SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: Pluto Rocket
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE:
CITY: Toronto
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY: Canadian
LAST VOLUME: SATA 401
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: son, daughter Rosa.
EDUCATION:Attended Sheridan College and the National Film Institute.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator. Worked as a gas jockey, carnie, florist, night watchman, and advertising agency staff; Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, staff illustrator; freelance illustrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with clients including Time, Entertainment Weekly, Wall Street Journal, Disney Magazine, Men’s Fitness, Bon Appetit, Wired, and others.
AWARDS:Studio Magazine and INMA Awards for illustration; National Newspaper Award for design.
WRITINGS
Author of the Pooch Café comic strip, 2000—; author of Poptropica comic (video-game spinoff), 2014—.
SIDELIGHTS
A Canadian illustrator and author of middle-grade novels, Paul Gilligan is widely known as creator of the syndicated Pooch Café comic strip. He devoured the newspaper comics page as a youth, basking in everything from Peanuts to Mary Worth, whether over his head or not. Upon discovering MAD magazine, he became a devotee of off-the-wall cartoonist Don Martin. Attending Sheridan College, in Toronto, he focused on animation and illustration, and at the National Film Institute, in Ottawa, he studied comedy writing. His career eventually led to a staff position illustrating for the Ottawa Citizen and then freelance illustration work for clients including Entertainment Weekly and Wired. Gilligan launched his original comic strip Pooch Café in concert with the new millennium on January 1, 2000, and in 2003 it was picked up by Universal Press Syndicate, enabling its appearance in hundreds of newspapers, including as far away as London and Moscow.
Speaking with Betsy Bird of School Library Journal about the motivation for his first middle-grade novel, Gilligan remarked: “I remember hearing an old radio play when I was a kid that claimed there was a place only 5 miles from where I was right now that no one had ever been.” He was riding in the backseat of his parents’ car at the time. In a Book Time interview he elaborated: “How could that be? I thought. How did they even know where I currently was? And then the voice announced that the place was five miles down.” He told Bird, “That always stuck with me. We’ve been all over this earth, but who knows what’s going on under it?”
King of the Mole People, Gilligan’s self-illustrated middle-grade debut, finds humble narrator Doug Underbelly trying to keep up a semblance of normality in his life. He fakes crushes on girls, calls a boy who once gave him gum his best friend, and pretends he lives in the quaint house next door to his and his father’s creepy cemetery-side residence. More problematically, he is often covered in mud and grubs owing to his position as King of the Mole People. He has the Royal Guard’s loyalty and the Mole People’s admiration, but Royal Advisor Croogoolooth might be up to something, and a crisis threatens to disturb the surface world. A Kirkus Reviews writer found that Gilligan upends the “myth of ‘normal’ with goofy (and often slimy) good humor” as his occasional “cartoons and goggle-eyed illustrations make for added laughs.”
In Rise of the Slugs, a sequel to King of the Mole People, Doug has resigned his royal subterranean post in hopes of facilitating the sale of his creepy home and a move to someplace more normal. But the need for help around the house prompts Doug to resume his reign—and promptly get sucked into conflict with the Slug People, who respond to an egg thief by aiming to slime Doug’s school’s Springtime in Paris dance. With wan, weird neighbor Magda by his side, Doug hopes to save the dance and appease the Slug People, without becoming their king too. Reviewing Rise of the Slugs in School Library Journal, Elizabeth Friend observed that Gilligan “continues the tale of Doug’s life in the vortex of weirdness with the same sly humor and quirky illustrations” as found in the first volume.
Gilligan opens his “Pluto Rocket” series of graphic novels for elementary readers with New in Town. Pink alien Pluto Rocket, who can create things out of thin air, descends on Earth and tries to slyly befriend the first fellow she meets—hip, happening blue pigeon Joe Pidge. At first she cramps his style, but eventually Joe helps her be her authentic self and tries to introduce her to tacos. When Taco Terry’s proves closed, Pluto’s manifestation of a thriving taco stand may undermine both her secret mission and Joe’s perception of his popularity. Hopefully they can help each other get their priorities straight.
Noting that Gilligan’s “uncluttered, colorful cartoon art helps tell this sweetly funny story,” a Kirkus Reviews writer concluded that “humor and dynamic characters create a tale of cooperation, sharing, and friendship.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer proclaimed that the “madcap … saucy vibe” of New in Town and the pink alien’s “boundless curiosity, optimism, and extraterrestrial wizardry will easily melt even the most streetwise bird’s heart.”
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In an interview at Tundra, Gilligan explained the inspiration for the Pluto Rocket series, saying that he had already created the stylish, strutting, kid-friendly pigeon named Joe Pidge. Then his daughter had run around the house pretending to have alien powers saying she was “Pluto Rocket.” Gillian remarked: “The two characters immediately started having conversations in my mind, which felt like extensions of the ones my kids were having as they spiraled around our house. I just started taking notes.” To create humor in the series, he combined quiet, reserved Pluto with boisterous Joe. “If you have one character who has certain traits or goals, it’s often good to have a second character who runs the opposite way, so they can bounce off each other.”
Continuing the adventures of Pluto Rocket and Joe Pidge, Full Blast! finds the pair exploring different neighborhoods so Pluto can prove that Earthlings are nice. Joe is hesitant because he has never left his community before. While Pluto is naively altruistic doing good deeds for people, Joe, who has read too many nursery rhymes, believes that there are witches and trolls around every corner, and that they are being chased by a wolf, which is really a poodle. Eventually Pluto convinces Joe to do a good deed himself, after which he likes being helpful to others. When Pluto’s mission is compromised, they must escape to the moon. In Kirkus Reviews, a critic called the “Lovable friends, lots of action and humor, a quirky but generally low-stakes plot, easy-to-read layouts, and bright, blocky graphics” a winning formula, and enjoyed the interplay between confident Pluto and cynical Joe.
Gilligan presents his graphic memoir, Boy vs. Shark, that takes place in 1975 when Paul is 10 years old, on the cusp between playing with his friends reading comic books and hanging out at the mall. The arrival of older bully Swain disrupts the dynamic between Paul and his best friend David. Paul is afraid to see the new blockbuster movie, Jaws, but David’s bravery and Swain’s taunts propel him to go see it. With an imaginary shark that talks to Paul, the boy develops a sense of toxic masculinity, insulting his classmates and going shoplifting with Swain. It takes Paul’s friends to help him learn from his mistakes.
Noting that the illustrations perfectly reflect the personalities of the characters, a Publishers Weekly reviewer added that “Readers will be relieved at the choices Paul makes as he demonstrates that good kids can make bad choices.” Writing in Kirkus Reviews, a contributor remarked: “The simple but dramatically expressive artwork plays to Gilligan’s strengths with deadpan humor, and the text and illustrations work in harmony to convey complex insights.”
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BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, July 1, 2019, review of King of the Mole People; August 1, 2020, review of Rise of the Slugs; January 1, 2023, review of New in Town; March 15, 2025, review of Pluto Rocket: Full Blast!; August 15, 2024, review of Boy vs. Shark.
Publishers Weekly, November 28, 2022, review of New in Town, p. 56.
School Library Journal, August, 2020, Elizabeth Friend, review of Rise of the Slugs, p. 72; October 2024, Kim Gardner, review of Boy vs. Shark, p. 73.
ONLINE
Book Time, https://booktime584.wordpress.com/ (September 16, 2019), “Talking to Toronto Author/Illustrator Paul Gilligan about the King of the Mole People.”
GoComics, https://www.gocomics.com/ (January 25, 2021), author profile.
Illustration Source, https://www.illustrationsource.com/ (June 5, 2023), author profile.
Lambiek, https://www.lambiek.net/ (June 5, 2023), author profile.
L’Idea, http://lideamagazine.com/ (October 10, 2014), Tiziano Thomas Dossena, author interview.
Paul Gilligan website, https://www.paulgilligan.com (January 25, 2021).
School Library Journal, https://afuse8production.slj.com/ (August 27, 2019), Betsy Bird, author interview.*
Tundra Books, https://tundrabooks.com/ (January 23, 2025), “Creator Spotlight: Paul Gilligan.”
PAUL GILLIGAN writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café with Andrews McMeel, which runs in over 250 newspapers around the world and has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He is also the author-illustrator of Pluto Rocket: New in Town, Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid, Pluto Rocket: Full Blast!, King of the Mole People and its sequel, Rise of the Slugs, and the graphic memoir Boy vs. Shark. He also has animated shows in development with Guru Animation, the CW Network and the BBC. Paul is based in Toronto, Ontario.
January 23, 2025 by Tundra Books
Creator Spotlight: Paul Gilligan
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our creators as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will launch you into the universe of the brilliant minds behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Paul Gilligan!
About the Author:
PAUL GILLIGAN writes and draws the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café with Andrews McMeel, which runs in over 250 newspapers around the world and has been twice nominated by the National Cartoonist Society for best strip. He is also the author-illustrator of Pluto Rocket: New in Town, Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid, Pluto Rocket: Full Blast!, King of the Mole People and its sequel, Rise of the Slugs, and the graphic memoir Boy vs. Shark. He also has animated shows in development with Guru Animation, the CW Network and the BBC. Paul is based in Toronto, Ontario.
Spotlight on Paul Gilligan:
What inspired you to create the characters of Joe Pidge and Pluto Rocket? Joe Pidge and Pluto Rocket have such distinct personalities. How do you develop and balance their characters throughout the series?
The first time I heard the name Pluto Rocket was when my daughter Rosa, who was five at the time, was running around pretending she had powers and saying, “I’m Pluto Rocket!” I thought, that’s a great name. I quickly searched the internet to make sure Pluto Rocket wasn’t a guest star on Paw Patrol or something, and after I verified it had sprung from her own mind, I wrote it down. And watching Rosa zoom around, Pluto’s character started taking shape.
I’d already come up with a character named Joe Pidge: a stylish, strutting, sort of Ratso Rizzo type, but in kid-friendly pigeon form. He was a smart, colorful, confident character who had shades of my son, Evan.
The two characters immediately started having conversations in my mind, which felt like extensions of the ones my kids were having as they spiraled around our house. I just started taking notes.
The series is known for its humor. How do you incorporate comedy into the storyline while still maintaining an engaging plot?
Pluto Rocket is on a secret mission to check out life on Earth. She’s snuck away from Pluto, so needs to keep a nice, quiet profile. The first inhabitant of Earth she meets is Joe Pidge, a loud, fast-talking pigeon who thinks he knows everything. If you have one character who has certain traits or goals, it’s often good to have a second character who runs the opposite way, so they can bounce off each other.
When I write, I don’t think about writing for kids. I just focus on coming up with a good and funny story. And then just make sure to remove any inappropriate parts.
As a graphic novel, the illustrations play a crucial role. Can you describe your process for creating the artwork for the series?
A crucial aspect of graphic novel layouts is making sure to leave enough room for the word balloons, especially with gabby characters like Joe Pidge. I start with really rough sketches. Once I decide that I like where everything is, I do the pencils more tightly, then add the dark lines, colors, background details, and finally those word balloons, hopefully without cutting off any faces. I do everything in Procreate on the iPad.
The series explores themes of friendship, exploration, and overcoming fears. What key messages do you hope young readers take away from Joe and Pluto’s adventures?
I’m aiming to create characters who embody a child-like awe of the world, who remind all of us to remember how magical everything is around us is, from distant planets to how delicious ketchup is on French fries. The messages are (1) be welcoming of those who are different, (2) travel and embrace new places, and (3) being outstanding is more about being yourself than wearing a distinctive hat.
How has the reception been for the Pluto Rocket series, and what feedback have you received from readers? Have there been any particularly touching or memorable responses from children or parents about the books?
The reception? Tears of laughter streaming down everyone’s faces, and loud demands for Pluto be reinstated as a planet. Or at least, that’s what’s happening in my dreams. In reality, the first book has been nominated for several awards, so that’s nice. But, of course, it’s wonderful when I get fan mail or – best of all – fan art from a reader who says they love the characters and can’t wait for more. To all of those readers, tighten your rocket straps, more Pluto will be blasting off soon!
* GILLIGAN, Paul. Boy vs. Shark. illus. by Paul Gilligan. 240p. Tundra. Oct. 2024. Tr $20.99. ISBN 9781774880449.
Gr 4 Up--Gilligan's middle grade graphic novel takes readers back to the gilded 1970s when kids were allowed to roam the streets unsupervised and untethered to electronic devices. Ten-year-old Paul and his lifelong best friend David are crossing over from children who play outside all day to kids who hang out at the mall. The most popular movie in the country is the terrifying flick Jaws, and all the cool kids are going to see it. However, Paul would rather stay home and read comic books and watch The Sonny & Cher Show. When Swain, the meanest kid in the neighborhood, starts hanging around, Paul finds himself in a panic over potentially losing his best friend and forces himself to go to see Jaws as proof of his bravery and maturity. The shark terrorizes Paul's imagination and bullies him into thinking he needs to "man up." Readers will be relieved at the choices Paul makes as he demonstrates that good kids can make bad choices, but learn from them rather than repeat them. The illustrations represent the personalities of the characters perfectly, with David and his friends depicted as boys next door and Swain as a browbeating villain. Readers unfamiliar with the era are treated to a "Time Capsule" glossary at the end. VERDICT This hilarious look into life as a kid in the summer of 1975 is a must-have for any and all middle grade libraries.--Kim Gardner
KEY: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | BL Bilingual | SP Spanish
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Source Citation
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Gardner, Kim. "GILLIGAN, Paul. Boy vs. Shark." School Library Journal, vol. 70, no. 10, Oct. 2024, p. 73. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A836879235/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=eac58147. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
Gilligan, Paul BOY VS. SHARK Tundra Books (Children's None) $14.99 10, 15 ISBN: 9781774880463
A graphic memoir presenting a humorously disarming look at machismo and personal responsibility.
It's 1975, and 10-year-old Paul is enjoying a summer vacation with his Fantastic Four comics, military toys, and best friend, David Chu. The harmony is disrupted when Swain, an older boy, wins over both David and Bernie Dias, the youngest kid in the group. "Playing with" friends becomes the more mature "hanging out." The guys are also fixated on the new blockbuster horror movie,Jaws. But the film traumatizes Paul to the point that he has conversations with an imaginary shark who pressures him into expressing the most toxic version of masculinity. Irish American Paul's parents mostly talk over him, leaving him to his internal monologues, particularly whenever his dad tries to teach him about cars. Between the shark and Swain's influence, Paul briefly becomes a more callous version of himself, dispensing insults, throwing crabapples, and going along with Swain's shoplifting dare. Paul is usually so gentle that he prefers to play baseball with a tennis ball; he ultimately tunes into his inner compass and resists being a jerk for the sake of impressing others. Elaine, Bernie's sister, punctures male egoism on the spot, modeling maturity, and Paul and his friends ultimately demonstrate genuine growth. The simple but dramatically expressive artwork plays to Gilligan's strengths with deadpan humor, and the text and illustrations work in harmony to convey complex insights and feelings with clarity.
An authentic and funny look at masculinity and growing pains that resonates across the decades. (1975 Time Capsule)(Graphic memoir. 10-13)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Gilligan, Paul: BOY VS. SHARK." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2024. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A804504638/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9a2b14ae. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
Gilligan, Paul PLUTO ROCKET Tundra Books (Children's None) $13.99 3, 18 ISBN: 9781774885413
Rocket into new adventures with a kindly extraterrestrial and a streetwise pigeon.
Pluto Rocket, a magenta antennaed creature who only recently landed on Earth but who's happily taken to the planet with guidance from self-assured Joe Pidge, has a great idea. Today, the two will venture to a different neighborhood as Pluto attempts to fulfill a secret mission: proving that Earthlings are nice. The usually cocksure Joe Pidge is uncertain, but he gamely faces his fears of the unknown. Having apparently gotten all his information from nursery rhymes, Joe's convinced that the local candy shop is in fact owned by an evil witch and that a nearby bridge conceals a nasty troll. But the pair swiftly realize that these community members are generous and helpful. As they continue exploring, Joe's self-serving perspective conflicts with Pluto's more altruistic point of view. When Joe finally performs a good deed at Pluto's urging, he discovers how rewarding helping can be--especially when it comes with plenty of adulation. But amid all the attention, Pluto's mission is compromised. Lovable friends, lots of action and humor, a quirky but generally low-stakes plot, easy-to-read layouts, and bright, blocky graphics are a formula for a winning read. The interplay between the naïvely optimistic Pluto and the more cynical Joe is a delight.
By turns goodhearted and goofy--and always entertaining.(Graphic fiction. 6-9)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Gilligan, Paul: PLUTO ROCKET." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A830532284/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=87a2a59f. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.