I wrote about this comic strip and these two guys a few days ago. Sunday, maybe? I don’t think I made this statement then: “The Argyle Sweater is funny.” I should have, because it is. At the time I was caught up in the idea that The Argyle Sweater, which for some reason I want to call The Argyle Sock, closely resembled The Far Side by Gary Larson.
Well, what is wrong with that? Nothing. Some critics have made the point that Hilburn occasionally has a joke that is similar to one Larson made; okay, are they implying that once an original thought occurs, no one can have an idea like that, even if they express it well, even if they make you . . . smile?
Gee, scientists, you can’t do gravity – Newton did it. Or how about this: A guy or gal has a brain tumor and a really good surgeon is able to delve deep and remove it and have the patient recover and be pretty normal. Do you send him away because he is doing something like an earlier surgeon did? Of course not. He can get the job done.
The Argyle Sweater gets the job done; Hilburn courts humor and lets it manifest itself in that off the wall way Larson did. Great, because for one thing, Larson isn’t doing it anymore in a daily strip. Personally, I like to have my brain regularly tickled by takes on situations that are far beyond knock-knock jokes; we should all utter a collective “Thank You, Mr. Hilburn, for showing us the thoughts you have when you let your mind hear a different drummer . . . well, in cases like this, maybe a different tuba.”
Oom, Oom Pah . . . Pah, Pah, Oom . . .
Oh, that’s sort of a complicated collective thought – so let’s just make the “Thank You” collective and you can customize the elaboration.
No…Thank YOU. Your blog entry made my day – possibly even my week.
Thanks again.
Come on! Check out the art! The glasses on dogs, people’s noses, etc. This guy is just a front for Gary Larson.
One of the panels last week had a chicken. It was a Far Side chicken. I hope he is Mr. Larson with an alias; it just makes the world a better place.
Far Side rip off for sure! Same format, characters, drawing style and subject matter – what exactly does Scott bring to the table? Plus many specific concepts ‘borrowed’ on individual frames . Tarzan, Colonel Sanders, farm animals, the devil/hell…….
I’m sorry…but, ‘Tarzan’, Colonel Sanders’, ‘Farm Animals’, and the ‘devil/hell’ ‘borrowed’? I think you need to re-read the blog post. Hilburn isn’t looking at Larson’s panels and re-drawing them. Those concepts you mentioned have been used in other cartoons that occasionally run as a single-panel (think Frank and Ernest as one of many). The Argyle Sweater is very well done, and just because it’s in the style of another cartoon doesn’t make his work a rip off. What about ‘Bizarro’? ‘The Dinette Set’? ‘In The Bleachers’?
Quit trolling and just enjoy what these folks are doing for you.
I disagree Tom. My wife bought me a daily Argyle Sweater calendar for Christmas because she knows how much I enjoy The Far Side (I have most of the books). Unfortunately, Scott Hilburn’s comic strip is pretty much plagiaristic. Right now, I’m looking at an exact cartoon that Gary did for The Far Side involving the game duck duck goose with the goose believing the duck will pick him. Sometimes, imitation is a form of flattery. But, when in print, I always understood a direct imitation, such as this, to be plagiaristic (yes, I’m being redundant). When I’m faced daily with literary agents and publishers who insist on originality, I ask myself how something like the Argyle Sweater slipped through to become a big hit. Sure, the shtick works, but you can only have peanut butter and bread successively before you’re craving something else.
Scott Hilburn is undoubtedly and unarguably professional, creative and dependable. How else could he create a humorous strip on a daily basis in any style or form – and be so funny as often as he is.
Problem is, he is such an acolyte of Larson that he has copied his style directly and even used some identical characters. Influence is one thing . . . direct colying is another.
Silverstein influenced Kliban. Kliban influenced Larson. Larson (and Kliban) influenced Piraro – but none of them directly “aped” their creative mentors. They went ahead after absorbing their influences and came up with (delightful) original styles of their own.
Hilburn seems to walk a bit too close to Larson with his direct appropriation of the Larson drawing style. It’s not a “language” it’s a personal style.
Even Van Ameronngen (another “son of Larson”) took the basic style and modified it enough to make it his.
’nuff said.
Hi and thanks for your input. I’m not familiar with the cartoonists you mention because I am just a lay person comics-reader . . . so I cannot make any pertinent response to your examples of “Larson evolution” I do appreciate being made aware of your point of view.
I just enjoy looking at the strip – I think the bear with the comb-over shopping for a bear rug won me over. I will always be indebted to him for that image.
Original? *Cough*Cough*
http://youthoughtwewouldntnotice.com/blog3/?p=288
Has anyone seen Scott Hilburn and Gary Larson in the same room at the same time?
