Dork HC Introduction (By A Drawing Of The Cartoonist) (Patreon)

I wanted everything in the Dork collection to be hand drawn like the comics themselves. Other than a few computer-derived text captions and some early ads and letters pages, eventually everything in Dork was hand drawn, including print information, the table of contents, letters pages and even a few fanzine reviews. 

So, the introduction to the hardcover also had to be hand drawn. Although I didn't end up lettering the book's publishing information, which was something I thought about doing. Ditto the back cover text. I had lettered the publishing information for the inside front cover of the House of Fun special from Dark Horse, but for time reasons I let Dark Horse's design/art department handle that stuff for the collection. My hand has yet to thank me for giving it a much-needed break. My OCD is still chafing that I  didn't go for it.

I recently sold the two page introduction comic, so I thought I'd scan the pages and post them here for you folks to read. I was happy with it, and judging from my royalty reports, most of my readers have no idea that it exists (the book's still in the red, doomed to remain forever in a debtor's prison). Hope you enjoy it. 

One thing I'd like to point out: I found it difficult whether or not to exclude my former editor Scott Allie in the "thanks" panel because of his awful behavior and deserved expulsion from the industry. Long story short, we didn't learn about his behavior towards DHC co-workers and industry professionals at conventions until the SDCC incident which led to him finally being pushed out at DHC (it should have happened much sooner). I always had a good relationship with Scott and respected his story editing skills and appreciated everything he did for me at DHC. That's as far as things go in the face of his behavior. I ultimately included him because the work he did is part of the history of the book (as well as the creation of Beasts of Burden, my moving from SLG to DHC and collecting Milk & Cheese, Eltingville, etc). Similar to mentioning Woody Allen as an early influence, the inclusion is a point of fact and acknowledgment and is in no ways an endorsement. 

I don't like to lie through omission when I can help it -- I felt it would have been wrong to not include Scott Allie, considering how important he was to not only the book itself but my work at DHC (starting back in the 90s with Instant Piano). And in a larger sense, my career. It's a depressing and unfortunate situation to deal with, but obviously it was far worse for the people who had to deal directly with Scott Allie's abusive behavior. 

It's always wise to remember that comics is an industry as well as a medium. The medium is absolutely wonderful. The industry...not so much. 

Anyway, hope you liked the comic.