Abrams Books Published New Mutts Comic Collections
The long-running comic strip series featuring real-life rescue animals has released new Sunday editions for fans.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Dogs
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Abrams Books has released two new collections and a box set of Mutts Sunday comic strips. The series, which launched in 1994, continues to reach an estimated 80 million readers across 20 countries.
Why it matters
The collections highlight the real-world animal inspirations behind characters like Earl, Mooch, and Shtinky Puddin'. These strips serve as a bridge between lighthearted family entertainment and the ongoing celebration of shelter pet adoption.
The Mutts strip currently appears in over 700 newspapers across 20 countries. Abrams Books published these new Sunday collections in October 2026.
The players
Patrick McDonnell
The creator of the Mutts comic strip who draws inspiration from his own pets and shelter animals.
Abrams Books
The publisher responsible for the new collections and box set of the long-running comic series.
The details
The new collections feature Sunday comic strips alongside curated introductions and a guide to title panel illustrations. Patrick McDonnell, the creator of the strip, drew inspiration from his own life, including his real-life dog Earl and his childhood cats for the character Mooch. The strip also features Shtinky Puddin', a character based on a rescue kitten from Jersey City.
Timeline
1994: The Mutts comic strip officially launched.
May and November: Annual Shelter Stories highlights shelter animals.
October 2026: Abrams Books published new Mutts collections.
The Home Front
The publication of these collections follows the ongoing cultural influence of the Shelter Stories series. This initiative continues the long-standing trend of using media and comics to promote animal welfare and shelter adoption.
Fans can identify their favorite characters and the real-life animals behind them by reviewing the introductions in the new books. Consider keeping the collections on hand as a seasonal reference for the Shelter Stories campaigns that occur every May and November.
The takeaway
These books document the evolution of a series that has inspired millions to consider the bond between families and their pets. Readers can check the new editions to learn the history of characters like Sparky, who was renamed from Guard Dog after his adoption.
Further reading
Explore more about how the comic strip engages with animal advocacy in our Dogs section.
More information
For more information on the characters and the history of the strip, visit the Mutts comic strip official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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