Ex Kay See Dee [xkcd Web Comic]

There’s not too much to say about the web comics over at xkcd.com other than I think they are quite funny. You’ll need to understand some concepts of computer programming, mathematics, and a general knowledge of Internet memes in order to understand the majority of the comics. I believe myself to posses this knowledge, though admittedly, I occasionally find myself stumped and have to let my programming guru friend walk me through it.

Here’s two recent selections, and one random selection of xkcd comics by Randall Munroe: (click for full size)

Jon Arbuckle’s Sad Life ["Garfield" Without Garfield]

To put it delicately, Jon Arbuckle, owner of everyone’s most beloved orange cat, Garfield, isn’t a shining example of success. Most of the Garfield strips portray him as a lonely man whose only companion is a fat, sarcastic feline.

In a unique take on the strip, “Garfield minus Garfield” takes full color Garfield strips and removes Garfield. What’s left is Jon Arbuckle, seemingly living out a depressed, lonely life, talking to himself and patting himself on the back over little victories. The introduction paragraph on the blog says it best:

Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.

The strips are usually good for a chuckle, and leaving only Jon and his dialog definitely highlights Jon’s sad life. However, sometimes removing Garfield leaves the strip pretty bare and, frankly, without humor. Perhaps the intentions of the blog’s author is merely to study Jon in a scientific matter, but I keep Garfield Minus Garfield in my reader because I like to laugh.