As funny asThe Far Sideis, every once in a while, Gary Larson just wanted an excuse to draw something incredibly weird or dumb. For years, the iconic strip had readers everywhere doubled over in laughter over its bizarre and absurd situations, not to mention its offbeat characters and environments.
From aliens invading a deserted island to birds building a nest made of stick figures, no idea was too odd or ‘out-there’ for Larson to include. Read on to discover 10 strips that feature weird, offbeat, or just plain dumb (but funny) things Larson just had touse inThe Far Side.
10Caveman Invention
Publication Date: August 8th, 1981
Anthropology is a subject Larson loved messing around with. In this strip,The Far Sidetakes a digat early mankind’s invention of the well by showcasing the complete opposite. Instead of building a wheel, a caveman invented the frame of a car, but with nothing to put it on to make it go.
There is so much wrong with this invention. Even if he had made wheels, there’s almost certainly no engine in that car and the frame would literally weigh several tons. It’s ludicrous thata neanderthal would even think of a modern automobile, but that’s whatmakesThe Far Sideso amusing.
9Deep-Sea Exploring Fail
Publication Date: March 8th, 1988
The Far Sideexcelled in showcasing people’s worst tendencies, namely how stupid they can be. Here, a man is assisting a deep-sea diver and looking over at his companion’s trip into the briny deep. But the man isunaware he’s standing on the breathing apparatusand the diver is quickly running out of air.
Is it the most cleverFar Sidestrip Larson ever created? Not particularly. But it’s a great example of the gallows humor the strip often featured. Sure it’s not as over-the-top as some strips, but it’s got that right touch of demented spirit that makes it dumb but incredibly funny.
8Scissor Fish
Publication Date: April 23rd, 1980
No, that wasn’t the only joke about someone staring death in the eye while dealing with trouble underneath the sea. This strip shows a man going about his business underwater, but his trip into the deep, blue sea is about to literally be cut short by a collection of sea creatures resembling scissors.
This is definitely a bit more absurd than the other deep-diving strip, but it’s quite strange. Where did Larson even come up with the idea of scissor-like creatures? Whatever gave him the inspiration, it’s a good thing it did becausethisFar Sidestrip is so dumb, one can’t help but crack a grin.
7Alien Desert Island
Publication Date: June 4th, 1984
The Far Sidegot a lot of mileage out of kicking people when they were down. Here, a man has been marooned on a desert island. And his bad luck is turning into worse luck as a UFO has crash-landed nearby, and its passengers are making a beeline for the poor man’s island.
There’s a lot going on in this strip and while it’s far easier to make out the humor here than the infamous ‘Cow Tools’ strip, it’s pretty bizarre. Still, it’s the kind of odd situation thatfits perfectly into the absurdist vibe that Larson cultivatedwith his amazing and comical strip.
6Target Practice
Publication Date: March 22nd, 1982
There are a lot ofFar Sidestrips that show people who are supposed to be professionals acting as anything but. Here, a couple of chefs are preparing lobster for dinner, but rather than take their job seriously, they’ve decided to have a bit of fun with the animal and rig up a dunk tank experience for him.
The Far Sideis weird, everyone knows that. It’s hard to imagine how someone would even imagine a scenario this outrageous. But thank goodness Larson managed to, because this kind of strip manages to make something not funny (boiling live lobsters) into something incredibly funny (treating their last moments like a sideshow experience).
5Bear Mugging Hiker
Publication Date: August 10th, 1981
It’s not just animal death that Larson is willing to poke fun at. In this strip he reverses the two and features a couple of bears standing over a man they’ve presumably just mauled. To literally add insult to injury, they’ve taken his wallet and are rifling through his personal effects.
The Far Sidewould often anthropomorphize animals, but instead of giving them more relatable qualities, Larson has them acting like common criminals. It’s absurd and readers are given no context, not even a punchline. But who doesn’t think the idea ofa couple of bears mugging a hikerisn’t grimly funny?
4Stickman Nest
Publication Date: April 28th, 1980
One of the most underrated aspects ofThe Far Sideis how often it would play with alternate forms of cartooning and drawing for comedic effect. Here, a couple of birds are building a nest, which would be sweet,if it weren’t for the fact they’re using stick figures(who appear to be alive).
At first glance, this might have one shaking their head or rolling their eyes at the panel. Because yes, it’s a bit dumb. But it’s also kind of clever in a weird way, seeing Larson use a ‘lesser’ form of cartooning as nothing more than building material for a bird’s nest.
3Dancing Bugs
Publication Date: January 4th, 1984
There’s not much that’s funny about nuclear destruction, but that didn’t stop Larson from trying. In this strip, bombs are flying, and mushroom clouds are spreading all across the land. But the few that aren’t exactly disturbed by the events are a group of bugs who are dancing in a circle on a leaf.
Are they happy because the end is near? Or is it jubilation that humans have eradicated themselves and the world will be left to the bugs? Maybe there’s no deeper meaning and Larson just thoughtit would be funny to see bugs dancing amid a nuclear apocalypse(which it absolutely is).
2Literal Recipe for Disaster
Publication Date: June 20th, 1994
Sometimes all Larson really needed to make a goodFar Sidestrip was a decent pun, which is exactly what he has here. The strip shows a kitchen that looks like a tornado has moved through it and the homeowner is on the floor. The cause of the chaos? Aliteral recipe for disaster.
This is one of those strips that shouldn’t work, as Larson can generally do better than just making a literal interpretation of a common idiom. And yet, it does work, and it does have the same absurd charm as the rest ofThe Far Side’sstrips. Sure it’s a dumb joke, but it’s whimsically endearing.
1Scientists Want Ice Cream
Publication Date: June 16th, 1982
The best work Larson’s ever delivered with The Far Side is usually the simplest gags. In this strip, a couple of scientists are abandoning their scientific pursuits because they’ve all heard the familiar jingle of the ice cream man, and they’re running out to catch him and get a treat.
Larson wasn’t going for mean or cruel here. He just wanted a funny strip that showed no matter how mature or ‘professional’ one is, no one is too old to let their inner kid out every once in a while. As much asThe Far Side makes people laugh, its best and simplest strips also remind readers of what’s important.
