Jon (found prototype "Garfield" comic strip; 1976-1978): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxFound
|title=<center>Jon</center>
|title=<center>Jon</center>
|image=JonsGarfield.PNG
|image=GarfPrototype.png
|imagecaption=Garfield as he appears in this comic strip.
|imagecaption=Garfield as he appears in this comic strip.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|datefound=05 Jun 2020
|foundby=[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0V8r4kuIWIl6Sy-NHj2lg Quinton Reviews]
}}
}}
By now, almost everyone knows about Jim Davis's famous comic strip cat, ''Garfield''. However, what is much lesser known is the fact that, before the ''Garfield'' comics were syndicated into several mainstream newspapers, Jim Davis had published various "prototype" ''Garfield'' comics weekly in the Pendleton, Indiana newspaper, The Pendleton Times. These comics were interestingly titled '''''Jon'''''.
By now, almost everyone knows about Jim Davis's famous comic strip cat, ''Garfield''. However, what is much lesser known is the fact that, before the ''Garfield'' comics were syndicated into several mainstream newspapers, Jim Davis had published various "prototype" ''Garfield'' comics weekly in the Pendleton, Indiana newspaper, The Pendleton Times. These comics were interestingly titled '''''Jon'''''.
Line 12: Line 14:


==Name Change==
==Name Change==
After September 1st, 1977, the strip's name was changed to ''Garfield'', named after the cat in the comic strip.
After September 1st, 1977, the strip's name was changed to ''Garfield'', named after the cat in the comic strip. This was suggested by Tom K. Ryan, creator of the comic strip ''Tumbleweeds'', pointing out that Garfield had all the good lines, and was the main focus of certain strips.


==Mainstream Syndication==
==Mainstream Syndication==
Line 18: Line 20:


==Resurface==
==Resurface==
For some reason, this short-lived comic strip had gone almost completely undocumented for 40 years until just recently on July 28th, 2019, when Youtuber Quinton Reviews had someone in Pendleton make scans of various then-lost [[Gnorm Gnat (partially found Jim_Davis comic strip; 1972-1975)|''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips]] (Jim Davis's other Pendleton Times comic). However, to his surprise, he later got another email with the subject "Here is Jon", revealing to him, and the ''Garfield'' fandom, 38 of these comics.
For some reason, this short-lived comic strip had gone almost completely undocumented for 40 years until just recently on July 28th, 2019, when Youtuber Quinton Reviews had someone in Pendleton make scans of various then-lost [[Gnorm Gnat (found Jim_Davis comic strip; 1973-1975)|''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips]] (Jim Davis's other Pendleton Times comic). However, to his surprise, he later got another email with the subject ''"Here is Jon"'', revealing to him, and the ''Garfield'' fandom, 38 of these comics.


==Availability==
==Availability==
Knowing that The Pendleton Times was a weekly publication, and that the first ''Jon'' comic strip was made on January 8th, 1976, and the last on March 2nd, 1978, It is most likely that at least 104 ''Jon'' comic strips exist. However, only 38 had been preserved on the internet in a PDF file, with the rest being lost as of now.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e6qIhEusfMgSJ9-e_R-Vgh4Vrlq93-aw/view Google Drive document containing 38 prototype ''Garfield'' strips, as well as various ''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips.] Retrieved 23 Aug '19</ref> The currently found ones were discovered in a public library in Pendleton, along with several ''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips.  
From January 8th, 1976, to March 2nd, 1978, 112 ''Jon'' comic strips were produced. However, only 38 had been preserved on the internet from their initial discovery to their complete release via a Google Drive document uploaded by Quinton Reviews.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e6qIhEusfMgSJ9-e_R-Vgh4Vrlq93-aw/view Google Drive document containing 38 prototype ''Garfield'' strips, as well as various ''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips.] Retrieved 23 Aug '19</ref> The first found strips were discovered in a public library in Pendleton, along with several of the ''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips.  


