A good example of a remix would be Garfield Minus Garfield. The web series (at garfieldminusgarfield.net) consists of classic comic strips that digitally remove the eponymous character, leaving only Jon Arbuckle. The original series drew much of its humor from the interactions between Jon and Garfield. Usually, the dialogue would consist of Garfield being chided by his owner, or by the cat getting in a few quips at the expense of Jon. It creates a light, easily-relatable, safe sense of comedy, which is predictable and warm without being too offensive.
By removing Jon Arbuckle though, the comics take on a much different tone. Instead of being playful, they take on a less playful, benign quality and alter their message to the reader. Jon is no longer speaking to the cat, but either wondering aloud about his own thoughts and feelings, or talking to himself about his own actions at the time. The interesting aspects of the remix come from the juxtaposition between what Garfield is known to be versus what the comics do in their altered form. They also offer commentary on feelings, thoughts, and emotions that were never addressed in the official comic strip by Jim Davis, the creator.
In one particular strip (posted below…Click for a larger version.) Jon proclaims that he is going to “adopt a more positive attitude on life.” His expression, wide-eyed, happy, and animated, is changed in the second panel to a gloomy frown. In the third panel, his mouth is slightly agape, as he stares into empty space. The dialogue normally spoken to Garfield is removed, so Jon is completely alone and isolated with his thoughts.
These themes are not something ever addressed in the original comic and open the work up to different critiques by different audiences. Not only are the works now available in a digital format, but with added depth, people interested in reader deeper can do so. It offers an online audience the ability to consume the comics with a different goal, but ultimately recycles the same body of work used in print at an earlier time.
