Summary
The wide range of humor in the increasingly clever gags throughout theGarfieldcomic series is one of the main reasons fans have been so obsessed with the fat orange cat since he was created by Jim Davis in 1977 (a collective obsession that continues to this day). The comic strip ranges from sarcastic humor to physical comedy, all while retaining the unique voice of Garfield himself, which is especially impressive given the sheer number ofGarfieldcomics that exist today.
Even with new comics still coming out,Garfieldhas remained genuinely hilarious, and that’s because of how diverse the comedy styles are throughout the strip’s history. In fact, one could isolate a single collection of comics and see for themselves how true that is, and what better time to do that than right now.As of June 2024, an entire month’s worth ofGarfieldstrips turned 30 years old, and while a number of them feature Garfield in all his classic, sarcastic glory, this particular cluster of strips alsoincludes some of Jim Davis’ best physical comedy.
10Garfield Craves Excitement in His Life, so Long as He’s Not Involved
Garfield- August 19, 2025
Garfield has a reputation for being lazy for a reason, as practically every comic strip features the orange cat either doing nothing, or complaining about doing something. In this comic strip, however, Garfield finds a way to do both. Lying on the floor, Garfield is complaining about how he wishes something exciting would happen, which is followed quickly with the clarification that - of course - he doesn’t mean he wants anything exciting to happen to him.
This comic is a perfect depiction of who Garfield is as a character. He’s lazy, he complains, but he loves drama. Whether that comes from pulling pranks on Jon, bullying Odie, or just creating minor chaos wherever he can,Garfield loves it when exciting things are happening around him because he finds it entertaining - so long as he’s not at the center of it.
Garfield- June 25, 2025
While still lying on his back, Garfield admits that he’s thinking about doing something so relatively strenuous, that he believes it’s worth saying aloud: getting up and going to the next room. But then, when Jon approaches him,Garfield says that it would be better if Jon could bring the room to him, so he wouldn’t have to move. To that, Jon simply replies, “You’re worthless”.
Jon looks exhausted in this comic strip, and it’s likely that he just came home from work. So the last thing he’d want to hear is how his lazy cat, who presumably hasn’t moved all day, can’t even muster the energy to walk into the next room. Admittedly, calling Garfield worthless is a bit mean, but due to the absurdity (and overt laziness) of Garfield’s request, it’s more than justified.
8Jon Learns the Hard Way that Nothing is More Dangerous than a Grumpy Garfield
Garfield- Jul 26, 2025
In the first of many hilarious physical comedy gags during this isolated crop ofGarfieldcomics, Garfield groggily approaches Jon, who’s a bit too chipper for the orange cat’s liking, especially this early in the morning. Jon, still in his pajamas and enjoying a cup of coffee, mockingly comments about how Garfield is ‘finally up’, and about how Garfield seems like a ‘Mr. Grumpy’. To that,Garfield simply attacks Jon, leaving him battered and bruised.
It seems Jon didn’t understand that there’s nothing more dangerous than a grumpy Garfield, and that’s true for most people who prefer sleep to social interaction. If they’re in a bad mood, the last thing one should do is comment on that, especially mockingly - and Jon learned that lesson with Garfield the hard way (to a hilarious degree).
7Garfield Finds a Technologically Advanced Way to Bully Odie
Garfield- Jun 15, 2025
Since the dog’s introduction, Garfield has never been a fan of Odie’s, and he shows that in nearly every comic strip they share. Usually, Garfield will just insult or lightly bully Odie, but in this strip, Garfield finds a technologically advanced way to do it. Garfield tells Odie that he just installed a doggie door that Jon bought, but rather than putting it in the door, Garfield installed it in the floor.Garfield effectively created a trap door for Odie, allowing him to get rid of the pup anytime he wants with the push of a button.
Garfield is never truer to form than when he’s being mean, and this gag is a definite standout, as Garfield has almost never been this creative (or technologically savvy) when bullying Odie.
6Garfield Abandons His Dream of World Domination… for Pizza
Garfield- August 18, 2025
As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Jon asks Garfield if there’s anything in particular the orange cat wants for his birthday. Garfield’s initial response is to wish for ‘slave dogs’ to do his bidding, followed swiftly by “world domination”. But,when Jon offers Garfield a pizza instead, Garfield abandons his dream of world domination immediately.
While it’s hilarious that Garfield would throw away his lofty dreams of ruling the world for a pizza, it’s not really all that surprising. Firstly, pizza is great, and someone who likes lasagna as much as Garfield definitely loves pizza. Secondly, conquering the world would take a lot of work, even with slave dogs, and Garfield barely has the energy to walk into an adjoining room - so pizza it is!
