The scene: you're driving down a deserted stretch of highway in a remote, rural area. You're passing farms andthe occasional gas station with an adjoining diner boasting all-day breakfast. Things seem pretty normal, fairly quiet...that is, until you start to notice the activity occuring on the side of the road.

The farms aren't simply regular farms; here, the chickens will tell your fortune for a nickel, the dogs are busy writing their latest best-selling novel, and the cows are gathered under a tree for a good old cud-filled evening of poetry readings.

If all of this is starting to make your head spin, never fear; an explanation is close at hand. Soon you will be greeted by a sign on the road welcoming you to the realm of The Far Side. Created by Gary Larson, The Far Side is no ordinary cartoon. Its format is rather unusual (a single frame, usually with text below or voice bubbles). Among the cast of recurring characters are mad scientists, psychic chickens named "Madame Zola", and Larson's personal favorite: cows in any way, shape or form. The topics dealt with in the cartoon have stirred up unprecedented controversy - although, claims Larson, the comics were "never meant to offend anybody".

The Far Side has appeared in 1900 newspapers, has been translated into 17 languages, and lays claim to 22 books and two animated films - but if you're like myself and millions of other die-hard Far Side fans, that's not nearly enough to satisfy your cravings for its wet-your-pants humor. The Far Side takes everyday situations, throws in a talking cow or a caveman, and transforms it into something uniquely, undeniably funny.

Take my advice: if you aren't already hooked, check these cartoons out. But be warned: once you've entered the Realm of The Far Side, you may never find your way out...