Beasts of Burden is a comic book series created by writer Evan Dorkin and artists Jill Thompson and Benjamin Dewey, and published by American company Dark Horse Comics. The title centers on an eponymous team of intelligent animals that investigate different paranormal events that occur in their small neighborhood of Burden Hill. The initial group consists of five dogs and a cat. They are often seen consulting with "Wise Dogs", local shamanic elders of their community.[1]
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 anthologyThe Dark Horse Book of Hauntings.[2]
I wanted to write a haunted-house story, but not along traditional lines. After a few false starts I hit on the idea of a haunted doghouse, which became my pitch for Stray. Scott liked it and wanted me to draw it. I draw animals about as well as I breakdance, but Scott believed in me. Which was really nice. Luckily for us all, I convinced him to approach Jill Thompson instead.
—Evan Dorkin, 2010
In 2009 the characters appeared in their own four-issue miniseries.[3] The following year the characters appeared alongside Hellboy in a one-shot crossover issue titled Hellboy/Beasts of Burden: Sacrifice.[4] Three new Beasts of Burden short stories appeared in the fourth, sixth, and eighth issues of the relaunched Dark Horse Presents series during 2011 and 2012, all of which were later reprinted in the Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch one-shot.[5] The publishing schedule slowed down after that with only two issues from 2013 to 2017.
Basically, when Jill's available to work on the book we work on the book. I have three notebooks of material right now, the entire storyline is pretty much sketched out, with room for diversions and side-trips. If I had my way I’d be working on Beasts full-time, it's my favorite project and the one I’m always thinking about. It’s a labor-intensive book and Jill's in high demand so it takes awhile for us to get these stories out there. I wish we were on a regular schedule, but unfortunately I don't see that ever happening.
Late 2017, Dorkin wrote on his blog that Thompson was almost finished with the first issue of a two-part story, The Presence of Others, and artist Benjamin Dewey was working on a four-issue story titled Wise Dogs and Eldritch Men.[7] Dorkin confirmed on his Twitter account that more stories were planned for both Thompson and Dewey.[8] In 2019, The Presence of Others was published with Jill Thompson on the first issue and Benjamin Dewey on the second,[9] and the Occupied Territory four-issue miniseries with Benjamin Dewey was published in 2021.[10]
Characters
The Apprentices
Ace, a Husky, courageous and bitten by a werewolf in "A Boy and His Dog"
Jack, a Beagle, has some sensitivity to the paranormal
Pugsley, a Pug, who is outspoken, snarky and cynical, often gets told to shut up by the others
A gang of neighbourhood cats that work with the apprentices introduced in "Something Whiskered This Way Comes" and as allies in "The Presence of Others".
The Get Away Kid, ownerless tuxedo cat with a reputation for escape
Muggsy, a calico cat who is a "first lifer" (a cat that hasn't used up any of its nine lives)
In April 2021, Evan Dorkin revealed that this adaptation never moved beyond pre-production and that he was not a fan of the script that would have been used.[40] No further adaptation plans have been announced.
Awards and 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)
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