Comic Genesis Forums

I have a question. Let's say Garfield didn't exist and a young Jim Davis decided to start it up as a webcomic, do you think it would be successful as an online strip? We know it's huge as a syndicated strip and has a massive fan base. Call it what you want the bottom line is there are hundreds of thousands of people who read it and love it.
But, considering what online strips are popular, would it be find an audience? Look at the popular strips. Sinfest, Penny Arcade, Little Gamers, etc. Edgy, no language constrictions, and no editing.
I'm just curious as to what everyone's opinion is.

Jim Davis would be notorious for drawing a sad cat in the snow.

There's a distinct possibility. If he started a webcomic now, without the whole syndication thing going on, he wouldn't have gotten to the "tired and redundant old jokes" phase yet, and it seems like that's the beef most people have with his comic.

Chances are he'd still be drawing it himself, too .

Sortelli wrote:Jim Davis would be notorious for drawing a sad cat in the snow.

*dies laughing*


I think the strip would probably be a lot better if Jim Davis had not been subjected to the restrictions he has been. Unless he's a whole lot less creative than I'm assuming.

Considering that Garfield was created explicitly as a commidty to be purchased and sold I'm not quite certain it would have ever been a web comic. I think it would have been pitched, and if not sold, scrapped entirely.

If "Two Lumps" can gain an audience....

Almost all big webcomics have either a niche audience or an edge.
Garfield's nitche is mostly family people who aren't regular webcomic readers, and it is hard from edgy, offensive, in fact it is quite tame in every way. I think it would flunk because it has nothing that newspaper comics don't have, and webcomic readers usually look in comics for something different that what newspaper comics offer.
Plus, I've been drawing a big orange cay and what did it bring me? A measily kick in the nuts. *whimper*

Garfield could finally kill Nermal

and odie


and john


O.O it would be death.........DEATH AND LAZANIA!

(I know I'ma terrible speller leave me alone)

mcDuffies wrote:words of wisdom

I think you nailed it mcD. Good job.

He'd never find widespread acceptance because he isn't a gamer comic. Or anime. Or vampire-centric. And Jon isn't gay.

Though if he combined ALL of those, he'd be amazingly successful. Especially if Jon was boning Garfield.

Warren wrote:He'd never find widespread acceptance because he isn't a gamer comic. Or anime. Or vampire-centric. And Jon isn't gay.

You've possibly found four reasons why I still like reading Garfield...

I doubt it would ever explode, but as a webcomic, I imagine it would still be popular. Not penny arcade popular, it wouldn't have megatokyo level server suckage, but there are lots of webcomics of similar bent to Garfield that are at least somewhat successful.

Eh, I've never really been a big Garfield fan, so I probably wouldn't read it if it were a new webcomic. But I do like the simple art style. And Garfield is a pretty cute character.

http://gothymcgee.keenspace.com

Dutch! wrote:

Warren wrote:He'd never find widespread acceptance because he isn't a gamer comic. Or anime. Or vampire-centric. And Jon isn't gay.

You've possibly found four reasons why I still like reading Garfield...

And the four reasons why my strip hasn't exploded into the internet marketplace.


Ah well, back to the drawing board.

On the other hand, I claim that someone should put up Bill Watterson to making webcomics. He'd have all artistic freedom he desires, and he'd have a good start popularity because he's a Bill fuckin' Watterson. And we'd be happy he's making comics again - everyone happy!

Garfield was enjoyable, but did get very dull over time and became completely boring when I discovered web-comics. There are only so many ways to recycle 'cat eats everything in the house then kicks dog off the table' jokes. I think Dilbert is the only sindicated strip left in my list and it's waining as well.

...hmmm, speaking of cat eats everything in the house....brb *wanders off to the fridge*

anywherebuthere wrote:

Dutch! wrote:

Warren wrote:He'd never find widespread acceptance because he isn't a gamer comic. Or anime. Or vampire-centric. And Jon isn't gay.

You've possibly found four reasons why I still like reading Garfield...

And the four reasons why my strip hasn't exploded into the internet marketplace.


Ah well, back to the drawing board.

Well, yeah, same thing here.

But bugger going back to the drawing board! I'm stickin' with what I've got!

mcDuffies wrote:On the other hand, I claim that someone should put up Bill Watterson to making webcomics. He'd have all artistic freedom he desires, and he'd have a good start popularity because he's a Bill fuckin' Watterson. And we'd be happy he's making comics again - everyone happy!

No way. The last days of Calvin and Hobbes was a painful, cynical wankfest. The dude didn't quit soon enough.

It pains me to think it, but there's a point when good things must end, or they just stop being good. We'd remember Garfield more fondly if it wasn't run into the ground over and over. Berkley Breathed should have stayed in retirement.

It may bring some crazy old lady joy to see Marmaduke every day for 50 years, but comics just can't go on forever.

Also, Warren, you're forgetting the fifth element of webcomics! It's not enough alone for Jon to be gay. Garfield would have to be an anthropomorphic lesbian/bi-sexual catgirl.

.... I don't have anything really to contribute aside from my deep-seated, strong hatred of Nermal.

That said... if Davis were to make garfield a webcomic, are we assuming same starting place, and go from there, or idenctical archives online as the offline versions? 'cause Garfield could/would have developed a crapload differently online than offline....