There are a lot of facts that fans of The Far Side probably don't know about Gary Larson's classic single-panel comic, despite its popularity and long-term success. The cartoon was originally created in 1979 and enjoyed a hugely successful run where it is now nearing its 45th anniversary. It spanned decades, topics, and platforms and while the comic's success is hugely down to the art of the talented creator, it's perhaps his puns and visual gags that will stand the test of time, especially within the medium itself with very few strips managing to rival the wide stream appeal of these simple designs.
While fans know plenty of facts about famous runs like Bill Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes, slightly less is known about Larson's own work. The Far Side was genuinely and non-ironically funny, with its sarcastic blend of wit and observation ensuring that the absurdist imagery always played on an idea that readers would recognize in their own lives. It's completely timeless in its appeal and as new fans discover these short masterpieces for the first time, the revelation that there is so much more to know becomes apparent.
10 There Was Themed Continuity
There really isn't any kind of ongoing continuity or canon within The Far Side. There are no obvious storylines that pick up from a separate comic strip that can be seen to return, when analyzing all of Gary Larson's published works It was a well-established aspect of this style, with these one-shot stories taking a snapshot of life, from an alternative perspective. But there is some continuity in the theming.
The Far Side can arguably be separated into different themes and character types. Indeed, it wasn't uncommon to see cows, dogs or perhaps even cavemen with the same designs, popping up again and again. Not everyone knows this about the strip, but when collecting all of these narratives together, there are actually quite a few obvious groupings that can be made which suggest a shared continuity in a different sense.
9 The Far Side Was In Nearly 2,000 Newspapers
Gary Larson's comics have always been very popular. Syndicated by Chronicle Features and then Universal Press Syndicate, the surrel kids' books-inspired cartoon showed up in a ridiculous number of newspapers. In fact, it has now been totaled up that the comic strip was in fact, according to NPR, featured in just over 1900 different newspapers.
That's a tremendous display of just how high in quality these comic strips were. They originated as part of the San Francisco Chronicle, and very few other comic strips have managed to find themselves published in such a wide variety of different formats since their humble origins. Its legacy is defined by those numerous appearances, with the continued exposure cementing its mainstream acknowledgment.
8 Gary Larson Retired
Not everyone knows when or why The Far Side actually came to an end. The final strip was in 1995 and coincided with Gary Larson's retirement. Some cartoonists opt to allow for their creations to continue under a new artist so that the legacy of what they dreamed up would never vanish. However, Larson didn't decide to go down that path, with the run completely finishing.
Although Larson might have returned to the series briefly after his retirement to play around with a few old ideas, The Far Side continues to be completed officially at that final cartoon. It's been a few decades since the last release, but the fact that The Far Side is relevant even in Larson's retirement demonstrates that it is obviously appealing to a modern audience. Perhaps he was right to stop while they were timeless.
7 The Far Side Rarely Crossed Into The Political
Gary Larson has highlighted many of his own mistakes, but there was a very specific judgment he clearly made which was not in error. The cartoon medium has often played into the political happenings of the day in which they were made. In fact the comic strip and the single-panel image have both been utilized for satire on multiple occasions on big platforms.
Although there are a few moments of humor that could be deemed to be topical, looking across the collected works of Gary Larson's The Far Side demonstrates that the series rarely crossed into the political. The absurdist humor perhaps would have been too grounded had it become satirical, with the ideas of the run immortalized by the fact that they can be applicable to any era.
6 The Far Side Was Always A Single-Panel Comic
Although Gary Larson might wish to mess around with some other iconic comics from his collection, the archives tells fans something very important about the medium and genre that Larson worked within. Famous comics can sometimes evolve and expand so that narratively they are given the opportunity to tell fuller and more complete stories.
The Far Side has always stuck to the single-panel structure and never strayed from this. Some iconic comics have jumped between the multiple mediums to tell the best stories possible. Fans might not know that Larson was so strict on consistency, but clearly his best work came when he had to make a full joke in just one image, allowing it to be perfected.
5 The Far Side Began Under A Different Name
Most fans aren't aware that The Far Side had an original name that is rarely remembered these days. The fact is, The Far Side was previously called Nature's Way, an ode to the idea that Larson was simply reflecting what he saw around him. Everyday life was just based on human nature, although there is plenty of natural imagery from the animal kingdom in his work as well.
Although the name change was significant in helping the story of The Far Side develop, there's no telling whether the comic strip would have still been successful under its initial title. Regardless, many see Nature's Way as a predecessor to The Far Side, a space for Gary Larson to hone his craft before developing it into the comic strip that sits in history now.
4 There Are 4,337 Far Side Cartoons
Gary Larsons' comic success was summed up by the artist in a simple metaphor, comparing his mind to a snow globe that needed a shake. But from a statistical point of view, The Far Side's continued momentum can also be summed up from a single number. That number, according to NPR, is 4337. That's how many comics Gary Larson created.
That's a huge number, showing that at some points the artist would have been creating one single-panel strip for every day of the week. With so many newspapers to fill, it's no surprise that this many comics were drawn and written, especially when considering the years that Larson was active. Their quality was always stellar, but what's remarkable is the constant dedication to the medium.
3 Gary Larson Distributes The Far Side Digitally
With Gary Larson returning every now and then to offer some insight and continue to craft The Far Side, it became apparent that the strip itself would need a new home. For years, newspapers seem to be the perfect place to archive single-panel comics, as their own timeline had been so heavily influenced by the legacy of these gorgeously designed images.
But, many people might not know that The Far Side has now gone digital. No longer appearing in traditional form, Gary Larson has taken back control of his creations and now showcases them on his own website, where fans can continue to enjoy his work without newspapers getting to decide what gets released and on whose schedule it is launched. It's about giving power back to the artist.
2 The Far Side's Characters Are Never Named
Read enough comics from Gary Larson and a specific fact becomes very apparent. There are no reoccurring characters which of course leans into the notion of a lack of continuity. But how that can be defined is simple. None of the figures that appear throughout the works of The Far Side are ever actually given a name to identify them by.
Although their looks might seem slightly familiar and the species of animal or costume design pops up a few times, there is not telling whether this is actually the same figure, or if it just happens to look like them. That's crucial for suspending disbelief in storytelling. Fans can decide for themselves whether these characters are the same, but it doesn't matter. What does matter is the point of view and the joke.
1 The Most Expensive New York Times Best Seller Is A Far Side Book
Gary Larson's ideas came from all sorts of places including embarrassing real-life situations. He put every idea and experience on show for the world. While the digital platform is the place where all of these concepts and imaginations can be viewed, Larson also brought out a collected edition of his work in a published format, so that these artistic renderings could be enjoyed in one place.
Fans might not know of the existence of The Complete Far Side, which ended up becoming the most expensive New York Times Best Seller, according to USA Today. Even though it was a pricey purchase to be able to get the life's work of Gary Larson all in one place, audiences still flocked to buy the print, showcasing just how beloved The Far Side truly is.