nyuuzyou/wikis huggingface dataset:
143: A Little Something Different

==Explanation==
This edit just removes Garfield's thought bubbles and the party hat on his foot, making him lifting his foot above the counter into a complete non-sequitur.
==The author writes:==
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
{Garfield sits looking bored.}
{Still bored.}
{Garfield raises a foot above the table, while still looking bored.}
Category:Myke Metyll
Category:Joke removal
1445: Backfield

==Explanation==
The original strip had the snail saying "You take that back" slowly - however, due to the three-panel limitation, the final panel has to cram "that back", ruining the pacing of the joke (imagine this: "you... take... that back"). This interpretation omits "you", thus improving the joke substantially. 
The author's note also includes an alternate take preserving the words and expanding the strip to four panels; it was changed in order to show how Davis could improve within his own limitations.
 
Of note is that said notes also include a link to an xkcd strip (specifically, #1172 "Workflow", used as an example of bungled humor.
==The author writes:==
Obviously if you're telling a joke it's a good idea for the joke to be funny, but even if it is it's not going to work if you don't execute it well, and it's at this hurdle that so many comics seem to fall frustratingly flat. Take this xkcd, for instance - I have no qualms with the underlying joke but the execution is abysmal. Given that xkcd is aimed at a vaguely intelligent audience, it should be taken as read that the reader will know LongtimeUser4's setup is horrifying, and for the comic to explicitly point that out to us smacks of condescension. There really seems to me no reason the comic wouldn't be better if the last two comments were excised completely and it just went straight from first comment to caption.
Now, obviously, Garfield's basic jokes may not be the greatest but in terms of execution it's almost always well done - there are more than a few instances in the SRoMG archive of clangingly obvious errors that require very little effort to fix but make strips a lot better, but the average Garfield strip has very little fat on it (unlike the feline himself), with its setups and punchlines pared to the bone and delivered with ruthless efficiency.
Which makes a strip like this one - the original, I mean - even more infuriating. Jim Davis knows that he only has three panels, why on Earth did he choose a four-word phrase for the snail to say? The original reads like the snail is saying "You take thatback"; it's ridiculous and shoddy and unfunny.
Originally I kept the "You take that back" phrasing and stretched the strip to four panels to accommodate it (shown below). I thought - and still think - that that version is better, but I decided it undermined my point a little, since Jim Davis obviously does not have the luxury of extending the strip to four panels. I wanted to show how the original strip could have been better even within its constraints.
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
Garfield: Snails are slow.
Snail: Take
Snail: that
Snail: back.
Category:Manyhills
Category:Snail
Category:Titles permuting "Garfield"
1447: Cluster Bomb

==Explanation==
==The author writes:==
After seeing #298: A Bomb, I decided to do a sequel to it. I was originally going to remove Garfield's dialogue, but I think it's more disturbing this way.
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
Jon: Hey, wait a minute!
Jon: This bomb is lit!
Garfield: Now comes the good part.
Category:Cody
144: Garfield vs. the Laugh-Out-Loud Cats

==Explanation==
In the original strip, the challenger was a walrus wearing a little hat, a vest, and spiked bands on his flippers and tusks, and sporting a tattoo. He stood in front of a broken brick wall and beyond a flame. Here, the walrus, wall, and that particular flame have been removed, and the new challenger is, of course, Garfield, facing the reader with his paws behind his back.
==The author writes:==
If Garfield is the 800-pound gorilla among comics cats, the top cats in the webcomic sub-universe are probably the creations of Adam Koford (originally claimed as the discovered works of his grandfather, some 90 years ago) that have gone beyond the original premise of sending LOLspeak through a time warp to a mash-up of decades of pop culture in the context of a now-extinct species of hobo, with two colourful main characters (Meowlin Q. Kitteh and Pip) drawn in black and sepia tone. Still, Garfield won't let anyone get too big without a 'challenge'.
Original Laugh-Out-Loud Cats comic: #953, 2008-10-01
==Transcript==
Pip: A Challengr Appears... {in the form of a giant Garfield}
Category:Craig Wittler
Category:No original strip
Category:Non-Garfield comics
Category:Webcomic references
1459: Last Night's Date

==Explanation==
==The author writes:==
After being linked to the Garkov generator by an earlier strip on SRoMG, I gave it a few tries and liked this particular result a lot. It actually has an implied plot to it if you read carefully. What I really like is how what Jon says in the first two panels, without the pictures, sounds pleasant, but the context given by the pictures completely reverses the tone.
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
Jon: Feel better, Garfield?
Jon: Last night's date was like a fairy tale, Garfield.
Jon: Haw! Haw!
Garfield: Gripe, gripe, gripe.
Category:Xindaris
Category:Garkov
145: Garfield Negative Space

==Explanation==
In graphic design and art, negative space is the space surrounding the subject of a picture. To this end, this edit has all in-panel space not occupied by Garfield, his thought bubbles, or the border of the ledge filled in with black, with the rest of the panel whited out.
==The author writes:==
Original comic - 
==Transcript==
{A black and white strip showing Garfield as a white shape against a black background, with white thought bubbles (and no text).}
Category:tudza
1462: Darkfield: Odie and the Murder

==Explanation==
In the original, Odie was burying the remote. Here, he's apparently murdered Liz and is hiding the body the only way he knows how. The author's note further elaborates on the plot, revealing that Garfield and Jon are his next victims.
With such an obvious setup, two people submitted more or less the exact same strip within hours of each other.
==The author writes:==
In a shocking twist, Odie is revealed to be secretly a serial killer. Garfield and Jon run for the police, but don't make it. Odie is still at large.
Original strip: . (The set up was too good to pass up.)
Admin note: Clearly the set up was indeed too good to pass up, since just four hours after receiving this submission, we received the following submission, from Andrew Collier. 
Andrew's author comments:
Every once in a while, a new comic turns up with a parody so obvious that I think Jim Davis is baiting us... 
==Transcript==
Jon: Odie's burying his bone.</br>
Garfield: I have a bad feeling.</br>
Jon: Wait I didn't give him a bone</br>
Garfield: A really bad feeling...</br>
Jon: And where did Liz go?</br>
Garfield: A really, really bad feeling.
==Later references:==
* Two days after submitting this strip, Andrew managed to get in first with a very similar idea. The author's notes include a callback to this one, as he remarks that he's now sure Jim Davis is baiting them.
Category:Andrew Collier
Category:randomdude
Category:Dark strips
Category:Multiple strips
146: Mezzafield

==Explanation==
88: Mezzacotta Garfield edited a Garfield strip to match the facial expressions of a mezzacotta character, but this one places the dialogue of two mezzacotta strips on the first Garfield strip. Each corresponds to the date of the first Garfield strip, but the second uses 1978 B.C. instead.
==The author writes:==
Immediately after my first Mezzacotta-Garfield mash-up, I suddenly realised that this idea would be the obvious and fun way to go about it. Additionally, I thought that it could be two strips in one thanks to how long mezzacotta's been around. So I put them together and felt satisfied.
Mezzacotta strips from: -1978-06-19 and 1978-06-19
Incidentally, because of this/these strip[s] and Nos. 5, 20, 35, and 47, and 106, the first Garfield strip (1978-06-19) seems to be the most frequently used Garfield strip for the remixes ever.
Original strip: 
==Transcript==
Caption: A.D.
Jon: You look like a good subject. Tell me, do you drink alcohol?
Garfield: It's always about you, isn't it?
Garfield: And he asks the obvious question.
Caption: B.C.
Garfield: I hear you have something worth listening to to tell me.
Garfield: I must leave. Somewhere an actual conversation is calling.
Jon: Calling, right.
Garfield: Oh, please.
Category:Colin Foster
Category:mezzacotta references
1475: Happy Thoughts

==Explanation==
In the original, the last panel had Garfield simply staring at the flower, remarking that "spring is disturbing." Here, the flower proves his point by whispering murderous thoughts to him. Said thoughts are almost identical to the title of a famous 1965 exploitation film.
The author's note is a callback to his previous submission, where he remarks that the original lent itself so well to a grimdark edit that he suspected Jim Davis was intentionally giving SRoMG contributors leads. This comic, it seems, only confirmed his beliefs.
==The author writes:==
And now I'm sure Jim Davis is trolling us...!
Original strip: .
Admin note: Andrew sent this in just two days after his previous submission (which alas fell foul of someone having the same idea just before him). This time, he got in first.
==Transcript==
Jon: Look at the pretty spring flowers, Garfield</br>
Jon: They whisper happy thoughts to us</br>
Spring flower: Faster, pussycat! Kill! Kill!
==Later references==
* The very next strip uses a very similar concept, as implied by the admin note.
Category:Andrew Collier
Category:Film references
1476: Simple Re-contextualization

