Ok, I haven’t read Garfield in about 10 years, but I was having a discussion about it with some friends earlier today…and the topic of the other cat Nermel came up. Does anyone know the history of this cat? Like who its owner is, and why it used to “visit?” Was he visiting Jon, or Garfield? And…was he supossed to be gay?
IIRC, Nermal just turned up one day. He’s the infinately cuter kitten, and takes advantage of this to steal attention away from Garfield (“Aw, lookit Nermal with the yarn! Here’s some lasagna!”).
And how come he could talk with out moving his mouth?
Garfield can’t actually “talk,” per se. His comments appear in thought bubbles. Jon doesn’t understand what he’s saying/thinking, but other animals such as Nermal and mice can, and carry on conversations.
Nermal just came one day. In his first appearance in 1979, Jon stated he belonged to his mother and father. No comment on sexual orientation.
And if you’re wondering why Nermal still looks like a kitten after 24 years, he owes it all to coffee, cigarettes and facial mudpacks…
In the comic strip, Garfield tried to mail Nermal to the North Pole, but did not put adequate postage on the package. This became a running joke in the Garfield and Friends cartoon show, but the destination was always Abu Dhabi, UAE. I guess that’s funnier. 
Garfield did try to send Nermal away to Abu Dhabi once in the strip. Garfield is obviously a man (cat?) who believes there’s more than one way to skin a cat…or get rid of one.
And Odie didn’t originally belong to John. John had a friend Lyman who was homeless for a while and stayed with John. When Lyman brought his stuff in John asked “Is that everything?” and then Odie came bouncing into the room. Garfield put his face to the wall “Lawsy, lawsy, lawsy” When Lyman left Odie stayed on.
I always wondered what happened to Lyman. I figured they’d faded him out because they were afraid people would think he was Jon’s lover. :eek:
I was on that train of thought, too, sperfur!!!
Well, my theory is that Lyman has always been gay, but not Jon. I mean, look at that mustache! Also, Nermal is very gay. I mean, LOOK at him. Anyone that conseited about their looks…well…there you go.
Uhh…Nermal was male?
::apply moron sticker to Ferry’s forehead:: And I read the strip religiously for eight years. :rolleyes:
I think Jon’s just in the closet. He’s not even out to himself.
That’s why women always turn him down for dates. (Why does this gay guy want to go out with me?)
I think he needs to get back together with Lyman. 
Look! My first simulpost! Yay!
IMO, Nermal is male. I’ve read through all the strips back to the beginning (they’re all available on the web), and I don’t his gender being addressed.
Nermal’s referred to as “he” a couple of times, I think. Regardless, Nermal just simply does not come across as female.
Follow-up to self: yes, Nermal is referred to as male - in the second strip he ever appeared in.