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Gary Larson calls The Complete Far Side, the massive two-volume collection of his Far Side cartoons, an "18-pound hernia giver." Sure to give any coffee table a solid workout, the handsome and heavy 1,272-page "legacy book" is a must for fervent fans; over 4,300 single-panel comics with more than half in color and 1,100 that have not appeared in any book form before (the popular--and far less weighty--paperback collections).

Set in rough chronological order, the comics share pages with occasional letters from fans, detractors, editors, folks made famous by a particular cartoon, and those begging for explanations. Though few explanations are provided (Larson personally supplies merely one, plus a single apology), this collection helps answer the inevitable "how do you think up these things" conundrum. Before each year's cartoons, Larson provides insight with essays about his childhood, various travels, occupational hazards, and his official rules for dealing with bedtime monsters (which often turned out to be his older brother). Most wonderful is the first essay on how the comic started. (His longtime editor Jake Morrissey's long introduction is a must read on The Far Side's story).

Despite no central characters, it's easy to spot patterns in Larson's wild and wacky cartoons. Animals, insects, and inanimate objects often exhibit all-too-human impulses. Larson's subjects are often in scenes of peril--disasters, visits to hell, and perhaps a hundred cartoons set on a one-palm tree deserted island. It is what Larson's fertile imagination mined from those situations that created fans and enemies for 14 years. (Larson retired at his peak and then went into jazz music). The comics are not indexed (how could they be--first lines? listings of cartoons with cows?); finding a favorite requires a great memory for its publication date. Best simply to peruse the pages of this beautiful collection in which you will certainly find more than a few new chuckles before landing on your beloved Larson sketch. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (112)

You'll laugh 'til the cows come home...
A truly amazing piece of modern literature... if a picture is worth a thousand words, then this collection is worth 4.3 million of 'em! If you've been a Larson fan, then you know what you're in for... whacky animals and insects that are usually smarter than their human counterparts, light handed commentary on the workings of life and nature, and an incredible wit that captures appeals to everyone and offends no one (except maybe cows or chickens). These cartoons will take you back to where you were the first time you read them.

If you've never read Larson, then you need to pick up this collection immediately (be careful and don't hurt your back... 18 pounds of books is a heavy load). Enjoy the fit and finish of the slipcase and covers of the books. Feel the weight of the high-quality artbook-grade coated paper, smell the fresh ink... and then dig in to the BEST cartoons ever created!

This collection is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY you spend on it. I have every Larson book ever published, and they don't hold a candle to these books. The introductions to the individual chapters are worth the price alone. Because of this collection, the Far Side will be enjoyed by future generations to come.

20 Lbs. of forgotten humor!
I'm not kidding when I say make sure your coffee table is sturdy and your postal delivery person is hernia-free, this two volume collected work of Gary Larson's THE FAR SIDE is amazing..amazingly heavy. But, despair not valiant reader, the pain of this massive tome digging into your thighs as you meander through it's pages is at best causing severe nerve damage and at the very least taking you away from the horribly crushing depression that you suffer most of the time anyway. Why, do you say? Becuase Mr. Larson has devoted his entire life, all thirteen years of it, to drawing poorly constructed, one-frame cartoons, that are sure to make you either giggle or guffaw, with enough of the good ol' "oh my God, that's sick" thrown in for balance. Let's face it, you need this. Seriously. Yes, you. C'mon, your looks are fading, the years havn't been kind, and you are starting to smell funny. Wouldn't it be nice if you could somehow, magically, travel back in time, thirteen years ago, when your teenage dreams were brought to life in every new paperback edition of THE FAR SIDE? Remember how mad you were at your parents when they threw them all out, along with you, after you dropped out of the technical college for the third time? Well, you'll show them now. YOU'LL SHOW ALL OF THEM!!! HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

Bodacious
First of all, you'll need to take steriods just to lift this collection. But it's worth every pound. The quality is remarkable, with color cartoons and brilliant and witty comments every now and then. The detractors who've written into the papers over the years also make an appearance, looking more foolish than ever. If you're one for great humor (think Sedaris in his "Me Talk Pretty" or McCrae in his "Bark of the Dogwood"), humor that is sometimes dark and multi-layered, then you'll love Gary Larson. This, of course, if you've never been exposed to him, in which case you're probably fodder for one of his cartoons. A++++++ material and presentation on this one.

