4827: Alterations on a Gag
| Alterations on a Gag |
 Made by: Matthew Prower |
Explanation[edit | edit source]
This strip is a compilation of four different takes on a singular gag, involving a character running onto the scene, screeching to a halt, bragging about their running gear, and then running off. The first take is its origin in Gnorm Gnat, the second take is its first repurposing in Jon, the third take is its second repurposing in Garfield, and the fourth take is an homage from the author's own webcomic Life in the Third Lane. As the author had the means to make use of the colorized version of the Life in the Third Lane strip used in this compilation, that version was duly used here; colorized versions of that webcomic are typically reserved for Patreon backers.
The role of the unnamed worm in Gnorm Gnat, for the purposes of this comparison, evolved into Lyman for the second and third takes, and into Natalie for the fourth take. Gnorm Gnat's own role, for the purposes of this comparison, evolved into Jon for the second and third takes, and into Ramona in the fourth take.
The Jon strip does not include a source link; it can be found among the small number of 1978 Jon strips here.
The author writes:[edit | edit source]
just a little sample of how timeless garfield gags can be, with a small hint of self-promotion as well
Original Gnorm Gnat strip: 1974-02-21.
Original Jon strip: 1978-02-09.
Original Life in the Third Lane strip: 2021-10-11.
Original strip: 1978-11-03.
Transcript[edit | edit source]
{Strip 1: the characters are bugs, and it's 4 panels long}
SFX: *ZOOM* *SCREEEE*
WORM: Triple-ply, steel-belted radial retread
SFX: *ZOOM*
{Strip 2: humanization takes effect, and the first "ZOOM" is replaced with a...}
SFX: *BAROOM* *SCREE*
LYMAN: Four-ply, steel-belted radial retread tenny pumps!
SFX: *ZOOOOM*
{Strip 3: the comic is in color, and the first panel is gone, leaving only...}
SFX: *SCREEE!*
LYMAN: Four-ply, steel-belted radial retread tenny pumps
SFX: *ZOOOOOM!*
{Strip 4: rule 63 happens, everyone is more fashionable, the first panel is back, rollerblades are included for contextualization, and the sound effects are now...}
SFX: *ZÜM!* *ERT!*
NATALIE: Four-ply, steel-belted radial retread rollerblades!
SFX: *P-YEOW!*
