According to creator Gary Larson, Larson's most confusing comics, and now, it is time to explore his "edgier" jokes in more depth.
Just as with laughter, or confusion, different Far Side comics prompted outrage from different types of readers; it is likely safe to say that it is easier to come to a consensus on the funniest Far Side comics than it is to agree on Gary Larson's most controversial punchlines.
There is also the matter of time. It has been thirty years since The Far Side ended its run, and its peak came in the mid-1980s. Some Far Side comics may strike newer readers as more off-color, while some s that were hotly debated in their time might not phase contemporary audiences.
12 The Far Side's Social Critique Could Sometimes Be Mistaken For Insensitivity
First Published: January 23, 1981
In this Far Side cartoon, an "Acme Bumaway" truck vacuums up a man sleeping on a bench, using newspapers as a blanket. As humor, it is as dark as it is simple, though for modern readers – who are more sympathetic to the plight of the unhoused – it risks striking the wrong chord, if the mistake is made of assuming the man on the bench is the subject of the joke.
Actually, with this , Gary Larson is taking a subtle jab at people who treat people who live on the streets as simply more rubbish that can be hoovered up, or swept away. The cruelty of such a perspective is being lampooned here; in fact, it can be argued that if this comic doesn't evoke a "My God!" response, the reader should consider re-evaluating their perspective.
11 Over Time, The Far Side's Humor Started To Wear Readers Down
First Published: February 5, 1981
As of 1981, The Far Side was still only being published in a limited number of papers; though this would multiply exponentially over the course of the early-to-mid-1980s, the first few years of the strip's time in publication really was make-or-break for Gary Larson as a cartoonist. Given the routinely strange, often surrealistic nature of the comic, it had to win readers over – or at least, become a familiar part of their perusal of the funny pages every morning.
The Far Side's Humor Can Be Traced Back To Gary Larson's Childhood Love Of Snakes (& Other Reptiles)
In an interview with NPR, Gary Larson explained his childhood love of snakes, which led him to a greater understanding of the nature of perspective.
In this wordless, multi- Far Side cartoon a man on a bench feeds birds, who quickly flock to him, then overwhelm, and finally consume him. It would have taken some getting used to when people first started to find humor like this in the daily paper, but over time, and this joke would surely have garnered its share of surprised exclamations.
10 This Is Low-Key One Of The Far Side's Darkest "Father/Son" Cartoons
First Published: March 27, 1981
In this hilariously bleak Far Side , a man and his son have had a fun time at the beach, with the young child burying the father in the sand up to his neck in the sand – but now playtime is over, and the "tide's coming in", and the dad is increasingly anxious as he pleads, "dig me out, Billy" to his wholly unconcerned kid.
It is safe to say that this comic does not get enough credit for being one of Gary Larson's darkest, a distinction that is exacerbated by the quality of uncertainty that is essential to the punchline. In many Far Side comics, it was clear Larson's characters were doomed – here, the humor is frought with not knowing what will happen next.
9 Death And Disaster Were All Fun In Games On The Far Side
Far Side: April 25, 1981
Smashed windows were a Far Side staple, as much as unexpected deaths and avoidable disasters, and this comic is an iconic example of all of that. In the foreground of the frame, a box labeled "Pogo stick" lies on the floor, lid popped off, with scuff marks from the impact of the stick all over the hardwood surrounding it – and a giant hole in the window of what is evidently a high-rise apartment building, making it clear this moment of fun ended tragically.
This is also a shining example of a Far Side comic that doesn't need a caption to deliver its punchline. The box labeled "pogo stick" and the broken window are all Gary Larson needed to get a reaction out of readers, whether it was belly-laugh or a yelp of empathetic dismay.
8 This Far Side Cartoon Aims Right For The Heart
First Published: May 5, 1981
Again, a caption is unnecessary with this Far Side bear cartoon, as the visual of a bear smiling and waving, as seen through the scope of a hunter's rifle scope, is more than enough to convey Gary Larson's point to the reader. The "joke" is evident enough, but once again it is important to note that, to the degree there is a deeper meaning to this , it signals that Larson is on the side of the bear, not the shooter.