The Far Side
What can I say everyone else hasn't? Except if you like the Far Side this is the one to get.

laughter!!
When I started reading and liking the far side 1 year ago, I said that I would get this one when I earned enough money and I earned the money I needed and I bought this at costco and I was on the floor laughing for about an hour or so because it was so funny and now I am on book 2 of the set and I have to say that if you are a far side fan that Gary Larson did the right thing by creating this and if you are a fan this is the far side item for you!!! :) ... Read more

Reviews (16)

So orginal it's hilarious!
"Why not write a cartoon book that doesn't bother with a main character and where each joke is totally different from the next?!" That must have been similar to what Gary asked himself when starting to write his hilarious comic books. Every joke is truly different from the next one! And every joke is refreshingly original! Each joke comes from a thoughtful, clever and of course playful mind.

A Great Book
If you like Gary Larson but don't know which book to buy, this is the one. It is hilarious, has cow stuff. I asure you you'll laugh your brains out. Well, at least it happened to me

A Successful Quirky Comic Series!
This is a great book! Gary Larson's Farside comic strip was quirky and fun and it's a shame that he retired from writing his sydicated comic strips in the paper because it was so original and unlike any thing else on the newspaper comic pages. There are newer comic strips that try to copy Gary Larson's Farside but they aren't as good. It's great to have this book and look at Farside when I feel I need to look at some funny quirky comics and I recommend this book!

Keeps Getting Better
I don't know how the guy does it. They keep getting funnier and there are always ones I've never seen before, as well as the ones I've always loved. You won't be disappointed if you are a Far Side fan. If you're not a Far Side fan, well, then I can't help you.

A New Office Ritual
When I started work at my present job almost two years ago, I found that the place needed a little 'lightening up'. It was casual already, to some extent, so on my next 'office supply' shopping 'trip' I picked up this calendar for my desk. Well, it began a new office ritual; everyone wants to know the "Far-Side-of-the-day"! Sometimes, it's the only funny thing to happen all day. Larson needs to come out of retirement! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I AM A LARSEN JUNKIE!!! I NEED MORE!!!
Larsen is the world's greatest cartoonist. Too bad he retired. I have envelopes filled with his cartoons clipped out of the newspaper (10+ years ago!) that I still can't bear to throw away. So I suppose this book was a good idea. It will take up less space than several bulging envelopes.

For younger people who can't remember his cartoons in the paper every day, you need to hurry up and start collecting his books so you can always be within arm's length of a smile or a laugh.

Also, I love the story about the "Jane Goodall Cartoon"

--George Stancliffe

Very Unique!
gary larson is one he best cartoonists ever! you have to travel to the far side! all of his comics will have you thinking! its great! buy it, you'll love it!

The Far Side is Life
We've all seen Far Side cartoons, stuck on office doors and cubicle walls, and said, "I don't get it." Then we've learned a little and come back, this time laughing raucously. This book is filled with all sorts of Far Side gems, most of which any average yutz can find hilarious. If you like the Far Side, or if you just like a glimpse at that which is odd, warped, and mind-bending (or, in other terms, Larsonesque), you should have this book.

WHO DOESN'T LIVE IN THE FAR SIDE
Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Something unique happens whenever you read one of Gary Larson's Far Side collections. You find yourself thinking! How often can you say that about a one panel comic strip. Larson's ingenious humor can make people laugh who don't even have a clue about what they're laughing at!

All I can say is that if you haven't visited The Far Side...then get there today! And once you do...you'll want to come back again and again and again.

Gotcha!

Gary Larson is the Best, period
There isnt much to say in a review of this book, except that if you buy this book i GUARANTEE you'll buy the other 4!!! There absolutely excelent. The funniest cartoon of all of them is the one with a chimpanzee picking stuff off her husbands back and saying "Another blonde hair, eh? Doing a little extra research with that Jane Goodall tramp?"....and thats just the tip of the iceberg! Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Like all good galleries this only contains masterpieces
The Far Side Galleries are literature's version of greatest hits CDs. This edition is even forwarded by Stephen King.

The artistic masterpieces in this one come from the books Brides of The Far Side, Valley of the Far Side and It Came From the Far Side. It may be cheaper to buy these books individually instead of this gallery so compare prices before purchasing.

The advantage of owning the galleries is that some cartoons are full page size which is three times the size of the original books. Not all cartoons are full size though just some.

Classic cartoons contained in this one such as dogs looking at slides with one pointing to the screen, "Now in this slide we can see how the cornered cat has seems to grow suddenly bigger, Trickery! Trickery! Trickery!" Another has a guy waking up with a post it note on his left foot where his toe should be with the words "Went to market" on it. The classic human parody of nagging where a bear demands of her husband who has No. 8 shaved into his fur, a huge tag with no.8 on his ear and a needle sticking out of him "Late Again! This Better Be Good!"

