RX-2 (sometimes referred to as just the scale) is a talking bathroom scale. It constantly makes fun of Garfield's weight, causing him to either destroy it or threaten to do so. Appearing in the comics, it has also appeared in Garfield's Thanksgiving and in Garfield and Friends. RX-2 is also known to compliment Garfield if it is threatened or getting something in return.
In most strips, the running gag is that it often makes fun of Garfield's weight. On the other hand, it seems to be friendly with Garfield when the latter has stayed the same weight for a while.
RX-2 makes its only Garfield and Friends appearance in the episode "Weighty Problem," in-which Jon announces that he has bought; a new scale named RX-2, which also tells fortunes. Garfield tests it, with RX-2 continually insulting him. He is told that he is twenty pounds overweight; he is then hit with a "splut" pie, as per his fortune. Garfield then decides to tamper with RX-2 to trick Jon. Jon then tries out RX-2, which tells him that he is fifty pounds overweight. With his fortune being that he will go on a strict diet, Jon decides to do just that.
Later, Garfield returns to RX-2, testing it before putting it back to accurate weight. RX-2 tells him he is still 20 pounds overweight, and that he will get more exercise. Jon then shows up to weigh himself again, with the scale telling him that he is at a normal weight. His fortune is that he will punish Garfield for tampering with them before, revealing Garfield's ploy. In a rage, Jon chases Garfield out of the house and down the street, with RX-2 narrating each action. After mentioning that the duo "lived heavily ever after", the scale then announces "The End".
In Garfield's Thanksgiving, Garfield checks his weight on RX-2. RX-2 thinks that Garfield is Orson Welles, proceeding to say that it is a big fan of him, even claiming that they watched all their movies, with them specifically watching Citizen Kane eight times. Garfield takes what RX-2 is saying as insults, with him continually threatening RX-2 (despite RX-2 not being rude towards Garfield). This eventually leads to Garfield stomping on RX-2 in a fit of rage. RX-2's last word is "Rosebud" (a reference to the very first line from Charles Foster Kane), before RX-2 flatlines like a heart monitor and dies.
Comics[]
Begging and Pleading[]
2/19/1994 RX-2 begs Garfield not to weigh himself.
RX-2 has pleaded with Garfield, begging him not to weigh himself.
9/20/1987; in the title panel, Garfield is about to weigh himself, but RX-2 begs him not to in the name of humanity.
2/19/1994; RX-2 begs Garfield not to weigh himself, and Garfield obliges, telling Jon that he decided not to weigh himself today from the kindness of his heart.
4/19/1996 Garfield tries bribing RX-2.
Bribes[]
Garfield has tried bribing RX-2 on occasion.
3/27/1986; RX-2 tells Garfield in front of Jon that he has lost three pounds. After Jon gives him praise and leaves, Garfield whispers to RX-2 that he will give them their fresh batteries later.
4/19/1996; Garfield tries offering RX-2 flowers and candy, but RX-2 claims that they do not take bribes (despite accepting bribes in other strips). When that does not work, Garfield returns with a crowbar, which RX-2 enthusiastically says that they take threats and tells Garfield to hop on them.
5/22/1996; RX-2 says that Garfield lost five pounds in front of Jon. But RX-2 then immediately demands their payment, frustrating Garfield as it revealed their deal.
12/03/2011; As a gift for Christmas, RX-2 tells Garfield that he is losing weight.
4/14/2022; Garfield is willing to give RX-2 unlimited batteries if he gives Garfield a good number. RX-2 agrees and calls Garfield skinny.
10/5/1987 Garfield and RX-2 chat about why the scale insults people.
Casual conversation[]
Garfield and RX-2 have chatted casually, without Garfield weighing himself, though the scale typically takes jabs at him.
12/31/1985; RX-2 tells Garfield that they are depressed. Garfield asks why they are depressed, with RX-2 explaining that it is because of them constantly being stepped on and being called a liar. Garfield agrees that it is a good point.
10/5/1987; When asked by Garfield if RX-2 always insults people, the scale replies that it is a defense mechanism. After explaining further, and gaining Garfield's sympathy, RX-2 thanks him for listening.
