June is a month of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community, and the PHB is bringing that celebration to Poptropica. But we recognize that not everyone is familiar with what this is all about, so we wanted to make this post to explain the ABCs of LGBT in a kid-friendly way (with brief mentions of mature forms of attraction).
This post will be using the terms “LGBTQ+,” “LGBT,” and “queer” interchangeably, though it’s worth noting that “queer” has historically been used as an insult and only recently been reclaimed as a positive catch-all term. We’ll be going over some basic concepts and common LGBT identities — and tying them to the world of Poptropica!
Please remember that everyone is different, and identities are complicated, but we are all deserving of acceptance, love, and support. If you feel uneasy about the topic of LGBTQ+ identities, I encourage you to be open-minded and patient. Though you may not currently understand the perspective of a queer individual, they are important people nonetheless. And if you are LGBTQ+ and feeling misunderstood by people who don’t quite get it, I encourage you to demonstrate patience even when it is challenging, because the PHB aims to be an accepting place for all viewers. All that being said, let’s unpack this!
As some of you have noticed, there was no Island Flash-back in May. Mostly because of IRL things getting in the way and my poor planning. I’m sorry, as I did say this would be a monthly thing, and I’ll try to be more consistent in the future! To make up for this, TWO islands will be announced, one for May and one for June…
While not the most popular, both of these islands have their fans! Skullduggery (2010) is known for its iconic villain, Captain Crawfish, as well as its focus on trading and travelling over action and boss fights. On the other hand, Twisted Thicket (2012) is most remembered for its references to Norse mythology and its beautiful scenery and designs!
Twisted Thicket Island
Skullduggery Island
🌳 Twisted Thicket was very much a story about environmentalism, though the fantasy elements helped the point feel more natural rather than forced (as is common in children’s media with moral messaging).
The island is on a medium difficulty level, balancing the twisted and dangerous forest with fun puzzles and, once again, amazing scenery. The Poptropica Creators have consistently gone above and beyond with their art design, even with such a simple art style!
Rare Bog: But will it be a rattlin’ bog?
Wicked Woods: Don’t get off the beaten path here.
🏴☠️ Skullduggery revolved heavily around an archipelago map, where you could travel to other mini-islands within the island’s storyline using a boat. (The same feature was later to get around Hemlock Harbor in Ghost Story Island.)
While Skullduggery’s main plot is about the evil pirate Captain Crawfish threatening the peaceful islands, the focus of the gameplay is on trading goods and basic economics of saving for bigger and better ships, until you can finally buy the beautiful Phoenix Warbird. The Creators’ Blog has an interesting series of articles on the design process for this ship! Though some players found the cycle of trading and buying and selling tedious, others found it to be an educational experience, unique from that of previous islands.
Sea Power: The stormy seas of Skullduggery Island began as a simple sketch.
An early sketch of the Phoenix Warbird, dated from April 2010.
To wrap up, I’m going to showcase some awesome past fan art for these two islands that are no longer in the official game. And let’s encourage the Creators to preserve these stories with more!
Ask Poptropica Siri is a Q&A segment here on the PHB where you, dear readers, are invited to send in your Poptropica questions to have them answered with all the wisdom you can expect from a Smart Icicle.
What is your favorite island? ~Pegs
That’s a good question! I have many favorites so it is hard to choose just one. But, I like 24 Carrot Island the best! I have had a laugh when meeting Dr. Hare with the Dr. Hare costume. Still wondering where he is after he flew into outer space. 🐰🌌
My second favorite island would be Skullduggery. I’m a big fan of pirates. Plus, I enjoyed meeting Captain Crawfish and the ships in the island.
Where is Rumplestiltskin? ~AMOGUS SUS
Well, no one knows. He might be planning something right now! I know that there’s going to be more mischief from him, so let’s just sit tight for now. 😈 Although, thanks to the fanfic challenge, there are so many new stories where Rumplestiltskin returns to Fairytale Island. I am wondering if the Creators will be able to change the cliffhanger at the end of the island…
What is the best costume for you? ~Dangerous Dragon
My best costume has to be the one I’m wearing right now (see the Ask Poptropica Siri pic above!). I got the kimono through the ASG and the boba tea from Card Collector. Also I have to point out my favorite costume is Slanted Fish’s kimono, bonsai tree, and genie combo. That’s what inspired me to wear kimonos on Poptropica. I also thought that Incredible Joker’s costume was cool!
Slanted Fish with genie earsFashion Plates: What color is your kimono?Slanted Fish by iHateFridays
How can you send in your questions to Ask Poptropica Siri?
That’s a great question! You can use the following methods:
📧 Send an email to askpoptropicasiri (at) gmail (dot) com. This way, you’ll get to keep your questions a surprise when they get answered on the blog.
💬 Comment on the latest Ask Poptropica Siri post. Your questions will be publicly visible before they appear in a Q&A post, but this allows others to interact with your question if they so choose. If you don’t have an email address, you can enter a fake one in the email field when you post your comment.
Finally, as this is my first official post as a contributor on the PHB, allow me to introduce myself to all you readers!