I can imagine how Matt Groening would respond to such an obvious ripoff of The Simpsons as this is of Larson. Hilburn lacks the sharp wit of Larson- it bothers me to even read it, but as a comicsphile, I read it anyway, just as I do “Cathy.”
John Mayer and Rick Evans are exactly right, in my opinion. I love the memory of my dead cat, just as Scott loves the majesty of Mr. Larson’s genius, but for me to stuff my cat and display it in my living room is just morbid. Or should I say “the reanimation of my dead cat?”
You want to read an original comic? Go read my comics “Boonsbury,” and my latest work, “Balvin and Fobbes.”
Your comment has me smiling . . . but, unfortunately visualizing stuffed dead cats standing on end tables. Oh, well. I checked your website and wish you good luck with Robots with Brains. Rats, now I won’t be able to look at the moon without seeing the little guys up there looking right down at me. But where do they go on the night’s when there is no moon. Maybe the moon’s phases are actually its passing from our universe to an alternate one . . . Too much thinking – need to rest
Hey, I got around to listening to your voice and I really like it, especially the warm and friendly one. Also, I appreciate your comment. Thanks.
For great comic panels that are not a Far Side rip-off but gives you the same satisfaction read Speed Bump and Reynolds Unwrapped
Well, Scoptt did it again. See October 23, 2009 panel – nearly identical to gary’s panel from many years earlier. Gary’s panel shows four doctors around a patient whose leg is jumping into the air. The panel reads “Whoa! That was a good one! Try it, Hobbs – just poke his brain right where my finger is.” There is no doubt in my mind Scott simply took thi spanel and changed th ereflex gag to a speech gag. Ha ha…not.
http://theargylesweater.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-02-06T06%3A10%3A00-06%3A00&max-results=7
The comic on this page is almost the same as Gary Larson’s comic of how two men stepped into the comic frame and ruin the funniest cartoon hes ever drawn.
If I was Gary Larson I would have talked to this guy a long time ago.
I was in a book shop today and picked up the calendar, “The Argyle Calendar”,thinking that it was a new collection of Gary Larson cartoons. It was only when I saw the signature I realised it was not him!! That is the reason I’m writing this now, because I hadn’t heard of Scott Hilburn and googled him to see if he and Larson were one and the same. I have all the Far Side Galleries and collect Larson panels. I can honestly say that if Hilburn and Larson are not the same person then I’m shocked Larson has not tried legal action to sue for plagiarism!
I just sent an email to the address listed on the Far Side website. I’m not sure if I hope they ARE the same person or not but if they aren’t, Mr. Hilburn is an ass. I’ll post the response here – if I get one.
For god sake stop whining. If this guy is Gary Larson then great. If not so what, Scott Hilburn has the same style and a similar sense of humour. I think he is extremely funny, and would prefer to get at least one smile per day than nothing.
Yeah, my wife got me the 2010 calendar for the same reason someone stated above, she knows how much I love “The far Side”. Ever since I discovered this guy I’ve been wanting to google him (finally got around to it after nearly a year). I just wanted to see if he’d acknowledge his influence. Well, there’s no denying he’s really funny. And there’s also no denying this his strip is a virtual ripoff. If this was music I guess he’d be a tribute band. I guess I enjoy listening to a band that sounds just like the Beatles nearly as much as listening to the originals. All in all, while I’m surprised someone would so blatantly copy another style in every way, I do enjoy it, and he does have to come up with something every day.
Oh, come on! This HAS to be Gary Larson, doesn’t it? I bought the calendar for my husband for Christmas because I saw it at Costco and assumed it was The Far Side. It wasn’t until he opened it and looked at it quizzically that I realized it wasn’t. From then until today, when I finally remembered to google “Scott Hilburn,” I have been convinced that it was just another joke of Gary Larson’s, to do this under another name. I still can’t believe it’s not.
Hey, KathiD, I sort of thought the same thing. But if that was to be the case, I just figured that info would come up somewhere in “Scott’s” bio. But then again, if this was an elaborate joke, then it wouldn’t. This sort of reminds me of the speculation there was year’s ago about Andy Kaufman. A lot of people were convinced his death was a gag and that he was making appearances as an alter ego. Anyways, it would be cool if this was Larson….
“Artistically,” (Hilburn) says, “the only thing I’ve physically taken from Larson is using lines for eyes. I really admire cartoonists who have mastered using thick and thin strokes. But I’m a bit of sloppy drawer by comparison.”
BULLSHIT. If I were Larson, I would seriously think about suing this guy. I honestly think Hilburn’s strips are really funny at times, but if I were Larson I’d be pissed. Some of Hilburn’s strips could have literally come right out of a Far Side book. It’s not just a resemblance, some of the drawings are virtual copies.
ggggggggggggggggggggggggg
Kevin’s right. But here’s the thing; Larson isn’t doing the strip anymore and this guy IS funny.