==Explanation==
In the original, Garfield was the one that remarked "Spring is disturbing." Here, the flower says it (perhaps whispering it to him?)
The admin note is a reference to the previous day's strip, which followed a remarkably similar thought pattern.
==The author writes:==
It's amazing sometimes how little you need to do to completely change a joke's punchline.
Original strip: 
Admin note: ... just before this slightly different version.
==Transcript==
{Garfield and Jon in a field of flowers}</br>
Jon: Look at the pretty spring flowers, Garfield.</br>
Jon: They whisper happy thoughts to us.</br>
Flower: {to Garfield} Spring is disturbing.
Category:Lubaf
Category:Joke reversal
1479: Changefield 8

:This article's title is incorrect due to technical limitations. The correct title is 1479: Changefield #8.
----
==Explanation==
Despite its title, this is actually the ninth strip of the "Changefield" series; this is due to the fifth strip in the series, 657: "Garfield Minus Garfield" Plus Garfield, not being titled or numbered as a numbered "Changefield" strip and throwing off subsequent numbered titles in the series as a result.
==The author writes:==
Not sure if Jon could get it any worse than that.
Original strips: , .
==Transcript==
Jon: We need to make some changes around here!
Garfield: You're right!
SFX: POW!
{Jon has turned into a little plate of cookies}
Jon: ARRGH!!!!!
Category:randomdude
147: Garfield's Contractual Requirement

==Explanation==
In the original strip, Garfield's wondering was followed by him being silly for no apparent reason. Here, the panel is replaced by a picture of Jim Davis, reminding Garfield of the potential contract violation he might be guilty of if caught being serious.
==The author writes:==
When I saw this comic, I thought the ancient punchline needed a better setup, so I found a picture of Jim Davis from the Garfield website (where he was selling the latest book)...
Original Garfield: 
==Transcript==
Garfield: I wonder if I may be serious for a moment.
Jim Davis: Garfield, this is your boss, Mr. Davis. You know that seriousness is a violation of your contract with us.
Garfield: Apparently not.
Category:Craig Wittler
1486: Pierre Menard, Author of Garfield

==Explanation==
The entire strip is a reference to the 1939 short story "Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote", which takes the form of a review of the titular (and fictional) author, who immersed himself so totally in Don Quixote that what was originally supposed to be a translation became a line-for-line recreation of the entire story in its original Spanish. Ironically, the reviewer enjoys this version better than the original because it must be considered in a contemporary manner (as opposed to the original, which was published in the 15th century). 
This comic alludes to all of this by presenting the original Garfield strip, without any alteration. Whether or not it has gotten any funnier in 2013 (as opposed to its original publication date in 1998) is left to the viewers to decide for themselves. Presumably, this comic was chosen because it features a book starring a "brave man" - possibly Don Quixote.
==The author writes:==
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Menard,_Author_of_the_Quixote
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
{Jon holds a book, sitting next to Garfield}
Jon: This book is about a very brave man.
Garfield: He can't be Braver than you, Jon.
{Garfield looks angry}
Garfield: My dinner is five minutes late.
Category:Pierre Menard
Category:Avant-garde strips
Category:Print references
Category:Unchanged strips
148: An Unguarded Hamburger

==Explanation==
In the original, the "hamburger" was really cat food, which Jon tricked Garfield into eating. Here, the author replaced the dialogue in the third panel with instances of "An unguarded hamburger!" Garfield's second instance appears to have been shrunk to fit within his thought bubble, while Jon's was horizontally squashed.
==The author writes:==
Original strip: 
==Transcript==
Garfield: {spotting a hamburger} An unguarded hamburger!
{Garfield eats the hamburger}
{Jon appears behind Garfield from under the table, Garfield is surprised/shocked}
Garfield: An unguarded hamburger!
Jon: An unguarded hamburger!
Category:Myke Metyll
1492: Sock Drawer

