Comic Strips

Back on the ‘Far Side’: New installments of the cult comic strip “The Far Side” will return to newspapers across America on New Year’s Day, following a 14-month hiatus. Cartoonist Gary Larson took a break on Oct. 30, 1988, from one of the most successful panels in comic-strip history. During that time, newspapers ran reprints of earlier “classic” cartoons. The only thing Larson drew on his sabbatical was an album cover for jazz guitarist Herb Ellis--in exchange for guitar lessons. “I feel very fresh and recharged, and I’m sure a reduced work load will play a big role in maintaining that feeling,” Larson said. “But, as I’m sure anyone who has had an opportunity to take a full year off will agree, that first Monday morning back at work is quite a sobering experience.”