Patrick McDonnell
Eisner-Nominated Cartoonist known for "MUTTS"!
Patrick McDonnell lived quite a life before he was known for what Charles Schulz called “one of the best comic strips of all time.” Yes, you may know Patrick from his syndicated comic strip, MUTTS. But there is so much more to Mr. McDonnell than meets the eye!
You might be familiar with McDonnell’s latest MUTTS book, a collection released in 2024 that has been nominated for an Eisner this year. It is called Breaking the Chain, The Guard Dog Story. Be prepared, you'll be in tears for most of the book until the satisfying ending. Writing and drawing MUTTS has had a significant impact on McDonnell’s life. He started it based on his own rescue dog and advocates for the environment and all animals through it. He has received both the HSUS Voice for the Animals Award and PETA’s Humanitarian Award. Dog Fancy included McDonnell in its top 25 “People Who Changed the Dog World.” The MUTTS characters appear on New Jersey Animal Friendly license plates and in public service announcements for the Shelter Pet Project. His book MUTTS Shelter Stories—Love. Guaranteed. is a collection of his shelter-themed MUTTS strips, along with stories of real-life shelter adoption successes. Patrick was a member of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the United States for eighteen years and currently serves on the boards of the Fund for Animals.
McDonnell is also no stranger to comic books; in 2023, Abrams ComicArts published The Super Hero's Journey. Infused with the creativity, artwork, and heart of Patrick McDonnell, the graphic novel features classic Marvel Super Heroes, including the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Black Panther, and Spider-Man. Using the Marvel Universe as avatars, McDonnell brings together his inspirational and moral sensibilities from throughout his career and muses on how comics changed his life and set him on the course to become a cartoonist.
“The Super Hero's Journey is my graphic novel love letter to the 1960s Marvel Super Heroes and their legendary creators. It was a childhood dream come true to have my art play along with the work of the great Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko. I tried my best to capture the magic, fun, and cosmic energy of those early comic book masterpieces in this arty mashup,” says McDonnell.
The Super Hero’s Journey begins with the Watcher—a being who exists outside the planes of space and time, who sees every moment that has happened, will happen, or is happening throughout the cosmos—as he observes Earth and the inner burdens of the Marvel Super Heroes. As the Watcher observes the villainous plans of Doctor Doom, who is harnessing the power of the Negative Zone and slowly spreading its negativity across our planet and destroying the human spirit, Mr. Fantastic is led on a meta journey that takes him through the pages of classic comic books and across scenes familiar and unexpected. Ultimately, our heroes discover a Zen solution in an unexpected fashion—one that aligns this book with the inspiring messages of McDonnell’s other beloved and award-winning books—leaving readers with a renewed sense of love, hope, and redemption.
The Super Hero's Journey seamlessly incorporates panels from classic 1960s Marvel comics written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Don Heck, and Vince Colletta and explores the need for connectivity, positivity, and even kindness while traveling through these classic scenes and situations. It offers an element of actualization and understanding through the lens of the globally recognized and beloved characters from the Silver Age of Comics. McDonnell’s exciting and innovative entry into the Marvel landscape is a stunning and heartwarming new adventure for fans of classic Marvel comics, as well as fans of McDonnell’s comic strip and all-ages picture books.
But here’s something you didn’t know about Patrick McDonnell: He played drums in a punk band called Steel Tips that played regularly at CBGB’s in New York, and often with the Ramones. One might say that McDonnell is a layered individual, which we dive into during our Superfan Podcast episode with him! An episode not to be missed, as many amazingly fun anecdotes are shared! And we’ll even get into how the subject of his fandom has made its way into his current work.
McDonnell’s latest book is The Gift of Everything, which you can pre-order for delivery in October of this year, as well as The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition. The Gift of Nothing has inspired readers of all ages with its heartfelt message about the power of friendship since the seminal book was published two decades ago. Now McDonnell is back with The Gift of Everything, the eagerly anticipated follow-up starring Mooch, the curious cat, and Earl, the ever-trusting dog.
A reminder that the Superfan Podcast hasn’t launched yet, but will soon in the coming weeks! You can find us on the socials at Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook, and X! Soon, you’ll be able to see podcast clips on our YouTube channel as well. Follow it now so you don’t miss out. Please be sure to like, share, and subscribe!
Special thanks to our Season One sponsor, the amazing Fanbase Press! Fanbase Press is a GLAAD Media Award-winning and Eisner and Harvey Awards-nominated comic book publisher that celebrates super fandoms and creates new ones! #StoriesMatter.
