social media

YEAR ONE
Page 50
Arguments (2), Systemic ViolencePage 96
Arguments (1), Non-Con Body ModificationGOLDEN ERA
Page 182
Arguments (1), Systemic Violence, FirePage 202
Arguments, Injury, UnrealityPage 224
Arguments (2), Injury (1),
Systemic Violence (1), Mind ControlLEGACY
Page 334
Mental Trauma (2), Non-Con Body Modification (2), InjuryPage 384
Systemic Violence (1), Injury, FireWriting: Odaigahara

Summary:On M, Scar’s PR agent Bdubs gets into an argument with Doctor Monster, a fan of Scar Goodtimes, who is excited about his newest movie. Meanwhile, other Hermitopia citizens on M and on Mumblr discuss the entertainment industry.Curious Zedditors discuss how Pearl Moon has recently taken down her articles speculating about Hotguy’s identity, and get into arguments about defamation and journalism in the replies.A Zedditor dedicated to analyzing vigilante behavior dives into a discussion of Cuteguy’s recent troubles, and comes to the conclusion that he is recovering from an injury and possibly cracking under the pressure of his position. In the replies, Zedditors argue about the TCG and whether or not one of the people in the linked videos is supposed to be dead.#Hotguygate is trending on M (formerly Chatter) and Mumblr, with anger spiking into a frenzy at Hotguy’s behavior. On M, Hotguy PR’s official apology is met with derision from citizens and Doctor Monster. On Mumblr, Hotguy fans are turning violently against him and telling their friends to do the same.Hermitopia citizens take to M to react to the sculk pulses, attempting to find missing loved ones, and keeping up with evacuation notices. Doctor Monster denies that this is his doing, Joe Hills helpfully links threads, and the HotguyOfficial account lets the public know he’s on the scene.Hermitopia citizens on Sumagram, Mumblr, M, and 4suma react to Hotguy’s retirement announcement and share the ways that Hotguy touched their lives.

HOTGUY PRESENTS:

The First Battle!
The Most Epic and Heartwrenching and Harrowing Battle
of the Turn of the Century

[Comic]
Page 9Art: Choco
Writing: Jonny Sixteenthdays & Zephaniah GrainsWarnings:
Unreality (1), Mind Control, Being Watched, Injury

Summary:In his very first fight, Hotguy very bravely and with no problems whatsoever dispatches the terrible villains Gal and Guy! Except wait, maybe that’s not right—Hotguy edits the narrative as he goes, removing Guy and silencing Gal as needed to make himself look like more of a hero as he tells his story. Gal and Guy aren’t amused, but not to worry, they’re defeated! There’s no need to thank him!

HOTGUY in:

Meet Cute

[Comic]
Page 30Art: Doody
Writing: MaruuWarnings:
Injury

Summary:It’s another day for Hotguy on patrol until he spots someone flying in the distance. Assuming it’s a treacherous villain, he gets his bow out and shoots them down——only to find out that it’s not an evil doer after all, but… the vigilante Cuteguy? After a short, curt comeback, Cuteguy flies away, leaving Hotguy to wonder what just happened.

HOTGUY in:

King for a Day

[Comic]
Page 38Art: Cornpapers
Writing: RainyWarnings:
Fire

Summary:In a bid to get some better PR, Bdubs and Hotguy team up with Ren to unite the vigilantes under the banner of a hero’s union. Unfortunately, Cuteguy isn't a fan of this idea, and when he tips off reporter Pearl Moon to write a scathing article on the situation, Ren's rule as the king of heroes is cut hilariously short.

HOTGUY and CUTEGUY in...

The G-Team

[Comic]
Page 56Art: traffogers
Writing: BriefleWarnings:
Guns (1), Being Watched (1)

Summary:Cuteguy takes on a mission to find a briefcase that Dr. Cub Fan, a H.E.P. researcher, had stolen while attending Doctor Monster's gala. Not to worry, Detective Grian is on the case! And Ariana Griande! And Government Employee Grian! Using disguise after disguise, Cuteguy retraces the briefcase's movements to Midnight Alley, where he sees a mysterious figure on a motorcycle in possession of it.A chase ensues: Cuteguy soars through the city in pursuit, while Hotguy, called in to help, takes his sweet time on the subway. Cuteguy shoots out the villain’s tire, causing them to crash and bust open the briefcase. The villain slips away after grabbing some of the important documents; by the time Hotguy finally arrives, all that’s left is a broken test tube and a few papers scattered in the street.

