More than any other The Far Side achieve national success. Yet even hardcore Far Side fans might not realize that an earlier version of the "Cow Tools" joke appeared in papers just months earlier.
"Professor Gizmo's Inventions" is nearly identical to "Cow Tools" in many ways – but while the latter comic became legendary for sowing confusion among readers, a reputation it still holds to this day, the former is one of the thousands of Far Side cartoons routinely overlooked in retrospect.
The reason why "Cow Tools" succeeded where "Gizmo's Inventions" failed might be straightforward enough, but it is still worth comparing and contrasting the two, in order to divine some greater insight into the chaotic creative mind of Gary Larson.
The Far Side's Proto-"Cow Tools" Comic – "Professor Gizmo's Inventions," Explained
First Published: August 10, 1982
Readers familiar with "Cow Tools" will immediately grasp the connection to "Professor Gizmo's Inventions," which was published in the summer of 1982 – just under five months before "Cow Tools" kicked up a firestorm of questions among curious Far Side readers. Captioned "Professor E.F. Gizmo and some of his many inventions," the depicts one of Larson's many mad, or at least off-kilter scientists, a wry grin on his face as he stands, arms-folded, in front of a table bearing his contributions.
"Professor Gizmo's Inventions" is certainly amusing, but it is debatable how strong of a reaction it will yield from most readers.
First and foremost, of course, the joke is a tongue-in-check origin story for the word “gizmo” – while the seemingly useless, dysfunctional nature of the inventions the Professor is proudly displaying are the true highlight of the gag. Like many Far Side comics, "Professor Gizmo's Inventions" is certainly amusing, but it is debatable how strong of a reaction it will yield from most readers. Most people will “get” the joke, but it doesn’t necessarily leave the kind of lasting impression that some of Gary Larson’s jokes do.
Exploring The Parallels Between "Cow Tools" And "Professor Gizmo's Inventions"
First Published: October 28, 1982
"Cow Tools" is a variation on the premise of "Gizmo's Inventions," but its impact on Far Side readers was orders of magnitude greater – suggesting a lesson that can be learned about what makes some Far Side jokes connect with readers, while others don’t. Compositionally, the distinctions between the two comics are minor; in “Gizmo’s Inventions,” for example, the eponymous inventor is centered in the frame, while the cow in “Cow Tools” is situated on the left of the . The Professor stands against a blank backdrop, but in “Cow Tools,” a barn in the distance gives a sense of depth.
The Far Side Complete Collection
Fans of the far side can't up this master collection of Gary Larson's finest work. Originally published in hardcover in 2003, this paperback set comes complete with a newly designed slipcase that will look great on any shelf. The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side cartoon ever published, which amounts to over 4,000, plus more than 1,100 that have never before appeared in a book and even some made after Larson retired.
Far more potent are the similarities between the cartoons, most notably, the respective “inventions” and “tools” arrayed on the table in the illustrations. To re-emphasize, “Cow Tools” and “Professor Gizmo’s Inventions” are conceptually the same: a character displays poorly crafted devices of their own making. Where they diverge is actually a consequence of detail. The major difference between the two, ultimately, comes down to the choice of subject. That is, as was often the case throughout The Far Side, it is a matter of man vs. cow.
Similarities In Far Side Comics Over The Years Were The Result Of Gary Larson's Creative Dissatisfaction
The Artist Set A High Bar – But Didn't Always Clear It
Gary Larson was an ambitious artist, and often that ambition couldn't be contained in a single Far Side . This is evident in how often Larson returned to perennial themes, and repeatedly tackled similar ideas, during The Far Side's time in publication. One downside of The Far Side's publication schedule was that if its creator was dissatisfied by the end result of a joke, it might end up being published anyway, for lack of a "better" cartoon. The flip side of that, however, was that Larson was always free to return to a joke and try it from a different angle.
The Far Side’s “Chicken Of Depression” Comic (And How It Shows Off Gary Larson’s Technique Of Taking Things Too Literally On Purpose)
Despite the Far Side's reputation for sowing confusion, Gary Larson's humor was often overly literal, as his "Chicken of Depression" comic shows.
Another way to put it: not every Far Side comic could possibly live up to Gary Larson's standards for his work, but he could always take another shot at punchlines he felt he didn't "pull off." Together, "Cow Tools" and "Professor Gizmo's Inventions" are the perfect example of that. Which is why it is important to work to identify what truly made the second version of this joke the most successful in Far Side history – namely, that the second is so much weirder than the first.
Despite its actual relative simplicity, “Cow Tools” has a high confusion rate among readers; unlike “Professor Gizmo’s Inventions,” many Far Side fans don’t immediately “get” the joke – yet their desire to is precisely what makes “Cow Tools” unforgettable. That is because understanding actually takes a backseat to experiencing a Far Side comic, and “Cow Tools” is much more of a visceral experience than “Gizmo’s Inventions.” In this sense, Gary Larson succeeded on try two, though he had no idea at the time the can of worms he’d opened.
Identifying Recurring Ideas & Motifs Is One Of The Joys Of Diving Into "The Complete Far Side"
Gary Larson's Labyrinthian Magnum Opus
The Complete Far Side, published in 2003, is endlessly re-readable, with the thousands upon thousands of Far Side cartoons it contains offering up new, exciting revelations every time fans come back to it. The Far Side is truly a "great work" of 20th century literature, as much as it is a foundational part of 1980s and 1990s popular culture. As many times as someone might flip through the pages of the collected edition, things like the connection between "Professor Gizmo's Inventions" and "Cow Tools" still have a way of jumping out and surprising them.
During the peak of its time in newspapers, The Far Side became a cultural phenomenon. Now, decades later, it has solidified into a cultural touchstone.
Though it is not how compendium of Gary Larson's work. Fans of the artist should take great comfort in knowing that it continues to contain new things to be discovered, connections to be drawn, and unexpected joys to be found within its pages. The Complete Far Side offers the opportunity to survey the scope of Larson’s work in full, and truly understand how the same ideas permeated his art.
The Far Side has been out of publication for nearly thirty years, yet in some ways, the critical appreciation of his work has only just begun to truly take shape. During the peak of its time in newspapers, The Far Side became a cultural phenomenon. Now, decades later, it has solidified into a cultural touchstone, the impact of which at times eludes comprehension; one thing is clear, however, which is that Gary Larson’s catalog of cartoons will continue to attract attention for generations to come.
The Far Side
The Far Side is a humorous comic series developed by Gary Larson. The series has been in production since 1979 and features a wide array of comic collections, calendars, art, and other miscellaneous items.
