Alternative Universes and Collaborative Narratives

A case study of the Underfell comic

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationship between fandoms and collaborative narratives, using the digital comic Underfell, an alternate universe (AU) of the game Undertale, as a case study. The research explores how digital communities actively participate in storytelling, examining concepts such as participatory culture and transmedia. Underfell initially emerged as an aesthetic proposal for fan art and later evolved into a collective narrative, where multiple creators contribute in a decentralized manner. The analyzed comic, published on Tumblr, exemplifies this collaboration by integrating elements from the original game and adapting its metanarrative to the digital format. Its fragmented and interactive publication on the platform strengthens the connection between the author and the community, highlighting the influence of the digital medium on the production and reception of these works. Our research concludes that such collaborative narratives challenge traditional notions of authorship, demonstrating a new model of collective fiction creation on the internet.