DespiteGarfield’sincredible success, cartoonist Jim Davis has one more goal he wants to achieve with his iconic creation.Garfield’s comics have hadreaders cracking up for decades over his comical observations and exploits. But Davis isn’t going to rest until he reaches one final milestone with his beloved comic strip.
Speaking withThe Guardian,Garfieldcreator Jim Davisreflected on the fortieth anniversary of the beloved strip. Davis was quite frank in his interview, discussing his initial troubles withGarfieldafter becoming syndicated and how the style of the strip’s humor changed with Davis' age.
The novelty’s not worn off because I’m still trying to get it right…Now and then if you’re able to do some silly gag that comes out of left field, that delights the readers, that’s worth a lot. That’s what I go for all the time. One day, I’d like to write that gag that makes the whole world laugh.
Davis reflects on how the comic is still going strong and that he’s “still trying to get [Garfield] right”. The cartoonist also says he still gets a kick out of making readers laugh and that one day he hopes towrite aGarfieldcomic strip that “makes the whole world laugh”.
Garfield’sCreator Doesn’t Want to End Until He Makes His Funniest Strip
But Has Jim Davis Already Made That Strip?
Who in this world doesn’t lovea goodGarfieldstrip? For over four decades, Davis' creation has been tickling the funny bones of readers everywhere, and not just through the comic strip medium, either. Garfield has been adapted into numerous half-hour specials, an animated series, two feature films with Bill Murray as the title character, and an animated film released just this past May. But throughout all the extended media, Davis' comic strip has kept running strong withgags centering around Garfield’s daily life and the foibles of his owner, Jon Arbuckle.
Davis' final goal for the series is a lofty, but admirable one. In many ways, Davishasmade the whole world laugh, whether it be through his original works, his adapted material, or even transformative material like the classic “Garfield Minus Garfield”. Of course, it’s pretty much impossible to make a strip that every single person on Earth would find funny. But it does speak tothe passion Davis still has for his material all these years later as he continues to ‘fine tune’Garfield.
Davis Isn’t Ever Going to Stop Trying to ImproveGarfield
Creators Can Learn a Lesson FromGarfield
It’s hard to look at one’s own work objectively, but Jim Davis doesn’t seem overly critical. He recognizes the heightsGarfieldhas achieved and appreciates his fans. But like any artist, Davis also knows that there’s nothing wrong with pushing oneself, even when one has a successful franchise like he does. At his core, Davis just wants to make as many people smile as possible and that should be a lesson to all who want to create. If Jim Davis is still hoping to make aGarfieldstrip that makes the whole world laugh, he’s got the right mindset.
Source:The Guardian
Garfield
Garfield is the central character in Jim Davis’s comic strip, which officially began in 1978 under the same name. Garfield is an orange tabby cat with a love of lasagna and a disdain for Mondays. He tends to torment his owner and dog while trying to secure more food - and quiet.
