explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

April Fools' Day comics

2025-08-25T02:44:11Z

2001:4450:813D:C800:3DC8:C498:516D:9F14:

<noinclude>:''For a list of comics, see [[:Category:April Fools' Day comics]].''

</noinclude>The [[xkcd]] [[April Fools' Day comics]] are special releases that commemorate {{w|April Fools' Day}}, often using experimental formats and interactive features. They have been posted almost yearly since 2007, starting with the unnumbered comic [[Syndication]]. The most recent April Fools' Day comics are often [[:Category:Interactive comics|interactive]] and engage readers through collaborative editing, voting systems, or games. Several comics have been significantly delayed, sometimes by weeks, due to their complex features, with the most delayed being [[2765: Escape Speed]] in 2023, which arrived 18 days late. However, with the exception of 2009 and 2017, an April Fools' Day comic has been released every year since 2007.<noinclude> 

The table below explains all April Fools' Day comics, including their release dates and schedule changes. Hover over the column headers to learn what the colors mean, or click to sort in ascending and descending order.

{| class="sortable wikitable"
! scope="col" data-sort-type=number | {{abbr|#|Number of past April Fools' Day comics}}
! scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|Released on|GREEN means it was released in time for April 1st ㅤ ㅤ RED means it was delayed ㅤ ㅤ GRAY means it didn't come out.}}
! scope="col" | Comic
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Explanation
! scope="col" | {{abbr|April 1st fell on a|GREEN means it fell on Monday/Wednesday/Friday ㅤ ㅤ RED means outside the standard xkcd release schedule.}}
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Replaced regular comic?|Did the April Fools' Day comic replace a standard comic that was planned, or were they both posted? FOR EXAMPLE, if April 1st fell on a Sunday, the April Fools' Day comic could have delayed the Monday comic until Wednesday, or they could have both been posted (one on Sunday and the next on Monday)}}
|-
|
| <center>2006-04-01</center>
|
| No special April Fools' comic was released in 2006. The closest surrounding comics were [[83: Katamari]], published on March 31, and [[84: National Language]], published on April 3. Neither references April Fools' Day or contains any unusual features, indicating that no April-themed content was posted that year. This was also before any April Fools' tradition was established on the site.
| {{No|Saturday}}
|-
! 1
| {{Yes|2007-04-01 ([[:Category:Sunday comics|Sunday]])}}
| <center>[[Syndication]]</center>
| The first April Fools' Day comic was posted as an unnumbered entry titled [[Syndication]]. It was published on a Sunday, deviating from the normal Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule specifically to honor April Fools' Day. The comic no longer exists on the site and is preserved only through a forum archive. This marked the beginning of xkcd's April Fools' tradition and introduced the idea of experimenting with the site's format. It came sequentially between [[242: The Difference]] and [[243: Appropriate Term]].
| {{No|Sunday}}
| {{Yes|Monday}}
|-
! 2
| {{Yes|2008-04-01 ([[:Category:Tuesday comics|Tuesday]])}}
| <center>[[404: Not Found]]</center>
| The second April Fools' Day comic was [[404: Not Found]], a meta-joke in which the comic appears not to exist. Rather than displaying an image, the page produces a standard "404 Not Found" error, making it a self-referential gag. Although technically a numbered comic, it was unique in being both a published entry and a hidden absence. This was not a regular comic replacement but an extra comic released between Monday and Wednesday. It is later referenced in the April Fools' Day menus of [[1193: Externalities]] and [[1975: Right Click]], establishing its place in the recurring joke canon.
| {{No|Tuesday}}
| | <center>No</center>
|-
|
| <center>2009-04-01</center>
|
| No April Fools' Day comic was released in 2009. Although [[563: Fermirotica]] was published on April 1 and contains some unconventional content, it lacks any thematic connection to April Fools' Day. However, he did make an April Fools' joke in another way that day: Randall, Jeph Jacques, and Ryan North [[563: Fermirotica#Trivia|altered their DNS records to point to each others' websites]].
| {{Yes|Wednesday}}
|-
! 3
| {{Yes|2010-04-01 ([[:Category:Thursday comics|Thursday]])}}
| <center>[[unixkcd]]</center>
| The third April Fools' entry introduced a full-site transformation known as [[unixkcd]]. The website was replaced with a simulated command-line interface that allowed for basic interaction using typed commands. This marked the first April Fools' joke involving a major change to the site itself, rather than a single comic. It was released while [[721: Flatland]] was the newest comic, which had been published March 31st and had no connection to April Fools' Day.
| {{No|Thursday}}
| rowspan="2"| <center>No</center>
|-
! 4
| {{Yes|2011-04-01 ([[:Category:Friday comics|Friday]])}}
| <center>[[880: Headache]]</center>
| [[880: Headache]] was the fourth April Fools' Day comic and the first to fall on a regular Friday release day. The comic featured a 3D viewing effect that made every xkcd comic up to and including this one appear in 3D, forcing readers to endure 3D viewing on their computer screens. The 3D view remains available at [https://3d.xkcd.com 3d.xkcd.com] for all comics prior to this one. This began the practice of releasing April Fools' comics annually, except for 2017.
| {{Yes|Friday}}
|-
! 5
| {{Yes|2012-04-01 ([[:Category:Sunday comics|Sunday]])}}
| <center>[[1037: Umwelt]]</center>
| [[1037: Umwelt]] was posted on Sunday, replacing the expected Monday comic. It featured dynamically generated content based on the reader's browser, location, and other metadata, making each viewer's version vastly different. This was the first April Fools' comic to use adaptive web technology. The next release was not Monday but Wednesday, so it replaced the Monday release. This comic displays the previous comic [[1036: Reviews]] when viewed on unixkcd.
| {{No|Sunday}}
| {{Yes|Monday}}
|-
! 6
| {{Yes|2013-04-01 ([[:Category:Monday comics|Monday]])}}
| <center>[[1193: Externalities]]</center>
| [[1193: Externalities]] included a dropdown menu linking to previous April Fools' comics such as [[404: Not Found]] and [[1037: Umwelt]]. This comic acknowledged the growing tradition of April Fools' specials and embedded a summary of past jokes in its interface. It retained the regular publishing schedule but used site features for a layered experience.
| {{Yes|Monday}}
|-
! 7
| {{Yes|2014-04-01 ([[:Category:Tuesday comics|Tuesday]])}}
