| Robert Balder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1969 Detroit, Michigan[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Area(s) | Webcomics,filk music |
Notable works | PartiallyClips Erfworld |
| Awards | Pegasus Award |
| http://www.robbalder.com/ | |
Robert T. Balder is a professional cartoonist and singer-songwriter.[2] He graduated fromRoanoke College with a major in English in 1993 and, after a variety of jobs, entered a seven-year career in IT, starting as a manager of database development, which he left for his current career.[3]
As a comic author, he was first published inScene magazine in 1998.[4] In 2001, he startedPartiallyClips, a social commentary clip art webcomic also featured in theAnchorage Press,Cleveland Free Times,Concord Mirror,East Bay Express,Houston Press,Manchester Mirror,Metroland,Nth Degree,Salem Observer and theOther Paper.[4] He is also the writer for theErfworld webcomic, which was listed as one ofTime magazine's "Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2007".[5] As of October 13, 2019, Erfworld has been discontinued for personal reasons.
Balder is well-known within the webcomic creator community, as evidenced by his writing of guest comics for other webcomics:Fragile Gravity,[6]Goats,[7]Order of the Stick,[8]Sluggy Freelance,[9] andWondermark.[10] In 2006, he partnered withPete Abrams ofSluggy Freelance, to create a retail market card game themed aroundSluggy Freelance calledGet Nifty.[11]
In August 2010, he co-wrote a 24-page comic calledA Duel in the Somme, based on a story by the science fiction authorBen Bova and illustrated by the syndicated cartoonistBill Holbrook. The comic was released on its own website under a Creative Commons license at a rate of one page per day and used a reward-driven donation model for revenue.[12]
Balder writes and sings comedy songs, and has recorded two CDs.[2] The title track from his first CD, "Rich Fantasy Lives", was co-written withTom Smith, and won the 2007Pegasus Award for BestFilk Song; they had been nominated the previous year for the same award.[13] He was also one of the seven founders of the FuMP, or "Funny Music Project", along with Devo Spice, Luke Ski,Tom Smith, Possible Oscar,Raymond and Scum, Spaff, andWorm Quartet, in which they present new songs released under a Creative Commons license.[2]
His comedy music has received national airplay in the United States on the syndicatedDr. Demento Show. His song "Gamer Funk" was the #1 most requested song on theDr. Demento Show in both September[14] and October[15] 2009, and was the third most requested song for that entire year. In February 2009, Balder began a collaboration with ShoEboX ofWorm Quartet called "Baldbox".[16] The duo released one CD (The Dumb Album) and several follow-up songs, which have also been played frequently by Dr. Demento and other terrestrial radio shows.[17]
Balder is a frequent guest and program participant at science fiction, comic, gaming and anime conventions, participating in as many as 20 events a year.[18] Several conventions have invited him as Guest of Honor, includingCapclave,[19] CoastCon,[2]I-Con,[20]MidSouthCon,[21] andOASIS.[22]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
