Product Description

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 funny-a rare combination-it'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 text-which serves as autobiography, comic history, character explication, and art history rolled into one-lets 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #477388 in Books
• Published on: 2003-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 216 pages

Review
"It is one of the best (comic strips) of all time." - Charles Schulz, Peanuts

About the Author
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.

Customer Reviews

Whish I could give 10 stars for a beautiful book!
Often artists who draw for newspaper syndication rightly complain about how their work suffers when it is compressed into the small, ugly world of newsprint. If you've ever wanted to see your favorite strip full-size and gorgeous, and "Mutts" is that strip, then you will want to buy this book! McDonnell's art has never been more beautifully displayed on the printed page. For instance, in this wonderfully oversized book some color Sunday panels take up two whole pages while gaining, not losing, crispness and vividness in color, clarity and detail - elements lost in small newsprint.

Loyal afficinadios of McDonnell's "Mutts" will not be able to resist this fascinating book. Anyone interested in the evolution of and creative process behind comic strips will enjoy the work. The price may seem steep at first, but the sheer quality of the book as well as its content make it a bargain.

First, the book quality is first-rate: the glossy pages are heavy and clear, the binding is tight, and the illustrations leap off the page. The layout (well-conceived and artistic, as befits the subject) and accompanying text provide an enthralling history lesson of comic art in the 20th century (and how that history has influenced McDonnell - he even shows certain "Mutts" strips against other strips to illustrate where certain of his ideas originated). Of course, the book specifically displays the talent, sensitivity and humor of McDonnell. Finished strips are grouped into themes, e.g, characters (it's fascinating to see Ozzie come to "life,") or content (the important and endearing "Shelter Stories" gets its own section); these are accompanied by intriguing sketch work, doodles, preliminary drawings, and the like. (NB: for the reviewer who wondered why there were two bios in the book description; the other gentleman is an "editor" of sorts; he helped McDonnell compile work, organize it, and provide history. So it is relevant information, though it could be better labeled.)

In sum: for those "Mutts" fans who have waited to get a "little sneak peek" at the person responsible for "Mutts" magic, this book will be on your holiday gift list! It's already on mine!

I'm not sure I'd recommend *this* book for the "uninitiated" because of price and detail. Buy some of McDonnell's other collections first (I believe there are eight or nine) and let yourself fall in love with Mooch, Earl, Ozzie, and the rest of the "Mutts" menagerie. Then get this book and dive into this amazingly detailed look at the wonder and genius involved in creating the world of "Mutts" and a revealing look at the creator of that world.

Yesh! A Book Better Than a Pink Sock!
Patrick McDonnell's work is among the very best gracing the newspaper comic strip pages today. There is a genuine quality to his work; an honesty that shines forth from the funnies. It is truly wonderful to see Abrams honor McDonnell and "Mutts" with this absolutely terrific monograph. The design of the book is scrumptious. Each page is carefully considered and I love the way that the designer combined sketchbook doodles and finished comic strips. It was also great to see references given for the Sunday page logo panels. They bring you just a little bit closer to the work.

And the work is really the main event here. The reproduction quality is glorious, giving us a sneak peak at what originals might look like. The color--oy, what color--is beautifully printed. If you can't see the original drawings, this book is the next best thing. The selection of work is great. They chose some of Mutts' very best, including the wonderful ice cream cone gag! That one remains one of my very favorites.

There are some really nice insights here, though they're not overblown. Like the strip itself, McDonnell writes in a true, succint way, then he lets his strip do the talking. You really get a sense of how invested he is in his creation.

If you're a Mutts fan, you can't pass this book up. And if you know of any Mutts fans who don't yet have this book, you can bank a bunch of karma by buying a copy for them. They'll love you more than a pink sock for it.

Very, very good, but not much is new here
One of the best new comic strips to come down the pike in the last ten years is Patrick McDonnell's Mutts.

Cute doggie Earl and rascally Mooch have an understated charm that's reminiscent of the relationship between Snoopy and Charlie Brown before Snoopy took to the air in his imaginary Sopwith Camel.

Mutts is a down-to-Earth examination of how pets fit into the lives of their masters and vice-versa.

McDonnell's sensitivities derive from his simple yet eloquent style that draws upon the love and empathy that the strip's characters have for each other.

The book itself is a wonderful reprinting of many of his best daily and Sunday color strips. Also included are notes that cite the sources of the title panels of the Sunday strips that pay homage to old record albums, comic book covers, famous works of art, and movie posters.

The true fan of the Mutts strip will consider this book a 'must-have'. However, I have to admit that if you've been purchasing the Mutts collections printed so far, there's scant new material in this book. For a book of its size, the autobiographical information is very lean. There was probably more to read about McDonnell in a recent Star-Ledger newspaper interview than in this book.

I bought it for myself as a frivolous, self-indulgent treat. You might not want to do likewise.