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| <span class="hovul" style="font-size:smaller; background:#EEE; border:1px #999 solid; padding:2px; white-space:nowrap;">[https://homestarrunner.com/firstbook.swf read]</span>
| [https://homestarrunner.com/firstbook.swf read]
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https://web.archive.org/web/20211001000000im_/http://www.hrwiki.org/w/images/thumb/4/48/HomestarOriginalBook.jpg/180px-HomestarOriginalBook.jpg


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''The original cover of the book that started it all''


[[File:HomestarOriginalBook.jpg|[[File:HomestarOriginalBook.jpg|180px|thumb]]]]
'''The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest''' is the original children's book that started the entire [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] body of work. The archive in the [[Museum|museum]] includes the story plus some alternate cover ideas.
<div class="thumbcaption">


<div class="magnify">
The Homestar Runner, Pom Pom, Strong Bad, and three others enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest. "Whoever holds the most grapes, wins." Strong Bad tries to [[Cheating|cheat]] with the help of a furry yellow animal, from that point aptly named "The Cheat".


[[File:HomestarOriginalBook.jpg|[[File:magnify-clip.png|15px|thumb]]]]
Strong Bad later made a [[Strumstar Hammer|revised edition]] of the story in the email [[kids' book]]. The book was also spoofed in the 100th email [[flashback]], which in turn inspired [[Main Page 20]]. There were also plans for a [[Homestar Runner Goes For The Gold!|sequel]], sketches for which appeared in the [[Sketchbook (museum)|Museum Sketchbook]], but the idea was eventually scrapped. In addition, a modernized and animated version was made ten years later, in the form of [[Strongest Man in the World]].
 
</div>
The original cover of the book that started it all
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
</div>
'''''The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest''''' is a farcical children's book that started the entire [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] body of work. Intially created as [[Zine|a small, handmade, photocopied booklet]], a digital archive in the [[Museum|museum]] includes the story pages plus alternate front covers.
 
The story follows [[Terrific Athlete|terrific athlete]] The Homestar Runner and his friend Pom-Pom as they enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest: &quot;whoever holds the most grapes, wins.&quot; Fellow competitor Strong Bad (aided by [[The Cheat|a yellow critter]]) [[Cheating|cheats]] in an underhanded attempt to win the day, but good sportsmanship ultimately prevails.


'''Cast (in order of appearance):''' [[The Homestar Runner (storybook)]], [[Pom Pom]], [[Tiny-Handed Strong Bad]], [[The Cheat]], [[Mr. Bland]], [[The Robot (storybook)]], [[Señor]], [[The Announcer]], [[The Grape Fairie]], [[The Fat Bee]]
'''Cast (in order of appearance):''' [[The Homestar Runner (storybook)]], [[Pom Pom]], [[Tiny-Handed Strong Bad]], [[The Cheat]], [[Mr. Bland]], [[The Robot (storybook)]], [[Señor]], [[The Announcer]], [[The Grape Fairie]], [[The Fat Bee]]


'''Date:''' July 1996
'''DVD:'''[[Everything Else, Volume 2]]; [[Everything Else, Volume 3]] (Easter egg)
 
'''Page Title:''' The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest
 
'''DVD:''' [[Everything Else, Volume 2]]; [[Everything Else, Volume 3]] (Easter egg)
 
{| id="toc" class="wikitable toc" summary="Contents"
|-
| <div id="toctitle">
 
<span id="contents"></span>
== Contents ==
 
</div>
* [#Background 1 Background]
* [#The_Story 2 The Story]
* [#Fun_Facts 3 Fun Facts]
** [#Trivia 3.1 Trivia]
** [#Remarks 3.2 Remarks]
** [#Goofs 3.3 Goofs]
** [#Fast_Forward 3.4 Fast Forward]
* [#DVD_Version 4 DVD Version]
** [#Commentary_Transcript 4.1 Commentary Transcript]
** [#Fun_Facts_2 4.2 Fun Facts]
* [#See_Also 5 See Also]
** [#References 5.1 References]
** [#Footnotes 5.2 Footnotes]
* [#External_links 6 External links]
 
|}
 
<span id="background"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline"> Background </span> ==
 
<div class="thumb tright">


<div class="thumbinner" style="width:182px;">
== Background ==


[[File:InstagramHomestarStrongBadZerothDesigns.jpg|[[File:InstagramHomestarStrongBadZerothDesigns.jpg|180px|thumb]]]]
* In an [[UMFM Interview - 20 May 2003|interview]], [[Mike Chapman]] tells how he and [[Craig Zobel]] started the story in 1996:
<div class="thumbcaption">


