Evan Dorkin discusses his new Dark Horse omnibus, "Nerd Inferno," collecting three decades of his iconic work.
Evan Dorkin, a cartoonist with nearly four decades in the industry, recently reflected on his extensive career. His new Dark Horse Comics omnibus, "Nerd Inferno: The Essential Evan Dorkin," compiles three decades of his most recognized work, offering a comprehensive look at his distinctive style and themes.
Released in April, the substantial collection features his acclaimed series "Milk and Cheese," "Dork," and "The Eltingville Club." Dorkin described the physical book as heavy, admitting he had not yet fully processed its significance as a retrospective of his life's work.
The cartoonist expressed reservations about the "Essential Evan Dorkin" subtitle, though he accepted it as accurate. He coined "Nerd Inferno" himself, acknowledging its "jerky" nature but feeling it suited the pop culture-heavy content of "Milk and Cheese," "Eltingville," and much of "Dork."
The omnibus originated about three years ago when Dark Horse's Daniel Chabon noticed renewed online interest in "The Eltingville Club," which was out of print. Chabon proposed a companion volume to Dorkin's "Beasts of Burden" omnibus, aiming for a contrasting yet complementary pairing of his career's "sublime and ridiculous" aspects.
Dorkin recounted the spontaneous creation of "Milk and Cheese" during a late-night, post-ska show gathering. He drew the characters on a napkin while intoxicated, initially intending to discard the doodle. His friend preserved the drawing, which featured the characters declaring, "We're from New Jersey, no cracks."
The characters quickly became Dorkin's personal signature, appearing on envelopes and letters. At San Diego Comic-Con in the late 1980s, Dorkin began drawing "Milk and Cheese" for fans, solidifying their presence. He noted that while his drawing skills improved, the core concept of the characters remained largely unchanged from their initial, crude depiction.
