The Garfield comic strip published on September 11, 2001, features a standard three-panel gag where Garfield eats a houseplant, leading to a typical confrontation with his owner, Jon Arbuckle. Contrary to various internet myths or "Mandela Effect" theories, the strip contained no reference to the terrorist attacks of that day. This lack of acknowledgment is due to the industrial requirements of newspaper syndication, which necessitate that daily comic strips be completed and submitted several weeks or months before their scheduled publication date.
The Historical Content of the September 11, 2001 Strip
To understand the "9/11 Garfield" reference, one must first look at the factual record of what was printed in newspapers across the globe on that Tuesday morning. The strip, written and illustrated by Jim Davis and his team at Paws, Inc., followed a routine narrative structure consistent with the "Garfield-isms" established over the previous two decades.
In the first panel, Garfield is seen standing next to a large, leafy houseplant. In the second panel, he proceeds to consume the plant in its entirety. The third panel concludes with Jon Arbuckle entering the frame, looking at the empty pot, and shouting Garfield’s name in exasperation while the cat looks on with a satisfied, albeit slightly guilty, expression.
This strip was distributed by Universal Press Syndicate (now Andrews McMeel Syndication) and appeared in thousands of newspapers. Because the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon began at approximately 8:46 AM EDT, and the morning editions of newspapers are printed in the late-night or early-morning hours, the physical newsprint containing Garfield was already on doorsteps or in vending machines before the events occurred.
The Logistics of Comic Strip Syndication
A common question in the reference history of 9/11 Garfield is why the strip was not pulled or changed in the immediate aftermath. To answer this, we must examine the technical depth of the comic syndication industry as it existed in 2001.
Lead Times and Production Schedules
Syndicated cartoonists like Jim Davis do not work on a day-to-day basis. For a strip as massive as Garfield, the production pipeline is rigorous. In 2001, the typical lead time for a daily (black and white) strip was roughly six to eight weeks. Sunday strips, which required more complex coloring and formatting for different newspaper layouts, often had a lead time of eight to twelve weeks.
By the time September 11, 2001, arrived, the strip for that day had been drawn, inked, colored, and physically or digitally mailed to the syndicate months prior. From there, the syndicate distributed the "proofs" to individual newspapers weeks in advance to allow for their own layout and printing schedules.
The Role of Paws, Inc.
Jim Davis founded Paws, Inc. in 1981 to handle the creative and business aspects of the Garfield franchise. Based in Albany, Indiana, the studio operated like a finely tuned machine. This meant that on September 11, 2001, the artists at Paws, Inc. were likely working on strips intended for November or December of that year. The disconnect between the "funny pages" and the "front page" is a structural reality of the medium, designed to ensure a consistent flow of content regardless of current events.
Addressing the "Lost Strip" and Urban Legends
In the decades following 2001, the "9/11 Garfield" topic has become a fixture in internet subcultures, particularly those interested in "Lost Media" and "Creepypastas." These legends often suggest that there was a "dark" or "original" version of the strip that was suppressed by the government or the syndicate.
The Anatomy of the Myth
The most prevalent myth claims that Jim Davis drew a strip depicting Garfield looking out a window at the Twin Towers. Verification of internal archives at Paws, Inc. and the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum (which houses extensive comic archives) confirms that no such strip exists.
The persistence of this myth can be attributed to the "Mandela Effect"—a phenomenon where a large group of people remembers something differently than how it occurred. Because Garfield is a ubiquitous cultural icon, many individuals subconsciously superimposed the trauma of the day onto the media they consumed, leading to fabricated memories of a somber or "missing" comic.
Parody and Internet Culture
The reference to Garfield and 9/11 has also been kept alive by "weird internet" circles. Platforms like Reddit and various imageboards often use the September 11, 2001, strip as a template for "anti-humor." By placing the benign "plant-eating" gag in the context of the day’s tragic events, these creators highlight the jarring contrast between the mundane world of comic strips and the harsh realities of history. This has resulted in several viral edits, which are often mistaken by younger audiences as genuine historical artifacts.
The National Tribute: "Drawing Together"
While the September 11 strip was unrelated to the attacks, the comic strip community did respond collectively later that month. This is a critical distinction for anyone researching a "9/11 reference" in Garfield.
On September 30, 2001, dozens of syndicated cartoonists participated in a "Drawing Together" event. This was a coordinated effort where creators used their respective characters to express themes of unity, mourning, and patriotism.
