Far Side

The Far Side is a popular one-panel syndicated comic created by Gary Larson. more...

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Its surrealistic humor is often based on uncomfortable social situations, improbable events, an anthropomorphic view of the world, logical fallacies, impending bizarre disasters, or the search for meaning in life. The strip ran from January 1, 1980, to January 1, 1995, when it was retired (there were a few sabbaticals and vacations along the way). The series was preceded by a similar panel called Nature's Way, also by Larson.

Around the world, The Far Side is perhaps better known for the compilation books and merchandise (especially calendars, T-shirts and mugs) than it is for its original incarnation as a daily newspaper feature.

The comic

Most Far Side cartoons are single rectangular panel, with the caption or dialogue usually appears under the panel as typed text, although sometimes word balloons were utilized for conversations. Sunday comics were done in water color or colored pencils, with captions hand written in Larson's own cursive.

Most of Larson's comics relied on some combination of a visual and verbal gag, rather than just one or the other.

Larson was recognized for his work on the strip with the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Panel Cartoon Award for 1985 and 1988, and their Reuben Award for 1990 and 1994.

Recurring themes

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

• Snakes
• Cows
• Life on the farm, featuring the antics of farmers and their animals, especially cows and chickens
• Dogs and/or cats and/or other family pets
• Ducks
• Castaways on a desert island
• Cavemen and dinosaurs
• Scientists in labs, invariably wearing white lab coats
• Explorers and indigenous peoples or cannibals
• Vikings and Warriors
• Elephants
• Nerds (with whom Larson admittedly identifies)
• God, complete with white hair and flowing beard, as in Michelangelo's artworks, and other religious themes
• Monsters of varying appearances, such as giant creatures, werewolves, and generic monsters
• Protozoa and other microscopic creatures
• Mixed metaphors of all kinds
• Common sayings or figures of speech (often metaphors or similes literally coming true)
• Historical events
• Insects and many other wild animals living in human society or in human homes
• The Old West
• Deep sea divers
• Gorillas, and/or Tarzan
• Humans switching places with other various things, usually animals (such as fish trying to catch humans)
• Aliens and their similarities and differences from Earth.
• Musicians, musical instruments, and venues

Far Side cartoons are also known for similarities that appear throughout the series:

Read more at Wikipedia.org