Far Side, the funky cartoon by Gary Larson, is -- was -- one of my favorites. Same for Roger, who sent an e-mail, from Spain (judging from his e-mail address). "Some time ago, the newspaper stopped publishing [Far Side] on a daily basis and only showed it on Sunday," he wrote.
"That was a disappointment as many of us enjoy his humor. Recently, the newspaper has stopped it on Sunday as well. Any chance of ever seeing it again?"
Apparently not, at least in a newspaper. For other readers wondering about Far Side, here's the story: Larson stopped drawing the strip when he retired in 1995. Stars and Stripes continued to run it -- reruns, that is -- for 10 years. In 2005, the paper dropped it from the daily and published it on Sundays only. Executive Editor Robb Grindstaff said the paper had received permission from the syndicate to use it overseas only.
Recently, Grindstaff says, the syndicate served notice that the strip would not be available at all as of this past Dec. 31. The paper dropped it then, and substituted another unusual strip, F minus.
There are books, calendars and even DVD's for sale on the pre-retirement Far Side strips -- if you want a dose of nostalgia mixed with the humor. See here for more information.
