The Phantom Giggler

### Aliases

The Giggler, Giggler, The Ghost of Hammersmith, The Grinning Muse, The Mad Gasser of Mattoon

### Occupation

Trickster, Botanist, Entomologist, Biochemist

## Appearances

### Debut

Goopsea & Chat 07/26/23 [01:02:45]

The Phantom Giggler, or occasionally shortened to The Giggler. Is a minor antagonist in the current lives of Goopsea, Jack, and Woadie. The Phantom Giggler is thought to be a manifestation of the human tendency to cause mischief and chaos.

The Phantom Giggler takes on various shapes, forms, and sizes but prefers a humanoid physique. They typically adorn themselves with a mask which changes shape in accordance with their current emotional state.

# Notable Manifestations

### Dancing Plague of 1518

The earliest records of manifestations of The Phantom Giggler date to March 1518 in Strasbourg, Alsace (modern-day france) in the Holy Roman Empire when sightings of a masked figure sowing seeds into local wheat and barley fields surrounding the village. In July 1518 a mass outbreak of dancing mania swept through the village of Strasbourg, claiming the lives of approximately 500 by August. Bread in the village was found to be tainted with Ergot fungi, which caused Frau Troffea to begin dancing in the streets of Strasbourg fervently for a week until 3 dozen additional villagers began to join in the dancing. The same masked figure who was spotted in the fields was reported to have been playing music and encouraging others to join in the dancing.

### Hammersmith Ghost hysteria (1803)

In November 1803, sightings of ghosts in the west London neighborhood of Hammersmith began to occur. Many assumed the ghost was of a recent suicide victim buried in Hammersmith Churchyard, which according to local customs prevents the soul of the departed from passing on due to being laid to rest in holy ground. At first many sightings were dismissed as false stories by superstitious locals. However, as reports of assaults and seemingly impossible occurrences began to amass a royal commission was opened to investigate the incidents. The Hammersmith Ghost was described as a tall, pale figure adorned in a white cloak and donning a mask which bore a "intense and harrowing" smile. The Royal Commission of Hammersmith received over 250 reports of sightings and 15 documented incidents of citizens falling victim to abnormal insect activity.

### Mad Gasser of Mattoon (1944)

The first documented media reports of the Mad Gasser of Mattoon were by Mr. & Mrs. Bert Kearney of 1408 Marshall Avenue on the evening of September 1st, 1944. The mad gasser was reported to be a tall, thin person wearing a heavy overcoat and a white theatrical mask which had a "menacing grin" across the face. The Mad Gasser would enter homes using a ladder and open windows to spray anesthetic gas using a pesticide dispensing unit. Mass panic ensued as over 10 reports of break-ins and gas attacks within the month of September as local police departments remained skeptical of reports, groups of citizens began to form in efforts to hunt down the masked figure and caused further panic. Mattoon Police found little to no physical evidence of any gas attacks and as the FBI began to investigate, Local police began issuing public safety warnings for groups to not linger in residential areas to help calm the locals. No further gas related incidents were reported after September 13th 1944.

### Tears Under Luray (1960-63)

Starting in August 1960 in Luray, Virginia a series of employees and tourists began to report sightings of a white theatrical mask leering at them from underlit and sectioned off portions of the Luray Caverns. Reports of general unease and anxiety lasting hours to days after an encounter with the mask led to a temporary closure of Luray Caverns so tour management could investigate the incidents. On Friday July 1961, 5 Luray Tours staff members went missing during a routine blackout drill. Screams were heard by all other staff on-site and when power was restored to the area, all 5 members stationed in the area affected by the drill were reported missing. Page County sheriffs shut down and searched Luray Caverns for the remainder of the 1961 season but no trace of the 5 staff members were found. Luray Caverns would remain closed throughout the 1962 season due to the ongoing investigation into the assumed deaths of the 5. It was not until September of 1963 when loud crying noises emanating from the pools of the caverns that drew in a group of trespassers that the bodies of the missing 5 tour staff were recovered. Luray Caverns is permanently closed out of respect for the families and community affected.

# Depiction in Goopsea & Chat

### Mass Bug Contamination Arc (2023)

During their debut episode on Goopsea & Chat, The Phantom Giggler contaminated food meant for human and feline consumption as a way to upset Goopsea. Goopsea, Jack, and Woadie attempted to get revenge on The Phantom Giggler by preventing them from placing bugs on the food with a bug repellant barrier, however The Phantom Giggler managed to bypass the barrier and place bugs in the food regardless. Goopsea soon discovers that not only has the house's water supply been contaminated with bugs but the entire town's supply has been tainted. Goopsea, consumed with his plots for vengance meets with The Phantom Giggler in an abandoned warehouse in an attempt to parlay. During the tense discussions Goopsea became enraged with the bug incidents and unleashed his hidden telepathic ability upon The Phantom Giggler. Goopsea began unleashing the fury of a mind-controlled bug swarm upon The Phantom Giggler causing them to feel fear and agony for the first time in their life. After meeting their match The Phantom Giggler invited Goopsea & friends to a pocket dimension they inhabit, The Hidden Garden and invited them for a cordial tea party. Goopsea called off the bug attacks and made amends with The Phantom Giggler.