''Battlepug'' is a

webcomic Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on a website or mobile app. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or comic books. Webcomics can be co ...

written and illustrated by

Mike Norton Mike Norton is an American comic book artist and writer, known for his work on '' Battlepug''. Early life Mike Norton first discovered comics as a child when his father gave him a copy of ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #163, before he was old enoug ...

, colored by Allen Passalaqua, and lettered by Chris Crank.

History

Norton created the characters for ''Battlepug'' in a rush to create a T-shirt for iFanboy.com. In February 2011, Norton launched his webcomic, ''Battlepug''. A dark-humored, fantasy-genred revenge story, ''Battlepug'' is about the last surviving member of the Kinmundian Tribe known only as "The Warrior", his steed, the ''Battlepug'', and their traveling companion, Scrabbly. The story is narrated by Moll, who recounts the tale to her talking dogs, a Pug named Mingo and a French Bulldog named Colfax. The first year of strips was collected into a hardcover by Dark Horse Comics and released July 4, 2012. In mid-2012, Mike Norton won the Best Digital Comic

Eisner award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

for ''Battlepug''. Every Friday, Norton released pictures of ''Battlepug'' readers and their pugs in "Friday Battlepuggage".

Characters

The Warrior

The protagonist of the story goes by simply The Warrior. As a boy, he was the sole survivor of an attack by a giant baby

seal Seal may refer to any of the following: Common uses * Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly: ** Earless seal, or "true seal" ** Fur seal * Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...

orchestrated by a mysterious man riding a

tiger The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...

called Catwulf on the people of Kinmundy, it claimed the lives of The Warrior's mother and father. He was then captured by a parody of

Santa Claus Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a Legend, legendary figure originating in Western Christianity, Western Christian culture who is said to Christmas gift-bringer, bring ...

and Christmas elves and forced to fight and fuel the fires of the toy workshop. Eventually, he was allowed to get revenge on the seal and the factory and set about on his quest for revenge on the mysterious man. The Warrior is clearly influenced by works like

Conan the Barbarian Conan the Barbarian (also known as Conan the Cimmerian) is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who originated in pulp magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, films (including '' Conan the Barbarian'' and '' Conan the Destroyer'') ...

and other fantasy barbarians.

The Battlepug

The Warrior's trusty, but dimwitted and slobbery steed is a giant

pug The Pug is a breed of dog originally from China, with physically distinctive features of a wrinkly, short-muzzled face and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, most often light brown (fawn) or blac ...

. At first, The Warrior is very reluctant to be partnered with the Battlepug. However, it is clear the Battlepug has a strong connection to The Warrior and views him as his master.

Scrabbly

Scrabbly meets The Warrior in the abandoned swamp village of Patoka. He is a somewhat crazy old hermit and often goes on rambling speeches using the words "scribbly" and "scrabbly".

Moll

''Battlepug'' is a bedside story being told by the attractive Moll to her two talking dogs, Mingo the

Pug The Pug is a breed of dog originally from China, with physically distinctive features of a wrinkly, short-muzzled face and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, most often light brown (fawn) or blac ...

and Colfax the French Bulldog, while she passes time waiting in a lavish room, supposedly with no doors, in a tower high above a grand city. She is shown to be nude with tattoos on her arms.

Story arcs

''Battlepug'' is a revenge story that is dotted with absurd and often comical monster battles as The Warrior travels across a mystical world in search of vengeance. The first volume of ''Battlepug'' is called "Blood and Drool".

In print

The first year of ''Battlepug'' comics were collected into a hardcover book published by

Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...

on July 4, 2012.

Merchandise

Superherostuff is the exclusive retailer for all ''Battlepug'' merchandise.

Reception

''Battlepug'' earned an

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books, sometimes referred to as the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. They are named in ...

for Best Digital Comic in 2012. It also won the

Harvey Award The Harvey Awards are given for achievement in comic books. Named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman, the Harvey Awards were founded by Gary Groth in 1988, president of the publisher Fantagraphics, to be the successor to the Kirby Awards that were ...

for Best Online Comics Work in 2013, 2014, and 2016.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battlepug American comedy webcomics Fantasy webcomics 2011 webcomic debuts 2016 webcomic endings 2010s webcomics Long-form webcomics Eisner Award winners Harvey Award winners Webcomics in print