I am Mike Krahulik, I draw Penny Arcade

Hey Mike! I'm the guy in the wheelchair with the two prosthetic legs that stood up at PAX East to give you a hug (and gave one leg to Jerry to hold up in front of the crowd, Lion King-style). Within the next year, I'll be heading out to California to have a set of custom covers made for my prosthetics. Rather than making them look like "legs," I've decided (like a lot of Geek amputees) to go with something a little geekier. My coverings will, ideally, make my legs resemble Iron Man armor.

The problem is, I need a leg model. Normally, in cases of single amputees, the company that makes these just scan your good leg to get a general size/shape guideline for the fairing (the covering). Of course, since I'm a double, that's not an option. Basically, I need someone roughly my height to stand in and have their legs scanned to build up a rough shape outline for my fairings.

My question is...how big of a donation to Child's Play would I have to raise to get you (or Jerry, or Khoo) to make a trip down to California when the time comes and be my "leg model?" ...oh, and apologies if this is...weird. I have trouble judging that, any more.

You do not need to donate anything! Just email Robert and we will work it out. My legs are ready to be scanned!

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Yeah I do. That was a mistake but it was the sort of mistake we learn from.

Gabe, what do you say to those critics who claim that Penny Arcade is just a pale imitation of the Bewitched TV series?

I say bullshit. It is an incredible imitation of the Bewitched TV series!

What is the plan for Penny Arcade if something happens to you? To Jerry? Do you envision it continuing when you've retired or passed on?

If I die the strip becomes a memorial for me. If Jerry dies we get a team of writers to fill in.

What was the racist joke that Erika told you guys during her interview?

I can never repeat that joke. Everyone who heard it is bound by a blood oath to keep it secret.

I really loved Automata. Any chance we'll see more stories in that universe in the near future?

Yes this year you will see a new Automata comic from Tycho and I. It was one of the stretch goals from our KS.

Hi Mike, welcome to reddit!

I've been a fan of Penny Arcade since early 2000, and have loved watching it grow. I still reread old comics from time to time, and the transition in art is astounding. More than that, I've had the chance to see you grow as a person. From a gamer with a tendency to draw to an awesome father.

I don't have any single question for you to answer, because after reading the news posts/tweets/articles for so long, there's really not a lot left to know. It feels weird to realize that I know so much about a webcomic, but I'll accept that.

I don't normally comment on IAmAs, for fear of being lost in the crowd, yet today I feel the need to thank you. Thanks for keeping me entertained for so many years. Thanks for sticking up for gamers when we need you. Thanks for getting Paul fired. Thanks for PAX, and thanks for Child's Play.

Have a nice day, my good sir.

That's incredibly nice, thank you very much.

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my favorite strip is the Megaman Effect. The one where G&T play games and turn into little kids. I think it's just a perfect comic.

I think The Fruit Fucker is my fav side character.

Have you ever spotted Tychpos before you published the comic, and left them in so Jerry has to pay for it (to charity, right?).

See you at PAX East :D.

yes I have.

What was the biggest fight you've ever had with Jerry? What was it about? How was it resolved?

We actually had a fight last year that was filmed but we didn't end up using the footage. I was being a jerk to Jerry in what I thought was a funny way but it really was just me being a jerk. He got pissed at me and stormed out. It happens. It was resolved when he came back in a few minutes later and we finished writing the comic. This sort of thing happens in creative relationships. It's not common for us but it does happen.

As far as I can tell, Robert is the third pillar that made Penny Arcade possible. You and Jerry have great talent in presenting comics, and posts people want to read, and Robert makes it possible for you to focus on those things.

If you and Jerry were starting over again (young, single, unknown) how would you find a "Robert"?

(I know he originally found you, asking because I know there are lots of creative types out there who desperately need someone like him to cross over from "barely getting by" to "viable business")

[edited for clarity]

people ask us this all the time. "how can I get a Robert?" and I honestly don't know. We are very lucky that Robert found us. I don't like to think about where we would be if he hadn't.

How do you pronounce your last name? I've wanted to know for the better part of the decade.

KRUH-WHO-LICK

My friends and I pooled our money together at the Child's Play Charity Dinner Auction to win the Thornwatch play-test. I know you're a busy dude but do you think we might do that in the near future? :)

Has no one contacted you!? Shit man I'm sorry. Send me an email and we'll play ASAP.

If you could only play one videogame and one tabletop game for the rest of your life, which do you pick, and why?

