1989: 11th Birthday Special: High Concept
| 11th Birthday Special: High Concept |
 Made by: Ben Kenobi |
Explanation[edit | edit source]
According to TVTropes, a "high concept" is when the premise of a work can be summarized in one sentence. In the case of 1989's birthday strip, the premise boils down to "Garfield eating his birthday cake from the perspective of the cake itself". This edit subverts the trope with an unexpected punchline from a future strip. The second panel here is the original final panel, with the original second being Garfield "blowing out his candles". The black panel (meant to represent the eaten cake) replaces it, with the new third panel coming from a strip about mice bungee jumping from the light switch, causing the lights to go on and off. This new strip makes it look like Garfield's cake time is being interrupted by the bungee jumping mice.
The author writes:[edit | edit source]
High Concept. Subverted Trope.
Original strips: 1989-06-19, 2012-07-22.
Transcript[edit | edit source]
{Garfield, talking to his invisible birthday cake, states:}
Garfield: Ok, I'll be the birthday cat and you be the cake:
{Then he starts singing:}
Garfield: Happy Birthday to Me. Happy birthday to mee. Happy Birthday, Dear Garfield. Happy Birthday to me
{Suddenly the lights go out.}
{An annoyed Garfield chastises two mice:}
Garfield: You guys can't bungee jump from the light switch anymore.
