Gary Larson's Far Side is often based on his observations on humanity and the world, but only one comic strip was based on the writer and artist's real life. The legendary comic creator revealed that only a single cartoon that ever came from his personal experience, as a hilarious strip featuring him falling from a chin-up bar in his house made its way to the world of Far Side.
In the world of comic strips, Larson's ion for wildlife and biology often is showcased. The strip ended syndication in 1995, but after a more than two-and-a-half-decade hiatus, Larson returned to Far Side and now publishes the comics on his website. While the inspiration for Larson's comic strips rarely comes from his own experiences, one embarrassing moment was based on his real life.
In a Far Side collection, Larson drew a comic strip featuring a man getting a chin-up bar and falling and breaking his door frame. The hilarious comic shows what sometimes happens when someone tries to make an improvement in their lives - as even the best-intentioned ideas, like getting a chin-up bar to get exercise, can come crashing down in an embarrassing fashion. Larson itted the comic strip was one of the few times his comic came from his real life.
Larson Drew More From Humanity Than His Own Life
Larson didn't often draw from his own real life for his Far Side comic strips; sharing his process was "rarely spontaneous" as the chin-up cartoon was the only one he says "came directly from [his] own personal experience." However, that doesn't mean Larson hasn't often used the real world and pop culture in his comics - as it's a staple of his work - which include some observations in Far Side that he felt the need to apologize for.
After falling from his chin-up bar in his home, Larson decided to go against his usual process and draw inspiration for a comic from his real life. Yes, the actual fall was probably incredibly embarrassing for the author and artist, but he saw the humor in it and made the rare decision to use it in Far Side with hilarious results. So while Gary Larson's ego might have taken a minor hit, the moment made for a great Far Side strip in the end.