Videogame- Minecraft- because I can dig and build forever. Tabletop- D&D - That would always be new

Has becoming a father changed how you approach your job and being a public figure?

yes! it used to be that I worked pretty strange hours. Now that I am a dad I try and work a 9-5 schedule. When I go home at night work is over and I am a Dad. I feel like it's really important to make that distinction.

How are you feeling about the whole jj abrams star wars stuff?

I am optimistic. I actually really liked the Star Trek re-boot.

You and Jerry seem to have very different politics. Does that ever become an issue in terms of deciding what jokes to do? Like, does he ever try to pull you back from certain topics or something?

(PS: Going to my second PAX East this year! Thanks so much for all the fun times!)

I'm not sure we really have different politics. We agree on most political stuff actually. We disagree a bit on religion but that has never really effected the comic strip. When it comes to politics in the comic we usually try and avoid it. We are both pretty liberal guys I think and I figure most people can guess that by reading PA. I've never felt like putting overt political stuff in the comic was a good idea though.

Where did Cardboard Tube Samurai go?

we know it has been a while since we did a CTS strip and we will try and fix that this year.

How awesome is Ni no Kuni?

It is the best. I think it takes the spot of my favorite game of all time away from Kingdom Hearts 2.

Very long-time fan, thanks for everything.

After the dickwolves fiasco do you get gun-shy about similar things? I was honestly expecting some blow-back from the "girls gone fae-wild" shirt

to be honest yes we did. I'd say for quite a while we were really paranoid about making the strip. We kept writing jokes and then saying "will someone find this offensive?" or "Could you interpret this some other way?" it really sucked. I think we got over it though. We are going to offend people. We are going to piss them off. We can't second guess ourselves all the time it's just not conducive to making comics.

Watching PA: The Series it often seems like things at the office are always fun, and if they are stressful at least it's still a friendly, supportive environment. Are there times when work feels like "work" (i.e. tedious, stressful, unfulfilling)?

There are days when it feels like "work" sure. On those days I remind myself that my job is to play video games and draw comics. Even on the worst day it's the best job I could ever have.

In the drugs episode of PATV, you seemed very confident that you wouldn't use drugs recreationally, so I was surprised to see that you had done recently. Do you know what it was that changed your mind and was the experience as you'd expected it?

This is a fair question. My brother overdosed when I was still in high school. Watching him and his struggles had a big effect on me. I was scared to death of all drugs not just the illegal ones. I tried not to take aspirin or even vitamins. I didn't drink or use anything I thought might be addictive.

When pot became legal in Washington I decided it was time to try it. Jerry got me some for Christmas and under the supervision of some of my closest friends I gave it a try. The decision to do so was hard for me but I guess I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't scared of it. It was a big moment for me and honestly after trying it I feel pretty silly for fearing it as long as I did.

Where do you see Penny Arcade going in the next few decades? Do you see it some day continuing as its own entity, separate from you and Jerry, or do you see a definitive end point?

Jerry and I still love making PA. At some point many many years from now though I can see us wanting to do something else. It is my dream to someday pass the comic on to another artist/writer duo.

Dear Mike,

Thank you for doing this AMA. I've been reading Penny Arcade for years and consistently get laughs out of it. I don't play video games much anymore since I lost the use of my left hand after a stroke, but I can still relate to your humor. I've got a few questions I'd like to ask:

1. What's it like waking up every day and doing something you love?
2. What do you tell your son that you do for a living?
3. Does Jerry really have a thing for giraffes?

1. It's the best feeling in the world. I have had some shitty jobs in my life and I'm super thankful for PA. 2.My son knows that I am a cartoonist but he is not allowed to read Penny Arcade. 3.I hope not

What comic do you regret ever making?

I can’t think of a single comic I regret making. There are some that Don’t think are as funny as others but I would not put a comic online if I didn’t like it.

What metrics do you use when a company approaches you to do a comic about their Computer game?

1. Do I like the game 2.Do I have the time to draw it 3.Will they let us put our own spin on it.

Aside from your own, whose comic/drawing/artistic style are you most impressed with/envious of?

I am a huge fan of Kate Beaton's work. I think she is super funny and I wish I could draw girls as well as she does. I like PvP and I think Scott is an incredible cartoonist. I also like Kazu and what he has done with Bolt City.

At PAX East last year, at my friend's request, Jerry promised there would be a final Downloadable Content podcast.

The promised time came and went, but no podcast was aired. Then, its full revival was a flexgoal on the Kickstarter, taunting me with its lofty price which was never reached.

Will the podcast ever be revived, even if for a eulogic edition?