Is this book better than other galleries? Well that's a matter of opinion, different ones appeal to different people. Should you buy it? Yes!

the far side is by far the funniest comic strip
i can't tell you whether or not to buy this collection, you either like gary larson's work or you don't. and if you know his work, and everyone does, you already know if you want this. it's a winner. and has a brief intro by stephen king--it comes to no surprise that king is a fan of the far side. they seem to fit together.

The twisted world of Gary Larson
"The Far Side Gallery 2" gathers together a generous helping of cartoons by the brilliant Gary Larson, with an introduction by horror icon Stephen King. Larson's work is a surreal blend of horror, science fiction, and satire, all filtered through Larson's twisted, often macabre, sense of humor.

Larson aims his pen at many targets in this collection; vampires, nuclear holocaust, the Bible, the tooth fairy, obesity, game shows, suicide, Vikings, vegetarianism, creationism, and much, much more. He often pokes fun at famous people or characters from literature and popular culture: Albert Einstein, Humpty Dumpty, Frankenstein, Carl Sagan, the Brady Bunch, etc.

One of Larson's trademarks is to feature non-human characters who talk and behave remarkably like humans. Many such characters appear in this book: worms, extraterrestrial creatures, sharks, slugs, elephants, dragons, flowers, roaches, and more.

The book is full of weirdness, but throughout it maintains an oddly consistent "Larsonian" logic. So if you want to see a Venus Kidtrap awaiting a meal, a devil leading a nightmarish aerobic workout session in hell, or Spanish-speaking dolphins confounding a team of scientists, check out "The Far Side Gallery 2."

Same old goofy humor!
I have read this book through and through about 30 times and I love it! The entire series of Gary Larson books are funny, but this one is one of my favorite collections yet. Larson has a very strange sense of humor that fans of the Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy books or Close to Home cartoons are sure to be amused by. I guarantee you'll laugh at this book.

Farside is cool
Hey this book is really funny. It has the same old Far Side humor. It is one of the more clever books a guy can read. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes The Far Side. (Especially you fans of his callenders.) I really like it and you should too. :) just kidding. Go with your instincts. Buy it if it is on the Sale rack somtime. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

A Must-Have Book (if you like to laugh)!
Larson writes in his introduction: "What the reader will find herein is a collection of the Far Side's birth and evolution". He proves that by first showing us some of his drawings as a kid that even then show Larson as the warped genius he would become albeit without the subtlety his best work would display (IE: One of his childhood cartoon is of a boy being fangled over an alligator pit at the zoo by his father).

From there, we fast forward to Larson's early adult life where he is working at a retail music store. One day he came to realize that his job was the pits and so he decided to try to break into the world of cartooning. He started out by drawing strips for small regional publications in the Pacific Northwest. Until 1979, when he began drawing Nature's Way for the Seattle Times. Nature's Way was the precursor to the Far Side and Larson feared that there might be trouble early on when he discovered that his strip, with its decidedly adult oriented humor, was placed next to Junior Jumble.

A year later, Larson decided to try to expand his strip beyond one newspaper and went to San Francisco where he succeeded in placing it with the Chronicle. Ironically, one day after the strip was accepted, the Seattle times axed Nature's Way ("I knew it shouldn't have been next to Junior Jumble" Larson grouses). The strip is re-christened the Far Side and makes its debut a week later. Before long it appears in other newspapers. When Larson's contract expired in 1984, he moved to Universal Press Syndicate.

From there, Larson proceeds to take us inside his creative process and show us what was going on in his mind when he drew his comics. We also get a tasty sampling of mistakes Larson made as well as mistake his editors made and a list of angry letters from readers furious about certain comics and strips that the syndicate decided not to publish. And lastly, there is a selection of some of Larson's favorite strips.

You can pick up Prehistory Of The Far Side at any point and laugh your rear end off (even if you're not a horse). While we may miss the enjoyment of reading a new Far Side strip each day in our daily newspaper, we still have collections such as this one to remind us of the good times. Another Amazon quick-pick I recommend is the unusual and hilarious THE LOSERS CLUB by Richard Perez

Taking Comic Strip Collections to a Whole New Level
This book is not just a showcase of Far Side cartoons. It's much, much more than that. It's a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most warped, twisted, and funny comic strips to make its way into the comics pages.

Besides page after page of some of the best Far Side cartoons, you also get a brief, but funny autobiography of the creator Gary Larson and how the Far Side came to be. You get early drawings from Mr. Larson's pre-Far Side days. You get sketchbook doodles, controversial Far Sides and the stories behind them, rejected cartoons, and glimpses into how some of these cartoons developed from sketch to full-fledged cartoon.

