There is nothing quite like the experience of discovering a Far Side comic for the very first time; there is an unforgettable quality to the best Far Side comics, one that has imprinted on the minds of generations of readers, yet as much as Gary Larson's work keeps fans coming back to his cartoons repeatedly, the thrill of the discovery remains arguably the greatest thing about his work in retrospect.

The s aggregated here are just a small sampling of the many Far Side cartoons that fans have wished, over the years, that they could return to with fresh eyes, from the perspective of a new reader, so that they could experience the true wonder of discovering Gary Larson’s oddball, idiosyncratic style of comedy all over again.

Each of these comics has a lasting charm, for sure, but at the same time there is an ineffable feeling about them that the first time laying eyes on them is the best.

10 These Far Side Cows Are Rightly Skeptical Of The "Milk-O-Matic"

First Published: December 2, 1980

"I don't like the look of this," one of The Far Side's cows says to another, as in the background of the comic, their farmer is in the middle of assembling a robo-milker, the "Milk-o-Man," to take over the manual labor of milking them himself. Like many of Gary Larson's cartoons about humans and animals, there is an implicit critique buried beneath the surface of this punchline, as the author subtly shades industrial farming.

That makes this worth dwelling on, and thinking about in more detail, but what makes it immediately funny are the skeptical side-eyed glances the cows shoot in the direction of the farmer, in contrast with the wide-eyed expressionless, impersonal face of the "Milk-o-Man," both demonstrating early examples of the importance of characters' eyes to The Far Side's visual humor.

9 The Far Side's Most Notorious Comic Throws Uninitiated Readers For A Loop

First Published: October 28, 1982

It is fair to call "Cow Tools" the most infamous Far Side cartoon; it is, certainly, the most widely discussed and dissected of the literal thousands of s Gary Larson produced. Yet, somewhat counterintuitively, it is also a perfect example of how the more an individual Far Side comic is scrutinized, the greater the risk of it losing its impact on the reader.

The prevailing reaction to "Cow Tools," a deceptively simple comic featuring a cow standing upright in front of a table full of tools, is one of confusion. The longer a reader devotes to analyzing it, the more one of two things will happen: either 1) they will develop an understanding of the comic that initially eluded them, or 2) they will become numb to the confusion. As a reading experience, the best encounter with "Cow Tools" is the first one, which most fans of Gary Larson's work would love to replicate.

8 A Classic Far Side "Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Light Switch" Joke

First Published: November 21, 1984

This is one of The Far Side's all-time great "reveals," featuring an informant against the Mob, the confidentiality of whose identity is compromised after a maintenance worker at the TV accidentally flicks on the light switch in the dark room the man was giving his interview from.

This cartoon stands out because of its sitcom-esque humor; the punchline relies on a confluence of bad timing, which Gary Larson expertly captures in a single static image, as the news anchor throws the feed to their guest at the exact same moment that the unknowing janitor steps into the room and casually flips the switch, leading to a look of shock and dismay from the witness.

7 When The Laughter Dies Down, This Far Side Leaves Readers With More Questions Than Answers

First Published: October 12, 1987

The Far Side's humor was often willfully dumb, and sometimes that meant depicting downright oafish characters; here, Larson portrays a man who is so confused that he has been forced to go to the lengths of painting reminders of what everything is called on whatever is in sight, from "the house," to "the dog" and "the cat," to his own shirt and pants.

"Now, that should clear a few things up around here," the man says, which is ironic, because his actions are unexplained, and seemingly inexplicable, leaving Far Side readers with more questions than answers. The absurdity of this cartoon doesn't get any less amusing the longer readers are familiar with it, but the initial incredulous laughter many will experience upon seeing it for the first time is hard to replicate.

6 Over Time, The Far Side's Readers Learn To Expected The Unexpected

First Published: July 5, 1990

"Suddenly, two bystanders stuck their heads inside the frame," the caption of this Far Side cartoon notes, with the corresponding image made to give the impression that the Far Side is akin to a photograph. The punchline is one of Gary Larson's more inventive ones, and the lasting impression of the is of the character's wild eyes, and the unaswered question of whether the illustration behind them truly was "one of the funniest cartoons ever."

