One of the most encouraging things that can happen as a content creator is when followers stop simply watching your content and start asking for more of something specific.
I’ve been seeing more of that lately with the Punksters characters and the various characters they portray. On different social media platforms, people have started requesting particular characters they want to see again.
And recently, I’ve gotten more requests for Nethaniel Goone and Mongo.
That tells me something.
People are beginning to remember the characters.
Who Are Nethaniel Goone and Mongo?
For anyone who hasn’t encountered them yet, Nethaniel Goone and Mongo are part of one of the many comedy worlds built around the Punksters characters.
Nethaniel Goone, played by Jerry Bangston, is a wandering pioneer and frontier adventurer. He isn't a sheriff or lawman. He's simply a guy traveling from place to place through the unsettled wilderness, never quite knowing what ridiculous situation he is going to encounter next.
Along the way, Nethaniel deals with bears and other wildlife, wilderness hazards, suspicious or difficult tribes, and an assortment of pioneers, hunters, trappers, mountain men and other frontier characters.
And, of course, he has his companion Mongo, played by Jerome Bloom.
Mongo travels alongside Nethaniel and frequently provides another perspective on whatever absurd predicament they've managed to wander into. Their contrasting personalities give me plenty of opportunities for comedy.
Basically, Nethaniel keeps wandering into trouble, and Mongo gets to be there when it happens.
What could possibly go wrong?
The Characters Are Becoming Characters
This is something I've wanted to accomplish with the Punksters from the beginning.
Jerry, Jerome, Crash, Bill and the others aren't limited to one particular setting.
They can become pirates.
They can live in the Old West.
They can appear in medieval adventures.
They can wander through the wilderness as Nethaniel Goone and Mongo.
The same familiar Punksters characters can be placed into entirely different worlds and situations. That gives me an almost unlimited number of possibilities for animated comedy.
But something interesting happens after you've created enough of these videos.
Certain characters begin developing their own following.
Someone doesn't merely want another Punksters video.
They want another Nethaniel Goone and Mongo video.
That's a big difference.
Requests Are Valuable Feedback
As a creator, I pay attention to views, likes, comments and other statistics. They can all tell you something.
But someone actually requesting a character is another kind of feedback entirely.
That person remembered the character well enough to ask for another appearance.
That's valuable information.
It doesn't mean I'm going to abandon everything else and produce nothing but whichever character happens to receive the most requests. The variety is part of what makes this whole thing fun for me.
But I definitely pay attention.
If people want more Nethaniel Goone and Mongo, I'll make more Nethaniel Goone and Mongo.
In fact, I already have more ideas for them.
Building a Larger Punksters Universe
This is also why I've continued creating so many characters, settings and recurring series.
Every new character adds another possibility.
Every new setting opens another door.
And every time followers respond positively to one of them, I learn a little more about what people enjoy.
Over time, the Punksters universe becomes larger.
Somebody might discover the Punksters through a pirate short featuring Captain Jerry Driftwood. Someone else might discover them through Jerry Jesterman. Another person might encounter Sheriff Rat Bastardson.
And apparently, some people want to wander into the wilderness with Nethaniel Goone and Mongo.
That's perfectly fine with me.
There's plenty of wilderness left for those two idiots to get lost in.
Keep the Requests Coming
So if there's a Punksters character you'd like to see more often, tell me.
I genuinely pay attention to those requests.
You might even give me the push I need to dust off a character I haven't used in a while—or inspire an entirely new adventure for one you already enjoy.
And to those of you who have been requesting more Nethaniel Goone and Mongo:
Message received.
They'll be back.
Assuming they can find their way out of the woods.
Bob Craypoe
Founder of Craypoe Productions and Creator of the Punksters Characters
