Valley of The Far Side

(The Far Side Collection 5)
by
Gary Larson

Andrews and McMeel, December 1985, 104 pp.

ISBN: 0-8362-2067-6

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Comic Strip / Humor
Reviewed: 5/17/2004

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Comic Strip

Synopsis

Valley of the Far Side is the fifth collection of The Far Side comic strips. All comic strips are in black and white. These are all single shots, not the normal 4 panel comic strips. The Far Side is a humorous comic strip that appeared in a multitude of newspapers daily.

The Far Side became very popular in the early 1980's, and continued into the 1990's, until Gary Larson decided that he was going to retire the comic strip. It was seen daily in hundred of newspapers and enjoyed by millions. The Far Side is just as the name imply...just on the far side of sane. Most of the strips feature humans, but not all. If an animal is the main character, then they are usually placed in the shoes of a human. Most of the Far Side strips deal with the stupid things humans do in every day things. Other strips deals with things that are just totally wacky. Either way, they make fun of us and everything we do. And since it is human nature to laugh at the misfortune of others...you will probably find this comic strip to be very funny.

Review

Valley of the Far Side contains a book-load of smiles. No other artist and writer ever captured the twisted nature of mankind the way Gary Larson did.

I absolutely love the way he looks at life. After all, we do some pretty stupid things in our life, and Gary Larson puts them to pencil and ink and makes everyone laugh about it.

I know that I desperately miss this comic strip and wish it was still published daily in the newspapers. Obviously, others do too as he still produces calendars every year based upon all his old work.

So, if you are looking for a belly-full of laughs, pick up Valley of the Far Side. You won't regret it.