My Copy—and Others—of The Super Hero's Journey by Patrick McDonnell

At the Princeton Children's Book Festival on October 7, Mutts comic strip artist Patrick McDonnell signed copies of his new Marvel Comics memoir The Super Hero's Journey (New York: Abrams Comic Arts, 2023). 

https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/super-heros-journey_9781419769108/

Before adding a drawing to the book, he asked me for my favorite Marvel character. I replied truthfully, "The Sub-Mariner." What else could it be?

 

Three weeks later I attended an event at the Princeton Public Library where McDonnell was joined in conversation by Gil Roth, the podcaster behind the Virtual Memories Show. The subject, of course, was The Super Hero's Journey.

https://princetonlibrary.libnet.info/event/9228913

McDonnell announced that some four-hundred "Make Mine Marvel Arts" buttons with his own superhero art had been manufactured as a book promotion. Some were given away at the library event with the purchase of a book.

Here is a copy of The Superhero's Journey with a credible drawing of the Incredible Hulk.

 

And here's another copy with a drawing of the mischievous Loki from the Thor comic book:

Note:  Gil Roth's earlier conversation with Patrick McDonnell on the subject of The Super Hero's Journey may be heard on the Virtual Memories Show episode #556 here.

Patrick McDonnell is very generous to his fans at signings and he clearly has a ball drawing all the characters in the Marvel Universe in his distinctive style. I will be happy to add many more personalized book drawings to this blog page if readers would care to send me photos or scans of their own treasured copies. There must already be hundreds out there.

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Patrick McDonnell: Princeton Loves Pets

A pin-back button featuring the characters Mooch and Earl from the Mutts comic strip was distributed at Patrick McDonnell's 2017 appearance at the Princeton Public Library. The design, dominated by the town's orange color, promotes the #PrincetonLovesPets hashtag. At this writing, the hashtag has appeared in twenty-two Instagram posts.

https://princetonlibrary.org/oldevent/celebration-companion-animals-patrick-mcdonnell/

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Patrick McDonnell: Twin Dedications

Today Stephen Kroninger shares with us two Mutts books each dedicated by comic strip artist Patrick McDonnell to Stephen's twin daughters. The first book is The Gift of Nothing (2005).

The second book is Hug Time (2007).

Mooch is ready for his close-up:

Note:  My thanks to Stephen Kroninger for providing us with these delightful images. This is his 32nd contribution here.

I welcome the opportunity to post more original Patrick McDonnell art of this caliber.

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Patrick McDonnell: Three Mutts Souvenirs

Stephen Kroninger sends along three drawings by Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell. The souvenir sketches of Earl (the dog) and Mooch (the cat) were created for Stephen's twin daughters when they were very young. It seems to me these can work their magic for people of any age.

Note:  My thanks once again to Stephen Kroninger for scanning this wonderful art. This is Stephen's thirty-first contribution to the blog

Mutts fans with souvenir drawings of their own are welcome to contribute images to this blog.

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Patrick McDonnell: Original Mutts Comic Strip Art

How often does one see original Mutts comic strip art by Patrick McDonnell? For me this is a first.The original published strip of May 8, 2004 was dedicated by McDonnell to the family of Stephen Kroninger, who shares the scan with us. The original is overlaid with Ben Day dots to indicate shading. Of the four spoken works, two have been corrected with a small paste-up resulting in the perfect punch line.

Patrick McDonnell
Original Mutts Comic Strip Art
May 8, 2004

Note:  Thanks to Stephen Kroninger for providing a scan of the original art. This is Stephen's thirtieth contribution to the blog

Interested Mutts fans can purchase their very own print of this strip here. I'm no interior decorator, but it would look great in the bathroom.

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Patrick McDonnell: A Mutts Dinner Note

Stephen Kroninger has found a Mutts Fold & Mail stationery note from Earl, the lead dog in the comic strip. One suspects Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell may have helped, at least with the penmanship.

Photo by Stephen Kroninger

Scan by Stephen Kroninger

Note:  My thanks to Stephen Kroninger for sharing this rare Mutts note well in advance of mealtime.

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Twin Birthday Wishes from Patrick McDonnell

In 2003, Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell presented twin birthday wishes to Hannah and Rachel. Earl and Mooch preside over the festivities from under the covers.

"Happy Shbirthday, Hannah!"
Patrick McDonnell
2003

Scan by Stephen Kroninger

"Happy Shbirthday, Rachel!"
Patrick McDonnell
2003

Scan by Stephen Kroninger

Note:  Thanks to Stephen Kroninger for providing these wonderful scans. This is his 27th appearance here.

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My Other Copy of The Art of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell

Patrick McDonell's public conversation with Chip Kidd at the Society of Illustrators on November 6 concluded with a book signing. The cartoonist not only signed a copy of The Art of Nothing: 25 Years of Mutts and the Art of Patrick McDonnell (2019), he also added a very nice original drawing of Guard Dog. I decided to follow this up by placing a mail order to obtain a copy with his more standard character illustration. It arrived with a drawing of the dog Earl very similar to the one in his video.

Patrick McDonnell Signs 'The Art of Nothing'

MUTTS 25th Anniversary Book

Note:  There's still time to get your own copy of The Art of Nothing signed by Patrick McDonnell with an original drawing like this one here, but only through the end of the year.

