10 FUNNIEST THE FAR SIDE COMICS

Gary Larson's The Far Side comics have continued to be among the most lauded of all time, even nearly thirty years after new editions stopped appearing in newspapers. This isn't a major surprise considering the series' biting observational commentary delivered through almost exclusively absurdist setups.

Over the course of its original run, The Far Side poked fun at everything from inherently ridiculous cultural norms to widely held misconceptions. Larson also made a point of highlighting the absurdity that is intrinsic to the human experience and all the fear, stress, and anxiety that come along with it. That being said, some strips simply stand out more than the rest, and the best of them are truly unforgettable.

The Far Side Paints the Miracle of Creation in a New Light

In many creation stories, humanity is given life by their chosen deity after being formed from the Earth itself, or at least the clay it provides. This is one of the more common interpretations of the Christian creation story, in which God uses clay to give form to Adam, the first man.

For Gary Larson, it only makes sense that if the story were true, God would have used clay to form more than just humanity. And, as anyone who has ever worked with ceramics or even Play-Doh, there is nothing easier to make than a snake. From the looks of things, the God of The Far Side is more than pleased with this discovery, and he isn't going to have any problems surpassing humanity's demand for legless reptiles.

Gary Larson Invented All Kinds of New Phobias in The Far Side

One of the things that The Far Side did best was explore humanity's deepest, most primal fears. Another thing it did particularly well was serve as a vehicle for the fears and phobias that Gary Larson made up entirely on his own. In one of The Far Side's most memorable running gags, Larson described and depicted such phobias for readers' enjoyment.

Among the most memorable of these invented phobias is "Anatidaephobia." Defined as "the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you," Anatidaephobia doesn't seem that bad at first glance. Upon closer inspection, however, it turns out that those exact fears might very well be warranted, at least in one exceptionally unnerving instance.

The Far Side Called Into Question the Medical Accuracy of Classic Idioms

The idea that laughter is the best medicine has been espoused by all manner of people throughout the ages. While there is certainly something to be said about the healing power of laughter, it is hard to imagine anyone who would ever take that specific phrase to be a literal truth.

Of course, things that are hard to imagine are the foundation of The Far Side. As such, there is no reason why the doctors featured in its panels wouldn't put the theory to the test in a hospital setting. Unfortunately for their patient, it doesn't look like the treatment is taken, nor does it look like the doctors in question intend to give up until their findings are definitive.

The Far Side Brought Anxiety Nightmares to Life in Mundane Settings

There are some social norms that most people don't even think about breaking. Among these is the simple idea to wash your hands after using the toilet. As easy and obvious as that seems, there is still some amount of ordinary anxiety about others knowing whether you did or not, and The Far Side brings that nagging thought blaring into center stage.

As seen in this updated version of a fan-favorite panel, service at a restaurant is rudely interrupted by the incessant clanging of a bell alarm and the flashing of bright red lights. Worse still, this is no smoke detector or any other ordinary sort of alarm, but one specifically crafted to go off when someone leaves the restroom without washing their hands, as noted by the massive sign just above the exit for all to see.

Gary Larson Introduced New Technical Terms in The Far Side

Much like the phobias that Larson invented throughout The Far Side, he also inadvertently gave rise to some surprisingly technical terms. Of all of them, Cow Tools is easily among the most memorable, even if it isn't the most specific.

Originally published in October 1982, "Cow Tools" depicts a cow standing behind a table upon which several of the eponymous Cow Tools rest. Although Larson himself has explained that the comic was supposed to be "an exercise in silliness," he received hundreds of letters inquiring about the origin of Cow Tools following its release. Beyond the initial reaction, Cow Tools has become a moderately popular internet meme in recent years, helping to further build The Far Side's audience across generations.

The Far Side's Thagomizer Has Been Immortalized in Numerous Lexicons

Whereas Cow Tools are purposefully nondescript, The Far Side's other great engineering accomplishment is far better defined. The tool in question is the infamous Thagomizer, the subject of another 1982 edition of The Far Side, this time set during one of the series' many trips to the prehistoric era.

In the Thagomizer comic, a single caveman is seen lecturing a group of his compatriots about the eponymous subject. As it turns out, the Thagomizer is nothing less than the spiky end of a Stegosaurus' tail. And, as the lecturer notes, the Thagomizer was named as such for "the late Thag Simmons," presumably a caveman "researcher" who first stumbled upon or was crushed by the Thagomizer's awesome power. Since its release, references to the Thagomizer have worked their way into various professional scientific and mathematical fields, much to the delight of nerds everywhere.

China Shops are Never Safe in The Far Side

Another common gag throughout The Far Side is the dissection of idioms. These usually hyperbolic statements are rife with opportunities for riffing, yet The Far Side frequently found ways to spin the focus of common phrases in unexpected ways.

This is evident in Larson's take on the thought of a "bull in a china shop." As two bulls peruse the wares of a literal china shop, the women behind the counter can only watch on in pained anticipation of whatever comes next. All the while, the cows, decked out in trench coats and hats in a blatant attempt to mask their appearances, carefully examine the fine porcelain before them in what can only be a buildup to disaster.

The Far Side's Rocket Scientists Are Their Own Worst Enemy

The Far Side is filled with dark humor. Whether it be the worst possible outcomes to otherwise ordinary situations or the grim realities of absurd premises, The Far Side had a knack for making the darkest scenarios something truly hilarious.

One of the best examples of this is an infamous comic that finds a military scientist carefully hammering the last bolt of a massive rocket into place. Between the schematics behind him and the rocket being clearly labeled "MISSILE," it is readily apparent that the work this man is doing is sensitive to a potentially lethal degree. That makes it all the worse and funnier that said scientist's co-worker has snuck up behind him with an inflated paper bag in hand and, more importantly, ready to pop at the exact wrong moment.

Hunters Become the Hunted in The Far Side

There is a unique intersection between humanity's baser instincts and fears and how the wilderness simultaneously upholds those concerns while empowering so many who venture into it. Unfortunately for the hunters of The Far Side, nature's harshest truths aren't just lethal; they are utterly humiliating.

This classic comic proves how deadly certain pastimes can be when an adult bear entertains their children with a puppet show. Rather than employing ordinary puppets, however, the bear utilizes the skulls of two hunters who, tragically, are presumably just a couple of minor additions to the massive collection of bones atop where the bear is seated.

The Far Side's Science Fiction is All Too Believable

For as much as The Far Side focused on breaking down common social tropes and readers' expectations of the world around them, it spent nearly as much time employing fantastical lenses through which its most popular topics could be explored. In what might be the funniest The Far Side comic of all time, sci-fi tech collides with Man's Best Friend in absolutely hilarious, albeit mildly disappointing, fashion.

The strip in question depicts a scientist taking his most recently completed piece of technology out for a spin. As Professor Schwartzman discovers, his canine decoder works perfectly at picking up and translating exactly what dogs have to say. Though Schwartzman may have hoped to uncover some profound truth or at least a decent conversation, he finds that every dog he passes only has an enthusiastic "Hey!" to offer, which sounds more than a little believable when given serious consideration.

2024-06-20T01:35:30Z dg43tfdfdgfd