Larson, Gary (1950-…), an American cartoonist, became famous for his single-panel cartoon called “The Far Side.” The cartoon became known for its bizarre humor. Many of the cartoons feature animals, insects, and even amebas with human characteristics. Other favorite “Far Side” subjects include professors, scientists, and suburbanites.
Larson was born on Aug. 14, 1950, in Tacoma, Washington. He began his cartooning career in 1978, calling his panels “Nature’s Way.” The cartoons appeared in The Seattle Times for a year, but the newspaper withdrew them after reader complaints about their offbeat humor. In 1980, the San Francisco Chronicle began publishing and syndicating the cartoon, and the name changed to “The Far Side.” To syndicate something is to sell it to many newspapers for publication. In 1984, Universal Press Syndicate became the syndicator.
In 1994, Larson announced he was retiring from drawing “The Far Side,” and the last original cartoon for newspaper publication appeared on Jan. 1, 1995. However, Larson continued to supervise the production of previously published cartoons for books and other commercial products. The Complete Far Side was published in two volumes in 2003. It includes more than 5,400 cartoons, 1,100 of which had never appeared in a book before. The volumes also include essays by Larson and a selection of letters from readers. In 2019, Larson launched a “Far Side” website showcasing selected cartoons, including some new work, and drawings from his sketchbooks.