==Explanation==
==The author writes:==
The Garkov can produce kinda funny things.
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
Jon: I'm going to organize my sock drawer today.
Jon: That means the bib, lemon wedgie and drawn butter stay in the car.
Jon: {empty speech bubble}
Garfield: My uncle.
Category:Henry Morel
Category:Garkov
1493: Fair (Dinkum) Root of Minus Garfield

==Explanation==
This comic is filled with Australian (or "Aussie") stereotypes; let's dissect them in order, shall we? (You don't get any say in this matter, but whatever.)
* First off, the entire strip is upside down because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, and thus experiences seasons directly opposite of the Northern hemisphere (where most of the world lives). It's also flipped to the side, but that doesn't really correspond to any stereotype.
* Garfield is wearing a cork hat, which have become the stereotype of the uncultured Australian (or "ocker").
* When Jon asks why there is a hole in the door, Garfield simply replies "Tall poppy syndrome" - put simply, a state where a person of genuine merit is attacked out of jealousy for their talent. Australians helped make this a known thing: it is said that they only get offended when someone starts acting superior, like Nermal here.
* As for the title, "fair dinkum" is Aussie slang for something true or genuine.
* The author's note includes a reference to "root", accompanied by a written snicker. In Aussie slang, "root" is a milder substitute for "f***".
Speaking of the author's note, it mentions a 1988 strip that confuses him, as it corresponds to an Australian way of speaking but apparently associates them with archaeology.
==The author writes:==
Part 2 in a very occasional series. I considered just running the 1988-07-03 strip unedited but you get this instead. What is the deal with that one, though - is there some stereotype that Australians are particularly associated with archaeology?
Also: 'root' *titter*.
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
{Garfield is wearing a hat with corks dangling from it} 
Nermal: Don't hate me because I'm cute. 
{There is a Nermal-shaped hole in the door} 
Jon: Garfield, what happened to the door? 
Garfield: Tall poppy syndrome. 
{The entire strip is upside-down}
==Trivia==
Rotating this strip would result in the following:
Category:Manyhills
Category:Real world references
1494: Garfield in 2053

==Explanation==
In the original, the third panel was zoomed out more to show Jon with a humorously-disgusted face (the result of drinking expired milk, natch). Here, Garfield is completely static throughout.
The description explains the title and general premise of the strip; it's a theoretical future where, 40 years from 2013 (the year this strip was submitted), Garfield is now created by some senior editor after Jim Davis dies. Not particularly interesting in actually drawing, he simply copies and pastes the same image of the title character and reuses jokes from prior years with very slight twists; the logical conclusion of the comic's decline.
It also mentions Peanuts, which ended shortly after Schulz's death. Many newspapers continue to run the strip, but they're simply repeats from the decades prior.
==The author writes:==
When I saw submission #1400, I noticed that the Garfield in the first two panels was completely identical. No doubt this was because Jim Davis was no longer drawing the Garfield comics by hand, but instead creating them via computer. Combine that with the tendency, as demonstrated in prior submissions, for Jim to reuse gags from years past – and you start to realize just how formulaic Garfield is. It got me to wondering: if Jim Davis dies, do the Garfield comics necessarily stop?
Normally, the answer is yes – for instance, the Peanuts comic died with Schultz, and any iterations of Peanuts in your newspaper are exact reruns of years past.
However, could the answer be no? Enter “Garfield in 2053”. With Jim long gone, a senior editor has been tasked with continuing the Garfield comics in essence. However, the editor, not being particularly inclined to exert too much effort, decides it is simply easier to reuse one image of Garfield repeatedly, and simply recycle the jokes from prior years, with slight differences so as to not seem plagiaristic. After all, who will know the difference?
I feel like I’m getting too cynical for this. (Admin note: Not by a long shot!)
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
Garfield: Milk...
Garfield: Some people read the expiration dates.
Garfield: And some don't.
Category:MadDogBV
Category:Garfield in 2053
149: House of Garfields

