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PHD (Webcomic)

 PHD (Webcomic)
type
TVTItem
 PHD (Webcomic)
label
PHD (Webcomic)
 PHD (Webcomic)
page
PhD
 PHD (Webcomic)
comment
PHD (Piled Higher & Deeper) is a Satire webcomic by Jorge Cham that has been running since 1997.The comics depict the typical life of graduate students in Stanford University: how they obsess about ever getting their theses completed, struggle to make ends meet with their meager stipends, wonder why life is passing them by, and slack off while their supervisors aren't looking.Now has a character page.
 PHD (Webcomic)
fetched
2023-08-05T10:16:08Z
 PHD (Webcomic)
parsed
2023-08-05T10:16:08Z
 PHD (Webcomic)
processingComment
Dropped link to CallBack: Not a Feature - ITEM
 PHD (Webcomic)
processingComment
Dropped link to Mythbusters: Not a Feature - ITEM
 PHD (Webcomic)
processingComment
Dropped link to RaidersOfTheLostArk: Not a Feature - ITEM
 PHD (Webcomic)
processingComment
Dropped link to TheMatrix: Not a Feature - ITEM
 PHD (Webcomic)
processingComment
Dropped link to ThePhantomMenace: Not a Feature - ITEM
 PHD (Webcomic)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_16f15b4
type
Still Got It
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_16f15b4
comment
Still Got It: Prof. Smith when he finds out he can still take a nap balanced on a chair, as he used to do as a grad student.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_16f15b4
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_16f15b4
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_16f15b4
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1989b0c
type
Comic-Book Time
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1989b0c
comment
Comic-Book Time: Every year, the strip features the characters celebrating birthdays, summer vacations and various holidays, but despite their constant complains that they're never graduating, they never seem to actually age. Cecelia lampshades this in one of her birthday strips, in which she decided that the time she spends in grad school doesn't count to her age, because it's basically living in a vacuum.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1989b0c
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_1989b0c
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1bf94a24
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The Movie
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1bf94a24
comment
The Movie: Yes, there is one. In fact, there are two.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1bf94a24
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1bf94a24
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_1bf94a24
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1e7487cd
type
Breaking the Fourth Wall
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1e7487cd
comment
Breaking the Fourth Wall: Not something the strip does all the time, but Cecilia has had occasion to.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1e7487cd
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1e7487cd
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_1e7487cd
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1f799027
type
Obstructive Bureaucrat
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1f799027
comment
Obstructive Bureaucrat: Faced by Mike when submitting his thesis (he has to come back because the layout isn't in perfect conformity with university rules), by Tajel when applying for a visa, and by the main character when trying to get reimbursed for travel.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1f799027
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_1f799027
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_1f799027
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2207b002
type
Ambiguously Brown
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2207b002
comment
Ambiguously Brown: Dee's friend has a dark skin, but he has no name or distinctive features to determine his actual race (unlike Tajel, who we know is half-Indian from her mother).