One thing we learned from the Kickstarter was to break out some of those stretch goals into their own Kickstarters. That’s something we will probably do with the DLC podcast.

Parenting question. I've read some recent posts and tweets from you about your oldest son and his gaming habits. As a Dad, do you put any restrictions on screen time?

My two boys are just a little younger than yours and even though I can spend hours playing games on the PC, I do try to limit how much TV/gaming the kids can do.

We have no hard rules about screen time. For me it is about content not time. If he is playing Minecraft and building working circuits with redstone, well shit he can do that all day. If he is watching My Little Pony then I might cut him off after an hour.

how do you feel about possibly making more videogames based around your characters?

this is coming from someone who has all 3 rain-slick games, and wants more.

I am not a fan of making video games. I worked on episode 1 and 2 and I hated the experience. From my point of view I worked super hard producing concept art for years that in the end no one ever got to see. Sure other artists took my work and converted it into a game but I don't actually like that. If I draw a comic it goes up the next day and you can all see it. If you like it great. If you don't like it well maybe you will like the one tomorrow.

Jerry on the other hand loves writing games and that is why he has been doing episodes 3 and 4.

I've wanted a job like yours for years, and I've been making lots of stuff for years. I've learned a lot, but you know more. Are there "pearls of wisdom" that you can share?

I asked this as a reply to one of your answers, but I'm paranoid about you not seeing it. Sorry about repeating myself.

Be too stupid to quit. It worked for me. There are so many times I should have given up and just accepted the fact that I was never going to do anything but sell computers for a living.

I just want to say thank you for your humor and dedication over the years. Twisp and Catsby for the win.

My question is with the art style you've developed over the years, one could say the current Gabe and Tycho are not the same Gabe and Tycho that existed when the series was first started. Have you considered drawing a comic where the two sets meet and interact with each other?

I have drawn a few strips recently that had the old style of characters. It was REALLY hard to draw. I kept trying to "fix" the old designs as I drew them.

Mike, thanks for doing this AMA! How have you enjoyed doing PA TV? Do you find that you try and ham things up for the camera to be more funny or more absurd than usual, or are you guys that animated all the time? How much would you say your comfort with being in front of the camera crew has changed since the pilot?

Also, when can we expect the next season?

I can tell you that Jerry and I don't act any differently for the cameras. In fact we forget they are there during the 4th panel episodes.

What has been the biggest change as an artist for you, from 1998 to present?

I’d say I’m better now than I was and that just comes with practice. I have learned more about the art of cartooning and I’ve tried to push myself in a lot of new directions over the years.

What was the most frustrating experience with a fan you have had? What is the most positive memorable experience?

I've had some really amazing interactions with fans over the years. There is no shortage of me crying on stage at PAX while a fan relates their story to us. I hugged a guy who was standing on artificial legs for the first time. I am always always amazed and humbled by the effect PA has on some people.

Will we ever get Ping Pong tables at PAX?

no. We do not want people sweating at PAX.

no. We do not want people sweating at PAX.

sup?

chillin'

Hey Mike!

Back at PAX Prime 2009 you, Jerry and I had a chance encounter in which you enjoyed my cologne. Just wanted to let you know it is because of that day that I still wear that specific type of cologne.

You guys rock. Never not be Penny Arcade.

EDIT: The cologne in question is Unforgivable by Sean John

Amazon Link

I wear it now too!

you smelled really fucking good man.

Your kid likes to draw? do you see yourself teaching him in the future? (technique maybe?)

He does like to draw but I don't want to push it on him. I have gone to his school multiple times and taught classes on drawing cartoons to his class and others.

Hi Mike! Love watching your drawing style evolve over the years. To that end, I'm curious to know what art media (pencils, Sharpies, tablet, etc.) do you most enjoy using when you sketch?

Right now I work almost 100% digital. From sketch to final it's all done in PS. I like to paint with acrylics when I have the time and for the Zelda project I learned some water color techniques.

do a lot of people recognize you on the street?

It happens but not often. When people do recognize me they are always very cool.

PA has always done a good job of remaining objective and honest, freely expressing your opinions. Has this been difficult to maintain? Would you say it has gotten better/worse as PA has become more influential?

As the company has grown there have been more challenges yes. Crapping all over a game or a publisher or pissing off someone in the industry used to be easy when it was just Jerry and I. Now I have to think. "will this damage any of the business relationships Robert has? Will this hurt Jamie and Kristin in their efforts to raise money for Child's Play? Will this make the job of any of the 13 people who work here harder? Then I do it anyway but it's very hard for a couple seconds.

