The world of stepped on by a giant penguin as you are to be flattened by a runaway steamroller. It's therefore no surprise that Gary Larson's world is full of arrows whizzing to and fro, as various archers cut loose with little concern for who they might hit.
Here are the ten funniest Far Side comics about archers and archery, as the ancient weapon produces a host of sticky situations encoming everything from medieval warfare to poisonous frogs.
10 These New Uniforms
Warfare in the World of The Far Side Is Particularly Chaotic
In this strip, a group of medieval soldiers quickly realize that their (presumably discount) uniforms featuring large, red targets are a terrible idea when attempting to storm a castle full of archers. It's relatively rare that Far Side actually shows anyone getting injured (Larson prefers the moment just before or after), but here multiple soldiers are shown getting hit right in the bullseye. The uniforms might actually have been a great idea if the targets focused on harmless areas, rather than being dead center over the soldiers' vital organs.
The Far Side stars soldiers from across history, from medieval times to WWII to the Vietnam War. Open the image gallery below for more of Gary Larson's comics starring soldiers.
Larson's soldiers are as hapless and unlucky as Far Side's other humans, though their mistakes do tend to be a little more deadly given the weaponry involved.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics Starring Giant Monsters
Here are the 10 best Far Side comics starring gigantic monsters - from big names like King Kong, Godzilla and Mothra to giant animals and humans.
9 Those Are Poison Arrows!
Gary Larson's Loves His Wordplay
In this strip, a clueless explorer has to be warned off eating some arrows he found on the ground, since they're coated in a lethal substance. The comic hinges on a clever piece of wordplay - the difference between 'venomous' and 'poisonous.' Technically, the term 'poisonous' refers to substances that are harmful when ingested, whereas 'venomous' deals specifically with animal venom. It's a popular 'fun fact' that relatively few types of snake are literally 'poisonous,' despite many more being 'venomous.'
Of course, Larson makes the situation even more ridiculous by using an object which is dangerous whether it's poisonous, venomous, or none of the above. Eating arrows would be a terrible idea no matter what the context, making the explorer's desperate warning a hilariously pointless distinction... and yet one his colleague still badly needs.
8 They're Lighting Their Arrows!
Far Side Doesn't Understand Why Everyone Can't Just Play Fair
In this strip, two homesteaders are outraged to realize their attackers are lighting their arrows on fire. Larson specializes in presenting mundane reactions to extreme situations, and this is a perfect example. Despite being under attack with deadly weapons, with their wagons burning down around them, the homesteaders are primarily concerned with whether their attackers are allowed to embrace this fiery innovation. As a perspective, it's a little rich from people who brought gunpowder to a bow and arrow fight.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics Starring Gnomes, Elves and Fairies
The world of Gary Larson's Far Side is full of bizarre creatures, so it's no surprise that elves, fairies, leprechauns and gnomes feature heavily.
7 A Bad Swarm of Horseflies
Larson Loves Terrible Disguises
The Far Side finds few things funnier than terrible disguises. The shoddier a costume looks - and the more successful it is despite that lack of quality - the more delighted by it Gary Larson seems to be. In this strip, two hunters are disguised in a truly terrible buffalo costume, taking easy pot shots at the rest of the herd. After a dozen or so shots to the flank, the buffalo are beginning to get suspicious, having apparently been blaming horsefly bites for their injuries so far. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics featuring terrible disguises.
The Far Side often explores the idea of humans encroaching on the natural world, with Gary Larson rarely giving humanity the benefit of the doubt when its comes to the sophistication of their methods. Hence the number of occasions where a 'smart' costume just ends up getting its human owner into more trouble.
Of course, Larson is also a big fan of conservationism, having raised funds for causes including Jane Goodall's ape sanctuary. It's therefore no surprise that the theme of scientists studying animals would occur to Larson so often, with zoologists in bear and gorilla costumes taking big risks to get close to their subjects.
6 I Wouldn't Do That, Thorg
Far Side's Iconic Cavemen Invent the Bow and Arrow
In this strip, a caveman threatens a rival with a bow and arrow that he 100% doesn't know how to use, despite his claims to the contrary. It's always funny to see someone absolutely confident in their abilities when they don't have a clue, and the visual of someone pointing a bow in the wrong direction is particularly funny. Larson has multiple comics that combine cavemen and archery, from grumpy old cavepeople complaining about newfangled inventions to a bleak multi- strip where a caveman strives to fly with the birds, only to settle for shooting them down instead.
