[4] Marlton was first employed as a full-time cartoonist at Crikey in 2007,[5] where his political satire as First Dog on the Moon gained popularity.

Characters featured in Crikey cartoons included: the ABC Interpretive Dance Bandicoot, Brenda the Civil Disobedience Penguin, Ken the Hen (Gender Ambiguity Chicken), Warren the Water Buffalo, Prime Ministers Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott.

[5] Marlton appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) current affairs program The Insiders on 26 October 2008, discussing his favourite cartoons of the week,[6] and again on 12 September 2010.

The two went on to co-author and illustrate the book Kudelka and First Dog's spiritual journey : in which two intrepid cartoonists bravely tour the dangerous* Tasmanian whiskey trail which was published in 2014.

Products include soft toys, shirts, tea-towels, socks, playing cards, magnets, badges and calendars.

His tea-towels were discussed by the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, on the TV chat show Rove on 21 September 2008.

In 2013, Marlton toured his first live comedy show Cartoobs and other typos with your host First Dog on the Moon[18] to several Australian cities after raising $6,191 via a Pozible crowd-funding campaign.

Entitled "An Evening with First Dog on the Moon", the show involved Marlton talking through a powerpoint presentation then answering questions about his work and Australian politics fielded by audience members.