Compilations moved away from the traditional horizontal "Garfield format" to standard vertical book styles after 2001.

Created by cartoonist , the Garfield comic strip is a global cultural phenomenon that debuted on June 19, 1978 . Originally launched in 41 newspapers, it eventually became the world's most widely syndicated comic strip, chronicling the lives of the sarcastic, lasagna-loving cat Garfield, his owner Jon Arbuckle , and the dim-witted dog Odie . Between 1978 and 2011, the strip underwent significant stylistic and thematic shifts, evolving from a locally published strip named Jon into a multi-billion dollar franchise. Historical Eras (1978–2011)

In 1994, Jim Davis’s company, Paws, Inc. , purchased all rights to the 1978–1994 strips from the original syndicate. The Modern Era (2000–2011):

In 2006, Jon Arbuckle finally began a successful relationship with Liz Wilson , the veterinarian, ending a 28-year running gag of his dating failures. Reading Order & Collections

Odie debuted on August 8, 1978, and Pooky on October 23, 1978. Expansion & Peak Syndication (1984–1999):