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2207b002
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2207b002
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_2207b002
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_260926c3
type
Failure Is the Only Option
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_260926c3
comment
Failure Is the Only Option: To keep going, the series needs the characters to remain grad students, meaning they have to postpone the completion of their respective theses indefinitely. Mike ultimately subverts this; having been the oldest grad student for several years, he finally manages to finish his dissertation after years of procrastination and graduate, but stays anyway as a member of the teaching staff.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_260926c3
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_260926c3
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_260926c3
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2a7e7af1
type
Limited Wardrobe
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2a7e7af1
comment
Limited Wardrobe: Probably justified considering how cash-strapped the characters are. In any case, they are almost always depicted in the same outfits.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2a7e7af1
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2a7e7af1
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_2a7e7af1
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2ec6e90f
type
Yet Another Christmas Carol
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2ec6e90f
comment
Yet Another Christmas Carol: One holiday arc features the classic Christmas Carol parody, casting the inattentive advisor Dr. Smith as Scrooge, his own old advisor as Marley, the Ghost of Winter Break Past who shows him his own days as a grad student, the Ghost of Winter Break Present who tries to get him to remember who his current students are, and the Ghost of Winter Break Future who shows him a possible tomorrow where he's relegated to administration duties with no time for research. Smith comes out of it having learned absolutely nothing.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2ec6e90f
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_2ec6e90f
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_2ec6e90f
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_38d02d44
type
Batman Gambit
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_38d02d44
comment
Batman Gambit: During Cecelia's thesis defense in the second film, her advisor Professor Chu gets an adversarial committee member to endorse her thesis by agreeing with him that an additional year of work is needed, knowing that he will change his mind to be Commander Contrarian.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_38d02d44
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_38d02d44
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_38d02d44
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_39eba631
type
The Slacker
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_39eba631
comment
The Slacker: While several characters are slackers to some extent, Mike Slackenerny stands head and shoulders above the rest in this regard. An eternal student, he's the PhD answer to Doonesbury's Zonker Harris.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_39eba631
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_39eba631
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_39eba631
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a3489f
type
Fourth-Wall Observer
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a3489f
comment
Fourth-Wall Observer: Tajel takes this role in the movies. She addresses the audience at the end of both films, and refers to herself as a "secondary character" in the first movie.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a3489f
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a3489f
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a3489f
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a679ead
type
Misplaced Kindergarten Teacher
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a679ead
comment
Misplaced Kindergarten Teacher: Cecelia's teaching style has shades of this in the first movie; she prepares baked goods for her students and comes up with an interpretive dance (complete with props and rhymes) to introduce the course material to them. She is eventually discouraged from doing this by the undergrads' seeming apathy, but returns to it enthusiastically once she gets out of her funk.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a679ead
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a679ead
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_3a679ead
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3d2c6d30
type
Skewed Priorities
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3d2c6d30
comment
Skewed Priorities: Mike can remember "important stuffs" like who is the colorist for a particular X-Men issue, but forgets to take Quals, which he needed to graduate.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3d2c6d30
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_3d2c6d30
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_3d2c6d30
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_479f9ad0
type
Characterization Marches On
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_479f9ad0
comment
Characterization Marches On: When we see Tajel interact with Prof. Rivera for the first time, he was lamenting her lack of apparent seriousness in her studies, especially when she chose to write about "The Grad student of Academia" for her research topic. Nowadays, their dynamics are reversed, as Rivera becomes the most egregious example of Absent-Minded Professor who never reads Tajel's draft and gives her useless advice, while Tajel desperately tries to get his support in writing her thesis. Professor Smith changed too. Originally he was The Faceless, then started to become more of an Absent-Minded Professor who tries to blend in with the students despite being clueless of their trends. Later, he just became a professor with a serious Lack of Empathy.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_479f9ad0
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_479f9ad0
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_479f9ad0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_56635771
type
Recurring Character
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_56635771
comment
Recurring Character: Scott. He's Cecelia's boyfriend, but since he's not a Stanford student, he is actually featured less frequently than the nameless Living Props that are the Engineering Grad students. Lampshaded by Tajel when he suddenly shows up after a long absence.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_56635771
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_56635771
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_56635771
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_5f91efd9
type
Creative Closing Credits
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_5f91efd9
comment
Creative Closing Credits: The first film overlays the credits on top of academic paperwork, accompanied by sketches of the cast and crew in the art style of the comics.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_5f91efd9
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_5f91efd9
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_5f91efd9
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_6293c185
type
Sequel Hook
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_6293c185
comment
Sequel Hook: Near the end of the first film, Mike learns that his wife is pregnant. A sketch of their baby daughter is shown in the end credits, with "Sequel!" written next to her. She does end up appearing in the second film, though only for a brief moment in the opening montage.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_6293c185
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_6293c185
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_6293c185
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_643659d4
type
Spit Take
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_643659d4
comment
Spit Take: Cecilia is prone to do this. When Tajel tells her she's getting married, she deliberately takes a gulp from her drink so that she can spray it out in surprise. She also accidentally spurts her drink on Scott when the latter mentioned that he had a job offer in London.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_643659d4
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_643659d4
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_643659d4
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_71748a39
type
Named by the Adaptation
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_71748a39
