View source for Evan Dorkin

{{Short description|American comics artist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image         = Evan Dorkin (8606848866).jpg
| imagesize     =
| caption       = Dorkin in 2013
| birth_name    =
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1965|4|20}}
| birth_place   = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| area          = Writer, artist
| alias         =
| signature     =
| notable works = ''Milk and Cheese''<br />''[[Superman and Batman: World's Funnest]]''<br />''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]''<br />''[[Welcome to Eltingville]]''<br />''[[Beasts of Burden]]''<br />''[[Eltingville (comics)]]''
| awards        = 2001 [[Harvey Award]]<br />Six [[Eisner Award]]s
| spouse        = [[Sarah Dyer]]
}}
'''Evan Dorkin''' (born April 20, 1965)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dorkin.htm|title= Evan Dorkin|date= December 29, 2015|publisher= [[Lambiek]] Comiclopedia|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160604103115/https://www.lambiek.net/artists/d/dorkin.htm|archive-date= June 4, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref> is an American [[comics artist]] and cartoonist. His best known works are the comic books ''Milk and Cheese'' and ''Dork'', the latter of which features his comic ''[[Eltingville (comics)|Eltingville]]''. His comics often poke fun at [[fandom]], even while making it clear that Dorkin is a fan himself. Dorkin also served as a writer on the [[Adult Swim]] animated series ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'' from 1994 to 1999, and created [[Welcome to Eltingville|a pilot]] for an animated adaptation of ''Eltingville'' for Adult Swim in 2002.
== Life and career ==
Dorkin was born in [[Brooklyn, New York]], and moved with his family to [[Staten Island]] when he was 13 years old. He grew up reading superhero comics (being loyal to [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] over [[DC Comics|DC]]), ''[[Mad (magazine)|Mad]]'' magazine, and humor titles by [[Archie Comics]] and [[Harvey Comics]]. He became even more obsessed with comics when [[comic book retailer]] Jim Hanley opened a store location near his high school; Dorkin later ended up working there.<ref name=Gizmodo>Narcisse, Evan. [https://io9.gizmodo.com/milk-cheese-creator-evan-dorkin-talks-about-his-weird-1827300431 "Milk & Cheese Creator Evan Dorkin Talks About His Weird, Brilliant Career in Comics"] ''[[Gizmodo]]''. (July 3, 2018).</ref>
Dorkin aspired to attend the [[School of Visual Arts]] in the animation department, but was not accepted. (He had taken some animation classes at SVA while he was in high school.)<ref name=Gizmodo /> Dorkin ended up attending [[New York University Tisch School of the Arts]], but eventually switched his passion from animation to comics.<ref name=Gizmodo />
Dorkin's earliest published solo comics were ''Pirate Corp$'' (later renamed ''Hectic Planet''), published first by [[Eternity Comics]] and then [[Slave Labor Graphics]] from 1987 to 1989; and then a variety of ''Milk & Cheese'' titles, published by Slave Labor Graphics from 1991 to 1997.
As well as his comics work, Dorkin and his wife, [[Sarah Dyer]], have written for ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]''. Dorkin drew the [[album cover|cover art]] for several [[ska]] [[compilation album]]s and an EP by [[Radon (band)|Radon]] in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://husky.ninja/old/toyzilla/comics/dorkindyer.html|title= Toyzilla Interviews Evan Dorkin & Sarah Dyer|date= 2000|publisher= Toyzilla|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160630044455/http://husky.ninja/old/toyzilla/comics/dorkindyer.html|archive-date= June 30, 2016|url-status= live|quote= I got to know a few bands and band members...and eventually was asked to do the art for an anthology album by the guys from [[Bim Skala Bim]]. Eventually I did a few more, and when I met Sarah we both worked on them. We've done over a dozen}}</ref> He wrote and produced an animated [[television pilot]] for [[Adult Swim]] titled ''[[Welcome to Eltingville]]'', based on his own characters. He and Dyer wrote some episodes of the ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'' including the episode "Live Wire", which introduced a new [[Livewire (DC comics)|character of the same name]]. Dorkin wrote the ''[[Superman and Batman: World's Funnest]]'' one-shot in 2000 which was drawn by various artists.