(TC) “National Geographic on Prozac”: Robin Williams Perfectly Explained The Far Side’s Genius

Comedic legend Robin Williams perfectly sums up what makes Gary Larson’s irreverent comic strip The Far Side so perfect. A foreword reveals Williams’ thoughts on what gave the strip its immense staying power.

The Far Side is Gary Larson’s iconic one-panel strip that often features bizarre imagery and unusual, but brilliant comedy. The strips often depict mundane situations but utilize animals such as cows or bears with anthropomorphic traits or cavemen. The Far Side was praised for its humor and was both a critical hit and beloved by audiences across the world. Though the strip ended in the mid-’90s, The Far Side continues to make money from compilation books, calendars, and birthday cards. With nearly five thousand strips of unusual juxta positional comedy, The Far Side has shown no signs of diminishing returns and continues to find fans in new generations.

Robin Williams Captures Exactly What Makes The Far Side Work

It’s hard to say what it is exactly about The Far Side that has captivated readers for years, but comedy icon Robin Williams absolutely nails it. In The Far Side Gallery 4, Williams pens a foreword that discusses Gary Larson’s comic strip and the outrageous genius of it. The comedian likens Larson to Norman Bates, the villain of Psycho, or a mad scientist constantly experimenting and tinkering with his most bizarre ideas.

Whenever I read The Far Side I feel like I’m watching a National Geographic special on Prozac — talking sharks, cigar smoking termites, lustful flies, squirrels in cop uniforms, cows with attitudes. I picture Gary wandering through zoos and aquariums, talking to all the animals and insects like a demented Dr. Doolittle. He approaches a boll weevil, hands it a contract and says, “I’d like to sketch you for my next cartoon. Who’s your agent?”

Williams says that when he reads The Far Side, he feels as though he’s watching “a National Geographic special on Prozac“, highlighting the strange animals Larson features such as “lustful flies” or “squirrels in cop uniforms“. The foreword also discusses the unique way Larson draws humans, noting that it adds a special something to The Far Side. Williams also jokes that his job as a stand-up is safe as long as Larson sticks with cartooning.

Nature Was Always the Key to The Far Side’s Success

Robin Williams’ foreword is light, charming, a little self-deprecating and above all else, insightful. Williams was a national treasure that many other comedians highly respected. Earning praise from him is a solid endorsement for Larson, and shows just how expansive The Far Side’s reach actually is. The opining in Robin William’s foreword isn’t just a heartfelt expression. It’s a reminder of the true magic of Larson’s strip and why it continues to hold strong to this day.

For a brief period, Gary Larson was a biology student, and his insights into nature are what helped him build The Far Side. Williams’ foreword recognizes how Larson saw the world and the humor he found in the idea of anthropomorphizing animals. It’s a theme that anyone can relate to, and it gives The Far Side a timeless nature. Williams’ commentary on Larson is jocular, but he hits the nail on the head with his insight. The Far Side has a universal appeal because Gary Larson had a reverence for nature and knew that giving animals more human traits was the secret to making his comic an evergreen success.