This is an absolute must-have for anyone who has ever enjoyed even one Far Side strip. It is a fabulous look not just into the Far Side, but into the entire world of cartooning.

Read this book with your favorite cow, bug or fat kid
How many books have you read so many times you don't even know how many times you've read them? How many books do you have that -- when you broke up with your ex girlfriend -- you got all your old Russian literature back but not them? Yeah sure, you can get another copy of this book for a few bucks, but it's the principle of the thing, isn't it? So, if SOMEONE who happens to be reading this is feeling guilty, they know how to get the book back to me. Or at least, just fax the part at the beginning where Larsen drew that picture of his family dog, or the page where Larsen drew the inside of the trunk, or the page where Larsen drew the snake after it ate...well let's just say it was next to any empty play pen or even the page where Larsen talked about his famous "cow tools" strip. Or you could just fax the whole thing.

All you ever wanted to know about Larson...
...but was afraid to ask.

Larson gives you an inside view into is wonderfully sick brain. From his rocky, struggling beginnings of being a starving cartoonist, to the monster he created, he spills all.

Some of the highlights are the chapters on cartoons that his editor wouldn't allow to be published and his late-night sketchbook doodles. Along with his comments on the cartoons, he has complied a sort of "Greatest Hits" of his cartoons.

This book never gets old. I'll pick it up every few months and be rolling on the floor with laughter every time.

what a sick man
Gary Larson created The Far Side comics and did so much for the world of comics. He broke taboos, he did disgusting things, he used intelligence with his wicked (and twisted) sense of humor. When you talk about the greatest cartoonists and strips you mention Garfield (old Garfield before Davis fielded out all the work), Calvin & Hobbes (which fits perfectly with Larson), and The Far Side (I'd also include the relatively new strip, Get Fuzzy). This book collects Larson's work, new work, and work he never showed. You have to see it to believe it, and it is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

brilliant
Gary Larson is by far the most genius, the most innovative cartoonest ever to hit the world. This gallery has a forward by Robin Williams and tons of Larson's best work. You can't not love his sense of humor (and definitely check out the Prehistory of the Far Side).

!The far side of histercleness!
Gary Larson in this includes some great ones like theres a dog with like 50 people following him he says, "I can't smell a damn thing." Plus there's a foreward by king of comedy from mrs. Doughtfire Robin Williams. Here's somhing he says in it. "I really like the way he draws humans. Maybe someday scientists will dig up his cartoons and think that the 20ith century man has a rarely big nose and buck teeth."

If you like The Far Side......
If you are a fan of The Far Side this book sells itself!!!![....]

Brilliant cartoons from a gloriously warped mind
Every one of Gary Larson's books has been a work of twisted genius, and "The Far Side Gallery 4" continues that tradition. A collection of hundreds of Larson's distinctive cartoons, this book will sometimes shock, sometimes mystify, but always amuse.

Larson's overall vision is a bizarre, yet oddly coherent blend of fantasy, science fiction, horror, theological speculation, anthropological/zoological observation, and cultural criticism, all distilled through the mind of a master parodist. His trademark technique--the anthropomorphization of the unexpected--is on abundant display in "Gallery 4." Larson's is a world in which squirrels read newspapers, alien juvenile delinquents abuse human astronauts, tapeworms go on vacation, bowling pins hold cocktail parties, and buzzards give poetry readings.

Larson will take on the most taboo subject in order to get a laugh, and he usually succeeds--often brilliantly. Trichinosis, obesity, conjoined twins, suicide, political protest, Native American culture, cryogenics, suffocation, old age, serial killers--nothing is off limits in "Gallery 4." Larson even makes fun of his own cartoon series.

Another of the pleasures of reading "The Far Side Gallery 4" is the fact that you never know who you'll run into next. Larson's deranged imagination captures a whole host of fictional and historical figures: Albert Einstein, Humpty Dumpty, Tito Puente, Dr. Jekyll, Stephen King, and many, many more. When the floating head of Zsa Zsa Gabor threatens the crew of the starship "Enterprise," you know you're in Larson territory.

The short foreword by Robin Williams (he describes Larson's vision as "a National Geographic special on Prozac") is an added bonus to this collection. For fans of "The Far Side," this is an indispensable collection; for those who haven't yet sampled the insane genius of Gary Larson, this is a great introduction.

it's perfect
This book is really funny. Gary Larson has really outdone himself this time! One I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. Then when I finally did, I was halfway through the book! Everyday I read a comic to refresh my humor in the morning. Ha-ha ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Better masterpieces here than in that museum in Paris
With a cow Mona Lisa painting on the front cover how can you go wrong? The cartoons in here are from Hound of the Far Side, The Far Side Observer and Night of the Crash Test Dummies. It may be cheaper to buy these books individually instead of this gallery so compare prices before purchasing.

