At Evil Inc, even labor negotiations can spiral out of control — especially when “hard bargaining” takes on a whole new meaning. Cassie Cruz just realized that the conference room she prepped for Dr. Muskiday’s… unconventional solution… is already booked for a high-stakes union negotiation. Unfortunately, it looks like Doctor Threat and the henchpersons may have already reached an agreement.
I’d love your help with something big: Nominations are now open for the 2026 ’Ringo Awards, and reader nominations make all the difference. If the comic has ever made you laugh, please consider nominating Evil Inc for Best Humor Webcomic — it only takes a minute, and your support truly means a lot. You can submit your nomination here: https://go.evil-inc.net/ringo
Transcript
Panel 1
Cassie Cruz (angry):
“We are NOT having an orgy at our desks!”
Dr. Muskiday (calmly defensive):
“Of course not! I stocked the conference room with mattresses and lube.”
Panel 2
Cassie Cruz (panicking):
“The conference room?! Doctor Threat is scheduled to negotiate a new contract with the henchpersons’ union in there!”
Panel 3
Cassie Cruz (looking toward a slightly open door):
“Where’s Doctor Threat?”
Dr. Muskiday (matter-of-fact):
“I believe that’s him in the middle of — erm — ‘collective bargaining.’”
(Sound effects from behind the closed conference room door:)
“Hhh hhh”
“Plap Ngh Plap Plap”
“Hngh hhh”
“mmf mmf mmf”
Detailed Alt Text
A three-panel comic set inside an office at Evil Inc.
Panel 1: Cassie Cruz, a professional woman with short brown hair, red glasses, a white blazer, and a low-cut yellow top, stands beside her desk looking furious. A small pink “emotion cloud” with a skull icon floats near her head, indicating anger. She shouts that they are not having an orgy at their desks. Standing nearby is Dr. Muskiday, a short humanoid with a fly’s head—large red compound eyes, small body, and lab coat—who calmly explains that he already prepared the conference room with mattresses and lube.
Panel 2: Close-up on Cassie clutching her head in alarm. Her expression is wide-eyed and panicked. She exclaims that the conference room is supposed to be used for an important union negotiation between Doctor Threat and the henchpersons’ union.
Panel 3: Cassie and Dr. Muskiday stand in a hallway facing a slightly open conference room door. Cassie asks where Doctor Threat is. Muskiday gestures toward the door and awkwardly suggests that Doctor Threat is inside, in the middle of “collective bargaining,” implying something sexual. From inside the room comes exaggerated, comic-style sound effects indicating vigorous activity: heavy breathing (“hhh hhh,” “hngh”), rhythmic “plap” noises, and muffled sounds (“mmf mmf”). The implication is that the union negotiation has devolved into an orgy inside the conference room.
Y’know how you look at a photograph, and get hit with the realization that it’s a photograph that you’ll always look back on and cherish?
This is one of those photos.
It’s the Halfpixel crew,
Kris Straub,
Dave Kellett, me and
Scott Kurtz, enjoying a cocktail before the Harvey Awards ceremony at the
Baltimore Comic Con last Saturday night.
For those of you scoring at home, that’s (left to right) a Vodka Gimlet, Corona, Whiskey Sour and a cropped-out Rum-and-Coke.
Our book,
How To Make Webcomics was nominated for a Harvey, but it lost to the Jack Kirby biography — which is very close to losing a Christianity contest to Jesus.
So, no, we were far from disappointed. Especially since Kris, Dave, Scott’s wife Angela and I got front row seats for our buddy Scott’s triumphant performance as the emcee of the evening’s events. Being able to enjoy Scott was one thing, but I gotta tell you, I took great enjoyment in watching Angela watch Scott. The pure joy emanating from that woman was simply spectacular. She couldn’t have been more radiant.
I will be posting items relevant to the Harveys all week at
Webcomics.com, so be sure to check back to see the animated intro that Scott and Kris prepared for the evening and excerpts from Scott’s performance.
Besides that amazing evening, the entire show was phenomenal for me. Baltimore and Emerald City are two conventions I try to never miss, and I was reminded of why that was last weekend. I had people in from of my table from the start of Saturday until darned near the end, and I was sketching and greeting as fast as I possibly could to keep up. It was exhausting and exhilarating and thrilling. I met tons of new readers and saw lots of old friends. It was probably one of my happiest convention experiences ever.
