Another television holiday special returned to Garfield's original medium, print. Probably picked this one up around the same time as Garfield in Disguise, or at least from the same place.

This time, it's Christmas, and Jon returns to the family farm with Garfield and Odie to celebrate with family. Jon's father and brother make fun of the "city boy," his mom makes way too much food, and his (I think paternal) grandmother criticizes her son's wife at every turn (but good-naturedly, this is Garfield after all). The season events are rather mundane compared to some of the other TV specials, feeling like it was something contractually obligated to happen. It's a very cliche Christmas, Garfield!

High points in this one include Jon's grandmother, the standard sprightly old woman who can give the young 'uns a run for their money who has some touching moments with Garfield talking about her late husband, a man who was stoic but loved Christmas, and Odie working on a little secret project out in the barn.

Definitely cute, and I remember really enjoying the special back in the day. ( )