Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The Garfield Show: Unfair Weather

The Garfield Show #1: Unfair WeatherDavis, Jim. The Garfield Show: Unfair Weather
16 July 2013, Papercutz
E ARC from publisher

Garfield has his own graphic novel series detailing his continued adventures! In this first volume (and the book listed eight so far), Garfield is up to many of his old tricks. When Drusilla and Minerva, Jon's nieces, want to go camping, the group runs into very strange, wintery weather in the midst of a heat wave. It turns out to be the work of Hiram Pressure, working on behalf of an evil businessman. Garfield rights the situation, but also arranges for it to rain lasagna. A trip to Doc Boy's farm involves the animals getting hooked on television and delivery pizza. A room and pet cleaning robot is foiled.
Strengths: Garfield is funny stuff, and these comic books will be a big hit with students who follow the comic strip or, apparently, the television show. That explains a lot!
Weaknesses: I was confused by the change in style, both artistically and thematically, but now that I know about the television show, it makes more sense. These books (which, given their episodic nature, are really more comic books than graphic novels) are done in the style of the television show rather than the comic strip, and Garfield has adventures that take him a little further from home.

I used to think that Garfield was hysterical. When I was in high school, I had a couple of posters, even bought a book or two of the collected comics. Then, at one point, I no longer found Garfield funny! Wonder what happened. No matter, my students still like him!

2 comments:

  1. Hmmm, I used to feel the same way about Garfield. Now that you mention it, I wonder what changed too?

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  2. Anonymous9:11 PM EDT

    Interesting to know that Garfield is not all washed up. I thought Peanuts and The Family Circus was funny at one time, too.

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