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‘The Far Side’ cartoon returns after 25-year hiatus

In 1995, Gary Larson decided to end his syndicated cartoon, and now, “The Far Side” creator has released new digital works.

After 25 years since he put down his pen, Larson has released three new single-panel digital cartoons featuring some of his favorite subjects: Cub scouts, aliens and “taxidermists.”

Last year, Larson, who is now 69, hinted at a return for his iconic single-cell cartoon. In December, www.thefarside.com went live and featured some of his previous work.

On Tuesday, a “New Stuff” webpage appeared on the site. On the landing page, Larson details what led him to return to the comic and shared that it was the deadlines required by syndicated cartoons that eventually led him to retire.

“But after fifteen years of meeting deadlines, well, blah blah blah … you know the rest. The day after I retired from syndication, it felt good not to draw on a deadline. And after moving on to other interests, drawing just wasn’t on my to-do list,” Larson wrote.

Larson said he was apprehensive about going into the digital art world, but after one of his pens clogged again, he experimented.

“So a few years ago—finally fed up with my once-loyal but now reliably traitorous pen—I decided to try a digital tablet. I knew nothing about these devices but hoped it would just get me through my annual Christmas card ordeal. I got one, fired it up, and lo and behold, something totally unexpected happened: within moments, I was having fun drawing again. I was stunned at all the tools the thing offered, all the creative potential it contained. I simply had no idea how far these things had evolved. Perhaps fittingly, the first thing I drew was a caveman,” Larson wrote.

The single-panel comic was in syndication from 1979 to 1995. Larson says he’s not promising daily cartoons again but describes his latest work as “experimenting.”

His newest work can be found here.

https://www.thefarside.com/new-stuff


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