| <center>[[1350: Lorenz]]</center>
| [[1350: Lorenz]] introduced the ability to collaboratively edit a comic in real time with others. It featured a grid of editable tiles based on user-drawn contributions and was named after Edward Lorenz of chaos theory fame. This was the first Tuesday release, but the other two releases that week fell normally on Monday and Friday, so it replaced Wednesday's release.
| {{No|Tuesday}}
| {{Yes|Wednesday}}
|-
! 8
| {{Yes|2015-04-01 ([[:Category:Wednesday comics|Wednesday]])}}
| <center>[[1506: xkcloud]]</center>
| [[1506: xkcloud]] was an interactive comic that allowed users to submit panels and vote, generating a "cloud" of storylines. It included massive audience participation, expanding on the collaborative experiment from [[1350: Lorenz]]. The interface was part of the growing series of collaborative April Fools' projects.
| {{Yes|Wednesday}}
| <center>No</center>
|-
! 9
| {{No|2016-04-04 ([[:Category:Monday comics|Monday]])}} (3d late)
| <center>[[1663: Garden]]</center>
| [[1663: Garden]] was a delayed release originally planned for April 1, which fell on a Friday. It featured a living digital ecosystem where users planted and grew text-based plants. The delay was attributed to technical difficulties, with header text explaining the delay and changing multiple times before release. Due to the delayed launch, [[1662: Jack and Jill]] received more attention than usual. There were only two comics released in the week before this Monday release.
| {{Yes|Friday}}
| {{Yes|Monday}}
|-
|
| <center>2017-04-01</center>
|
| No April Fools' comic was released in 2017. [[1818: Rayleigh Scattering]] came out on March 31 and [[1819: Sweet 16]] on April 3, but neither referenced April 1 or included any joke or interactive elements. This year marked a rare break in the annual tradition that had formed since 2010. There was also no delayed April Fools' comic as has been the case in other years.
| {{No|Saturday}}
|
|-
! 10
| {{Yes|2018-04-01 ([[:Category:Sunday comics|Sunday]])}}
| <center>[[1975: Right Click]]</center>
| [[1975: Right Click]] presented a mock right-click context menu on the comic page, referencing several previous April Fools' jokes including [[404: Not Found]], [[1037: Umwelt]], and [[1193: Externalities]]. The interface blended nostalgia and humor while being fully interactive. It was the first April Fools' menu to acknowledge the complete tradition in a single interface. This marked the resumption of annual April Fools' comics after the 2017 break. The next release was not Monday but Wednesday, so it replaced the Monday release.
| {{No|Sunday}}
| {{Yes|Monday}}
|-
! 11
| {{Yes|2019-04-01 ([[:Category:Monday comics|Monday]])}}
| <center>[[2131: Emojidome]]</center>
| [[2131: Emojidome]] featured emoji-based battle tournaments where users voted between pairs of emojis in a bracket system. The interactive comic ran for 24 hours starting on April 1, 2019, with 512 different emojis competing in elimination rounds. The title referenced "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome", and the Milky Way emoji ultimately won the tournament.
| {{Yes|Monday}}
| <center>No</center>
|-
! 12
| {{No|2020-04-03 ([[:Category:Friday comics|Friday]])}} (2d late)
| <center>[[2288: Collector's Edition]]</center>
| [[2288: Collector's Edition]] was published two days late due to technical problems and included a parody of media collector culture with multiple "variant covers" that randomized on reload. The original planned Friday comic [[2289: Scenario 4]] was then released on Saturday April 4th. One of the developers, Max Goodhart, [[2765:_Escape_Speed#Trivia|confirmed]] this was the intended April Fools' Day comic.
| {{Yes|Wednesday}}
| {{Yes|Friday}}
|-
! 13
| {{Yes|2021-04-01 ([[:Category:Thursday comics|Thursday]])}}
| <center>[[2445: Checkbox]]</center>
| [[2445: Checkbox]] was the first April Fools' Day comic to be released on a Thursday. It featured a clickable checkbox that dramatically altered the comic when toggled. The comic's UI-based humor and hidden functionality continued the tradition of April 1 experiments. Only Saturday has yet to see a special release. The next release was not Friday but Monday, so it replaced the Friday release.
| {{No|Thursday}}
| rowspan="3" |<center>No</center>
|-
! 14
| {{Yes|2022-04-01 ([[:Category:Friday comics|Friday]])}}
| <center>[[2601: Instructions]]</center>
| [[2601: Instructions]] introduced an audio narration feature, making it one of only two xkcd comics to include audio at the time. It built on the prior year's [[2445: Checkbox]] and expanded the experimental features of April Fools' entries. Visually it was similar to the previous year's comic, having only a radio button initially. The audio was a vital part of the joke, and both this comic and Checkbox had mute buttons that worked in reverse of each other, making audio/muting a recurring April Fools' theme.
| {{Yes|Friday}}
|-
! 15
| {{No|2023-04-19 ([[:Category:Wednesday comics|Wednesday]])}} (18d late)
| <center>[[2765: Escape Speed]]</center>
| [[2765: Escape Speed]] was not published until April 19, a full 18 days late. Its release went unannounced at the time, leading to debate about whether it was meant to be an April Fools' comic. The debate was settled when a developer confirmed it was an April Fools' Day comic. The delay was likely due to its complex game-like interface and interactive design. [[2757: Towed Message]] was released closest to April 1st on March 31st, followed by [[2758: My Favorite Things]] on April 3rd. This is the most delayed April Fools' Day comic.
| {{No|Saturday}}
|-
! 16
| {{No|2024-04-05 ([[:Category:Friday comics|Friday]])}} (4d late)
| <center>[[2916: Machine]]</center>
| [[2916: Machine]] was released four days after April 1. Despite the delay, it was acknowledged on the xkcd Facebook page as that year's April Fools' entry with the message "Happy Belated April Fool's Day!" [[2914: Eclipse Coolness]] had been published on April 1st but was unrelated. Hidden keyboard shortcuts were discovered, including follow balls and debug overlay functions.
| {{Yes|Monday}}
| {{Yes|Friday}}
|-
! 17
| {{No|2025-04-09 ([[:Category:Wednesday comics|Wednesday]])}} (8d late)
| <center>[[3074: Push Notifications]]</center>
| [[3074: Push Notifications]] appeared eight days late and was explicitly labeled "April 1st (observed)" in the comic's introduction. There was no comic released on April 1st; the surrounding comics were [[3070: Orogeny]] from March 31st and [[3071: Decay Chain]] from April 2nd. Since delaying April Fools' Day comics had become common, xkcd readers were still hoping for a late comic, marking the fifth time such a comic has been delayed since [[1663: Garden]] in 2016.
| {{No|Tuesday}}
| {{Yes|Wednesday}}
|}