<div class="magnify">
<blockquote>
>Just a story we made one afternoon, went to Kinko's, made about ten or fifteen copies of it, and kind of gave it to our friends, and that was it, really, for several years. We just did that in the summer. We were in college, and did it in a bored afternoon.
</blockquote>


[[File:InstagramHomestarStrongBadZerothDesigns.jpg|[[File:magnify-clip.png|15px|thumb]]]]
* [[Matt Chapman]] also talks about the book in the [[Club Aquatica Interview - 29 Oct 2003|Club Aquatica Interview]]:


</div>
<blockquote>
Early sketches of [[Homestar Runner]] and [[Strong Bad]] by [[Craig Zobel]].
>Well, we were just looking around in a bookstore in the Children's book section, and we were kinda bored, we didn't see anything that we really liked, so we decided to make our own, you know, just as a joke to make fun of Kids' books. So we wrote The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest, and I think that that's still in the Museum right now.
</blockquote>


</div>
== The Story ==


</div>
{| class="wikitable"
 
</div>
The original book was co-created by [[Mike Chapman]] and [[Craig Zobel]] in the summer of 1996. The two college-aged friends were working for the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta]];<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span> Mike worked the night shift as a lighting technician for an Australian sports channel.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_8 [8]]</sup></span> During a day off, they went to a local bookstore and found themselves looking at children's books. Joking that many of the books were &quot;total crap&quot;, the duo decided to make a book of their own.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span> ''The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest'' was created that same afternoon, completed in a few hours.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_2 [2]]</sup></span> The duo worked together on the character designs, with Pom-Pom being created by Zobel.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span> Chapman and Zobel wanted the storybook to feel different from the books they had seen, writing it with a strange tone that would made the book feel as if it were from another country or [[Deliberately Poor English|translated from another language]].<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_3 [3]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_a [a]]</sup></span> The uncolored illustrations were drawn with markers on printer paper; in 1997 the images were scanned and colored [[Photoshop|digitally]].<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_4 [4]]</sup></span>
 
Though the characters and story were all invented on the day of writing the book, the ''name'' &quot;Homestar Runner&quot; dates back to several years earlier.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_b [b]]</sup></span> Friend [[James Huggins]], imitating a commercial featuring [[Atlanta Braves]] baseball player [[Mark Lemke]], had ad-libbed that Lemke was the &quot;home star runner&quot; for the Braves as he could not recall any actual baseball positions.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_c [c]]</sup></span>
 
About a dozen copies of the small book were made at a local [[FedEx Office|Kinko's]] and given to friends and relatives.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span><span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_5 [5]]</sup></span> There was never any intention of publishing the book; Mike would later recall being upset when learning that [[Don and Harriet Chapman|his father]] had submitted it to publishers without his knowledge.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_2 [2]]</sup></span>
 
[[Matt Chapman]] was not involved with the book's writing, alternately joking that Mike and Craig &quot;told me to shut up and to go away,&quot;<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_6 [6]]</sup></span> or that he had &quot;stolen&quot; Homestar Runner from Zobel.<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_7 [7]]</sup></span> The [[Mario Paint]] animation &quot;[[Super NES]]&quot;, created later in 1996, was his first involvement with Homestar Runner.
 
<span id="the-story"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline"> The Story </span> ==
 
