Penny Arcade’s Mike Krahulik Admits He’s a Bully, Commits to Change

Mike Krahulik, the artist behind Penny Arcade who often goes by the moniker "Jonathan Gabriel," didn’t have a stellar 2013. The industry mainstay has said a handful of controversial things concerning rape, transgender people, and a handful of other delicate topics. This has led multiple developers and members of the media to opt out of future PAX events, and Krahulik understands that fact. He’s realized how much pressure he’s put on his company and today, he released a personal letter to the community about why he acts the way he does.

"As a young person I imagined myself a sort of vengeful spirit. A schoolyard Robin Hood who attacked the strong and popular on behalf of the social outcasts,” part of the note reads. "I’m 36 years old now though and I realize what I am is a bully. I may have been the one who got beat up but I sent plenty of kids home in tears. I also realize that I carried those ridiculous insecurities into adulthood.

“I still see people who attack me as the enemy and I strike back with the same ferocity as that seventh grader I used to be. I’m ashamed of that and embarrassed. The crazy thing is I don’t even necessarily believe the stuff I say a lot of times. It would probably be more noble if I did. The truth is I just say them to be mean. I say them because I know they will hurt. It’s pretty fucked up.”

The full letter goes into more detail about his past, and he later promises to try to better himself. Hopefully, Krahulik follows through and restores the once-sparkling image of PAX.