User:CupcakePelle/Archives/Lazerbot Know Your Meme interveiw
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Spoiler warning! Read with caution. |
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Written by Adam Downer.
Published: May 19, 2021 at 11:10AM EDT
Lazerbot, The Creator Of 'Tails Gets Trolled', Reveals The History Of The Legendary Webcomic
There is genuinely nothing on the internet like Tails Gets Trolled. Considering the scope of things on the internet, this is no small feat.
Trying to describe Tails Gets Trolled in a short amount of space is nigh impossible. One could say that Tails Gets Trolled is a long-running webcomic series starring the cast of Sonic the Hedgehog and seemingly every animated pop-culture character to ever exist, but it’s so much more than that. It’s also a legendarily “bad” piece of fanfiction, perhaps only less well-known than My Immortal, complete with what looks like a poorly disguised self-insert narrative from a dork fantasizing about getting back at his trolls, but it’s so much more than that.
Tails Gets Trolled started in 2011 on the DeviantArt account of a user named Lazerbot. At first, the comic is bizarre and very funny, in a "look at this crap" kind of way. Tails from Sonic the Hedgehog gets bullied by some mean teens and then he, Sonic, and Shadow argue about how best to deal with them until it ends with Shadow viciously murdering the trolls. The grammar is brutal and the non-sequiturs (Knuckles waking up in a drunken stupor next to Donkey Kong comes to mind) are bafflingly hilarious. If it stopped there, it may have been worth a laugh on some forums but ultimately would have been a footnote of internet history.
But Tails Gets Trolled didn’t stop there. Instead, a larger story emerged. The “trolls” were actually part of a larger organization of trolls seeking power. Mario and Luigi show up and murder their parents. Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny are there and in love. The story of Tails and the trolls blossoms into an epic filled with intrigue, murder, sex, betrayal and triumph — and this is all in the first few chapters.
Over a decade, the legend of Tails Gets Trolled grew, as did the quality of the comic. The writing improved, as did the art. The jokes seemed more intentional and genuinely hilarious, and the stories grew more complex. This raised questions of authorial intent. Was Tails Gets Trolled an elaborate parody? A genuine work of genius disguised as a Marty Stu Sonic fanfiction? Who was Lazerbot, the creator of what could well be the most awful and brilliant piece of art on the web?
Earlier this year, with the comic (seemingly) in its endgame after ten years and 24 chapters, Lazerbot announced he was leaving Tails Gets Trolled, passing the comic on to his brother and co-creator embergram and the art team that emerged around Tails Gets Trolled. After a decade of mystery, we tracked down Lazerbot to talk to him about the legend of Tails Gets Trolled, how it started, and his thoughts on the comic’s future.
Q: Hey Lazerbot, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Before we start, can you give me a quick rundown of who you are and what you do outside of Tails Gets Trolled?
A: I'm Lazerbot I'm 29 years old and I'm an artist/story writer. I love creating art and trying different types of art. I and my brothers have piles of unfinished stories and we're coming up with new story ideas every time an idea pops in our heads. I was born in Missouri and I currently live in Missouri but I've moved around quite a bit in my life. The places I've lived the longest have been Missouri, Florida and Kentucky.
Q: I want to talk about the origin of Tails Gets Trolled. How old were you when you started Tails Gets Trolled and how did you first come up with the idea for the comic? What was your original intent?
A: I was 18 years old and I was posting my art on Deviantart for a few years before Tails Gets Trolled (TGT) existed. I posted my art and short stories on the website without much attention. I only had a few supporters.
There's actually a story before TGT that gave birth to the comic. When a friend of mine was being trolled on DeviantArt she told me about it. She was an artist and one of my best friends at the time and I, being not that familiar with trolling and kind of naive, decided to confront the trolls about it. I was used to worse things in my life so I believed I could do something about it. During my interactions with them, their actions did get me a bit butthurt at the time. I even made two new DeviantArt accounts of Tails and Shadow and played the characters interacting with the trolls for a bit. It didn't result in anything other than some humorous and childish back and forth dialog I can't even remember now. I do recall having me and my friend's face posted on a porn picture to anger me. Which, that's a thing I'm surprised I never added to the comic.
After that, I stopped talking to those two trolls. I gave that interaction some deep thought and when I thought about the different methods someone could use to deal with trolls, three different reactions came to mind, one being like Tails and crying about it and letting them crush your dreams, two being like Sonic trying to make peace, and three, Shadow, a much more grim and dark reaction.
I knew of people who, if the trolls were to provoke them, would have to deal with some very unhinged behavior. I knew if you pushed someone like that you could really get messed up, if not end up dead. So I decided to make a doodle of my realizations. After the scene of Shadow killing the trolls happened I wasn't planning on continuing the comic until my first TGT fan, Roninhunt, suggested the part where Sonic turns dark and kills the trolls, and the rest just unfolded. It was the troll slayers plot that motivated me to keep it going. I was new to plot twists at the time and honestly, Mario and Luigi's plot is what really got me hooked.
