Microball
 | This article or section contains out-of-date information or information about an entity that is currently undergoing major changes. |
| Microball | |
|---|---|
 "Teh Microball World", the comic showing the majority of Microball characters, as of July 2012. | |
| Author(s) | Various |
| Website | Various |
| Launch date | 31 August 2010 |
| Alternate name(s) | MicroBall, (archaism) Erusiaball |
| Genre(s) | Political cartoons, comedy |
Microball Comics (popularly referred to as Microballs) are a form of micronational comic designed to satirize current events within the MicroWiki sector, the comics are inspired by Polandballs. The comics do not have any single author, being created regularly by many different micronationalists. A Microball is a representation of a micronation depicted in the comic - these are typically circular in shape, have white eyes with a black outline, and feature the flag of the nation they represent.
History
The predecessor of the Microball phenomenon was Polandball, a similar set of comics satirizing recognized states. After Polandball's creation, the comics became wildly popular. A few comics portrayed Sealand, which may have sparked the Microballs series being created by other micronations and the MicroWiki community.
The first Microballs were created in late August 2010.[1] Microballs were originally shared over Skype, mainly in the Yellow Bear Micronational and Micropolitan Lounge chatrooms, and later came to be shared on both the MicroWiki and OAM Forums, where a thread made to accommodate them can still be seen on the former.
While Microball remained a popular format for micronational memes through the first half of the 2010s, by 2017 the format was scarcely used, largely replaced by more traditional and easier meme formats. Several attempts to revive it since then proved to be short-lived.
Styles
There are four main styles of comic, as presented by Barnaby Hands in the MicroWiki Forum:
- Reinhardt, the original format, in which the body, eyes, and flag of a Microball are done by hand.
- Linden, identical to Reinhardt except the colours on the flag are not separated by additional black lines.
- Anderson, identical to Reinhardt except outlines tend to be smoother and a less formal font is used for dialogue.
- Haikal, identical to Reinhardt except outlines colored red as standard, flag are not separated and made on Papyrus (proposed).
- Standard, where the body and eyes are done by hand, but the flag is copied and pasted on.
- Millard, where the body and eyes are made using the ellipse tool, and the flag is copied and pasted on.
- Danny, where the body and eyes are already made in a Microball template.
Some minor styles are sprouting on micronational organizations around the world. For example style Tian has a flex-ball shape complete with mouth, eyes and flag. This style occurs only at Association of Indonesian Micronations
Backs of characters
In several issues of Microball, some characters have been viewed from behind. This started right at the beginning of the meme in early September 2010, when a Microball depicting Austenasia and Moylurg burning Erusia showed the former two from behind - the lines seen on the front of their flags were displayed as so on the back, but without the facial features given to them on the front. In later issues, (especially the Ultamiya Microball series published by David I of Varina), flag designs have copied onto the back, but with any major features such as charges and symbols removed.
Examples of comics
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The first known Microball ever made.
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A very early Microball mocking Erusia.
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A very early Microball satirizing the "Univist Universal War".
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A microball satirizing the formation of the North American Confederation.
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![A Microball displaying a common perception[2] of Gordon Freeman (represented by A1).](/images/en/images/images/thumb/3/3f/K1Kec.png/150px-K1Kec.png)
A Microball displaying a common perception[2] of Gordon Freeman (represented by A1).
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Another very early Microball, mocking Rajputistan.
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A Microball on the reaction to the return of Robert Lethler.
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A Microball on the sudden cutting of relations with Sandus by Nemkhavia in May 2012.
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A Microball on the various conflicts and divisions which had arisen in the community by April 2011 since the dissolution of Erusia.
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A Microball mocking Nationia.
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A Microball satirizing the frequent use of informal language by Aldrich Lucas (represented by Yabloko).
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A Microball made for the third Independence Day of the Empire of Austenasia.
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A Microball illustrating the history-based cultures of Erephisia, Sirocco and Zealandia.
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A Microball intended to bring new citizens to the Essian Commonwealth by satirizing Abelden's then-frequent internal controversy.
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A Microball illustrating Baustralian-Quebecois relations.
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A Microball satirizing the OAM leadership's lack of successful reform.
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A Microball satirizing the 2020 assumption of emergency powers by Jonathan I.
![A Microball displaying a common perception[2] of Gordon Freeman (represented by A1).](/wiki/File:K1Kec.png)
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Countryball of Vyomania.
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A Microball on Yusienia disobeyed the Hexasophy in the Second National Awakening and carried out an unfriendly attitude towards Turkey.
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Countryballs of the Smlosa, Molossia and the Smlosa Republic.
Other media
Microballs can be expressed through other mediums including video, animation, etc.
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Screenshot from the video "grand theft auto v affair", featuring both Aenderiaball and Ponderosa Hillsball adapted from the event of the same name.
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The final scene from the "Cycoldian Crisis in A Nutshell" movie produced by the Emersonian Bureau of Media. It features Cycoldiaball scolding Emersoniaball for its actions during the film.
Legal status
Microballs are generally considered to be in the public domain, as they prominently feature the flags of nations not made by the creators of a given comic. Despite this, some comics have had copyright notices attached to them.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Skye, Zabëlle (18 October 2022). "Microballs". Micronational Dictionary. MicroLunarius Publications. Institute of Micropatriological Research. p. 11. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ↑ http://i.imgur.com/470zW.png