The advantage of owning the galleries is that some cartoons are full page size which is three times the size of the original books. Not all cartoons are full size though just some.

The classic cartoon set in an exam with the bonus question (50 points) "What's the name of that thing that hangs down the back of our throats?" The caption underneath states "Final Page of the Medical Boards," is in this edition.

Another has Noah saying "Now Listen Up. We're Going to do This Alphabetically," the Zebras are thinking "Damn!"

The Classic "Drive George! Drive! This One's Got a Coathanger!" with a lion trying to unlock the car door to eat the woman.

Should you buy it? Of course you should.

Humor and Biology--A Good Mix
Gary Larson has teamed up with Stephen Jay Gould, paleontologist and taxonomist --Harvard University, to create a biologically funny book. Humor has a purpose in this book. It is used in an attempt to cause the reader to think biologically on a macrocosmic level. Social interaction of all animals on the smallest level effects the bigger picture. I enjoyed this book very much; however, a few cartoons were biologically "over my head." With some critical thinking, all readers may be able to get the message of all the cartoons.

He has a amazing mind to be able to think up such comedy!
I loved it!! It was soooooo funny! I hope he keeps writing these books

I laughed till I cried !
Gary Larson's homour is unique and incredibly funny - and this is true for all his books that I've read so far! I already start laughing when looking at the cartoon characters - they are wonderfully drawn! If cows or chickens are your favourite animals and you like grotesque situations, or you simply want to laugh, then Gary Larson should be your first choice. He's the best!!!!!

So much FUN!!!!!
I loved it!!! I have it in my bathroom, and everytime I have to go....I look at it, and Istart laughing!!!!!! Every drawing is great, it just to much!!! If you do not know this author, you have to buy it, and start having laughs!!!! Gary, you are great!!!Thanks!! the best sense of humor!!!! So much immagination!!!! If anyone out there want to share the jokes, you can write me... Bye, Beatriz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

It's hard to review a book of comics, but here goes . . .
I love this book. I love all things Far Side. Gary Larson has such an great mind, such a talent for pointing out all the little insanities in every day life. He also has a great way of poking fun at how seriously we often take ourselves. And, as usual, cows somehow figure high in priority. This book comes with a hilarious "pull out" middle section consisting of drawings of the "Cows of our Planet." Each breed, some extinct, are breeds I was previously unaware of. Such as the: "Madagascar Tree Hereford" who lives in trees, the "Flying Guernsey" who likes to ride coach, and the "Idaho Latrine Stalker (venomous)" who comes up through the toilet...

Larson seems to be a surrealist, with most of his cartoons carrying an apathetic message of doom, or at least conveying a sense of disillusionment with the world and the conviction that all is futile.

Hilarious!
This book is a very good 1. Not feeling so great? Read a few cartoons and your day will begin to brighten. The centerfold of cows of the planet is a definate plus. How he gets all of his ideas. I have no clue. But all the same, there great. If you could use a laugh, pick up this book.

Bradley

Another Winner!
I'm not sure how Gary Larson continues to write consistently funny books. But, I'm not going to complain. This book has a laugh on every page. Once again there are the hilarious human and animal characters that make up Larson's wacky world. In addition, there is a centerfold of cows of our planet. It is definitely a worthy addition to the Far Side collection. I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a good laugh in their life.

Humor at its best
As with all of the other Far Side collections, Gary Larson brilliantly incorporates his sense of witty humor into his cartoons about life, ranging from cavemen to scientists to cows. There is something for everyone in this book, and I guarantee there will be a few cartoons that you will be tempted to photocopy and post on the bulletin board or fridge door. I am continually amazed at how Larson can make a one-panel cartoon so funny, while other cartoonists can write eight panel cartoons that don't even come near my funny bone. "Cows of Our Planet" striked it right away.

If at any time in your life you feel a little down, stressed, or tired, and need a few laughs -- crack open a Far Side collection like this one and you'll be chuckling in no time. For added humor, check out the colored insert of different 'cows of our planet' from which the collection gets its name. You'll be paying closer attention to the cows grazing in the pasture the next time you drive out into the country :) ... Read more