Q: It seems like, initially, the appeal of the comic online was that it was a humorously “bad” piece of self-insert fanfiction, but sincere appreciation for the comic grew as the narrative grew more complex and the comedy seemed more “intentional.” What was the initial reaction to Tails Gets Trolled and how did you feel about it?
A: There was always an intelligence to the comic from the start. It just expanded over time with my own personal growth and my co-writer's growth. We both expanded tremendously with all the shit that happened in our lives and all the experiences we had while creating this webcomic and dealing with the ups and downs of a fanbase that was pretty toxic and hostile through a nice portion of the comic's existence.
The reason the grammar was so bad is that I was homeschooled and I had to self-teach myself everything. I learned mostly from life. I personally never cared for the "It's so bad it's good" criticism or a whole list of the other toxic opinions people had towards my work. As helpful and insightful as a lot of them were, I felt like an alien that landed on a planet of people who had no idea what it was like to be me.
The first place to notice my work was Something Awful, which was a fitting name for them, they were truly something awful. They mocked me, used backhanded compliments, and a whole list of other manipulative and narcissistic methods on me.
They were so obsessed with Chris-Chan and building me up to be like him just to break me down that I was always in a state of defense over the endless pile of abusive and unjustified attacks.
There was a whole troll war and no one truly understood how it was like having to deal with all of that from my end. They thought they were superior to me and that I was mentally challenged just because I had issues writing at the time.
The apathy and lack of self-awareness from the worst of my fanbase felt like an endless well of toxic energy that was trying to consume me and crush me completely.
They had no remorse but neither did I towards them. On the flip side, there were so many amazing fans and great fan creations and good people supporting me it was almost like I was living in two different worlds.
One world that motivated me to keep creating and interacting with the fans that made me love creating a webcomic and one world where it was complete hell and it drained me.
I knew what I was getting into making a comic about trolls and used every experience to make the comic better. Me and my co-writer embergram, who's Zaygar on the Discord, used the conflict with the trolls for research purposes to try and make the trolling as accurate as possible. It was a dark experiment we conducted for a long time. The experience was a rollercoaster.
It was a very eye-opening experience and I wouldn't change a thing. I got no ill will towards any of them and the fanbase has improved tremendously over the years and I'm grateful to have met them and got to know so many different types of people.
The truth is no one really understood how it was like for me and how much of a hurricane the whole experience was. It was both awful and amazing.
Q: After the first several chapters, the comic gets genuinely gory with lots of unsettling elements, like Amy becoming a sex slave to Dr. Eggman. It also grows remarkably complex, with the cast seemingly growing constantly and new arcs being introduced throughout the story. Did the initial response to the comic feed into what it became, or was it always planned to grow into a grander story?
A: It was a mix of all of these things actually. A lot of the story was planned out but it's been constantly changed and improved upon due to multiple reasons, such as fans, life, our personal growth, and most of all us improving as writers. Plots were added, edited and changed, and shifted to better improve the story. We've been working on it for years and if we or the fans came up with something to make the comic better we would use it. As a writer, you have to be flexible and be willing to write things differently to better your story. We often call TGT a story that's self-repairs itself. If there's an error or flaw we'll write in a plotline to repair it or make a joke about it. We had no problem laughing at our own mistakes.
Q: What was the reaction like when the comic started getting darker and more complex? Were people on board with the direction the comic was taking? What were some notable responses you remember to TGT, both positive and negative?
A: We got a lot of praise and a lot of hate. TGT is our Frankenstein. It's a mix of so many different genres and story styles that obviously not everyone would like it. The Amy sex slave scene was the most difficult part for me to draw in the comic. It made me cringe while creating it. Yet, we had a powerful message to share with it. The scene was actually based on someone I used to know and I've known multiple people who went through similar experiences. Our goal with writing TGT is to have no limitations as writers. To be able to create anything we wanted. We've had the best and worst reviews due to this and that's ok. We all have the right to express our opinions. Even if I highly disagree with some of the opinions people have, I still appreciate the feedback.
Q: I read that Zaygar/Embergram joined as a co-creator around the fifth chapter of the comic. To what extent do you feel he shaped the comic as it’s known today?
A: Zaygar/Embergram has assisted and given suggestions for the comic from the very start. He just jumped in more deeply in the fifth chapter area. It was his idea to make Bugs and Daffy actually gay. TGT is our baby. He has written and contributed to the story just as much as me. He's actually written more Coyote and Cheeto man than I have.
Q: The comic has been going for 10 years and has taken several hiatuses. What kept you coming back to the comic for all that time, and how did you keep it from feeling stale?
