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Phlegmings / int_26ef42e7
 Phlegmings / int_30a5ebfd
type
Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_30a5ebfd
comment
Naruto: Gaara uses a combination of psycho smile and, when he really loses it, this◊.
 Phlegmings / int_30a5ebfd
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1.0
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1.0
 Naruto (Manga)
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Phlegmings / int_30a5ebfd
 Phlegmings / int_332e25e8
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_332e25e8
comment
Venom (2018): True to the comics, the title character often gets these in his fang-filled mouth when the Symbiote takes over Eddie's body. Particularly noticeable when Eddie transforms into Venom for the first time and licks a Mook's face while musing about which bits of him to eat first.
 Phlegmings / int_332e25e8
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1.0
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 Venom (2018)
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Phlegmings / int_332e25e8
 Phlegmings / int_35ada324
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Phlegmings
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Alien: The xenomorphs often have mucus dripping from their teeth and mouths.
 Phlegmings / int_35ada324
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_35ada324
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1.0
 Alien (Franchise)
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Phlegmings / int_35ada324
 Phlegmings / int_5b344855
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Phlegmings
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Wolverine: When Wolverine goes into a berserker rage, he often has either this or flying spittle.
 Phlegmings / int_5b344855
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_5b344855
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 Wolverine (Comic Book)
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Phlegmings / int_5b344855
 Phlegmings / int_5d354f8
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Phlegmings
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Red Dwarf. In "Psirens", the eponymous Monster of the Week is a siren that appears to Lister as a Lust Object. As Lister snogs the girl of his adolescent fantasies, the audience is given a Fan Disservice view of what's really happening — Lister smooching a bug-like alien and getting slime all over his face (according to Word of God they used agricultural jelly for inseminating cows).
 Phlegmings / int_5d354f8
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1.0
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 Red Dwarf
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Phlegmings / int_5d354f8
 Phlegmings / int_5f7b4a4c
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Phlegmings
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Norby: In the last panel of chapter twelve in the Norby, the Mixed-Up Robot adaptation, Zi's mouth is watering as she says Jeff and Norby are unwelcome aliens. Combined with Jeff's speculation that the baby's mother would eat him and Norby, the page ends with the implication that the two are about to be snacks.
 Phlegmings / int_5f7b4a4c
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1.0
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 Norby (Comic Book)
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Phlegmings / int_5f7b4a4c
 Phlegmings / int_64eff096
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Phlegmings
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Home Sweet Home: Jay drools a lot.
 Phlegmings / int_64eff096
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1.0
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1.0
 Home Sweet Home
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Phlegmings / int_64eff096
 Phlegmings / int_84823809
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_84823809
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Kaeloo: In an episode episode where Quack Quack is deprived of yogurt, a G-Rated Drug, he undergoes weird symptoms and goes into a zombie-like state with drool between his teeth (the teeth are a side effect of the withdrawal).
 Phlegmings / int_84823809
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1.0
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 Kaeloo
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Phlegmings / int_84823809
 Phlegmings / int_87f2d9f8
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Phlegmings
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Mass Effect: Something half-glimpsed in the Prothean Cipher does this, contributing to the general message of species-wide trauma and unimaginable suffering.
 Phlegmings / int_87f2d9f8
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_87f2d9f8
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1.0
 MassEffect
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Phlegmings / int_87f2d9f8
 Phlegmings / int_8e2aba6a
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Phlegmings
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Legion of Super Heroes (2006): Whenever Timber Wolf enters his feral form (and in one instance where he roars in his normal state), expect him to be salivating quite a bit.
 Phlegmings / int_8e2aba6a
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_8e2aba6a
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1.0
 Legion of Super Heroes (2006)
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Phlegmings / int_8e2aba6a
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Phlegmings
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Project G.e.e.K.e.R.: Noah develops this after being hit with a tracking device and turning feral as a side effect. Geeker and all the other G.K.R. projects also exhibit constant drooling, minus the dripping fangs.
 Phlegmings / int_8fafdbbe
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1.0
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1.0
 Project G.e.e.K.e.R.
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Phlegmings / int_8fafdbbe
 Phlegmings / int_92916f5a
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Phlegmings
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In the first Shrek movie, the title character lets out a bloodcurdling roar that shows off just how good the computers were at rendering flying spittle. Several members of the angry mob have slimy faces in the next shot.
 Phlegmings / int_92916f5a
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1.0
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 Shrek
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Phlegmings / int_92916f5a
 Phlegmings / int_9e84c324
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Phlegmings
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Batman Returns: The Penguin has a perpetual trickle of an oil-like bile running down his chin.
 Phlegmings / int_9e84c324
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1.0
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 Batman Returns
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Phlegmings / int_9e84c324
 Phlegmings / int_a9e08d8
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Phlegmings
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The Funhouse: The killer is constantly drooling due to his deformed features.
 Phlegmings / int_a9e08d8
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_a9e08d8
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 The Funhouse
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Phlegmings / int_a9e08d8
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_ab2c0508
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Mean Machine: Nitro is constantly drooling and spitting to bolster up his loony appearance.
