Cornered

Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1954, Mike Baldwin took almost 16 years 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.

Baldwin'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, Baldwin 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, Baldwin was editorial art director at The Hamilton Spectator.

“People go out of their way to appear less stupid,” Baldwin says. “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.”

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