A: Honestly? A refusal to give up was my main motivator. But many things contributed to me continuing the comic after the multiple hiatuses. The truth is I was only “done” with the comic the last two hiatuses. The other hiatuses prior were either us taking breaks or were due to difficult life circumstances that prevented us from continuing the comic at that moment. We mostly were determined to create the comic till it was finished. Of course, when I realized I couldn't create the story alone I was losing motivation for it because I had many other amazing stories I wanted to create that I never could while spending the rest of my life and time working on TGT, which I couldn't afford to do.
TGT is amazing but I don't consider it the best I'm capable of or the best creation I will ever make. So I quit the comic for the first time.
Then the team came into the picture and I was convinced to come back even though I was done. I was motivated to help and assist but due to personal issues with my co-writer and lack of motivation, I left TGT for good this time.
Q: What comics, or any media, inspired you while working on Tails Gets Trolled?
A: Everything we enjoyed. We didn't want to limit where we got inspiration from. TV series, anime, comedy, video games, life, observations. Anything we could. One of our main motivations was to create unique stories people have never seen before. There's motivations, too many to list below.
Q: There have been several tributes and raves about “Tails Gets Trolled,” including videos of people reading the comic and multiple analyses about its brilliance. At what point did you first realize that the comic had become a “big deal” on the internet? How did you feel about that?
A: Before TGT, me and my brother's art/stories were mostly unnoticed. So it was surprising and made me quite happy for my comic to get the love it has. When it started to get noticed was after Mario's betrayal. I feel like that part was what changed everything and when the fan art and YouTube videos started piling up and when the fans messaged me and commented frequently is when it hit me how much the comic grew. It caught me off guard and I'm truly honored. My fans are awesome.
Q: What’s the coolest thing that’s happened to you as a result of the comic? Have there been downsides to your involvement with TGT?
A: The two coolest things about the comic has to be all fan art/fan creations and the art team. These artists are phenomenal. I respect them as artists and people. The worst thing about the comic has been all the dream crushers trying to break me. All the labels and horrific behavior one can witness as a creator. I've seen some evil ass shit during my TGT years. Some of which is very depressing.
Q: Why did you initially center the story around “Sonic the Hedgehog” characters? What do you think it is about “Sonic the Hedgehog” as a pop culture franchise makes Tails Gets Trolled possible?
A: I'd say Smash Brothers and all kinds of crossovers is the reason why me and my brother made our own crossover comics as children. We made a lot of never-released comics as children. We had comics where Kirby and Mario and a bunch of other characters would turn Super Saiyan and kill each other for no reason. We also had Kirby have some love triangle drama with the Powerpuff Girls and a bunch of other stuff that wasn't all that coherent and mostly action-based. With TGT, the unoriginal characters were mostly original characters with video game characters as their outer flesh. Like who they actually are in their soul was original but they have the flesh of well-known characters to draw in the viewer. It was easier for the fans and everyone to relate to these characters because they already know who they were.
Q: Several memes have come from your comic, from Tails’ shocked face on the first page to Unsettled Tom. Do you like the memes that have been made with “Tails Gets Trolled?” Which is your favorite?
A: I like a lot of the memes. Some of them I don't really care for though. Damn, That's a hard question to answer. I'm not sure which one is my favorite. The Tom seatbelt one is definitely up there. The memes are hilarious and I thoroughly enjoy them.
Q: Do you have a personal favorite panel or part of the comic you wish attracted more attention from the internet?
A: That's a hard question to answer but one of my favorite parts is the Coyote and Demara fight, it was f****** fantastic. Mario and Luigi's betrayal is one of my favorite parts too. The drug part is definitely one of my favorites. It's very intense. But some of my favorite parts haven't been created yet. Like, a lot of future parts with Shadow get really really intense. It's pretty good shit and there's a lot of plot with Pori I hope gets created.
Q: Are people you know aware of this part of your life? How do they feel about TGT?
A: Well, my brothers and some of my friends really enjoy the comic. Some people I know don't care for it and some don't know about its existence. It's not everyone's cup of tea. The comic is pretty deranged.
Q: I suppose we’ll have to talk about the elephant in the room: Recently, it was announced that you’d be leaving the comic after 10 years and that your brother would be finishing the comic with help from the art team. What prompted you to leave the comic?
A: It's very personal and I don't really wanna get into that at this time. I will say it was due to unhealthy living conditions and differences of perspective. I could go into more detail but I’d rather just be done with it. It's life drama and some things should not be shared. I will say that I just lost motivation for the comic and that I feel like I've outgrown it and my life is calling me in a different direction.
Q: Do you think you will ever return to TGT?
A: I don't think so. I just can't do it anymore. I feel like I've already spent too much time on it. I don't regret a thing but it doesn't speak to my soul anymore.
Q: Do you feel confident in the comic’s future?
A: After everything that has happened and how I've expanded as an artist and story writer I would have to say I'm quite confident in my future comics. TGT has taught me that I got what it takes and I'm very excited for the future. Thank you for giving me the chance, to be honest, and truthful to all of you. You're all winners in my book and I wish you the best of luck with all your future endeavors. You've all taught me a great deal.
