Hubris Comics (Fallout 3)

 is the company that used to print Grognak the Barbarian. The offices contain a lot of worthwhile loot, and the basement utility tunnels open up near Wilhelm's Wharf.

Location
Hubris Comics is located in the north end of Mason District, next to the Falls Church/Mason Dst Metro tunnels. It can be reached from Falls Church via those tunnels, and from the other end of Mason District via the Flooded Metro tunnels.

It's probably easiest to get to Hubris Comics via the Hubris Comics Utility Tunnels, that can be entered via a sewer grate at the edge of the water just northwest of Wilhelm's Wharf, next to the outhouse, southeast of Super-Duper Mart. It is strange that the Hubris Comics building is in the other side of the city, but the Hubris Comics Utility Tunnels are very short and couldn't reach there by any means.

The Building
The complex consists of Hubris Comics Publishing, Hubris Comics Printing and Hubris Comics Utility Tunnels. The buildings are infested with feral ghouls. There are also many traps set up throughout Hubris Comics Publishing and Hubris Comics Printing.

In Hubris Comics Printing is the apparent source of all the traps; a hostile Wastelander named Mad Johnny Wes, who is holed up in the fortified foreman's office overlooking the printing area, mowing down the assorted feral ghouls who wander the printing room floor. He is armed with a minigun, and has very high health on par with that of a Super Mutant Master. He is also protected by 2 automated turrets and a number of frag mines. However, his Wastelander Outfit is extremely poor armor, and he can be taken out with 5 or 6 hunting rifle headshots. You can shoot out the targeting sensors on his turrets to get them to attack him, but this is of limited usefulness since he destroys them before they can do much damage to him. There is also a fire extinguisher to the right of him that explodes when it's shot. This can contribute some damage.

A 'pre-war printing press' is also located in this area but breaks down as soon as it's activated. The cause appears to be a corpse blocking the machinery, which cannot be dislodged. The smoke that rises from the printing press as it breaks down obscures the vision of the turrets, causing them to stop firing.

A terminal in the "beta testing" area of the Publishing building runs a mini-text-adventure "Reign of Grelok (beta)".

The AntAgonizer
A letter to the editor, readable from the receptionist terminal, reveals that there was a Hubris Comics character called the AntAgonizer, an "orphaned girl raised by ants and instilled with a bitter hatred of humanity", who was a villain in the Grognak the Barbarian comics. The letter complains that the current run of comics, written by a Mr. Neptura, treats the AntAgonizer as a two-dimensional villain, and demands the return of a Mr. Moorellis (most likely a portmanteau of comic writers Alan Moore and Warren Ellis), so it seems that The AntAgonizer found inspiration for her persona from an issue of Grognak the Barbarian.

Notable Loot
Hubris Comics Publishing


 * Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor at the reception, on the wall shelf next to the rigged terminal.
 * Pre-War Book - NW of the reception area on a book shelf

Hubris Comics Printing


 * Grognak the Barbarian - In Hubris Comics Printing, next to the terminal where Mad Johnny Wes is standing. Note: the skill book can get "dislodged" during the firefight with Mad Johnny and end up on the floor nearby.
 * Nuka-Cola Quantum - Between the wall and the desk in the foreman area with Mad Johnny Wes.


 * Pre-War Book - In the backroom located opposite Mad Johnny Wes in the SE corner of the map, on a bookshelf beneath the two first aid boxes.
 * Scoped .44 Magnum in the printing room under the stairs in the northeastern corner, next to some ammo and a skeleton.

Hubris Comics Utility Tunnels


 * Dean's Electronics - In the Utility Tunnels close to the Wilhelm's Wharf exit on top of a desk.
 * Stealth Boy in the Utility Tunnels next to a skeleton in the middle northern room. Nearby is also an Assault Rifle and some ammo.

Outside of Hubris Comics in Mason District


 * Don't miss the Dean's Electronics in the Pulowski Preservation Shelter just outside in Mason District.
 * When going south when exiting Hubris Comics, there is a house with a Sniper Rifle, and a Guns and Bullets.