Editor Stan Arnold took an immediate liking to Larson’s comic strip and successfully got it syndicated nationwide.Įarly on in the process, Larson was asked if he’d mind changing the title from "Nature’s Way" to "The Far Side." Mildly put, this wasn’t a problem Larson once joked that for all he cared, “They could have called it ‘Revenge of the Zucchini People.’” "The Far Side" that we all know and love made its grand debut in newspapers across America in January, 1980. The quest began-and ended-with a visit to the San Francisco Chronicle’s headquarters. Riding high on newfound success, Larson decided to see if any other publications might be interested in his work. Then, in 1979, The Seattle Times agreed to revive "Nature’s Way" as a weekly comic strip. The half-dozen comics were swiftly bought up (for $3 apiece) and published under the title "Nature’s Way." Following his print debut, Larson took a three-year hiatus from cartooning.
One day in 1976, he presented six of these to the editor of the popular Seattle magazine Pacific Search. Dissatisfied with the gig, Larson began to draw bizarre, single-panel cartoons in his spare time. “It was one of the most idiotic things I ever did.” Had he pursued a scientific career, Larson says that he’d want to become an entomologist.Īfter graduating, he landed a job at a record store. “I didn’t want to go to school for more than four years, and I didn’t know what you did with a bachelor’s degree in biology, so I switched over and got my degree in communications,” he told The New York Times. But halfway through college, Larson’s focus shifted. So when he enrolled at Washington State University, his decision to major in biology surprised no one. In his early years, Larson spent countless hours chasing amphibians and nurturing pet snakes. At a very young age, he developed the passion for wildlife that would give "The Far Side" its unique flavor. IT EVOLVED FROM AN EARLIER STRIP CALLED NATURE’S WAY.Ī native of Tacoma, Washington, Gary Larson was born on August 14, 1950.
Here are 11 things you should know about this highly-evolved comic strip. It also gave an entire generation of humorists a renewed appreciation for cow jokes.
Offbeat, macabre, and sometimes controversial, Gary Larson’s trailblazing cartoon was a gigantic success that ran in nearly 2000 newspapers at the height of its popularity. Added a dash of irreverence to the funny pages.
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