{| class="wikitable wikitable"
|-
|-
! width="200"| Image description
! Image description
! Text
! Text
! width="120"| Image Alt Text
! Image Alternate Text
! width="120"| Link
! Link
|-
|-
| ''Homestar Runner is standing in an empty field.''
| ''Homestar Runner is standing in an empty field.''
| The original children's book that started it all. Here's the first cover. Notice at this point he's THE Homestar Runner. (July 96)
| The original children's book that started it all. Here's the first cover. Notice at this point he's THE Homestar Runner. (July 96)
| ''N/A''
|  
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book1.html Page 1]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book1.html Page 1]
|-
|-
Line 123: Line 64:
| ''Homestar and Pom Pom are standing in a field.''
| ''Homestar and Pom Pom are standing in a field.''
| One day, his friend, Pom-Pom, asked him to enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest.
| One day, his friend, Pom-Pom, asked him to enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest.
| rowspan="9"| pom-pom's beady eyes
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book5.html Page 5]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book5.html Page 5]
|-
|-
| ''Homestar and Pom Pom are lifting weights.''
| ''Homestar and Pom Pom are lifting weights.''
| The Homestar Runner agreed, and the two trained for days and days to become the strongest men in the world.
| The Homestar Runner agreed, and the two trained for days and days to become the strongest men in the world.
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book6.html Page 6]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book6.html Page 6]
|-
|-
| ''Strong Bad and The Cheat stand next to Homestar and Pom Pom in the field.''
| ''Strong Bad and The Cheat stand next to Homestar and Pom Pom in the field.''
| On the way to the contest, another competitor, Strong Bad, made fun of them. &quot;I'm the very strongest! You guys are not very strong!&quot;
| On the way to the contest, another competitor, Strong Bad, made fun of them. "I'm the very strongest! You guys are not very strong!"
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book7.html Page 7]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book7.html Page 7]
|-
|-
| ''Mr. Bland, The Robot, and Señor stand in ovals on the background.''
| ''Mr. Bland, The Robot, and Señor stand in ovals on the background.''
| The contestants: Mr. Bland, The Robot (last year's winner), Señor...
| The contestants: Mr. Bland, The Robot (last year's winner), Señor...
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book8.html Page 8]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book8.html Page 8]
|-
|-
| ''Pom Pom, Strong Bad, and Homestar also stand in ovals.''
| ''Pom Pom, Strong Bad, and Homestar also stand in ovals.''
| ...Pom-Pom, Strong Bad, The Homestar Runner.
| ...Pom-Pom, Strong Bad, The Homestar Runner.
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book9.html Page 9]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book9.html Page 9]
|-
|-
| ''The Grape Fairie is flying over the contestants on a Bumble Bee, while The Announcer holds up a sheet of paper with the rules.''
| ''The Grape Fairie is flying over the contestants on a Bumble Bee, while The Announcer holds up a sheet of paper with the rules.''
| Upon their arrival, the rules were explained: The Grape Fairie starts everyone off with twenty grapes, then adds one at a time. Whoever holds the most grapes, wins.
| Upon their arrival, the rules were explained: The Grape Fairie starts everyone off with twenty grapes, then adds one at a time. Whoever holds the most grapes, wins.
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book10.html Page 10]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book10.html Page 10]
|-
|-
| ''The grape fairie is granting each contestant twenty grapes.''
| ''The grape fairie is granting each contestant twenty grapes.''
| The Grape Fairie granted each of them twenty grapes.
| The Grape Fairie granted each of them twenty grapes.
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book11.html Page 11]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book11.html Page 11]
|-
|-
| ''Mr. Bland's legs are seen under his pile of grapes with the caption &quot;SQUISH&quot;.''
| ''Mr. Bland's legs are seen under his pile of grapes with the caption "SQUISH".''
| Mr. Bland did not hold up.
| Mr. Bland did not hold up.
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book12.html Page 12]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book12.html Page 12]
|-
|-
| ''The grape fairie is putting another grape on each pile of grapes.''
| ''The grape fairie is putting another grape on each pile of grapes.''
| The Grape Fairie added another grape.
| The Grape Fairie added another grape.
| pom-pom's beady eyes
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book13.html Page 13]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book13.html Page 13]
|-
|-
| ''Señor is seen being squished under his grapes, with the caption &quot;SPLURT&quot;.''
| ''Señor is seen being squished under his grapes, with the caption "SPLURT".''
| Senor was NOT the strongest man in the world.
| Senor was NOT the strongest man in the world.
| havin a little trouble
| havin a little trouble
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book14.html Page 14]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book14.html Page 14]
|-
|-
| ''Five grapes are seen on the ground by The Robot's foot, and The Cheat is seen running away from an electrical socket with The Robot's plug on the ground.''
| ''Five grapes are seen on the ground by The Robot's foot, and The Cheat is seen running away from an electrical socket with The Robot's plug on the ground.''
| Suddenly, the Robot shut down and dropped his grapes. Homestar knew something was up.
| Suddenly, the Robot shut down and dropped his grapes. Homestar knew something was up.
| rowspan="4"| where's the plug?
| where's the plug?
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book15.html Page 15]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book15.html Page 15]
|-
|-
| ''Another grape is being added to the piles of the final three contestants.''
| ''Another grape is being added to the piles of the final three contestants.''
| There were only three contestants left. Another grape was added.
| There were only three contestants left. Another grape was added.
| where's the plug?
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book16.html Page 16]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book16.html Page 16]
|-
|-
| ''Homestar is in the foreground, noticing The Cheat helping Strong Bad hold his grapes in the background.''
| ''Homestar is in the foreground, noticing The Cheat helping Strong Bad hold his grapes in the background.''
| Homestar noticed that Strong Bad was getting some extra help. &quot;I will drop my grapes and uncover that CHEAT!&quot;
| Homestar noticed that Strong Bad was getting some extra help. "I will drop my grapes and uncover that CHEAT!"
| where's the plug?
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book17.html Page 17]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book17.html Page 17]
|-
|-
| ''Homestar's pile of grapes is on the ground, and Homestar is kicking The Cheat from under Strong Bad's pile, causing Strong Bad to wobble.''
| ''Homestar's pile of grapes is on the ground, and Homestar is kicking The Cheat from under Strong Bad's pile, causing Strong Bad to wobble.''
| The Homestar Runner yanked the cheat out from under the pile of grapes. &quot;OH NO!&quot; screamed Strong Bad.
| The Homestar Runner yanked the cheat out from under the pile of grapes. "OH NO!" screamed Strong Bad.
| where's the plug?
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book18.html Page 18]
| [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book18.html Page 18]
|-
|-
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|}
|}