HOTGUY + CUTEGUY in:

The Case of the Missing Cub

[Comic]
Page 70Art: TibbyCaps
Writing: SisypheanWarnings:
Fire (2), Mind Control (2),
Non-Con Body Modification (1),
Injury, Discourse, Being Watched

Summary:In his efforts to return the stolen briefcase, Cuteguy discovers that its owner, Dr. Cub Fan, is missing. The only trace of his last known whereabouts is a pizza ordered to an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city. However, Cuteguy is no longer working this case alone, as Hotguy decides to make an appearance after following the path of a snulk (snail sculk). The two end up arguing their way inside the house, only to discover a sculk-possessed Cub who attacks Hotguy and injures Cuteguy. They are both forced to fight until they individually realize the sculk’s weakness: arson. Hotguy uses fire arrows to rescue Cub from the sculk, while Cuteguy busies himself with burning down the building. Outside, Cub wakes up as himself again, and finds Hotguy and Cuteguy arguing over Hotguy merch, while Cub’s house burns down in front of them. The merch gets Cub’s approval.

[HOTGUY!] HAS
ONE NEW MAIL

[Writing]
Page 80Writing: TelkWarnings:
Arguments

Summary:Told entirely through Scar’s email inbox, Hotguy’s new PR agent, Cub, is given access to Hotguy’s various email addresses. Just in time, too—because while gaining advice from Scar’s acting agent, Bdubs, Cub finds himself fielding automatic responses to fanmail, ignoring pointed emails from the TCG, reading requests for information from reporter Pearl Moon, and trying to help an increasingly frustrated Cuteguy deal with Doc-created laser chickens. Some quick thinking (and a virus on Scar’s phone) has Cub managing to get Hotguy’s attention to save the day; perhaps Cub will do well at this job after all.

HOTGUY + CUTEGUY in:

The Sidekick

[Comic]
Page 104Art/Writing: CaloCreekWarnings:
Injury

Summary:After finishing a fight with Doc, Hotguy and Cuteguy make a hasty exit together via smoke bomb as a familiar reporter starts to ask nosey questions. The two of them discuss exit strategies, and Cuteguy is horrified to learn Hotguy normally takes the subway home while still in-costume. He offers Hotguy use of his hidden stashes of clothes instead, and they change while hiding from each other. Cuteguy explains that while he trusts Hotguy to have his back now, he just isn’t ready to share his identity. Once they’re changed (and wearing masks and sunglasses to hide their identities), Hotguy formally asks Cuteguy to be his sidekick. Cuteguy agrees, and they take the subway home, formally partners at last.

Synergy

[Writing]
Page 118Writing: Kaya
Warnings:
Injury (1), Fire (2)

Summary:Hotguy and Cuteguy once again find themselves facing down Doc, who’s created a new type of armored creeper. Despite their best efforts, the two get mobbed and injured by their explosions, resulting in Doc getting away. Afterwards, Hotguy asks Cuteguy to teach him how to fight close-range, while Hotguy shows Cuteguy how to use a bow. The next time they face Doc, they defeat the creepers using the new skills they’ve learned from each other, then blow up Doc’s warehouse, leaving him tied up for the authorities. Having won the day with their excellent teamwork, they leave to go get burgers.

A Cub in the Quiver

[Comic]
Page 130Art/Writing: Concidine Art
Warnings:
Fire

Summary:Cub brings Hotguy to their brand new training facility to test the latest equipment he’s developed for him. From grapple arrows to smoke bombs, flame retardants to even a boomerang, there’s a lot to test out!But after a series of comedic shenanigans, Cub reveals he’s developed a fungicide arrow meant to break down any sculk in a person’s system. He gives Hotguy the vial in case he or anyone else ever gets possessed again. Beta testing finished, the two lament the mess they’ve made and now need to clean up.

Bas les Masques
pour un Soir

[Writing]
Page 136Cover: isjasz
Writing: Zip Zap
Warnings:
Injury (1)

Summary:
TL (Drop the Masks for One Night)During a late-night shift at one of his many part-time jobs—this one as a security guard for a movie studio—Grian meets a man who claims to be an actor and left his wallet and ID inside of the building. Grian, sore from a recent fight and grumpy at being bothered at 2 A.M, refuses the man entrance, even after learning he is Scar Goodtimes, whose face is on the poster behind Grian. The two exchange some friendly banter before Grian notices that Scar is injured, and helps patch him up. After speaking some more, Scar eventually falls asleep on a bench; feeling guilty, Grian gives Scar his coat to use as a blanket before contacting Hotguy to ask if he’s okay after their last fight. Hotguy says someone nice helped look after him, and satisfied, Grian settles down for the rest of his shift.