Book Description

Friends, we've got trouble. Trouble with a capital T, and that rhymes with D, and that stands for desk calendar. Pity the naive denizens of River City... they thought they knew trouble. Worried that a pool hall would corrupt their youngsters. Cute. Want to know real trouble? Witness the low-fenced dingo farm neighboring an open-air nursery. Frolic about under the anvil tree. Squeeze a pet lion onto a crowded elevator.Yes, now we're talking trouble. The Far Side Trouble Brewing 2005 Desk Calendar is positively bursting with severely twisted scenarios like these, presented one per week - which gives you just enough time to appreciate the perilous predicament of the future victims, but mercifully move on before dwelling on the real catastrophe about to strke. Professor Harold Hill would be so proud. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

very funny stuff
As comic books go, Gary Larson's "The Far Side" series of books is one of the best ever in my humble opinion. "The Chickens Are Restless" is one of his best. The drawings and the captions he comes up with for his drawings, they are just hilarious! Especially when they have to do with animals, which is what most of the comic strips in this book have to do with. I wish he hadn't decided to stop this career. And here's hoping he comes back real soon!

Humor for connoisseurs of the absurd!
Mutinous canines, alien-spotting rednecks, dung beetles, and all the assorted occupants of the spaced-out mind of Gary Larson are here in this fun-filled compilation.

Larson is one "acquired taste" that I am glad to have developed.

Gary Larson fan , all the way !
Gary Larson knows how to add humor to any creature on any planet

Larsen's humor rarely fails to make me laugh.
Many of Gary Larsen's most outrageous Far-Side characters make their cameo appearances here. Strange, irreverent, bizarre, Larsen's humor rarely fails to make me laugh or chuckle. Only occasionally does it leave me mystified.

My favorites from among this collection of Larsen's cartoons are what I call the Roadkill Tour, the Chicken at the Bottom of the Pecking Order, Monday Night in the Woods, Dodge City, Honah-Lee, Early Plumbers, Side of Ham, and the Music Teacher. But, hey, with Gary Larsen it's hard to know where to draw the line between the hysterical and the merely funny.

One of Gary Larson's Best
Gary Larson really outdid himself in The Chickens are Restless. A beautiful collection of Gary Larson's unique humor. A must Buy ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I THINK THAT UT RULES!!!!!!
Gary Larson should'nt of ahve retired from cartoons. He is so good

Classic Larson cartoons. Hilarious.
These are some of the funniest Far Side cartoons. This is probably the funniest Far Side collection, in my opinion. A must have for any real Far Side fan. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Unbeyondlivable how funny this is
With the classic bear not wanting to be shot pointing at his friend seen through a rifle's telescopic lens cartoon on the front cover you know that you're in for a treat.

Beyond the Far Side contains some of the all time classics such as Superman checking for change in the coin slot of a phone booth while getting changed, "Say what's a mountain goat doing way up here in a cloud bank?" seen through the cockpit window of a plane and the classic smoking dinosaurs picture with the caption "the real reason dinosaurs became extinct."

Once you have one Far Side cartoon you have to own them all. The only way you can do that is to buy every single one of these Far Side books. This isn't a bad one to start off with.

Tip it may be cheaper to buy The Far Side Galleries which are three of these books put together so compare prices.

Humor for the thinking mind
Most cartoons may come across as a bit dumb, but not the Far Side. If you like to think and laugh at the same time and are sick of the same old silly antics, don't miss this little book. The drawings are great and the subtle, implied humor even better. This is my favorite cartoon book to date.

Highly recommended.

Downright Hilarious!
As good as any of the other books in the far side, this book shows an intelligent witty humor! I regret having not read the Far Side comics earlier than I did, because they are honestly funny! A highly recommended read!

Humor with a brain
Gary Larson's The Far Side continues to please. These are the jokes great greeting cards are made of. As only the best humorists like Jerry Seinfeld do, Mr. Larson makes the reader smile and laugh the most when making us laugh at ourselves. In his cartoons, the reader will see the idiosyncracies, rigidity, and sarcasm of everyday life. His cartoons are caricatures: hyperbole. So that, in a way similar to Jerry Seinfeld, Larson makes us feel more confident and pleased with the humor of it all because we are not laughing at anyone's expense.

Up to the standards of all the other far sides.
Beyond The Far Side. author; Gary Larson. The Far Side is one of the funniest comics ever, and this collection is up to- if not surpassing- the level of excellence raised by the other Far Side comics. The animation is good, and jokes are twice as good as Clavin and Hobbes, and eight hundred trillion times better than Garfield, Which stopped being funny in the mid-eighties. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Is that a duck in your pocket.....????
Ahh, Gary Larson does it again with another compilation of his crazy, weird, sometimes unusual cartoons. Join him this time with hijinks at the zoo, Nature scenes we rarely see, the Mr Potato Head court case, cavemen adventures, ducks and many more hilarious situations from the funnier side of life. Recommended to everyone!!!!