10/11/1995; Before Garfield can step on him, RX-2 explains what is going to happen. Garfield decides to do it anyway, and RX-2 says to hop on them to get started.
6/16/2007 After a week of dieting, Garfield only gained one pound.
Diet Weeks and Fat Weeks[]
Scales, diets, and fat jokes are quite often related.
Diet Weeks[]
It is not uncommon for Garfield to weigh himself during, or after a diet.
8/9/1980 A scale's paper slip tells Garfield that he is as heavy as an aircraft carrier.
8/10/1985 Garfield removes his fur by unzipping it before he steps on the scale.
5/22/1987 After getting insulted by the scale, Garfield calls its mother a blender.
5/23/1987 RX-2 coaxes Garfield to get on, only to insult the cat immediately afterwards.
1/15/1988; Jon is proud of Garfield for losing another pound, but the cat explains that it is the same one that he already lost.
1/13/1989 RX-2 calls Garfield out for weighing one of his toes.
5/20/1989 Despite trying to seem lighter with wings, balloons, and such, Garfield is called "Flabbo" by RX-2.
1/13/1990 RX-2 calls Garfield "livestock" due to his weight.
2/16/1994 RX-2 practices screaming and shrieking in pain. Garfield tells him to be quiet.
2/21/1994 The scale is doubtful when Garfield tells him that he has been dieting. Garfield asks if he looks like a liar, and RX-2 doesn't know.
2/23/1994 RX-2 gets very defensive when Garfield asks him how much he weighs.
2/26/1994; After a 14-day diet, Garfield weighs himself. All he lost was two weeks.
10/2/1995 Garfield is called a parade by the scale.
10/7/1995 RX-2 tells Garfield that not only is he, fat, but he also has stinky feet.
10/9/1995; RX-2 asks Garfield how the diet is going. His question is then answered when Garfield gets on.
10/11/1995 RX-2 explains how this gag commonly works: Garfield gets told he's fat, gets angry, and stomps the scale.
10/14/1995 RX-2 and Garfield make a deal to be nice. It's not easy, since RX-2 thought Garfield was holding a bowling ball.
2/28/1997; Garfield tells RX-2 that his latest diet is killing him. Seeing that they could both use a laugh, RX-2 recommends that he hop on.
3/1/1997 Jon congratulates Garfield for losing a few pounds. The cat promptly goes to find them once again.
6/16/2007; Garfield celebrates because he only gained only one pound.
1/19/2008 The scale is called fat, by Garfield. The scale furiously denies this.
1/26/2008 Garfield shaves himself clean before stepping on the scale.
10/4/2013 A new solar-powered scale Jon bought calls Garfield, "Fatso."
11/28/2014 Garfield stands on the scale and is put on a diet by Jon. He looks down and notes he just hit his target weight.
3/2/2024 RX-2 tells Garfield that he has not lost weight, despite him dieting for 11 minutes.
Fat Weeks[]
Often the predecessor of a diet week is a week of fat jokes about Garfield. The scale often gets its licks in during said weeks.
7/13/1992 Garfield orders the scale to say something nice, or nothing at all. When he gets no response, Garfield wrecks it.
7/15/1992 Garfield is congratulated by RX-2 for birthing another chin.
11/6/1997 RX-2 calls Garfield several insulting variations of "fat" as he passes it.
11/8/1997 Garfield weighs himself, before eating an éclair. He is then told he'll be fatter after eating it, which frustrates him.
11/4/1997 RX-2 tells Garfield a story about a large shadow falling over a mythical place called Scaleland.
8/19/2003 Garfield is willing to listen to RX-2, who proceeds to call him just short of a semi truck.
8/21/2003 RX-2 applauds Garfield for being too heavy to cross some bridges.
8/23/2003 RX-2 says something positive, but Garfield wanted something nice about him, which proves to be a bigger challenge.
10/6/2004 RX-2 gets a call from the people of the Titanic. They claim to have seem an orange iceberg.
10/7/2004 RX-2 now tells fortunes along with people's weights. Garfield is told that he is fat and for his fortune: he will crush RX-2.
