Let's make new Garfield comics

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Let's make new Garfield comics

rodbeard: Jul 21, 2005

Moon Atari posted:

Forgive this lengthy derail: but Jim Davis's claims cannot be trusted. He also claims that Lyman's short-lived presence in the comic and unexplained disappearance is simply a result of Garfield increasingly fulfilling Lyman's intended function of being someone for Jon to converse with. Yet other bit characters like Irma continue to make regular appearances decades after their introduction. Jon even has multiple neighbours and an entire extended family that still make infrequent appearances.

I reject Davis's claims . It is obvious Lyman was deleted from existence after Davis realised that Lyman had some unintended implications. The year is 1978. Lyman is the first recurring character addition (both other humans like Liz and animals like Nermal and Arlene had yet to be introduced). This makes him the first human character for Jon to share frequent panels with–having coffee together, sitting on the couch together, wearing matching tennis outfits etc.

He is a moustachioed man who suddenly moves in with Jon. From his first appearance his mannerisms are maybe not what would be expected of a man in the '70s:

Due to the panel comp he and Jon are often depicted in rather close physical proximity:

And there is stuff like this where the transition between second and third panel makes it appear that they are maybe dressing in the same room:

Also one of Lyman's few known hobbies is disco dancing.

All of this is to say: he and Jon's relationship had unintentional gay subtext that Davis, in his odd stilted style, didn't notice but probably had pointed out to him at some point. His sudden disappearance (coincidentally in 1982, the year the term 'GRID' was coined and publicised by the NYT in the early days of the AIDS epidemic) might not have been explicitly out of homophobia on Davis's part, but rather due to his goals being exclusively about commercialisation and mass marketability rather than art.

But I like to imagine a world in which Lyman had stayed with Jon as the one single instance of Davis taking a stand and insisting upon a creative rather than financial decision. A world in which Garfield is exactly what it is now, but also an early example of gay representation in popular and children's media, therefore earning it a place in pride history that would obligate people to defend its quality and cultural value. Alternatively that same statement but rather than 'gay representation' it is ''dog-cum-drinking representation'.

# ? Nov 4, 2020 23:47

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# ? Jun 5, 2024 05:00

Regalingualius: Jan 7, 2012; We gazed into the eyes of madness... And all we found was horny.

For real though: how the gently caress did Garfield become so popular?

# ? Nov 4, 2020 23:51

Duct Tape Engineer: Feb 16, 2005; Look at you, hacker: a pathetic creature of meat and bone, panting and sweating as you run through my corridors. How can you challenge a perfect, immortal machine?

Regalingualius posted:

For real though: how the gently caress did Garfield become so popular?

by being a cat version of marmaduke

# ? Nov 5, 2020 00:14

Ralph Hurley: Aug 3, 2009

Regalingualius posted:

For real though: how the gently caress did Garfield become so popular?

All I know is my very first experience of Garfield was when I was a little kid in the early 80s was not the comics but a stuffed toy i saw in a department store. Not the suction cup car window Garfield that was hugely popular a few years later, but this chill dude:

I mean, look at him. He rules. I begged my mom to buy it for me, then got into the books after that. My daughter who is 4 similarly was instantly into Garfield as soon as she saw him. He�s a fat orange cat, instant appeal. I showed her some of the comics and I swear she jumped ahead with being able to read the words. He�s just got that something.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 00:15

Bodhidharma: Jul 2, 2011; "virgin no more! virgin no more!" i continue to insist as i slowly shrink and transform into a corn cob

Regalingualius posted:

For real though: how the gently caress did Garfield become so popular?

Garfield is a cool cat who doesn't give a gently caress that's why people love him.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 00:19

Spazzle: Jul 5, 2003

Regalingualius posted:

For real though: how the gently caress did Garfield become so popular?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAh9oLs67Cw

# ? Nov 5, 2020 00:24

Tinestram: Jan 13, 2006; Excalibur? More like "Needle"; Grimey Drawer

yo mamma a Horus posted:

As a connoisseur of film theory, I appreciate this post

# ? Nov 5, 2020 01:11

SLICK GOKU BABY: Jun 12, 2001; Hey Hey Let's Go! 喧嘩する
大切な物を protect my balls

Regalingualius posted:

For real though: how the gently caress did Garfield become so popular?

People like cats. :confused:

# ? Nov 5, 2020 05:07

The Grimace: Sep 18, 2005; Are you a BigMac of imbeciles!?

I like Garfield.

I don't think he's extremely funny, or that he's high art or anything. I reserve that for Heathcliff. But Garfield is chill and generally non-offensive. I mean that's exactly what Jim Davis wanted I guess, to rake in the money, so it worked.

The 1990's cartoon was great though.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 07:47

R.L. Stine: Oct 19, 2007; welcome to dead gay dog house

# ? Nov 5, 2020 08:41

Code Jockey: Jan 24, 2006; 69420 basic bytes free

Moon Atari posted:

Forgive this lengthy derail: but Jim Davis's claims cannot be trusted.

holy poo poo I did not know the Lyman Canon, thank you

also I've been into Garfield since I was a little kid too, I had some of the toys, a bunch of the comic collections and loved the holiday specials. Garfield owns unironically

# ? Nov 5, 2020 10:53

Skratte: Nov 11, 2010

it's always halloween in my heart

# ? Nov 5, 2020 10:55

Bargearse: Nov 27, 2006; 🛑 Don't get your pen🖊️, son, you won't be 👌 needing that 😌. My 🥡 order's 💁 simple😉, a shitload 💩 of dim sims 🌯🀄. And I want a bucket 🪣 of soya sauce☕😋.

