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Mutts
Mutts: The Comic Art Of Patrick McDonnell
With its expressive art and humorous, often philosophical musings, Mutts has become one of the most popular comic strips in the world, with an estimated daily readership of 50 million. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz called Mutts one of the best comic strips of all time. Simpsons creator Matt Groening concurs: Mutts cheers me up every day. It's not only sweet, simple, and funnya rare combinationit's also the best drawn comic strip around.
This comprehensive volume, the first to focus on the entire range of Patrick McDonnell's art, includes not only a vast collection of his Mutts strips, but also sketches, paintings, and wood carvings by the man who has made Earl the dog and Mooch the cat such beloved contemporary icons. McDonnell's textwhich serves as autobiography, comic history, character explication, and art history rolled into onelets readers into his private universe to observe his process, influences, and passions. The result is an intimate and revealing look at the complexities of the cartooning craft and the forces that drive his own creative endeavors.
This comprehensive volume, the first to focus on the entire range of Patrick McDonnell's art, includes not only a vast collection of his Mutts strips, but also sketches, paintings, and wood carvings by the man who has made Earl the dog and Mooch the cat such beloved contemporary icons. McDonnell's textwhich serves as autobiography, comic history, character explication, and art history rolled into onelets readers into his private universe to observe his process, influences, and passions. The result is an intimate and revealing look at the complexities of the cartooning craft and the forces that drive his own creative endeavors.
Author Bio: Patrick McDonnell illustrated the Russell Baker Sunday Observer column for the New York Times Magazine and Bad Baby, a monthly comic strip for Parents magazine, before creating Mutts in 1994. McDonnell has also been a regular contributor to Sports Illustrated, Reader's Digest, Time, and many other national magazines, is the coauthor of the Abrams book Krazy Kat: The Comic Art of George Herriman, and is on the board of directors of the Humane Society of the United States. John Carlin has been a lawyer, college professor, art critic, music producer, and TV director. He is currently organizing a survey of 20th-century American comics, cartoons, and comic books for the Museum of Contemporary Art and the UCLA Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Cofounder of the media design and production company Funny Garbage, he is also founder and creative director of the Red Hot Organization, a not-for-profit music and video production company.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
61 people want to read
About the author
Patrick McDonnell
179 books388 followersPatrick McDonnell’s comic strip, MUTTS, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having appeared in over 700 newspapers across 20 countries. MUTTS has received numerous awards for its artistry and its animal and environmental themes. These include the NCS Reuben for Cartoonist of the Year, seven Harveys and the Eisner Humanitarian Award. Charles Schulz called MUTTS “One of the best comics strips of all time.”
BREAKING THE CHAIN: THE GUARD DOG STORY, a collection of his newsworthy story centered freeing MUTTS chained dog, Guard Dog, will be published in fall 2024.
McDonnell’s latest book is THE SUPER HERO’S JOURNEY, a graphic novel love letter to Marvel Comics and Jack Kirby. It was on 11 ‘best of’ lists for 2023.
THE ART OF NOTHING, an oeuvre of McDonnell’s work, comprehensively celebrates Patrick’s comic strip career. McDonnell is also the author of New York Times bestselling picture books, including THE GIFT OF NOTHING and the Caldecott Honor winning ME...JANE (a childhood biography of Dr. Jane Goodall). Both have been adapted as musicals for the Kennedy Center stage. In addition, he has collaborated with spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle on GUARDIANS OF BEING and with poet Daniel Ladinsky on DARLING I LOVE YOU. HEART TO HEART: A CONVERSATION ON LOVE AND HOPE FOR OUR PRECIOUS PLANET is a collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness has said “It is my hope that this book will open the eyes, minds and hearts of all people.”
In 2021, Ohio State University hosted Side Effects, a major exhibition of his large scale canvases. There will be a year-long retrospective of McDonnell’s comic strips, book illustrations and paintings at the San Diego Comic-Con Museum opening in January 2025.
McDonnell was a member of the Board of Directors of The Humane Society of the United States for 18 years as well as The Fund for Animals, and continues to serve as a director for The Charles M. Schulz Museum and D&R Greenway Land Trust.
You can sign up for the MUTTS daily email at mutts.com.