comment
Named by the Adaptation: In the movies, the Nameless Grad Student's name is given as Winston.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_71748a39
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_71748a39
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_71748a39
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_720e28a4
type
Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_720e28a4
comment
Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: The "How You Spend Your Time" pie chart has a Sports & Leisure section which consist of surfing the internet, doing sports, and reading about sports while surfing the Internet.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_720e28a4
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_720e28a4
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_720e28a4
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_762b9223
type
Played for Laughs
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_762b9223
comment
Played for Laughs with Gerard, the token Humanities student, who was told by the PHD Comics management that he should either change his major or leave the comics altogether. He was then forced to attend a hearing to justify his existence, and had not appeared ever since.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_762b9223
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_762b9223
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_762b9223
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7808eb5f
type
Gag Series
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7808eb5f
comment
Gag Series: The main point of the strips are to make jokes about the life (or lack thereof) of a grad student, and make fun of the research advisors and Academia in general. When the strips go for more detailed plot and character development, some readers actually complain.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7808eb5f
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7808eb5f
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_7808eb5f
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7abba202
type
The Faceless
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7abba202
comment
The Faceless: Most of the research advisors don't get drawn in the comic panels, at least in the earlier strips. No longer the case since the 2003 strips.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7abba202
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7abba202
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_7abba202
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7b2118c5
type
Bait-and-Switch Comparison
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7b2118c5
comment
Bait-and-Switch Comparison: Occupy Wall Street.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7b2118c5
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7b2118c5
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_7b2118c5
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7f080f98
type
Vague Age
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7f080f98
comment
Vague Age: No one really knows how old any of the characters are, since most of them are grad students who have spent countless of years in their program and not showing any signs of graduating soon, despite their constant lament that they're getting older and older as the years goes by. And given that Mike's baby daughter visibly ages over time, the setting probably doesn't run on Comic-Book Time.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7f080f98
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_7f080f98
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_7f080f98
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8605f0c0
type
Promoted to Love Interest
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8605f0c0
comment
Promoted to Love Interest: The second film pairs up Cecelia and Winston (the Nameless Grad Student), though this is only revealed to the audience at the end.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8605f0c0
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8605f0c0
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_8605f0c0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8657c5
type
Rhyming Title
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8657c5
comment
Rhyming Title: Several strips have titles such as "Webcam Labcam" and "What is... a Thesis?"
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8657c5
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8657c5
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_8657c5
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_875615dd
type
Truth in Television
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_875615dd
comment
Truth in Television: In this strip the author recounts a time when he was detained by British border agents on the grounds that he didn't qualify as an academic visitor.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_875615dd
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_875615dd
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_875615dd
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_88fa35e0
type
Walking Techbane
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_88fa35e0
comment
Walking Techbane: As shown in this strip, research advisors have the uncanny ability to make any project malfunction in their close vicinity.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_88fa35e0
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_88fa35e0
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_88fa35e0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8a58bb81
type
Meta Guy
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8a58bb81
comment
Meta Guy: Gerard, the Humanities student Recurring Character, only exists to represent another Grad School department apart from engineering. He's definitely aware of this, and most of his appearances have him address the readers in some way.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8a58bb81
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8a58bb81
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_8a58bb81
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8e20ae0d
type
Child Prodigy
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8e20ae0d
comment
Child Prodigy: Professor Jones's daughter is only a first year in elementary school, but is intelligent enough to fix Mike's research data.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8e20ae0d
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_8e20ae0d
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_8e20ae0d
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_938e9bc0
type
Absent-Minded Professor
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_938e9bc0
comment
When we see Tajel interact with Prof. Rivera for the first time, he was lamenting her lack of apparent seriousness in her studies, especially when she chose to write about "The Grad student of Academia" for her research topic. Nowadays, their dynamics are reversed, as Rivera becomes the most egregious example of Absent-Minded Professor who never reads Tajel's draft and gives her useless advice, while Tajel desperately tries to get his support in writing her thesis.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_938e9bc0
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_938e9bc0
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_938e9bc0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_946a37a3
type
Ignored Aesop
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_946a37a3
comment
Ignored Aesop: A Smithmas Carol ends with Smith reflecting on his life's journey and concluding with this:
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_946a37a3
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_946a37a3
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a1575551
type
Living Prop
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a1575551
comment
Living Prop: Discussed in-universe regarding the status of grad students. Apparently, the faculty would be more likely to notice an actual missing furniture than they would a missing student.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a1575551
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a1575551
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_a1575551
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a4c37cbe
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Mood Whiplash
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a4c37cbe
comment
Mood Whiplash: Tales from the Road - MD Anderson Cancer Center. It starts off as a typical lighthearted 'Tales From The Road', then in the last section, turns into depressing stories about cancer, ending with a former grad student who was diagnosed thanking him for making them laugh, with the reply "I guess we all do what we can."