Funny Educational Book
I thought this was a great book. Good to read when you have to stop and go. you also learned about historic moments, science and ecology. I garantee it will make you smile when you dont feel well. I would suggest you read it now.

THIS BOOK IS FUNNY!!!!!!
This book has humor you can only find in a Far Side book. It has some of the funniest comics ever made by Larson!You'll laugh so hard your house might shake a little! You'll want to see the comics over and over again! I recommend this book for Far Side fans or for people that want a laugh. ... Read more

Book Description

In life, some things just go together"bread and butter, pen and ink, fear and loathing"but in the land of The Far Side, these happy little combinations have a way of becoming recombinant nightmares. Falcons and teacup poodles' Errant sky divers and hungry crocodiles' Nerds and nerd-sniffing dogs' Has Gary Larson no mercy' Well, of course not-when's the last time you laughed at something merciful' With the ominous theme of "Trouble Brewing," this year's calendar lineup presents Larson at his mischievously misanthropic best. Not to worry, terrible things aren't quite happening in the cartoons collected here-but the table is set, and the master chef is working from a book called Recipes for Disaster. Each month, the wall calendar presents a different one-act opera of the unfortunate. Worlds colliding"fur flying"cookies crumbling"and chickens coming home to roost". In other words, Trouble Brewing. Not always pretty, but always funny. In fact, with all the misfortune and mayhem staring down at you from this wall calendar, you just might feel better about the little trials and tribulations of your own life. And maybe, just maybe, that's what Larson was after all along. Nah"

... Read more

Reviews (2)

"When imprinting studies go awry"
...as the scientist follows the flock of ducks; this is one of my favorite comics in this book. I have many Far Side books, and this is one of the best.

This book is probably best suited, however, for the collectors of Larson books. If you are someone interested in a more extensive single volume collection, I would recommend THE PREHISTORY OF THE FAR SIDE. Soon to be available, THE COMPLETE FAR SIDE, which would make buying this book, as well as all the other similar collections, unnecessary (often, comics will overlap, with that same comics being found in different collections). But anything "Far Side" is guaranteed to be brilliant because Gary Larson is such a brilliant artist. I really wish he'd come out of retirement...

A remarkably funny book.
Bride of The Far Side, the fourth in the Far Side series, is a must have for any true fan of The Far Side. Packed with 200 cartoons, this book is hilarious. I have read this book dozens of times over the years and it seems to grow funnier each and every time. All of the classic, warped animals and insects and bizarre human characters are contained in this collection. If you do not have this one in your Far Side collection yet then add it to your shopping cart right away. You will not be disappointed. It is truly a gem of a book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best Far Side book ever!
Each page outdoes the next. I read this late at night, and nearly exploded trying not to laugh out loud so as not to wake up my mother. The strangest, the funniest, the best of the Far Side books. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best commic I have ever read
My English and my background to understand Larson's humor are not the best but anytime I grab one of his books from my self I crack with the old jokes I have read many times. Each time I find a new sense and a new kind of humor, and all depends on my animus and circunstances. If someday I don't crack with a single one, I'll know my illusion for the common things of life and my youth have come to an end. David ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This Is Only The Beginning...
This book presents the first lot of cartoons from the widely syndicated 'Far Side' strip. You will find hilarious cartoons, completely strange cartoons, rebellious cows, ducks, mugger bears, tales of cavemen, Scientist hijinks, all of which leave you gasping for air whilst you try to stop laughing. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the stupid facts of life. YAY!!

A Gary Larson Classic.
Maybe this book does not contain so many "hits" as others, but it is still a good old Gary Larson Classic. I am a huge fan of his work and I think it is worth buying and reading. Among other things to find out, what REALLY happened with Dorothy and co., when they enetered the yellow road.

funny!!
this book is funny aand so is the rest of the farside collection. i started collecting farside books because of this first one ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A tragic tale of gypsy cattle and pigeons
This story tells the tale of Gary Larson's journey into madness, when he confronts an evil gypsy cow that curses him to forever entertain people with riotous cartoons. The start of the book relates his adventures against "Madame "C"", a molevelent cow. It is a wonderful, (and thankfully short), tale concerning his frightful encounter in a smooth color cartoon over several pages.
The rest of the book details, in b&w cartoon format, the humorous trials and tevails of various critters such as worms, pigeons, and cowhands. If you haven't read a "Far Side", you won't know what I'm talking about and you've had your head in the sand for the past 20 years or so. Buy the book, for the love of Mike!