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6999|title= Evan Dorkin Debuts ''World's Funnest''|first= Beau|last= Yarbrough|date= March 18, 1999|publisher= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150905230641/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6999|archive-date= September 5, 2015|url-status= live|quote= It's the team-up the DC Universe has long dreaded. Bat-Mite and Mr Mxyzptlk. And written by Evan Dorkin, the man behind the manic ''Milk and Cheese,'' it's unlikely the two fifth dimensional imps will spend their time together peacefully.}}</ref> Dorkin and Dyer worked as freelance writers on the 2006 English-language version of the anime ''[[Crayon Shin-chan]]'', where they wrote material for the show's first six episodes. Dorkin co-created ''[[Beasts of Burden]]'' with [[Jill Thompson]]. Dyer has frequently colored Dorkin's art.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2013/08/14/idiot-spotlight-chilling-thoughts-2013|title= Idiot Spotlight: Desmond Devlin and Evan Dorkin's 'Chilling Thoughts 2013'|first= Desmond|last= Devlin|author-link= Desmond Devlin|date= August 14, 2013|publisher= [[Mad (magazine)|The Idiotical]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131205000731/http://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2013/08/14/idiot-spotlight-chilling-thoughts-2013|archive-date= December 5, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>
== Awards ==
* 2015 Eisner Awards: Won Best Single Issue (or One-Shot) (for ''Beasts of Burden: Hunters and Gatherers'', with Jill Thompson)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.newsarama.com/25142-2015-eisner-awards-winners-full-list.html|title= 2015 Eisner Awards Winners (Full List)|first= Chris|last= Arrant|date= July 11, 2015|publisher= Newsarama|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082529/http://www.newsarama.com/25142-2015-eisner-awards-winners-full-list.html|archive-date= March 4, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 2010 Eisner Awards: Won Best Publication for Teens (for ''Beasts of Burden'', with Jill Thompson)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/your_2010_eisner_award_winners/|title= Your 2010 Eisner Award Winners|first= Tom|last= Spurgeon|author-link= Tom Spurgeon|date= July 24, 2010|publisher= Comics Reporter|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304230455/http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/your_2010_eisner_award_winners/|archive-date= March 4, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 2005 Eisner Awards: Won [[Eisner Award for Best Short Story|Best Short Story]] (for "Unfamiliar", with Jill Thompson)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner05.php|title= 2005 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130922034913/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner05.php|archive-date= September 22, 2013|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 2002 [[Eisner Award]] for [[Eisner Award for Best Short Story|Best Short Story]] (for "[[The Eltingville Club]] in 'The Intervention'" in ''Dork'' #9, [[Slave Labor Graphics]])<ref name=2002Eisners>{{cite web|url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner02.php|title= 2002 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160314033820/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner02.php|archive-date= March 14, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref>
* 2002 Eisner Award for Best Writer/Artist: Humor (for ''Dork'')<ref name=2002Eisners />
* 2001 [[Harvey Award]] for Best Single Issue or Story (for ''Superman and Batman: World's Funnest'', shared with various artists, DC Comics)<ref name=2001Harveys>{{cite web|url=http://www.harveyawards.org/previous-awards-nominees/2001-harvey-awards/ |title=2001 Harvey Awards |date=n.d. |publisher=Harvey Awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315073757/http://www.harveyawards.org/previous-awards-nominees/2001-harvey-awards/ |archive-date=March 15, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1998 ''[[Eisner Award for Best Short Story]]'' (for "The Eltingville Club in 'The Marathon Men'" in ''Dork'' #4, [[Slave Labor Graphics]])<ref>{{cite web|title=1998 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner98.php|publisher=Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref>
