Superguy
Encyclopedia
Superguy was originally a creative fiction writing group on the now-defunct UMNEWS mailing list service. After UMNEWS collapsed, the mailing list became internet-based.
Originally a spinoff of another writing universe (SFStory
), Superguy was a forum for the posting of original, comedic fiction based loosely on superhero
es and related concepts, and is one of the first examples of a shared-fiction universe on the Internet.. Superguy has the additional distinction of having been active for over two decades, with new stories posted as recently as 2011. Superguy existed during the birth of the modern Internet culture, and along with SFStory helped illustrate the potential of the medium to mainstream users right when the Internet began to actually see mainstream use. It has survived much longer than similar Internet-based shared universe writing groups, diminishing in activity along with SFStory only when the webcomic trend became widespread..
Originally a spinoff of another writing universe (SFStory
SFStory
SFStory was originally a creative fiction writing group on the now-defunct UMNEWS mailing list service. After UMNEWS collapsed, the group was merged in 1991 with the more active Superguy creative fiction writing group and mailing list, with which it shared many active writers.SFStory is a parody...
), Superguy was a forum for the posting of original, comedic fiction based loosely on superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es and related concepts, and is one of the first examples of a shared-fiction universe on the Internet.. Superguy has the additional distinction of having been active for over two decades, with new stories posted as recently as 2011. Superguy existed during the birth of the modern Internet culture, and along with SFStory helped illustrate the potential of the medium to mainstream users right when the Internet began to actually see mainstream use. It has survived much longer than similar Internet-based shared universe writing groups, diminishing in activity along with SFStory only when the webcomic trend became widespread..
Alumni
- Jimmy 'Jimbo' WalesJimmy WalesJimmy Donal "Jimbo" Wales is an American Internet entrepreneur best known as a co-founder and promoter of the online non-profit encyclopedia Wikipedia and the Wikia company....
was an early contributor and collaborator, in part because a number of the people involved with UMNEWS's SUPERGUY list were also involved with the same server's POLITICS list. Wales was one of the regulars of that list, and there was considerable cross-pollination between the two. - Randy Milholland of Something PositiveSomething PositiveSomething Positive or S*P is a webcomic by R. K. Milholland, which debuted on December 19, 2001. The comic is characterized by a cynical tone and off-beat humor, including its portrayals of geeks, gamers, and goths....
wrote for Superguy from 1995 through 1998. He has been known to put references to his Superguy writing into Something Positive, including A cameo by his lead character Betty Yeh. - Eric BurnsEric Burns (blogger)Eric Alfred Burns is an American critic, writer, poet, columnist and Role Playing Game developer who lived in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire...
of Websnark was one of the first and most prolific writers for Superguy, having contributed to the very first digest, and writing from 1989 through 1996 regularly, with sporadic entries following. Burns has more than once drawn comparisons between modern webcomics and Superguy, believing that Superguy and other fiction lists like it filled the same niche as webcomics before the web made sharing graphics simple. - Children's book author Greg R. FishboneGreg R. FishboneGreg R. Fishbone is an American writer, illustrator, and former publisher who lives in Massachusetts. Fishbone writes primarily for children but has also contributed to the Superguy collaborative shared universe project....
wrote for Superguy from 1994 through 1999 and again starting in 2007. In March/April 1997, one of his Superguy stories was reprinted in the science parody magazine, Annals of Improbable ResearchAnnals of Improbable ResearchThe Annals of Improbable Research is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to scientific humor, in the form of a satirical take on the standard academic journal...
. His first novel, The Penguins of DoomThe Penguins of DoomThe Penguins of Doom is an epistolary humor novel for children written and illustrated by Greg R. Fishbone. The book was published in October 2007 by Blooming Tree Press.-Plot summary:...
, is based on characters created for Superguy. - Lawrence H. BrownLawrence H. BrownLawrence Harmon Brown is an American writer, computer geek, volunteer and arcade hobbyist who lives in Colorado. He was also a founding team contributor for the Cisco Networking Academy project.- Background :...
wrote for Superguy from 1993, and continues to contribute stories, under the nickname Amigoid.