==Explanation==
In the original strip, the caller wanted to speak to "the moron of the house", prompting Garfield to ask if they mean Odie or Jon. Here, Jon and Odie are replaced by two extra Garfields, and the caller wishes to speak to Garfield, but it is unclear which one.
==The author writes:==
Original strip date: 
When I came across the original strip, this just popped into my head.
==Transcript==
SFX: RIIINNG {Garfield answers the phone}
Someone on the phone: May I speak to Garfield please?
Garfield: Could you be more specific? {looking at two other Garfields who are standing nearby}
Category:mrlarry
14: Ellen

==Explanation==
This strip is simply a massive compilation of Jon's phone calls to Ellen, a potential date of his, arranged so they form a loose narrative (first nervously asking her out, then, after being rejected once, getting increasingly desperate before she hangs up).
==The author writes:==
Between the years of 1990 and 2006, Jon Arbuckle persistently attempted to forge a relationship, via telephone, with a woman named Ellen. Why this one woman? Why such persistence? What did Jon see in her, while never actually seeing her? There is no answer.
Jim Davis, apparently showing concern for continuity, had Jon and Ellen end their relationship by finally meeting in person*, just before Davis did the unthinkable and hooked Jon up with Liz.
Original strips from: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .
* This originally linked to garfield.nfshost.com, which has since closed its doors.
==Transcript==
Jon: {into phone} Hi, Ellen, it's Jon! How are you?
Jon: What's that you say, Ellen?
Jon: I really like talking to you, Ellen...
Jon: Ellen, I have something to tell you.
Jon: I have a thing for you, Ellen.
Jon: Ellen, I think it's time to take our relationship to another level.
Jon: Ellen, I've decided to go out with you.
Jon: You know... on a date.
Jon: No! Don't hang up! I just want to ask you to dinner!
Jon: Ellen, Will you go out with me on New Year's Eve?
Jon: Ellen, I have the perfect evening planned for us.
Jon: Run over there and sweep you off your feet!
Jon: It's just a figure of speech, Ellen.
Jon: So, Ellen, what are my chances of a date with you?
Jon: What do you mean, "guess"?
{Jon gives silent shocked expression}
Jon: {to Garfield} Ellen won't go out with me.
Jon: {to Garfield} Says she has no feelings towards me...
Jon: {into phone} Fine, Ellen, don't go out with me!
Jon: I know why you won't go out with me, Ellen.
Jon: It's because I don't drive a big, fancy car!
Jon: I may not be rich, Ellen.
Jon: But remember one thing...
Jon: Ellen, I'd give anything if you'd go out with me.
Jon: No, you can't have my computer.
Garfield: Can I have the TV?
Jon I'm depressed, Ellen.
Jon: Ellen, my life is meaningless without you.
Garfield: It's meaningless anyway.
Jon: Ellen, when you say hurtful things to me, I just want to curl up and wither away.
Jon: Ellen, if you don't go out with me, I'll die.
Jon: I only have a week to live.
{Jon with a silent shocked expression}
Jon: What do you mean my life is meaningless anyway?!!
Garfield: Great minds think alike.
Jon: Me?... Boring?!
Jon: Ellen, if you hang up on me, you'll break my heart.
Sound: {over phone} SLAM!
{Jon stares blankly in shock, while Garfield has vanished}
Jon: {hanging up phone} I wonder what's on TV tonight.
Garfield: {returning with arms full and gleeful expression} Already made the popcorn and poured the sodas.
Category:Compilations
Category:Leon Arnott
1506: Garfield's Sophisticated Taste

==Explanation==
==The author writes:==
Garfield is apparently able to distinguish the taste of synthetic taurine, an amino acid added to cat food as a nutritional supplement.
Original strip: .
==Transcript==
{Garfield is holding a bowl of food}
Garfield: I have sophisticated tastes.
{Garfield eats the food}
SFX: GULP!
{Garfield tosses the bowl over his shoulder}
Garfield: That was taurine.
Category:conceptualWellspring
1508: Garfield in 2053, Part 2

== Explanation ==
The second installment of Garfield in 2053 has Garfield describe the events of the April 2, 2012 strip. As with its predecessor, the exact same image of Garfield is used in all three panels, which is the main gimmick to these edits in general.
== The author writes ==
Follow up to #1494.
Original strips: , .
== Transcript ==
Garfield: Jon got a new ringtone the other day…
Garfield: So I destroyed his phone with a mallet.
Garfield: Trust me, the world is now a better place.
Category:MadDogBV
Category:Garfield in 2053