Summary

• The Far Side creator Gary Larson frequently used "Acme" as a short-hand for a business in his strip, depicting them as the creators of a variety of products, from slingshots, to sheets, to sewing supplies.
• Larson's "Acme" s often didn't need to employ captions, as the name of the business and the illustration worked together to deliver the joke without commentary.
• From clever puns to dark humor, Acme was one of the many recurring themes in The Far Side, a study of which provides insight into Larson's comedic talents and his unique brand of social commentary.

The Far Side often depicted humorous situations involving businesses, and regularly through the strip's run, creator Gary Larson used "Acme" as his go-to company name, using it to signify a number of different products over the years, from "the end is nigh" signs to flea collars for werewolves, and everything in between.

Gary Larson's idiosyncratic sense of humor was always being too gross – and sometimes, when it was.

The Far Side's "Acme" strips offer insight into how he viewed business in America, but even more notably, they are a testament to Gary Larson's comedic talents at their most subtle, as "Acme" often carried a lot of weight in making jokes work when it appeared in s, as the entries below make clear.

10 A Monster Duck Menaces The "Acme Bread Box Co."

First Published: April 19, 1993

Of the calamities visited upon Acme and its employees throughout Far Side's run, this was perhaps the silliest. Out front of the "Acme Bread Box Co." building, a group of shaken employees gather out front of their building, as a police officer takes their statements about a large creature that allegedly menaced them. Hilariously, the seemingly unfazed officer asks them to describe the size of the "monster" – when there is a trail of what are clearly giant duck-prints leading right past the building. This, along with the alarm painted on the employees' faces, make this peak Gary Larson goofiness.

9 The "Acme Slingshot Company" Needs To Update Its Employee Handbook

First Published: March 24, 1986

Often, Far Side s didn't need a caption to get their joke across to the reader. The action in this is incredibly subtle, but it is made clear by the business sign framed through the window. A woman in the middle of filing paperwork clutches her backside, as her glasses fly off her face, which is fixed in an expression of shock and alarm. Through the window, two wide eyes can be seen peeking from the corresponding window of the "Acme Slingshot Co." – one of the company's employees having evidently tested their product on an unsuspecting neighbor.

8 A Precarious Turn Of Events At "Acme Sewing Supplies"

First Published: May 22, 1985

One of [Gary] Larson's comedic strengths was the ability to taken an English-language idiom, or folk saying, and illustrate it in the funniest way possible.

Gary Larson loved to play with language in The Far Side, and that included an unrepentant use of puns. One of Larson's comedic strengths was the ability to taken an English-language idiom, or folk saying, and illustrate it in the funniest way possible. This is a perfect example, as a woman is depicted clinging for dear life, having crashed through the window of "Acme Sewing Supplies," as another woman inside telephones for help, telling 911: "you better hurry – she's hanging by a thread!"

7 "Acme Construction" Is Going To Get Fined For This

First Published: September 8, 1984

Gary Larson's humor was often predicated on mishaps, and misunderstandings – often taken to their most extreme possibility. That's the case with this Far Side , in which a hapless truck driver for "Acme Construction" accidentally fills in the Grand Canyon, all because the "no dumping" sign was on the other side of the gap. "Larry had always approached from the side that wasn't posted," the caption reports, "and a natural phenomenon was destroyed before anyone could react." The hilarity of this strip, of course, comes from the idea that "Larry" wouldn't recognize such an iconic geological feature without the need for a sign, with devastating ecological consequences.

6 A Defiant Spider In Enemy Territory At "Acme Insecticide Inc."

First Published: October 5, 1983

Another classic Far Side s using no words, this strip features an act of defiance on the part of a spider, as it swings into frame amid a meeting of the minds at "Acme Insecticide Inc." The three human employees of the company look up in surprise as the arachnid glides down toward them, letting out a triumphal "yeehaa" in the process. Certainly, this ranks among Gary Larson's more quixotic strips. The humor seemingly rests on the idea that these men – who kill insects professionally – can't completely eradicate infestation in their own workplace.

5 "Acme Sign. Co" Just Lost Their Biggest Contract

First Published: June 19, 1982

Throughout The Far Side, Gary Larson frequently displayed a bleak outlook on the possibility of nuclear war. The end of the world was depicted often in his work, in a variety of different contexts. This is one of the funniest examples, as a painter at the "Acme Sign Co." watches nuclear explosions through the window, hands on his hips, dismayed that their freshly painted stack of "The end of the world is coming" signs are now worthless. In this case, the humor comes from the stark contrast between the horror of armageddon and their nonchalant reactions.

4 Nothing Looks More Real Than "Acme Plastic Fruit"

First Published: February 24, 1982

One of Gary Larson's idiosyncratic comedic obsessions, which found repeated outlet in Far Side s, was depicted people stranded on desert islands, often as further misfortune was visited upon them.

One of Gary Larson's idiosyncratic comedic obsessions, which found repeated outlet in Far Side s, was depicted people stranded on desert islands, often as further misfortune was visited upon them. This is a prime example of that recurring bit. A ragged survivor raises his fists in triumph, shouting with excitement and popping the lid off a crate that has drifted ashore, finding it full of fruit. What the reader understands before he does – thanks to the "Acme Plastic Fruit" stencil on the side of the crate – is that the survivor is about to experience a truly crushing let-down.

3 "Acme Sheet Co." Makes The Strongest Sheets On The Market

First Published: September 19, 1981

Once again, this strip needed no caption, as the image and the "Acme Sheet Co." sign on the building collude to tell the reader everything they need to know to understand the joke. Unfortunately, a fire has broken out in the building, raging out of windows from the top three floors. Thankfully, the company's product affords a natural escape method, assuming the stairs and elevators are inaccessible. Improvised ropes spring from windows on every side of the building, making this a rare Far Side where everyone may have escaped unharmed.

2 This "Acme Costume Rental" Franchise Should Be Reported To Corporate

First Published: December 11, 1980

Some Far Side s are loud-out-loud funny; others were evidently designed to make the reader raise their eyebrow in confusion, tugging their lips upward in a bemused smile at the same time.

Some Far Side s are loud-out-loud funny; others were evidently designed to make the reader raise their eyebrow in confusion, tugging their lips upward in a bemused smile at the same time. This exemplifies Gary Larson's sly humor, as the wearer of a horse costume drags themselves into "Acme Costume Rental," unable to extract themselves from the suit. The true joke lies in a single word from the caption, as the shop's proprietors note, "uh oh – looks like the zipper has stuck again" – meaning they rented the costume knowing people had gotten stuck in it before.

1 "Acme Flea Collars" Come In All Sizes

First Published: March 10, 1980

One of the earliest appearances of "Acme" in The Far Side, this strip features a werewolf fixing an "Acme Flea Collar" around his neck, as a full moon glares through the nearby window. The humor comes from the expression of serene pleasure on the werewolf's face. The is made funnier by the idea of a human being reduced to a feral wolf-like form, while still having the sensibility to consider hygienic practices. From the start, The Far Side knew how to twist the familiar and make it novel again, leading to the enduring popularity of Gary Larson's work.