* 1996 ''[[Eisner Award for Best Short Story]]'' (for "The Eltingville Club in 'Bring Me the Head of Boba Fett'" in ''Instant Piano'' #3, [[Dark Horse Comics]])<ref name=EA1>{{cite web|title=1996 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner96.php|publisher=Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|access-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref>
=== Nominations ===
* 2011 [[Anthony Awards]]: Nominated for Best Graphic Novel<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/414/beasts-burden-nominated-2011-anthony-award|title= ''Beasts of Burden'' nominated for 2011 Anthony Award|date= May 19, 2011|publisher= [[Dark Horse Comics]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120923060305/http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/414/beasts-burden-nominated-2011-anthony-award|archive-date= September 23, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>
*2002 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication (for ''Dork'' #9)<ref name=2002Eisners />
*2001 Harvey Award: Special Award for Humor (for ''Dork'', ''Superman and Batman: World's Funnest'', etc.)<ref name=2001Harveys />
*2000 [[Ignatz Award]] for Outstanding Debut Comic (for ''Dork'' #8)
*1999 [[27th Annie Awards#Writing in an Animated Television Production|Annie Award for Best Writing]] (for ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'': Episode- "Lawsuit")
== Personal life ==
Dorkin is married to fellow comics writer/artist [[Sarah Dyer]] with whom he has a daughter named Emily.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.newsarama.com/224-heroes-con-the-creative-household-panel.html|title= Heroes Con: The Creative Household Panel|first= Russ|last= Lane|date= June 21, 2008|publisher= [[Newsarama]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160306153901/http://www.newsarama.com/224-heroes-con-the-creative-household-panel.html|archive-date= March 6, 2016|url-status= live}}</ref>
Dorkin is named by [[Ed Piskor]] in his suicide note as one of the "Internet Bullies" that drove him to take his own life.<ref>https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/10F__3KMESejEU42ep9zwjJQbnTI4aPXb1IuG_iyBepE/mobilebasic?pli=1</ref>
== Bibliography ==
=== Comics ===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Rom (comics)|Rom: Spaceknight]]'' — (first published art in the [[Comic book letter column|letters page]] of #37) [[Marvel Comics]], 1982<ref>{{gcdb|type=credit|search=Evan+Dorkin|title=Evan Dorkin}}</ref>
*''Jim Higgins Fantastic Fanzine'' — Jim Higgins, 1984
*''Phigments'' — [[Amazing (publisher)|Amazing]]; [[Pied Piper Comics]], 1987
*''Pirate Corp$'' / ''Hectic Planet'' – [[Eternity Comics]] / [[Slave Labor Graphics]], 1987–1989
*''[[The Real Ghostbusters (comics)|The Real Ghostbusters]]'' – [[NOW Comics]], 1988
*''Wild Knights'' – Eternity Comics, 1989
*''[[Milk and Cheese]]'' – Slave Labor Graphics, 1991–1997
*''[[List of Predator comics|Predator]]: Big Game'' – [[Dark Horse Comics]], 1991
*''[[Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey]]'' (comic book adaptation) – Marvel Comics, 1991
*''[[Bill & Ted's Excellent Comic Book]]'' – Marvel Comics, 1992–1993
*''Predator: Bad Blood'' – Dark Horse Comics 1993
*''Fight-Man One Shot'' – Marvel Comics, 1993
*''Dork!'' – Slave Labor Graphics, 1993–present
*''[[Instant Piano]]'' – Dark Horse Comics, 1994
*''Generation ECCH! The Backlash Starts Here'' – Jason Cohen & Michael Krugman, [[Fireside Books]], 1994
*''[[Justice League]] America Annual'' #8 – [[DC Comics]], 1994
*''[[The Mask (comics)|The Mask]]: The Hunt for Green October'' – Dark Horse Comics, 1995
*''[[Superman Adventures]]'' #21 – DC Comics, 1998
*''Superman Adventures'' #39 – DC Comics, 2000
*''[[Superman and Batman: World's Funnest]]'' – DC Comics, 2000
*''[[Bizarro#Bizarro Comics|Bizarro Comics]]'' – DC Comics, 2001
*''[[Captain America (comic book)|Captain America]]'' vol. 3 #50 – Marvel Comics, 2002
*''Superman Adventures'' #65–66 – DC Comics, 2002
*''Captain America: Red, White & Blue'' HC (two pages) – Marvel Comics, 2002
* ''[[Thing (comics)|The Thing]]: Night Falls on Yancy Street'', four-issue miniseries with artist [[Dean Haspiel]] – Marvel Comics, 2003
*''Bizarro World'' – DC Comics, 2005
*''Dose'' – Bankshot Comics, 2007
*''[[The Dark Horse Book of...|The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings]]'' (story "Stray") by Evan Dorkin and [[Jill Thompson]].
