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Title Panel Treats

Ever wondered why the first panel of a Sunday MUTTS strip usually differs from the comic that follows it? Learn all about title panels and explore treats that feature them!

SHOP TITLE PANEL TREATS

What Is a Title Panel?

The first panel (or section) of a Sunday comic strip is called the title panel. Also known in the industry as a "throwaway" panel because newspapers may choose to discard it due to space constraints, the title panel is distinct from the material in the comic strip.

Because these panels may be cut, the remaining comic must stand alone without it. This gives cartoonists creative license to either lay the groundwork for the rest of the comic's narrative, use a standard title panel for all Sundays, or do something a little fun and unique! Patrick frequently opts for the latter, using his MUTTS Comics title panels to pay homage to great pieces of art, offer a fun interpretation of classic album artwork, or give a nod to iconic book covers.

A Celebration of Title Panels

While there are hundreds of Sunday strips featuring artistic title panels, we've curated a collection of some reader favorites that feature Patrick's renditions of renowned books, albums, and artwork.