Johnny Optimism

""What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stranger.""

- Subtitle

Johnny Optimism is a Cut-and-Paste webcomic that presents a darkly humorous look at the everyday life of a horribly ill, wheel-chair bound boy who is trying to remain optimistic despite his limited chances of survival. His only true friend is his dog, Lance.

"Girl: I don't have any parents. I'm an orphan.
 * A Boy and His X - Johny's dog Lance is with him all the time, as a side-effect of the strip's Cut-and-Paste nature.
 * A Worldwide Punomenon - A good chunk of the strips
 * Back-Alley Doctor - Well, he doesn't seem to be running an overtly shady business, but Johnny's doctor certainly nails the "incompetent" part of this.
 * Beat Panel - Used frequently.
 * Body Horror - Some of the doctors more...creative diagnosis fall into this category.
 * Cute and Psycho - Hinted at with the little girl with the toy duck.

Johnny: I'm sorry. What happened to them?

Girl: They asked too many questions.."

"Girl: Hey Johnny, the doctor said you have athletes foot. Do you know what "irony" is?"
 * Everything's Better with Monkeys - Subverted. Johnny receives a "helper monkey" in an early strip that looks and acts more like some kind of goblin.
 * Maniac Monkeys
 * Jerkass - The girl with the leg braces.
 * Kick the Dog - Most of the girl with leg braces dialogue.
 * The Dog Bites Back - occasionaly

- Johnny: Yeah...your legs.


 * Littlest Cancer Patient - Played for Laughs
 * The Disease That Shall Not Be Named - We never learn what exactly Johnny's got. We just know that it's terrible.
 * The Pollyanna - Johnny never loses hope, although unlike most examples of this trope he is keenly aware of the horribleness of his situation.
 * The Woobie - Johnny just can't catch a break.