I think the most surprising thing about it is that it's good. Not just good as a curiosity, but actually good, in ways and to a degree that would be pretty hard to replicate if you set out to create it from scratch, without existing Garfield strips to lean on.

did you follow the "20 darkest" link?

I did! And it started to make me wonder whether the same shenanigans could be applied to make any interesting Calvin minus Hobbes strips ... but my guess is it wouldn't turn out quite so dark

https://screenrant.com/15-dark-garfield-minus-strips-jon-dep...

Heck, after reading that thing, I'M trying not to jump.