List of Running Gags

Some jokes in the comic have been used multiple times; here is a list of them in chronological order from their first appearence. Many of the following, while they may have appeared as a gag, are more of a recurring element.

Vaarsuvius's Gender

Vaarsuvius is ambiguously gendered. His/her gender is unclear in each of his/hers appearances. According to The Giant, this was originally unintentional (he had thought of Vaarsuvius as having a specific gender), but when readers couldn't figure out Vaarsuvius' gender, he decided to go along with it.

Blackwing?

Vaarsuvius always forgets about his raven familiar, Blackwing.

Comics where Blackwing has appeared from nowhere: 003, 154, 178, 232, 271, 440

This was parodied in Comic 674, where none of The Order recognized Blackwing, despite having seen him before (Haley even named him!). From this comic onwards, Blackwing became a more important character, always perched on Vaarsuvius' shoulder.

Thor

Thor gets the odd mention in The Order of the Stick, often appearing in cutaway panels for a gag.

Comics featuring Thor jokes: 007, 040, 079, 137, 150, 201, 273, 275, 353,

The Lawyers

Jones and Rodriguez always appear for a legal scene of any sort.

Comics featuring the Lawyers: 032, 050, 065, 159, 228, 230, 241, 268, 271, 272, 278, 280, 282, 284

Flumphs

The tentacled creatures are contunuedly landed on by characters in Order of the Stick.

Comics featuring Flumphs: 055, 074, 120, 210, 271, 292, 346, 444

Banjo the Clown

Elan's puppet god makes regular appearances.

Comics featuring Banjo: 080, 081, 085, 137, 203, 232, 271, 302, 336, 402,

Explosive Runes

V's infamous spell is possibly the best known gag of all.

Comics with Explosive Runes: 092, 173, 220, 221, 317, 318,

"Gate? What Gate?"

The MitD's famous quote, also proof he is very stupid.

Comics where "Gate? What Gate?" is spoken: 096, 106, 196,

"Who?"

Xykon can never remember Roy's name...

Comics where Xykon forgets who Roy is: 110, 112, 120, 371, 430

Thor's Might

Durkon's massive power-up spell.

Comics where Durkon uses Thor's Might: 111, 354

Durkon's fear of trees

Durkon has an irrational fear of trees. Parodied when Leeky Windstaff is introduced. Comics where Durkon fears trees: 150, 161, 162, 163, 169, 344,

Belkar's lead sheet

The sheet Belkar carries to 'prove his manhood.', although he actually uses it to block Miyo Miyazaki's Detect Evil. He has left it behind at Azure City as of 779.

Comics the lead sheet has been used: 202, 208, 228, 779