Happy Birthday, Garfield

Other than some changes in the characters' appearance, the strip has stayed the same since its debut in 1978.

But the rest of the comics landscape has changed drastically. What were once the "funnies" are now often outspoken and controversial.

"Boondocks" rips President Bush, even during the Iraq war. "Mallard Fillmore" in the past two weeks alone has savaged Hillary Rodham Clinton, John F. Kennedy and women's studies. The strip's creator, Bruce Tinsley, said he routinely fields death threats.

Other comics, if not incendiary, are at least topical -- Blondie, for most of her 73 years a housewife, is now a working woman. "For Better or For Worse" has gay teens.

In "Garfield," however, Jon the human is still a geek in search of a date, Odie the dog is still a chump, and Garfield the cat is the same lazy, gluttonous, manipulative wise guy he always has been. A few times, Garfield has squished spiders, a move that has led to a few outraged letters from arachnid lovers. That's as controversial as the strip gets.

There are no big changes in the works, either. "I can't make (Garfield) do things," said Garfield creator Ji

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