Homestuck Overview

Homestuck is an internet fiction series created by American author and artist Andrew Hussie. It is the fourth and most well-known of Hussie's MS Paint Adventures. Originally running from April 13, 2009, to April 13, 2016, it is primarily recognized as a webcomic but also incorporates Flash animations and browser games.

Key Information

• Author: Andrew Hussie
• Launch Date: April 13, 2009
• End Date: April 13, 2016
• Publishers: TopatoCo (2011-2013), Viz Media (2017-present)

Plot Summary

1. Initiation

   • John Egbert, a teen, receives a beta version of a PC game called Sburb, leading to Earth's impending destruction by meteors.
   • John and friends Rose Lalonde, Dave Strider, and Jade Harley survive by entering "the Medium".

2. Conflict and Collaboration

   • Encounter Jack Noir, a villain, and 12 Internet trolls revealed as alien species.
   • Trolls blame the kids for their failed session of Sburb.
   • Story shifts to the trolls’ backstory and manipulation by Doc Scratch.
   • Kids and trolls cooperate to resolve the game session.

3. Significant Events

   • Scratch mechanism resets the universe, involving Lord English and new protagonists like Jane Crocker.
   • A new universe created post-Scratch is dominated by the Condesce.
   • Two alien cherubs, Calliope and Caliborn, enter the narrative.

4. Resolution

   • John Egbert gains powers to retcon events, guiding to a victorious outcome.
   • Final battle leads to the creation of a new universe.

Style and Development

• Combines static images, animations, and instant message logs.
• Complex and nonlinear storytelling.
• Interactive fiction elements influenced by fan contributions.
• Sburb is akin to games like The Sims and EarthBound.

Impact and Legacy

• Vast fan community with significant merchandise sales.
• Influenced other works, including Undertale by Toby Fox.
• Compared to works like James Joyce's Ulysses for its length and complexity.
• Kickstarter for a Homestuck game raised $2.5 million.
• Epilogue and follow-up works continue the story.

Related Projects

• Hiveswap adventure games.
• Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff webcomic.
• Homestuck: Beyond Canon continuation.

Reception

• Recognized among top comics by NPR in 2017.
• Described as the first great work of genuinely hypertext fiction.
• Critiqued for its sprawling narrative and complex storytelling.

Conclusion

Homestuck's narrative complexity and integration of multimedia elements have left a lasting influence on webcomics and internet culture. It remains a subject of study and admiration within its fan community and beyond.