<span id="fun-facts"></span>
== Fun Facts ==
== <span class="mw-headline"> Fun Facts </span> ==


<div class="thumb tright">
* The caption describing [[Señor]] being squished is missing the tilde above the n.
 
* Strong Bad has a [[Belly Buttons|belly button]].
<div class="thumbinner" style="width:202px;">
* Homestar is seen [[Kicking The Cheat|kicking The Cheat]].
 
[[File:TwitterForReallyOriginalBook.jpg|[[File:TwitterForReallyOriginalBook.jpg|200px|thumb]]]]
<div class="thumbcaption">
 
<div class="magnify">
 
[[File:TwitterForReallyOriginalBook.jpg|[[File:magnify-clip.png|15px|thumb]]]]


</div>
== DVD Version ==
Original artwork and photocopied pages from the book.


</div>
* The DVD version features creators' commentary. To access it, switch your DVD player's audio language selection while watching. This only applies to [[Everything Else Vol. 2]].
* The book is now read out loud. The narrator reading the book also comments on the sound effects in the book while reading.
* Instead of the images being fullscreen, the book is now presented in a similar fashion to [[kids' book]], with the same music playing.


</div>
=== DVD Transcript ===


</div>
'''NARRATOR:''' The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest. A children's book by Mike and Craig. Everybody loves the Homestar Runner! He is a terrific athlete. One day, his friend, Pom-Pom, asked him to enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest. The Homestar Runner agreed, and the two trained for days and days to become the strongest men in the world! On the way to the contest, another competitor, Strong Bad, made fun of them.
<span id="trivia"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Trivia</span> ===


* Strong Bad has a [[Belly Buttons|belly button]].
'''STRONG BAD:''' I am the very strongest. You guys are not very strong.
* This was the first appearance of [[Kicking The Cheat|kicking The Cheat]].


<span id="remarks"></span>
'''NARRATOR:'''  The contestants. Mr. Bland, The Robot, last year's winner, Señor, Pom-Pom, Strong Bad, The Homestar Runner. Upon their arrival, the rules were explained: The Grape Fairie starts everyone off with twenty grapes, then adds one at a time. Whoever holds the most grapes, wins.  The Grape Fairie granted each of them twenty grapes. Mr. Bland did not hold up. Squish. That says "Squish" there. The Grape Fairie added another grape. Senor was NOT the strongest man in the world. Splurt. It says "Splurt". Suddenly, the Robot shut down and dropped his grapes. Zip. The yellow man says "Zip". Homestar knew something was up. There were only three contestants left. Another grape was added. Homestar noticed that Strong Bad was getting some extra help.
=== <span class="mw-headline">Remarks</span> ===


* Although identified as &quot;a cheat&quot;, the character was not officially named &quot;The Cheat&quot; until the [[Old Characters Page]].
'''HOMESTAR RUNNER:''' I will drop my grapes and UNCOVER that CHEAT!


<span id="goofs"></span>
'''NARRATOR:''' The Homestar Runner yanked the cheat out from under the pile of grapes.
=== <span class="mw-headline">Goofs</span> ===


* The caption describing [[Señor]] being squished prints his name as &quot;[[Senor]]&quot;, without the tilde.
'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh no.


<span id="fast-forward"></span>
'''NARRATOR:''' ...screamed Strong Bad. Strong Bad was squished and Pom-Pom won. Knowing that he could not have done it without The Homestar Runner's help, Pom-Pom shared the trophy...
=== <span class="mw-headline">Fast Forward</span> ===


