10 Garfield Comics That Showed His Softer Side (Against His Will)

Garfield is a famous prankster, a notorious food-motivated maniac, and a generally cynical cat. Garfield loves lasagna, he hates Mondays, and he finds no more pleasure in life than messing with Jon or bullying Odie. Indeed, when it doesn’t come from food, Garfield’s happiness comes from the embarrassment, suffering or overall misfortune of others. However, this should not suggest that Garfield does not have a softer side.

Sure, Garfield is a mischievous scamp, one who will pull a cruel prank on someone without giving it a second thought, but he’s also a well-rounded character with complex feelings and emotions. For example, Garfield goes through bouts of depression from the monotony of his life, and he also experiences loneliness when Jon or Odie aren’t around. But also, Garfield experiences deep happiness, and he has moments when he feels as sweet to those he loves. and once, Garfield finds himself showing his softer side even when he doesn’t want to, as shown in these 10 hilarious comic strips!

10

Garfield really didn’t want to like his best friend when they first met

Garfield – October 23, 1978

Pookie the teddy bear is Garfield’s all-time best friend, and has been practically since the beginning of the comic strip – but they didn’t start out that way. Garfield randomly found Pookie in Jon’s room while searching one of his drawers (surely to mess with him in some way). Upon meeting the teddy bear, Garfield is immediately offended. Garfield calls the stuffed animal “Dumb“,”Stupid“, and”stupid-looking“. However, after only a few moments of holding him, Garfield finally decides to give the teddy bear one last name: “Pookie“.

Garfield didn’t like Pookie when he first saw him, but soon after, he decided Pookie would be his new best friend.How he was full of love for the teddy bear totally against his will.

9

Garfield can’t help but succumb to Nermal’s irresistible cuteness

Garfield – March 15, 1980

Nermal is the self-proclaimed ‘cutest kitten in the world’, and in the comic, it seems Garfield would reluctantly agree. Usually, Garfield is as mean to Nermal as he is to Jon or Odie, as he finds Nermal’s cuteness irritating (which is perhaps rooted in jealousy). However, when Nermal gives Garfield a hug and a kiss goodbye, Garfield feels no irritation towards Nermal. Completely melted away – literally.

After Nermal gives Garfield a hug and a kiss, and then leaves Garfield’s house to go back home, Garfield’s body literally melts from the adorable actions of the kitten. Garfield has made it clear in the past that he’s not a fan of Nermal, but in this case, he can’t help but succumb to Nermal’s inarguably cuteness.

8

Garfield didn’t intend for Odie to hear what he really thought of him

Garfield – May 11, 2016

Garfield is famous for Odie, something he’s proven time and time again by the fact that one of his favorite things to do is bully the pup for no reason. However, it has also been shown throughout the comic strip series that Garfield secretly loves Odie, the same way one loves an annoying sibling. While this may be how Garfield really feels about Odie, he never intended to let Odie know. However, because of his “big thought balloon”, that’s exactly what Garfield does.

breaking the fourth wall, Garfield admits to the reader that he really enjoys being around Odie – and Odie somehow overheats him. In response, Odie gives Garfield a big hug, returning his sweetness with physical affection, even if Garfield’s tender moment was purely accidental.

7

Garfield falls in love with Liz totally against his will

Garfield – December 15, 2006

Liz is Garfield’s vet, so he’s naturally pretty wary of her. Ironically enough, Liz is also Jon’s long-time love interest, who eventually becomes his official girlfriend after years of poor dates. Needless to say, Garfield was not ready to accept Liz as a member of his family – until he inadvertently fell in love with Liz herself.

When Liz and Jon are watching a movie at Jon’s house (with Garfield hanging out next to Jon on the couch), Liz comments on the amount of cat hair that Garfield has left on the couch, saying, “I like that in a man “. With that note, Garfield’s admiration for Liz completely disappears, as he tells Jon that he is in love with her, and there is no way for him to fight it..

6

Garfield thinks his friends and family forgot his birthday (and it’s heartbreaking)

Garfield – June 19, 1994

Sometimes, when Garfield shows his softer side, it’s not necessarily moments where he’s handsome, but vulnerable – and that’s exactly what readers get in this comic. On his birthday, Garfield is hoping to find his friends and family (Jon, Odie and Pooky) throwing him a surprise party. Garfield excitedly sneaks around the house, giving them ample opportunity to surprise him for his birthday. However, after going to every room, Garfield finds no one, so he just decides to go to bed, depressed.