I visited this site because I was curious whether Scott Hillburn was a nom de bande dessinée for Gary Larson.
Lighten up, folks. Just because they have have similar senses of humor doesn’t make one of them a plagiarist. We have too much litigation and not enough humor.
p.s. Scott – keep up the good work!
I can play Stairway to Heaven on the guitar. I just don’t perform it and expect to get paid for it as if it were my original music.
Embarrassing. For him and for the otherwise serious publications who run the strip.
It is the same person. Ask Mark Twain.
Gary Larson? Scott Hilburn? Duh! Same guy.
If this is Gary, the world seems a little easier to take since the Far Side left us. I bought this calender thinking it was a “pen name” for Gary. It never once occurred to me that this was actually someone else with the same exact drawing skills and humor/wit as Gary. Could that be why there are so many similarities? Just look at the comic for April 1st this year(2011). If that’s not Gary, I truly don’t know what is.
Either way, I still get a chuckle each day which makes the day a little more bearable. Thanks Gary!
Hey all you nitpickin’, whiney, “I’m intelligent because I can wax philly about cartoons”, goober knuckleheads:
I know Scott Hilburn, worked with him, ate with him, even helped him move once (well, maybe I got out of that one..) but anyway…I know him and he’s NOT Larson! He’s actually funner (sic) than Larson! I grew up comically high on Larson – had all his books, watched his bio on E!, even tried to draw his characters, but guess what? HE AIN’T DOIN’ IT ANYMORE! He quit, retired, great for him! Scott is truly a funny, creative, wonderful guy and his stuff is FUNNY! Belly-laugh funny! Get off the Larson comparison – it’s rubbish! Have you noticed that every piece of art used for commercial signage, print, etc. has Andy Warhol’s influence? He redesigned design! Does that stop great artists/designers from plying their trade? Of course not – they take it and move forward, but you can still see the influences of the great masters – no matter what field we discuss. Scott’s art does take, borrow, and even steal from Larson, but his humor is unique and stands on it’s own. He’s bent – always has been – but he makes us laugh. You all need to laugh a little more – start by laughing at yourselves…Hilburn is. Keep it up, Scotty – laughter is good medicine.
The problem isn’t just the fact that the jokes are similar, the problem is the fact that he is essentially ripping off Larson’s art style. The art styles of the two comics go beyond “Similar” into a realm I call “Really really fucking similar.”
If you read The Far Side during the late ’80s – ’90s then you know Larson. If you can’t make the CLEAR connection between these two strips then you are either in DENIAL or BLIND. Focusing on microscopic dissimilarities is ludicrous and evidence toward either your mental state or visual impairment.
Why are you blasting everyone criticizing Hilburn, don’t they have a right to their opinion? I’m sure you don’t like it because you’re Scott’s friend, so of course you’re going to defend him! The fact of the matter is his strip is too similar to the Far Side. As the other comments have suggested he could at least add something significantly new to his genre- that’s what great artists do. But instead he is simply covering ground that’s been covered already. Sure, he can come up with funny jokes, but so can my uncle Tony. The context of the jokes, the presentation, art and themes are all directly derivative of The Far Side. Pablo Picasso once said that a great artist takes something great from previous artists and adds something to it. Scott just takes from previous artists and adds his name to it.
He’s not unique, but his cartoon will stand on it’s own….inescapably directly under Gary Larson’s shadow.
Hmmm…”goober knuckleheads”…..really, Mitch?
I googled this Scott hillburn after seeing the calendar at the register of a convenience store.
I lived and breathed Larson until he quit. it’s was painful to lose him. I based my “sustainable agriculture” thesis presentation on THERE’S A HAIR IN MY DIRT.
I will go buy this calendar and pretend it is Gary.
because I am an addict. it will not be a stretch to imagine Larson is working again.
I am comparing the experience to purchasing a knock-off of a fine perfume at riteaid because the
original brand is not available locally.
shameful in certain circles but I’m a junkie and I think it’s soooo obviously larsonesque I can’t look away. Larson isn’t dead. he was probably turned on to this work before it ever went to print.
let it ride.
According to Wikipedia, in copyright law there’s a concept referred to as the idea–expression dichotomy, which limits the scope of copyright protection by differentiating an idea from the expression or manifestation of that idea.
In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court stated that “Unlike a patent, a copyright gives no exclusive right to the art disclosed; protection is given only to the EXPRESSION of the idea—not the idea itself.”
