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No. 5912: Taking It Litterally

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Taking It Litterally

First | Previous | 2025-07-26 | Next | Latest

Permanent URL: https://mezzacotta.net/garfield/?comic=5912

Strip by: Josep Nollette

{Garfield and Jon are at the animal hospital. Jon finds a mug}
Jon: "Have a cup of coffee, Jon." Why, thanks. Don't mind if I do
{Jon picks it up and drinks its contents}
Liz: That's not coffee, Mr. Arbuckle
{Jon gags}
Liz: It's a protein drink for pregnant dogs! You'll have a healthy litter of puppies!
Garfield: I hate puppies!

The author writes:

The infamous 30 May 1990 strip had readers think that in the cup was, well, dog stuff. The brouhaha that resulted on the internet years later (unless there was a similar uproar back when the strip was published) was enough for Buzzfeed to reach out to Jim Davis in 2017 [maybe slightly NSFw language in link? Ed]. According to the man himself, it was inspired by a high-protein supplement that helped his farm's pregnant cows deliver healthier calves, and he assumed that a similar supplement existed for dogs. Who is to blame here - part of the internet for having a dirty mind and assuming the worst, or Mr. Davis for not having made this clear sooner, let alone at first - is debatable.

Original strip: 1990-05-30.