Mush!: Sled Dogs with Issues

by Glenn Eichler, Joe Infurnari (Illustrator)

Venus wants Buddy to quit asking her to "make puppies."
Buddy wants Winston's help wooing Venus.
Winston wants Guy's respect.
Guy wants Dolly's job.
Dolly wants to know the meaning of it all.
Nobody knows what Fiddler really wants, not even Fiddler.

But mostly...the sled dogs just want to run.

Sound simple?
It should be, but even dogs have their office politics.

And let's not even start on their humans.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Dogs, Humor, Animals, Fiction, Young Adult

113 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2011

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started 2012 with two graphic novels I got for Christmas.
One of them made me laugh and one of them made me cry.**

This is the one that made me laugh.

Who knew sled dog teams were so full of relationship issues, office politics, and all-out existential angst? (Apparently, Glenn Eichler knew, but I had never given it a thought.)

Spend some time with...
Dolly, lead dog, questioning both her ability and desire to lead.
Fiddler, who ponders life, the universe, and everything
Venus, who resents the fact that the boss keeps breeding her, year after year.
Winston, snobby purebred Samoyed.
Guy, ambitious and aggresive, who wants Dolly's lead position.

And, my personal favorite...
Buddy, a lovable lump who can't figure out why his repeated breedings with Venus doesn't mean they have a relationship. Bitches can be such...well, bitches. His attempts at conversation with Venus (and the practice attempts at conversation with her that he has with Fiddler) had me laughing, sympathizing with him, and rooting for him at the same time.*

The relationship issues, office politics, and existential angst all go on during the dogs' boredom between runs. If there's the slightest hint of a possible run, all that falls away and their faces exude pure doggy joy.

There's an accident, an attempted coup, and...oh yeah...a subplot involving the intense, isolated lives of the boss (who doesn't realize it takes a village to keep a couple from wanting to kill each other) and the boss's mate (who among us hasn't had the equivalent of the "APRICOTS" argument). The plot elements aren't surprising, but are well handled and always serve to deepen the characterizations rather than just happening.

Highly recommended!



*And may I say to all of my Goodreads friends that your turd piles were most pleasingly formed this morning. Wait...wait...did I say something wrong? Stop...don't unfriend me...

**And here's the link to WE3, the one that made me cry.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Nico · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually 2.5 stars.

This was by no means a bad book, but I certainly wouldn't classify it as a great book. It's meandering somewhere in between the two. First of all, it was written from an animal's perspective and it didn't appear to be the type of book to make me bawl, so when I found this in the library on some random shelf I was all over it. I do not regret my decision because dogs will (and currently do imho) rule the planet, so anything even vaguely having to do with them is worth picking up.

I wasn't an enormous fan of the art, but man do I love Fiddler! I know he was created to be the likable and deep-thinking character, but I was ever so happy to fall into that trope because a dog who likes philosophy? C'mon. Try resisting it, go ahead. I'll wait over here until you come crawling back and admit to me that it cannot in fact be done. I'll be humble in my victory.

Anyways, the cartoonist is Canadian, so brownie points there. Felt it necessary to point that out because I'm... y'know... me. Ahem.

Overall it had a cute ending and some lines & sequences that made me smile and even one that made me crack up internally (that sounds painful, but I just mean it wasn't out loud). So worth the read for a couple of laughs and a good reminder that snow is coming in this country currently plagued by insane heat.

Winter is coming.
(See what I did there? Yeah I'll see myself out.)

[First Second Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

We just got copies of this book in the office, and it looks terrific! Joe Infurnari is such a talented cartoonist -- this book is set up north, so there are 160 pages of snow. And he manages to make them all look gorgeous.

I don't know how he did it.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooooo adorable. Read it (almost) one sitting. Anything with dogs warms me heart! Would recommend if you want an adorable doggie book!