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a4c37cbe
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a4c37cbe
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_a4c37cbe
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a65288e2
type
Ascended Extra
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a65288e2
comment
Ascended Extra: In the comics, Sangeeta Singh was only seen in one of Professor Smith's flashbacks. In the second movie, she is a major character and is revealed to have become a rival professor.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a65288e2
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a65288e2
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_a65288e2
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a6e8221e
type
Status Quo Is God
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a6e8221e
comment
Status Quo Is God: No matter what happened over the events of the comics, nothing about the characters' dynamic and troubles would really change. Mike finally graduated from his Ph.D, but he continues to stick around the campus as a Post-Doc whose activities mostly involve sleeping, napping and scavenging for free food. Prof. Rivera left Stanford for a position in another University, but continues to serve as Tajel's adviser. Since he barely communicate with his student or give her useful advice anyway, his departure has no virtually effect to her thesis.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_a6e8221e
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_a6e8221e
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_aa368af0
type
Two Scenes, One Dialogue
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_aa368af0
comment
Two Scenes, One Dialogue: In both films, there's a scene in which Cecelia and the Nameless Grad Student receive the same advice simultaneously from different parties at a pivotal moment. In the first film, the advice is respectively given by Tajel and Mike. In the second, it's given by the emeritus professor on Cecelia's thesis committee and Dr. Dukosky.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_aa368af0
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_aa368af0
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_aa368af0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b474c23f
type
Misery Poker
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b474c23f
comment
Misery Poker: A humorous variation took place during the PhD widows meeting between Scott and Jenny as they ranted on their respective partners, Cecelia and Mike.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b474c23f
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b474c23f
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_b474c23f
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b499dd39
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All Issues Are Political Issues
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b499dd39
comment
All Issues Are Political Issues: Tajel often carries protest signboards for various causes.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b499dd39
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b499dd39
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
PHD (Webcomic) / int_b499dd39
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b5049d76
type
Added Alliterative Appeal
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b5049d76
comment
Added Alliterative Appeal: Publish and/or Perish!
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b5049d76
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b5049d76
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_b5049d76
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b53077b3
type
Take That!
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b53077b3
comment
Take That!: This strip pokes fun at TV shows that get the science wrong. This strip does the same to movies that also get the science wrong. Though the supposed take that at Mythbusters makes it abundantly clear that he's never actually watched it and doesn't think about what the actual purpose of the show is (not to prove that something always happens, but to prove if it could happen somehow). And now this strip at channels that claim to be focused on science.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b53077b3
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b53077b3
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_b53077b3
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b76f2a49
type
Class Reunion
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b76f2a49
comment
Class Reunion: Cecilia goes to her 10-year high school reunion in this story arc.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b76f2a49
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b76f2a49
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
PHD (Webcomic) / int_b76f2a49
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b8e3f20a
type
Demoted to Extra
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b8e3f20a
comment
Demoted to Extra: In the first film, Mike and Tajel were important supporting characters who gave guidance to the Nameless Hero and Cecelia respectively. In the second film, their roles are diminished, only getting some token lines and scenes that for most part don't directly affect the main plot.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b8e3f20a
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_b8e3f20a
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_b8e3f20a
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c194d0f9
type
Cuteness Overload
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c194d0f9
comment
Cuteness Overload: Most of the campus faculty practically melts at the sight of Mike's baby daughter, Sophy. He exploits this to distract them while he steals food from associations he doesn't belong to.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c194d0f9
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c194d0f9
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_c194d0f9
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c25c7890
type
Fun with Acronyms
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c25c7890
comment
Fun with Acronyms: Of course, the strip title (though that itself is an old joke). And this strip has a how-to guide!