1/17/2008 RX-2 calls Garfield, "a big lard boy!"
1/18/2008 RX-2 praises Garfield for the number of chins he has.
8/23/2008 RX-2 notes that considering that he doesn't have tusks, Garfield does not weigh that much.
5/22/1987 Garfield calls RX-2 mother a blender.
Garfield gets revenge[]
On some occasions, Garfield has either harmed, insulted, or destroyed RX-2, usually after being insulted by them.
12/5/1985; Garfield threw RX-2 in a trash can after they said that they do not do livestock.
5/22/1987; Garfield says RX-2's mother was a blender after they insulted him, hurting RX-2's feelings.
6/6/1989; RX-2 gets worried that Garfield will weigh on them, but is relieved when Garfield walks past. Unfortunately, Garfield jumps on RX-2 shortly after.
Garfield's Thanksgiving; Garfield continually threatens RX-2 after they called him Orson Welles. This eventually leads to Garfield stomping on RX-2 and killing them in the process.
1/13/1990; Garfield puts a piano on RX-2 when the scale implied that he was livestock.
10/7/1990; After being told that he is fat, Garfield gets back on RX-2 while wearing golf shoes, causing them severe pain.
06/09/1991; In the title panel, Garfield is seen about to hop on RX-2 with a pogo stick, much to RX-2's fear.
7/13/1992; Garfield destroys RX-2 because they could not say anything nice.
5/23/1993; RX-2 tells Garfield that they are dead serious on Garfield being fat. As Garfield leaves, RX-2 chuckles to themself, which he overhears and smashes RX-2 in retaliation.
5/20/1996; When Garfield is called fat and old, causing Garfield to destroy RX-2 in the process. RX-2 then replies that Garfield is also touchy.
11/26/1998; Garfield stomps on a spider that was on top of RX-2. The scale is both hurt and disgusted by what Garfield did.
1/19/2008; Garfield calls RX-2 fat, which offends them badly.
1/13/1989 Garfield weighs his toes, which are also overweight.
One piece at a time[]
Sometimes Garfield tries weighing himself one body part at a time. RX-2 has even recommended it once.
11/21/1985; RX-2 suggests that Garfield weigh himself one part at a time. However, Garfield is not amused.
1/13/1989; Garfield tries to trick the scale by putting one of his toes on RX-2. RX-2 replies that his toe is also overweight.
7/5/1989; Garfield once again puts one of his toes on RX-2. It tells him that he weighs 12 pounds. When Garfield lifts his toe off the scale, it tells him that he weighs nothing. When asked by Jon about his weight, Garfield says that he is averaging six pounds.
10/6/1990; Garfield weighs himself, and then his finger, and then his whisker. Each time, RX-2 calls him fat.
Random reactions[]
RX-2 has explained Garfield's weight in numerous ways.
7/15/1992 Garfield birthed another chin.
Insults[]
RX-2 makes a number of fat jokes at Garfield's expense.
2/4/1988; Garfield asked RX-2 if they had a heart, with them responding, "You have a face?"
7/15/1992; RX-2 says that Garfield gave birth to another chin, irritating him. This joke was also repeated in RX-2's official artwork.
2/21/1994; RX-2 claims that RX-2 has never seen Garfield's face.
8/20/1994; RX-2 acts like they are being crushed to death. Before RX-2 goes, they want to see Garfield's face, or if that is his face. Garfield is willing to kill RX-2, claiming that it is justifiable homicide.
3/19/2003; RX-2 asks Garfield if they can see his feet, and wonders how Garfield can tell if he is wearing shoes.
10/6/2004; RX-2 gets a call about the Titanic spotting an orange iceberg. Garfield asks RX-2 if they can float.
11/16/2008; RX-2 tells Garfield about how state-of-the-art they are. When Garfield gets on, RX-2 is surprised by his weight.
1/2/2023; RX-2 tells Garfield that he lost a pound, pleasing the fat cat. His demeanor quickly changes when the scale tells him that that pound has been found, along with another one tacked on.
3/16/2023 RX-2 censors Garfield's weight to avoid humiliating the cat. Garfield does not know how to react.
