You can’t turn around these days (metaphorically speaking) without bumping into somebody else who’s desperately trying to make Garfield look funny. I think it’s a losing battle, to be honest; Mark Evanier and company may have succeeded with their version, but it’s fairly obvious that Jim Davis hasn’t cared about it himself for years. (If he ever did care.) Still, there have been some pretty valiant efforts lately:
- First, there was the strip without Garfield’s thought balloons.
- Then there was Lasagna Cat, which is just…well, weird. But strangely fascinating, too.
- Next, Garfield Minus Garfield. That Jon Arbuckle is one lonely demented bastard, isn’t he?
- And next, Garfield as a real cat, which just continues the trend.
- And now, the Garfield panel randomizer. Not as funny as some of the others, maybe, but more funny than the actual strip.
Yet I fear that “Garfield” is an unstoppable behemoth. Long after all the rest of the world is dust, it — and maybe According to Jim reruns — will be all that’s left of mankind. Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair indeed. It’s not surprising, then, that so many people have tried to find some humor in that.
There was one site, I forget where, that made a comic “Arbuckle” where they took Garfield comics, and re-drew them with Garfield looking like a real cat, and only John had dialog. It was like that first link you posted, but without Garfield’s reactions, the comic is even more about how John has a depressing, depressing life.
But what about the little sausage dog?
Sick of Garfield? Snark on Marmaduke instead!
http://marmadukeexplained.blogspot.com/
Or, if you prefer, snark on all your favorite strips at the Comics Curmudgeon:
http://joshreads.com/