The sight of Garfield is disappointed on his birthday because the one he really loves doesn’t remember it is truly heartbreaking. But then, it’s revealed that they were simply hiding in the one place they knew Garfield would visit: his bed – bringing a happy ending to one of Garfield’s most sensitive comics.

5

Garfield finally lets his true feelings for Arlene show

Garfield – May 26, 2017

Arlene is Garfield’s girlfriend, although their relationship is much more akin to a casual fling than a committed partnership. Arlene matches Garfield’s cynical sarcasm with quick wit, making them a perfect match. However, Garfield rarely shows Arlene how much she means to him, but during one magical day under the moonlight, That has completely changed.

As Arlene and Garfield sit together on a fence, Arlene asks Garfield if he ever thinks about their future together, to which Garfield replies, “No“. Then, Garfield clarifies, “I’m too busy right now to enjoy our time together“, which is met with a content purr from Arlene. Garfield is incredibly reluctant to open up about his feelings, and even holds back a bit when he does. But Some people are worth overcoming that reluctance, and to Garfield, Arlene is one of them.

4

Garfield actually misses Odie when he’s gone (and has a hilarious way of showing it)

Garfield – June 30, 1984

During a Garfield Story arc where Garfield kicks Odie In next week (really), the pup is missing from a week’s worth of comic strips – indeed, he’s been sent hurtling through a time vortex of Garfield’s own creation. What is interesting, however, is that Garfield actually began to seduce Odie. It means Garfield regretted what he had done with OdieAnd he certainly chose a strange way to express that.

In the comic, Garfield flings his own head into his food bowl, simulating how Odie would knock him into his own food almost daily. This shows that Garfield really cares about Odie (something he would later admit in front of him), despite not being able to stand the pup on a day-to-day basis, Which is truly an example of Garfield showing his softer side against his will.

Garfield – May 11, 1984

One of Garfield’s favorite things to do is mess with Jon. However, it is also clear in this series that Garfield really loves Jon, and although he has a strange way of showing it sometimes, the affection never diminishes. In fact, it even shines through when Garfield isn’t even trying to be outwardly likable.

Jon points out how funny it is that Garfield is stroking his back earlier Ask Garfield why he’s so nice, but Garfield tells Jon he was just squishing a spider. Even though he may have just killed a spider, Garfield is still loving Jon with affection whether he meant to or not. Plus, just the act of killing the spider is a kindness itself. Unless he’s just rubbing spider-guts on Jon’s shirt, in which case Garfield just appears cute (definitely against his will).

2

Garfield is willing to risk his life to save a stranger

Garfield – July 16, 2016

Garfield’s apathy knows no bounds, because he can watch someone get hurt or be the cause of someone else’s suffering and feel absolutely nothing. Although it seems when someone’s life is on the line, Garfield will come into action. In the comic, Garfield is at the beach when he hears someone shouting from the water that they can’t swim. Garfield runs to the shoreline to try to save them, only to realize that it was a fish playing a prank on him.

Garfield is left feeling like a fool, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that he was willing to put his own life on the line to save a stranger. Garfield wasn’t trying to be nice or show his softer side, he simply proved that – when the situation called for it – he was ready to be a hero. (even against his own will).

1

Garfield really loves Jon & Odie (especially when he’s not conscious)

Garfield – March 23, 2003

At this point, it has been firmly established that Garfield – although consistently mean to them – really loves Jon and Odie. Usually, Garfield shows that affection through pranks and cruelty, but sometimes, He accidentally reveals his true feelings to them. Even when he doesn’t understand it. In this case, it is when Garfield is sleeping.

In this comic strip, Garfield, Jon, and Odie are all cuddling together in Jon’s bed. Jon briefly wakes up to see his two pets sound asleep on top of him before smiling and going back to sleep himself. Garfield was unconscious during his display of affection, but the fact that he was there at all confirms his love for Odie and Jon, even if he didn’t mean to show it. Which is why this is one of the 10 best Garfield Comics that showed his softer side (against his will).