Garfield 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna: The Life & Times of a Fat, Furry Legend!

By Jim Davis

Book Overview

Celebrate the big 3-0 with the lasagna-loving legend

"If Garfield ever lost weight, I'd lose my job security."
-Jim Davis

When the world' s most famous feline hits the three-decade milestone it's time to celebrate 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna is a tribute to this tremendous achievement. Organized by decade, each with an introduction by Jim Davis, this lavishly illustrated volume features more than four hundred strips, including thirty of Jim Davis's all-time favorites-with informative remarks from Jim on why they made the grade. Packed with early sketches, enlightening quotes, and fun facts (did you know that the Garfield comic was originally titled Jon?), this book shows how Garfield evolved from a witty kitty to a world-renowned fat cat.

Of Jim Davis's "little hobby," Blondie cartoonist Dean Young writes: "Every one of these] little treasures is an exquisite menagerie of comic timing, writing, and cartoon art. It's easy to see why his strip is continually voted one of the best on our planet by readers everywhere."

So if you appreciate the unparalleled splendors of layered pasta, need something to ward off those nap attacks, or have a healthy appetite for humor, 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna is just the ticket. Perhaps Jim Davis puts it best: "This whole line of work is to make people happy and smile." Garfield's millions of fans couldn't agree more.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345503791
• ISBN13: 9780345503794
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Random House Worlds
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 2.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 9.3" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 9 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 8

Customer Reviews

The Complete History of the Pop Culture Icon

Sure, Garfield has become a pop-culture icon. Either loved by people for its humor, or hated for its lack thereof, Garfield has reached his third decade of publication, and this hardcover collection surveys the strip from beginning to end. Each decade is covered, with an introduction by Davis, and has lots of commentary about the characters (did you know that Jon is a cartoonist?), and shows many of the background characters that come in and out of the strip. This collection allows you to watch both the development of Davis' artwork and the personalities of his characters. If you don't like Garfield, there really isn't much here for you (maybe try the Garfield Minus Garfield collection, but as 33 of the Garfield collections have made the NYT Bestseller list, plenty of people will find this collection a necessity for themselves or as a gift for someone else.

A Look Back Through the Garfield Years

My son got this book as a gift from grandpa this Christmas and is thrilled with it. It can't even begin to cover everything in the history of the famous fat cat, but it has enough of the early and classic strips to earn a spot on any Garfield lover's bookshelf. Chapters are arranged by decades; memorable strips include the first Garfield comic ever published, Garfield eating straight from the lasagna pan, "Banzai!", and a visit with Doc Boy, Jon's not-too-swift brother out on the farm. This hardcover edition has a full-color cover and additional dustjacket, perfect for gift-giving. Jim Davis puts his 30 favorite garfield strips at the end of the book; the foreword is by Dean Young, creator of "Blondie".

Garfield:30 years of laughs and lasagna

My son in law couldn't wait to read the latest edition of Garfield's adventures. He gave it high praises as his favorite Christmas present.

It starts out with a fat orange cat . . .

I have only two favorite comic strips: Garfield and Calvin & Hobbes. I go for Calvin & Hobbes for political, social, and economic commentary (and also for Calvin's many imaginary adventures). And I go for Garfield for pure slapstick and ironic humor. Garfield never dwelves into politics, religion, social science, or the current American economy (it did only a few times back in the 70's and 80's). I admire the fat orange cat, who is really an anti-heroic anti-cat. He drinks coffee, he never chases mice, he eats Pizza and Lasagna, he watches TV all day, and now he has fun with a cellphone and the Internet. But he does eat cat food, hates dogs, sing on a fence, play with yarn, etc. And let's not forget the rest of the cast. Dim-witted Odie and nerdy Jon Arbuckle (who now has Liz as a girlfriend) accompany Garfield throughout almost every daily strip. Liz, Pooky, Nermal, Arlene, Irma, the mail carrier, and Jon's farm family make up the rest of the cast. I know the comics from 2001 to present are weaker compared to the golden age of Garfield comics (the 80's and early 90's), but they still make me smile every time. And this book, "Garfield: 30 Years of Laughs & Lasagna" should be with every Garfield fan (whether die-hard or modest). It sums up the history of the comic's publication, the creation of major characters, Jim Davis's favorite strips, and more. But what happens when Garfield is no more? I doubt that this would end in a few years, but I'll still remember the pure delight that I've had with the fat orange cat and his many diverse companions.

Classic Humor From A Classic Strip!

It's hard to believe that Garfield is 30 years old this year. As a long time appreciator of the cat who has come to exemplify the phrase "Couch Cat", such retrospectives are must reads and must haves. 30 Years of Laugh and Lasagna is just that, without the bib and messy food. Davis and company break the strip down decade by decade and give prime examples why Garfield is so popular. I still laugh at the Bad potato strip even though it is so darn silly! Simple, and obvious, but that is comic strip humor at its' best. Inbetween the humor, Davis writes short descriptions of the decades and his history. I never knew that he was Tom Ryans' assistant on Tumbleweeds, another strip I enjoy. The icing on the cake, the chocolate on the cookie, the peanut butter on the jam, is the 30 faves that Davis includes on the end. Davis is no one dimensional cartoonist, clearly, he even includes a dentist joke (feed the teeth!). You'll laugh until your lasagnas cooked. Tim Lasiuta