Category: PHB Series

Guest Posts, Popspiracy Theories

Popspiracy: Did Grapple-Pap really get Clareta? 🎄👹

Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Blue Moon. Enjoy!

Hi there Poptropicans! It’s Blue Moon again, here to make a far-fetched, almost impossible (and a little out of date) theory: Grapple-Pap didn’t get Clareta after all. Surprise, surprise.

Contrary to the popular belief, Grapple-Pap may not have gotten Clareta—even before your Poptropican came to remind her of “what Grapple-Pap’s all about”. Why? The design of her house may hold clues.

Let’s take a look at the structure of her house. Though gloomy and worn-down, it’s pretty well-structured, isn’t it? But take a closer look and compare these two pictures: Isn’t the structure of Clareta’s house similar to the ones in town?

Clareta’s house
House in town

As we know, the town was designed to fit the cheer and merriment of Grapple-Pap—including the houses. Since Clareta lived in such an isolated place alone, it might be that she built her own house. And if Grapple-Pap really got her, why would she build her house to fit the style of the houses in town, which were designed to look cheery?

Also, if you look closely, you can see that there are pink hearts 💕 painted on the ridges in a pattern. Why would an old, mean, grumpy grandma like her paint hearts on her otherwise gloomy house? Isn’t she supposed to hate Grapple-Pap themes and general “happiness” or “merriment”? At least, that’s what happens to you if Grapple-Pap got you… she’s supposed to be grumpy and hate Grapple-Pap, and yeah, she fulfilled the first point, but did she really hate Grapple-Pap before your Poptropican came to remind her?

More on that point, look at the inside of her house. The huge, robotic whatever-that-is hanging from the ceiling is quite eye-catching, right? Though its appearance is hard to ignore, many would look over the fact that it’s carrying a bag of gifts and holding one in its “hand”. 🎁

Upon further inspection you will find that the appearance of the whatever-that-is (Krampus?) is similar to the creature painted on the booths of the Salty Nugget. 👹 Again, the whole town is designed to fit the cheeriness of Grapple-Pap, and Clareta was supposed to hate that stuff, so why would she hang a huge, gift-carrying thing that resembles something merry in town? Hmm, weird…

Also, did you notice that there are multiple silhouettes of garlands hanging from the ceiling of Clareta’s house? Garlands, like the ones from the Baron’s airship’s December visit, see? The question is the same: Why would Clareta put anything decorative in her house, especially something Grapple-Pap-related, when she’s supposed to be mean and anti-Grapple-Pap at the moment?

I know, I know. Even I must admit that this theory is quite ridiculous. There’s even evidence that goes against the points above—the burning Grapple-Pap gifts in the fireplace. But there’s still plenty of evidence that shows considerable traces of Grapple-Pap in her house… and that was before she turned nice. Quite a conflicting house, isn’t it?

Christmas garland for sale at the Baron’s cabin
Burning Grapple-Gifts in Clareta’s fireplace

So, if my theory is true, what does it mean? If Grapple-Pap did not get her, then who (or what) did? What caused the caring and compassionate Clareta to turn into a mean old hag? And most importantly, who and when will these questions be answered, and what will it mean to the holiday and legend of Grapple-Pap?

Until next time~ Blue Moon 🌚

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Blue Moon. If you did, you might also enjoy other Popspiracy posts we’ve shared on the blog.

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? We’d love to hear from you!

Guest Posts, Popspiracy Theories

Popspiracy: Familiar Faces of the 40 Thieves

Slanted Fish

Hey Poptropicans, this is a guest post by Popular Raptor. Enjoy!

We know Scheherazade as the leader of the Forty Thieves from Arabian Nights Island, and Brutus as her muscular sidekick. But who are they really — and their fellow thieves? That’s my question for this post!

Remember, the culprits are always people you know in life (that’s how it is for my life, yours?). That got me thinking. What if we know these thieves from elsewhere? And then it occurred to me: Brutus looks like a more muscular version of Hercules from Mythology Island! (Sorry Herc.)

There’s also the thief looking through the telescope later in the island. Maybe it’s just me, but he kind of reminds me of the Viking on Time Tangled Island, just with some hair shaved off.

I don’t know, sometimes appearances can be misleading. Maybe the Poptropica Creators have ideas for a new island where all the “good” characters we meet are actually the hidden villains of another island, and the “villains” are actually good.

Are there any good and bad characters that you think are similar to each other?

-Popular Raptor

Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Popular Raptor. If you did, you might also enjoy other Popspiracy posts we’ve shared on the blog.

The Poptropica Help Blog welcomes interesting Poptropica insights from anyone in the Poptropica community with thoughts to share. Interested in writing for the PHB? We’d love to hear from you!

