Best of
Comic-Strips

2003

I Want to Be the Kitty: MUTTS 8


Patrick McDonnell - 2003
    But it's the fact that the duo are everyday pets, with relationships to their owners that ring true, that makes MUTTS work." -Pet LifeI Want to Be the Kitty marks the eighth collection of this award-winning strip and is the follow-up to the successful What Now. As usual, the lovable duo of Earl the dog and his feline friend Mooch can be counted on for charming adventures and out-loud laughs.The sweet and unique friendship of this special dog and kitty comes through in every strip. When Mooch decides one January morning he's going to hibernate by staying in bed all winter, Earl tries desperately to get him out of bed until he finds out himself how "toashty" it is, in the words of Mooch. Next thing you know, Mooch has a bedmate who announces "I'll see ya in March." The two snore though hibernation together-that is, until they are called for dinner.With its expressive art and clever, sometimes philosophical, pet banter, MUTTS has built a large and loyal fan base among readers and fellow cartoonists worldwide. The strip has been the discussion topic of Tonight show guests (Brooke Shields), and it's earned the National Cartoonists Society's coveted Comic Strip of the Year Award. And now, as a testament to its ever-growing popularity, fans in New Jersey can show their loyalty to the strip-and animal protection-by getting a state license plate complete with Earl and Mooch and the slogan "Animal Friendly." In MUTTS, cartoonist Patrick McDonnell has created a classic strip that not only delivers consistent laughs but often a message as well.

Mutts: The Comic Art Of Patrick McDonnell


Patrick McDonnell - 2003
    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. 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.

Even Grues Get Full


Illiad - 2003
    "Illiad" Frazer. Written with fresh, dry humor and an amusing vividness that brings the cast of characters to life, the comic strip is loved and read by millions around the world, from professional technologists to eight-year old wunderkinds, from 83-year old grandmothers who miss their Commodore 64s to patient spouses of born programmers.The comic strip is packed with references to geek interests, from obscure movies to old computer games, yet non-geeks are able to enjoy the story lines and character quirks, from Erwin's acerbic humor to Miranda's constant angst; from the Smiling Man's Machiavellian machinations to A.J.'s dysfunctional naïveté. At the center of this lies Dust Puppy, the strip's gentle-hearted mascot and the character who has endeared himself to readers everywhere.In this book, join the antics of the characters once again as Stef contends with an enormous Tequila worm, Mike is tormented by Mr. Cola, and the techs move shop into an abandoned missile silo! Also included in this collection are the 9/11 tribute cartoons that were widely praised for their clear and simple pathos.Called "Dilbert for Geeks" by Wired magazine and considered to be one of the few consistently intelligent and socially aware cartoons on the 'Net, User Friendly remains one of the most popular destinations for geeks and non-geeks alike. This book is a sure hit with anyone who works with computers or for anyone who lives with someone who works with computers!

Rose is Rose: Right on the Lips


Pat Brady - 2003
    That's quite an accomplishment for a simple story line centered on a two-parent, single-child family. But Brady's readers soar, through both the laughs and a visual visceral connection to the feelings the characters themselves experience. Rose is Rose Right on the Lips: A Rose is Rose Collection continues the tales of the Gumbo family. Rose is the wife and mother, a child at heart who just happens to have a biker chick alter ego. Husband Jimbo, a "decent Neanderthal," looks like an average blue-collar dad, but he's actually an incurable romantic. And Pasquale, their son, is an imagination-fired kid who loves Peekaboo, the family cat, and is often saved from trouble by his guardian angel. Brady swirls this familial mix into seemingly endless recipes of fun, adventure, and fantasy, but he adds a special magic with his original sense of perspective and space that makes readers feel as though they, too, are part of the action. This collection of daily and Sunday strips is a great introduction to those new to Rose is Rose and a surefire winner with longtime Gumbo-family fans. The creator adds value for all readers by including two flip books in the pages' lower corners, delightfully animating the characters right in front of their eyes!

The Great Big Book of Tomorrow: A Treasury of Cartoons


Tom Tomorrow - 2003
    With an ever increasing fan base, an expanding number of publications who regularly feature his work, one of the most popular and most visited web-logs (www.thismodernworld.com), the time is now for The Great Big Book of Tomorrow. This massive collection of Tomorrow's greatest hits, unseen gems and obscurities, new material and color section is the so far definitive collection of one of the most popular 'underground' cartoonists ever--a delight to long-time fans and new readers alike.

Leaving Home: Survival of the Hippest


Lynn Johnston - 2003
    Eleven sections are crammed with advice on furnishing apartments, mastering the ancient art of bartering, living with "the boss without a heart, the prof without a clue," and more. It includes such gems as: The Yard Sale -- Your "Vintage Kitchenware Store"; Rules for Roommates: Rent Is Not A Voluntary Contribution; Your Mother Is No Longer the Alarm Clock; The Mail Is Always For You! Leaving Home not only relays how to avoid common pitfalls, but also how to get out after you've landed in them face first! Pearls of wisdom and insightful cartoons make this a must-read for anyone starting life on their own.

Top Dog: Marmaduke at 50


Brad Anderson - 2003
    . . . And with Marmaduke, anything can become an adventure.”–Brad Anderson America’s most playful pooch has been delighting fans since 1954. The lovably rambunctious Great Dane currently appears in more than 660 newspapers, in 20 different countries worldwide. Now, in honor of this top dog’s 50th anniversary, Brad Anderson has hand picked his favorite cartoon strips from the last five decades for this beautifully designed volume that will have everyone drooling.Marmaduke epitomizes the overgrown lap dog, with an irascible streak and a penchant for mischief that is tempered with a deep sense of love and responsibility for his family. In stature and in character, this horse-sized hound stands head and shoulders above the rest. Marmaduke strikes a chord because, quite simply, he is a real dog. Creator Brad Anderson modeled Marmaduke on his parents’ boxer, Bruno. Originally just a big dog, Marmaduke immediately appealed to newspaper readers in part because the emotions he expressed were so very human. The cartoon canine’s antics and mishaps are both hilarious and remarkably familiar to anyone with a dog.Marmaduke is also instilled with Anderson’s own deep commitment to community and family. Marmaduke and Anderson have long been supporters–and Marmaduke, their “spokesdog”–of the Delta Society’s Pet Partners Program, in which volunteers and their pets visit sick and elderly in hospitals and care centers. The comic strip is not only a welcome respite, it’s also a helping hand, connecting people in hospitals and care facilities with animals, both real and drawn.This wonderful collection proves that whether Marmaduke is rescuing a stray kitten, seeing the kids off to school, or visiting senior citizens in the park, he always does it in a way that makes millions of fans smile. Nothing’s bigger than Marmaduke’s heart, including those giant paws.