 Phlegmings / int_ab2c0508
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_ab2c0508
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 Mean Machine
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Phlegmings / int_ab2c0508
 Phlegmings / int_b30ae4db
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_b30ae4db
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Game of Thrones: Khal Drogo's Rousing Speech where he declares he will invade the Seven Kingdoms in retaliation for Daenerys' near-assassination is accompanied by a lot of spitting. Given that he is one of the most badass and barbaric characters in the series, it seems in-character for him.
 Phlegmings / int_b30ae4db
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_b30ae4db
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 Game of Thrones
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Phlegmings / int_b30ae4db
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_c4282b71
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My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic:
"Bats!": The extra-creepy version of the vampire bats in Applejack's portion of the song are depicted with strings of saliva connecting their upper and lower jaws.
"Maud Pie": An arthropod variant. When he's introduced, Fuzzy Legs the spider has thick strings of drool hanging between his mandibles.
"Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep?": Monster Angel Bunny has a thick string of drool connecting its upper and lower jaws when he roars.
 Phlegmings / int_c4282b71
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_c4282b71
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1.0
 My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
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Phlegmings / int_c4282b71
 Phlegmings / int_c43df4d8
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_c43df4d8
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Doctor Who: During his big reveal, Rasilon sprays quite a bit while giving a "the Earth Will Fall" speech.
 Phlegmings / int_c43df4d8
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_c43df4d8
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1.0
 Doctor Who
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Phlegmings / int_c43df4d8
 Phlegmings / int_cad14da4
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Phlegmings
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Transformers: Generation 2: Megatron is somehow able to produce these despite being a robot.
 Phlegmings / int_cad14da4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Phlegmings / int_cad14da4
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1.0
 Transformers: Generation 2 (Comic Book)
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Phlegmings / int_cad14da4
 Phlegmings / int_cbe7f8d0
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Phlegmings
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Tremors: The creators initially avoided this trope, in order to set their movie apart from the dark, dripping world of Alien, but realised upon watching the rushes that the Graboids didn't look real enough without it.
 Phlegmings / int_cbe7f8d0
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 Tremors
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Phlegmings / int_cbe7f8d0
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Phlegmings
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A giant spider demon drools over Buffy in "Selfless".
 Phlegmings / int_e293455a
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_e293455a
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1.0
 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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Phlegmings / int_e293455a
 Phlegmings / int_e50643a0
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_e50643a0
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The Return of the Living Dead: Wen Freddy finally succumbs to the zombie hunger, he starts foaming at the mouth like he's chewing on Alka-Seltzer.
 Phlegmings / int_e50643a0
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_e50643a0
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 The Return of the Living Dead
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Phlegmings / int_e50643a0
 Phlegmings / int_e93b2f62
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_e93b2f62
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The Fly (1986): Brundlefly constantly excretes a sticky white liquid from his mouth, which he uses to dissolve and digest his food.
 Phlegmings / int_e93b2f62
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_e93b2f62
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 The Fly (1986)
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Phlegmings / int_e93b2f62
 Phlegmings / int_e9c58049
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_e9c58049
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Tales of the Jedi: Ubiquitous in any issue illustrated by Dario Carrasco Jr. It's the "sense of immediacy" type; anyone whose teeth aren't clenched is probably displaying this.
 Phlegmings / int_e9c58049
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1.0
 Phlegmings / int_e9c58049
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 Tales of the Jedi (Comic Book)
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Phlegmings / int_e9c58049
 Phlegmings / int_ec19bd89
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Phlegmings
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Saiyuki: Whenever Son Goku takes off his tiara-limiter and goes Ax-Crazy, he has this problem.
 Phlegmings / int_ec19bd89
featureApplicability
1.0
 Phlegmings / int_ec19bd89
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1.0
 Saiyuki (Manga)
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Phlegmings / int_ec19bd89
 Phlegmings / int_ff463df2
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Phlegmings
 Phlegmings / int_ff463df2
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Mega Babies: Every character. And we mean every. Single. Character has a mouth full of drool whenever they open their mouths.
 Phlegmings / int_ff463df2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Phlegmings / int_ff463df2
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 Mega Babies
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Phlegmings / int_ff463df2

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Phlegmings
processingCategory2
Disgust Tropes
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Graphical Tropes
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processingCategory2
Horror Tropes
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Index Syndrome
 Phlegmings
processingCategory2
Mouthful of Index
 Phlegmings
processingCategory2
Stock Visual Metaphors
 Amulet (Comic Book) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 My Little Pony Generations (Comic Book) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Star Wars: Legacy (Comic Book) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Transmetropolitan (Comic Book) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Venom (Comic Book) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 X-Men (Comic Book) / int_f041eb0d
type
Phlegmings
 Batman Returns / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Deep Rising / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 From Beyond / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Godzilla Minus One / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Hatchet / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Home Sweet Home / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 In the Mouth of Madness / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 The Return of the Living Dead / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Night Lords / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Saiyuki (Manga) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Les Guignols de l'Info / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Alien: Isolation (Video Game) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 Sonic Colors (Video Game) / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 The BFG / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings
 The Mansions of the Gods / int_f041eb0d
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Phlegmings