Garfield Plus Garfield (Plus His Agenda)

Morning, Cartoon Nation...

Ohh, Jim Davis, You think we're not on to you. You and your teeming millions -- er, minions -- produce The Franchise That Is Garfield, same as it ever was (or seemingly that way since at least, oh, 1988). In our mind's-eye, we picture a work place as colorful or goofy as something out of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." We like to think "Garfield" is churned out with factory-like precision, gag after gag formula-tested on tykes, a practice unyielding to time.

But then -- reading the past two days of "Garfield" -- a sneaking suspicion emerges: Some days, it reads as if you're purposefully writing it as "Garfield Minus Garfield." As if, Mr. Davis, you've nicely embraced the derivative strip (more royalties, anyone?), and now entertain YOURSELF by imagining the "Minus" possibilities.

We could be wrong, but we re-read today's "Garfield" and -- as perfect as it is for a Garfield-neutered version -- our suspicions grow. Haha.

ELSEWHERE...

TRAIL WATCH:

The "Mark Trail" storyilne just gets odder and odder, even in "MT" terms. Now today, the strip seemingly namechecks TWO of the Three Stooges (if not, technically, four). Really: Can Curly and Shemp be far behind? Once again, like the Jim Davis case, we suspect Jack Elrod's people of being far savvier, smarter and --mostly -- self-entertaining in ways we don't always fully detect.

By Michael Cavna |  April 8, 2009; 8:30 AM ET  | Category:  The Morning Line
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Comments

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MC:

What's deal with any revisions to the comics changes from last week. Is there no decision reached? Or is the Post going to sit silent and not do anything? Didn't you say it might take a week or two? Well week two is almost up.

Return Judge Parker to the comics in the Post.

Posted by: Jam893 | April 8, 2009 9:11 AM

I'd like to see Garfield Minus Xerox, where his assistant is actually forced to draw him more than once per strip.

Posted by: jessecline | April 8, 2009 9:27 AM

Isn't G - G about Jon? He's not in any of those two strips.

Posted by: wiredog | April 8, 2009 10:10 AM

Hey look at that. Under each strip there is an option to "Enlarge Comic". Too bad the print version of the post doesn't have that.

Posted by: buckeye96 | April 9, 2009 8:05 AM

>> Jam893:

Post Management has said that it will notify Comic Riffs as soon as a decision has been reached either way.

>> buckeye96:

So true. I applaud the comment, even through my comics-induced squint.

--M.C.


Posted by: cavnam | April 9, 2009 8:28 AM

It must be bad coffee as I don't get the point of G - G as written. Would someone kindly explain it to me?

Posted by: tws1372 | April 9, 2009 8:37 AM

Jim Davis has embraced G-G (http://garfieldminusgarfield.net/private/61669516/fSymsOGXOgrmmihjqTZaCBY2) so it wouldn't be that surprising if he occasionally wrote a strip with that in mind. I think it's great that he can laugh at G-G.

Posted by: pandamonium | April 9, 2009 9:59 AM

>>M.C.:

Glad they will notify you. My correspondence with management has not been recognized.

If they don't bring back any comics (Judge Parker) and/or make any changes, they are only showing that they got their "tough choices" perfect.

And, that will be too bad. Because, it sounds like many, many others thought they didn't. And, still don't.

Posted by: brainiac1077 | April 9, 2009 11:54 AM

Found a pretty good newer comic (Cow & Boy). Anyway we can get it into the paper to replace one of the dead serial strips. How about this:
1) Replace Spider Man with Judge Parker
2) Replace Mark Trail with Pooch Cafe
3) Get rid of Family Circus and Dennis the Menace
4) Get rid of Agnes and replace with Cow & Boy

http://comics.com/cow&boy/?Page=1

Posted by: buckeye96 | April 10, 2009 8:14 AM

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