[[Category:April Fools' Day comics| ]]
[[Category:Comics by date]]
[[Category:Comics from April]]
[[Category:Dynamic comics| ]]
[[Category:Holidays]]

78: Garfield

2025-08-25T02:39:17Z

2001:4450:813D:C800:3DC8:C498:516D:9F14:

{{comic
| number = 78
| date = March 20, 2006
| title = Garfield
| image = garfield.jpg
| titletext = The use of the 'Garfield' character for the purposes of this parody qualifies as fair use under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. sec. 107. See Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music (92-1292), 510 U.S. 569
}}

==Explanation==
The newspaper comic strip {{w|Garfield}}, which features an orange cat as the main character, has increasingly been known for repetitive, quality-lacking strips. In the past, this was because the creator, {{w|Jim Davis (cartoonist)|Jim Davis}}, prefers to explore the same subjects he is comfortable with but in different ways — or from a less charitable view, because the strip is intended for a wide audience and thus becomes homogenized and inoffensive by nature. This attitude has only become more pronounced in the 21st century, as the aging Davis becomes less and less interested in the franchise. Regardless of the reason, these strips are now {{w|Ghostwriter|ghost written}} with little input from Davis and rarely explore the unconventional. The comic is challenging Davis to do something unexpected and surprise us all. The comic also accuses Davis of being a "sellout", sticking to bourgeois/commercial logic, something that Dadaist artists challenged.

