Author: Agent Bubbles

Hello world! I'm MaryannTheConqueror, though if we're going on a Poptropican-name basis also Smart Bubbles! I am an aspiring professional artist and writer, as well as a self-proclaimed geek. I love games, from Stardew Valley to Genshin Impact, and of course our nostalgic pal Poptropica! You can find me on Instagram, YouTube (which I need to use more), and Tumblr..
Fan Art Features, Social Media, Uncategorized

Illustrative Instagram stories and bizarre bunny memes 🐇

Agent Bubbles

Happy beginning of hot blazing horrible weather, everyone! 🌞

Poptropica’s social media activity has been up this week, with tons of new Instagram stories, as well as an odd Twitter post recalling our dear Dr. Hare. First, let’s turn to the ‘gram…

Among the feature are highlights to the latest Poptropica store update and the nearing end to the first of the new Monthly Costume Contests.

There is also a particularly large number of shares for fan art features:

There’s some really cool art in here! Glad to see entries for the Monthly Costume Contest as well. I personally love the sharp design and dramatic color scheme of the Black Widow piece! 🕷

Meanwhile on Twitter, the Creators tweeted a “Feel old yet?” joke, featuring Dr. Hare and a Snapchat photo of actor Matthew Gray Gubler in pink bunny ears with the caption “I hate it here.”

Wait, what was that?

While memes can be a fun way to spread hype and provide some comedy to a community, this more obscure and random one is a bit out of character for Poptropica’s usual social media antics. Several people were quick to comment with a mix of amusement and confusion.

What do you Poptropicans think? Are there any particular artists or pieces you like from the gallery, and what do you think of this odd addition to the Twitter timeline?

Until next time (yes I do remember the Island Flash-backs, they will be returning!) stay creative, maybe by making some Poptropica memes and joining our Community Creations this month!

Castori honorem ~ Maryann/Smart Bubbles

Advertisements, Contests, Fan Art Features, Social Media

Monthly costume design contests, strange art shares, and… questionable ads?

Agent Bubbles

As we continue to wait on news for the porting of old islands and the imagined futures of Fairytale Island, the Pop Creators made an announcement regarding a new Costume Design Contest.

This event has been held a couple times in the past, but now, a new contest will be held every month! According to the Creators’ Blog, the contest will be open for two weeks each time, so the current one closes June 7 at 8 pm PST.

If this continues, plenty of fans should have the chance to see their designs become a virtual reality! Unlike past versions of this event, no prizes (such as membership) were mentioned, other than having winning costume designs implemented into the game. Good luck to all!

Continuing with the subject of fan art, Poptropica shared six new Instagram stories today. But there’s something a little odd…

Look closely and you’ll find that two of these pieces are not Poptropica related—with one being a non-Pop original character, and the other being fan art of a character from the game Resident Evil, which does not exactly share Poptropica’s demographic. They are done by arts.n.darts, the same artist who also recently made fan art of Betty Jetty that the Pop Creators did not recognize.

While it would be admirable if this is simply an effort to show more support towards artists who have previously made Poptropica fan art, the shares are nevertheless uncharacteristic, and also raises the question of whether Poptropica’s social media person (or people?) is once again unaware of Poptropica’s content. Sus?

On a final note, a couple changes appear to have happened to the ads that appear on the website and in-game.

From past observations, most ads on Poptropica are specifically targeted towards its younger audience, similar to how they are sponsored to make in-game advertisements that showcase books, toys, or movies and shows that its general demographic may enjoy.

However, lately the ads appear to be more random and not exactly geared for kids. PHB staffer Gentle Dolphin reported seeing ads for Honey, which is a browser extension for online shopping, as well as for Morgan & Morgan, an injury law firm.

It’s understandable that a game needs to make a profit to survive, but this does raise some suspicion towards Poptropica’s insistence that they are still getting a large amount (“over a million”) of players. Why would they need to accept more advertisements if that was the case? The COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on businesses, but as an online game, has Poptropica been growing or shrinking in attention? The branching out on ads seems to suggest the latter.

As of now, fans have many questions, many of which we may not see answers to soon. Hopefully we can still have fun while we wait with contests, upcoming quests, and the next Dream Island!

Castori honorem ~ Maryann/Smart Bubbles

Fan Art Features, Social Media

Artistic additions, instant and imminent 🎨

Agent Bubbles

As we in the Northern Hemisphere pass through spring (and allergy season…it’s not nice being allergic to almost every native plant where I live!) and reach the end of the school season, many Poptropica fans have more time to be creative! The Creators have recently showcased 15 new fan drawings on their Instagram story, which you can see here.

We have several Fairytale Island fanarts, as well as crossovers with Pop and other games! It’s nice to see this burst of creativity in the fandom, especially while we wait for updates on the other Dream Island Contest winners.

On a similar note, the Creators have also posted a reminder that the Fairytale Fanfic Challenge ends this Friday, so if any of you are still interested in participating or are still finishing up your works, keep that in mind!

And that ends all the news for today! Good luck to all your artistic endeavors, whether they be prose or pictures!

