The classic mythological Gorgon, with her gaze of stone and writhing head of serpents, has inspired countless interpretations across fantasy and roleplaying games. However, a few years back, a comic series by webcomic creator Ahdok, published under the Socks and Puppets banner, offered an entirely fresh, whimsical, and mechanically intriguing spin on these legendary monsters. These are yet to be beaten.
The comic piece, titled “Hairstyles” on the official ComicPress archive, introduces a collection of five distinct “Gorgon Variants.” Each variant swaps the traditional green vipers for alternative biological, animal, or ecological features, complete with an informal stat block detailing their unique behaviours, temperaments, and signature combat moves.
The First Five Gorgon Variants
- Medusa: The baseline classic. Described simply as “the famous one,” she retains her standard snakes for hair and a gaze that turns onlookers to stone.
- Anemesa: A distinct, pink-hued variant described as “a sea anemone that got out of hand.” Unlike her terrifying relative, the Anemesa is inherently friendly, though adventurers must still exercise caution as her tentacle-like hair remains poisonous to the touch.
- Caterpina: Sporting a vibrant mound of fuzzy green caterpillars, this variant suffers from an “insatiable hunger” and occasionally sheds butterflies. In combat, she utilises an immobilising cocoon attack rather than a petrifying glare.
- Megoosa: Perhaps the most chaotic variant, the Megoosa features a writhing mass of aggressive white geese. Embodying the internet-famous maxim “peace was never an option,” her incessant honking drives listeners into a berserk rage, which she follows up with a devastating “multipeck headbutt attack.”
- Girafusa: Easily the most physically unwieldy option, the Girafusa possesses towering, spots-and-all giraffe necks for hair. The comic notes that this design is highly impractical and overbalances easily, leaving the creature slow but blessed with an exceptionally long reach.
The Second Lineup of Gorgon Variants
- Weaselusa: Sporting a crown of long, writhing mustelids, the Weaselusa trades the traditional petrifying gaze for pure social evasion. Her core mechanics focus entirely on deception: she “shifts the blame,” carries an inherently “bad reputation,” and possesses a passive mechanical trait that makes her completely immune to Zone of Truth or similar magical compulsions.
- Eeldusa: This aquatic-adjacent variant features a writhing head of blue moray eels. Embodying the natural behaviours of her hair, the Eeldusa “likes small spaces” and is highly aggressive, frequently utilising a standard bite attack. Mechanically, she poses a distinct threat to martial classes, delivering automatic “lightning damage on touch.”
- Flamusa: A distinct, bright pink variant with a flock of flamingos acting as her plumage. The Flamusa is built on unusual physical traits, possessing “incredible balance” paired with a highly erratic, “goofy-looking flight” mechanic. True to her real-world inspiration, her primary behaviour is territorial, noted strictly for how she “guards lawns.”
- Medurple Wormusa: Ditching the humour for absolute existential dread, this hulking purple variant features a head of massive, tooth-lined subterranean monstrosities. The formal stat block forgoes traditional mechanical descriptions, offering players and GMs only a stark, two-step tactical assessment: “Oh no” and “Run.”
Supporting the Creator
For enthusiasts of independent webcomics and quirky monster designs, the world of Socks and Puppets offers creative output beyond these mythological remixes.
The artist maintains a central hub for all updates, current projects, and social links via the Ahdok Linktree. For those looking to avoid centralised corporate social platforms, the creator actively posts updates, sketches, and interactively engages with the community on decentralised networks; you can follow the official account directly at Socks and Puppets on Mastodon.
If you want to bring these charmingly chaotic designs into your own home or simply support independent comic creation, the artist runs a dedicated merchandise storefront. The Socks and Puppets Creator-Spring Shop features apparel, prints, and custom merchandise utilising artwork from the comic series, making it an excellent stop for anyone looking to invest directly back into the creator’s work.
