Howie Shapiro – Freelance Reporter

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June 19, 1978: Garfield, the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip, began publishing. The strip was centered around Garfield, a sometimes cantankerous feline who feasted on chicken and pie frequently. Also featured in the strip was Jon Arbuckle, Garfield’s owner who valiantly tolerates all of Garfield’s antics. Odie, Arbuckle’s pet dog, is often seen in the strip as well and is portrayed as being happy and naïve, and is usually depicted with his big red tongue hanging out. The first Sunday strip ran on June 25, 1978. The comic has also spawned two animated series, TV specials and two feature films where Garfield is voiced by Bill Murray.