Gorillaz/Fanfic Recs

Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here.

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Gorillaz fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation In The Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

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General Fics

First Impressions, by Laburnum Steelfang

• Recommended by Zadia
• Pairings: Onesided Murdoc/2D UST. (Warning for dark humour and Near-Rape Experience combined with Dude, She's Like, in a Coma.)
• Synopsis: Details how the band formed- it begins with Murdoc's failed ram-raid and continues on from there. COMPLETE: PART 12 UP.
• Comments: Absolutely fantastic. Everyone's in character and the humour is classic. Special mention goes to 'Oh yeah, denthead, you know whose bitch you really are'.

The Thing About, by K.Koumori

• Recommended by Morbsspace
• Pairings: Murdoc/2D
• Warnings: M rated, Slash, Sex
• Synopsis: [Gorillaz Slash. Murdoc/2D.] The tension is thick enough to touch at Kong Studios.
• Comments: Perfect description and brilliant plot, in which drama, angst and romance are perfectly combined in a way that makes the story realistic and believable. The emotion in this story seems too real to step away from. It's probably the most influential story in the 2D/Murdoc fandom, and should be tagged as a required read for anyone remotely interested in the pairing. If you're iffy on whether or not to ship them, start with this. Your mind will be made up shortly. Impressing piece. On hiatus, but you won't regret the read.

Remember Me, by Glasscase of Emotions

• Recommended by: The Otaku Ninja
• Synopsis: One gone... how is everyone else handling it? [Very emotional Oneshot]
• Comments: A heart-breaking look at how the other band members reacted after Noodle left.

A Man Out of Time, by MarqueeMoonGirl

• Recommended by: The Otaku Ninja
• Pairings: Murdoc/Noodle
• Synopsis: Noodle was given a glimpse into the past of one of her bandmates. Now it's no longer a glimpse. COMPLETE : PART 14 UP
• Comments: An odd yet compelling story involving time travel, demons, and romance, it brings to mind some very interesting concepts, such as Murdoc, and by extension, his younger self, are part demon and that Murdoc's raven Cortez is rerally the demon Pazuzu in disguise. And it also gives us a non-squicky relationship between Murdoc and Noodle.

The Fool on Melancholy Hill, by TheUglyOne (slash warning, OC)

• Recommended by safelifeisfakelife, who just joined and has no idea how to make a profile. Sorry.
• Pairings: Murdoc/2D, OC/OC
• Synopsis: Murdoc leaves to find (aka kidnap) Pretty Rita, the snarky painkiller addict with some serious need for human contact. 2D goes into some humorous denial that will induce many a face-palm. Cue reunion and a yaoi-riffic (well, presumably. It's really just getting into the slash now, but I'm basing this on the warning in the summary) full-length story that's equal parts adorable and depressing with a splash of refreshing dark, snarky humor.
• Comments: For those of you who DIDN'T stop reading upon seeing the dreaded word 'OC', good choice, because this OC is the absolute best one I've ever seen. Android Noodle (referred to as 'Noodle-Bot' throughout the fic) plays the part of Only Sane Man excellently, matching up wonderfully with the characterization of Murdoc as the Jerk with a Heart of Gold and 2D, who does Obfuscating Stupidity as beautifully as possible. The author also utilizes there being No Fourth Wall by interspersing references to real-world pop culture such as Sesame Street, Pink Floyd's The Wall and, most prominently, The Beatles, who are referenced in the title, the chapter titles, and the original character's name. If you STILL aren't convinced, there's also the great appreciation this author shows for their reviewers - they reply to each and every review and thank all of them by name in each chapter.

Canvas of Imperfection by sadistickunais

• Recommended by Nashimi
• Pairings: 2D/Noodle
• Synopsis: After Demon Days, Noodle's disappearance, then Plastic Beach, the Gorillaz find themselves in a strange place. Noodle must decide if love is worth all the heartache and fears that have consumed her since her death.
• Comments: Very nicely developed and transcribed story about Noodle's trauma after her presumed stay in Hell, the changes every member of the band had undergone and an extremely creepy relationship with the, now nonfunctioning, Cyborg. Considering how rough and undetailed is our factual knowledge about Noodle's personality, this fanfic deals with that perfectly, completely avoiding the Mary Sue stereotype. Admirable job.

Crashing Down by Psychic City

• Recommended by Ari91
• Synopsis: A recreation of "D-Day," which alters from 2D's comatose perspective and Murdoc's bitter perspective while caring for Stu-Pot.
• Comments: A VERY well done retelling of the D-Day incident and the time Murdoc is charged with caring for Stu-Pot afterwards. The interaction on Murdoc's part is completely in character, and the POV as "seen" through 2D is an interesting concept that the author executed beautifully. There's a good humor mixed with some moments that will tug at your heartstrings, especially when the author shows us her interpretations of moments from 2D's childhood. Overall, a well-balanced, wonderfully written fic!

