Jim Davis specifically made a character to sell shit. He did some interesting development with his comic for the first decade-ish, then unabashedly launched a media empire. Good for him, frankly-- not everything has to be high art and hawking shit to the masses is a valid way to live your life.
Throw in the fact the he appreciates (and has never tried to sue) derivative works like Garfield Minus Garfield or I’m Sorry Jon makes him ok in my book.
I know it was the plan to begin with. I’m just highlighting the difference to how Calvin and Hobbes is regarded today as opposed to Garfield. One is seen as art, the other as a brand.
Jim Davis specifically made a character to sell shit. He did some interesting development with his comic for the first decade-ish, then unabashedly launched a media empire. Good for him, frankly-- not everything has to be high art and hawking shit to the masses is a valid way to live your life.
Throw in the fact the he appreciates (and has never tried to sue) derivative works like Garfield Minus Garfield or I’m Sorry Jon makes him ok in my book.
I know it was the plan to begin with. I’m just highlighting the difference to how Calvin and Hobbes is regarded today as opposed to Garfield. One is seen as art, the other as a brand.
Garfield anything sucks so fucking hard. I don’t understand why anybody likes it.