Jerry Holkins

Jerry Holkins
Jerry Holkins, February 9, 2009
Born	(1976-02-06) February 6, 1976 (age 41)
Nationality	American

Keith Gerald "Jerry" Holkins né Parkinson (born February 6, 1976 in the United States) is the primary writer of the webcomic Penny Arcade along with its artist Mike Krahulik. Holkins sometimes uses the pseudonym "Tycho Brahe", the name of a Penny Arcade character based on Holkins.

Together with Krahulik, Holkins created the Penny Arcade Expo beginning in 2004, a series of gaming festivals held in Seattle, Boston, Australia, and San Antonio. He is also a co-founder of Child's Play, a multimillion-dollar charity which organizes toy drives for children's hospitals.

Along with Krahulik, Holkins was included on the 2010 Time 100 for their work on Penny Arcade.

Holkins and Krahulik had the opportunity to play the new release of Dungeons & Dragons Fourth Edition in Seattle for a day with Chris Perkins from Wizards of the Coast, Scott Kurtz of PvP, and Wil Wheaton. Jerry is also featured in the Dungeons and Dragons 4E podcast, playing a character named Omin Dran, a Cleric of the Goddess Avandra (later Tymora), and CEO of an adventuring party named Acquisitions Incorporated.

Outside of Penny Arcade and Child's Play, Holkins also sings and plays guitar in the band The Fine Print, whose music can be downloaded for free. In the past, the Fine Print has opened for the band Anal Cunt.

Along with being the co-creator and writer for the Penny Arcade webcomic, Holkins is also the basis for one of the two central characters, "Tycho Brahe", sharing similar interests and personalities; though their appearances differ (for example, Tycho has mussed hair and sideburns, while Holkins's head is shaven). Holkins, along with Krahulik, posts written updates accompanying each comic. These posts are often computer and video game commentary, but also include personal reflections or rants. The two have been said to provide a representation of the diversity of styles among gamers, with Krahulik representing action-oriented gamers and Holkins representing the more cerebral players. It has been mutually agreed between Krahulik and Holkins that Penny Arcade would not be the same with just one of them.