Gary Larson is an American cartoonist who is best known for creating the comic strip 'The Far Side'. The comic strip was published in newspapers from 1980 to 1995 and gained a cult following for its surreal and offbeat humor.
Gary Larson was born on August 14, 1950, in Tacoma, Washington.
He graduated from Washington State University in 1972 with a degree in communications.
In 1979, Larson submitted some cartoons to Pacific Search, a Seattle-based magazine. One of those cartoons was the prototype for 'The Far Side'.
In 1980, 'The Far Side' was first syndicated in 9 newspapers. The comic strip went on to be published in over 1,900 newspapers.
Larson retired from cartooning in 1995, citing a desire to stop while the strip was still popular.
In the years since 'The Far Side', Larson has published a few books and has occasionally created new cartoons for charities and friends.
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A two-volume compilation of every 'Far Side' comic strip ever published, along with additional commentary from Gary Larson.
A series of 6 books that collect the best 'Far Side' cartoons.
A book that collects some of the earliest 'Far Side' cartoons and provides commentary from Larson.
Larson retired from cartooning in 1995, citing a desire to stop while the strip was still popular. He has occasionally created new cartoons for charities and friends, but has not returned to the daily grind of creating a comic strip.
Unfortunately, 'The Far Side' cartoons are not available to read online. Larson has been protective of the strip's legacy and has not allowed it to be published digitally.
Larson has mostly stayed out of the public eye since retiring from cartooning. He has published a few books and has occasionally created new cartoons for charities and friends.
'The Far Side' was beloved for its offbeat humor and surrealist tendencies. Larson's ability to find the absurdity in everyday situations struck a chord with many readers.
Many fans recommend starting with 'The Far Side Gallery', which collects some of the most memorable cartoons from the strip's run. If you're a completist, you might consider picking up 'The Complete Far Side', which contains every 'Far Side' cartoon ever published.