Laughs, laughs and more laughs.
Yet another from the pen of Gary Larson. This is an incredibly funny book, but if you are a Far Side fan you probably do not need to be told this fact. They are all incredibly funny. The Curse of Madame "C" begins with the story of how the Far Side began. The story is a humorous take on An American Werewolf in London. It shows how a young Larson met all of the characters he would later write about and how he would be cursed with a need to write cartoons.

After the story ends the zany cartoons begin. From longcows to cow field trips. Mummies, aliens, neanderthals, and much, much more. This book will make you laugh from start to finish. You'll want to read it again and again. You'll want to loan it to all of your friends. You will love it. ... Read more

Book Description

We'll give the Aztecs their due - there were calendars before Gary Larson introduced the first Off-The-Wall Calendar in 1986.It only seems like he invented the modern date-keeping system because his calendars have sold approximately twelve bajillion copies over the last seventeen years.This is the big chief of them all.We're talking about the world's best-selling calendar - and, unfortunately, we're also talking about the end of the line.That's right, friends, this is the LAST Far Side Off-The-Wall Calendar that will ever be published.No Joke!It's over. Finito, sayonara, and good-night Irene.In the time-honored tradition of talented folks walking off at the top of their game and leaving their desperate fans begging for more (Think the Beatles' concert on the roof of Apple Records... Think Jordan winning the third straight NBA title before retiring...), Gary Larson has decided to let the rest of the calendar population have a shot at being number one.But we're not about to let this end-of-an-era even pass without a suitable send-off.For this last year, we're offering not one, but count-'em, six different box designs featuring a stellar cast of Far Side characters.(C'mon," as the say, "collect 'em all.")Inside each of these beauties, you'll find some of the funniest cartoons Gary Larson has ever done, all harkening back to the fact that this is THE END.So enjoy this last one while you can, 'cause while the days may continue to dawn after December 31, 2002, they're going to be a lot less funny. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great Calendar! Sad to see it ending...
Far Side always brings a smile to my face and to see this great calendar series come to an end is a sad event, indeed. For this last hoorah, Gary Larson made SIX different boxes for the day-to-day calendars. So there is definately the cow, but you may get a bear or humans. The box the calendar comes in has a flap that lifts open presenting a farewell from Gary. Inside you'll find the traditional day-to-day calendar in the plastic holder and instructions for setting it up. The pictures are all black and white except for every monday (and no, the last one isn't in color)and the quality of the calendar is top notch.

It's sad to see these calendars go but life will go on. But these calendars can envoke warm memories and make a day just a tad brighter.

Has helped to brighten an otherwise gloomy year
The year 2002 has not been easy for me. Without going into specifics about the difficulties, I will just say that this calendar has had the same effect on me that the daily comic strip used to - it has given me a good laugh every morning and cheered me through difficult days. Thanks to this calendar, I can "pretend" that Gary Larson never retired. I'm still in therapy over the fact that this is the last edition to the "off-the-wall" franchise (just kidding). Seriously, I bought two copies of this calendar - one to read every day, and one to save for "old time's sake."

Anyway, I love this calendar and it is one of the highpoints of my day. I love this calendar because it gives me what all Larson products do - a look into a mad mad mind (I mean that in a good way) that will always give me a laugh. This is sardonic satire at its best! I love the detached and remote feel to all Larson's work. And I love the fact that if it weren't for just ONE thing wrong in the picture, everything would be normal. This lends the strip an air of credibility, you know, "It COULD happen . . . if only that weren't a COW cooking the bar-bee-que . . . if only that weren't a crocodile sitting in the livingroom . . . if only that weren't a sloth with the gun . . . etc." Everything is normal, except that ONE bizarre, unthinkable, and sometimes un-understandable element (I know I'm not the only one who has occasionally come across a Larson cartoon and wondered what the heck he was trying to say). The most bizzare (and funny) things in life are always the things that seem normal at first.

THE COMPLETE FAR SIDE is also available.

Morbid and unfunny
This years calendar seems to be a collection from Gary's reject bin. The majority of the days themes are death and dismemberment. In the first 7 days of January alone 6 of the 7 days deal with death. Maybe Gary is crying out for help. Its never too late to seek professional help Gary!

The best!
This is hillarious, to keep and look at constantly. Highly recommened. Get it now - this is the last one there will ever be...

JD

Lasting Impression - Disappointment!
As an avid fan of Larson's slightly off-center vision of the world, I felt compelled to buy a copy of last "Off-The-Wall" calander ever produced. The first week or so, the allegories were funny...timeless ends for unfortunate Larson creations. However, by the end of January, the calendar was really a lackluster version of previous years. The theme got real old, real fast! If you want classic Larson, buy one of the myriad collections of his artwork at the bookstore. If you want a laugh, buy Dr. Laura's calendar this year instead. ... Read more