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c25c7890
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c25c7890
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
PHD (Webcomic) / int_c25c7890
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c33ba0a8
type
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c33ba0a8
comment
Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Scott all but disappeared from the storyline after he broke up with Cecilia. Played for Laughs with Gerard, the token Humanities student, who was told by the PHD Comics management that he should either change his major or leave the comics altogether. He was then forced to attend a hearing to justify his existence, and had not appeared ever since.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c33ba0a8
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c33ba0a8
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_c33ba0a8
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c4db6423
type
Yank the Dog's Chain
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c4db6423
comment
Yank the Dog's Chain: During the credits of the second movie, a montage is shown of Mike's attempts to land an industry job during the conference. He is eventually offered a position... only for the employer to retract the offer when Mike starts gratuitously celebrating on the spot.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c4db6423
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c4db6423
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_c4db6423
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: I see post-docs!
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_c75df49a
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_c75df49a
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_cc28f3bf
type
Not That Kind of Doctor
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_cc28f3bf
comment
Not That Kind of Doctor: No one is studying to become physicians. Truth in Television: In this strip the author recounts a time when he was detained by British border agents on the grounds that he didn't qualify as an academic visitor.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_cc28f3bf
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_cc28f3bf
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
PHD (Webcomic) / int_cc28f3bf
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ce8a5ed8
type
Starving Student
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ce8a5ed8
comment
Starving Student: All of the students, who live off instant ramen, and spend a lot of their time scavenging for free food.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ce8a5ed8
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ce8a5ed8
featureConfidence
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_ce8a5ed8
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_d2b59903
type
Cool Old Lady
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_d2b59903
comment
Cool Old Lady: The second movie has Dr. Dukosky, the highly respected founder of the Nameless Hero's field of study, who takes the time to strike up a friendly conversation with him and offers him advice.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_d2b59903
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_d2b59903
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
PHD (Webcomic) / int_d2b59903
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dc057cf3
type
Adaptation Name Change
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dc057cf3
comment
Adaptation Name Change: Cecelia's advisor Professor Jones is named Professor Chu in the movies.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dc057cf3
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dc057cf3
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_dc057cf3
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dcbe8a6e
type
Chekhov's Gunman
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dcbe8a6e
comment
Chekhov's Gunman: Early in the second movie, Allison points out Dr. Dukosky as the founder of their field, but the latter is surrounded by other conference attendees at the time and cannot be seen. Later during conference presentations, the Nameless Hero has a casual conversation with an old lady who turns out to be Dr. Dukosky, and she provides him with helpful advice in a subsequent scene.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dcbe8a6e
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_dcbe8a6e
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_dcbe8a6e
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e303d198
type
Whole-Plot Reference
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e303d198
comment
Whole-Plot Reference: A couple of the 1999 strips were parodies of several movies that came out that year. PhD - Episode 1 is based on The Phantom Menace. What is... The Thesis? is from The Matrix. Raiders of the lost dissertation is Raiders of the Lost Ark.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e303d198
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e303d198
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_e303d198
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e43c66bd
type
Art Evolution
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e43c66bd
comment
Art Evolution: Obviously, considering the sheer length of time its been running. Still, just look at the art change over the years. (Compare the first strip and one from 2012.)
