10 Deepest The Far Side Comics That Fans Are Still Thinking About Decades Later

The Far Side could be equally frivolous and deep, sometimes within the confines of the same panel. Gary Larson was a master of brevity when it came to his iconic newspaper cartoon, but behind his idiosyncratic illustrations and absurdist humor were big ideas and pressing themes. The more time you spend with The Far Side, the more these reveal themselves.

Gary Larson was a professional cartoonist, but he was also a practiced jazz guitarist, an amateur historian, and an armchair philosopher.

It was Larson’s highbrow academic interests that served as the foundation for his inane, lowbrow brand of humor. This is key to understanding The Far Side’s particular brand of comedy.

10

The Far Side’s Irreverent Humor Came From A Deeply Introspective Place

First Published: September 23, 1994

“Jesus!” a voice booms out of the heavens in this iconoclastic Far Side comic, as the Almighty addresses his son, who is about to make a huge mistake. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him walk on it,” God says, making the save for the savior’s steed.

Here, Gary Larson fuses folk wisdom and Biblical imagery. The result is an amusing punchline on the surface, but for the philosophical-minded, there is a thematic resonance which goes beyond that. This Far Side cartoon slyly showcases Larson’s seeming familiarity with the serious questions underpinning religion, like “what are the limits of divinity?”

9

The Far Side Playfully Answers The Greatest Question Of Contemporary Life

First Published: December 29, 1993

Here’s another Far Side comic that shows off Gary Larson’s silly approach to serious unanswered questions. In this case, Larson interrogates a modern stumper: “can money really make you happy?” Funnily enough, this Far Side cartoon says yes, but given its tongue-in-cheek vibe, it’s fair to guess that the author felt the opposite.

“The Happiness Store” is one of those Far Side comics had has aged particularly well. The joke still hits, which is the most important part. But for readers willing to dig deeper, there’s the modern problem Larson is grappling with. That subtext has only gotten more urgent and more relevant in the 33 years since this Far Side was published.

8

The Far Side Turns A Philosophical Paradox Into A Personal Grudge

First Published: December 28, 1992

Here’s an example of Gary Larson twisting a classic philosophical thought experiment for comedic purposes. That is, taking a shot at mimes. “Does anyone care?” is the question this Far Side comic poses, in the event that “a tree falls in the woods, and no one’s around, and it hits a mime.”

Brilliantly, Larson’s gag here retains the philosophical essence of the original question he’s riffing on. When we ask “does it make a sound?” about a tree falls without anyone there to hear it, we’re interrogating the intersection of existence and human perception. Here, The Far Side makes it about the cultural perception of mimes, in a legitimately smart twist.

7

The Far Side Uses A Classic Joke To Question The Meaning Of It All

First Published: June 12, 1991

This is the ultimate existentialist Far Side panel. It has similar creative DNA to the last entry, except it’s flipped. Here, Gary Larson takes the most recognizable joke set-up in pop culture history, and gives a kind of anti-punchline. “Why does the chicken cross the road?” the joke goes, and this Far Side asks in return: “why do you need a reason?”

Larson delivers this retort in the form of a billboard, taunting a chicken to cross to “The Other Side.” The joke and its philosophical implications are a tangled mess, in this case. It’s The Far Side essentially asking, “is there really a reason that anybody does anything?” and leaving readers to ponder their own answers.

6

This Is The Far Side’s Least Funny Comic, And It Was Meant To Be

First Published: April 22, 1990

Gary Larson wasn’t always going for laugh-out-loud funny with The Far Side, but there’s only one comic Larson ever produced that actually wasn’t a joke at all. That is “Mother Nature’s Deathbed,” a panel meant to bring attention to the ecological crisis faced by Planet Earth. It’s another panel that hits even harder today, because that crisis has gone unaddressed for 35+ years.

Larson depicts his usual cast of goofy animal characters solemnly gathered around Mother’s hospital bed. It’s an appropriately dire warning, one that offers a glimpse of a different path Far Side could have taken. Except in this one case, Gary Larson was relentlessly committed to the bit, but there were always deeper themes and ideas at play in his panels.

5

​​​​​​​The Far Side Says The Quiet Part Loud About Humanity’s Place In Creation

First Published: April 9, 1988

Here we are again with Gary Larson riffing on Biblical motifs. In this case, he imagines a very different, very Far Side interpretation of how humans first populated the planet. That is, God spit them out while a server profusely apologized, saying “I don’t know how they got in your soup!“

It’s a simple enough joke, but it also contains a hint of Larson’s misanthropy. Or at least, his understanding of humanity as insignificant, and possibly even a nuisance, to the greater forces of the universe. The Far Side is full of jokes like this; they make for great punchlines, but it’s also a recurring theme that is impossible to miss.

4

The Far Side Honors Its Forerunner & Takes A Dig At The Origin Of Art

First Published: December 11, 1987

The Far Side was as scientifically smart as it was philosophically profound. Gary Larson was a cartoonist by trade, but behind-the-scenes he was devoted to a diverse set of intellectual interests, including history and archeology. In this all-time great Far Side Peanuts reference, Larson ties all of that together, with an equally thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud punchline.

In the panel, “a second Lucy” is discovered, “rocking the anthropological world.” It’s an astute joke about the ever-evolving understanding of human civilization’s origins. It’s also an homage to Peanuts and creator Charles Schulz’ foundational place in the history of American pop culture. Operating on these multiple levels is what elevates this to iconic Far Side status.

3

The Far Side’s “Scapegoat Wayne” Joke Is More Relevant Today Than It Was 40 Years Ago

First Published: December 13, 1986

“The world was going down the tubes,” the caption of this Far Side comic tells us. “They needed a scapegoat. They found Wayne.” The panel shows Wayne looking out his window at a mob of protestors who have chosen to focus their ire directly on him. This was a good joke about mob mentality 40 years ago, but it downright stings by contemporary standards.

Meaning, four decades later people are more discontent than ever. Everyone wants someone to be held accountable for the state of the world. Yet when it comes to choosing who to hold accountable, it’s usually a huge swing and a miss. We turn on scapegoats and fall guys, while the real resolutions to society’s problems go unacknowledged.

2

The Far Side’s Deepest Deep-Cut Reference Shows How Gary Larson Couldn’t Help But Be Smart

First Published: December 3, 1985

This is one of The Far Side’s most obscure comics. It’s also one of its smartest, but you have to get the reference to realize that. Here, Gary Larson is parodying a late 19th century gramophone advertisement entitled “His Master’s Voice.” The original image featured a dog inspecting the device, which spoke to the quasi-religious and mystical nature of early technology.

Larson substitutes a praying mantis for a pooch, but the effect is the same. Technology looms large over the organic character here, in this case an insect, and while Larson might not have meant this Far Side comic expressly as commentary, it’s tough for readers not to make those kind of connections. Especially when the artist leaves so much up to interpretation.

1

Gary Larson Sneaks Some Creative Advice Into This Far Side Therapy Joke

First Published: March 24, 1984

Gary Larson frequently poked fun at therapy, resulting in some classic Far Side cartoons. This might not be one of the laugh-out-loud funniest, but it does strike a certain chord, especially for readers who are in therapy themselves. Here, a psychologist tries to help a chameleon patient who has lost the ability to shift its skin color.

“The more you think about [it], the less chance you’ll succeed,” the doctor says. It’s low-key great advice, especially for athletes and creative types, disguised as a Far Side joke. For anyone who artistically or intellectually looks up to Gary Larson, this Far Side comic feels like him reaching out and saying “just go with the flow.”

What do you think, Far Side fans? What was Gary Larson’s deepest cartoon? Did we miss it here? Let us know!