11/18/1985 RX-2 was not prepared for this.
Screaming frantically[]
RX-2 often shouts and screams under Garfield's weight
11/18/1985; In RX-2's first appearance, RX-2 yells at Garfield repeatedly to get off. This was also repeated in the Garfield and Friends episode "Weighty Problem."
6/6/1989; Garfield passes by RX-2. The scale is relived for a moment, before Garfield leaps on RX-2, terrifying them.
6/9/1991; In the title panel, Garfield bounces towards RX-2 on a pogo stick, with them screaming as he approaches.
7/8/1991; RX-2 shrieks when Garfield stands on them, citing that they hates cold feet.
2/16/1994; RX-2 practices screaming as Garfield passes by them.
8/15/1994; RX-2 screams and coughs while Garfield stands on them, which makes Jon put Garfield on a diet.
11/27/1998; Garfield asks Jon for a hammer when RX-2 screams in pain, implying that Garfield wants to destroy RX-2 with a hammer.
8/16/1994 Garfield's fat 40 times over.
You're fat![]
RX-2 states a fact about Garfield: he is fat.
5/23/1987; RX-2 convinces Garfield to get on, and then yells that he is fat, as well as gullible.
8/16/1994; RX-2 calls Garfield "Fat x 40".
10/7/1995; RX-2 calls Garfield fat, and that his feet stink, too.
5/23/1996; When Garfield demands respect, RX-2 tells him that he is fat, with an added "Sir" at the end.
11/6/1997; RX-2 calls Garfield fat multiple times. Garfield then says that he is waiting for RX-2's battery to die.
11/8/1997; Garfield sets an éclair down and weighs himself. After being told he is fat, Garfield leaves with the pastry, only to have RX-2 tell him that he'll be fatter after he eats the donut.
12/23/1997; RX-2 convinces Garfield to hop on, since it is the Christmas season. He is then promptly told that he is fat.
3/19/1998; Even before Garfield gets on, RX-2 guesses that he is fat. The scale wants him to step on to confirm his guess. Garfield is not amused by this.
6/15/1998; Days before his birthday, Garfield is feeling down about getting old. RX-2 then calls him both old and fat.
11/25/1998; Garfield is called fat by the scale again. "Same ol', same ol'."
10/2/2001; RX-2 calls Garfield fat again. When Garfield says he is big-boned, RX-2 says that Godzilla was big-boned, and Garfield is just fat.
3/20/2003; RX-2 calls Garfield as light as a feather, but then says that it is the world's heaviest feather. Garfield then says that he needs to work on leaving the room faster.
3/21/2003; Garfield tries standing backwards on RX-2, only to be told, "You are fat" backwards.
10/7/2004; RX-2 now tells fortunes. RX-2 calls Garfield fat and predicts that he will stomp them flat.
6/10/2018; Garfield yells at RX-2 for constantly making fun of his weight. RX-2 at first denies this, but when Garfield gets on RX-2, they call him a sucker.
6/28/2021; RX-2 says that Garfield gained two pounds by walking past a plate of donuts. Garfield comments on how it makes no sense.
7/2/2021; Garfield demands an apology from RX-2 after they called him fat once again. RX-2 than says to Garfield that their sorry that he is fat.
3/9/2023; Garfield notices that he has gained a pound. He figures that it is either water weight or the 18-inch pizza he had recently eaten.
4/30/2024 After an update, RX-2 gives Garfield a compliment: "You don't wheeze much for a fat person." Garfield isn't amused, expressing his hatred of technology.
8/19/2003 Garfield the big rig
Other ways[]
There are other methods RX-2 tells Garfield his weight.
11/27/1985; RX-2 wonders how many are on them, infuriating Garfield.
10/10/1987; RX-2 gives Garfield a broad range of possible weights, and Garfield leaves satisfied.
8/18/1994; RX-2 tells Garfield he is as light as a feather. Garfield leaves, happy, before RX-2 qualifies with "a really, really, really big feather."
10/14/1995; Garfield and RX-2 agree to be nice. RX-2 wants Garfield to put down a bowling ball, even though he is not holding a bowling ball. Garfield then says it is an uneasy truce.
