Top Dog: Marmaduke at 50

My daily panel is like a gag but the Sunday strip is like a little adventure. . . . And with Marmaduke anything can become an adventure. Brad Anderson Americas most playful pooch has been delighting fans since 1954. The lovably rambunctious Great Dane currently appears in more than 660 newspapers in 20 different countries worldwide. Now in honor of this top dogs 50th anniversary Brad Anderson has hand picked his favorite cartoon strips from the last five decades for this beautifully designed volume that will have everyone drooling. Marmaduke epitomizes the overgrown lap dog with an irascible streak and a penchant for mischief that is tempered with a deep sense of love and responsibility for his family. In stature and in character this horse-sized hound stands head and shoulders above the rest. Marmaduke strikes a chord because quite simply he is a real dog. Creator Brad Anderson modeled Marmaduke on his parents boxer Bruno. Originally just a big dog Marmaduke immediately appealed to newspaper readers in part because the emotions he expressed were so very human. The cartoon canines antics and mishaps are both hilarious and remarkably familiar to anyone with a dog. Marmaduke is also instilled with Andersons own deep commitment to community and family. Marmaduke and Anderson have long been supportersand Marmaduke their spokesdogof the Delta Societys Pet Partners Program in which volunteers and their pets visit sick and elderly in hospitals and care centers. The comic strip is not only a welcome respite its also a helping hand connecting people in hospitals and care facilities with animals both real and drawn. This wonderful collection proves that whether Marmaduke is rescuing a stray kitten seeing the kids off to school or visiting senior citizens in the park he always does it in a way that makes millions of fans smile. Nothings bigger than Marmadukes heart including those giant paws.