Summary

• Garfield's enduring popularity is demonstrated through decades of amusing short-form storylines.
• Specific Garfield comic strips showcase his lazy, sneaky, and food-driven character traits.
• The legacy of Garfield provides iconic moments, highlighting the lazy orange cat's iconic humor and wit.

Created by Jim Davis, Garfield has been entertaining readers for decades in his short-form storylines that see the iconic orange cat pulling pranks on his loved ones, or criticizing strangers, or just simply being a lazy old cat complaining about nothing (and Mondays).

While the Garfield comic strips themselves are hilarious and fun, the really cool thing about Garfield’s legacy is how enduring it's been. Garfield’s been around for nearly half a century, and new comic strips are still being published to this day. That’s a lot of Garfield content to sift through, meaning some truly glorious comedic gems can easily be lost in the sheer number of comic strips that exist. That’s why it’s important to take a moment to look back at specific eras of Garfield’s history - and what better excuse to do that than during an anniversary. As of May 2024, here are 15 of the funniest Garfield comics that just turned 30!

15 Garfield Comes Up with a Creative Way to Hunt Mice

Garfield - May 21, 1994

Jon points to a mouse hole in the wall and tells Garfield to do what cats are supposed to do and kill the rodent. However, Garfield - being habitually averse to strenuous activity - comes up with a better (lazier) solution: Garfield will introduce the mouse to bungee jumping, and simply hope for an accident. This strip is a perfect example of Garfield’s character, both as a lazy cat disinterested in practically any sort of activity, and as an absolute smart alec.

14 Garfield Fears the Ghost of a ‘Good Dog’

Garfield - May 22, 1994

Garfield is lying on the sidewalk when he’s approached by an elderly couple, who get a kick out of seeing him. However, their conversation quickly deviates from iring Garfield to missing their dead dog, Bowser. They say that Bowser would have ‘made a hat’ out of Garfield, before walking away saying what a ‘good dog’ he was. Garfield finds Bowser so terrifying, that he fears even the idea that he could return to life and do the horrible things these people were describing - as Garfield is decidedly happy that this dog is dead, and hopes he stays that way.

13 Garfield Will Do Anything to Get a Treat, Even Pretend to be a Dog

Garfield - May 25, 1994

Jon calls Odie over to give him a treat, but when the pup doesn’t come, Garfield runs over in his place. However, Garfield isn’t approaching Jon as himself, but rather while impersonating Odie in the hopes that his ruse will yield him a snack. Garfield famously loves food, practically of any kind, and he also hates Odie. So, he’s more than willing to steal a treat meant for his rival pet, even if that means impersonating him - which is classic Garfield at his best.

12 Garfield Takes His Obsession with Sweets to a Whole New Level

Garfield - May 26, 1994

Garfield sprints by Jon holding a slice of cake, shouting “Dessert!” as he goes. Moments later, Garfield sprints past Jon again, this time holding a slice of pie, shouting “The Son of Dessert: Part Two!”. As if to distract Jon from the fact that he’s eating too much junk food with a clever comment, Garfield seemingly gives his desserts faux movie titles, creating a duology of gluttony. Garfield has always been food motivated, but giving his desserts ‘movie titles’ takes his obsession with sweets to a whole new level.

11 Garfield’s Laziness Can Only Be Treated by an Act of God

Garfield - May 31, 1994

Garfield is lying on the counter when Jon approaches him, asking if there’s any chance he’ll actually move today. Garfield sarcastically replies, “An earthquake is always possible”. Garfield’s laziness has arguably never been more accurately portrayed than in this strip, nor has his sarcastic nature. He’s so committed to doing nothing, that a literal act of God is the only thing that can get him to move, and Garfield makes that point very clear to Jon in a truly hilarious fashion.

10 Garfield Shamelessly Laughs at Jon’s Pain

Garfield - May 2, 1994

Garfield is walking through his home, thinking to himself how funny life is. Then, almost serendipitously, Jon tumbles down the staircase with his basket of dirty laundry spilled all over him. Garfield laughs at Jon's pain, then continues his thought by saying life is funny… for some people. Garfield is a little scamp in every regard, and while that’s usually translated through his food obsession or his laziness, it also shines through with his casual cruelty - and laughing at Jon’s pain is the perfect example of that.

9 Garfield’s Disdain for Nature is Matched Only by Jon’s Ignorance of It

Garfield - May 4, 1994

Garfield is commenting on how Jon decided to go out into nature today. The next shows Jon ‘running for his life’ away from a “rabid moth”. Garfield then comments on how he tried to warn Jon that Mother Nature is “a maniac”. Garfield is a cat who enjoys his little luxuries, so it makes sense that he wouldn’t enjoy the great outdoors. Jon, however, is simply ignorant when it comes to nature, despite actively wanting to spend the day outside, and his fear of a ‘rabid moth’ is hilarious proof of that.

8 Garfield Uses Jon to Feel Exciting, Which is a Hilarious Insult

Garfield - May 5, 1994

Garfield is walking through his house, breaking the fourth wall as if he’s the star of an infomercial selling a ‘self-help’ product. However, Garfield isn’t trying to sell anything, he’s just offering readers a bit of advice through example, saying that if someone wants to feel more exciting, then they should hang out with someone who’s duller than they are. At that point, Garfield embraces Jon, as if to present his owner as evidence of how well this method works for him - and it’s as hilarious as it is insulting.

7 Garfield Can it that He Is, Indeed, a Mischievous Scamp

Garfield - May 9, 1994

Jon is noticeably angry at Garfield for some unclear reason. Even Garfield doesn’t know what he’s done to invoke Jon’s wrath. Garfield asks Jon what he could have said to make Jon so angry, before considering that it may have been any one of several things he had done. If Garfield is anything, he’s self-aware, as he fully acknowledges that he’s playfully cruel, utterly lazy, and absolutely food-crazed, and he also knows how much he can get under Jon’s skin. And that is what makes this mischievous orange cat so hilarious, as he does absolutely nothing to change himself.

6 Garfield’s Laziness is Matched Only By His Spitefulness (in the Funniest Way)

Garfield - May 10, 1994

Jon is scolding Garfield about his attitude, saying that he wants to see less indifference around the house. When Jon asks him what he thinks about that, Garfield replies, “up to you”. Jon just said that he wanted Garfield to be less indifferent, and while Garfield is fully capable of exhibiting strong opinions about any given topic or circumstance, he’s certainly not going to give Jon what he wants in this instance. So, if Jon wants Garfield to be less indifferent, then Garfield is going to be indifferent ‘even harder’, which is a perfect example of Garfield’s hilarious spitefulness.