Mike Krahulik
Mike Krahulik | |
|---|---|
 Mike Krahulik, ComicCon 2009 | |
| Born | Michael Krahulik |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Cartoonist |
| Notable work | Penny Arcade |
Mike Krahulik (born September 25 1977) is the artist who draws the popular webcomic Penny Arcade. He goes by the online moniker "Jon(athan) Gabriel" or "Gabe". He does not physically resemble his comic strip counterpart, as the character was not originally meant to represent him.
Work
Krahulik credits cartoonist Stephen Silver as a major influence on his drawing style. His style has become dramatically more stylized since he began drawing Penny Arcade in 1998. Many older comics have a visibly different style from the strips of today.
Krahulik's unique drawing style can also be recognized in promotional comics he has created for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six and many other video games. In addition to the artwork on the comic strip and for video game promotions, Krahulik also provided the illustrations for the cover of the book Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi [1]. Early on he also contributed artwork to the Daily Victim, a regular feature that used to run on GameSpy.com, totaling more than 300 illustrations before he stopped.
Publicity
Krahulik has been in press online, thanks to hostile phone calls from Jack Thompson regarding an email Krahulik had sent. The email was in response to an offer Thompson had made to video game creators about creating an ultra-violent game based on a man whose son was murdered by a supposedly video game-influenced teen. Thompson claimed he would donate $10,000 towards a charity of former Take-Two Interactive chairman Paul Eibeler's choosing if the game was made (which it eventually was). Krahulik, in the email, said he and fellow gamers had raised about half a million dollars toward charity. According to Krahulik, "Jack actually just called and screamed at me for a couple minutes. He said if I email him again I will 'regret it'. What a violent man."[2]
Mike Krahulik, along with the rest of the Penny Arcade staff, later opted to "step in" for Jack Thompson. Thompson refused to donate $10,000 to charity because he considered the game put forth to meet his challenge subpar[citation needed]. He also claimed that his proposal was satirical and not a serious offer. Penny Arcade donated the money in his stead with the note, "For Jack Thompson, because Jack Thompson won't".[3][4]
Mike is also featured in the Dungeons & Dragons podcast, playing the famous "Jim Darkmagic (of the New Hampshire Darkmagics)." [5]
References
- ^ Whatever: Agent to the Stars Cover Art
- ^ "Penny Arcade! - Tangled Webs And So Forth".
- ^ "Penny Arcade! - I'm Not Entirely Sure He Knows What That Is". 2005-10-15.
- ^ Miller, Ross (2005-10-17). "Penny Arcade donates $10,000 in Jack's name to charity". Joystiq.
- ^ "Penny Arcade! - One Possible Explanation".