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Dork Volume 1: Who's Laughing Now
by Evan Dorkin
The first-ever collection from the acclaimed humor anthology Dork , "Who's Laughing Now?" features 112 pages of densely-packed comic book craziness from Dork #1-5, all wrapped up in a sweet little package co-designed by Dorkin and his partner-in-crime, Sarah Dyer!
The first-ever collection from the acclaimed humor anthology Dork , "Who's Laughing Now?" features 112 pages of densely-packed comic book craziness from Dork #1-5, all wrapped up in a sweet little package co-designed by Dorkin and his partner-in-crime, Sarah Dyer!
112 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2001
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About the author
Evan Dorkin
276 books143 followersEvan Dorkin is an American comics artist and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 25, 2021
#ThrowbackThursday - Back in the '90s, I used to write comic book reviews for the website of a now-defunct comic book retailer called Rockem Sockem Comics. (Collect them all!)
From the February 1998 edition with a theme of "A Tenuous Konnection":
INTRODUCTION
Most months the theme for this kolumn is so obvious it just kind of kicks me in the kranium. I've apparently taken a few too many kicks to the kranium, however, bekause this month it took a shoe horn, aksle grease, and dukt tape to kram a tenuous konnection into the following komik book reviews. Kan you guess it? Kan you forgive me?
TRES GEEK
DORK #1-3 (Slave Labor Graphics)
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK (3 Finger Prints)
THE THREE GEEKS #1-3 (3 Finger Prints)
One of the great aspects of comic book collectors is our ability to make fun of ourselves. We can get entirely caught up in the world of comics, becoming grimly serious about the outcome of a battle between Superman and the Hulk. Yet we can still accept and enjoy the occasional reality check or wake-up call. Two recent examples of this self-mocking genre are found in the pages of Evan Dorkin's DORK and in the adventures of Rich Koslowki's three comic book geeks.
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK is a mildly amusing handbook to dating. The title geek, Keith, is an average comic book slob who one day realizes that something may be missing from his comic-centric life. He calls together his two closest friends -- Allen, who worships Stan Lee and speaks like a cast-member of THOR, and Jim, who worships and dresses like the Punisher -- and explains the dilemma. "So! To summarize: 1) We're geeks! 2) We're comic book geeks! 3) We're girlfriendless comic book geeks!! Something must be done!" (Page 2) After the three geeks' brainstorming session fails to generate any good ideas, Koslowski breaks the fourth wall to begin a dialogue with Keith and offer dating tips. Koslowski's advice is fairly simple and intelligent, but Keith's geekiness constantly trips him up, providing most of the laughs throughout the rest of the book. It's good, clean fun.
(By the way, it sure can be hard to pick up girls if you're a comic book geek, but let my marriage stand as testament to the fact that it is not impossible. I cannot stress enough the importance of female-friendly comics, such as ELFQUEST or SANDMAN, to the process, however.)
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK and its three comic book geek protagonists were popular enough that Koslowski created a sequel series called, appropriately, THE THREE GEEKS. Subtitled "Going to the Con," the first three issues of THE THREE GEEKS follows the geeks to a huge, three-day comic book convention. The trials and tribulations of waiting in lines for admission and autographs, searching for an ever-elusive mint-copy back issue, enduring portfolio reviews, sitting through panels, and entering costume contests are all addressed in a humorous, though not entirely exaggerated, manner. Koslowski's cartoony drawing style backs up the gentle humor perfectly.
Whereas Koslowski offers a friendly poke in the ribs, the "Eltingville Club" feature in Evan Dorkin's DORK #3 plants an icepick firmly in the ear. Dorkin exaggerates all the worst qualities of comic book geeks to create a group of despicable, back-biting losers with poor hygiene. The members of the Eltingville Comic-Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Role-Playing Club can barely tolerate each other and frequently torture each other mercilessly. Their binding tie is the fact that no one else in Eltingville shares their interests or levels of obsession. (No one in this club would benefit from any of the tips in HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK; they are way past redemption from their geekhood.) Dorkin's humor in the "Eltingville Club" feature -- and in almost all his work -- is mean-spirited, cynical, sadistic, and generally dark. My favorite type!!