Deer Hunting Season

[Comic]
Page 149Cover: IngaPotejto
Art: Julia & Otse
Writing: SecondWarnings:
Character Death (2), Injury (2),
Guns (2), Mental Trauma (2),
Being Watched (1), Unreality (1)

Summary:Hotguy and Cuteguy are in hot pursuit of a mysterious man in a deer mask who has stolen sculk research documents! Hotguy doesn’t take it very seriously, causing tension between him and Cuteguy, but they eventually catch up to and unmask the would-be thief. Cuteguy is shocked to learn the man beneath it is his friend, Jimmy, but before they can convince him to give the papers over, Jimmy is killed and Cuteguy is critically injured by a hidden sniper—Gem, the Bleeding Hart. She then easily defeats Hotguy, admonishing him that people in their business should be ready to die for their ideals before stealing the papers and leaving. Hotguy rushes Cuteguy to surgery, lamenting that he isn’t in this business for something as “idiotic” as ideals.

There's a Room Where
the Light Won't Find You

[Writing]
Page 160Cover: VesperionNox
Writing: ThelloWarnings:
Injury (2), Mental Trauma (2), Arguments (2),
Fire (1), Being Watched (1), Unreality (1),
Systemic Violence (1)

Summary:Hotguy begins to fray: scrutinized under the weight of public scrutiny, feeling the omnipresent eyes of The Hermit Herald and its ruthless author, Pearl. Worse: Soup Group’s presence grows without challenge, and suddenly Cuteguy feels further than ever before. Scar’s only reprieve is his new neighbor, Pearl. Here, they are not cat-and-mouse, superhero and journalist; merely a pair of strangers. Soon, a pair of friends. It is only under the blazes of fire deep within the TCG building that this reprieve shatters: Scour is Pearl, and Hotguy’s identity is caught in her web. But when it comes time to bring her to justice, Scar lets her free.While waiting for his mistakes to catch up to him, instead he gets a late night visitor. A secret for a secret ensures Scar’s identity will remain under wraps. Pearl sends him to find his Cuteguy, who’s caught in the crosshairs once more…

Birds of Prey

[Writing]
Page 186Cover: Wormtime
Writing: mochiwritesWarnings:
Guns (2), Mental Trauma (2),
Being Watched (2), Injury (2),
Arguments (2), Fire (1), Unreality (1)

Summary:Haunted by his inability to save Jimmy and still recovering from his own injuries, Cuteguy sees Bleeding Hart around every corner—it appears he’s being stalked. Gripped by paranoia and the fear he can no longer successfully watch Hotguy’s back, Cuteguy begins to push him away. After a disastrous mission, Cuteguy finds a calling card from Bleeding Hart in their base, and attempts to confront her alone in order to protect their identities.As they stalk each other in the dark, Cuteguy learns that the Soup Group wants to undo the mutations, and will do anything to achieve their goal. Bleeding Hart finds and defeats Cuteguy, but before she can kill him, Hotguy arrives to save him. Bleeding Hart escapes using one of his smoke bombs before they can capture her.Still uncertain after the battle, Cuteguy tells Hotguy it would be safer to split up, but Hotguy insists that they should stay together because the city needs them as a team. Despite both of their doubts, the two of them agree to keep working together.

HOTGUY and CUTEGUY in:

Smoke Rising

[Comic]
Page 210Art: chrisin
Writing: DuxWarnings:
Non-Con Body Modification (2),
Injury (1), Mind Control (2)

Summary:During an attack, Smoke Signal poisons Cuteguy with a strain of sculk that incapacitates him. Smoke Signal explains that his own teammates, Bleeding Hart and Scour, were poisoned by the same strain when Zedaph betrayed the Soup Group and tested it out on them; in order to save his sidekick, Hotguy must break into the mad scientist Zedaph's laboratory and steal the antidote.Equipped with a stolen prototype of a mutation enhancer he dubs “The Bug”, Hotguy evades Zedaph’s defenses. Before he can reach the lab, he runs into the sculk-infected Bleeding Hart and Scour, who attempt to kill him. After narrowly escaping through a vent, Hotguy reaches the lab where he finds the antidotes. He successfully defeats Bleeding Hart and Scour by injecting them with it. Hotguy returns to their base to give Cuteguy the antidote, but dodges his questions about how he got it.Meanwhile, at the Soup Group’s base, Bleeding Hart and Scour return sculk-free. Scour expresses disappointment that their alliance with Zedaph was a waste, but Smoke Signal counters that they may have gotten more than they’d bargained for, referring to The Bug, still attached to Hotguy and slowly infecting him with sculk.