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a lot of graphic novels or comics. However, this seems considerably more subtle than most I have read. Anthropomorphic indeed, these sled dogs have real human personalities and weaknesses. The two humans in the background seem shallow by comparison. Fiddler is a philosopher, Dolly is a leader with fears of inadequacy, Venus might be a budding feminist if she'd allow herself to choose a path, Winston is a vain and unimaginative aristocrat, Guy is ambitious but not very bright (fortunately,) and Buddy is the office chauvinist with only one thing on his mind (if you can call it a mind.) The subtitle, "Sled dogs with issues," is probably accurate though I'd call it "Sled dogs in spite of themselves." Because, you see, all of them want to run and will immediately drop all other lines of thought when interrupted by an opportunity to do just that.

Though nothing here says explicitly that there will be or might be more volumes, the story certainly is open-ended. The art work is good, conveying a lot with relatively little complexity in the lines. I'd certainly read the next issue if there is one.

[Two years later: still holds up to scrutiny. Dogs speak to life, life shapes dogs. And humans.]

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful idea and a great execution. Mush focuses upon a a team of sled dogs with very different (and often clashing) personalities. They live for the brief thrill of going on "runs" when their gruff trapper owner can be bothered to hitch up his sled to check his traplines.

At all other times, the dog pen is filled with ennui, "office" politics, friendships forged and broken, and speculation on the goings-on of the "boss" and his long-suffering "mate." It's like Balto for adult working stiffs.

Of note: Real sled huskies are normally chained to individual doghouses in their dog yards--not left to roam off-leash when not working as these canines are.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hair-brained philosopher, reluctant hero, conniving backstabber, blue-blood snob, hey, dogs are people too!

[Christina Getrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun silly yet also serious graphic novel about sled dogs in the snowy wilderness, told from the point of view of the dogs (so they can't understand anything their humans say to them, and in fact they talk pityingly among themselves about the humans, as if they are the unevolved animals and the dogs are the superior creatures). The lead dog is tired of being the lead dog and having the responsibility; one of the male dogs is constantly flirting and trying to get the female dog to mate with him; one dog is very philosophical about life; another dog is on a power trip and wants to challenge the lead dog for the position, and they have to do it by fighting but he's sneaky and is trying to trick another dog into doing his fighting for him. There's basically inter-office politics among the team, and gender rivalries, and so on; they're very human-like in their canineness, if that makes sense. The only thing keeping me from giving it five stars was the art, which was sometimes confusing--the individual dogs were sometimes hard to tell apart.

[Lindsay Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not horrible but not great either.

[Celty's_heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect when I put this on my list to read, but I knew that when I saw 'dogs with issues' it was going to be just what I wanted to read.

[Child960801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at random at the library. It's about a sled dog team that's owned by a couple who live in the middle of nowhere up North. The dogs all have issues.

[Moon Captain · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was what it was. a fine little story. I like how the dogs all lay around on their sides. that is also how I look at home.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up.

[Evan Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun impulse pickup at the library, loved the way the illustrations captured dog motions and emotions!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mush! Sled Dogs with Issues is a graphic novel written by Glenn Eichler and Illustrated by Joe Infurnari. It is set for release on December 6 2011. This is the story of one team of sled dogs, their master and their master’s mate. Power struggles and politics are not reserved for people. Even a seemingly simple team of sled dogs has their struggles. Venus wants Buddy to stop trying to be her mate. Buddy wants help wooing Venus, and to ultimately secure her as his mate. Winston wants to be respected. Guy wants to lead. Dolly wants to know the how’s and why’s of the world. Nobody has a clue about what Fiddler wants, including Fiddler. The one thing they all want is to run. Even their master, and his mate, has some serious issues.

Mush! Sled Dogs with Issues is entertaining as it comments on the climate found in some families, work places, and in society in general. Everyone seems to want something, even if it is just the time to think deep thoughts. There always someone that seems to want more than they have, or deserve. Mush! also comments on the idea that they best person to lead is often the one that does not feel the drive to do so. Throughout the book, Dolly doubts her ability to lead while Guy wants little more than to take the lead spot. It is the very concerns that Dolly voices, about doing the best for the entire crew, that makes her a great leader even when she makes mistakes, where as Guy simply wants the power of the position. In the midst of all the serious topics lie the sardonic humor of Glenn Eichler, which I loved in Daria (a cartoon series aired on Mtv in the nineties).

