The Onion Dan Cinematic Universe

One of my greatest friends is the cartoonist and podcaster Dan Berry, a man of limitless energy but, given his predilection for avoidable accidents, a limited lifespan. Every night I say a prayer for Dan.

Back in 2010 Dan made a minicomic called Onion Soup, based on him live-tweeting making the titular dish in his kitchen. In recent times I, a very good friend who is certainly not annoying, have repeatedly told him he "has to" make a follow up. The nice thing about Dan is that, were he not busy with a 300 page graphic novel and helping to raise two beautiful children, he'd do it. But instead of acknowledging this fact, I simply bombard him with "character designs" and "world-building suggestions" for a comic that, with the best will in the world, doesn't need to exist. He's made onion soup once. He doesn't need to do it again.

First off I sent him a few panels just to get him started...

I tried to stay true Dan's character design (of himself) - a lovely, easygoing lad. But Berry didn't budge. He didn't make the comic. I knew I had to try harder.

In the "Merry Marvel Manner" I killed off the old Dan in a tragic accident. This is quite likely to happen, when he is felting a roof while suffering from pneumonia, or a similar scenario, so one might call this "slice of life cartooning":

Such is Dan's will to live that as you can see, he is partying even in his death throes, with drinks and dance moves. This "St Vitus' Dance" is a mere prelude to TRANSFORMATION...

KA-FLIPPING BOOM! HE'S AN ONION NOW! And his family is along for the ride! Think Malcolm In The Middle crossed with a farmer's market and you're about 16% of the way towards understanding just how good ONION DAN could be!

Now we're talking. Making pens. Getting huge. Hanging out with Quentin Wilson and...

HANG ON

At some point I decided that Onion Dan's benefactor and Man Friday should be the ghost that haunts British public life... JACOB REES-MOGG.

The Onion Dan Cinematic Universe just got MOGGED.

Politically, the real Dan Berry is right on. He stands for the common man. But something is very wrong with Onion Dan. He loves Mogg, even though Mogg hates the serfs. I need Dan to start drawing this comic so we can explore this relationship a little more deeply.

In conclusion, here's a touching tribute to my friend Dan. 

Keep your fingers crossed for ONION DAN, I believe that one day his cinematic universe will take flight. In the meantime, explore Dan's comics/audio world and marvel at his journey. He's one of the best. Hopefully he will not be "cancelled" any time soon or I will really have egg on my face.