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The Art of Nothing: Patrick McDonnell and Chip Kidd at the Society of Illustrators

On Wednesday evening at the Society of Illustrators, designer Chip Kidd and cartoonist Patrick McDonnell discussed The Art of Nothing: 25 Years of Mutts and the Art of Patrick McDonnell.

Chip Kidd and Patrick McDonnell

The Art of Nothing:  25 Years of Mutts and the Art of Patrick McDonnell (2019)

https://www.societyillustrators.org/events/25years-mutts

Chip Kidd in conversation with Patrick McDonnell at the Society of Illustrators

Patrick McDonnell

Afterwards, the cartoonist signed copies of his book, including mine. I requested a drawing of the character Guard Dog.

The Art of Nothing with Patrick McDonnell and Chip Kidd

Video added December 12, 2019

Note:  You can get your own copy of The Art of Nothing signed by Patrick McDonnell with an original drawing here through the end of the year.

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Patrick McDonnell: Mutts Art for Megan

Patrick McDonnell introduced the comic strip Mutts twenty-five years ago. His standard souvenir drawing includes the heads of both the dog Earl and the cat Mooch. A typical example dedicated to someone named Megan was sold on eBay five years ago. The silver anniversary of the comic strip is being celebrated with the publication of The Art of Nothing: 25 Years of Mutts and the Art of Patrick McDonnell.

Inscribed "To Megan/Yesh!/Patrick McDonnell"

Patrick McDonnell
eBay Listing Ended March 9, 2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PATRICK-MCDONNELL-HAND-SIGNED-MUTTS-ARTWORK-COA-AWESOME-VERY-RARE-/251337366652?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D19841%26meid%3D4132550112880097176%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D8934%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D221325198633%26&rt=nc&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true

Patrick McDonnell
eBay Item Description

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License Plate for a Mutts Fan

Yesh indeed.

"YESH"
New York State license plate

Mutts by Patrick McDonnell featuring Mooch
May 20, 2010

https://shop.mutts.com/product/all/strips/Strip-052010/

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New Books Signed by Michael Tisserand and Patrick McDonnell

Call me an old-timer if you like. I've now been living in the Princeton area long enough to have missed public appearances by Mutts comics creator Patrick McDonnell twice. To make matters worse, this time it was a joint appearance at Labyrinth Books with Michael Tisserand, author of the acclaimed Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White. Fortunately, I was still able to pick up a couple of signed books a few days later at the bookstore, but it just isn't the same thing as being there. Under the bylaws of the town, should I miss a third appearance of Mr. McDonnell, I will need to move out of the municipality and surrender my blog to the Town Clerk.

Michael Tisserand, Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White, 2016

Signed by Michael Tisserand

Patrick McDonnell, Year of Yesh, 2016

Signed by Patrick McDonnell

Book Trailer for Krazy: George Herriman, A Life in Black and White

(HarperCollins, 2016)

The Virtual Memories Show #199

Gil Roth Interviews Michael Tisserand

Patrick McDonnell of Mutts Comics Draws Earl

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Patrick McDonnell's Mutts Stationery

I just love to quote eBay sellers! "The letter has been flat for more than ten years" stated the matter-of-fact seller when this note from Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell was first offered for sale late in 2013, as if that would undo the mailing folds in the paper. The letter is undated but rest assured "this is from early in his career." Really? The scan clearly shows that the printed stationery bears a 2007 copyright! Not all that much sleuthing is required. Still, sellers believe what they want to believe. All may be forgiven, though, when we see the original quick sketches the artist has added to this printed sheet. They're charming, even if they're not relics from early in Patrick McDonnell's career!

An undated letter (2007 or later) from Patrick McDonnell to Megan and Julia
on Mutts stationery with additional sketches

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PATRICK-MCDONNELL-ORIGINAL-ARTWORK-ON-HIS-PERSONAL-STATIONARY-MUTTS-CARTOONIST/221325198633?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D261%26meid%3D3786829885703099831%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D261078582583%26

An undated letter (2007 or later) from Patrick McDonnell to Megan and Julia on Mutts stationery with additional sketches

Note:  There's more work by Patrick McDonnell here on the blog, all no doubt great rarities from early in his career and then some.

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Patrick McDonnell's Dancing Frankenstein

This lively, original artwork by Patrick McDonnell of a dancing Frankenstein monster will be sold at auction Wednesday evening. The auction will take place at BookExpo America in New York.

Patrick McDonnell, Original Artwork

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/silent-auction/sets/72157633528373545/

Image added May 30, 2013 
http://abffesilentauction.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/event-program-2013.pdf

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Patrick McDonnell's Howl

Patrick McDonnell's "Howl" (1998) is not to be confused with Allen Ginsberg's.

Patrick McDonnell, Howl, 1998, from eBay c. January 2009

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Patrick McDonnell's Fatty Snax Deli

Here is an original drawing from 2000 by Patrick McDonnnell. His characters from the comic strip Mutts are ready to place their order in the Fatty Snax Deli. Last year the hammer price for this charming presentation drawing was $800.

Patrick McDonnell, Mutts presentation drawing, 2000

http://bid.profilesinhistory.com/Patrick-McConnell-original-artwork-from-Mutts_i11537964

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