Summary
Summer can be a time of fun and relaxation, two thingsGarfieldabsolutely loves. Just add lasagna and Garfield would be in Heaven! In spite of all the enjoyment that summer can bring, the season can also bring unbearable heat. For a cat who is already pretty grumpy, he does not need any more things that can make him aggravated, like the soaring summer temperatures.
As a result, theGarfieldcomics that look at summer tend to cover both the good and bad parts of that sunny time of year. Of course, the comics stay true to the star of the show as well: Garfield.Capitalizing on the personality characteristics of everyone’s favorite orange tabby cat, these comics of the summer show Garfield as sarcastic and self-centered as ever.
10"Grunka"
August 16, 2025
Garfield may be a lazy cat,but he is resourceful when he wants something. Case in point; this early 2000s comic that sees the feline find a unique way to beat the summer heat.Garfield grabs one of Jon’s golf clubs and an inflatable pool, positioning it under the ice maker and fills his pool with ice cubes.A cat that wants and needs comfort, it should not be all that surprising to see the lengths Garfield is willing to go to cool down.
Reading the comic strip, the audience can tell that Jon wishes Garfield would put in even half the effort that he puts into his ice schematic into helping out Jon once in a while. Unfortunately for the beleaguered owner, the tabby cat will continue to be the same lazy, rude cat he’s always been unless it suits him, like in this comic.
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9"It’s Short Weather"
June 15, 2025
Everyone knows Garfield’s iconic orange and black coat. As a result, it is all the more shocking when he is not seen with the full iteration of his classic appearance, like in this comic. With the heat at an all-time high,Garfield and Jon copewith the high temperatures.However, Garfield’s way of dealing with the summer involves showing a lot more skin than Jon.
All that is left of his fur is conveyed in an outline of shorts and a little bit on his eyes and ears, showing more skin than he has ever exhibited before. While it may be weird for readers to see Garfield this bare, he seems completely refreshed by his lack of fur. He does not have the bulky orange fur insulating him anymore, making him feel as cool as a cucumber even if he does look a bit strange.
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8"Hot It Is"
July 09, 2025
Jon does a lot for Garfield, like making him lasagna and giving him love and shelter. Yet, Garfield can’t seem to help himself from getting annoyed by his caring owner constantly.He’d even prefer to stand out in the sweltering summer sun than be in the air-conditioned indoors and hear Jon play his banjo, as shown in the 2012 comic strip.Tending to view Jon as a dork, Garfield does not ever really hesitate to make those feelings known, going right back outside after seeing Jon with his banjo indoors.
While it may seem like Garfield does not care about Jon sometimes due to his actions, he does genuinely love his owner. He just has a very weird way of showing it. Luckily for Jon, he knows Garfield well enough to know that his cat cares for him even if he does not care for his banjo playing.
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7"Stop Fighting"
August 09, 2025
When it’s scorching hot, it feels just about unbearable to do pretty much anything. Something as simple as talking, let alone fighting, can be too exhausting when the temperature has climbed to insane heights. Garfield and Odie are no different. The pair usually fight like, well, cats and dogs. However, the heat manages to put a damper on the intensity of their fighting, being reduced to solitary grunts towards one another.
The focus of theGarfieldcomic strips was originally supposed to be on Jon.
Those little half-effort noises at each other are not lost on Jon, though, who speaks up through his discomfort to tell the pets to knock off the fighting.Nothing gets past Jon, apparently. The reader knows it must be intolerably hot for Garfield to not fight or throw verbal jabs at Odie, being a beloved pastime of the cat in cooler weather. Regardless, the furry pair still make the attempt to argue, even if the heat won’t allow them.
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6"That Was A Joke"
Jul 22, 2025
When temperatures are high, tempers tend to flare as well. Garfield, being a bit of a curmudgeon even in the nicest of weather, exemplifies the negative effect heat has on his mood in this comic.When Garfield, exhausted and drenched in sweat from the summer weather, comes in, he pours his drink on himself, hoping to cool down.However, it does not work, and he resorts to taking Jon’s drink and pouring it over himself, which causes Jon to make a joke that Garfield does not find funny, as evidenced by the bottle that has been pulled over Jon’s head.