Community Creations

Community Creations: December 2022

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

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

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

Top 5 Picks

Holly Jolly Jester by Kade (aka mintyspinel9hg)

To kick things off: a perfect fit of a fit for the holiday season! I love the playfulness of the costume design and the unique approach to winter-themed attire. It mixes in just a touch of mischievousness with that holiday cheer. And I seriously want that present shooter in game! Find their Instagram here.

Twas the Night Before Grapple-Pap by Dizzy Feather

Next up, we have a wonderful Poptropica-style twist on a classic holiday tale. It’s really fun to see Grapple-Pap take on a story that pretty much everyone can recognize. Plus, the extra attention to composing the text on this wintery background gives it a special touch. Very clever! Find her in the comments and on the PHC Discord.

Grapple-Pap by Tillymeowjings-arsb

“…Every year, for the Grapple-Pap holiday, I whip up some Grapple-Pops for the Baron. They slam the door in my face each time. It’s kind of this fun tradition we have…”
“…The ship just drifted in here on its own, I guess… Rumpel has the Baron somewhere, or maybe even Grapple-Pap got them… it is the holiday where we all spread cheer, or Grapple-Pap will get you for one whole year…I’m getting worried…”

Okay, geez, I should have warned you all this would get emotional! With just a few panels, this work definitely packs a punch with its story. The lore of the Baron, Amelia, and all the Fairy Tale Island royalty continues to grow, and so does my investment with these characters. 🥺 The juxtaposition between the warm, bright setting of the past and the cold, dark composition of the present is quite powerful. The visuals add a lot of significance to the dialogue from the airship. Excellent work! Find their Tumblr here.

Bracelet by HeartOfEnder

It was the morning of Grapple-pap. The morning where kids rushed down the stairs to open gifts with their families. A time where as the old saying goes, “if you don’t spread cheer, Grapple-pap will get you for a year.”

Boys asked for cars and action figures. Girls asked for dolls and ponies. That morning they would giggle and laugh with happiness at their new toys, playing with them all day long.

For the Jones family, living in a town with festive decorations up for their occasion, their gift to their son, Felix, was not a toy, but a tool.

As the young boy opened the small box which was the gift from his parents, he was met with a strange bracelet. Unlike the sparkly bracelet with beads girls wore, it was made with a durable, neon orange rope, tied in a way you could unravel it. the rope was connected by a black side connector buckle, like the ones you see on backpacks. A small compass was embedded in the buckle, and even the buckle’s shape was odd, with strange fork prongs inside.

“Daddy, what is this?” The young boy asked, looking up at his parents. His dad smiled, crouching down and explaining it all to him.

“My Fledgling, this is a survival bracelet.” he said, taking the bracelet from the box. “I know you want to explore the world, but there are dangerous things out there. This will help you avoid those dangers.”

“How?” Felix asked, even more interested in the bracelet.

“Think of all the uses for a rope. This survival bracelet can do it all.” His father explained. “It even comes with a knife, which might be the most useful tool ever.” “It’s still too big to fit on your wrist…” Felix’s mother pointed out as the young boy excitedly put the survival bracelet on. “But one day it’ll fit perfectly. I can’t wait for that day!”

CONTINUE READING HERE

Acting as both a Grapple-Pap tale and a short prequel to Felix’s origin in the author’s Aerie of Eagles series, this story serves up a great sense of nostalgia. It has a traditional holiday setting that many kids can reminisce on, and leaves you wanting to know more about where the characters are now. Very interesting introduction! Find their Tumblr here.

Tally Ho-Ho-Ho! by happyclonetrooper

Lastly, we have a hilarious holiday card that I would be happy to receive myself! The artist has remade this card every few years, each purposefully tacky yet increasingly more polished each time. And, I have to admit, the “tally ho-ho-ho” pun is a killer. 😉 I wonder what sort of gifts MVB would give out? Perhaps I don’t want to know the answer… Find her Instagram here.

Honorable Mentions

Goblin of Grapple-Pap by Magic Poptropican
Myron and Winston Grapple by sleepybiker
Mistletoe by Distorted-Graffiti

Amazing work, everyone! It’s always hard to grapple with how talented you all are. From the whole PHB team, we hope you had an amazing holiday season and a great new year! Here’s to an even better 2023.

January: 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 January’s theme? January’s theme is…

🤔🧩 Puzzling! 🧩🤔

One of my favorite gameplay elements of Poptropica has always been the puzzles. From playing minigames like mancala on Nabooti Island, to solving mysterious codes on Spy Island or changing the dragon sculpture on Counterfeit Island, puzzles seem to be everywhere when you really think about it!