*''The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft'' (story "The Unfamiliar") by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''The Dark Horse Book of The Dead'' (story "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie") by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''The Dark Horse Book of Monsters'' (story "A Dog and His Boy") by Evan Dorkin, [[Sarah Dyer]], and Jill Thompson.
*''[[Beasts of Burden]]'' (four-issue mini-series) by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''[[Hellboy]]/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice'' (one-shot) by Evan Dorkin, [[Mike Mignola]], and Jill Thompson.
*''[[Dark Horse Presents]]'' vol. 2 #4 (story "Food Run") by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''Dark Horse Presents'' vol. 2 #6 (story "Story Time") by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''Dark Horse Presents'' vol. 2 #8 (story "The View From The Hill") by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch'' (three stories from ''Dark Horse Presents'') by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
*''[[Eltingville (comics)|The Eltingville Club]]'' – Dark Horse Comics, 2014
*''Blackwood'' (four-issue mini-series) by Evan Dorkin, [[Veronica Fish]] and [[Andy Fish]] – Dark Horse Comics, 2018
*''Blackwood: The Mourning After'' (four-issue mini-series) by Evan Dorkin, Veronica Fish and Andy Fish – Dark Horse Comics, 2020
{{div col end}}
=== Role-playing games ===
*''[[GURPS Fantasy Folk]]''
*''[[GURPS Middle Ages I]]''
=== Television ===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'' (TV series), 1994–1999
** "Gum, Disease"
** "Girlie Show"
** "Jerk"
** "$20.01"
** "Sharrock"
** "Switcheroo"
** "Cookout"
** "Art Show"
** "Woody Allen's Fall Project" ("Girlie Show")
** "Anniversary"
** "Pilot"
** "Zorak"
** "Hipster"
** "Telethon"
** "Lawsuit"
** "Sequel"
* ''[[Superman: The Animated Series]]'' (1997–98)
** "Livewire"
** "Monkey Fun"
** "Little Girl Lost" (parts 1 & 2)
*''[[Welcome to Eltingville]]'' (TV pilot), 2002
*''[[Yo Gabba Gabba!]]'' (various episodes), 2007–2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/evan-dorkin-mask-tards-yo-gabba-gabba/ |title=Evan Dorkin On ''Mask-Tards,'' ''Beasts of Burden'' and ''Yo Gabba Gabba'' |first=Caleb |last=Goellner |date=March 23, 2010 |publisher=[[Townsquare Media|ComicsAlliance]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915003105/http://comicsalliance.com/evan-dorkin-mask-tards-yo-gabba-gabba/ |archive-date=September 15, 2015 |url-status=dead|quote=As far as our involvement goes, we were initially asked to design the costume and comic book artwork for a live-action Super Martian Robot Girl segment. Nickelodeon didn't like the live-action footage and the decision was made to rework the shorts as Flash cartoons, using the recorded dialogue tracks. Sarah and I were brought back in to design and art-direct the cartoons. When season two started up, Christian Jacobs asked us if we wanted to write for the show, we ended up co-writing two episodes and two Story Time cartoons, one of which we art-directed. For season three, we co-wrote two more episodes and we got to write and design another SMRG cartoon.}}</ref>
* ''[[Ben 10 (2016 TV series)|Ben 10]]''
** "Xingo"
{{div col end}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.houseoffunstudio.com/ Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer's House of Fun]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050205125557/http://evandorkin.livejournal.com/ Big Mouth Types Again] – Dorkin's [[LiveJournal]]
*{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=717|title= Evan Dorkin}}
*[http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/namd26.htm#N680 Evan Dorkin] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
*[http://www.madcoversite.com/ugoi-evan_dorkin.html Complete list of Dorkin's work for ''MAD'' magazine]
*[http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2653320 Interview on the Super Live Adventure Podcast Part 1] and [http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/2653406 Part 2]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dorkin, Evan}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American artists]]
[[Category:American album-cover and concert-poster artists]]
[[Category:Alternative cartoonists]]
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[[Category:American comics artists]]
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[[Category:American male bloggers]]
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[[Category:Artists from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Artists from Staten Island]]
[[Category:DC Comics people]]
[[Category:Eisner Award winners for Best Writer/Artist]]
[[Category:Eisner Award winners for Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition]]
[[Category:Harvey Award winners]]
[[Category:Jewish American comics creators]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics people]]
[[Category:American role-playing game artists]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)]]