Garfield

Story

Garfield is a fat, lazy, orange cat who loves lasagne and hates Mondays. He lives with his owner, Jon Arbuckle, and a drooling dog called Odie. He is an expert manipulator, and his infinite appetite gets him and Jon into all sorts of trouble.

Why we chose it

Garfield has been one of the most popular comic characters since his first appearance and is still a favourite with children today.

Where it came from

Jim Davis (b. 1945) grew up on a small farm in Marion, Indiana, where Garfield is based. The barnyard was stuffed with stray cats – up to 25 at a time! Originally, the comic focused on Garfield’s owner, Jon. However, the ginger fur ball, named after Davis’ grandfather, quickly stole the spotlight.

Where it went next

Garfield has appeared in over 2500 newspapers worldwide, breaking the Guinness World Record for most syndicated comic strip in 2002. Garfield features in numerous movies and TV shows, and all of the Garfield books have hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list. Davis received numerous awards for the comic, including the prestigious Reuben Award in 1990. Garfield also champions various campaigns, from wetland restoration to supporting children’s literacy.

Associated stories

Garfield’s big feet were suggested by Charles Schultz, creator of Peanuts.