# The Far Side® Gallery 3 Review
Andrews McMeel Publishing’s The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 is a cartoon collection book that delivers exactly what fans of Gary Larson expect. I picked this up for $12.39 and spent the last couple weeks working through it between business meetings and downtime. The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 collects strips that appeared in newspapers across the country, and it stands as one of the better compilations in the series. If you grew up reading Larson’s work or discovered it later, this book deserves shelf space in your collection.
The humor in The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 holds up remarkably well. Larson has this gift for finding the absurd in everyday situations and pushing it just far enough that you laugh out loud. Some strips hit you immediately. Others require a second read before the joke lands. There’s no political correctness or forced messaging here, just straightforward observational comedy that respects the reader’s intelligence. Coming from a military background where we appreciated direct communication and no-nonsense delivery, I found this approach refreshing. The cartoons don’t explain themselves or lean on tired punchlines. Larson trusts his audience, and that confidence shows throughout The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3. I’ve recommended this book to friends at my company and added it to my recommended products list for anyone looking for quality entertainment that doesn’t demand much but delivers plenty of laughs.
Why the The Far Side® Gallery 3 Stands Out
The art quality is solid. Each cartoon is rendered clearly with Larson’s distinctive style intact. The print quality from Andrews McMeel Publishing is professional and clean, which matters when you’re spending time with a book like this. The pages hold up well to repeated reading, and the binding is sturdy. I’ve already flipped through this book several times, and there’s no sign of wear. The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 also benefits from good pacing. Not every cartoon is comedy gold, but Larson sequences them in ways that keep momentum building. You won’t find yourself bored or stuck on a weak section. The variety is genuine. One strip features cows, the next might be about scientists or cowboys or aliens. This unpredictability keeps you engaged through the entire collection.
The price point seems fair for what you’re getting. This isn’t some deluxe oversized edition, but it’s substantial enough to justify the cost. You’re getting several hundred cartoons that will make you laugh multiple times. That’s good value. The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 also works well as a gift if you know someone who appreciates humor that doesn’t rely on current events or pop culture references. Since Larson retired from daily cartooning years ago, these compilations have become the primary way to access his work, making collections like this especially valuable.
Would I Buy the The Far Side® Gallery 3 Again
Absolutely I would. The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 delivers consistent entertainment and quality production that justifies another purchase. If I’d given this as a gift to someone, I’d buy copies for myself and others without hesitation. Larson’s work deserves to be in physical book form where you can sit with it, flip through it casually, and appreciate the craft involved in each panel. This isn’t content meant to scroll through quickly on a screen. It’s designed for the tactile experience of holding a real book, and Andrews McMeel Publishing executed that vision well.
The Far Side¬Æ Gallery 3 represents everything that made the original comics special, packed into one accessible collection that costs less than a couple coffees. If you appreciate humor with intelligence, artwork with personality, and stories that don’t talk down to the audience, this book deserves a spot on your shelf or in your hands right now.