{{w|Dadaism}} was an artistic movement in the early 20th century marked primarily by chaos, irrationality, and surrealism. Some of the artists believed that the bourgeois logic made human beings unhappy and therefore led to war. [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] leads by example by featuring a strip that parodies the style of Garfield, with multiple colors (xkcd usually contains only black and white, with some few containing an additional color like red or yellow) and a character that is not a stick figure breaking the normal xkcd pattern. Another Dadaist aspect is the fact that while Garfield is smiling, he is communicating something that could be considered terrifying.

The title text explains that xkcd is exercising legal use of Davis's intellectual property, namely the title character of his comic. The Supreme Court case mentioned, ''{{w|Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music}}'', confirmed that parody is legal even when there is commercial gain as a result, and also referenced the {{w|Copyright Act of 1976}}, 17 U.S.C. § 107, for the same reason. While this is normally understood by most anyone who questions such matters, Randall includes it as a reference to the lessening of strict copyright law, which many comics also mention, usually in the context of {{w|free software}} and those who promote it, like in the comics featuring [[Richard Stallman]].

==Transcript==
:[This strip takes the form of a parody of the traditional shape for Sunday installments of newspaper strips; specifically the half-page format.]
:I want to see something unexpected in comics. Just one strip could make up for it all.
:[Garfield is standing on hind legs facing and looking directly at the camera. But is off-center in the frame, about 1/3 from the left, rotated very slightly clockwise.]
:[Zoom in on Garfield, still to the left, now rotated slightly counterclockwise.]
:[Zoom in again on Garfield, now the frame clips off the left side of his face.]
:Garfield thought bubble: The world is burning.
:[Final zoom in, the frame is ripped like a page, offset, and Garfield's eyes are half closed on the right half.]
:Garfield thought bubble: Run.
:Caption below the comic: Jim Davis, throw off your commercial shackles. Challenge us. Go out in a blaze of Dadaist glory. There is still time.

## Description of the Comic Strip

This comic strip creatively parodies the traditional Sunday newspaper format, specifically the **half-page layout** that many readers are familiar with. The style is both playful and thought-provoking, inviting readers to engage with the unexpected.

### Visual Elements

- **Color Palette**: The colors are vibrant yet slightly muted, reminiscent of classic comic strips. Garfield's orange fur contrasts sharply with the background, which may feature soft pastels or earthy tones to emphasize his presence. The thought bubbles are white with a subtle outline, making them stand out against the colorful backdrop.

- **Character Positioning**: Garfield is depicted standing on his hind legs, which adds a sense of anthropomorphism. His position is **off-center**, about one-third from the left, creating a dynamic composition that draws the viewer's eye across the frame. The slight clockwise rotation gives him a casual, almost nonchalant demeanor.

- **Zoom Effects**: The strip employs a **zoom-in technique** that enhances the emotional impact. As the panels progress:
- The first zoom focuses on Garfield, still slightly off-center but now rotated counterclockwise, which adds a sense of movement and urgency.
- The second zoom clips off the left side of his face, symbolizing a loss of control or perspective, aligning with the theme of chaos.

### Thought Bubbles

Garfield's thought bubble, "The world is burning," introduces a stark contrast to his usual comedic persona, evoking a sense of existential dread. The final zoom, where his eyes are half-closed, suggests resignation or fatigue, reinforcing the gravity of his thoughts. The second thought bubble, "Run," is a direct call to action, heightening the urgency of the message.

### Caption

The caption below the comic serves as a rallying cry: **"Jim Davis, throw off your commercial shackles. Challenge us. Go out in a blaze of Dadaist glory. There is still time."** This statement encourages the creator to break free from conventional storytelling and embrace a more avant-garde approach, inviting readers to reflect on the absurdity of the world around them.

---

This comic strip not only captures the essence of Garfield but also pushes the boundaries of traditional comic art, making it a memorable and thought-provoking piece.

==Trivia==
*This is the first comic to use all-caps lettering, the second being [[90: Jacket]]. The all-caps lettering in this strip is likely due to the fact that most newspaper strips, such as Garfield, use all-caps lettering to make it easier to distinguish letters under poor printing quality quite possible with newsprint.

*The comic number (78) corresponds to the year Garfield debuted (1978).

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]