In January of 2020, YouTuber Quinton Reviews traveled to Pendleton and scanned every Jon and Gnorm Gnat comic he could find,<ref>[https://twitter.com/Q_Review/status/1217201304663142401?s=20 Tweet by Quinton revealing his plans for preserving the Jon and Gnorm Gnat strips.] Retrieved 20 Mar '20</ref> meaning most if not all of these lost comics will be publicly preserved in the future.
In January of 2020, Quinton traveled to Pendleton and scanned every Jon and Gnorm Gnat comic he could find,<ref>[https://twitter.com/Q_Review/status/1217201304663142401?s=20 Tweet by Quinton revealing his plans for preserving the Jon and Gnorm Gnat strips.] Retrieved 20 Mar '20</ref> before later making them all available for public consumption on June 5th, 2020 alongside an accompanying documentary video about the process.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed heights=125px>
<gallery mode=packed heights=125px>
File:Arbuckle1.PNG|The very first ''Jon'' strip.
File:1976,01,08.png|Digital scan of the very first ''Jon'' strip.
File:Spotcomparison.PNG|Comparison between a ''Jon'' strip and a mainstream ''Garfield'' strip, where the punchline was changed to reflect Odie's name change.
File:Spotcomparison.PNG|Comparison between a ''Jon'' strip and a mainstream ''Garfield'' strip, where the punchline was changed to reflect Odie's name change.
File:Catfood.PNG|The first strip with the name changed to ''Garfield''.
File:1977,09,01_B.png|Digital scan of the first strip with the name changed to ''Garfield''.
File:ThelastGarfieldproto.PNG|The last 2 known prototype ''Garfield'' strips.
File:ThelastGarfieldproto.PNG|The last 2 known prototype ''Garfield'' strips.
File:RestoredJon.jpg|Restoration and colorization work by LMW user Connor64 on the first ''Jon'' comic strip.
File:JonRecolor.png|Colorization work by LMW user Goosen12 on the first ''Jon'' comic strip.
</gallery>
</gallery>
{{Video|perrow  =1
==Videos==
{{Video|perrow  =2
   |service1    =youtube
   |service1    =youtube
   |id1          =ZSPidZP_3X8
   |id1          =ZSPidZP_3X8
   |description1 =YouTube video by Quinton on ''Jon'' as well as ''Gnorm Gnat'' (starts at 8:55).
   |description1 =A video mentioning Gnorm Gnat and including some comics. (Explanation starts at 1:48 comics start at 5:18)
  |service2    =youtube
  |id2          =IG6y6FkMEQ4
  |description2 =Follow-up video from Quinton Reviews detailing the documentation process.
}}
}}
==External Link==
==External Link==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield Wikipedia page on ''Garfield'', mentioning Jon.] Retrieved 24 Aug '19
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield Wikipedia page on ''Garfield'', mentioning Jon.] Retrieved 24 Aug '19
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mIxJ-58j1j001X7PHmafY3y8mdtG8HV-/view Google Drive document containing every ''Jon'' comic strip.] Retrieved 05 Jun '20


==Reference==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Lost comics]]
[[Category:Found media]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Historic]]
[[Category:Historic]]

Revision as of 03:35, 29 July 2020

GarfPrototype.png

Garfield as he appears in this comic strip.

Status: Found

Date found: 05 Jun 2020

Found by: Quinton Reviews

By now, almost everyone knows about Jim Davis's famous comic strip cat, Garfield. However, what is much lesser known is the fact that, before the Garfield comics were syndicated into several mainstream newspapers, Jim Davis had published various "prototype" Garfield comics weekly in the Pendleton, Indiana newspaper, The Pendleton Times. These comics were interestingly titled Jon.

About

Jon centers around the titular character Jon, along with his plain, stripe-less cat, Garfield. Lyman, the character who eventually infamously disappeared with no explanation in Garfield, also had an appearance here, along with his dog, Spot. Spot is the original version of Odie in this comic strip. It's unknown why his name was changed, but a likely reason is that the name "Spot" is a very stereotypical name for a dog, which was made fun of in one of the comics. This name change also resulted in Davis having to alter the punchline of one of the comics, so that it would still work when remade in Garfield. Most comics in this series would eventually get slightly altered and re-released as mainstream Garfield comics when those came out. However, there were a few unique comics which never got adapted into Garfield.

Name Change

After September 1st, 1977, the strip's name was changed to Garfield, named after the cat in the comic strip. This was suggested by Tom K. Ryan, creator of the comic strip Tumbleweeds, pointing out that Garfield had all the good lines, and was the main focus of certain strips.

Mainstream Syndication

On March 2nd, 1978, it was revealed to Pendleton Times readers that the newly-named Garfield would be getting syndicated into more mainstream newspapers. 2 final prototype strips were shown as a farewell, showing designs for Garfield and Jon much closer to how they looked in the first few mainstream Garfield strips.

Resurface

For some reason, this short-lived comic strip had gone almost completely undocumented for 40 years until just recently on July 28th, 2019, when Youtuber Quinton Reviews had someone in Pendleton make scans of various then-lost Gnorm Gnat comic strips (Jim Davis's other Pendleton Times comic). However, to his surprise, he later got another email with the subject "Here is Jon", revealing to him, and the Garfield fandom, 38 of these comics.

Availability

From January 8th, 1976, to March 2nd, 1978, 112 Jon comic strips were produced. However, only 38 had been preserved on the internet from their initial discovery to their complete release via a Google Drive document uploaded by Quinton Reviews.[1] The first found strips were discovered in a public library in Pendleton, along with several of the Gnorm Gnat comic strips.

In January of 2020, Quinton traveled to Pendleton and scanned every Jon and Gnorm Gnat comic he could find,[2] before later making them all available for public consumption on June 5th, 2020 alongside an accompanying documentary video about the process.

Gallery

Videos

A video mentioning Gnorm Gnat and including some comics. (Explanation starts at 1:48 comics start at 5:18)

Follow-up video from Quinton Reviews detailing the documentation process.

External Link

References