Back in 2005, Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell released The Gift of Nothing, a long-form Mutts story taking an earnest, different look at gift-giving during the holidays. Now he’s back with a pseudo-sequel, The Gift of Everything… Which was actually an idea from his niece.
“During a Thanksgiving dinner, my niece joked that I should do a book called The Gift of Everything,” McDonnell explained to Comic Book Club over email. “We laughed about it at the time, but the idea stuck with me. Soon after, the story just revealed itself to me (in rhyme).”
To find out more about the book, as well as McDonnell’s contributions to Abrams’ The Essential Peanuts, read on.
Comic Book Club: So the big question is, why return with a sequel to The Gift of Nothing now? And why “everything”?
Patrick McDonnell: During a Thanksgiving dinner, my niece joked that I should do a book called The Gift of Everything. We laughed about it at the time, but the idea stuck with me. Soon after, the story just revealed itself to me (in rhyme). In looking for a perfect gift for Earl, Mooch discovers new joys and wonders to share: everything, everyone, everywhere. It felt powerful, timely and fun. And it became a perfect companion to build on, and celebrate, the 20th anniversary of The Gift of Nothing.
How has your worldview changed in the past 20 years, and how, if at all, is that represented in this book?
The world around us has changed a lot, but my worldview really hasn’t. MUTTS has always been about looking at life from the animals’ perspective, and rejoicing in nature and timeless, quiet moments. The Gift of Nothing and The Gift of Everything are about the gift of our presence, not our presents. The books promote compassion and gratitude. Things that never go out of style, and things that we seemingly need now more than ever.
What’s it like looking back on The Gift of Nothing for this 20th anniversary edition?
It’s amazing for me to think that it’s been 20 years. Because of a very tight publishing deadline, I actually drew the original art for The Gift of Nothing in one long snowy weekend. I can still see the spontaneity and innocence in the drawings. Over the years, I’ve been touched that readers, young and old, have enjoyed it, that pastors, priests, and rabbis have shared it in sermons, and that the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, adapted it as a children’s musical. I’m thrilled to add this anniversary edition and a new title to its legacy. Comics have a long tradition of celebrating the holiday season, and I’m glad MUTTS can be part of that.
Speaking for yourself, when it comes to presents: would you rather have nothing, or everything?
As the books reveal, nothing is everything.
More to the point, how do you feel about gifts in real life? It feels like you don’t think physical gifts are necessary, based on the books, but…
The best gifts are always time, friendship, and shared experiences. As the saying goes, “It’s the thought (meaning the love) behind the gift that counts.”
Before I let you go, you wrote an intro for The Essential Peanuts. What was it like looking back at that work?
Speaking of ‘timeless’, Charles Schulz’s wonderful, comic classic Peanuts is a perfect example. I’m always in total awe of how good it is, how the characters are so alive and expressive. Sparky drew them with what he called warmth which I interpret as love. Peanuts and Sparky were a big part of shaping my life, and I’m blessed that I had the pleasure to meet and become friends with my childhood hero. He asked me to choose the art for his 50th anniversary book. And now I’m again honored to have written the Introduction to the new 75th anniversary collection.
The Gift of Everything is in stores now.
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