The best thing about The Far Side can be just as random as the characters themselves, and that includes dancing.

For example, a comic strip inexplicably starring an anthropomorphic tree is bizarre enough, but seeing that tree dance makes the already ridiculous comic that much more absurd. And that’s Far Side comics about cowboys, babies, or bugs), and the same is true for activities - in this case, dancing. Here are the 10 funniest Far Side comics that will make readers want to hit the dance floor!

10 Dancing Tree

This Lone Pine will Never Be Alone Again in The Far Side

A tree dancing with humans in The Far Side.

As previously mentioned, this Far Side comic features an anthropomorphic tree dancing its heart out on the dance floor. The tree and its dance partner are dancing beneath a disco ball while other people cheer them on on the sidelines, clapping along with the beat of the music as they dance. This is a 'lone pine' tree, but as the caption reveals, this 'lone pine' won't be alone any longer, as it has finally found its people and its calling: dance!

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Aside from the 'lone pine' reference, this Far Side comic is just mindless fun. It's a tree that's dancing, and a group of people who are happy to welcome it on the dance floor. That's enough to make anyone get up and dance, because if a tree can have this much fun doing it, then it must be a good time.

9 Mango, Not Tango

These Apes are Dancing Because of a Hilarious Misunderstanding in The Far Side

Two apes dancing in the jungle in The Far Side.

Two apes are dancing together in a clearing in the jungle, holding each other close as they do so. The dance they are doing is the tango, one of the more sensual dances. And the best part? This whole thing was a total misunderstanding. One of the apes asked the other for a mango - the fruit - not a tango. However, the other ape heard tango, so that's what they gave them.

It's not like the first ape stopped the tango from happening, either. Sure, they wanted the mango, but they certainly waited until the two of them danced for at least a few steps before correcting the misunderstanding that clearly took place. So, while this dance was an accident, it's safe to say that it was a happy one, as the second ape didn't hesitate to tango with the first, and the first enjoyed it enough to let it happen.

8 Condiment Dance

Even Condiments Love Dancing in The Far Side

A man opens his fridge to find the condiments dancing in The Far Side.

A man walks into his kitchen late one night and hears a great deal of ruckus coming from the inside of his refrigerator. He opens it to find that his condiments were holding a dance - an official Condiment Dance, actually, with a banner and everything. Clearly, this isn't the first time this has happened, since the man isn't blown away by the fact that his condiments are alive; he's just frustrated that they're making too much noise this late in the night.

While this guy is definitely a party-pooper, the main takeaway from this Far Side comic are the condiments, who are not only alive, but love to dance. Seeing inanimate objects come to life just to dance makes dancing seem extra special, like it's something everything would do if it could.

7 Porcupine Ball

Nothing Stops Porcupines from Dancing in The Far Side

Porcupines dancing in the woods in The Far Side.

Porcupines have come together in a designated spot in the woods to hold a 'Porcupine Ball', where pairs of porcupines are dancing their little hearts out. Unfortunately, this brings them as much pain as it does joy, since every porcupine is constantly getting poked by the quills of another one. However, that doesn't stop them from continuing their ball, as the fun they derive from dancing out weighs the pain that comes with it.

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These porcupines are willing to put themselves through physical pain just to experience the joy of dancing - that's downright inspirational. It should certainly be enough to get anyone who reads this in the mood to dance themselves, especially since they're guaranteed to have a much less painful time than the porcupines.

6 Act of God

Dancing is Literally an ‘Act of God’ in The Far Side

God performing on stage for angels in The Far Side.

This particular Far Side comic is a bit of a rarity, as it shows four s as opposed to just a single one. In each of the s, God is performing different acts on stage, since the joke here is a play on the phrase 'acts of God'. Normally, an act of God would be like a hurricane or wildfire. But, in The Far Side, acts of God are performances done by God Himself, and one of those acts of God is dancing.

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Putting aside the absurdity of the joke, considering dancing as an 'act of God' makes it even more special - as if dancing itself is a divine practice. Anyone who dances is performing an 'act of God', as if they themselves have reached a level of enlightened divinity just by cutting a rug.