HOTGUY & CUTEGUY in

What Needs to be Done

[Comic]
Page 232Art: Anneliis
Writing: VanyelWarnings:
Mind Control (2),
Non-Con Body Modification (2),
Unreality (2), Arguments (1),
Being Watched

Summary:When Hotguy's destructive behavior is revealed as a side effect of the Bug on his neck, Cuteguy teams up with Scour and Bleeding Hart to get some answers—before the TCG gets to him first. After they chase Hotguy up to his lair, Hotguy traps the Soupers so he can talk to Cuteguy alone. He explains that Hermitopia needs him as a hero, and all he wants is his fair share of respect. With the TCG on their way, Hotguy admits he doesn't want to do this without Cuteguy, and proposes that they run away together.But before Cuteguy can give him an answer, a voice speaks from the Bug and freezes Hotguy. Smoke Signal reveals himself, having turned the Bug's transmitter into a mind-controlling device. His command to Hotguy?Kill Cuteguy.

Total Eclipse

[Comic]
Page 255Cover: Googly
Art: isjasz
Writing: Zip ZapWarnings:
Mind Control (2), Injury (2),
Non-Con Body Modification (2),
Being Watched (1), Mental Trauma (2),
Arguments (2)

Summary:The order to “kill Cuteguy” reverberates through Hotguy’s mind. He begs Cuteguy to run, and tells him “I’m sorry,” before losing himself entirely and drawing his bow. Cuteguy attempts first to flee, then to defend himself without hurting his partner too badly. Pleas for Hotguy to snap out of it seem to go unheard. He comes up with a desperate plan; if Hotguy seeks to kill “Cuteguy,” then he’ll meet him as “Grian” instead. For the first time, he reveals his face to Hotguy.

Of the Heart

[Comic]
Page 273Cover: isjasz
Art: isjasz
Writing: Zip ZapWarnings:
Mind control (2),
Non-Con Body Modification (2),
Injury (2), Being Watched (1)

Summary:Cuteguy, maskless, approaches Hotguy and identifies himself as Grian, who is “no hero;” therefore Hotguy doesn’t need to fight him. He overwhelms Hotguy’s bug-controlled mind with details about his personal life, including a story of the time he talked all night with an actor at his security job. Grian embraces Hotguy and succeeds in crushing the Bug, freeing his mind. They apologize to each other and walk into the sunrise. A week later, Scar visits Grian at his security job and reveals his own identity.

HOTGUY & CUTEGUY in

A Tough Act to Follow

[Comic]
Page 290Art/Writing: TopsyWarnings:
Injury (2), Discourse (1),
Non-Con Body Modification,
Being Watched, Fire

Summary:After a subway tunnel collapses around them, Hotguy and Cuteguy find themselves trapped in a train underground during a mysterious power outage. Pinned beneath the rubble, Cuteguy realizes his leg is broken; it’s up to Hotguy to find any more trapped civilians. As he searches, Hotguy calls on the power of the Bug fragments still within him to enhance his vision, and discovers that the collapse was caused by a massive sculk infestation. For a moment, he manages to see “through” the sculk, but doing so places great strain on his left eye.Hours later, rescuers arrive; Grian tells Scar to escape before the authorities can arrest Hotguy, but Scar refuses to abandon him.
As they speak, two agents approach, but reveal themselves to be Dr. Cleo Zombi and Skizz “Wiseguy” LeMan, who’ve been sent to help them avoid arrest. Skizz uses his enhanced strength to free Cuteguy and break into an adjacent tunnel, while Scar is amazed that anyone in the vigilante community still cares for him. Cleo and Skizz lead them to the person who arranged for their rescue: the Maple Prince.

