Killing the Sacred Cat

Copyright (c) Noelle Adams. All Rights Reserved.

Whatever happened to Garfield? Remember that fat orange cat with a fondness for lasagna, lounging around the house, and occasionally kicking Odie the dog off tables? The reason I’m asking is because I would really like to know what has happened to one of the most celebrated felines in comic-strip history. 

Over the past couple of years, the Garfield strip has become increasingly mediocre. Readers can go weeks without receiving a genuine laugh, or even an amused guffaw. What makes this deterioration even more concerning is the comparison between the strip’s current state and that of the 1980s, where Garfield was certainly as the height of its success. Garfield merchandising such as mugs, fluffy toys, annuals and calendars could be found everywhere, and the animated series, Garfield & Friends, impressed critics and TV viewers alike. 

So what has happened over the past decade to lead to such a collapse in the comic strip’s quality?  For the record, creator Jim Davis is not dead, nor has he been replaced by an inferior cartoonist. He has, however, just embarked on a new comic-strip called Mr Potato Head, which in all probability has distracted him from the Garfield strip. And let’s face it: there are only so many ideas a person can come up with when dealing with the basic premise of a cat, a dog, and their rather hopeless owner.

The mysterious demise of the comic-strip’s supporting cast has not helped the production of fresh ideas either. For the past couple of years, very character, with the exception of Garfield and his owner Jon Arbuckle, have faded into the background. Odie rarely makes an appearance anymore, neither does Garfield’s girlfriend, Arlene. His teddy bear, Pookie, and even the annoying kitten, Nermil, have vanished. With only Garfield and Jon left to occupy the cartoon, it just isn’t the same.

That leaves the question as to why Jim Davis does not follow the example of The Far Side’s Gary Lawson, and end the Garfield strip before the slide in quality continues? It would certainly not harm him financially, and for the devout Garfield readers out there, it would not necessarily mean a permanent farewell to their favourite feline. Just as has been the case with The Far Side, and Peanuts, vintage Garfield could be brought back and published in newspapers and magazine.

I, for one, would support this notion if it meant the return of Garfield as he was meant to be: tripping Jon up as he enters a room, receiving a drool-soaking from Odie, and, of course, mailing Nermil to Abu Dhabi.