Do you ever struggle with your success or feel like it pigeonholes you as an artist?

No. PA has allowed me to work on so many different projects. I've drawn everything from Zelda to Splinter Cell and I love it.

Will there ever be a PATV episode about the whole Ocean Marketing situation?

No that was a year ago. I guess we could do one of those black and white reenactments.

When are you coming back to St. Louis? It was a real treat to meet you guys. My lovely and classy wife was the one who grabbed her boob to try to get you guys to laugh :)

Also, PAX Midwest. Please...

you hang on to that lady she is a winner.

Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring artists and cartoonists? Or, perhaps more interestingly worded, if you could give your past self some artistic advice, what would it be?

the best advice I can give is draw every day. Get a sketchbook and draw something in it every single fucking day. I wish I had done that when I was younger.

Hi Mike/Gabe! In the strip "Perhaps Too Real", yourself and Jerry appeared in the comic for—I believe—the first time. Of course, the joke was to greatly exaggerate any and all flaws in your respective faces, but what I want to know is:

Was it hard to deliberately make yourselves seem unappealing (maybe even deliberately drawing attention to things you could have been insecure about)? Or was it fun, knowing that the more flawed you made yourselves appear, the funnier the comic would be?

No that's pretty much how I think we look. We don't have a great self image.

Are there any plans to make an mobile Penny Arcade app? If so, when could we expect to see it? If not, why?

An app no but a site yes. This year.

A long while ago, you gave some tips about drawing with a Wacom. Do you have any more recent tips in regards to drawing on a digital canvas? I know, for example, drawing smooth, good-looking pressure-sensitive lines can be challenging for some, and if I recall correctly your method of doing so is to zoom in substantially and work from there.

The most important thing for smooth lines is to zoom WAY in. Have a solid sketch and trust it. That's how I do it.

Dear Mike

Why I am so bald?

Jerry?

If for some terrible, magical reason you lost your ability to create drawn art, what would you want to do instead?

play golf

Is there a day of the week you typically find hardest to get work done? Why?

it used to be Monday's. That was because Monday night used to be my D&D night so I would spend all day thinking about and working on my game for that evening. Don't tell Robert.

What's the most appropriate thing to do at PAX when we see you, want to get a picture/signature from you, but don't want to get beaten with a cardboard tube?

I am down for whatever at PAX. If you want some shit signed or you need a hug or whatever I'll make it fucking happen.

I have two questions

1.) Which Pokemon is you and your sons favorite?

2.) Which 6th Gen starter will you pick?

Thanks and have a great day :D

Chimchar is my Favorite!

Where you able to find a home for your cats? :(

no not yet.

Would you break down your typical work week for us? Rough percentages would be cool.

4th panel and your watch-me-draw videos makes it look like you spend about 2~3 hours on a comic:

• 30 min working on the script with Jerry
• 30 min researching characters you plan to parody
• 2 hours drawing

So that's about 9 hours out of 40 -> about 22% of your time.

How do you allocate the other 78%?

I know you do bonus comics and stuff for games. You prepare for PAX and whatnot.... but that hardly seems part of a "typical" week for you.

When nothing unusual happens, how do you spend your work days?

[edit: removed question about daily working hours since he answered 9-5 elsewhere]

[edit: math]

On a comic day (that is a day I have to DRAW a comic, tuesday, Thursday and Friday.) I get into the office around 9:30. I look at game news and surf the web for ideas until 10:30. Then Jerry and I get together and write the strip. This is what you see in the 4th panel episodes. then I draw the strip. This takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on the comic. I might spend the rest of that day working on a news post, or drawing one of our side projects like PA presents.

on the other days (Monday and Wednesday) I work on merchandise, PA presents, or any other work for hire stuff that is on my schedule. These are also my days to play games here in the office. I might spend all day drawing a poster from a game company or playing Ni No Kuni. It all depends on my schedule.

Hi Gabe! I'm a huge fan since arround 2001, and there is one thing that I need to ask. Is L. H. Franzibald based on Tim Buckley? If so, what made you guys hate him so much?

yes it is!

His body of work.

What's your favorite webcomic?

Penny Arcade

I know this might be a little on the 'serious' side, but...

Several times in the PA show yourself and Tycho have talked about dealing with depression and the different approaches you have both taken in managing it. Do you have any words of advice for others in similar situations?