5Odie Finds the Perfect Way to Prank Garfield
Garfield- August 07, 2025
As Jon is having his morning coffee with Odie by his side, he mentions to the pup that Garfield has been upset about the fact that he’s going to be another year older. At that moment,Odie gets a mischievous look in his eye before sliding a glass with dentures in it next to Garfield’s bed. The first thing Garfield sees when he wakes up that day will be the dentures, acting as another reminder that he’s getting older, which is sure to upset him more.
This prank would be really mean to do to someone so close to their birthday, especially if they’re feeling insecure about their age - key words being ‘would be’. There is no one more deserving of getting pranked like this than Garfield, especially considering that Odie is pulling the prank, given how much the orange cat bullies Odie on a regular basis.
4Jon & Odie Know EXACTLY How to Throw Garfield a Surprise Party
Garfield- June 16, 2025
When Garfield’s sixteenth birthday finally arrives, he excitedly walks around the house, expecting Jon and Odie to jump out and surprise him. However, after walking into one empty room after another, Garfield gets depressed and simply goes to his bed. But then, right as he’s about to climb into bed,Garfield is shocked by Jon and Odie yelling “surprise” from under his covers.
Jon and Odie know Garfield so well that they knew hiding in his bed (a place he was sure to visit regardless of his mood that day) would be the best way to surprise him for his birthday. Plus, the comic itself is hilarious, both due to Garfield’s reaction to being surprised, and the visual absurdity of seeing Jon and Odie squeezed into Garfield’s tiny bed.
3Garfield is the Only Cat Who Eats the Fish AND the Bowl
Garfield- June 19, 2025
When Jon catches Garfield with his mouth full, knowing what he’s eaten, Jon tells Garfield to spit it out. Garfield proceeds to spit Jon’s fish on the table, yet his mouth is still full. So, Jon tells him to spit out the rest, at which point,Jon finds the entire fishbowl on his head after Garfield spit it at him, with a less-than-amused fish now standing on the table, scowling at Jon.
Not only is this another great example of physical comedy, with Jon standing there like an idiot with a fishbowl on his head, but it’s also utterly hilarious when considering Garfield didn’t just eat the fish, he ate the entire bowl. Fans knew this cat loved to eat, but this is a new level, even for Garfield.
2Jon Confesses the Real Reason He Likes Seeing Garfield
Garfield- August 25, 2025
While enjoying a cup of coffee, Jon is appraoched by Garfield, and says that it’s good to see him. At that, Garfield immediately lights up, as he’s overjoyed to receive this level of praise from Jon. But then, Jon clarifies why it’s good to see him, as he follows up his initially pleasant greeting with, “I feel safer when you’re in plain view”, which is a bit of clarification that Garfield certainly could have done without.
Making Garfield feel excited about being appreciated before smashing that excitement to pieces was admittedly a mean thing for Jon to do, but not unfounded. Garfield is always pulling unprovoked pranks on Jon, andthis was simply Jon taking the opportunity to give Garfield a taste of his own medicine. Plus, Jon is just telling the truth, as Garfield being out of sight likely means he’s getting up to mischief.
1Garfield Sneezes Himself into a Mouse Hole in Jim Davis' Funniest Physical Comedy Gag of June 1994
Garfield- June 13, 2025
Garfield is lying in his bed - as he often does - before sneezing so hard, that he launches himself backwards right into a mouse hole. Garfield gets himself stuck in the wall, a hilariously annoyed look plastered on his face, with no one to blame but himself and the mouse, who Garfield is probably regretting not having eaten at this point.
There are a number of hilarious comic strips that show Garfield stuck in something. Whether that be window blinds or mouse holes, Garfield regularly finds himself in predicaments such as these. However, when it comes to physical comedy gags that were published in June 1994, this one absolutely takes the cake as the funniest. There’s nothing to get or explain,Garfield simply sneezes himself into a mouse hole and gets stuck there, which is why this is one of the 10 funniestGarfieldcomics that just turned 30 (and the best example of Jim Davis' physical comedy).
The Garfield Movie
Cast
The Garfield Movie, released in 2024, follows Garfield, the lasagna-loving cat, as he embarks on an outdoor adventure with his canine companion Odie. The journey begins when Garfield is unexpectedly reunited with his long-lost father, Vic, leading them to join a comedic, high-stakes heist.
