Beasts of Burden (comics)
Encyclopedia
Beasts of Burden is a Dark Horse Comics
team of animals, created by writer Evan Dorkin
and artist Jill Thompson
, that investigate different paranormal events that occur in their small neighborhood of Burden Hill. The group consists of five dogs named Ace, Rex, Jack, Whitey, and Pugsley, and a cat named Orphan (later they are joined by another cat named Dymphna, a former witches familiar
).
The group is often seen consulting with "Wise Dogs", local shaman-like elders of their community.
The characters made their first appeared in a story titled Stray (written by Evan Dorkin with art by Jill Thompson) in The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings. The made subsequent appearances in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft, The Dark Horse Book of The Dead, and The Dark Horse Book of Monsters.
Dorkin stated that he came up with the concept after being asked by Dark Horse editor Scott Allie
to write a story for the horror anthology The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings.
In 2009 the characters appeared in their own 4-issue mini-series. In 2010 the characters appeared alongside Hellboy
in a one-shot issue titled Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice. In 2011 it was announced that three new Beasts of Burden stories would appear in the relaunched Dark Horse Presents series in issues 4, 6, and 8.
scheduled to produce and writer Darren Lemke attached to write the screenplay
.
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
team of animals, created by writer Evan Dorkin
Evan Dorkin
Evan Dorkin is an American comics artist and writer. His best known works are the comic books Milk and Cheese and Dork...
and artist Jill Thompson
Jill Thompson
Jill Thompson is an American comic book writer and illustrator. Probably better known for her work on Neil Gaiman's The Sandman characters and her own Scary Godmother series, she has also worked on The Invisibles, Swamp Thing, and Wonder Woman.-Career:Jill Thompson illustrated The Sandman story...
, that investigate different paranormal events that occur in their small neighborhood of Burden Hill. The group consists of five dogs named Ace, Rex, Jack, Whitey, and Pugsley, and a cat named Orphan (later they are joined by another cat named Dymphna, a former witches familiar
Familiar spirit
In European folklore and folk-belief of the Medieval and Early Modern periods, familiar spirits were supernatural entities believed to assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic...
).
The group is often seen consulting with "Wise Dogs", local shaman-like elders of their community.
The characters made their first appeared in a story titled Stray (written by Evan Dorkin with art by Jill Thompson) in The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings. The made subsequent appearances in The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft, The Dark Horse Book of The Dead, and The Dark Horse Book of Monsters.
Dorkin stated that he came up with the concept after being asked by Dark Horse editor Scott Allie
Scott Allie
Scott Allie is an American comics writer and editor, currently the Senior Managing Editor for Dark Horse Comics.-Career:Scott Allie is the author of The Devil's Footprints and the editor of the Hellboy, Conan, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Serenity comics, as well as the founding editor of Dark...
to write a story for the horror anthology The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings.
In 2009 the characters appeared in their own 4-issue mini-series. In 2010 the characters appeared alongside Hellboy
Hellboy
Hellboy is a comic book superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 , and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers...
in a one-shot issue titled Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice. In 2011 it was announced that three new Beasts of Burden stories would appear in the relaunched Dark Horse Presents series in issues 4, 6, and 8.
Comics
- 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 DyerSarah DyerSarah Dyer is a comic book writer and artist with roots in the zine movement of the late eighties and early nineties.-Early life:Dyer was born in Louisiana, went to college in Gainesville, Florida and then moved to New York City.-Career:...
, and Jill Thompson. - Beasts of Burden (4-issue mini-series) by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson.
- Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice (one-shot) by Evan Dorkin, Mike MignolaMike MignolaMichael Joseph "Mike" Mignola is an American comic book artist and writer who created the comic book series Hellboy for Dark Horse Comics. He has worked for animation projects such as Atlantis: The Lost Empire and the adaptation of his one shot comic book, The Amazing Screw-On Head.-Career: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.
Collected editions
- Beasts of Burden: Animal Rites (June, 2010) Collects the stories Stray, The Unfamiliar, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, A Dog and His Boy, and issues #1-4 of the mini-series.
Film
A CG-animated film adaptation is currently in the works at Reel FX Creative Studios with filmmaker Andrew AdamsonAndrew Adamson
Andrew Ralph Adamson, MNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer and screenwriter based mainly in Los Angeles, where he made the blockbuster animation films, Shrek and Shrek 2 for which he received an Academy Award nomination. He was director, executive producer, and scriptwriter for C. S....
scheduled to produce and writer Darren Lemke attached to write the screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
.
Partial List of Awards & Recognition
- 2004 Eisner Awards: Won Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art)
- 2005 Eisner Awards: Won Best Short Story
- 2007 Eisner Awards: Won Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art)
- 2010 Eisner Awards: Won Best Painter/Multimedia Artist (Interior Art)
- 2010 Eisner Awards: Won Best Publication for Teens
- 2010 Harvey Awards: Nominated for Best Continuing or Limited Series
- 2011 National Cartoonist Society: Won Best Comic Book Artist (Jill Thompson)
- 2011 Anthony Awards: Nominated for Best Graphic Novel
- 2011 Eisner Awards: Nominated for Best Graphic Album - Reprint
- 2011 Harvey Awards: Won for Best Graphic Album Previously Published