Werkor & Leech - Violence

Morality tales are a way for storytellers to present an amusing fable in the guise of a thinly veiled lesson to showcase their values. To convey a convincing argument, writers can display multiple points of view to get their point across. But if they’re not careful, even the most well-intentioned motivations can have unintended results. When it comes to personal expression, no matter how hard they try, inherent biases tend to leak into their creations.

For instance, the creator of Werkor & Leech would constantly insert personal grievances of life into the work, which wouldn’t be immediately obvious to the targeted individuals since the comic would only be available months after the fact, and the offending parties regarding the offending incident would have long passed their short-term memories by then.

It was a form of passive protest, complaining about a spouse eating too loudly, having a whistling snore, or using too much soap through a medium that would be highly identifiable to the masses, yet the main message conveyed would only become apparent after the fact.

One such incident was when Leech was reluctantly inspired to do the patriotic act of serving the common animal by donating blood, until there was a public announcement calling for the aid of everyone available to do their duty.

“Well, now that I’ve been told to do so, I don’t feel like doing it!”

“Wir yu effir goyin’ tuh due it?”

“…nunovyabizniss,” Leech hastily responded before chucking a brick at Werkor’s forehead. A sentiment shared by the outspoken thoughts that was happening at the time.

This wasn’t the only incident that Leech objected to, but one of many which resulted in the trademark running gag of punishing Werkor over minor infractions, including (but not limited to):

• Not introducing themselves after moving in
• Not bringing a customary snack over
• Leaving the inkwell open overnight
• Leaving the garbage out on the curb
• Tracking mud all over the carpet
• Having suspected liaisons with other cats
• Vehement denial of liaisons with other cats
• Confirmation of no liaisons with other cats
• Coming home early in the morning
• Coming home in the afternoon
• Coming home late at night
• Not coming home at all
• Moving away without warning or reason
• Making bad puns that were groanworthy
• Just existing in general

In fact, a LOT of Leech’s complaints stemmed from Werkor’s innocent remarks, which were really strawman arguments disguised as an excuse to exercise righteous violence, whether it was justified or not.

Werkor just brushed these assaults off irrationalizing that, “Iht mest be lurv. Dere’s noh whey dat Leech wud go to sech lungths of ixaggeratid violins agins’ mah persin. I min, riggin’ a ketapult kleen ackress deh kountry eimed deerickly et mah noggin? E’s jest dishplaying ackfeckshon; Leech wooden hayt luvable lil’ ol’ me.”

But Leech really did.