Mark told us that cats are an endless well of material precisely because of their unpredictability and strong personalities. “I've written a few 'inside' cat gags,” he shared when we asked if any cartoons ever felt too niche, “like how cats love a freshly-changed litter box, or how a cat’s tail wagging means something different from a dog’s. Not sure how many non-cat owners are aware of these things, but then hopefully the drawing will convey the point. I try to put just enough info in there so the non-cat person might get the gag.”
So how does he balance keeping those jokes true to cat behavior while still relatable for the general public? “These days I think most people are aware of cat behavior simply by existing. It’s everywhere! And if non-cat owners miss a gag, that’s okay. If I want everyone to get the joke, sometimes I lean on clichés—like cats being aloof—even though my cat is very affectionate.”
Many of Mark’s comics reflect those real-life “little” moments that every cat person knows all too well. So we were curious: does he sketch the idea immediately, or mentally store it for later? “Both,” he said. “Depending on where I am. I try to at least record the idea because if I don’t, I’m bound to forget it, no matter how confident I am that I won’t.”
Mark’s early influences include the greats—Schulz, MAD Magazine, and Gary Larson—but what about today’s cartoonists? “There are so many current cartoonists who inspire me, I can’t possibly list them all. Many are my cartooning pals, especially those in the single-panel category, who really keep me on my toes. A few web cartoonists I really admire are Sarah Andersen, Nick Seluk, and Jimmy Craig. I hesitate to even name them as there are so many stellar cartoonists out there, and I’m leaving out many who are important to me. You know who you are!”
With the fast pace of memes and social media humor, we asked if his approach to pacing or punchlines has shifted over time. “My approach has definitely changed with the growth of social media. Not that my style has ever been complicated, but I draw more simply now. My art is less cluttered. I try to convey information faster without sacrificing my writing style. The instant feedback can also inform what kind of gags hit and which ones don’t. I’ve been doing this for over 30 years and humor has evolved—and I think it’s my job to keep up. I also do more multi-panel gags now, which somehow works well online.”
And if you want to support the cartoonist behind the comics, now’s a great time to do it: “My cat recently had an unexpected vet bill, and I started selling baseball-card-sized color sketches of people’s pets to try to cover the cost. It’s been fun seeing all the pics people send of their pets, and the sweet words they have for them.” (Order form here: https://tinyurl.com/2wy5xetr)
Beyond his comics, Mark has also written a few middle-grade hybrid/graphic novels—each featuring a pet cat, naturally. And in other exciting news, he was recently nominated for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society. “This was not on my radar, and I am truly honored to be listed among that group,” he said.
