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The derivative I also like, and don't see it here is the markov chain garfield - from back when markov chains were the bee's knees in text generation. The generator is fed by existing garfield comic text, and the generated text is superimposed to a template of existing comics. It might take a few refreshes, but I always manage to amuse myself with the absurdity that it spits out.

https://joshmillard.com/garkov/

Remember when the internet was all goofy shit like this instead of algorithmically optimized social media angst?

Something that I find delightful about this project is that Jim Davis approves of it!

From Wikipedia: "Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield, approved of the project, and an official Garfield book (also called Garfield Minus Garfield) was published by his company. It was mainly edited comics by Walsh, with some comics contributed by Davis."

Garfield Minus Garfield is good, but Lasagna Cat is on another level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAh9oLs67Cw

Since I'm too lazy to do this myself, I'm putting it out there for the world to make for me.

I want to see Rogan Minus Rogan and Lex Minus Lex podcasts where all the host's speaking parts are cut out and you only hear the guest's replies.

Thanks in advance.

I love how this turns the comic into psychological horror.

Super Eyepatch Wolf actually did a really interesting analysis about how Garfield entered the horror genera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2C5R3FOWdE. I click on the video randomly out of curiosity, but I got really sucked in.

> Garfield Minus Garfield is a site dedicated to removing Garfield from the Garfield comic strips in order to reveal the existential angst of a certain young Mr. Jon Arbuckle. It is a journey deep into the mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness and depression in a quiet American suburb.

Did not think I would be relating to Jon on a Thursday morning.

Love GMG, glad to see it at number one here. It's really quite amazing how much funnier and yet more profound it is without Garfield. If you like this, you might also enjoy Nietzsche Family Circus: https://www.nietzschefamilycircus.com/

I used to have one stuck to the door of my doom room. No one laughed. :(

What's missed from the popular take on GMG is that it's not always depressing. Sometimes Jon finds joy in mundane things that Garfield isn't there to damper.

https://garfieldminusgarfield.net/post/27763465

Also good:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GarfieldMinusJon/

And if you want to get weird:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AlzheimersGroup/top/?t=year

Full list:

https://www.reddit.com/r/garfieldminusgarfield/comments/gxl2...

I always liked Realfield better.

https://www.reddit.com/r/comics/comments/7zfbr3/realfield/

Way, *way* darker than I imagined.

I found this years ago, during the "Stumbleupon" era of the Internet (does anyone remember this time sink?). I'm so glad it's still alive!

Also check out the square root of minus Garfield: https://www.mezzacotta.net/garfield/

I am always fascinated how people get ideas as creative as this.

I didn't know I needed this, but now that you shared it—I NEEDED IT!

I used to have a small bookmark collection of "anti-comics", and this was on the list. Others included Dinosaur Comics, Partially Clips, and Pokey the Penguin.

I love Garfield. This is incredible. Thanks for posting this!

[obligatory "garfield where is my pipe" joke here]

Clicking on the image on this post leads to a wild NSFW 404 page. Not sure I was expecting to get an extremely sus, probably illegal, asian porn site. Wth

https://garfieldminusgarfield.net/post/19400379301/i-made-a-...

This makes me contemplate how different people’s experiences will alter their perception of this project. Having never read Garfield, the man in these comics comes off as unhinged. But, I imagine, if I was familiar with the source material, I might mentally insert the missing parts and compare this with that in my head.

If you want another Garfield related internet horror binge, I'm sorry Jon on Reddit has some great comics https://www.reddit.com/r/imsorryjon/

Try Jesus without Jesus and see.

This is hilarious. Reminds me of this old pete holmes Garfield sketch (looks like the original got taken down).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayjz18d8Kpo

May I recommend a follow up fun Garfield themed thing: /r/imsorryjon (research its history, it's kinda fun)

And if you like "garfield minus garfield" then perhaps I can also introduce you to Chief O'Brien at Work https://chiefobrienatwork.com/

The concept would be more interesting and realistic if they removed only Garfield's thought bubbles (after all, Jon can't hear Garfield's thoughts anyway) but still left Garfield in the comic.

My favorite type of humor is the absurd non-sequitur. The more incongruous the better. Like when out of no where someone asks, "If you could trade your shadow for a parrot, would you do it?" Or, "What's your opinion on invisible bicycles?"

So to me, G-G is absolute gold.

Garfield Minus Garfield has the same bleak sense of desolation as Goya's "The Dog". Just wonderful.

I find the dating on this website confusing. It says Jan 27 AND Nov 03, and when I click previous comic, in order it goes: Feb 04 / Jun 14, May 31, Oct 13, Aug 02, Jan 08.....I'm so confused.

A. Why are there 2 comics per day? B. Why are the dates seemingly random?

Is this done with a GAN or manual?

This is great to see on the front page! I include it as part of the newsletter I run on the best/nostalgic side of the internet so it’s cool to see it resonating with people here for that reason.

I liked Gramfel more : https://www.boredpanda.com/garfield-comics-gramfel-cycle-nel...

A similar take on "Peanuts" where the last frame of each strip is removed.

https://3eanuts.com/

I'm impressed with how easy it is to recreate this effect using AI tools. I made this on my iPhone in the photos app by circling Garfield a few times: https://i.imgur.com/YVOZlj8.jpeg based on https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2025/04/10

This is a combination of entertaining and engaging.

There's also a bot account on mastodon replacing garfield word bubbles with song lyrics. sometimes it's pretty substantial.

Am I the only one wishing I could see the original afterwards, for comparison?

This is clever. Now can we stop the whole USA without the constitution exercise?

They should have removed the human instead. Garfield only Garfield.

Browsing through those has shown me how terrible that comic is

Calvin and Hobbes, minus Hobbes: https://calvinminushobbes.tumblr.com/

This is brilliant.

This is great, seriously. This is hilarious. Super dark. The theme music changes hugely when Garfield is not there. Getting wind swept Scottish Hebrides vibes and Hans Zimmer soundscapes lol.

(2008)

Old but gold.

kind of spooky and sad

excellent blast from the past

Now where could my pipe be?

This is better than the original.

This is really old

I wonder how such a rare article was discovered.

Funny I was just thinking about this yesterday! Now it's on the top of HN.

Obligatory tangent of Friends without the laugh track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgKgXehYnnw

Similarly creep and unsettling.

Where has this been all my life?

This is a special kind of sad, poetic Zen.