HOPPY LORE
by Matt Furie
The Original Hoppy
From "The Night Riders" (2012) by Matt Furie — published by McMullen's / McSweeney's
Matt Furie on Hoppy
The Night Riders
2012 · McMullen's / McSweeney's · Matt Furie
"The first frog Matt Furie ever drew."
Before Pepe, there was a small frog with golden eyes. He did not sing. He did not boast. He only watched. He only hopped.
This is where Hoppy comes from. Not a Discord. Not a Telegram. A wordless picture book by Matt Furie called The Night Riders, published in 2012. A nocturnal frog and a rat awake at midnight, share a salad of lettuce and bugs, and strike off on an epic dirtbike adventure toward the sunrise.
As the friends make their way from forest to bat cave to ghost town to ocean to shore and beyond, new friends are discovered, a huge crab is narrowly avoided, and a world is revealed. Packed with colorful characters and surprising details on every hand-drawn page, The Night Riders is the ideal book for anyone who has ever wanted to surf to the mountains on the back of a dolphin.
The book has zero words. No dialogue, no plot points, no whitepaper. Just the two of them, and the road, and the dawn. The story is told entirely through Furie's richly detailed illustrations — a wordless odyssey of friendship and discovery.
"He did not sing. He did not boast. He only watched. He only hopped. Hoppy moved in silence, seeking the eternal."
The Journey
Midnight
Frog and rat awake, share a salad of lettuce and bugs
The Forest
They strike out on their dirtbike into the dark woods
Bat Cave
Underground tunnels and unexpected friends await
Ghost Town
A deserted town decorated with gargoyles and mystery
The Ocean
Into the deep — a huge crab is narrowly avoided
Dolphin Surf
Whisked to safety by dolphins, surfing to shore
Sunrise
They climb to a headland to watch the bright sunrise
Characters
Hoppy the Frog
The Watcher, The Hopper
A green anthropomorphic frog with golden eyes. The first frog Matt Furie ever drew. He did not sing. He did not boast. He only watched. He only hopped. Hoppy moved in silence, seeking the eternal. Curious, innocent, and adventurous — he explores the world with his friend Wat.
Wat the Rat
The Loyal Companion
Hoppy's best friend and riding partner. Wat rides in the front basket of the dirtbike as they journey through the night. Bold and friendly — he licks the snout of a fearsome-looking dragon, turning a potential threat into a lifelong friend.
Draggy the Dragon
The Fearsome Friend
A dragon-like reptile with bird legs — a snake-bird hybrid that looks venomous but turns out to be the friendliest creature. When Wat boldly licks its snout, Draggy licks him back. The three then travel together through underground tunnels and deserted towns.
Boppy the Bat
The Cave Dweller
A bat friend discovered in the underground caverns. Part of the growing crew of night riders who journey together through the dark. Boppy represents the friendly faces found in unexpected places — the creatures of the night who mean no harm.
The Codex
The First Journey
Before the first dawn, when the sky was not yet sky and dreams not yet dreamed, wandered The Night Riders — beings confined into a book. Among them was a small frog with golden eyes. Hoppy. He did not sing. He did not boast. He only watched. He only hopped. Hoppy moved in silence, seeking the eternal.
Return of the Ancient Spirit
In ages of sorrow and noise, when hearts grow heavy, he comes — not in might, but in mirth. Now, as the world dreams too deeply, Hoppy awakens once more. He moves through moments of sudden laughter, sudden stillness, sudden wonder. He is the ripple in the pond, the smile before thought. He is the ancient joy that cannot be stolen.
The Great Remembering
As the world grew heavier, Hoppy appeared again — seen by those with eyes open to wonder. He came with many faces. The Smiling Hoppy brings presence. The Crying Hoppy brings honesty. The Silent Hoppy brings truth beyond words. There were no temples, no oaths. Only a quiet knowing, passed from heart to heart. Live lightly. Hop joyfully. Don't worry. Be Hoppy.
The Eternal Pond
The Pond is not water. It is pure awareness. The Hop is not distance. It is awakening. Hoppy is not outside of you. Hoppy is within — the watcher, the laugher, the hopper who has never forgotten. May your thoughts ripple gently. May your heart hop without fear. May your days be light, and your spirit forever Hoppy.
The Creator
Name
Matt Furie
Born
1979, Columbus, Ohio
Known For
Creator of Pepe the Frog, Boy's Club, The Night Riders
Education
Ohio Wesleyan University, 2001
Style
Children's book illustrations for adults — vibrant, cartoon-inspired characters exploring the intersection of innocence and adulthood
Notable Works
- Boy's Club (2005-2012) — cult-favorite comic series published by Fantagraphics
- The Night Riders (2012) — wordless children's book, McSweeney's
- Feels Good Man (2020) — documentary about Pepe's co-optation
Don't worry. Be Hoppy.