5/21/1996; RX-2 shows Garfield a new feature: the automatic chin counter.
8/19/2003; When RX-2 says that it is lonely being a scale. Garfield is willing to listen, but is told that he is 11 pounds shy of a big rig.
8/21/2003; RX-2 tells Garfield that he is too heavy to cross certain bridges.
1/18/2008; RX-2 tells Garfield that he has a fine crop of chins. Garfield then gives them a death threat.
8/23/2008; RX-2 tells Garfield that he does not weigh much for a guy without tusks.
4/3/2016; Odie, Nermal, and Squeak all weigh themselves on RX-2, with RX-2 mimicking the sounds that they make. When Garfield weighs himself, RX-2 instead makes cow noises.
1/26/2008 Whatever it takes...
Saving face[]
Garfield often tries different ways to make himself seem lighter, or disguise himself. RX-2 is not having any of it.
8/10/1985 Garfield unzips his fur, as if it was an article of clothing, before he steps on the scale.
11/20/1985; Garfield wears a gag mask and glasses, hoping to trick RX-2, but it calls him by name.
5/20/1989; Garfield wears a propeller hat, wings, and balloons to try to seem lighter, but RX-2 calls him "Flabbo" in response.
10/4/1990; Garfield swipes Jon's razor and shaves himself clean in order to weigh less. It slightly works.
1/26/2008; Garfield gets bald again before trying the scale.
11/30/2020 Sarcastic scales stink.
Unrelated ways[]
RX-2 sometimes says things that are totally unrelated to Garfield's weight, but still sting the fat cat
11/19/1985; RX-2 tells Garfield that his two pounds are back with reinforcements.
2/5/1988; RX-2 sounds like they are being crushed to death under Garfield, making the latter wanting them to die.
9/27/1992; RX-2 makes sounds that resemble something in a sci-fi movie. Garfield is not a fan and says that he hates them.
8/19/1994; RX-2 tells Garfield about future events: with the Earth slowly spinning off its orbit and meeting a fiery demise.
10/2/1995; When Garfield gets on, RX-2 acts like a marching band is passing.
11/4/1997; RX-2 tells a story about what starts out as a beautiful day in Scale Land when a huge shadow falls across the land. Garfield says that they hate when RX-2 does it, implying that this happened on multiple occasions.
11/28/1998; RX-2 talks as if they are on a ship that is going down.
3/19/2003; RX-2 asks Garfield if he can see his own feet, wondering how Garfield can tell if he is wearing shoes.
10/6/2004; RX-2 gets a call about the Titanic spotting an orange iceberg. Garfield then asks RX-2 if they can float.
11/16/2008; RX-2 tells Garfield about how state-of-the-art they are. Garfield gets on, and RX-2 is surprised by his weight.
11/30/2020; RX-2 compliments Garfield sarcastically, with Garfield saying that he hates sarcastic scales.
8/6/2023; Garfield has a nightmare in which he celebrates losing 10 pounds, as told by the scale.
4/5/2024 Garfield claims to have set realistic weight goals. RX-2 tells him he gained five pounds, which Garfield celebrates, claiming he is "halfway there!"
Trivia[]
RX-2's cameo in Garfield By the Pound
RX-2 had a cameo appearance on the front cover of the book, Garfield By the Pound.
In this appearance, RX-2 screams in pain as he weighs one of Garfield's toes. The cat looks annoyed at the scale's response.
It has appeared 115 times, equal to the ??th most.
Most of RX-2's appearances are usually when Garfield is on a diet, although they occasionally appear when Garfield does not have a diet as well.
It is also known for making comments that are irrelevant to Garfield's weight.
Despite being depicted with a female voice in its animated appearances, RX-2 is sometimes referred to as male in the comics strip.
Two similar-looking sentient bathroom scales appear in the May 26, 1984 and September 22, 1986 strips. It is unknown if they are meant to be RX-2, as they are not as robotic and have different designs.
On 11/26/1996, Garfield once brought RX-2 for his opening act on the fence, since the scale was the best he could get on short notice.