Castori honorem ~ Maryann/Smart Bubbles

Fanfiction, The Villain Saga

“The Villain Saga” – Episode 2, Part 1

Agent Bubbles

(Table of contents) (See previous)

FADE IN.

INT. EREWHON PRISON – NIGHT

We see a very cluttered lab, filled with important scientific instruments as well as random glittery trinkets. A woman sits at her desk alone, dressed in a wrinkled lab coat, several empty energy drinks littered around her.

DR. JUPITER enters the room, holding a cup of morning coffee, and glances at the window.

DR. JUPITER

Have you…been working on that all night?

WOMAN

Yup!

(She jumps out of her chair.)

And I think I’ve found it, I’ve really got it this time! I mean, I hope–it didn’t go so great before, but I’m (almost) positive now!

DR. JUPITER

Cut to the chase, show me it.

Continue reading ““The Villain Saga” – Episode 2, Part 1″ →
Fanfiction, The Villain Saga, Uncategorized

“The Villain Saga” – Episode 1, Part 3

Agent Bubbles

(See previous)

INT. EREWHON LUNCH ROOM – SAME DAY

DIRECTOR D. and MOREAU are watching the prisoners from outside the lunchroom, through the window. Inside, the GUARDS are leading the three to their table.

MOREAU

What if we just told them who we actually are? Perhaps they would work better with a bit of fear pushing them.

DIRECTOR D.

Do you really think we can intimidate them? They may be desperate, but I doubt they’d all be willing to obey our every command if they felt they were being used.

MOREAU pinches her forehead.

MOREAU

If only one of them could keep them in line for us…

As if almost on cue, more (real) prison guards enter the hall, leading an older man dressed as a pirate, just as the AGENTS leave the lunch room.

EREWHON GUARD 1

Hey, is there any chance we can add him? He slept past lunch and we couldn’t do much about it.

One of the AGENTS shares a concerned glance with D. and MOREAU.

MOREAU

(Points at the window, towards the three)

…I don’t think it would be safe to put him in with them.

The PRISONER chuckles, leaning towards her, showing yellowed (and one real gold) teeth. MOREAU backs away.

CRAWFISH

I believe I can handle them m’dear!

DIRECTOR D. turns to the AGENT.

DIRECTOR D.

Let him in.

D. and MOREAU watch intently as the pirate is led into the room. Surprisingly, the other prisoners do not protest his seating at their table. One of the GUARDS hand CRAWFISH a tray of food before leaving. CRAWFISH practically starts drooling, and ties a cheap napkin to his shirt as though he were about to begin a 5 star feast.

DR. HARE picks at his food.

DR. HARE

I understand that this place has limited vegetarian options but…why are the mashed potatoes green?

BLACK WIDOW

If you think that’s bad, I think I chipped a tooth on the bread here once.

The COOK (Note: The same chef who served Myron Van Buren in Survival Island) enters from the kitchen, scowling.

COOK

Is that complaining about the food I hear?

DR. HARE

Unsurprisingly yes-

CRAWFISH

Ah, don’t listen to ‘em! This is delicious!

(He turns to the COOK, aware of who she is but just playing.)

Give my thanks to the cook.

The COOK chuckles, and gives him an extra serving before walking off. CRAWFISH starts to chow down, while the rest look at him in confusion.

DR. HARE

You actually like that stuff?

CRAWFISH

Compared to the months of maggot infested biscuits I had to endure, this is heaven!

MORDRED

I had to endure months—years—ages without anything. Without the brilliance of my cybernetics I most certainly would have perished of hunger!

(Somewhat to himself)

Per aspera…

BLACK WIDOW

Oh here we go again with the sob story.

MORDRED glares at her, but once again his grin hasn’t faded. WIDOW doesn’t back away but loses some of her boldness.

MORDRED

I don’t want your pity, I want the world’s punishment for what happened—

CRAWFISH stands, slamming both hands on the table.

CRAWFISH

Enough! I’m certain everyone here has a horrible tale to tell, but can I have a meal in peace?

MORDRED

Who are you to order me around?

CRAWFISH turns to him, his tone suddenly becoming more cautious.

CRAWFISH

I was simply making a suggestion for your own good, sir.

Pause. MORDRED nods, and the tension in the room settles a little as they all get back to eating. We look back at DIRECTOR D and MOREAU, who are so interested in the prisoner’s behavior that they don’t notice a shadowed DR. JUPITER lurking behind them.

DIRECTOR D.

He—he’s a leader.

MOREAU

Of course he is. Even evil pirates don’t want to face a mutiny.

DIRECTOR D.

Yes, but he knows how to work with them! Mademoiselle, I believe we’ve found the ones who can work for us.

The camera follows JUPITER leaving them, both “psychologists” still not even suspecting his presence. He turns down a corner, before mumbling to himself with a faint smile.

DR. JUPITER

As have I, friends. As have I.

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE 1.

And here we are! I’m just as excited to see where this goes as some of you are, and I’m happy so many of you have expressed interest in this series!

Of course, I can’t have a Villain Saga post without mentioning the amazing recent additions to the comic GEAR made!

Castori honorem ~ Maryann/Smart Bubbles