To most of you, this is just a normal Friday, but to one special fandom this is a day for celebration, contemplation, and, most of all, feels. Today marks the third year anniversary of the webcomic Homestuck and if you’ve been to any sort of con recently you’ve seen us. We’re the kids in the black shirts, grey skin, and candy corn horns. We’re the kids with the monochrome schemed pajamas. The kids with the ironic sunglasses. The kids carrying around buckets. We’re here and our numbers are stronger than ever.
4/13 Is Also The Birthday of the Main Character, John Egbert. Happy Birthday, Little Heir! We Are All so Proud of You (Front Page of MSPA Edited by Goggles)
For a moment, let me reflect on my time in this fandom, as it seems like today would be the perfect day to do so. I didn’t start with liking the comic. No, I was rather adamant against reading it since I was completely lost during Andrew Hussie’s previous comic, Problem Sleuth (which is good too, don’t get me wrong) and that I was studying abroad. My brother was persistent though, and when I got home he literally stood over my shoulder as I read through act one. And then I was Homestuck. No seriously. After taking the time to actually read it, I found that it really was my sort of thing and my brother wasn’t just making stuff up. I was lucky in having someone helping me through the more convoluted parts as some people give up around then, but in a comic that’s reaching its seven thousandth page it’s easy to understand why the task of picking up such a comic could be daunting.
After reading I thought to myself, “Okay, so I’m a Homestuck. Now what?” And, of course, the answer was to go on tumblr. Through tumblr, I was able to go through all stages of being part of a fandom in record time. The Fangirling. The
Obsession. The “Oh my god what are you doing stop that get out of my fandom” phase. Now I would like to think I’ve hit that plateau called the “acceptance” phase. Despite showing the worst of us unabashedly, tumblr made it easier to be in direct contact with the artists, musicians, fans, and even the creator which is terribly appealing. Being in such ‘close’ proximity made me want to get better at my arts (drawing and voice acting) with a passion I never knew before. It made me want to help more with our charitable movements such as the Can Town Project. It made me feel a closer connection to my fellow cosplayers. Through role playing this ‘verse, it also lead me to the wonderful people I know today as the best internet nakama a girl could ask for. Before I blather on any further, my point is that I have a lot to be thankful to this fandom for.
Now, you may be saying, “Rin, how can I get in on this fandom awesomeness”. Luckily for you, I have composed a list of how you could spend your 4/13 in a true Homestuck fashion.
- -Watch all of the Flashes (I recommend Make Her Pay, but not if you haven’t read the rest of it)
- -Read Fanfiction
- -Draw Shippy Art of Your Favorite Pairing
- – Wear Sunglasses
- -Fall Down Some Stairs [Should Have A Partner For This and Suitably Funny Music]
- -Type Like Your Patron Troll
- -Drink Some Faygo
- -Watch Con Air
- -Sing “How Do I Live?” At The Top Of Your Lungs
- -Expound on Your Feels
- -Just Read the Comic
Even if you haven’t read the comic, I would highly suggest listening to the music. Yes, Homestuck has its own soundtrack. Hussie and his music team have just revealed the fandom’s magnum opus ‘coloUrs and mayhem’ in a two disk set: Universe A and Universe B. All of these songs are composed by the fandom and all of the album art is done by the fandom as well. From A, I recommend listening to ‘Temporal Shenanigans’ and ‘Iron Infidel’. From B: ‘Orchid Horror’ and ‘Pendulum’. However, all of the songs truly are amazing.
So here’s to another year of brofist bunps and screaming “HUSSIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE” at our computer screens after waiting all night for an update. We’ve come a long way, but the ride’s not over yet.
[Massive Spoilers in Vid]
Lady Geek Girl and Friends 