How bad is Jim "Third Worst Cartoonist Ever" Davis?

(CNN) -- Jim Davis, the creator of the widely-syndicated "Garfield" comic has issued an apology for an ill-timed strip that ran on Veterans Day.

The strip, which appeared in newspapers nationwide Thursday, shows a spider's thoughts as Garfield the cat is about to crush it with a rolled-up newspaper.

"If you squish me, I shall become famous!" reads the thought bubble in the strip's first panel.

"They will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor, you fat slob," the spider continues, referring to the pudgy orange cat.

The last panel shows the spider dangling above a teacher's desk while he addresses a group of other spiders: "Does anyone here know why we celebrate 'National Stupid Day?'"

Davis called the strip's appearance on Veterans Day "the worst timing ever."

So bad that CNN's writer didn't get the "gag." The spider in the third panel is supposed to be a different spider, one which is referring to the spider from panels one and two as the reason for commemorating "National Stupid Day." But Davis' artist drew both spiders alike. Not that the joke would be better if he had executed it correctly, but still...

Davis says that particular strip was created over a year ago, presumably meaning he recited the idea into a dictaphone or e-mailed it to the people who actually make the strip in 2009. Of course, this means that if Davis dies tomorrow, this dreck will be running until the end of 2011.