So it seems to me that the people who say Hilburn is not ripping off Larson’s slant on what’s funny are right up to a point, but in terms of how he expresses his humor, it seems pretty clear that he’s appropriated more than a little of his form of expression from Larson, and that’s protected. Anyone familiar with The Far Side will, on first inspection, assume, as I did, that it’s Larson’s work, not because of the humor, but the artwork, which is not merely derivative, but slavishly imitative.
Thanks for the free content Tom. Just because you took the time to type it up, doesn’t mean it should belong to you, so I will be passing it off as my own work. Oh and I am making a pretty sweat dime on it since I am selling to to a syndicated service.
So what if you had some ideas, I mean, no one own’s gravity, so that will surely justify my plagerism and profit of your work. Thanks!
Thanks for the free content Tom. Just because you took the time to type it up, doesn’t mean it should belong to you, so I will be passing it off as my own work. Oh and I am making a pretty sweat dime on it since I am selling to to a syndicated service.
So what if you had some ideas, I mean, no one own’s gravity, so that will surely justify my plagiarism and profit of your work. Thanks!
I’m pretty pissed. I bought a daily calendar today, thinking it was a Far Side, by Gary Larson calendar. I saw the pic on the cover, grabbed it, got it home and opened it—-and then I saw the name of the “artist”. WTF?! This is a blatant Far Side ripoff. I can’t return it, b/c I opened it. Now I’m stuck with a plagiarism-by-day calendar…
I may as well throw in my 2 cents and say I think everybody should lighten up. If the material Scott Hilburn puts his name on makes you laugh and you enjoy it, buy it and read it; if it doesn’t, for whatever reason, then don’t. If you really need something to be angry about, find something that matters. Gary Larson is a grownup, and if he believes he’s been wronged, he can deal with it, hire an attorney, sue, or whatever. He doesn’t need the peanut gallery making pronouncements about what is or isn’t plagiarism or about what’s in his interest. “If I were Gary Larson, I’d . . .” is pointless and just plain silly. There’s a reason why plaintiffs need to have standing in order to file suit.
I miss the Farside and the Argyle Sweater conjures up great and funny memories of my reading , everyday, Gary Larson’s Farside. Scott and Gary, it would be nice if you are one and the same. Talented and Funny. I love it. From “The Holsteins visit the Grand Canyon” to the “Horseless Headman”…Keep them coming. We need them.
I agree with letting Argyle Sweater live. I can agree with those of you that Gary Larson should sue, etc., etc. But above all, I would hate to see the comic leave. I really miss Far Side. Argyle Sweater has taken it’s place. I even e-mailed Scott once accusing him of being Gary Larson. He promptly responded to me saying how honored he was that I thought that. Keep the Argyle Sweater! Short of Gary Larson coming out of retirement it’s the only fix we have!
Most commedians take great pains to not rip off each other. What I don’t understand about this thief Hilburn is that he is apparently talented enough to create his own style, but instead he chose the easy, commercially proven route Larson had established. Kids are kicked out of good schools for less.
Like several other commentators I’m convinced that Hilburn IS Larson. If not, he is a good facsimile.
Most resonable people would consider Mr. Hilburns work an intentional effort to economically capitalize on the copyrighted work of Gary Larson. If Gary Larson has given tacit or other approval for Mr. Hilburn’s, then all is well. If Gary Larson has not given this approval, then I hope to be on the jury in the copyright infringement trial.
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If it looks like a Larson, talks like a Larson,,,,,well, maybe so. But as Hilburn, the jokes have taken on an adult theme that I always thought was missing from Larson. Keep ’em coming, Scott.
I feel that a young artist can be inspired by the greats ( Larson ), but eventually must carve his/her own path. Hilburn seems to have done the first part, but not the second. Perhaps he still can, but it will take practice and creativity.
Looks like I’m adding my two cents nearly two years after the previous comment, but I just came across this guy and discovering him has pretty much ruined my night.
I think what makes me truly upset about Hillburn is that he refuses to acknowledge the obviously massive influence that his work takes from The Far Side. In one interview I read, he doesn’t even mention the Far Side as one of his favorite comic strips. Seriously? Compare this to his straight up blatant rip-offs of Far Side gags.
If this guy has such a sense of humour, why doesn’t he just joke about it and laugh it off? Clearly he’s extremely insecure about it, and probably needs to tread lightly legally as well. The gall of such a man to pull this off. Ugghhhhh.
Sorry but comparing The Argyle Sweater to The Far Side is like comparing a knock-off Rolex to the real thing! Sure they have similar drawing styles but the humor factor is no where close. I have a daily Argyle Sweater calendar and I count myself luck if I chuckle even twice a week reading the panels. The sheer genius of Larson had me in stitches with almost ALL of his. For that fact alone, I can guarantee that Hilburn and Larson are two entirely different people. There really is NO comparison.