BREAKING THE CHAIN: THE GUARD DOG STORY, a collection of his newsworthy story centered freeing MUTTS chained dog, Guard Dog, will be published in fall 2024.
McDonnell’s latest book is THE SUPER HERO’S JOURNEY, a graphic novel love letter to Marvel Comics and Jack Kirby. It was on 11 ‘best of’ lists for 2023.
THE ART OF NOTHING, an oeuvre of McDonnell’s work, comprehensively celebrates Patrick’s comic strip career. McDonnell is also the author of New York Times bestselling picture books, including THE GIFT OF NOTHING and the Caldecott Honor winning ME...JANE (a childhood biography of Dr. Jane Goodall). Both have been adapted as musicals for the Kennedy Center stage. In addition, he has collaborated with spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle on GUARDIANS OF BEING and with poet Daniel Ladinsky on DARLING I LOVE YOU. HEART TO HEART: A CONVERSATION ON LOVE AND HOPE FOR OUR PRECIOUS PLANET is a collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness has said “It is my hope that this book will open the eyes, minds and hearts of all people.”
In 2021, Ohio State University hosted Side Effects, a major exhibition of his large scale canvases. There will be a year-long retrospective of McDonnell’s comic strips, book illustrations and paintings at the San Diego Comic-Con Museum opening in January 2025.
McDonnell was a member of the Board of Directors of The Humane Society of the United States for 18 years as well as The Fund for Animals, and continues to serve as a director for The Charles M. Schulz Museum and D&R Greenway Land Trust.
You can sign up for the MUTTS daily email at mutts.com.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 27, 2011
Wonderful book. Mutts is my all-time favorite comic strip. It's cute, funny, and has a great social conscience, all at the same time. I'd be hard pressed to choose which of the daily strips is my favorite, because so many are so special and endearing. For a week twice a year (I think) the truly talented Patrick McDonnell devotes the strip to bringing up the subject of animal shelters, and pet adoptions. Some of those are heartbreaking, because they are so true and to the point, but they are just perfect. Love this book, and wuv Mooch and Earl and all their friends! YESH!!
September 24, 2016
I love the comic strip Mutts, which features Earl the dog and Mooch the cat as well as their animal and human friends. This entertaining book tells how Patrick McDonnell came to create the strip and his continuing inspiration from and to other artists and comic creators.
It's not all just dry telling-about. There are lots of comics there to illustrate whatever he's talking about. Recommended for those who like Mutts, comic strips, or art. You might even learn something, but you'll certainly be entertained.
It's not all just dry telling-about. There are lots of comics there to illustrate whatever he's talking about. Recommended for those who like Mutts, comic strips, or art. You might even learn something, but you'll certainly be entertained.
February 24, 2016
More than a collection of cartoon strips, this hefty tome includes also McDonnell's thinking about his art and its sources, and a brief essay on his work. What I found especially valuable was the identification of some of the sources for the large Sunday title panels, which include Miro and Andy Warhol, Maxfield Parrish and Matisse, as well as artists I was unfamiliar with.
December 30, 2009
I ordered my copy from the Mutts website, and it's autographed by Patrick McDonnell, with a drawing of Mooch! &=)
December 11, 2018
i like the comic art of patrick
April 6, 2008
A truly enjoyable volume for the person who already enjoys Mutts. A simple book that introduces the creator and his animals and his comic characters. There is wonderful art and some nice additions about Mr. Mcdonell's creative process and his inspirations. Very little exposition and rather perfectly simple like his strip.
January 19, 2009
This is a great book. I love to see the process of sketching a strip, and in this book, I was not only available to see it, but also, a big part of the creation process. I have loved Mutts since I first read it, and this is a good companion of the strips.
July 26, 2014
Yesh!
Mr. McDonnell clearly owes much to Mr. Schulz, and this book is the public confession of love, loyalty, and warm puppies to the late great Chuck.
Mr. McDonnell clearly owes much to Mr. Schulz, and this book is the public confession of love, loyalty, and warm puppies to the late great Chuck.
February 9, 2010
Love this guy and in this book he goes into a lot of where is early comics inspiration came from . . . great stuff!
June 9, 2015
What a great "behind-the-scenes" look at Mutts! :)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews