Jim Davis

Garfield sitting on a sack of money and coins (http://www.smallbusinessrescue.com/garfield_accountant.jpg)

People all over the world read Garfield. Does it ring a bell? Most people know Garfield and its creator- Jim Davis. He has won many amazing awards dedicated to Garfield as early as 1982. It was first published in 41 newspapers on June 19, 1978 and quickly became one of the most favored comic strips. Garfield is a humorous strip about the life of a chubby, lazy, orange cat who adores coffee, lasagna, and his remote control. The lazy cat also admires his owner, Jon Arbuckle, and Odie, a sweet but dumb dog.

When Jim was in his childhood, he thought that he would become a farmer if it hadn't been with his serious asthma as a child. So he was kept indoors, away from everyday farm chores. To entertain himself he drew pictures as his childhood days passed. At first, he drew them so bad that he had to label them in order for other people to understand them. Day by day, as practice makes perfect, he got better at drawing.

Jim Davis with Garfield in the background (http://members.tripod.com/~garfpaw/jimgar.gif)

When Jim became an adult, he inspected all of the comic strips closely and noticed there were a lot of comic strips about dogs, but few about cats! He combined his art and knowledge to create the amazing cat, Garfield.

In Garfield, the main characters are: Garfield, his owner Jon Arbuckle, and Odie, a yellow-furred lovable beagle. Secondary characters include: Dr. Liz Wilson, Pooky, Arlene, Llyman, Dad, Doc Boy, Mom, and Nermal.

Garfield has won four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and induction into the Licensing Hall of Fame. Jim Davis' most prized awards are from his friends in the National Cartoonist Society: Best Humor Strip in 1981 and 1985, the Elize Segar Award in 1990, and the Reuben Award for great experience in cartooning.