Garfield’s Role in the Tribute
In the Sunday strip for September 30, 2001, Jim Davis moved away from the usual slapstick. The strip featured Garfield standing in front of an American flag or a similarly patriotic backdrop (depending on the specific regional formatting), offering a rare moment of sincerity from a character usually defined by cynicism and gluttony. This strip is often the one people are actually remembering when they search for "the 9/11 Garfield strip."
| Feature | September 11, 2001 Strip | September 30, 2001 Tribute |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Theme | Garfield eating a houseplant | Patriotism and national unity |
| Tone | Standard Slapstick | Somber and Reflective |
| Production Context | Created ~8 weeks prior to the attacks | Created in the immediate aftermath |
| Format | Daily Strip (3-panel) | Sunday Strip (Full-page/Multi-tier) |
| Syndicate Goal | Routine entertainment | Charitable/Community solidarity |
Historical Verification and Archival Access
As of 2026, researchers and historians have multiple avenues to verify the status of the Garfield archives. Because the Garfield brand is one of the most meticulously documented in comic history, the "paper trail" is exceptionally clear.
Digital Archives
The official website, Garfield.com (now redirected through various ViacomCBS/Paramount Global properties after their acquisition of Paws, Inc. in 2019), and GoComics maintain a complete digital database of every strip published since June 19, 1978. Navigating to the date September 11, 2001, on these platforms consistently yields the "plant-eating" comic.
Physical Archives
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State University holds the most comprehensive collection of American comic strip history. Their archives include original proofs and syndicate tear sheets. These physical records confirm that no last-minute changes were made to the Garfield strip for the week of September 10–16, 2001.
The Cultural Legacy of the Intersection
The reason "9/11 Garfield" remains a significant search term is not because of the content of the comic itself, but because of what it represents: the collision of "The Long 90s" (a period of perceived safety and domesticity) and the post-9/11 era.
Garfield represents a form of evergreen, unchanging media. He doesn't age, his problems are limited to Mondays and lasagna, and his world is hermetically sealed from politics. The date September 11, 2001, acts as a "hard border" in history. When readers look at the Garfield strip from that day, they are seeing a relic of a world that—at the moment of the strip's publication—was about to change forever, yet the characters in the strip remain blissfully unaware.
This juxtaposition has made the strip a focal point for media studies students and cultural historians who examine how entertainment media bridges the gap during national crises.
FAQ: Clarifying the 9/11 Garfield Connection
Why didn't Garfield mention the attacks on the day they happened?
Comic strips are not "live" media. Because they are printed in physical newspapers, they must be finished and sent to the printer weeks in advance. On the morning of September 11, 2001, the newspapers had already been printed and distributed before the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Jim Davis could not have known what would happen when he drew the strip in the summer of 2001.
Is there a "secret" or "banned" Garfield strip from 9/11?
No. There is no evidence in the records of Paws, Inc., Universal Press Syndicate, or any major newspaper archive of a "banned" strip. The idea of a censored 9/11 Garfield strip is an internet urban legend, likely fueled by the surreal nature of seeing a "funny" comic on such a tragic day.
Did any comic strip mention the attacks on September 11th?
Virtually no syndicated daily strips mentioned the attacks on the day of September 11 because of the aforementioned lead times. Some political cartoonists, who work on much shorter deadlines (often 24 hours), were able to get reactions into the September 12 or September 13 editions, but the "funnies" remained disconnected from the news for several weeks.
How did Jim Davis react to the events in his work?
Jim Davis participated in the "Drawing Together" tribute on September 30, 2001. Additionally, like many other creators, Paws, Inc. and the Garfield brand contributed to various relief funds and charities in the months following the attacks. The strip itself eventually returned to its standard format, as the goal of the comic is to provide a consistent "escape" for readers.
Where can I see the actual strip from 9/11/2001?
The strip is available on the GoComics website. By using their calendar tool and selecting September 11, 2001, you can view the authenticated strip, which depicts Garfield and the houseplant.
Practical Recommendation for Researchers
If you are researching the "9/11 Garfield" phenomenon for academic or historical purposes, it is recommended to focus on the syndication pipeline rather than the content of the strip itself. The true "story" is not what Garfield did that day, but how the mechanics of early-21st-century print media created a time-lag between reality and the "funnies."
For those interested in the internet culture aspect, exploring the "Garfield Minus Garfield" or "Lasagna Cat" archives can provide insight into how modern audiences use the character to process existential or historical trauma. However, for factual historical reference, the GoComics digital archive remains the gold standard for verification.