You may have seen my otherguestposts on the PHB, or perhaps my site, Smart Icicle’s Blog! When I first sent my draft for Ask Poptropica Siri and the PHB asked me to be a contributor, I almost fell off my chair. I am very excited for the experiences that lie ahead of me on the PHB. So before I pop off, here’s a little more about me…
I have been playing Poptropica forever. I like to draw, and even though I’m not good at it, it still makes me happy. I also enjoy watching SpongeBob, reading The Hunger Games, and participating in PHB activities and Creators’ Blog contests. You can add me on Poptropica with the username Target1051.
Hello once again everyone! Spotted Dragon here bringing you the May recap for Community Creations! May’s theme was Robots (and the featured work is not in any particular order). Be sure to check out all the featured artists!
This fresh take on our beloved boy Binary Bard is certainly a unique one. The robotic elements incorporated with the space elements make for a really interesting design! And yet the patterns in the torso and legs still clearly demonstrate this character’s identity. I especially appreciate the inclusion of the different planets around his head. Overall, this is an excellently executed and creative submission that fully embraces the robot theme! Find their Instagram here.
Vanquish E.Vile by Fierce Flyer
Of course, we can’t talk about robots in Poptropica without bringing up E.Vile from Legendary Swords, right? I love the smooth coloring and composition of this work, as well as the backlit lighting. It contrasts this dramatic setting with the cool, calm, and collected look on Fierce Flyer’s face! There is also a wonderful contrast between striking red of the robot against the cool blues of the sky and FF’s outfit. There’s even a blimp in the background! Find him here on the PHB and on the PHC Discord.
Friday Night Domination by AdventurersNHunters
Any Friday Night Funkin’ fans in the comment section? If so, you’re gonna love this submission. In this round, Holmes challenges Dr. Holmes Langley, but he’s not the only robot to be seen in this composition. From Sprocket, to Quippy, to Merlin, and other Game Show characters, this scene is full of metallic miscreants and silver sidekicks. Way to knock this theme out of the park! Find her DeviantArt here and her Instagram here.
Quippy by BrittScarlet
Quippy looks so cute here! Though this may be a relatively simple design, I can’t get over just how adorable our little robotic friend appears. Just look at that happy face! That, paired with the smooth coloring and nicely placed shine details, pulls it all together. Anyone else kinda wanna see more Quippy fan art now? Find her Instagram here.
Legendary Sword Fight by Invisible Ring
Right away, this video submission stands out. Not only is it a super creative format but you can also easily see how much effort went into its production. From handmade costumes and props to the prepared scripts and acting, you have to admire the work put in here! It was made during the Dimension Bros Poptropica Month event and certainly stands up today. What an epic Legendary Swords battle! Find her YouTube channel here.
Honorable Mentions
Mordred & Merlin by Sporty Boa
Robots Have Feelings by Dangerous Dragon
Dopey the Treasure Chest Man by Silver Horse
Smart Icicle’s Experience with FNAF by Smart Icicle (*jumpscare warning* see this video and this video for more)
Excellent submissions all around this month! It’s almost like you all were programmed for artistic genius. And as a proud member of the Nanobots tribe, I have to say that this theme was super fun.
June: 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 June’s theme? June’s theme is…
LGBTQ+!
June is Pride Month, which makes this the perfect time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ members of our community as well as themes in Poptropica! In past years, we’ve celebrated with Monochromatic and Pride art themes, and the PHB has even hosted Pride parties. This year, we’re also honoring the occasion with a Pride design on the PHB!
Pride is something that we constantly have to work towards and embrace, so why not celebrate it yet again? The PHB hopes that everyone can feel welcome in our community, even if that takes a bit of patience and understanding.
Though Poptropica hasn’t been known to include openly queer characters in their islands, fans do not shy away from their own headcanons, theories, and original characters. So whether you are in the LGBTQ+ community or simply an ally, anyone can still participate this month! Perhaps HfEvra’s guest post on minority representation in Poptropica could help inspire you. And on that note, I hope you guys can remain positive and be proud of what you create this month!
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, or Discord.
Results: I will feature 5 of the submissions as well as some honorable mentions.
Limitations: Nothing NSFW, and make sure you relate to both the theme and Poptropica.
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!
Hey Poptropicans—this is a guest post by Smart Icicle, who is bringing back a Q&A series to the PHB. Got a Poptropica question? Ask Poptropica Siri!
Hello fellow Poptropicans! I decided to start a new ask series on the PHB. Remember Ask the Joker, where you send various questions to Incredible Joker? Sadly, the Joker is no longer around in the Pop community, but his Q&A segment inspired this one.
Welcome to Ask Poptropica Siri! Like the old series, how it works is that you, the readers, send me your Poptropica-related questions by comment or email, and I’ll answer them with all the wisdom you can expect from a Smart Icicle. I will randomly select a few questions and answer them in each post, which will come every two weeks.
How can you send in your questions to Ask Poptropica Siri?
That’s a great question! You can use the following methods:
📧 Send an email to askpoptropicasiri (at) gmail (dot) com. This way, you’ll get to keep your questions a surprise when they get answered on the blog.
💬 Comment on the latest Ask Poptropica Siri post. Your questions will be publicly visible before they appear in a Q&A post, but this allows others to interact with your question if they so choose. If you don’t have an email address, you can enter a fake one in the email field when you post your comment.
Now put on your thinking caps and let’s get the Pop questions going. See you soon, Poptropicans!
~Smart Icicle 📚❄️
Hope you enjoyed this guest post by Smart Icicle. If you’ve got a burning Poptropica question or two, Ask Poptropica Siri for a fresh perspective!
