Garfield the cartoon cat is perhaps one of the most universally recognized symbols of American culture. Garfield originally debuted on June 19, 1978—-a day many fans recognize as Garfield's official birthday. The comic strip follows the life of an orange-and-black tabby named Garfield (named after creator Jim Davis's grandfather, James Garfield Davis) as he complains and sleeps through life.

Garfield grapples daily with a dog named Odie, his nemesis and polar opposite. Where Garfield is quick-witted and acerbic, Odie is insipid and happily vacant. The interplay between these two archetypes, as well as between that of Garfield and his milquetoast owner Jon, forms the crux of the conflict and comedy in the venerable strip.

The History of Garfield

When Jim Davis first conceived of Garfield, he gave the cat more of a truly feline role. As the years have progressed, however, Garfield has taken on ever more human attributes. Jim Davis first drew his most famous creation as a much larger, fatter cat--one that was hardly as lovable as the one we know today. By a few years into the run, however, Garfield's physical and psychological make-up were pretty much set in stone.

In the early '80s, Garfield was turned into a successful animated kids program, voiced by the former "Rhoda" actor, Lorenzo Music--forever to be remembered as the voice of "Carlton the Doorman." Music's interpretation of Garfield was similarly iconic and has stuck in the heads of most who heard it. A Garfield feature film featuring the voice of Bill Murray as the beleaguered cat was so successful that a sequel is in the works.

Garfield has also spawned a cottage industry of humor and cat related products, including Garfield stick-on dolls, magnets, calendars, stuffed animals, and more. So successful is the Garfield franchise that Jim Davis himself no longer bothers to draw every strip. Like any great comic creation, Garfield is bigger than any one person.

The Enduring Appeal of Garfield

Fans across America--and indeed across the world--still tune in every morning to witness Garfield's latest antics. The strip is one of the longest running and most successful syndicated franchises ever. It currently appears in over 2,600 papers. While some critics contend that Garfield has lost momentum over the years, others argue that the strip remains fresh, curious, and hilarious.

Identification with the feline's grumpy worldview is what seems to draw most of Garfield's fans into the fold. Who doesn't dread the spectre that is Monday, and who wouldn't rather be eating lasagna than doing almost anything else? The put-upon aspect of Garfield, forever surrounded by idiots, makes him the mascot for many an office drone as well.

Whatever the secret of this cat's success, it shows no sign of abating. The world seems to never get enough of this obstinate feline, which makes the news that the strip is available on the Net all the sweeter. Now Garfield can crawl out of bed and come right to his fans' desktops every morning. Even Mondays.