My advice is talk to a doctor. Get help. I know for a very long time I just assumed everyone felt the way I did. I didn't know there was another way to feel. How could I? Eventually I was convinced by a friend to talk to my doctor and I was diagnosed with chronic anxiety. They gave me Lexapro and IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

the only thing I really want to know is: Can you tell us anything more about Strip Search? Do we know yet when it's going to start airing? :D

I am SO EXCITED about it!

<3

Strip Search should start airing in late Feb. I can't tell you much about it because I don't want to spoil it. I can tell you that if you like reality TV and you like webcomics you will love this show.

Hey Mike! Huge fan (along with just abut everybody else here, I'm sure)! Just a couple quick ones:

1) What made you decide to do an AMA? (Not that I'm complaining)

2) Do you guys still play DnD, aside from at PAX? Acquisitions Inc. is directly responsible for getting me into DnD, which I quickly got my friends into, and it's an awesome thing we all still do together.

3) Speaking of PAX, anything special to be looking forward to at PAX Prime this year? It is my favorite weekend out of the entire year, so I want to thank you guys so much for making it real.

1. I really like talking to people and answering questions at PAX. The Q&A panels are probably my favorite part of the show. This seemed like a great way to get the same feeling without being at the show. 2.I have not played D&D in months. Recently I was working on my own card game Thornwatch and that took over our regular D&D nights. 3.I'm very excite for our new Pinny Arcade pin trading project to launch at PAX. I'd say that is what I am most looking forward to.

Is the 4th issue of the Lookouts comic out? Where can I buy it if it's not on comixology?

I have seen it. I know it is done. It should be out soon.

We met once at PAX 2007, you were walking back to your hotel on a Saturday night. I said thanks for the advice on anti-anxiety meds. I'm off them now, just wanted to let you know.

Since this is ask me anything, I'm going to give you a tough one: whatever happened to painting? Ain't heard about it in a while, man.

Glad to hear you're doing well man! I'm actually still on Lexpro and too nervous to try dropping it:)

I want to paint more but finding the time is hard. I still have all the stuff set up in my house I just need to sit down and do it.

Hi Mike, big fan of the comic!

Of all the various projects you have going on in the coming year, which one do you look forward to the most?

Strip search and Pinny Arcade are the two things I am most excited for in 2013.

Can you draw me a duck?

no not since the accident.

Now that you've had time to think about it: dickwolves. Whats your opinion on them?

still a funny strip. In fact when I made a list of my favorite comics from 2012 for the site a while back i put it in there.

If you had unlimited funds, a possible license of your choice and the best developers in the world at your disposal, what video game would you love to make?

I've always wanted to make a Superman RPG myself, yet i am poor and have no clue how to develop a picture, let alone a video game.

A Pokemon MMO!

Are you guys eating healthy and exercising? (I like my PA and want you guys to stick around.)

recently yes. In the past few months I've managed to lose about 12 pounds thanks to changing my eating habits and trying to be more active.

Do you ever personally give toys or games to the kids through Child's Play? If so, was there a particular reaction that will always stick with you?

Early on we had imagined we would be able to go in and give the kids the toys. It turns out that you are not allowed in there! These kids are in bad shape and they don't let strangers just march in and mess with them.

1. Does having a camera and microphone pointed at you all day ever feel strange or invasive?
2. Has PA ever considered having any involvement in esports?
3. When you golf, do you have a hook or a slice?

1. You get used to it. I really don't notice them anymore. 2.No it's just not something we are really into.
2. I play a wicked slice off the drive but my irons are pretty dead on.

If I recall correctly, you believe in a god, and Jerry does not. Does that ever cause friction between the two of you? Have you two ever discussed it, or do you generally just leave the subject alone?

you're right and generally we just leave the subject alone. We both know how the other feels and it's just not something we talk about.

Whatever happened to Lexxy who was on Season One of PATV? Will she ever be back?

She is actually one of the contestants on Strip Search!

Hi Mike, I've been reading Penny-arcade since 2000. I really love your art work (I was so pleased when you started making paintings) and I think it's at it's best in non-PA projects, like Automata. I work in a customer service place, where I proudly wear my Automata No Heart, No Soul, No Service t-shirt. I'm considering getting a Carl tattoo. Can you draw him for me wearing a fancy Dick Tracy Style suit?

I have never drawn anyone's tattoo and I probably never will. Even people close to me who have asked I say no. I love tattoos, I have a ton of them myself but I would never want my art on someone forever. I don't even draw my own stuff.

Internet feminists do hate you. How have you been dealing with this?

I'm staying strong don't worry about me.