* Many toons and other site elements were later produced that mimicked the style of the book, referred to as the [[Storybook World]].
=== Commentary Transcript ===
** The opening passage — both &quot;Everybody loves the Homestar Runner&quot; (alternatively written as &quot;''Everyone'' loves...&quot;) and especially &quot;he is a [[Terrific Athlete|terrific athlete]]&quot; — would often be repeated in [[Category:Early Work|early works]] and Storybook toons.
* Strong Bad later made a [[Books Defaced By Strong Bad|"revised" edition]] of the story in the [[Strong Bad Email]] [[kids' book]], called &quot;[[Strumstar Hammer]]&quot;.
* For the book's tenth anniversary, it was remade as the toon [[Strongest Man in the World]].
* Early plans for a sequel book, entitled ''[[Homestar Runner Goes For The Gold!]]'', were made later in 1996. The book was never completed, though selected sketches from it were shared in the [[Sketchbook (museum)|Museum Sketchbook]].
** For the 20th anniversary of the original book, its unfinished sequel was revisited in the toon [[Homestar Runner Goes for the Gold]].
 
<span id="dvd-version"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline"> DVD Version </span> ==
 
* The DVD version features creators' commentary. To access it, switch the DVD player's audio language selection while watching. This only applies to [[Everything Else, Volume 2]].
* The book is now read out loud, with Homestar and Strong Bad saying their respective lines.
* The narrator reading the book comments on the sound effects in the book while reading:
** When Mr. Bland is squashed, the narrator says, &quot;Squish. That says 'Squish' there.&quot;
** When Señor is squashed, the narrator says, &quot;Splurt. It says 'Splurt'.&quot;
** When The Cheat unplugs the Robot, the narrator says, &quot;Zip. The yellow man says 'Zip'.&quot;
* Instead of the images being full screen, the book is now presented in a similar fashion to [[kids' book]], with the same music playing.
* Both times the narrator says &quot;contestants&quot;, it is [[-ant pronounced with a hard A|with a hard A]].
 
<span id="commentary-transcript"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline"> Commentary Transcript </span> ===


'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh great, we gotta watch this one now?
'''STRONG BAD:''' Oh great, we gotta watch this one now?
Line 302: Line 221:
'''MIKE:''' ''{laughs}'' You've got a mouth within your mouth there!
'''MIKE:''' ''{laughs}'' You've got a mouth within your mouth there!


'''STRONG BAD:''' Yeah, that's creepy. That was clearly graffitoed onto me. All right, you missed the part, I— like, I clearly told them, &quot;I'm taking a nap! Shut the contest down for a moment!&quot; and they didn't listen.
'''STRONG BAD:''' Yeah, that's creepy. That was clearly graffitoed onto me. All right, you missed the part, I— like, I clearly told them, "I'm taking a nap! Shut the contest down for a moment!" and they didn't listen.


<span id="fun-facts-1"></span>
=== Fun Facts ===
=== <span class="mw-headline"> Fun Facts </span> ===


* Strong Bad refers to the [['Lectric Boots]] he owned in [[extra plug]].
* Strong Bad refers to the [['Lectric Boots]] he owned in [[extra plug]].
* Strong Bad's monotone voice and mimicked microphone clicks are similar to how he sounds in [[theme park]].
* Strong Bad's monotone voice and mimicked microphone clicks are similar to how he sounds in [[theme park]].
* Strong Bad commenting his taking a nap under the grapes instead of being squished (as is the case in the story) may be a reference to the [[Strumstar Hammer]] version of the story from an Easter egg in [[kids' book]].
* Strong Bad commenting his taking a nap under the grapes instead of being squished (as is the case in the story) may be a reference to the [[Strumstar Hammer]] version of the story from an Easter egg in [[kids book]].
* [[The Teach]] was first referenced in [[geddup noise]].
* [[The Teach]] was first referenced in [[geddup noise]].


<span id="see-also"></span>
== External links ==
== <span class="mw-headline"> See Also </span> ==
 
* [[Storybook World]]
* [[Homestar Runner Goes For The Gold!]]
* [[Where My Hat Is At?]]
* [[Strongest Man in the World]]
 
<span id="references"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">References</span> ===
 
# [#ref_1 ^]  [http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2004/06/04/craig_zobel_film_production.php "Craig Zobel, Film Production"], ''[[Gothamist]]'', 4 Jun 2004
# [#ref_2 ^]  [[Gizmodo Interview - 24 Jan 2017|"An Oral History of Homestar Runner, the Internet’s Favorite Cartoon", Gizmodo]], 24 January 2017
# [#ref_3 ^]  [[Adventure Gamers Interview - 12 Dec 2008|"Strong Bad’s the Brothers Chaps", Adventure Gamers]], 12 Dec 2008
# [#ref_4 ^]  [[Late Nite JengaJam Interview - 4 Oct 2007|"The Brothers Chaps What Made The Homestar Runner", Late Nite JengaJam]], 4 Oct 2007
# [#ref_5 ^]  [[UMFM Interview - 20 May 2003|"The Homestar Runner Interview", UMFM]], 20 May 2003
# [#ref_6 ^]  [[Run Devil Run Interview|"homestar runner interview", Run Devil Run]], 2003
# [#ref_7 ^]  [[NYU Talk - 1 Mar 2005|"A Date with Homestar Runner", live appearance at New York University]], 1 Mar 2005
# [#ref_8 ^]  [[The Boston Globe Interview - 9 Aug 2003|"Looking at a Thing in a Bag", The Boston Globe]], 9 Aug 2003
 