Cavemen inventing 'new' concepts is a favorite gag of The Far Side. As with the bow and arrow, it's funny to see early humans getting things wrong on a basic level, although Larson's best cavemen/invention joke is hominids starting out with basic/flawed versions of the inventions modern-day readers know - for example, early checkers boards having just two squares. Finally, there's the gag of a modern-day concept being invented totally by accident - dancing coming into being because a caveman ate some bad bugs and the concept of dessert coming about because one caveman spotted a stray lizard after wolfing down an entire buffalo. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics where cavemen come up with surprising inventions.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Prove Gary Larson Is Obsessed with Wolves
Gary Larson's Far Side is obsessed with showing the dark (but often still goofy) side of nature, so it's no surprise that wolves feature so heavily.
5 Robbing from the Rich
Far Side Reimagines the World's Most Famous Archer
When it comes to archers, there are none more iconic than Robin Hood, the rebel outlaw from British folklore. Robin Hood famously takes from the rich and gives to the poor, but in the world of The Far Side, he started out with the early draft of giving to porcupines instead - a decision significantly less likely to improve social injustice or frustrate the Sheriff of Nottingham. It's a goofy word gag that works best when you read it out loud, although Robin Hood's sneaky expression as he hands over the gold is funny in its own right.
4 Victory Dance of the Poison-Arrow Frog
Back to Nature for This Funny Far Side Joke
Originally pitched under the title Nature's Way, The Far Side loves to play around in nature. In this case, it imagines that the frogs whose venom can be used to create deadly arrows are themselves warriors, celebrating over taking down yet another unfortunate zoologist. Larson found a surprising amount of humor in frogs, although with their long tongues, impressive jump distance and ability to secrete both poisons and hallucinogens, it's not surprising he found so much to clown on. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics starring frogs.
8 Funny Far Side Comics That Every Superhero Fan Needs to See
These Far Side comics are even funnier for any fan of Gary Larson who also loves superheroes, including Superman, Wolverine and Iron Man.
3 A Good Kind of Hurt
Far Side Doesn't Always Take the Darkest Route
The homesteaders return, as the fire arrow attack on their convoy gets even more serious. Thankfully, Larson's habit of meeting extreme circumstances with blasé responses stops things getting too grisly. Despite being shot through with multiple burning arrows, the homesteader falls back on the exercise lingo of its being a "good hurt." Usually, runners use this to refer to muscle ache that signals their fitness level increasing - an ache that indicates increased muscle growth and tone. Sadly, the homesteader is unlikely to experience the same benefits.
2 Moon These Saxon Dogs
Far Side's Humans Tend to Bring Misfortune on Themselves
In a return to medieval combat, Far Side explores the unfortunate fate of a soldier who decides to moon the forces laying siege to their castle. Unfortunately, that just ends up presenting an irresistible target, with the poor Celt receiving multiple arrows to the buttocks. Published in 1988, this comic shows how the rules for what Far Side could show relaxed over the years. In the early years of the comic, Larson was banned from depicting anything even vaguely scatological, including outhouses and even dung beetles. By 1988, Larson could get away with a little comedic nudity in the right context.
10 Far Side Comics with Kangaroos That Will Have You Dying to Visit Australia
Gary Larson famously loves nature, and so it's no surprise that The Far Side has plenty of hilarious comics starring kangaroos.
1 Write That Spot Down
Larson's Neanderthals Return One Last Time in Our #1
In a fantastic slapstick visual gag, Far Side's cavemen hit a mammoth in a 'magic spot' that instantly kills it, despite using an arrow that's tiny compared to the gigantic beast it felled. The mammoth rolling totally onto its back like a dead goldfish is a great visual, as is the tiny arrow that apparently did the job. The situation is even funnier because, despite their attempts to memorize this incredibly lucky shot, modern day readers know there's no such magic weakness, meaning the hominids in question seemingly decided against recording their incredible discovery, losing the knowledge for all time.
Those are Far Side's funniest comics about archery and archers, showing just how much hilarity Gary Larson's twisted perspective can wring out of a simple bow and arrow.