In the illustrations for this graphic novel, at least in the digital galley that I read, are not as deep or clear to me as the story itself. Guy does look generally sinister and Buddy generally looks goofy, as fits their personality and actions, the dogs as a whole do not seem very well detailed to me. There is almost a sketch like quality, rather than a complete or finished feel to the artwork. That might be part of the story, but it just felt a little off to me. That being said, there were some panels that the artwork did a perfect job of capturing the action and feel of the tale.

I recommend Mush! for young adults and adults that enjoy dry, sardonic humor in their graphic novels. I do not suggest this as a foray into the realm of graphic novels for those that would otherwise avoid them. Those that remember Daria and the combination of dry wit and social commentary fondly, like myself, might want to pick up this work and enjoy some great examples of both. I enjoyed the graphic novel, but it did not leave me wishing for more.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book and just had to have it! I got it for a good deal and I'm super happy to have bought it. This book is so silly and funny. I love how the humor can be so morbid and dark sometimes. Each sled dog is so different it makes the book funnier and just full of so much character because of all the personalities in it. I love the art style in this book as well. It's amazing and just hilarious! This book was pretty predictable, but it didn't make me lose my interest because it's written so well. Such a silly, quick, and easy read

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ruminations of sled dogs might not seem of compelling concern to high school kids or adults, but Glenn Eichler, a writer for the Colbert Report and Joe Infurnari, Eisner nominated artist, have crafted a graphic novel that makes sled dog angst both relatable and hilarious. Over the course of the novel, alliances shift and relationships deepen as the pack chew over everything from puppy love to the meaning of life: “But what if we invented the fence to avoid taking responsibility for our own destiny?” Not only will sharp teens recognize their peers, they may lift some lines: “Will you excuse me? I just remembered I can’t stand listening to you.” Infurnari’s drawings support both the humor and the nuance. The dogs are flattened by their ennui, sometimes pictured in long horizontally divided panels that visually stretch out time. Their manic, joyful runs are full of violently slanted perspective. Infurnari’s formatting variety and shifting color palette support and enhance the changing moods of the characters and the emotional arc of the story. The subplot, involving the master and his mate, initially seems dark, but parallels the dog’s ability to work through their problems and rise to the occasion to defend what really matters. Mush manages to be witty and profound, effective and uplifting.

[Emilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My feelings on this book are pretty neutral, mostly because it turned out to just not really be my cup of tea.
One of the best points for me was probably the art. It was really nice; the characters all looked distinctive (which isn't always the case with animal characters, in my experience), and their emotions were shown very clearly through their expressions and body language (also not always the case with non-human characters). The style was just really great, and made all the dogs seem so endearing!
The story was nice enough, although I found it a bit dull and very predictable.
All around I'd say it was a nice, light-hearted read, and the reason I'm not very enthused about it is probably just because, like I said, it turned out to not really be my cup of tea.

(I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Unfortunately, it arrived much, much later than the site told me it should, to the point that I marked it as 'not received'. I didn't receive it before the general release date, and so couldn't leave an advanced review. At least I received it eventually, though, which I'm quite grateful for!)

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads book give away. I was excited when it arrived and read it right away. This is a graphic novel told from the point of view of a team of sled dogs. The illustration are done in muted browns, blue and white. I have not read many graphic novels, though my kids at school love them. This one is definitely more for teens or adults as breeding is part of the story. It was a quick and enjoyable read. The characters are interesting and lovable. You have the leader who not sure she should be leading, the philosopher who questions and over thinks everything, the new dog on the team who wants to be the leader, the snooty dog whose easily coerced by his vanity and my personal favorite the big and sweet oaf who just wants to get the pretty dog. Really this is a story anyone can relate to, the themes are seen in just about any office in America.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel takes place in the far North, where six sled dogs and two humans are navigating the dangerous terrain known as 'life'. Okay, so it's not that bleak. But the dogs, Dolly, the lead dog, Venus, a wheel dog, Buddy, Venus' not-so-bright partner, Winston, the purebred, Gus, the devious one, and Fiddler, content to follow Dolly - all they really want is to run. Well, and Buddy wants a relationship with Venus because they've had a couple of litters in the past, and Gus wants to take Dolly down and will use whoever he can to do it. The Boss and his Wife are going through their own problems, a difference of opinion in what their lives mean up in this cold land.

