10 Best Garfield’s History of Dogs Comics, Ranked

During its ongoing run, the Garfield comic series has brought enjoyment to readers in many ways. Illustrious creator Jim Davis has proven himself a capable cartoonist with a wide set of skills. Numerous concepts have been explored over the years, including a unique Garfield take on the history of dogs.

In relating tales of fictional historical events in dog history, Davis uses Garfield’s unique perspective to provide readers with visually appealing and comical situations. From pre-historical canines to first-time occurrences, the best of these humorous scenarios will have readers laughing for years to come.

8

A Cat’s Fear of Dogs is Made Clear

Garfield: His 9 Lives (October 1984)

The original work, Garfield: His 9 Lives, presents an amusing possibility concerning the source of cats’ fear of dogs. According to Garfield, he encountered one of Odie’s very large ancestors during his first life. Although he just wanted to play with Garfield, the dinosaur-like dog seriously injures the poor cat. If other felines had similar experiences, it’s no wonder cats would have an instinctual fear of canines.

Davis draws attention to the dog by using vibrant colors that stand out against the environment. A key reason the comic successfully delivers humor is the technique’s effectiveness in creating the appropriate focal point. The dog’s massive size is apparent due to the provision of mountains in the distance. This entry’s comedy and unique concept sneak it into the rankings.

7

Professor Garfield Presents a History of Dogs

Garfield Hangs Out (December 1990)

Davis provides two original, hilarious pieces in the Garfield Hangs Out collection. One of which involves the “natural history of dogs,” as told by Garfield. Each section’s title, text, and illustration work together to create comedy. Each drawing resembles Odie, albeit comically altered, which aligns with Garfield’s perception. The text also matches Garfield’s personality and is a crucial element in creating humor.

Garfield’s comments on each item give readers amusing explanations of each illustration. The single-claim strategy used in most gags helps readers move through each joke quickly, matching the pace of a typical comic strip. Simplicity in each gag also helps to support the right tempo. While this interesting look at dogs of the past is humorous, the minor downside is a feeling of quantity over quality.

6

The Advent of Tail-Wagging Has a Downside

Publication Date: Sep. 2, 1980

Davis provides another humorous look at canine ancestry in his miniseries, “Garfield’s History of Dogs.” The run was short, lasting only a week, but each stand-alone comic in the series brings enjoyment through the presentation of comical scenarios built around creative ideas. A sound example is the origins of tail-wagging. The dog, which resembles Odie’s first design, amuses with its joyful exhibitions that stem from a universal query.

While the text adds to the comedy and makes the joke easier to understand, the narration is not required to perceive the strip’s comedy. Davis does an excellent job animating the action in each scene, which is suggestive enough for readers to pick up on meaning. If the dialogue were removed, it would still be obvious that the man is pleased with the dog’s wagging and annoyed by the slobbering due to the detail provided in the illustrations.

5

The First Dog Was Also The Unluckiest

Publication Date: Sep. 1, 1980

The record of the first dog, as told in “Garfield’s History of Dogs,” is an entertaining and somewhat tragic story. After only a short time on land, the first dogcatcher caught the creature. Each character’s appearance is hilarious because of the unexpected lizard traits employed. By leaving the face and arms of the dogcatcher unaltered, Davis creates additional visual humor.

As with the tail-wagging origin story, the strip requires no textual explanation. The body language of the characters throughout and the action in the conclusion give readers enough context to catch the joke. That said, the narration adds further to the comedy by providing more information to aid the gag’s setup. A display of happiness to be countered is also a critical factor in the joke’s success.

4

Dogs Were Ecstatic When Meeting The First Cat

Publication Date: Sep. 4, 1980

To the surprise of most fans, according to “Garfield’s History of Dogs,” the first cat was a welcome sight to canines. Not for the best reasons, as they just wanted something to chase up a tree, but an amusing motivation. The thought of a dog trying to chase a rock up a tree is comical, to say the least. Fortunately, cats came along to fulfill their needs.

Unlike most Garfield comic strips involving history, the animals are easily recognizable. The environment also bears a familiar resemblance. These relatable qualities of the characters, objects, and location allow readers to follow the short story and understand the comedy easily. The one downside is the inclusion of the word “for” in the final statement, which interrupts the tempo of the material and holds this entry to the middle of the rankings.​​​​​​​

3

Some Things Are Worth The Wait

Publication Date: Sep. 5, 1980

Among the first occurrences detailed in “Garfield’s History of Dogs,” the introduction of the fire hydrant is perhaps the most amusing. In a comic that needs little explanation for its illustration, a long line of dogs is depicted across three panels, with the conclusion providing the humorous reveal. The implied anticipation among the canines is creative and comical. While simplistic, the strip is endlessly entertaining, much like the portrayed line.

An important part of the comic’s effectiveness stems from the artwork. The plethora of light colors Davis uses is pleasant to view and allows readers time to examine each animal individually. Every dog is drawn in a unique style, resulting in the representation of multiple species. This variety is imperative due to fire hydrants supposedly being a crutch to all manner of canines.

2

Hunting Dogs Haven’t Always Had an Easy Job

Publication Date: Sep. 3, 1980

Dogs have long been helpful partners to hunters. Their sense of smell is an incredible tracking tool, and they follow orders better than inebriated friends. An installment of “Garfield’s History of Dogs” reveals that this practice has existed for a long time. The strip also shows humorously how much more challenging a hunting dog’s job was in the past.

The build to the joke is effective due to the contents of the first two scenes. A simple club in the first panel implies the duo is hunting for a creature of small stature. The large foot that follows suggests that their prey is much larger than first imagined, which is backed by a humorous conclusion. Once again, the key to comedic success is found more in the expressive illustrations than in the text.​​​​​​​

1

“Odie’s Past Lives”

Garfield Throws His Weight Around (October 1998)

Possibly the funniest Garfield comic involving the history of dogs is found within the collection Garfield Throws His Weight Around. In an original piece, Davis showcases some of “Odie’s Past Lives.” These five versions of Odie resemble famous historical figures, except for the rock. Although, that one might apply in the near future.

Aside from the title, no text is required to comprehend the parodies provided. The names add more humor, but readers would understand the material regardless. A primary reason for the ease of accessibility is the use of well-known historical characters, most of which are discussed in American education. The focus on Odie as a foundation for humor and the effective use of parody and personification puts this entry at the top of the rankings.