The Paper

From Homestar Runner Wiki

This article is about the item. For the user, see User:The Paper.

A piece of paper that comes down after each Strong Bad Email. It reads: Click here to e-mail strong bad. Usually, this event signals the end of the e-mail. However, the majority of easter eggs can be found after The Paper has come down, either by waiting or clicking on words Strong Bad has typed. Nobody knows where The Paper actually comes from, since Strong Bad does not seem to have a printer. This seems to have no effect on this seemingly magical The Paper and it can sometimes be seen manifesting itself out of the clear blue skies. According to the Strong Bad Email montage, it looks as though it will be replaced by an inkjet printer after email #173. That, of course, remains to be seen.

Abnormal Sayings

The paper shows up in a couple other places too, saying different things.

• At the end of Superbowl Dealie, it reads, "Due to the big game, the Strong Bad Email will be late this week."
• At the end of Arcade Game, it reads, "Click here to play the Trogdor arcade game."
• At the end of duck pond, it reads, "Click here to play 'Duck Pond'".
• On the King of Town main page, click on e-mail and wait until it is over. The paper comes down and reads, "Nobody wants to e-mail The King of Town. For real"!
• In the Toons Menu version of Crazy Cartoon, it reads "The End".
• It also displays the menu options on the strongbad_email.exe DVD, as well as a "bottom-feeding Paper" reading "Make your selection and mash GO, moron!"
• In the email animal, it tells Strong Bad "Enough already, Strong Bad" above the usual email information.

Other "The Paper" Oddities

• At the end of the bird it comes down from the sky. Pom Pom lifts the corner and peeks under.
• In superhero name, a comic book with an "email Strong Bad" link appeared in lieu of The Paper.
• At the end of guitar Strong Bad uses the BMW Lighter to scorch the paper.
• There is a printer, and apparently it's female. This may be a reference to computer parts, where the ends are called male or female. Most printers, however, are male. Keep clicking the knobs of the Tandy 400 at the end of invisibility, and eventually the screen says, "tell the printer i'll miss her."
• At the end of 50 emails it comes down prematurely, ending an e-mail which in Strong Bad's opinion was not quite over. Indeed, The Paper seems to have a mind of its own!
• In japanese cartoon The Paper is an anime credits list.
• Strong Bad also uses The Paper in the autobiography email. This time he prints the email out from his computer, like you would with a normal printer. The actual location of the printer is probably forever a mystery, much like Strong Bad's ability to type with boxing gloves for hands.
  • Later in this e-mail, The Paper takes a while to signal the end of the e-mail due to a paper jam.
• In big white face, it again comes down from the sky, and The Poopsmith tries to push it up with his shovel.
• Apparently The Paper can follow orders, though. See date, where Strong Bad instructs The Paper when to come down and bring the e-mail to a close.
• In couch patch, you can make the computer print a million dollar bill in an easter egg.
• In extra plug, even when the power is out, The Paper still comes down, thanks to Strong Mad & The Cheat.
• In animal The Paper's gender is set as male, with Strong Bad asking 'him' to come down and meet the new computer, Lappy 486. This is also the first time The Paper has moved in smaller increments and even moved partially back to the top of the screen before coming down all the way.
• The Paper and the printer are therefore separate identities, as The Paper is male and the printer is female. I'm guessing The Paper is the printer's son.