Some are pretty straight-forward and other are, well… puzzling! But that’s why we have PHB Island Guides to help you out. So as we enter 2023 and start solving a whole new year of puzzles and challenges, let’s take a moment to celebrate the fun ones and share our frustrations on the more difficult ones.

Maybe draw your Poptropican trying to solve a particularly puzzling puzzle, or write a story about your favorite puzzling Poptropica minigame. Perhaps design a costume for what you think the ultimate puzzle-solving master would look like, or even design a Poptropica puzzle yourself! Your work doesn’t even necessarily have to involve a physical puzzle, just something confusing or a brain teaser of sorts will do. The options are up to you! Good luck!

  • 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 DeviantArt, Twitter, Tumblr, Discord, 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: December 2022

Slanted Fish

Happy holidays, 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, Fearless Thunder — your new membership status lets you play various exclusive quests, including the recent relaunch of Survival Island, Ep. 3: Distress Signal! You’ll also get to enjoy the player-designed 12 Days of Member Gifts released earlier this month.

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 Fearless Thunder! Keep on popping on! ⚡️

Community Creations

Community Creations: November 2022

Spotted Dragon
community-creations-logo

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

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

Top 5 Picks

Elyana & Mordred as Friends by emelyn_is_trying

Aside from the more recent Fairytale Island, Astro-Knights is without a doubt the first island that comes to mind for OG players when they think “Poptropica royalty.” In an alternate reality where an evil Binary Bard didn’t kidnap the princess, Elyana and Mordred could have seriously become great friends. These space nerds just make such a fun pair! Their dynamic poses, expressions, and enhanced outfits make for quite the engaging design too. Find their Instagram here.

Princess Red Baroness by abbeyjoy25

In more recent news involving Fairytale Island, we seem to learn more about the Red Baroness’s mysterious backstory every month. But we have not yet seen her in full princess attire, so this exploration of her potential outfit is super interesting! The design takes inspiration from other Poptropica princesses, including Snow White, Cinderella, and Elyana, of course. She definitely fits the princess aesthetic here, while still retaining her unique color scheme and attitude, making her still recognizable. Excellent idea! Find her Instagram here.

Princess of the Cosmos by HeartofEnder aka Solemn-Siren

Stepping away from pre-established Pop princesses while remaining in a princess theme, this work is inspired by the game Sky: Children of the Light. It is specifically based on a certain crown item from Season of AURORA, except here it’s given a Poptropica twist in style. The original character turned out to have such a unique, eye-catching design! The color scheme and composition feel magical, perfect for royalty from the stars. Very cool submission! Find her DeviantArt here.

Gacha Club Fairytale Island King & Queen by mysticsunni

Back to the realm of Fairytale Island, here we have the infamous Red Queen and her husband. This time made in the Gacha Club character creator! It’s really neat to see how accurate characters from other games can be replicated in another game, rendered in a completely different style but still recognizable. Not to mention how adorable they look! Find their Instagram here.

Rumpel by oneofthosenightbees

Last but certainly not least, we have a character that perhaps was not born into royalty but briefly achieved royal status nonetheless. What do YOU think would happen if Rumpelstiltskin became kind of Fairytale Island for real? This illustration simply demands our attention, directly engaging with the viewer through the character’s eye contact. The color scheme and expression portray a dark, daunting tone with that eye-catching red adding a lot of visual interest. Very intense and captivating! Find her Instagram here.

Honorable Mentions

Royal Galaxy by Dizzy Feather
The Goblin King by Magic Poptropican
Red Queen by oneofthosenightbees
Red Queen by tillymeowjings
Mole King & Queen by sleepybiker

Hear ye, hear ye… you guys royally crushed it this month! I wish you could all be rewarded with your very own crowns for the highness of your creative standards.

December: 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 December’s theme? December’s theme is…

 Grapple-Pap! 

Way back when the Grapple-Pap side quest first appeared, Poptropica introduced new festive lore into the game that we hadn’t encountered before. The holiday is basically Poptropica’s version of Christmas or other winter-y celebrations, so ’tis the season to celebrate it in our creations! The PHB even hosted a Grapple-Pap holiday party last year.

This month, I’m basically looking for any art that embraces the holiday season, but more so Poptropica’s take on winter festivities. Maybe draw some fanart of the side quest characters like Grapple-Pap himself, or create a cozy costume for your Poptropican perfect for the cold weather. Maybe even try to make an IRL Grapple-Pap mask or even your own Grapple-Pop treat IRL if you’re a whiz in the kitchen? Or simply incorporate IRL winter holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah into the world of Poptropica somehow.

  • 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 DeviantArt, Twitter, Tumblr, Discord, 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