(The Far Side Collection 1)

Gary Larson

Andrews, McMeel & Parker, August 1982, 100 pp.
ISBN: 0-8362-1200-2

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Comic Strip / Humor
Reviewed: 3/1/2001

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Comic Strip

Synopsis

The Far Side is the very first 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 implies...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

I fell in love with this daily comic the first time I read it. I remember grabbing the paper, flipping to the funny papers, and looking for my two favorite comic strips; The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes. Either one of these could always brings a chuckle to my lips. I love the wackiness of this strip.

Back in my old college days, I used to cut out these comic strips and tape them to the outside of my notebooks so I had something funny to read if the lecture turned out to be really boring. This comic strip got me through some hard times.

So, if you like wacky and funny observances of human nature, you will love reading The Far Side.