Ned Flanders has embarrassed 33,000 of you in the new Fortnite Simpsons season so far, thanks to his lethal ski poles

With its new The Simpsons-themed mini season, Fortnite continues to throw up scenarios only a randomizer app or a night of strong cocktails would produce. A team of Homers hiding in a bush to ambush cartoon nemesis Peter Griffin. Marge build-battling against a Power Ranger. I've seen some truly ridiculous stuff. My favorite clip of all, though, features the Ned Flanders NPC getting caught in a gunfight and battering a squad of players with his ski poles. Well, Epic has just revealed that this is not a one-off moment of blood lust from The Simpsons' most cheery, polite, and placid character - this moustached menace has sent 33,000 of you back to the lobby.

Seeing The Simpsons reimagined in Fortnite is churning up some conflicting emotions, for me. I'm loving how detailed these recreations of iconic locations and characters are, and there are references and easter eggs aplenty. On the other hand, it does bring a pang of sadness that we haven't had a non-mobile Simpsons game in - wait for it - 18 years. Eugh. That's 2007's The Simpsons Game, if you're wondering. Hit and Run, for those that were as obsessed with that game as I was, is now 22 years old. End me.

However, Epic is doing its best to make up for all that lost time, and it's transformed some of the series' most iconic characters into Fortnite NPCs that you can interact with. Be warned, though, they can turn hostile - even Ned Flanders has been taking names in the battle royale game. And I'm not just talking about players that are using his skin.

Responding to the infamous clip I mentioned at the top, the official Fortnite account says: "just checked… Ned Flanders has over 33k global eliminations in Fortnite lol."

While I'm sure NPC Ned has been gunned down by players considerably more times than that, I'm still stunned he's managed to eliminate this many people. He's not even one of the roaming 'boss' NPCs that you're meant to take out for loot, either - he's there predominantly as a support option, where you can pay him gold to either heal you or spawn a Rift.

So, your friendly neighbor-ino isn't so friendly after all if you antagonize him. Be wary of those ski poles if you ever find yourself in a gunfight around Ned's home in Evergreen Terrace.

The Simpsons Fortnite season concludes on Friday, November 28. That means you've still got a couple of weeks to go and check it out - just don't become another Ned-based statistic.