Fat orange cat. Loser owner. Dog jizz.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 11:53

Insert a Name Here: Nov 1, 2020; ]Heres comes a wild chalen-gerlrllr~

# ? Nov 5, 2020 12:07

BigBadSteve: Apr 29, 2009

Moon Atari knows his Garfield history well, and makes an an extremely compelling case for both Jon and Garfield guzzling dog cum on the reg.

IMO Garfield's hatred of Odie is because every time Garfield sees a dog, it reminds him of his own pitiful canine cum addiction, which he can't kick no matter how hard he tries.

Hypothesis: Jon killed his gay lover Lyman because Lyman always spat instead of swallowing. So, justifiable homicide.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 14:28

BAGS FLY AT NOON: Apr 6, 2011; A Soft Nylon Bag

Lyman is perfectly fine and living happily with his husband and adopted son Michael in Montreal. They aren�t wealthy, but they get by, and their modest home is full of warmth and love for their family and friends.

He left Jon years ago once it became clear that Jon is incapable of prioritizing his life or managing his own relationships.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 14:48

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

option 1

BigBadSteve posted:

Hypothesis: Jon killed his gay lover Lyman because Lyman always spat instead of swallowing. So, justifiable homicide.

option 2

DarkSoulsTantrum posted:

Lyman is perfectly fine and living happily with his husband and adopted son Michael in Montreal. They aren�t wealthy, but they get by, and their modest home is full of warmth and love for their family and friends.

He left Jon years ago once it became clear that Jon is incapable of prioritizing his life or managing his own relationships.

I choose option 2

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:08

Pope Corky the IX: Dec 18, 2006; What are you looking at?

Lyman became Magnum P.I.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:10

frankenfreak: Feb 16, 2007; I SCORED 85% ON A QUIZ ABOUT MONDAY NIGHT RAW AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY TEXT

#bastionboogerbrigade

R.L. Stine posted:

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:12

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

Pope Corky the IX posted:

Lyman became Magnum P.I.

honestly he could be either Thomas Magnum or Jonathan Higgins

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:18

Sunswipe: Feb 5, 2016; by Fluffdaddy

ilovebeersooomuch posted:

honestly he could be either Thomas Magnum or Jonathan Higgins

I say Higgins. Magnum's past was well-documented, Higgins was mysterious. Also, Odie was originally Lyman's dog, and Higgins kept two dogs that did not get on with Magnum.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:36

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:36

SIDS Vicious: Jan 1, 1970

ilovebeersooomuch posted:

Hell yeah Lyman living it up, lifelong bachelor

# ? Nov 5, 2020 15:47

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

Sunswipe posted:

I say Higgins. Magnum's past was well-documented, Higgins was mysterious. Also, Odie was originally Lyman's dog, and Higgins kept two dogs that did not get on with Magnum.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 17:17

baw: Nov 5, 2008; RESIDENT: LAISSEZ FAIR-SNEZHNEVSKY INSTITUTE FOR FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY

some inspiration

# ? Nov 5, 2020 17:30

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

In case anyone forgot:

# ? Nov 5, 2020 18:24

SavageMessiah: Jan 28, 2009; Emotionally drained and spookified; Toilet Rascal

ilovebeersooomuch posted:

option 1

option 2

I choose option 2

OPTION 3

Jon threw Lyman out because he cheated on him with the GARF

# ? Nov 5, 2020 18:39

BAGS FLY AT NOON: Apr 6, 2011; A Soft Nylon Bag

Sometimes when Jon kisses Liz he misses the musky wool of Lyman�s mustache.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 19:44

Uriah Heep: Apr 28, 2010; im having a bit of an existential crisis here guys

Skratte posted:

it's always halloween in my heart

this is not getting enough love, so tight.

I will take one (1) request for a Garfield cinematic universe drawing. I reserve the right to put little to no time into it.

# ? Nov 5, 2020 20:03

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

Communist Toast posted:

this is not getting enough love, so tight.

I will take one (1) request for a Garfield cinematic universe drawing. I reserve the right to put little to no time into it.

chef's choice
GO GO GO GO

# ? Nov 5, 2020 20:06

ilovebeersooomuch: May 23, 2014

Communist Toast posted:

this is not getting enough love, so tight.

I will take one (1) request for a Garfield cinematic universe drawing. I reserve the right to put little to no time into it.

or if you don't feel like chef's (artist's?) choice, how about The Dark Crystal?

Also I INSIST you put little effort into it. Good day sir. I SAID GOOD DAY

# ? Nov 5, 2020 20:10

Uriah Heep: Apr 28, 2010; im having a bit of an existential crisis here guys

ilovebeersooomuch posted:

or if you don't feel like chef's (artist's?) choice, how about The Dark Crystal?

Also I INSIST you put little effort into it. Good day sir. I SAID GOOD DAY

I dont know a lot about dark crystal but that little hairy dude is pretty fine