The Far Side Gallery 2

Really, Stephen King's forward to this collection sums up everything there is to say about The Far Side and Gary Larson. Its an 'either you get it or you don't'. Showing Far Side clips to people, either they laugh at the jokes like I do/did, or they look at me as if my head is spinning, vomiting pea-green soup and I may or may not be incontinent. I think its a friend barometer for me. You laugh, your in, you don't laugh, your out.

Sorry, thems the breaks.

"The Far Side" was one of the more macabre and hilarious comic strips, almost always a single panel. The artwork is competent and incidental to the ideas, which often involve talking animals named Bob or Warren, are almost always funny and often fall-down-snorting laugh riots. Sometimes the ideas are just so stupidly sophomoric that they generate their own brand of unbelieving laugh reaction. Larson retired at his prime, and he is sorely missed. Perhaps the closest to him in style and wit was Gahan Wilson.

While still enjoyable, Larson's cartoons are not as captivating as they were when they first appeared. At that time they were totally original and unlike almost anything that had been seen before. It's a testament to Larson's talent that for the last thirty years cartoonists have been emulating his style in trying to capture some of his magic. I rank him along with Bill Patterson (Calvin and Hobbes) as one of the all-time greatest. If it's been awhile since you've look at a Larson anthology this is well worth your time.

Impromptu decision to showcase Far Side comics to R & W, so borrowed three collections from my local: this, Gallery 1, and Chickens Are Restless. Naturally there were many, many panels I took pains to point out; and of course others I remembered but didn't find in any of these. Didn't win any converts but thoroughly enjoyed the attempt.

Interestingly, Larson more than once places dinosaurs and humans together in a comic.

Oh, books of my past.

I've had [b:The Far Side Gallery|77281|The Far Side Gallery|Gary Larson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347379733s/77281.jpg|105673] books for as long as I can remember. I grew up reading these comics and giggling to myself. Every time I come back to them I understand some of the more 'adult' and scientific jokes and puns and the comics only get more enjoyable. This collection of five books is fantastic, and brings together all (?) or at least a significant amount of [a:Gary Larson|19928|Gary Larson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1213672623p2/19928.jpg]'s work.

As always, Gary Larson delivers. The Far Side Gallery is funny, provocative, and insightful, like all of Larson's books. Unfortunately, as with most comics strips, it's either all or nothing, love it or hate it. If you like Larson, then you are guaranteed to love this book. If you don't care for Larson...why are you here?

Unable to Continue: I'll write the review for this book as soon as I'm able to stop laughing.