History Garfield / TropesHToO

* KidsPreferBoxes: [[http://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1997/11/11 For Garfield's diet,]] Jon brings a box of fat-free, unsalted pretzel sticks. Garfield would rather eat the box than the sticks.

** In the October 4, 1981 strip, Jon calls the garage to bring in his car for a checkup, and then describes what he wants: "You'd better flush out his system... Tighten his hoses. Replace all the worn parts. Oh yes, and have him reupholstered." Unfortunately, Garfield just heard "I'd like to bring him in for a checkup." and everything afterward, and assumed Jon was speaking to the vet about him. In the final panel he's seen outside with a sign asking someone to take him to Abu Dhabi.

** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2020/12/07 Garfield didn't lie to Santa about being good]]. He "embellished". The next panel shows he claimed to have "rescued puppies from a burning orphanage".

** The fourth wall is sometimes AWOL in-universe as well:

** In [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1979/09/21 September 21st, 1979]], Garfield stated people under 6'4" aren't overweight. They're "undertall".

** Also related to ''U.S. Acres'': in the August 21, 2022 comic, one of the animals wears Wade's life preserver.

* {{Homage}}: Some of the barn animals in the April 22, 2001 comic may be familiar: among them are Booker, Orson and Roy from ''ComicStrip/USAcres''.

** Taken UpToEleven in one strip where Jon put Garfield on a diet, saying he could eat anything he could sip through a straw. Garfield promptly sucked ''an entire chicken'' through said straw. "Well, back to the drawing board," said Jon.

** There's a paperboy who is [[TheGhost rarely seen]] who attacks Garfield by just throwing his papers right at him and smacking him in the face. It's taken UpToEleven when it's the Sunday paper.

-->'''Honest Arnie:''' You want cars?! We've got cars!! Here's a sweet 2009 minivan... candy apple red, and only driven off a cliff twice! And how about this little beauty? Just 30,000 miles, and absolutely no, that's right... '''no''' brakes! Want an economy car? Look no further! It's a V-8, but only four of them work! Think of the gas savings!! Like folks to know you're coming? The engine in '''this''' stunner shrieks like a debutante at a [[EekAMouse rat]] convention! So come on down to Honest Arnie's used car emporium, and push one of these bargains off our lot!

* JaywalkingWillRuinYourLife: In one strip, it was implied that the police were after Jon for trying to redeem expired coupons at the supermarket.

** Odie does it in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/05/01 the May 1, 2022 strip]] after [[TheDogBitesBack pulling Garfield by the tail as Garfield is starting to run to Jon for dinner, causing Garfield to fall face-first onto the ground, as payback for Garfield telling him to go away for not being cool enough to stand next to him]].

* OrWasItADream: [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2005/07/10 In this strip]], Garfield has a dream in which he's about to kick Odie off the table, only for Odie to snap at him [[TheDogBitesBack "Don't even think about it!"]]. Then Garfield wakes up, sees Odie and goes to kick him for real... only for Odie to turn around and glare at him.

** Odie does it in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/05/01 the May 1, 2022 strip]] after pulling Garfield by the tail as Garfield is starting to run to Jon for dinner, causing Garfield to fall face-first onto the ground, as payback for Garfield telling him to go away for not being cool enough to stand next to him.

** Another version regarding a HomemadeSweaterFromHell takes place in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1994/12/27 this strip]]. Jon's incessant praises about it only serves to convince Garfield that something is off.[[note]][[ProperlyParanoid Garfield is right]] -- a cow's udder was sown onto the sweater, but on the back, so Garfield doesn't see it.[[/note]]

** Given [[CatsAreMean Garfield's tendency to abuse Odie]], it's notable when, on rare occasions, Garfield actually expresses sympathy for Odie, as [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2020/11/18 this strip]] demonstrates:

--->'''Jon''': Honest Ed seems nice enough, Garfield, but there's something about him I don't trust.
--->'''Garfield''': Maybe it's the fact his office is in a pickup truck with the engine running.

--> '''Garfield''': I wonder if it's time for my midnight snack? (''looks at clock'') Hmmm... Eight P.M. Close enough.

---> "You'll meet me when WHAT freezes over!?"

---> '''Garfield:''' Literally has my vote.

%% * NeverMyFault: Garfield's typical form of "self-chastisement". Quite amusing some of the time.
%% * NewhartPhonecall: Often done with Jon's phone conversations with Ellen.

* NotSoInnocentWhistle: Odie does it in [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/05/01 the May 1, 2022 strip]] after pulling Garfield by the tail as Garfield is starting to run to Jon for dinner as payback for Garfield telling him to go away for not being cool enough to stand next to him.

* NotMeThisTime: [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1999/02/02 Somebody threw away all of Jon's shirts]] except one that reads "I (heart sign) cats". Believing Garfield to be responsible, Jon threw him outside. But Odie, wearing a shirt, has a [[SlasherSmile malicious smile]].

