| Marmaduke | |
|---|---|
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| Author(s) | Brad Anderson |
| Current status / schedule | Running |
| Launch date | 1954 |
| Syndicate(s) | United Features Syndicate |
Marmaduke is a newspaper comic strip drawn by Brad Anderson from 1954 to the present day. The strip was created by Anderson, with help from Phil Leeming (1955-1962) and later Dorothy Leeming (1963-1969). The strip revolves around the Winslow family and their Great Dane, Marmaduke. The strip on Sundays also has a side feature called "Dog Gone Funny," in which one or more panels are devoted to dog anecdotes submitted by the fans. Anderson, who says he draws on Laurel and Hardy routines for his ideas,[1] received the National Cartoonists Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for the strip in 1978.
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Ruby-Spears produced Marmaduke segments for the 1980 animated series Heathcliff, whose title character was also based on a comic strip character. In this animated version, the male characters were voiced by Paul Winchell and the females were voiced by Russi Taylor.
Brad Anderson won the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award for Newspaper Panel Cartoon in 1978,[2] and the George Arents Pioneer Medal for Syracuse University alumni in 1999.[3]
Marmaduke continues to be widely syndicated,[3] and is popular with readers: attempts to cancel Marmaduke have drawn protest, such as those by readers of The Toronto Star in 1999,[4] of the Sarasota Herald Tribune in 2007,[5] and of the Chicago Sun-Times in 1986.[6]
Despite this, its longevity and perceived monotony[7] have been noted by satirical publications such as The Onion,[8] and made it a butt of jokes,[4] or "a hot source of retro-ironic-subversive humor":[9] a blog called "Joe Mathlete Explains Today's Marmaduke"[10] deconstructs the strip to offer an alternative explanation for what's happening in the drawing;[11][12][7][9] another blog called "Marmaduke Can Vote" gives each panel a political slant;[13][9] and "The Marmaduke Project" re-imagines Marmaduke in other forms.[14][9]
In his satirical analysis at The Comic Strip Doctor, David Malki of Wondermark ranked Marmaduke among "the worst newspaper comic strips" alongside Heathcliff, Family Circus and Dennis the Menace.[15]
A combined live-action/animation Marmaduke movie, in which the Winslows and their computer-generated dog move from Kansas to California, is planned for release in June 2010. Actor Owen Wilson will voice Marmaduke, with actors Judy Greer, William H. Macy, and Lee Pace playing humans, and Steve Coogan, Fergie, George Lopez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone, Damon Wayans and Marlon Wayans in voice roles.[16]
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