5 Exotic (Bug) Dancing

There’s More than One Kind of Dancing in The Far Side (Especially for Bugs)

A bug stripping her cocoon from her body on stage in The Far Side.

There is more than one kind of dancing in The Far Side, just like in real life, and this comic proves it. This Far Side comic shows a crowd of bugs cheering as they watch the performance on stage: a bug emerging from her cocoon. The bug on stage is performing an erotic dance, as she is 'stripping' the cocoon from her body for the enjoyment of the crowd.

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This cartoon is definitely one that's geared more towards adults, but it's a perfect example of how The Far Side has all kinds of dancing in its world - including exotic dancing.

4 Cowboy Dance

This Far Side Cowboy Takes One Threatening Command Hilariously Literally

A cowboy dancing while other cowboys shoot at his feet in The Far Side.

A cowboy is doing what appears to be ballet in front of a gang of outlaws who are shooting at his feet with their pistols. One of the outlaws says, "He's makin' a fool of us, Bart", and that's probably because this dancing cowboy took their threatening command a bit too literally. In Westerns, it's not uncommon to see the bad guy cowboy shoot at someone's feet and tell them to dance. The 'dance' they're referring to is simply the other person trying to dodge the bullets; the outlaw doesn't want them to actually perform a dance.

However, when this cowboy heard 'dance', he danced - and he danced beautifully. His form is exquisite, and his concentration is unparalleled, as he isn't bothered in the slightest that these outlaws are firing their guns at his feet. He's there to dance, and so he danced - and it's honestly pretty inspiring.

3 Beginning Dance

It’d Be Hard to Be Worse at Dancing Than These Two Beginners in The Far Side

A couple falling out of a window in The Far Side.

This Far Side couple decided to take a dance class one day, perhaps as a way to spice up their relationship, or perhaps to simply find a fun way to stay in shape. Either way, they take a beginners' dance class, which is located on the second floor of a building. Why is that important? Well, these two prove to be so bad at dancing that they trip and fall right out the glass window, hurtling to the hard ground below.

While this may seem like a PSA against dancing, the opposite is actually true. These two are so bad at dancing that it possibly got them killed, which is a pretty low bar for the entire practice. Therefore, if anyone wants to try a beginners' dance class themselves but is nervous about being bad, they shouldn't be, because they'll absolutely be better than these two.

2 Morbid Celebration

These Far Side Bugs are Dancing with Joy… at the Sight of Nuclear War

A circle of bugs dancing on a leaf with nuclear bombs going off behind them in The Far Side.

Bugs don't just do exotic dances on stage in nightclubs in The Far Side, they also just dance like anyone else, especially when there's something to be happy about. In this case, these bugs are celebrating the fact that they have just inherited the entire world, and are now free to shape their new society as they see fit without having to live in fear of being murdered by humans constantly.

However, their celebration is a bit morbid, as they are dancing in a happy little circle while millions of people are dying in the nuclear war behind them - and assuredly billions around the globe. But, these bugs don't care, as nuclear war means nothing but good news for them. And, to express their happiness, these bugs are dancing with joy.

1 Wild Cow Dancing

Cows are the Life of the Party in The Far Side

A cow dancing on a coffee table in The Far Side.

Two farmers, a husband and wife, decide to invite a few of their cows over for dinner and drinks. It seems they have had trouble making 'couple-friends' recently, so they just decided to befriend the cows. Unfortunately, that proves to be a mistake, as their cows are a bit of a handful after a few glasses of wine. One of the cows even gets up on the coffee table and starts dancing in front of everyone, making the two farmers regret their decision to have them over.

Cows are definitely the life of the party in The Far Side, even if it's not that kind of party. But, the fun that can be felt by seeing this cow dance on the coffee table is something every reader will feel for themselves upon reading this Far Side comic, which may be enough to inspire them to dance like this wild cow.

The Far Side Comic Poster
Writer
Gary Larson
Colorist
Gary Larson