10 little known facts about Jon

Hey there Garfield fans! Today we are going to do a deep-dive into Jon's character by sharing some interesting and little-known facts about the owner and primary prank-target of our beloved Garfield. Lets's jump right in:

1. Jon’s Full Name:

   
   Jon Arbuckle’s full name is Jonathan Q. Arbuckle, a detail that has amused fans for years. According to Jim Davis, the "Q" doesn’t actually stand for anything—he added it purely for comedic effect, as an unusual middle initial often makes a name sound more whimsical. While Jon is typically portrayed as an awkward but well-meaning everyman, his middle initial adds to his quirky, sometimes hapless personality. The name has occasionally been referenced in comics and other Garfield media, though the mystery behind the "Q" remains unresolved. This small but humorous detail is just another example of how Davis infuses subtle humor into the world of Garfield.

2. Jon Was Originally a Cartoonist:

   
   In the early days of Garfield, Jon Arbuckle was explicitly depicted as a cartoonist, often shown working at a drawing desk in his home. This detail was a direct nod to Jim Davis himself, who based parts of Jon’s character on his own experiences as a cartoonist. In some early strips, Jon even joked about the struggles of the profession, such as dealing with deadlines and creative slumps. However, as the comic evolved, his job became less relevant to the storytelling and was eventually dropped altogether. Today, Jon’s career is mostly ambiguous, allowing the focus to remain on his interactions with Garfield, Odie, and his never-ending misadventures in daily life.

3. He Has a Brother Named Doc Boy:

   
   
   Jon Arbuckle’s younger brother, Doc Boy Arbuckle, was first introduced in Garfield in 1987, primarily in storylines involving the Arbuckle family farm. Despite being an adult, he is still referred to as "Doc Boy" by their parents, something that clearly irritates him. Unlike Jon, who left the farm for a more suburban life, Doc Boy remained on the family farm, often helping their father with chores. He shares some of Jon’s awkwardness but is a bit more rough around the edges. Their sibling rivalry is played for laughs, with Jon teasing Doc Boy about his childhood while Doc Boy mocks Jon’s city life. Doc Boy has appeared in multiple holiday specials, most notably Garfield’s Thanksgiving and A Garfield Christmas.

4. Jon’s Parents Are Farmers:

   
   Jon Arbuckle’s parents are lifelong farmers, and he was raised on the Arbuckle family farm, which remains a recurring setting in the Garfield comics and TV specials. His father, a quiet and no-nonsense man, is almost always seen wearing overalls and chewing on a piece of wheat, while his mother is warm and hardworking, often spoiling her sons with home-cooked meals. Whenever Jon visits, the humor often revolves around his inability to adapt to farm life, contrasting with his brother Doc Boy, who stayed behind to help their parents run the farm. These visits typically highlight Jon’s awkward interactions with his family, his father’s stoic nature, and his mother’s overenthusiastic affection. The farm setting has been especially prominent in holiday-themed episodes, like A Garfield Christmas.

5. Jon’s Fashion Sense Is... Unique:

   
   Jon Arbuckle’s fashion sense is famously questionable, often serving as a punchline in Garfield comics and TV adaptations. His wardrobe includes loud, clashing patterns, oversized bow ties, neon-colored leisure suits, and absurdly outdated styles that seem frozen in time. One of his most infamous outfits is a bright purple and orange disco suit, which Garfield mercilessly ridicules. Jon also has a tendency to wear holiday-themed sweaters that are excessively gaudy, much to Garfield’s amusement. His lack of fashion awareness is a recurring gag, with Garfield frequently mocking his style choices, sometimes even physically destroying particularly bad outfits to spare the world from seeing them.

6. Jon Was Perpetually Single for Decades:

   
   For decades, Jon Arbuckle’s love life (or lack thereof) was a recurring joke in Garfield. His awkward demeanor, cringeworthy pickup lines, and overall lack of social skills made dating a constant struggle. Many strips featured Jon getting rejected outright or embarrassing himself in front of women, often with Garfield watching smugly from the sidelines. His desperation led to bizarre attempts at romance, including talking to houseplants, taking fashion advice from Garfield, and even going on a date with a woman who only spoke in chicken noises. However, in a surprising turn, Jon eventually found love with Dr. Liz Wilson, Garfield’s longtime veterinarian, marking a rare instance of character development in the series.

7. Jon Eventually Ends Up with Liz:

   
   After years of awkward and disastrous dates, Jon Arbuckle finally found lasting love with Dr. Liz Wilson, Garfield’s no-nonsense veterinarian. Their relationship had been hinted at for years, with Jon frequently attempting (and failing) to impress Liz during Garfield’s vet visits. Initially, Liz was uninterested and often exasperated by Jon’s advances, but over time, she began to warm up to his quirky personality. In 2006, after nearly three decades of romantic failures, Jon and Liz officially became a couple, marking a major milestone in Garfield. Since then, Liz has remained a consistent and important part of the comic, often acting as the voice of reason against Jon’s goofiness and Garfield’s antics.

8. He Once Drank Dog Medicine:

   
   One of the most infamous and surreal moments in Garfield history occurred in the July 27, 1990 comic strip, where Jon Arbuckle, in an attempt to impress Liz, casually drinks from a cup at her veterinary office. After he asks what it was, Liz delivers the bizarre punchline: "Congratulations, Mr. Arbuckle. You’re going to give birth to a fine, healthy litter of puppies." The joke, which implies Jon drank dog medicine, became a long-running internet meme, with fans debating whether Liz was joking or if Jon had actually consumed something meant for pregnant dogs. Jim Davis later clarified that it was just a gag, but the strip remains a favorite example of the comic’s offbeat humor.

9. Jon Appeared in a Real-Life Coffee Commercial:

   
   

   

   In 1989, Jon Arbuckle and Garfield made a rare appearance outside the comic strip in a Folgers Coffee commercial. The ad featured Jon waking up groggy and disheveled, struggling to start his day—a relatable sight for many fans. Garfield, ever the sarcastic observer, watches as Jon perks up only after drinking a cup of Folgers Coffee. The commercial played into Garfield’s long-standing love of coffee while also humorously reinforcing Jon’s clueless but lovable personality. This crossover into real-world advertising was a testament to Garfield's cultural influence, showing how the characters could seamlessly fit into everyday life and humorously promote a well-known brand.

10. Jon Is Based on Jim Davis Himself:

    
    

    
    Jon Arbuckle is, in many ways, a reflection of Garfield’s creator, Jim Davis. Davis has openly admitted that Jon is a self-parody, embodying many of his own awkward, nerdy tendencies. Jon’s social struggles, oddball sense of humor, and frequent fashion disasters are all exaggerated versions of Davis’ own experiences. In fact, Davis has even joked that Jon’s questionable wardrobe choices—including loud prints, mismatched outfits, and outdated styles—were directly inspired by his own closet. By making Jon an endearingly clueless everyman, Davis created a character that not only pokes fun at himself but also resonates with anyone who has ever felt socially awkward or fashionably challenged.