I love DORK because it brings together reprints and original stories of Dorkin's angriest, funniest tales. The angry attitude of DORK is evident right from the cover of the first issue: a group of clench-jawed people mill around, each one thinking, "I @*!?#! HATE EVERYBODY!" DORK is filled out with a variety of one-page gags and short strips. "The Murder Family" feature skewers television sitcoms by having a cutesy nuclear family commit repeated homicides with a laughtrack accompaniment. "Fisher-Price Theatre" condenses and satirizes great works of literature like CATCHER IN THE RYE using those little two-inch-tall, armless, legless, wooden Fisher-Price dolls to represent the novel's characters. "Milk and Cheese" strips are also included. (See the January 1998 LWYBM for a review of the MILK AND CHEESE comic series, Grade: A-.) Always, however, Dorkin keeps coming back to the comic book industry and its fans. Every issue of DORK is certain to contain a cheap slam or scathing critique of retailers, creators, fans, publishers and distributors.
So whether you prefer your satire soft or hard, blunt or jagged, civilized or savage, you'll be satisfied with the choices available this month. Koslowski and Dorkin both supply a heaping pile of humor that will ring true to any comic book fan. All that's required for admission is a few bucks and a sense of humor about yourself, your friends, and the wonderful world of comic books.
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK - Grade: C+
THE THREE GEEKS - Grade: B-
DORK - Grade: A-
From the February 1998 edition with a theme of "A Tenuous Konnection":
INTRODUCTION
Most months the theme for this kolumn is so obvious it just kind of kicks me in the kranium. I've apparently taken a few too many kicks to the kranium, however, bekause this month it took a shoe horn, aksle grease, and dukt tape to kram a tenuous konnection into the following komik book reviews. Kan you guess it? Kan you forgive me?
TRES GEEK
DORK #1-3 (Slave Labor Graphics)
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK (3 Finger Prints)
THE THREE GEEKS #1-3 (3 Finger Prints)
One of the great aspects of comic book collectors is our ability to make fun of ourselves. We can get entirely caught up in the world of comics, becoming grimly serious about the outcome of a battle between Superman and the Hulk. Yet we can still accept and enjoy the occasional reality check or wake-up call. Two recent examples of this self-mocking genre are found in the pages of Evan Dorkin's DORK and in the adventures of Rich Koslowki's three comic book geeks.
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK is a mildly amusing handbook to dating. The title geek, Keith, is an average comic book slob who one day realizes that something may be missing from his comic-centric life. He calls together his two closest friends -- Allen, who worships Stan Lee and speaks like a cast-member of THOR, and Jim, who worships and dresses like the Punisher -- and explains the dilemma. "So! To summarize: 1) We're geeks! 2) We're comic book geeks! 3) We're girlfriendless comic book geeks!! Something must be done!" (Page 2) After the three geeks' brainstorming session fails to generate any good ideas, Koslowski breaks the fourth wall to begin a dialogue with Keith and offer dating tips. Koslowski's advice is fairly simple and intelligent, but Keith's geekiness constantly trips him up, providing most of the laughs throughout the rest of the book. It's good, clean fun.
(By the way, it sure can be hard to pick up girls if you're a comic book geek, but let my marriage stand as testament to the fact that it is not impossible. I cannot stress enough the importance of female-friendly comics, such as ELFQUEST or SANDMAN, to the process, however.)
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK and its three comic book geek protagonists were popular enough that Koslowski created a sequel series called, appropriately, THE THREE GEEKS. Subtitled "Going to the Con," the first three issues of THE THREE GEEKS follows the geeks to a huge, three-day comic book convention. The trials and tribulations of waiting in lines for admission and autographs, searching for an ever-elusive mint-copy back issue, enduring portfolio reviews, sitting through panels, and entering costume contests are all addressed in a humorous, though not entirely exaggerated, manner. Koslowski's cartoony drawing style backs up the gentle humor perfectly.
Whereas Koslowski offers a friendly poke in the ribs, the "Eltingville Club" feature in Evan Dorkin's DORK #3 plants an icepick firmly in the ear. Dorkin exaggerates all the worst qualities of comic book geeks to create a group of despicable, back-biting losers with poor hygiene. The members of the Eltingville Comic-Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Role-Playing Club can barely tolerate each other and frequently torture each other mercilessly. Their binding tie is the fact that no one else in Eltingville shares their interests or levels of obsession. (No one in this club would benefit from any of the tips in HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK; they are way past redemption from their geekhood.) Dorkin's humor in the "Eltingville Club" feature -- and in almost all his work -- is mean-spirited, cynical, sadistic, and generally dark. My favorite type!!
