48 Years Later, Garfield's Best Line Remains the Most Famous Quote in Comic Strip History

Among the giants of comic strip history, Jim Davis’ Garfield undoubtedly ranks among the top three, perhaps rivaled only by Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts. This notion is supported not only by the comic strip’s overwhelming popularity but also by the multimedia franchise that Garfield has spawned, including blockbuster movies. Part of what makes Garfield such an enduring property is how relatable the orange tabby cat remains, and much of that relatability can be traced to his most famous line, arguably the most recognizable phrase in comic strip history.

If there are three things Garfield is best known for, it's his love of lasagna, his legendary laziness, and, of course, his hatred of Mondays. The latter is best exemplified by his iconic, recurring “I hate Mondays” line. The phrase has become synonymous with Garfield and is widely regarded as one of the most recognizable catchphrases in comic strip history. However, “I hate Mondays” has evolved far beyond a simple catchphrase.

“I hate Mondays” became one of Jim Davis’ most iconic recurring themes, developing its own mythology through countless comic strips centered on Garfield’s general disdain for Mondays, even when he isn’t explicitly saying the famous phrase. While there are countless hilarious strips featuring this recurring joke, only one is credited as the first instance of Garfield uttering the now-iconic phrase.

Garfield’s First "I Hate Mondays" Comic Strip Turns 48 This Year

The First Instance of Garfield Hating Mondays Was Published on September 18, 1978

Davis’ first Garfield comic strip launched in 41 newspapers on June 19, 1978, introducing readers to Garfield and Jon Arbuckle. Then, just three months later, the lasagna-loving feline delivered his first utterance of what would become the comic strip’s history-defining “I hate Mondays” catchphrase. The line first appeared in a strip published on Monday, September 18, 1978, making Garfield’s most recognizable quote almost as old as the character himself.

This first instance of what would become one of Garfield’s defining traits appeared in a strip featuring one of the character’s earliest designs. Garfield is pictured sitting on a windowsill, batting at the blinds, only for the string to catch his paw and roll him up, leaving him completely trapped. It's while stuck in this predicament that Garfield gives fans his first “I hate Mondays.”

Beyond its repetition throughout the comic strip, part of the reason “I hate Mondays” became so famous with fans is that the sentiment is something nearly every adult and school-age child can relate to. For many of us, returning to work or school after the weekend can be difficult, especially with another five days until the next weekend. It is this universal relatability that helped transform Garfield’s simple complaint into one of the most famous and recognizable lines in comic strip history.

Garfield’s Best “I Hate Mondays” Comic Strips

Comic Strips by Jim Davis

There are dozens of Garfield strips that feature his iconic “I hate Mondays” catchphrase, and while most are downright hilarious, we’ve picked three of the funniest strips that feature this running gag. Going in the order they appear in this article, the first features Garfield beating Jon and Odie with a newspaper. When Jon asks Garfield why, the orange tabby cat replies, “I'm training you guys to hate Mondays too.” It’s a very Garfield take on the idiom “misery loves company,” but in this case, it’s more like “'hatred for Mondays' loves company.”

The next strip shows Jon wishing Garfield a “good morning,” to which Garfield replies, “I hate Monday morning prep talks.” It’s a clever response that is also exceptionally relatable. Last, but far from least, is the strip that shows Jon and Garfield looking out a window as Jon begins to list everything happening outside: “It's a cold, dark morning….It's hailing... Locusts are eating the lawn...The fence is on fire…” Garfield then responds, “Just another average Monday.”

This is not only a hilarious response, but it also highlights how the recurring theme of Garfield’s hatred for Mondays didn’t always result in his iconic “I hate Mondays” catchphrase. Sometimes, the wording was altered while still perfectly capturing the sentiment behind Garfield’s infamous Monday hatred. Of course, there are dozens of Monday-hating strips to choose from, so what is your favorite “I hate Mondays” Garfield strip?