The Far Side

The Far Side is the popular one-panel comic created by Gary Larson. Its humor is often based on uncomfortable social situations, improbable events, an anthropocentric view of the world, logical fallacies, or the search for meaning in life.

The strip ran from January 1 1980 to the same date in 1995, when it was retired (there were a few sabbaticals and vacations along the way). Gary Larson has produced 22 Far Side books, all of which made it to The New York Times Best Seller List.

Far Side cartoons, though diverse in their humor, often rely on certain familiar situations. These include:

• Life on the farm, featuring the antics of farmers and their animals, especially cows and chickens
• Castaways on a deserted island
• Cavemen and dinosaurs
• Scientists in labs
• Aliens from outer space

He also occasionally draws cartoons commenting on celebrities or current events, although these are rare.

Many cartoonists have since emulated Larson's distinct one-panel style.

In 2003, The Complete Far Side was released, featuring every Far Side comic ever published, featuring two volumes (1980-1986 and 1987-1994), a foreword by Steve Martin, and an introduction by Larson's long-time editor Jake Morrisey. The first-edition hardcover boxed set weighs nineteen and a half pounds (8.8 kilograms).

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