<span id="footnotes"></span>
=== <span class="mw-headline">Footnotes</span> ===
 
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
<li>[#ref_a ^]  The &quot;foreign&quot; feeling of early ''Homestar Runner'' would continue with the usage of Japanese katakana in [[Super NES]] and British English in [[Where My Hat Is At?]]</li>
<li>[#ref_b ^]  Estimated as far back as 1992 by Huggins at the [[Homestar Runner 20th Anniversary Show|20th Anniversary Show]]. Lemke first played for the Braves in 1988.</li>
<li>[#ref_c ^]  Discussed in many places, including ''Gothamist'',<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_1 [1]]</sup></span> ''The Boston Globe'',<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_8 [8]]</sup></span> ''[[Club Aquatica Interview - 29 Oct 2003|Club Aquatica]]'', ''UMFM'',<span class="reference"><sup>[#endnote_5 [5]]</sup></span> [[Flashforward 2006 Seattle - 28 Feb 2006|Flashforward 2006]], [[Homestar Runner 20th Anniversary Show]]</li></ol>
 
<span id="external-links"></span>
== <span class="mw-headline"> External links </span> ==


* [https://homestarrunner.com/firstbook.swf View the Flash file for the Original Book]
* [https://homestarrunner.com/firstbook.swf View the Flash file for the Original Book]
* [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book1.html View the old Original Book]
* [https://old.homestarrunner.com/book1.html View the old Original Book]


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| style="text-align:center; font-size:smaller;" | [[Sketchbook (museum)|Sketchbook]] · '''Original Book''' · [[Super NES]] · [[Where My Hat Is At?]] · [[Fan Stuff]] · [[Old Flash Stuff]]
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[[Category:The Homestar Runner (storybook) Filmography]]
[/wiki/Special:Categories Categories]: <span dir="ltr">[[Category:The Homestar Runner (storybook) Filmography|The Homestar Runner (storybook) Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Homestar Runner Filmography|Homestar Runner Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Pom Pom Filmography|Pom Pom Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Tiny-Handed Strong Bad Filmography|Tiny-Handed Strong Bad Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Strong Bad Filmography|Strong Bad Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:The Cheat Filmography|The Cheat Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Mr. Bland Filmography|Mr. Bland Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:The Robot (storybook) Filmography|The Robot (storybook) Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Señor Filmography|Señor Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:The Announcer Filmography|The Announcer Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:The Grape Fairie Filmography|The Grape Fairie Filmography]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Everything Else, Volume 2|Everything Else, Volume 2]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Everything Else, Volume 3|Everything Else, Volume 3]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Early Work|Early Work]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Books|Books]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:DVD Commentary|DVD Commentary]]</span> | <span dir="ltr">[[Category:Events|Events]]</span>
[[Category:Homestar Runner Filmography]]
 
[[Category:Pom Pom Filmography]]
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[[Category:Tiny-Handed Strong Bad Filmography]]
 
[[Category:Strong Bad Filmography]]
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[[Category:The Cheat Filmography]]
[[Category:Mr. Bland Filmography]]
[[Category:The Robot (storybook) Filmography]]
[[Category:Señor Filmography]]
[[Category:The Announcer Filmography]]
[[Category:The Grape Fairie Filmography]]
[[Category:Everything Else, Volume 2]]
[[Category:Everything Else, Volume 3]]
[[Category:Early Work]]
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:DVD Commentary]]
[[Category:Events]]


Latest revision as of 14:24, 14 July 2026

read

180px-HomestarOriginalBook.jpg

The original cover of the book that started it all

The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest is the original children's book that started the entire Homestar Runner body of work. The archive in the museum includes the story plus some alternate cover ideas.

The Homestar Runner, Pom Pom, Strong Bad, and three others enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest. "Whoever holds the most grapes, wins." Strong Bad tries to cheat with the help of a furry yellow animal, from that point aptly named "The Cheat".

Strong Bad later made a revised edition of the story in the email kids' book. The book was also spoofed in the 100th email flashback, which in turn inspired Main Page 20. There were also plans for a sequel, sketches for which appeared in the Museum Sketchbook, but the idea was eventually scrapped. In addition, a modernized and animated version was made ten years later, in the form of Strongest Man in the World.