Interlude:
The Secret Ingredient

[Writing]
Page 308Writing: Alice (Not Alice)Warnings:
Injury (2), Arguments (2),
Mental Trauma (1)

Summary:Smoke Signal enters The Secret Ingredient, a bakery which serves as the front for an information brokerage helmed by “Secret Keeper” Big B. He’s confronted by the bakery’s protector, Wiseguy, who’s also Impulse’s best friend Skizz—but doesn’t know who Smoke Signal is. For the sake of Soup Group’s goals, Smoke Signal threatens and hurts Skizz in order to extract the location of “the Altar of the Catalyst” from Big B. As Smoke Signal turns to leave, Skizz calls him by his nickname, having somehow finally recognized him. Big B then reveals that he’s always known Smoke Signal’s true identity, but kept the secret safe for Skizz’s sake. Impulse, guilt-stricken, flees into the night, convinced that there’s no stopping the plan now, even if he has to die for it.

Through the Looking
Glass, Darkly

[Writing]
Page 314Cover: Wormtime
Writing: definitelynotshoutingWarnings:
Injury (2), Arguments (2),
Mental Trauma (1), Guns (1),
Non-Con Body Modification,
Unreality

Summary:The Soup Group delves into the ancient city beneath Hermitopia and begins modifying the Catalyst so it can reverse the city’s mutations. As they work, Gem notices that Pearl is uneasy. Eventually, Pearl expresses doubts about the plan, and if it’s “worth it” for Impulse to die for their ideal. Despite her own unacknowledged misgivings, Gem shuts down her concerns.

HOTGUY and CUTEGUY in

The Catalyst

[Comic]
Page 323Art: Emrys
Writing: LunaWarnings:
Mental Trauma, Fire,
Non-Con Body Modification

Summary:In the ancient city beneath Hermitopia, the Soup Group meets to kick off Impulse’s plan, which Pearl is distressed by, but is talked into going along with by her teammates. Meanwhile, Scar is woken up by a mysterious pulse of blue energy that makes his ears pop and his head ache slightly. The news report notes that the pulse is city-wide and has caused an electric blackout. A text from Tango eventually leads him and Grian to the same underground lair that the Soup Group have been plotting from—Deep Frost Citadel. Scar is nervous on the subway, thinking about footage of Pearl that Tango had managed to capture, but together, he and Grian enter the ancient city to put a stop to the pulses.

Descent into Darkness

[Comic]
Page 340Cover: Sun
Art: Charlie
Writing: definitelynotshoutingWarnings:
Fire (1),
Non-Con Body Modification (2),
Injury, Mental Trauma

Summary:Hotguy and Cuteguy continue to explore Forgery's dungeon despite the depowering waves periodically affecting their mutations. Eventually, Hotguy ends up triggering a lava trap which he struggles to disable due to his worsening eyesight. Stuck in a different room, Cuteguy manages to widen a crack through the wall to see through to the other side, allowing him to guide Hotguy into shooting the switch mechanism. As the lava drains, they discover a new tunnel, which leads them to a ledge overlooking the Soup Group and their Catalyst. Together, they jump down to confront them.

The Wardens of Tomorrow

[Writing]
Page 354Cover: gingermaple, isjasz & Wormtime
Writing: Alice (Not Alice)Warnings:
Injury (2), Guns (2),
Non-Con Body Modification (2),
Mental Trauma (2), Arguments (2),
Unreality (1), Fire (1)

Summary:Smoke Signal begins sacrificing himself to the Catalyst in order to make the depowering permanent; meanwhile, Hotguy and Cuteguy fight a losing battle against a horde of sculk constructs. They are saved when Cub arrives with a volunteer army answering the call of “Hotguy needs your help,” causing Pearl to break ranks and save Impulse while aided by Skizz.With the help of their volunteer army, they successfully destroy the Catalyst’s power source, but before they can celebrate it creates a giant warden that expels a blinding black spore cloud. Hotguy has one chance to stop it—the anti-sculk arrowhead Cub gave him long ago. Calling on the Bug remnants to enhance his powers and see “through” the spores, and knowing the damage it will do to his eye, he takes the shot and slays the warden. As everyone celebrates, Grian realizes that Scar has gone blind in one eye, but Scar tells him it’s alright.

A Role to Play

[Comic]
Page 388Art/Writing: Connor NopedogWarnings:
Non-Con Body Modification,
Systemic Violence,
Mental Trauma, Arguments

Summary:Pearl interviews a now-retired Hotguy one last time, only for Scar to talk to her more as a friend than a reporter. He gets his own answers on why she joined the Soup Group, alongside her grim and depressing view on Hermitopia after the mutations began. In return, she gets Scar's motive for being Hotguy in the first place: to give people hope, and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow.