Cornered by Mike Baldwin

Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1954, it took almost 16 years for Mike to land his first job. It was at a meat packing plant, and it lasted four hours. The experience made him realize what he really wanted to do -- work somewhere else.

Mike's career as an artist was launched a few years later in The Burlington Gazette. He began a weekly cartoon called Peepal, and a panel called Aunt Alas soon followed. Eventually, he became the newspaper's editorial cartoonist.

Over the next several years, Mike worked at various newspapers as a cartoonist, advertising artist and art director, while creating Cornered, which was launched in syndication in 1996. Before devoting his full attention to Cornered in 1998, Mike was editorial art director at The Hamilton Spectator.

“People go out of their way to appear less stupid,” says Mike. “We notice when we catch others doing it, but there’s a blind spot on our rearview mirror. What I try to do in Cornered is focus on that spot. Sketch out the blurry bits when we’re doing our best to be taken seriously and no one is buying it. Humor has a way of taking those awkward moments and replacing the sting with a smile of recognition. The humor in Cornered is quick and true and helps vaccinate us against all sorts of nonsense and seriousness that lies in wait around each corner.”

Mike lives in Southern Ontario with his wife, Lynda, and one very large cat.