The Prehistory of The Far Side

The Prehistory of The Far Side: A 10th Anniversary Exhibit is a 1989 behind-the-scenes look at Gary Larson's iconic comic strip. The book presents the evolution of The Far Side from its earliest incarnation as Nature's Way through its first decade of syndicated publication. The volume contains Larson's childhood drawings, professional portfolio selections, and original sketches paired with their published versions. These materials trace his path from humane society investigator to internationally syndicated cartoonist, including the pivotal moment when the San Francisco Chronicle picked up his work. Larson reveals his creative methodology through annotated examples and explanations of how initial concepts transform into finished cartoons. The book includes a curated collection of his favorite Far Side panels from the 1980s along with commentary about their creation and reception. The book serves as both a historical document of a cultural phenomenon and an examination of the intersection between artistic vision and commercial success in newspaper cartooning. Its frank presentation of false starts and revisions illuminates the reality of professional creative work.

Readers appreciate this behind-the-scenes look at Gary Larson's creative process and the evolution of The Far Side comics. Many note the value of seeing Larson's early drawings and reading his commentary about rejected cartoons and public reactions. Readers liked: - Explanations of how specific comics were conceived - Stories of newspaper controversies and reader complaints - Larson's self-deprecating humor about his artistic abilities - Collection of rare/unpublished cartoons Common criticisms: - Too much focus on negative reader reactions - Not enough new/unseen cartoons - Some find Larson's explanations unnecessary - Print quality of reproduced comics could be better Ratings: Goodreads: 4.28/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (190+ ratings) One reader noted: "It's like DVD commentary for comics." Another wrote: "I expected more cartoons and less text, but Larson's insights into his work make up for it."

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🎨 Larson initially worked as a humane society cruelty investigator before his cartooning career, which heavily influenced his animal-centric humor 📝 "The Far Side" was originally titled "Nature's Way" when it first began in the Seattle Times in 1978 🖼️ The comic strip reached over 1,900 newspapers worldwide at its peak before Larson's retirement in 1995 ✏️ Every cartoon in The Far Side was hand-drawn by Larson using a Rapidograph technical pen, which he continued to use throughout his career 📚 The book includes several cartoons that were rejected by newspapers for being too controversial or bizarre, complete with Larson's commentary on why they didn't make the cut