Fanfiction, PHB Series, The Villain Saga, Uncategorized

“The Villain Saga” – Episode 6, Part 1

(Table of contents)(See previous)

FADE IN.

We open inside the window of a shop. A couple dusty toys are on display, but there’s a shiny, new ninja robot in the center of them all, with all kinds of buttons to do different actions.

A small girl with short, unruly black hair peeks into the window, gasping with joy when she sees the toy is still in stock.

Continue reading ““The Villain Saga” – Episode 6, Part 1”
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Community Creations

Community Creations: February 2023

community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the February recap for Community Creations. February’s theme was Thievery, so be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

Veuve Noire Valentine by XMzhier

I think it’s fair to say that we can’t talk about thievery in the world of Poptropica without featuring Chief Inspector Veuvre Noire. Or should I say, infamous art thief Black Widow? I love the incorporation of Valentine’s Day elements, along with the inclusion of so many different characters in this composition! Black Widow obviously is stealing the spotlight, but all the background details bring life to the work. I wouldn’t be surprised if she stole those flowers too… Find their Twitter here.

Black Widow Valentine’s Day Card by distorted-graffiti

Keeping with the theme of “Black Widow but make it Valentine’s Day,” this card would certainly steal the heart of any who received it. I’m a sucker for purposely cheesy Valentine’s Day cards, so I really appreciate the humor in this one. Who doesn’t love a good pun??? I bet Black Widow is the queen of pick-up lines, even if all her jokes are actually stolen. Find their Tumblr here.

I Am Not a Thief by Magic Kid

It’s a morning happy and bright

In a city vibrant and full of light

I wander the streets

Unaware that I would meet

Someone who looks exactly like me

And that then I’d be brought into captivity

Well, it happened I’m sad to say.

To me on that ruined day.

My double was a thief,

And, let me tell you, it brought no relief,

When they used me, ME!

So they could still wander free.

When the police was called, 

And I nearly balled,

“I did not steal this! It’s a lie,”

That was the point that I almost cried.

Because the chief just shook his head,

And sentenced me to prison ‘till I’m dead.

I was brought to Rock, Pelican

But when I arrived I longed for the prison van,

For inside it was full of mold,

And couldn’t block out the night’s cold.

Everyone thought that I was a thief,

Because he says, the chief.

But then I took, seagull eggs, three,

For a part of a plan to make me free.

It brings me relief,

To know I’m not a thief.

The next day I stole a spoon,

And sharpened it in the work room.

But, don’t listen to Chief,

Because I’m not a thief,

And then pasta I stole,

And mashed potatoes that were old,

And I’ll make this message brief:

I am not a thief.

Then I stole a drill, so I could prove to chief,

That I am not a thief.

Well, then I escaped, HOORAY!

And was exposed to the light of day.

Long story short, the real thief was found,

And, out of jail, I could hang around.

Even though I stole a few things, now believes the chief:

I am not a thief!

Even though Black Widow is undoubtedly a fan favorite, she’s definitely not the only thief in Poptropica! Based on Escape from Pelican Rock Island, this poem cleverly captures the relationship between the player and the Booted Bandit. It expresses the storyline of the island and the plight of the innocent player through their wrongful arrest in a fun, rhythmic manner. I especially appreciate the use of repetition and structure of the poem’s beats! Find the author often in the comments.

Black Widow by ghoolie

You thought we were past the Black Widow content? Nope! I told you she was a fan favorite. I especially enjoy this iteration of the villain, framed as if her theft is being caught on a security camera yet she doesn’t seem to care. Her expression is even better when you notice just how much it contrasts the terrified figure in Edvard Munch’s The Scream painting! The colors are really bright and eye catching without being too overwhelming. A wonderful composition! Find their Instagram here.

Speeding Spike by Emerald194

Okay, okay, we have some more non-Black Widow content too! Speeding Spike is a classic criminal in Poptropica, along with all the other Super Power Island villains. Though he is wanted in-game for “speeding in a school zone,” I wouldn’t put theft past his list of wrongdoings. I love the dynamic pose we see him in here and the cartoonish moneybag that he is seen running away with. Nice work! Find her Tumblr here.


Honorable Mentions

Your work really stole the show this month, everyone! Being this talented should really be a crime. Great job!


