In the world of comic strips, 25 years is not uncommon. Well-known comic strips such as "Peanuts," "Dennis the Menace," "Blondie" and "Beetle Bailey" lasted 50 years or longer. The oldest comic strip that is still in production is "Katzenjammer Kids," which began in 1897.
Senior editor of Editor and Publisher Dave Astor said he knows of only four other comic strips that are syndicated in as many newspapers as "Garfield." Astor covers comic strips and columns that are syndicated for the New York publication.
"A number of comics do reach the 25-year mark, but it is not easy," Astor said. "It is an accomplishment to maintain its popularity."
Astor attributes "Garfield's" popularity to his human-like characteristics to which many people can relate.
"'Garfield' is the most popular cartoon out there as far as syndication," Astor said. According to Garfield.com, the comic strip reaches more than 263 million people world wide, more than any other comic strip.
The many outlets of "Garfield" help maintain his popularity, Astor said. The comic strip, Web site, cartoon and upcoming movie play off of each other to keep Garfield in the public's view.
Astor said he doesn't think "Garfield" has influenced the comic industry.
"[It] continues to do what other successful cartoons before did," he said. "'Garfield' tries to entertain readers everyday."
Astor said he is not sure he is ready to consider "Garfield" a legend after 25 years. "Maybe in another 10 or 20 years," he said.
Gary Varvel, editorial cartoonist for the Indianapolis Star, would disagree with Astor.
"I think ['Garfield'] can become a legend in 25 years and I think he has," Varvel said. "Calvin and Hobbes" was done for only 10 years, he said, and is considered a legend by many.
The success of "Garfield" lies in the main character's personality. "I think that the genius of Jim Davis is he has developed a character that people will fall in love with," Varvel said. He said the goal of cartoonists is to create a character that people will love and with whom people will feel a connection.
"I think when people look at 'Garfield' they see themselves," he said.
Varvel said "Garfield" is a success and will continue to be a success because of Jim Davis' humor.
"He has been able to figure out how all ages can view something as funny," Varvel said. "Now that's hard to do."
Stacy Curtis is the editorial cartoonist for The Times of Northwest Indiana.
Curtis said 25 years for "Garfield" is a big deal.
"If you can hit the five-year mark, you are doing really good," he said. Curtis said it is very difficult to get a cartoon established and syndicated.
"['Garfield'] has given a lot a people a different view of cartooning," Curtis said. Because Jim Davis is not the only person who draws "Garfield," it has changed the industry, he said.
Curtis said "Garfield" influenced his own cartooning career. "I grew up copying comics from the newspaper," he said. Curtis recalls drawing and redrawing "Garfield" characters as well as the "Peanuts" comic strips.
The longevity and success of "Garfield" in part is due to its appeal to children, Curtis said.
"Hardly any comics are geared toward kids," he said.
Due to its large distribution and popularity, Curtis sees Garfield as the comic strip that many cartoonists strive to live up to.
"It is one of those comics that has not lost any steam at all," he said. "I think it will be around as long as Jim Davis wants it to be around."
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