Best known as the creator of Knights of the Dinner Table, Jolly (who is vice president of KenzerCo) readily admits that the gaming comic was something of a ‘creative burp’ — an after thought that came about because he found himself with a few empty pages that needed filled and a pressing deadline.
“Being a cartoonist was definitely not something I set out to do” he explains, “I sort of fell into it. Looking back, I sometimes shudder when I think how close I came to trashing that first strip and moving on to other things. A few years ago I felt the comic was keeping me from designing games — the real reason I got in this business. Ironically, KODT has brought me full circle and has opened an incredible number of doors. It’s also introduced me to some amazing people. ”
Launched in 1990, Knights of the Dinner Table is the longest running comic book by the same artist/writer.
Jolly was an also co-writer/developer on HackMaster (Game of the Year 2001) as well as Aces and Eights: Shattered Frontier. (Game of the Year 2006). Most of his time however is still devoted to the monthly comic he owes so much to.
Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine created an entirely new market in games/comics several spin-offs and a handful of competitors reaching for the same audience. Over two million copies have been sold since it’s debut. As it approaching its landmark 315th issue there’s no signs of it slowing down.