March: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is March’s theme? March’s theme is…

🍀 Luck! 🍀

With March, of course, comes the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day for many people. And building off that holiday, there is a general theme of “luck.” But luck can be applied to a lot of things! Including Poptropica, where luck can get players out of countless situations.

There’s tons of iconic lucky imagery that may inspire you, or you can just draw a lucky situation. I’d even accept fan art of the PHB’s very own Lucky Joker! Maybe draw some of Elmer’s horseshoes from Wild West Island, or write a story about your Poptropican narrowly missing a deadly demise. OR, maybe make something UNLUCKY instead? Draw your favorite black cats in Poptropica, or spilling salt on Ghost Story Island. Take this in any direction you want! If you’re lucky, you may just be featured.

  • Submit: Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created, email it to the PHB team on our Contact page, OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArtTwitterTumblrDiscord, OR the PHB’s Instagram.
  • Results: Next month, I will feature 5 submissions that stood out to me the most as well as some honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Just make sure you relate to both the theme and Poptropica (and nothing NSFW or otherwise inappropriate).
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD

Free Membership Giveaways

PHB Membership Giveaway: February 2023

Hey Poptropicans! We’re approaching the end of the month, which means it’s time to announce another lucky Poptropican to win our monthly membership giveaway! 🎁

Congratulations, Young Rider — your new membership status lets you play various exclusive quests, including Survival Island, Ep. 3: Distress Signal. You’ll also get to enjoy exclusive member gifts and more.

The Poptropica Help Blog hosts a membership giveaway every month, and it’s easy to enter! Just comment on our Free Poptropica Membership page and leave at least two other comments around the PHB within the month to be entered into that month’s giveaway.

We’ll announce a winner sometime in the final week of each month. If you don’t win, you can always try again for the next month! Full details »

Congrats again to Young Rider! Keep on popping on! 🏍

Fanfiction, PHB Series, The Villain Saga, Uncategorized

“The Villain Saga” – Episode 5, Part 2

(Table of contents) (See previous)

CUT TO CRAWFISH, sitting in the medical ward. He’s taking a close look at pretty much every item in sight as the doctors try to corral him to the table.

CRAWFISH

What’s this? Why do you have so many hollow ropes?

DOCTOR #1

They’re just tubes, ignore those they’re not–

CRAWFISH

Why are all of you wearing white? Don’t’cha think a darker color would be better with all the mess?

DOCTOR #2

It helps us notice any stains, now–

CRAWIFSH

Yea, that’s my point. You can simply hide it!

The DOCTORS all grimace.

Continue reading ““The Villain Saga” – Episode 5, Part 2”
Community Creations

Community Creations: January 2023

community-creations-logo

Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the January recap for Community Creations. January’s theme was Puzzling, so be sure to check out all the featured artists!

No clue what’s going on? Go see our intro post.

Top 5 Picks

A Different Approach by Dizzy Feather

Good to know I’m not the only one who struggles with these sorts of puzzles! They may seem simple, but there’s something about them that makes them trickier than they appear. In Poptropica, the classic conundrum can be completed in Crisis Caverns. How long did it take you to solve on your first try? Find the artist in the comments and on the PHC Discord.

Espionage (Poptober Day 12: Sneak) by Lucky Joker

Spy Island is certainly an island known for its puzzles, and it has earned its spot as one of my personal favorites. From cracking codes to sneaking past B.A.D. guys, the puzzles seem nonstop. But hey, I’m not complaining! I loved using all the cool spy gadgets too (and I’ll admit, the guard dogs scared the heck out of me when I was younger). Great composition and story presented in this submission! Find his Instagram here.

Knife Monopoly by distorted-graffiti

A little unique, here we have some Poptropicans solving a different type of puzzle altogether! This meme-worthy parody of a board game seems, oddly enough, the perfect game for Myron to play. You know… other than hunting someone for sport. The simple drawing has a ton of humor in it, especially in all the little details. I appreciate the different style knives, the lil’ rat, and of course the wine glass. Find their Tumblr here.

The Stone Wheel by Blue Moon

The harsh mid-winter wind wrapped itself around the branches, covering them in frost,
dead, bare, and leafless. What once was sunny paradise of nature and animals was now nothing more than a dim, gloomy bog.

But it was not the winter that had done it.
I can be seen, from the anxious villagers’ binoculars, a lone silhouette of a Poptropican
venturing in the moor. Her name is Sophia. Indeed, she had been warned many times not to go in
there. But she did not listen.