This is a fun story but the art for the dogs is kind of off-putting. That being said, the story is well-written, the characters come alive. I'm interested in seeing more work from the author and artist.

[Gail]

I'll have to find a copy of this book.My daughter has a husky that has issues. They don't have a fenced in yard so you have to take him out on a leash. So if the wind is blowing he won't go, if the dog next door is out he won't go. He was pooping one time and the dog next door came out and he stopped and sucked it back in. I had never seen anything like that before. He doesn't even like me watching so if he thinks I am he won't go. Sometimes he wants to go out because he knows the dogs next door are out not that he needs to go. He even knows my husband is a mailman even when he doesn't have his uniform on and he tries to jump all over him. He even knows when the mail truck is going down the street he perks up and starts to look around. He is one weird dog.

[Penny Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the size of this graphic novel may lead one to think it is for tweens or teens, it is really better for adults. It has two stories - the human couple and their relationship, and the dogs (who are much more interesting than the whiny adults), and how the dogs interact. The dogs' stories are an allegory on human marital relationships, making this inappropriate for tweens and not meaningful to teens. But great for adults! The artwork is excellent; the dogs' faces show a lot of character and emotion.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick, witty look at the politics of a pack of sled dogs and their struggles to better understand themselves, and how they relate to one another. Joe Infurnari brings these pups to light in such a beautifully comic way that you can't help but laugh out loud at their antics. However, not everything is silly with these dogs, they do have bigger issues to contend with and as they work through their issues, their boss and his mate tackle their own problem. You really have to appreciate the storytelling of Glenn Eichler and way he and Joe bring these dogs to life!

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

great story and writing.

horrible art. samoyeds and huskies are the two most beautiful dog breeds on earth and these look terrible. that's supposed to be a sam on the cover, 8th generation purebread no less. they look less attractive than chinese crested.

for sam and husky fans, check this out at a library if you must, but don't buy it. to read a beautifully illoed graphic novel about dogs get either Laika or the Korgi volumes.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall it was a funny, short read. I enjoyed it for what it was, an in between book (a quick read in between the books that you are really trying to get to). And silly me, I thought the dogs issues would include the little things like snow, food, and fleas. However, these dogs apparently have serious issues, including a love triangle and job performance anxiety. Top it all off with a little psychological debate and you have one interesting read.

[P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Great art - the landscapes are gorgeous and the dogs are realistic while maintaining a nice cartooniness. The writer did a good job delineating the dog's personalities. I just have a hard time when animals talk and they use human analogies and speak from really human-centered points of view but then profess to not understand things about humans. If you are not like me and that doesn't bother you, then this book will really work!

[Andres · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly quick and fun read. The sled dogs each have their own personality and watching them clash is fun. I most liked the one with the cynical bent (like likes like, right?) but they are all fun in their own way. It wasn't always easy to visually differentiate who was who so it got a little confusing at times, but this was an enjoyable jaunt into the world of sled dogs.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing story about the dogs and their human owners. The story didn't go much of anywhere, and the dogs were a little hard to tell apart for the first half of the story. It might have done better with fewer characters. Still, the dialogue made the dogs seem almost human, even if the illustration was lacking.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the artwork did match the scattershot dog mentality and the color scheme of the Alaskan wilderness, I found the illustrations dull and not fitting of the witty narrative which moved along at a brisk pace. I appreciated some of the clever writing, but overall the disconnect between art and text was unsatisfying.

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never knew that sled dogs had so many existential concerns!

This graphic novel was delightful. Cleverly written, beautifully illustrated, and well... just damn fun. I enjoyed the pack dynamics and the groan worthy punch lines. Reading the book in the library I did end up laughing out loud.

Quite fun, quite entertaining, and a very quick read. Four stars.