Cast (in order of appearance): The Homestar Runner (storybook), Pom Pom, Tiny-Handed Strong Bad, The Cheat, Mr. Bland, The Robot (storybook), Señor, The Announcer, The Grape Fairie, The Fat Bee

DVD:Everything Else, Volume 2; Everything Else, Volume 3 (Easter egg)

Background

>Just a story we made one afternoon, went to Kinko's, made about ten or fifteen copies of it, and kind of gave it to our friends, and that was it, really, for several years. We just did that in the summer. We were in college, and did it in a bored afternoon.

>Well, we were just looking around in a bookstore in the Children's book section, and we were kinda bored, we didn't see anything that we really liked, so we decided to make our own, you know, just as a joke to make fun of Kids' books. So we wrote The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest, and I think that that's still in the Museum right now.

The Story

Image description Text Image Alternate Text Link
Homestar Runner is standing in an empty field. The original children's book that started it all. Here's the first cover. Notice at this point he's THE Homestar Runner. (July 96) Page 1
Homestar is standing on an orange star background. The alternate, construction paper cover. A little less embarassing. (Sept 96) supa punchtime! Page 2
Homestar is standing on a diamond-patterned background. The 'I'm just learning Photoshop' remix of the cover. (July 97) And now, onto the story... Oh, Pollette! Page 3
Homestar is standing in front of a star. Everybody loves the Homestar Runner. He is a terrific athlete. big head, tiny legs Page 4
Homestar and Pom Pom are standing in a field. One day, his friend, Pom-Pom, asked him to enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 5
Homestar and Pom Pom are lifting weights. The Homestar Runner agreed, and the two trained for days and days to become the strongest men in the world. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 6
Strong Bad and The Cheat stand next to Homestar and Pom Pom in the field. On the way to the contest, another competitor, Strong Bad, made fun of them. "I'm the very strongest! You guys are not very strong!" pom-pom's beady eyes Page 7
Mr. Bland, The Robot, and Señor stand in ovals on the background. The contestants: Mr. Bland, The Robot (last year's winner), Señor... pom-pom's beady eyes Page 8
Pom Pom, Strong Bad, and Homestar also stand in ovals. ...Pom-Pom, Strong Bad, The Homestar Runner. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 9
The Grape Fairie is flying over the contestants on a Bumble Bee, while The Announcer holds up a sheet of paper with the rules. Upon their arrival, the rules were explained: The Grape Fairie starts everyone off with twenty grapes, then adds one at a time. Whoever holds the most grapes, wins. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 10
The grape fairie is granting each contestant twenty grapes. The Grape Fairie granted each of them twenty grapes. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 11
Mr. Bland's legs are seen under his pile of grapes with the caption "SQUISH". Mr. Bland did not hold up. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 12
The grape fairie is putting another grape on each pile of grapes. The Grape Fairie added another grape. pom-pom's beady eyes Page 13
Señor is seen being squished under his grapes, with the caption "SPLURT". Senor was NOT the strongest man in the world. havin a little trouble Page 14
Five grapes are seen on the ground by The Robot's foot, and The Cheat is seen running away from an electrical socket with The Robot's plug on the ground. Suddenly, the Robot shut down and dropped his grapes. Homestar knew something was up. where's the plug? Page 15
Another grape is being added to the piles of the final three contestants. There were only three contestants left. Another grape was added. where's the plug? Page 16
Homestar is in the foreground, noticing The Cheat helping Strong Bad hold his grapes in the background. Homestar noticed that Strong Bad was getting some extra help. "I will drop my grapes and uncover that CHEAT!" where's the plug? Page 17
Homestar's pile of grapes is on the ground, and Homestar is kicking The Cheat from under Strong Bad's pile, causing Strong Bad to wobble. The Homestar Runner yanked the cheat out from under the pile of grapes. "OH NO!" screamed Strong Bad. where's the plug? Page 18
Strong Bad is seen under his pile of grapes and Homestar is standing next to Pom Pom, who is still holding his grapes. Strong Bad was squished and Pom-Pom won. squisha squisha squisha Page 19
Homestar and Pom Pom are each wearing medals and are holding a trophy between them, while The Grape Fairie is flying in the background. Knowing that he could not have done it without The Homestar Runner's help, Pom-Pom shared the trophy. WORLD BEST Page 20

Fun Facts

DVD Version

  • The DVD version features creators' commentary. To access it, switch your DVD player's audio language selection while watching. This only applies to Everything Else Vol. 2.
  • The book is now read out loud. The narrator reading the book also comments on the sound effects in the book while reading.
  • Instead of the images being fullscreen, the book is now presented in a similar fashion to kids' book, with the same music playing.