-->'''Garfield:''' Happy Birthday to me
-->Happy Birthday to me
-->Happy Birthday dear Garfield
-->Happy Birthday tooo meee!

-->'''Jon:''' Happy Birthday to you
-->Happy Birthday to you...
-->Happy Birth-Day, you're '''for-ty...'''
-->Happy Birthday tooooo yoooou! (gets cake splashed at his face)
-->And ma-ny mooooore.

-->'''Garfield:''' Invader from outer space! (sees how the "invader" is dressed) Okay, tourist from outer space.

-->'''Alien:''' Take us to your theme parks!
-->'''Garfield:''' That explains the Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops.

-->'''Jon''': Honest Ed seems nice enough, Garfield, but there's something about him I don't trust.
-->'''Garfield''': Maybe it's the fact his office is in a pickup truck with the engine running.

-->'''Honest Arnie:''' You want cars?! We've got cars!! Here's a sweet 2009 minivan... candy apple red, and only driven off a cliff twice! And how about this little beauty? Just 30,000 miles, and absolutely no, that's right... '''no''' brakes! Want an economy car? Look no further! It's a V-8, but only four of them work! Think of the gas savings!! Like folks to know you're coming? The engine in '''this''' stunner shrieks like a debutant at a [[EekAMouse rat]] convention! So come on down to Honest Arnie's used car emporium, and push one of these bargains off our lot!
-->'''Garfield:''' He never sells anything, but he '''is''' honest.
-->'''Honest Arnie:''' Flat soda and day-old balloons for the kids, too!

%%** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1990/02/09 Zigzagged in this strip.]] The lasagna is fine, but the pan that contains it...

-->'''Garfield''': Well, I'm afraid Odie's a little disappointed in you.

-->'''Jon''': He could be most anywhere by now.
-->'''Garfield''': He was a good ol' dog. Dibs on his treats.

-->'''Garfield:''' Some call this laziness. I call it... whatever another word for laziness is.

-->'''Garfield''': (points to his own heart) Gets you right here.

-->'''Jon:''' Garfield! You're using my toothbrush!
-->'''Garfield:''' Stick around. You can watch me floss.
-->'''Jon:''' Is nothing sacred?!
-->'''Garfield:''' Where's the mouthwash?

-->'''Arlene:''' Would you like to hold paws?
-->'''Garfield:''' Is there food in your paw?
-->'''Arlene:''' (shows clean paw) No. (beat) Well?
-->'''Garfield:''' I'm trying to follow your logic.

-->'''Old Lady:''' You are the ugliest little boy I've ever seen.
-->''(Garfield looks surprised and [[AsideGlance glances at the audience]])''
-->'''Garfield:''' You think I'm little?

-->'''Jon''': Some egg foo young, garfield?

-->'''Liz''': What do you see in the future for us, Jon?
-->'''Jon''': Dinner.
-->'''Liz''': I mean after that.
-->'''Garfield''': Dessert!

-->'''Jon:''' Techinically a vegetable
-->'''Garfield:''' All right, loophole boy!

-->'''Garfield''': "I just drew a mustache on every picture of Jon in the house!"\\

** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2020/06/13 This strip]] shows how he reacts to insufficient amount of caffeine.
-->'''Jon''': How's the decaf?

-->'''Jon:''' Santa will be here soon with presents for everyone who's been good.
-->'''Garfield:''' And me!
-->'''Jon:''' And you.

--> "You'll meet me when WHAT freezes over!?"

--> '''Garfield:''' Literally has my vote.

-->'''Garfield:''' That goes without saying.

-->'''Liz:''' Okay, did you see that?
-->'''Garfield:''' He usually has sprinkles.

-->'''Jon:''' I hate these questions.
-->'''Garfield:''' Yeah, but I '''love''' your answers.

-->'''Liz:''' What happened there?
-->'''Garfield:''' (glaring at a smiling Odie) We don't discuss that one.

-->'''Jon''': And it's 100% cow.
-->'''Garfield''': There '''must''' be a catch.

-->'''Garfield''': Can't say that I have. It must be tough being a dog. *turning to the viewers* He shut the car door on his tail.

-->'''Garfield:''' Jon is the most interesting guy I know.
-->'''Jon:''' I just sorted my socks!
-->'''Garfield:''' He's the '''only''' guy I know.

** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1990/05/30/ This one]].

** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1990/02/09 Zigzagged in this strip.]] The lasagna is fine, but the pan that contains it...

* HomemadeSweaterFromHell: A RunningGag is that Jon's mom always sends Garfield one of these for Christmas, and they usually have a glaring defect (no neck hole, three arms, etc.). Subverted on the December 27, 2012 strip, where the sweater is actually well-made and looks good on him… which troubles both Jon and Garfield, as [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness they feel something's wrong with Jon's mom]].

* HashHouseLingo: Jon asks for a hamburger with extra onions. Irma then turns to the kitchen and yells "BURN A COW AND MAKE HER CRY!" which causes Jon and Garfield to lose their appetites.