Uncle Murdoc's Story Time, by Elapsing Spiral

• Recommended by Fenrischan
• Pairings: Murdoc/2D
• Warnings: Minor detail, but there are mentions of oral sex.
• Synopsis: Murdoc explains the events behind the infamous hickey on 2D's neck on the cover of Demon Days.
• Comments: The writing is absolutely top notch. It really reads as if Murdoc Niccals was rambling at you. Extremely funny. The mental images that came with this one were priceless.

Plastic Beach, by Elapsing Spiral

• Recommended by Fenrischan
• Pairings: Murdoc/2D
• Warnings: Little bit of language, not much else of note
• Synopsis: Details about what Murdoc Niccals' days are like on Plastic Beach.
• Comments: Beautiful little piece. A bit melancholy. The writing is excellent. The author has a wonderful grasp of the world of Gorillaz.

Hopscotch, by swan-scones

• Recommended by hipsterkitties
• Pairings: Hannibal/OC, and later, Murdoc/OC
• Warnings: M-rated, language, sex, violence
• Synopsis: Murdoc's teenage years living with his father and older brother, Hannibal. He meets Pris, Hannibal's girlfriend, and everything starts to go downhill from there..
• Comments: A really fantastic fanfic with excellent writing. Don't be turned off by the presence of an OC in this fic, Pris is absolutely amazing and feels like she could even fit into canon.

The Underground, by Katkid

• Recomended by SaerasChuu
• Pairings: None. Isn't that nice for a change?
• Warnings: Rated T for blood and swearing. It gets a tad... brutal toward the end there, but it's no problem, really. Kinda like a horror movie, actually, but better.
• Sypnosis: While trying to record Demon Days, strange things start happening. What's wrong with Noodle? Why is she seeing things? What's with all the strange (or rather, STRANGER) things happening at Kong? Where are all these horribly mutilated things coming from...? (Complete!)
• Comments: Can't say too much about what happens without spoiling it all, but it's definitely worth the time it takes to read and then some. Everyone's in character, and it gets so intense you don't want to stop until you're finished! (This is one of those stories that practically BEGS to be read in one go- believe me, make the time. It's only 11 chapters, and they're not that long.) A story that will truly keep you on the edge of your seat, keep you entertained, and the ending is satisfying. The only complaint I can really see is how the 1st person switches between band members- but it doesn't really distract from the fic (and I tend to hate 1st person narration), and the fact that the murderer just wants 2D's hair kinda an asspull, but it still works wonderfully. Truly a must read. Bonus points for it not being a shipping fic.

Just Over the Stars by Faust's-Rebellion

• Reccomended by KISSlover888
• Pairings: Murdoc/2D
• Synopsis: In this Tear Jerker of a fanfic, Murdoc plans on kidnapping 2D, but said plans go awry when he discovers that his best mate is dying. Murdoc immediately decides to save 2D, and 2D is too weak to resist any help.
• Comments: Very well-written and realistic. My description does not do it justice; let's just say it's for any 2D/Murdoc shippers who like seeing a gentler side of Murdoc. It's not your typical hurt/comfort fic, however; the ending will probably make you cry: 2D dies in his sleep, his fear of dying alone aleviated by none other than Murdoc; Noodle and Russell are implied to be dead; Murdoc commits suicide.

Without It by Westerncat.

• Recommended by KISSlover888
• Synopsis: It was supposed to be a simple plane trip home. But then everything went wrong.
• Comments: This fanfic made me cry (well, version 1, anyway). There's two endings: Version 1 ends with Murdoc's death and Version 2 ends with 2D saving Murdoc. It's an excellent read, and it's very emotional. There is no pairing, but it focuses primarily on 2D and Murdoc.

Feathers On My Breath by Philya

• Reccomended by RainingCatsandFire
• Pairings: 2D/Paula, Murdoc/Paula
• Warnings: Swearing, mild drug use, violence and sex.
• Synopsis: Paula Cracker tells her side of the story.
• Comments: Brilliantly written. Most fanfics involving Paula portray her as a plot device for 2D/Noodle, or just 2D angst in general. But this one cancels out all of that, golden proof of Sturgeons Law.

Father

• Reccomended by: Lady In Grey
• Pairings: Mild 2D/Noodle.
• Synopsis: Mr. Kyuzo is nearing the end of his life - as well as the end of his duties for his former charge, Noodle. Or so he believes.
• Comments: A sweet one-shot about the two men in Noodle's life who have been the closest thing she has to parents. Well written and short, it's definitely worth a quick look.

The Fool on Melancholy Hill