Reviewed by Jeanne
As a person who is very fond of both comic strips and animals, it’s a no-brainer that I love Patrick McDonnell’s “Mutts.” I first became aware of the strip thanks to a friend in Maryland who clipped some from her paper and sent them to me. (Thanks, Teresa!) I was quickly bemused by earnest dog Earl and his cat friend, Mooch. (I tried to think of a word to describe Mooch. There isn’t one. Mooch is Mooch, the one and only.) Not only are the strips funny, but there is a gentleness that comes through as well. I soon learned of other characters and found more favorites: Shtinky Puddin’, the little cat who dreams of saving the tigers and other endangered species; Guard Dog, chained in the back yard, who faithfully watches for his family; Ozzie, Earl’s beloved human; and Millie and Frank, Mooch’s sometimes contentious older couple.
Since our paper doesn’t carry “Mutts,” I started buying the strip collections to feed my growing habit. Having so many strips at once to read and enjoy gave me a great appreciation not only for the strip but for the artist who creates such an entertaining world. Patrick McDonnell is a passionate advocate for animals, both wild and domestic, for the environment, and for the arts. Every year he runs a series of strips about animals in a shelter waiting to be adopted, and he bases the cartoons on real shelter animals. One I recall in particular had a dog explaining that his family said they left him there because he got too big. The dog thinks it’s because their hearts got too small.
Can McDonnell pack a punch or what?
The majority of the strips are gently amusing and full of the joy of living. Even Sourpuss isn’t a curmudgeon: he just hates Mondays. Crabby the Crab is, well, crabby. He’s only outdone by Mrs. Crabby. Mostly, the humor is optimistic and a bit understated. McDonnell was a huge fan of Charles Schultz (he wrote the “Peanuts” creator a fan letter as a child) as well as Krazy Kat, so there’s a touch of slapstick as well. One of my favorite cartoons has Frank and Mooch marching back and forth in front of a window inside the house. A visitor inquires as to the reason and Millie says, “Oh, that’s their ‘Cats are better than dogs’ rain dance.” The next panel shows a soggy Earl and Ozzie outside in a pouring rain, wistfully watching the warm and dry Frank and Mooch.
There’s more to this strip than just the humor. I became fascinated by the Sunday “splash panels,” the large opening picture with the comic’s name: instead of a standard panel, McDonnell drew a new one each week. These weren’t just any panels, either: each one was in a different art style or else an homage to a particular painting, photograph or pop culture item. One, for example, was a recreation of the poster for the classic version of “Frankenstein” starring Boris Karloff with Mooch as the Monster; another was the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” cover; still another was based on Dali’s famous “Persistence of Memory” painting, with watches melting on Guard Dog. One favorite is based on Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom From Want.” The neat thing is that you can enjoy the panel without knowing that it’s based on something else, but if you are familiar with the original you have extra dollop of pleasure, a shared joke between friends.
In my quest to find out more about the man behind this intriguing strip I found the book Mutts: The Comic Art of Patrick McDonnell in the library collection. What a treasure trove! Interspersed with many, many wonderful strips are brief comments by Mr. McDonnell about his influences: Charles Schultz, Popeye, Krazy Kat and many others. He also describes how his art has evolved and the origin of his characters. Finally, there is an excellent essay about Patrick and his work by comics historian John Carlin.
If you’ve never read “Mutts,” you’re in for a fabulous treat. If you’re already a fan, you’re sure to be delighted with this book. I know I was—so much so that I bought my own copy.
Main has copies of two collections of “Mutts” strips:
Sunday Afternoons (741.5 MCD)
What Now (YA 741.5 MCD)
I also recommend Mr. McDonnell’s children’s books, especially South, the story of a little bird left behind when his flock flies south for the winter. It’s wordless, but the simple pictures speak volumes. Look for it in the Children’s Library at Main (J E MCD).
P.S. If you don’t like comics but do like animals, give “Mutts” a try. You might be surprised at how much can be packed into four panels.
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