Jon (found prototype "Garfield" comic strip; 1976-1978): Difference between revisions
(A page on the Jon comic strip, since there was a request for it. May be a little crappy though, so it'd be great if someone helped make this article just a little neater.) |
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|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span> | ||
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By now almost everyone knows about Jim Davis's famous comic strip cat | 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== | ==About== | ||
''Jon'' centers around the titular character Jon, along with his plain, stripe-less cat, Garfield. Lyman, the character who eventually disappeared | ''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, as you may have guessed, is the prototype 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 actually 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 rereleased in ''Garfield''. | ||
Most comics in this series would eventually get slightly altered and | Most comics in this series would eventually get slightly altered and rereleased as ''Garfield'' comics when those came out. However, there were a few unique comics which never got adapted into ''Garfield''. | ||
==Name Change== | ==Name Change== | ||
After September 1st, 1977, the name | After September 1st, 1977, the strip's name was changed to ''Garfield'', named after the cat in the comic strip. | ||
==Mainstream Syndication== | ==Mainstream Syndication== | ||
On March 2nd, 1978, it was revealed to Pendleton Times readers that the newly-named Garfield would be getting syndicated into more | 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. | ||
==Availability== | ==Availability== | ||
Knowing 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, we could say at least 104 Jon comic strips exist. However, | Knowing 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, we could say at least 104 Jon comic strips exist. However, only 38 have 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 of these prototype comic strips, along with 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 (partially found Jim_Davis comic strip; 1972-1975)|''Gnorm Gnat'' comic strips]] (Jim Davis's other Pendleton Times comic), so there's still a large chance that the lost comics will be found in the future. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery mode=packed heights=125px> | <gallery mode=packed heights=125px> | ||
File:Arbuckle1.PNG|The | File:Arbuckle1.PNG|The very first ''Jon'' strip. | ||
File:Spotcomparison.PNG|Comparison between a Jon | File:Spotcomparison.PNG|Comparison between a ''Jon'' strip and a ''Garfield'' strip, where the punchline was changed to reflect Odie's name change. | ||
File:Catfood.PNG|The first | File:Catfood.PNG|The first strip with the name changed to ''Garfield''. | ||
File:ThelastGarfieldproto.PNG|The last 2 prototype Garfield | File:ThelastGarfieldproto.PNG|The last 2 prototype ''Garfield'' strips. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==External | ==External Link== | ||
*[https:// | *[https://youtu.be/ZSPidZP_3X8?t=535 YouTube video made by Quinton Reviews covering these lost comics, timestamp included.] Retrieved 23 Aug '19 | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Lost comics]] | |||
[[Category:Partially found media]] | |||
Revision as of 13:43, 24 August 2019
Garfield's appearence in these comic strips, varying greatfully from his appearence today.
Status: Partially Found
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, as you may have guessed, is the prototype 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 actually 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 rereleased in Garfield. Most comics in this series would eventually get slightly altered and rereleased as 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.
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.
Availability
Knowing 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, we could say at least 104 Jon comic strips exist. However, only 38 have been preserved on the internet in a PDF file, with the rest being lost as of now.[1] The currently found ones were discovered in a public library in Pendleton, along with several Gnorm Gnat comic strips (Jim Davis's other Pendleton Times comic), so there's still a large chance that the lost comics will be found in the future.
Gallery
The very first Jon strip.
Comparison between a Jon strip and a Garfield strip, where the punchline was changed to reflect Odie's name change.
The first strip with the name changed to Garfield.
The last 2 prototype Garfield strips.
External Link
- YouTube video made by Quinton Reviews covering these lost comics, timestamp included. Retrieved 23 Aug '19