The immediate reaction, though, is one in which the unrestrained goofiness of the moment depicted here is what really connects with the reader, and gets a laugh. There are certainly some Far Side comics that get funnier with repeat viewings, but in many cases, such as this one, a reader's first response is always the greatest gauge of Larson's success as a humorist.

5 The Far Side's "Pets Wearing Hats Jokes" Hits Different The First Time

First Published: December 13, 1991

This Far Side cartoon features a pack of dogs chasing a pair of cats up a tree, while a caged bird watches from the window. Captioned "if pets wore hats: a study in animal personalities and styles," each of these choices of head gear signifies something; the dogs' hats tell readers they are youthful and simple, while the cat's fedoras suggest a greater sense of savvy. The bird's cowboy hat, meanwhile, is an additional touch of whimsy, though its meaning feels more obscure.

This is a rare Far Side cartoon that asks to be deciphered in more detail, and that is part of the fun of engaging with it, yet the comic is undeniably at its funniest the first time one looks at it, particularly as their eyes are immediately drawn to the goofy-eyed, tongue-wagging dog in the bottom right corner of the frame.

4 Gary Larson Reprises The Perils Of Automated Cow Milking In This Hilarious Far Side Comic

First Published: January 7, 1992

In a sort of Far Side pseudo-"sequel," this cartoon recalls the first entry on this list, in which a farmer set up a "Milk-o-Matic" robot to milk his cows; here, a posse of anthropomorphic cows use a thematically similar device, an "Auto Milker," on the farmer, in a turn of events that the caption describes, in the words of homicide detectives, "grisly, yet strangely hilarious."

There is no denying that the first time readers encounter this Far Side cartoon is the best; for fans of Gary Larson's style of humor, it is a sure-fire laugh-out-loud punchline, elevated by an equally funny illustration. Readers who return to this comic will do so seeking to chase that first feeling, and to the credit of this , it stands as good a chance of any Far Side at getting repeat laughs that are as potent as the initial one.

3 Meet Fluffy, The Far Side's Most Diabolical Canine Mad Scientists

First Published: August 18, 1993

"And down here we keep Fluffy," a homeowner tells their guests, giving them a peek down into the basement where their poodle is working on a giant death machine, built in its own image. "We're afraid he may have gone mad," the dog's owner says, matter-of-factly, before presumably carrying on with the rest of the tour of the house.

This cartoon is thoroughly hilarious, with the absurd image of the tiny canine building a massive machine of war, a wild look in its eyes as it works two wrenches at once with both its front paws, making a quick, effective impact on readers. The lasting humor of this Far Side , meanwhile, comes from the equally absurd question, which is certainly worth asking, of why Fluffy's owners would show their guests its basement workshop in the first place.

2 The Far Side Confirms That Two Heads Are Better Than One, But It's A Sensitive Subject

First Published: April 28, 1994

In this Far Side cartoon, a manager at a factory gives a new hire a piece of advice about a co-worker, telling him that "Mueller" has "got a good head on his shoulders, but it's best not to mention it," referring literally to the tiny second head growing out of the man's right shoulder, which is even wearing a miniature ball-cap.

While the look on the head's face suggests bewilderment, the fact that the speaker calls it "a good head" suggests that it is more capable than one might expect, though this, of course, is a product of the silliness that results from Gary Larson taking a familiar phrase and delivering an overly literal representation of it. The wordplay is the root of the humor here, but the most striking aspect of the joke, especially upon first viewing, is the visual of the second head.

1 There's No Replicating Your First Time Seeing The Far Side's "Trunk Puppet" Joke

First Published: June 22, 1994

"When things got slow in the midday heat," the caption of this Far Side elephant comic explains, "Arnie would often break out his trunk puppet," with the illustration depicting an elephant with a (presumably) fake human head on the end of its trunk, which it does impressions with.

Once more, the imagery here is the quality here that leaves a lasting impression, but it is also the thing about this Far Side cartoon that makes an upfront impression on fans. Still, despite the appreciation for this comic that Far Side fans will hold the more they look at it, there is nothing quite like the "What the?" moment prompted by coming across it for the first time, when the incredulous wonder of Gary Larson's humor is still fresh and full of unexpected delights.