this could be an idea, or a headcanon, or just an idea idk do what you want

👏core👏concept👏

whatever magic infected Xisuma and made EX infects someone else and makes another evil counterpart

alternative (big reference to ATUS): it was Watcher magic that made EX, so the Watchers have some fun making an evil clone of Joe

hehehehee Mumbo_Banano gave me custody over the hermits for angst (by which i mean i stole them from Mumbo_Banano lol)

[2022: lmao did i predict the evil counterparts thing??]