In legends, it was said that the swamp was a place to burn witches in the medieval times.
The spirits of the witches, seeking revenge, forced the kingdom to sacrifice five children each year,
or else the whole island will be burned down. The kingdom chose the children randomly, and this
year, Sophia’s friend had been chosen. Being the helpful Poptropican she always is, Sophia knew
that she had to save her friend.

As she ventured further into the bog, she found a small cave, almost completely covered in
moss and shrubbery. According to legend, it was the witches’ gathering place.

The entrance was blocked by a huge stone wheel, ornately carved symbols and alphabets
embedded everywhere. At the center of the wheel there was a moose’s head, with the antlers and
everything, in pristine condition. The witches have kept their entrance well.

The stone wheel, needless to say, was a place to input the password, in which Sophia had
no idea of.

Suddenly, as though an invisible hand was writing, a string of letters appeared.
“SLEEP IS NOT, DEATH IS NOT;
WHO SEEM TO DIE LIVE.
HOUSE YOU WERE BORN IN,
FRIENDS OF YOUR SPRING-TIME,
OLD MAN AND YOUNG MAID,
DAY’S TOIL AND ITS GUERDON,
THEY ARE ALL VANISHING,
FLEEING TO FABLES,
CANNOT BE MOORED.”

Luckily, Sophia was well-educated. She typed the name of author (can you guess who
wrote this poem?), cranking the levers and rolling the wheel. It turned.

She entered, though she did not know what to expect at the end of the cave. But whoever
she is, Sophia is not a coward. She will always remain loyal to her friends, and she knew at that
moment, that she had to save her friend’s life, even if it meant that she had to face a coven of
rebellious witches. She already made up her mind that she was doing this not only for the sake of
herself and her friend, but for everyone in the village, the Kingdom, for Poptropica…

Despite its short length, this story really captivates the reader right off the bat. I love the establishment of mystery in the eerie environment and subtle introduction of characters. Does anyone else recognize the poem that Sophia read? Would you be able to solve it without a wifi connection? I’ll leave that mystery up to you. Excellent writing! Find the artist in the comments.

Where’s Your Boss by tillymeowjings-arsb

With the lore of Fairy Tale Island and the Baron growing deeper by the day, sometimes it feels like the more information we get, the more puzzling the story gets! I love this hilarious interaction with Ack, but it does make me realize how dense our Poptropicans can be sometimes… Honestly, if Ack submitted those drawings into Community Creations, I would definitely feature them. 🥺 Awesome comic design! Find their Tumblr here.


Honorable Mentions

No honorable mentions to feature this month, unfortunately. How puzzling… 🤔 But don’t fret! Keep those awesome creations coming next month!


February: How Do I Participate?

Community Creations is a cool series for anyone in the Poptropica community to join in on. To sum up what it’s about, it’s basically a chance to show off your artwork, creepy fan-fics, Pop clubhouses, costumes, and anything else that pops into your mind.

If we really like the piece you submit, we will feature it here on the PHB! As long as it relates to that month’s theme. So what is February’s theme? February’s theme is…

🚓💰 Thievery! 💰🚓

As February begins and occasions like Valentine’s Day sneak up on us, I want you to steal my heart with your creations this month. Yes, thievery is perhaps morally questionable, but let’s admit: some thieves are just super cool.

From Poptropica’s most infamous art thief (Black Widow), to the 40 thieves of Arabian Nights Island, and from the super-villainous criminals of Super Power Island to the cat burglar costume of Night Watch Island, Poptropica certainly has its fair share of robbers and pickpockets. So in honor of all these suave stealers, let’s make ’em some art! Just don’t steal anything. 😉

  • Submit: Comment below with a link to whatever you’ve created, email it to the PHB team on our Contact page, OR share it with me (SydVC aka Spotted Dragon) on DeviantArtTwitterTumblrDiscord, OR the PHB’s Instagram.
  • Results: Next month, I will feature 5 submissions that stood out to me the most as well as some honorable mentions.
  • Limitations: Just make sure you relate to both the theme and Poptropica (and nothing NSFW or otherwise inappropriate).
  • Due Date: I will take any entries before the end of this month. Submit as many things as you’d like!

I will be sure to let you know I have seen your creation. While quality counts, I’m mainly looking for something to simply catch my eye, so don’t be afraid to join in!

So what are you waiting for? Go make something awesome!

~SD