DVD Transcript

NARRATOR: The Homestar Runner Enters the Strongest Man in the World Contest. A children's book by Mike and Craig. Everybody loves the Homestar Runner! He is a terrific athlete. One day, his friend, Pom-Pom, asked him to enter the Strongest Man in the World Contest. The Homestar Runner agreed, and the two trained for days and days to become the strongest men in the world! On the way to the contest, another competitor, Strong Bad, made fun of them.

STRONG BAD: I am the very strongest. You guys are not very strong.

NARRATOR: The contestants. Mr. Bland, The Robot, last year's winner, Señor, Pom-Pom, Strong Bad, The Homestar Runner. Upon their arrival, the rules were explained: The Grape Fairie starts everyone off with twenty grapes, then adds one at a time. Whoever holds the most grapes, wins. The Grape Fairie granted each of them twenty grapes. Mr. Bland did not hold up. Squish. That says "Squish" there. The Grape Fairie added another grape. Senor was NOT the strongest man in the world. Splurt. It says "Splurt". Suddenly, the Robot shut down and dropped his grapes. Zip. The yellow man says "Zip". Homestar knew something was up. There were only three contestants left. Another grape was added. Homestar noticed that Strong Bad was getting some extra help.

HOMESTAR RUNNER: I will drop my grapes and UNCOVER that CHEAT!

NARRATOR: The Homestar Runner yanked the cheat out from under the pile of grapes.

STRONG BAD: Oh no.

NARRATOR: ...screamed Strong Bad. Strong Bad was squished and Pom-Pom won. Knowing that he could not have done it without The Homestar Runner's help, Pom-Pom shared the trophy...

Commentary Transcript

STRONG BAD: Oh great, we gotta watch this one now?

MIKE: Oh great, I have to talk to you.

STRONG BAD: You don't have to ta— why don't you just sit there in silence, I'll take over.

MIKE: Let's see it.

STRONG BAD: Takin' the reins! {monotone} Hi, my name is Strong Bad, welcome to the commentary. I'll be taking the reins today. {Makes microphone clicking noise} If you'll look to the back of your cabin, this is The Homestar Runner Enters The Crappiest Universe In The Man Contest. {click} If you took at this page, they have a bunch of barbells. {click} This is the page that's the best all over, because I'm in part of it.

MIKE: Are you gonna get a new... new little gimmick, or are you just gonna do that. We're on a ride at the theme park, the whole time.

STRONG BAD: Oh, okay. {deep voice} Hi, I'm the spaceship Strong Bad, and you're on board a spaceship. {click} Uh... This is a... {normal voice} Look, I look great. In that picture.

MIKE: You had a belly button there.

STRONG BAD: Yeah. Is it just that page?

MIKE: Very possibly.

STRONG BAD: It could be like, this page has been gr— that page was graffitoed.

MIKE: Just your belly button?

STRONG BAD: Just my belly B.

MIKE: {laughs} You've got a name for your belly button.

STRONG BAD: Belly B, man. Speaking of bees, the bee fairy. {short pause} Who is the guy that's narrating this thing, I wanna punch him. I wanna turn his lights out.

MIKE: {laughs} Turn them out or punch them out?

STRONG BAD: Turn them out.

MIKE: Sounds like it would be very— very— very— very painful.

STRONG BAD: Yeah. Senor.

MIKE: Look at The Tea— The Teach got a tongue!

STRONG BAD: The Teach? I never seen the tongue before on The Teach. Uh... So what's with that robot? That's the worst technological robot I've ever seen.

MIKE: He's gotta be plugged— H-he's got a pretty short cord, too.

STRONG BAD: Yeah, what's the point, you can wa— It's like them boots that I had. Where I could only walk, like, twelve... y-y-y-yards, short, whatever shortest...

MIKE: {laughs} You've got a mouth within your mouth there!

STRONG BAD: Yeah, that's creepy. That was clearly graffitoed onto me. All right, you missed the part, I— like, I clearly told them, "I'm taking a nap! Shut the contest down for a moment!" and they didn't listen.

Fun Facts

  • Strong Bad refers to the 'Lectric Boots he owned in extra plug.
  • Strong Bad's monotone voice and mimicked microphone clicks are similar to how he sounds in theme park.
  • Strong Bad commenting his taking a nap under the grapes instead of being squished (as is the case in the story) may be a reference to the Strumstar Hammer version of the story from an Easter egg in kids book.
  • The Teach was first referenced in geddup noise.
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