The Far Side Complete Collection
Fans of the far side can't up this master collection of Gary Larson's finest work. Originally published in hardcover in 2003, this paperback set comes complete with a newly designed slipcase that will look great on any shelf. The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side cartoon ever published, which amounts to over 4,000, plus more than 1,100 that have never before appeared in a book and even some made after Larson retired.
Gary Larson's naturalist inclinations were obvious from many Far Side comics, and this one is arguably a stand-out example of the author bying comedy in order to target readers' other emotions, in this case their empathy, hopefully, for all living creatures.
7 The Far Side Gives A New Meaning To The Term "Crash Course"
First Published: June 11, 1981
This is another iconic early "smashed window" Far Side cartoon, though in this case, readers watch as, hilariously, a couple crashes head-first out of a second floor window mid-tango, right above the sign on the building that says "Beginning Dance."
In a similar vein to the "Pogo catastrophe" from just two months earlier, this comic highlights the potential dangers of trying something new for fun – or at least, doing so around windows. Again, the "My God!" quality of the joke is aided by Gary Larson's omission of a caption, forcing readers to focus entirely on the image, which is jarringly funny, with a patented Far Side touch of darkness to it, as the duo plunge head-first toward the pavement.
6 This Is Low-Key The Far Side's Most Dangerous Dog
First Published: July 7, 1981
In another wordless Far Side cartoon, a dog's paws are shown peacefully poking out of his doghouse – while out front, a pile of newspaper delivery kids' bikes rises as high as the roof, suggesting that this pup is anything but peaceful, and certainly far from playful.
This is an example of a Far Side cartoon that straddles the line between a "What the?" reaction, based in confusion, and a "My God!" response, once more because the lack of caption requires readers to supply so much more detail on their side, and inevitably, many are likely to conjure a much more horrifying scenario than Gary Larson actually intended – though given the macbre depths he was willing to mine, no one can be quite sure.
5 Seriously, This Might Be One Of Gary Larson's Most Gruesome Far Side Jokes
First Published: August 19, 1981
In contrast to many entries on this list, the caption is essential to the "My God!" quality of this . The image of a boy standing at the front of a classroom holding a jar with a human head in it is certainly shocking in its own right, but the disturbing details of the caption – which informs readers that the head was "found on the beach last summer" – are really what sell the visceral quality of the punchline.
Overall, this is a very underrated Far Side cartoon, which shows off the full extent of Gary Larson's capacity for weird, even downright "icky" humor, which is accentuated, rather than undercut, by the casual attitude taken by the student's teacher toward his "show-and-tell" specimen.
4 On The Far Side, Sometimes The Bird Got The Last Word
First Published: September 29, 1981
mercy of bad pet owners, this cartoon gets a strong reaction by depicting the opposite: a bird that is a danger to its owner; here, a woman reaches out to give her parrot a cracker – though the caption lets readers know that "Polly wanna finger instead."
The Far Side's "Out of Order" Comic (Both Versions) Is the Perfect Illustration Of Gary Larson's Chaotic Creative Mind
Gary Larson's "Out of Order" comic, published in 1988, perfectly illustrated of how the business of creating The Far Side wore him down over time.
By design, the composition of the illustration in this Far Side directs the reader's view to the face of the bird, which looks almost maniacal – which contributes to the chances of a "My God!" reaction, which for many readers will hit immediately when they read the caption and what is about to happen.
3 This Far Side Seems Gross At First, But There's Something Sweet About It
First Published: October 10, 1981
"It's still hungry," one bird says to another in in another unforgettable Far Side bird cartoon, as both are perched on the end of a stroller, looking down at a human baby, whose mother sits on a nearby park bench reading a book, "and I've been stuffing worms into it all day."
The premise of the punchline is outrageous, and will get a rise out of readers immediately, again with the visercal imagery, this time of a baby's mouth being stuffed with worms – yet it is fair to say there is also a touching quality to this joke, as these birds have evidently taken it upon themselves to care for this child, even if they aren't sure how to go about doing so.
