Talk About the Best Character in MSPA

[deathsbuddy]

I couldn't help but notice that Vriska has her own chat thread, which is fitting; after all, did she not receive some of the best characterization of any character in MSPA? However, I feel her popularity has unfortunately overshadowed a character that is written even more masterfully. The character I am referring to (who happens to be my favorite) loves board games, wears black, and hates violence.

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That's factual, fellow fan forum aficionados. Our fearful flying friend is none other than the genteel good-natured grim God of the Grave himself.

Now, some of you may wonder why in the world I would claim a Problem Sleuth character to be the best written in MSPA! After all, Problem Sleuth is mostly full of silliness, and it very rarely looked as though Andrew was writing the story in order to create characters that were realistic in the slightest. And Death is no exception.

My answer to those doubts is shut up. Shut up is the answer.

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An equally valid but slightly less funny answer is that with Death, Andrew was tasked with depicting a character that was almost entirely built from legend and archetype. Given that, he managed to portray more distinct traits than most authors that aren't Terry Pratchett can brag of (including but not limited to the possibility of an extreme attachment to his scythe, his appreciation of fine creativity and intellect, and the possibility of some connection to Pickle Inspector of the future or alternate self nature).
Not to mention the fact that he was an excellent host before Doc Scratch was even a twinkle in Andrew's eyes.

Death is featured in some of the more prominent Problem Sleuth references that made it into Homestuck, too. For example, the plot-critical programming language ~ATH, clearly states his name.

TILDEATH

See? And the symbol is clearly reminiscent of Death's eyes and mouth.

Not only is Death critical in Homestuck, but he's a staple of these forums themselves! Whenever one wishes to express extreme sorrow of the sort not usually felt by mortals, one must only take a gander over to the "More" button below most of the commonly used smilies. Or type in ":sorrow:".



What are your thoughts on this secretive, sexy, sensitive god?

[TheBertRam]

Simply one of the best characters, he has great outlooks on life and is extremely memorable!

[PaladinFoster]

While his exterior is bony and harsh, a little digging reveals a kindred spirit and a heart of gold. Truly Death is the most well-rounded and fully-developed character Mr. Hussie has ever created.

[Marbles]

Oh jegus, this guy was my favorite character in Problem Sleuth. He was just so timid, and nobody took him seriously... you just had to root for him!

Thanks for starting this thread! ♥

[deathsbuddy]

I should probably note that I'm going to be cosplaying as him this Halloween.

[Regy Rusty]

He's also the most important character in Homestuck.

After all it's his board game. Mobster Kingpin is finding it most engrossing.

[kaoticAntagonist]

Man the one thing we all agree on is that Death is the best character, hands down.

[liquidMountain]

Judging by the amount of characters they both kill off, Death must be Hussie's favorite character too.

[Sushi Database]

The part where a Pickle Inspector solves the Soducube and Death just stares into space with suddenly different eyes and weeps black tears was definitely the part of Problem Sleuth that signified that things had "gotten real" to me, even though we'd already gone through three final boss showdowns and the ascension of the other final boss into a universe-wrecking singularity. It was never really referenced again but the sudden apparent shift from feckless caretaker of the game's poorly-guarded afterlife to the Sole Sober Witness to the Apocalypse was jolting and memorable.

Shit was never that real again, until we learned what an "EoA" was.

[Tuna]

The part where a Pickle Inspector solves the Soducube and Death just stares into space with suddenly different eyes and weeps black tears was definitely the part of Problem Sleuth that signified that things had "gotten real" to me...

Yes.
This still is my favorite page in all of Problem Sleuth, if not all of MSPA.

[Kyumorph]

He's Death, and he plays the game of Life.
Like a boss.

[Achille'sHamstring]

Death just seems...so helpless, you know? People just pranced right on out of the afterlife as soon as his back was turned, which probably really got him down. "Do I smell? Or am I just bad company?" And the black liquid sorrow flows from his empty sockets in an unceasing torrent of despair and loneliness. All he wanted was some company, that's all he's ever wanted.

"You plead with these fellows to stay put in the afterlife. You are at your wit's end. You will do anything." This is what Death, the specter of fear and the end of all things, is reduced to. And that's what makes Death great. He is a man beset by a sea of troubles that threaten to overtake him. We cannot help but give him our sympathy. We've all been in a situation where it seems that no matter what we do, all that results is an embarrassing display of social ineptitude. I was just trying to make conversation! I'm sure you really are big boned! You must have fantastic bones, as large and mighty as that of the majestic whale, draped in a cape of blubber, greatest of all mammals in...where are you going? Stop! Please! I have Parcheesi!

...what was I talking about again? Oh, right. Death. He also has a scythe. It is symbolic of reaping souls and stuff. Death is not a farmer, though, so he does not use his scythe in the traditional manner of harvesting crops. How crazy!

[inconvenientCrossroads]

"At Death's door" shan't be a phrase of sorrow any longer.

Since the advent of PS, it instead became a way of saying "They're going to the best party ever and you aren't invited yet".

[deathsbuddy]

I'm freaking out, you have no idea.

[Tirgo]

Yeah, but we already have a Vriska thread!!!!!!!

*shot*

[Cerelan]

When the update came up I immediately though of you deathsbuddy.

And by the way, out of all the characters in Problem Sleuth, Death is up there on my list, at pretty much the top.

[deathsbuddy]

Thank you, Cerelan.

Tirgo, >:(

[kaoticAntagonist]

so much >;(

That joke wasn't very funny Tirgo.

[Tirgo]

What joke?

HEE HEE HEE

[Daniel990]

Deathsbuddy, are you a PIMP?

[deathsbuddy]

Wow, n-
n-nobody's ever asked me that before >///>

[kaoticAntagonist]

Everyone else already knew.

[kmsumrall]

If death is a pimp, is Dave going to kill death? That which sleeps can eternal lie, and Dave being a time player, has strange aeons, so even death can die.

[deathsbuddy]

That was very poetic but not extremely reassuring.

[kmsumrall]

Mixing homestuck and lovecraft since its inception. Heck, since LE is the troll reaper, they ate trying to kill death.