I love DORK because it brings together reprints and original stories of Dorkin's angriest, funniest tales. The angry attitude of DORK is evident right from the cover of the first issue: a group of clench-jawed people mill around, each one thinking, "I @*!?#! HATE EVERYBODY!" DORK is filled out with a variety of one-page gags and short strips. "The Murder Family" feature skewers television sitcoms by having a cutesy nuclear family commit repeated homicides with a laughtrack accompaniment. "Fisher-Price Theatre" condenses and satirizes great works of literature like CATCHER IN THE RYE using those little two-inch-tall, armless, legless, wooden Fisher-Price dolls to represent the novel's characters. "Milk and Cheese" strips are also included. (See the January 1998 LWYBM for a review of the MILK AND CHEESE comic series, Grade: A-.) Always, however, Dorkin keeps coming back to the comic book industry and its fans. Every issue of DORK is certain to contain a cheap slam or scathing critique of retailers, creators, fans, publishers and distributors.
So whether you prefer your satire soft or hard, blunt or jagged, civilized or savage, you'll be satisfied with the choices available this month. Koslowski and Dorkin both supply a heaping pile of humor that will ring true to any comic book fan. All that's required for admission is a few bucks and a sense of humor about yourself, your friends, and the wonderful world of comic books.
HOW TO PICK UP GIRLS IF YOU'RE A COMIC BOOK GEEK - Grade: C+
THE THREE GEEKS - Grade: B-
DORK - Grade: A-
July 27, 2018
The self-described “unfortunately surnamed” Dorkin has a great eye for caricature, both in his writing and art. But the targets of his satire are all bits of early-to-mid ‘90s popular culture (or other popular culture that would look funny next to early-to-mid ‘90s popular culture), and much of it doesn’t age well. It’s not just the content, it’s the sensibilities. Remember when kids murdering other kids or Nazi skinheads were shocking and irreverent instead of daily news? There are still a few gems, like “LIVE SEX,” which is almost worth the whole read. Pro Tip: get either a real magnifying glass or a magnifying app, because a LOT of this is written so small that it’s nigh impossible to read.
October 5, 2023
3.5 the author keeps his trademark cynical, dark and self-deprecating humour. Critical with society and mindless 'rebels/anarchists' who just follow capitalists. Not afraid of using violence or being politically incorrect (or rather, quite fond to do so ^_^'). Some comics have more complex settings, dialogues and violence than his more famous Milk & Cheese franchise. Some don't, but most are still charming and at least good enough for a chuckle. It showcases various smaller franchises.
I'd like the most the sarcastic 'tv adverts' panels from the Murder Family comic. The same messages as real ads, but exaggerated and openly lying, making one realise how deceitful they tend to be, but go unnoticed. The Devil Puppet uncanny stories is another of my highlights. Overall quite recommendable.
I'd like the most the sarcastic 'tv adverts' panels from the Murder Family comic. The same messages as real ads, but exaggerated and openly lying, making one realise how deceitful they tend to be, but go unnoticed. The Devil Puppet uncanny stories is another of my highlights. Overall quite recommendable.
December 26, 2017
This was purely a nostalgia grab--I had read at least half of the content here as a teen in the 90s when Dork was new. Much of the humor is dated (Generation Ecch is less interesting when most of them are balding now), but the absurd is still great and the art is wonderful.
April 27, 2018
Amazing artwork. Content was corny and hard to slog through.
September 13, 2022
Reread. Wow, no laughs for me this time around. Angry smart-ass.
October 12, 2016
Who's Laughing Now? is a graphic novel collecting work from the first five issues of Evan Dorkin's comic book Dork, as well as additional content originally meant for other projects. Dorkin excels in the short format, and so his dark and irreverent humor really shines in this collection, whether it's with the serialized adventures of The Murder Family, the Fisher-Price Theater, or the pages of three-panel "comic strips" near the end. For those familiar with Evan Dorkin's work, this graphic novel will appeal more towards fans of Milk & Cheese and the The Eltingville Club than those who read Pirate Corps or his adaptations of the Bill & Ted films, but the Devil Puppet assures you that you WILL enjoy it.
December 5, 2012
Evan Dorkin is either a comedic genius or a very disturbed man and you should avoid making eye contact with him.
This collection of a wide array of short stories and tiny gag strips, goes from hilarious, to chuckle worthy, to cringe-inducing to WTF!.
Sometimes on the same page.
Wonderful, twisted and never boring.
This collection of a wide array of short stories and tiny gag strips, goes from hilarious, to chuckle worthy, to cringe-inducing to WTF!.
Sometimes on the same page.
Wonderful, twisted and never boring.
July 29, 2016
This is OMG good! Read all of his stuff.
July 2, 2021
One of my favorite cartoonists, Evan’s material holds up to reading and rereading and never fails to make me laugh. Join in the fun!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews