In “When We First Met”, we highlight the assorted characters, phrases, objects or occasions that finally turned notable elements of comedian lore. In the present day, we take a look at when Jon Arbuckle, Garfield’s proprietor, lastly began to this point Liz, Garfield’s vet.

One thing that comes up incessantly in quite a lot of my writings about comedian strips is the significance of a routine. What each cartoonist desires of is having characters so well-developed that readers can nearly guess how they are going to react to a scenario, since we all know them so properly. Then you definately simply put these well-developed characters into fascinating conditions, and there you could have it. Not solely that, however caricature creators additionally love the thought of a recurring function, as a result of, clearly, when you’ve got a recurring function, that is one much less plot that you must take into consideration, however if you happen to do the recurring function properly sufficient, readers shall be CLAMORING for it to be repeated, like Hobbes pouncing on Calvin or Sally Brown speaking to her faculty constructing.

Jim Davis’s Garfield is among the most routine-driven comedian strips on the planet. Davis is sort of up entrance about how a lot he likes to have the strip kind of work on a system, as a result of he thinks that his readers just like the familiarity of the strip, and realizing that they will get X, Y, and Z each time they learn every week’s value of Garfield strips. He as soon as described a fundamental week of the strip as:

I wish to go for one or two huge laughs every week. Normally these are the sight gags. Garfield getting hit over the top or hitting Odie over the top. Then I wish to go for a few good ideas. The place he is making some broad assertion on life that is good or humorous. It must get a smile. Then I wish to go for what I name a quotable quote. One thing individuals can take to the workplace or to high school.

That is why it was stunning to see Davis EXPLODE the routine of the strip, and have Garfield’s proprietor, Jon, who was famously a hapless loser within the romance division, truly find yourself with the lady of his desires, Dr. Liz Wilson, Garfield’s vet! Let’s examine when all of it lastly occurred!

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When did it look like Jon would possibly even have a shot at Liz?

I am actually not going to behave like Jon and Liz have been some nice “Will they or will not they?” romance, however on the identical time, you would be stunned at how EARLY into the strip that it appeared as if there is perhaps one thing there between Jon and Liz (Liz nominally appeared in Jon, the caricature precursor to Garfield that was centered extra on Jon himself, however she did not REALLY develop till she debuted in Garfield, by which level she had develop into a vet within the strip’s continuity, as Davis had to consider a technique to have Garfield current in Jon and Liz’s scenes collectively).

Liz debuted in Garfield on June 26, 1979, nearly precisely 45 years in the past. Jon was immediately smitten…

Now, here is the factor, on the time, the thought of a hapless man not getting the trace that the lady he’s flirting with isn’t , and never taking “No” for a solution was a LOT extra culturally acceptable. That is not cool, after all, however on the identical time, we will not very properly decide Davis for stuff that was VERY prevalent on the time, so whereas, sure, these “Jon tries to get a date from Liz” tales look actually creepy now, you must get the tradition of the time (not an excuse, however a proof)…

In April 1980, Liz lastly agrees to go on a date with Jon…

It doesn’t go properly, however it looks like they’re heading for SOMEthing, as Liz positively begins to lean into much less “I hate you” insults.

Lastly, Jon truly makes use of a wise method in December 1981…

Liz admits that Jon actually DOES amuse her…

After which, on the finish of their date, THEY KISS!!!

That was December 1981!!

They then promptly…barely see one another for the following 12 months. I suppose Davis simply did not wish to go “there” simply but, particularly because the strip was changing into increasingly more common. Jon did not go on a date at ALL till January 1983!

Liz made occasional appearances, however solely as Garfield’s physician, till lastly, in November 1983, they began interacting with different once more on a private stage, however it was for Liz to as soon as once more insult Jon, and present little interest in relationship him…

So when did issues change?

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When did Liz and Jon get collectively lastly?

Virtually TWENTY-SIX YEARS after their date the place it appeared like they could develop into a pair, Davis lastly bought Jon and Liz collectively in a collection of strips starting in July 2006. Liz asks Jon what he’s as much as, and he lies, and pretends to have a busy social calendar. He then thinks about asking her out, however he chickens out…

One of many recurring bits on the time was Jon calling up ladies for dates, and they might then insult him or faux accidents, and many others. One of many recurring “I will by no means date you” ladies was named Ellen. Properly, after she got here down with amnesia, she agrees to go on a date with Jon.

The date goes poorly (since Ellen has no thought who Jon IS), however then Jon sees that Liz is on the identical restaurant on a date. He decides to disguise himself as a French waitor, after which he confronts her, and she or he explains that he informed her that he was busy!

Liz admits that she likes Jon…

Liz’a date takes it in stride, and picks up Ellen…

Jon and Liz then end the date collectively, and so they kiss…

And as Garfield jokes, they’re now formally a pair, and have been ever since!

Davis hasn’t gone as far as to have them get married (and even engaged), however you must determine he’ll EVENTUALLY get there. It took them 26 years to develop into a pair, it is solely been lower than 18 years that they have been relationship!

If anybody has a suggestion for a future When We First Met, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com! For those who e-mail me the suggestion, it has the additional bonus of being searchable later, so I can correctly credit score you if I take some time earlier than I write about it!