News Around the Kingdom: MUTTS 20th Anniversary and Ice Bucket Challenges
This week, Comics Kingdom is happy to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of “Mutts,” Patrick McDonnell’s elegantly drawn comic strip about the unbreakable bond of friendship between Earl the dog and Mooch the cat. For twenty years, “Mutts” has delighted readers and comics fans with its’ message of love and moral responsibility toward one another, our planet and all its habitants – great and small.
Comics Kingdom also wishes a very Happy Birthday to Mort Walker, who celebrated his 91st birthday yesterday! David Reddick (“Intelligent Life”) has drawn some wonderful Happy Birthday tribute art for Mort Walker to honor the occasion.
The Kingdom has also been a little wet these past couple of weeks with all the Ice Bucket Challenges going on for ALS research. Nearly a dozen comic strip characters participated in the massively popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge! Dustin Kudlick of “Dustin” was the first to challenge Darryl MacPherson in “Baby Blues” and Edison Lee (“The Brilliant Mind of Edison Lee”) to the Ice Bucket Challenge, and both Rick Kirkman AND Darryl MacPherson rose to the bone-chilling challenge …
In turn, Daddy Darryl of “Baby Blues” called out little Jeffy in “The Family Circus” and Edison Lee nominated his cartoon buddy Sarge from “Beetle Bailey” (Mort and Greg Walker) and Jill Kaplan from “The Pajama Diaries.”
Terri Libenson (“The Pajama Diaries”) accepted Edison’s challenge and Jill Kaplan got soaked …
Snuffy Smith was then challenged by “Beetle Bailey” cartoonists, Greg and Mort Walker. After Snuffy Smith took the plunge, Snuffy Smith challenged Dennis the Menace (cartoonists Marcus Hamilton and Ron Ferdinand) …
Cartoonist Rob Tornoe challenged Abby in “Edge City” and she too accepted …
Even, Popeye and Betty Boop got drenched for the worthy cause!
In other news …
Editorial cartoonist Jeff Koterba was interviewed for a mini-documentary about his cartoons and new cartoon book, “Koterba: Drawing You In” …
Dan Piraro shares a vintage “Bizarro” comic on pet neutering and support groups …
Jonathan Mahood (“Bleeker: The Rechargeable Dog”) gets a jump on drawing traditional Christmas comics …
Dean Young (“Blondie”) offers a look at the many different sides of Dagwood …
Finally, “Dustin” offers proof that there’s hope for kids who still live at home with their parents.
Thanks for visiting! Come back again next Friday.
Have a great weekend!