Summary Larson’s portrayal of Tarzan in The Far Side came in some of the comic’s goofiest installments, offering a fraction of the artist’s patented absurd humor, without resorting to darkness.
Each version of Tarzan drawn by Larson ranks among the silliest characters to grace The Far Side , showcasing how the artist’s visuals were essential to the effectiveness of his humor.
Larson’s visual depiction of Tarzan evolved throughout The Far Side , as the artist returned to the character repeatedly to mine the concept for humor.
Gary Larson’s longrunning newspaper comic The Far Side frequently poked fun at popular culture, and one fictional character he liked to skewer in particular was Tarzan; over the years, Larson portrayed what is unquestionably the goofiest version of the iconic man of the jungle ever created, suggesting that the artist recognized the inherent potential for absurdity of the character.
In fact, Larson actually drew several distinct versions of Tarzan; in their own ways, each ranks among the silliest, most lighthearted characters to ever grace The Far Side. For the most part, Larson’s Tarzan panels offer a touch of the artist’s patented absurdity, without going to the dark places Gary Larson’s humor often explored.
Whatever iteration of Tarzan Larson drew, his use of the character always emphasized the