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e43c66bd
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e43c66bd
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_e43c66bd
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e4bb3e09
type
Education Through Pyrotechnics
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e4bb3e09
comment
Education Through Pyrotechnics: The machines used for experimental research frequently blow up in people's faces.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e4bb3e09
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e4bb3e09
featureConfidence
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
PHD (Webcomic) / int_e4bb3e09
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e5d37e0f
type
Divergent Character Evolution
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e5d37e0f
comment
Divergent Character Evolution: In the earlier strips, all the University professors were portrayed as a collective group of sinister, faceless Hive Mind who goes out their way to make the students' lives more difficult, especially during Quals. Now, they're mostly given distinct appearance and personalities: Professor Smith is still the mean Stern Teacher, Professor Jones tries to be helpful but is often scatterbrained, Professor Rivera is very flippant and easygoing, but doesn't really pay attention to what his students are doing.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e5d37e0f
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e5d37e0f
featureConfidence
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_e5d37e0f
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e6291d05
type
Percussive Maintenance
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e6291d05
comment
Percussive Maintenance: For the cutting-edge lab equipment.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e6291d05
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_e6291d05
featureConfidence
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_e6291d05
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ebe4eb97
type
Cue the Flying Pigs
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ebe4eb97
comment
Cue the Flying Pigs: An actual flock of flying pigs were seen over the campus, while Hell freezes over when it was revealed that Mike might actually graduate.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ebe4eb97
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_ebe4eb97
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_ebe4eb97
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f466c9b1
type
Overly Long Scream
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f466c9b1
comment
Overly Long Scream: The main character managed to scream for "one week and counting◊" after he discovered that someone else had written about his research topic.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f466c9b1
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f466c9b1
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_f466c9b1
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f6b5441c
type
Right in Front of Me
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f6b5441c
comment
Right in Front of Me: Upon meeting Khumalo, Tajel starts chatting him up without realizing that he's her new professor.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f6b5441c
featureApplicability
1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f6b5441c
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_f6b5441c
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f9f2c33
type
Running Gag
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f9f2c33
comment
Running Gag: π/2
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f9f2c33
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_f9f2c33
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_f9f2c33
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb03c2ca
type
Relationship Reveal
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb03c2ca
comment
Relationship Reveal: Throughout the second film, Cecelia and Winston (the Nameless Grad Student) are both shown receiving texts from an unrevealed party. It is revealed at the end that they had been texting each other and are romantically involved, following a Ship Tease at the end of the first film.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb03c2ca
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1.0
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb03c2ca
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb03c2ca
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb17af62
type
Rhymes on a Dime
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb17af62
comment
Rhymes on a Dime: A lot of the comics' punchlines come from characters bantering with each other in rhymes. One example is the Misery Poker mentioned earlier, and another is the following exchange between Cecelia and her advisor.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb17af62
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb17af62
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 PHD (Webcomic)
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_fb17af62
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fe0330fb
type
Brick Joke
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fe0330fb
comment
Brick Joke: The protagonist's travel reimbursement form, which shows up again over a year later.
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fe0330fb
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_fe0330fb
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_fe0330fb
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_name
type
ItemName
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_name
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_name
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 PHD (Webcomic) / int_name
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PHD (Webcomic) / int_name
 PHD (Webcomic) / int_name
itemName
PHD (Webcomic)

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

 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Absent-Minded Professor / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
All Issues Are Political Issues / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Ambiguously Brown / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Audience Surrogate / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Bait-and-Switch Comparison / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Boss Button / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Brilliant, but Lazy / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Citizenship Marriage / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Cue the Flying Pigs / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Cure for Cancer / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Divergent Character Evolution / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Down to the Last Play / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
I Can't Believe a Guy Like You Would Notice Me / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Ignored Aesop / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
In Vino Veritas / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Instant Web Hit / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Konami Code / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Named by the Adaptation / int_303b1775
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
No Full Name Given / int_303b1395
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Not Actually the Ultimate Question / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Not That Kind of Doctor / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Red Pill, Blue Pill / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Rhyming Title / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Ridiculous Procrastinator / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Right in Front of Me / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
School Stories / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Shoehorned Acronym / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Short Teens, Tall Adults / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Spit Take / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Starving Student / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Teens Are Short / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
The Slacker / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Tropaholics Anonymous / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Vanilla Protagonist / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Viva Las Vegas! / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Walking Techbane / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Work Com / int_b8c8f795
 PHD (Webcomic)
hasFeature
Yet Another Christmas Carol / int_b8c8f3b5
 PHD
sameAs
PHD (Webcomic)
 PhD
sameAs
PHD (Webcomic)
 PHD
sameAs
PHD (Webcomic)