The Far Side

The Far Side is a popular one-panel syndicated comic created by Gary Larson. 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. Larson's frequent use of animals and nature in the comic is popularly attributed to his background in biology. The strip ran from January 1, 1980, to January 1, 1995. Reruns are still printed in many newspapers. The Far Side was carried by more than 1,900 daily newspapers, translated into 17 languages, and collected into 22 compilation books. The series was preceded by a similar panel called Nature's Way, also by Larson.