Dork Covenant

Dork Tower #1

by John Kovalic

Release your inner nerd with Dork Covenant, the first collection of the critically acclaimed comic book by cartoonist John Kovalic. From dragon-filled dungeons to star treks, from comic book conventions to internet naughtiness, Dork Tower is the comic that put the "cult" back into sub-culture. Join Matt, Igor, Ken, Gilly the Perky Goth and Carson the Muskrat in their uproariously dorky adventures.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Humor, Fantasy, Comic Book, Webcomic, Comedy

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

John Kovalic’s cartoons have appeared everywhere from his hometown WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL (Madison, WI) to the NEW YORK TIMES and DRAGON MAGAZINE. His creations include the sell-out comic book sensation DORK TOWER and “DR. BLINK: SUPERHERO SHRINK,” as well as SNAPDRAGONS, NEWBIES, WILD LIFE, BEACHED, and panel cartoons including MURPHY’S RULES, THE UNSPEAKABLE OAF and others.

A co-founder and co-owner of Out of the Box Games, and a cartoonist for Steve Jackson Games, John has illustrated over 100 games and game supplements, and is at least in part responsible for best-sellers like APPLES TO APPLES (A GAMES Magazine Hall of Fame inductee) , MUNCHKIN, CHEZ GEEK and BLINK. He is closing in on 4,000 MUNCHKIN cards drawn, and boy, are his arms tired.

He was the first cartoonist inducted into the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Hall of Fame. In his spare time, John searches for spare time.

You can also read about how he got his wife into the National Enquirer.

The lovely and talented JUDITH, BTW, is world-famous now that she works at Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know.

Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting read for me.

For one, it's set in Madison, the city when I grew up.

For two, this first volume features comics that were written in the mid to late 90's, a time when I was firmly entrenched in the geek scene.

That was back when I had the time to play tabletop games, LARP, and play and trade Magic like a demonic spice merchant.

As such, it was really interesting to see this comic chronicling those times. Poking good-natured fun at each of those geek pass times. The humor might work best for those of us who lived through those days. But even if that isn't the case for you young whippersnappers, you could probably read and enjoy this as a chronicle of those early days of flourishing nerery. Back before being a gamer and a geek was culturally chic the way it is today...

[Lisa Feld · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's strange taking a trip down memory lane to the online comics boom of the late nineties and coming back to one of the first online comics I ever got into. I enjoyed this immensely when it first came out, but rereading it makes me aware of how many of the jokes are rooted in that late nineties culture: the tension between geeks and goths, the awed anticipation of Star Wars Episode I, even the idea that fans are social pariahs whose passions lie completely outside the comprehension of mainstream culture. Still, there are some gems in here that I continue to enjoy, like Matt's impromptu lecture on the history of the pike, or Igor's rant about the X-Files being the anti-Scooby Doo.

[F. Malanoche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found two or three issues of this series at a local store and loved everything about it. I ordered book one and loved it even more. It is a hilarious recap of what life was like for gamers and goths against society that isn't copacetic with such interests.

[Benjamin Uke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mediocre geek-based webcomic by the same creators who came up with the game 'munchkin'.

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humourous and retro. I liked it

[ComicNerdSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a lot of references and "normies just don't understand" humor that was in a lot of this nerd-centric stuff at the time, but Kovalic keeps it cute enough to be somewhat charming.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Kovalicin "Dork Covenant: the Collected Dork Tower, Volume I" (Dork Storm Press, 2002) on hilpeä strippisarjakuva Mattista, Igorista, Kenistä ja Carsonista (joka on piisami), neljästä tavallisesta wisconsinilaisesta kaveruksesta, jotka harrastavat roolipelaamista, lukevat sarjakuvia, katselevat scifisarjoja, kiertelevät erilaisissa coneissa ja niin edespäin. Nörteistä on siis kyse.

"Dork Tower" nauraa hyväntahtoisesti alakulttuurin äärimmäisille piirteille, mutta suhtautuu aiheeseensa myös lämmöllä ja rakkaudella. Sarjakuvan huumori on sen verran nörtähävää, ettei se varmasti naurata suuria massoja, mutta meitä kohderyhmään kuuluvia nämä liki kahdenkymmenen vuoden takaiset jutut jaksavat edelleen huvittaa. Hey Marcia! Come and see the satanist!

[Stewart Tame · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Dork Tower! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Practically overnight, gaming-related comics became a genre, with new titles springing up left and right. DT distinguished itself early. John Kovalic seemed to draw just a little bit funnier, his comic timing just slightly more impeccable. There's a rhythm to his dialogue, cresting in waves of humor that are pure delight to read. This is the book that started it all. See Matt and Gilly meet (sort of) for the first time! See Matt's first attempt to GM Igor and the rest through The Lord of the Rings! All this, plus a foreword by Dave Sim and a Dork Tower game by James Ernest. All together now: It MUST be mine!!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been vaguely aware of Dork Tower for a while, but hadn't opened up any of the comics. If you're a gamer of any sort (even in the most casual way), something here will resonate with you. If you're any kind of dork (nerd, geek, whatever your preferred terminology), Dork Tower gets you. I have decided that I definitely prefer collections of comics to single issues. I'm not patient enough to wait for the next issue and my apartment is too small to house the stacks of books and comics that are already here.
Will definitely be reading more Dork Tower.

[Narariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of many of the early Dork Tower comic strips, the book is fun, portraying geek life with a light-hearted look. The introduction is fairly stupid if you don't have the same sense of humor as Dave Sim, but the rest of the book is definitely worth reading. Strips such as the aborted attempts of Gilly to meet Matt & vice versa, Igor trying wargaming, & a visit to "BigCon" all add up to a lot of laughter.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

It says I've read this before but I don't remember and it's still pretty dang funny so i'm reading it now.

Yep total hilariousness. I love the goths they are great. This really helped me get through my gaming withdrawals. I haven't role-played in about a year except for at the last game-day event I went to about 4 months ago. I really need to geek out.

[M— · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but I'm not gamer enough to truly appreciate Dork Tower; I'm just geek enough to want to.

The game included at the end of the volume looked fun, but was sadly a three-person game discovered during a two-geek social situation.

Reading order: 1
Publication order: 1 (2000)
Chronological order: 1

[James Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of a gaming comic strip I first encountered in Dragon Magazine, and only thought was OK at the time. (Think of it like the halfway point between Shortpacked and Knights of the Dinner Table, but without the edginess of either.) I still don't think it's one of the best comic strips I've read, but it grew on me as I read it, so I'm happy with it.

[Christian Petrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of my shorter reviews, as there is not much to say. If you like Dork Tower here is a glimpse into the early days. The drawings a slightly different from today, but still as funny. If you are into RPG, gaming, and all around geek humor, you will love this collection.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was written during the late 90s at the twilight of my role playing days. creates a warm fuzzy feeling for me and also brings about some very awkward times. a strong memory of afternoons lost at between books and figuring out what comes next.

[Lady Entropy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The gang and the story is still getting in stride and while it lacks the complexity of Knights of the Dinner Table's storylines, it is endearing and funny and adorkable.

[Morbus Iff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It hasn't aged well, and the whole goth thing was bOOoOring.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny reading

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this on a whim and somehow ended up with an autographed copy.

[Jdetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and funny comic about role playing and all nerdery!

[Mark Junk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this takes me back to my HS/College days. I loved every page!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun collection of Dork Tower comics!