One could blame Garfield’s bottling incident on the heat, but all faithful readers know that Garfield probably would have done it even if the weather was perfect. Regardless, Garfield seems to have finally cooled down.
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5"Staying Cool"
July 10, 2025
Garfield takes a “mind over matter” approach to life, believing that he can survive the summer heat with ease if he thinks cool.On the other hand, Jon stands in stark contrast, literally taping ice cubes to himself, definitely not thinking “cool.“Garfield usually views Jon as a dork, and this summertime incident definitely does not help matters much for the loving but goofy cat owner.
Garfieldis the most widely syndicated comic strip, an attribute that has gained the comics property a Guinness World Record.
You don’t need to be an expert to know that taping ice cubes to the body and face is not the ideal way to keep cool, and overall, a pretty bad idea. Garfield’s way to stay comfortable seems to be working for him; he’s not even breaking a sweat, in contrast to other summer-set comic strips that see the tabby cat melting. Maybe Jon would be wise to embrace Garfield’s strategy.
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4"Somewhat”
June 07, 2025
Anyone who lives where the summers are both extremely hot and humid is quite familiar with the oppressive sensation that happens when they step outside. It can feel like the sun is physically right on them. Garfield understands this feeling completely, with only three panels needed to show the outlandish summer weather.
When Garfield goes outside, the summer sun is dangerously shining, causing Garfield to be a melting mess, which he downplays when Jon asks if it’s warm outside.Even with his face drooping from the scorching sun, Garfield can’t resist messing with Jon just a little bit. Garfield is usually pretty nonchalant, with some rare exceptions. However, in this comic,Garfield is able to retain his indifferent attitudedespite coming face to face with the sun.
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3"It’s Too Hot In Here To Nap”
July 19, 2025
Garfield loves a select, exclusive set of things in life. Themost obvious one being lasagna, of course, but naps also hold a special place in the cynical cat’s heart.He loves his naps so much that he is willing to go to some pretty bonkers lengths to get one. When it is boiling inside, Garfield, to his annoyance, finds he cannot fall asleep to take his nap. Instead, he gets creative and grabs a snorkel, a pillow and a kiddie pool, where he is able to finally catch some Zs.
While one could call Garfield many things, it cannot be denied that he manages to be pretty determined if he wants something bad enough. Not discouraged from taking his nap despite obstacles to being able to do so, Garfield is not willing to just skip a nap for the day, preferring to sleep submerged in water than merely stay awake.
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2"Scratch That Question"
July 14, 2025
A good day at the beach can be one of the best ways to pass the time in summer. The sand of the beach can conjure some memories and associated images like sun, surf, and a good tan, according to Jon.On the other hand, cats may think of something else entirely besides the beach when sand is considered.Rather than images of the ocean, Garfield would be prone to equate sand with his kitty litter box. Not exactly a picturesque connection, and one that is especially not wanted at the beach.
Jon wisely decides to drop the question of what Garfield thinks of when he thinks of sand, when the realization occurs to him. A little potty humor never hurt anybody, a notion thatGarfieldcartoonist and creator Jim Davisclearly ascribes to, based on this one sandy comic strip.
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1"Fans"
Jun 06, 2025
Odie can be greatly irritating to Garfield, with the pair squabbling more times than not. However,Odie does offer some perksto Garfield as seen in this comic strip. When it is blisteringly hot, the fan is used in full force, but it is still not enough for Garfield, especially when stuck sharing the fan with Jon.Garfield instead finds a unique solution that is in line with his own unique personality; using Odie’s rapidly wagging tail as a fan.
Odie’s excitable and happy-go-lucky personality has finally paid off for Garfield, who usually finds Odie’s happiness supremely annoying. While Garfield’s solution may not be the most reliable, it does do the job of finally cooling him off. Who needs an electric fan when there’s the wagging tail of a hyperactive dog? That’s whatGarfieldis bound to think, anyway.
Garfield
Garfield is the central character in Jim Davis’s comic strip, which officially began in 1978 under the same name. Garfield is an orange tabby cat with a love of lasagna and a disdain for Mondays. He tends to torment his owner and dog while trying to secure more food - and quiet.
