Gary Larson's Far Side's goofy sense of humor, then you don't know Gary Larson.
Here are the 10 funniest Far Side comics that every John Wayne fan should see, with selections based on his most iconic roles and quotes.
10 "Latte, Jed?"
Wayne Had a Tradition for Thanking Cast and Crew
Even at the height of his popularity, John Wayne didn't forget the little guy. The Duke would famously end filming by handing out custom coffee mugs to all the cast and crew, embossed with the title of the project and the recipient's name, as well as a distinctive golden handle. It was a fitting gesture for the star of so many Westerns, with cowboys living off coffee with every meal.
Of course, The Far Side takes this macho imagery and subverts it, as one cowboy's coffee is served not from a constantly boiling pot, but from a fancy latte machine more suited to decadent luxury than life on the range. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics about coffee.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Show Why Robin Williams Loved Gary Larson's Work
Comedy icon Robin Williams joked that reading Gary Larson's Far Side was like "watching a National Geographic special on Prozac."
9 "He Laughed"
Far Side Takes John Wayne's Rules from The Shootist Too Seriously
In 1976's The Shootist, John Wayne plays his final movie role as J. B. Books. Explaining his high body count, Books famously declares, "I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them." It's as close to a defining ethos of Wayne's Western heroes as fans ever got, although The Far Side confirms it's possible to take this creed a little too far.
In this Far Side comic, four cowboys settle down around a campfire to toast marshmallows after a hard day on the trail. Unfortunately, when one makes fun of another in the most minor way, he finds himself gunned down, with his killer imploring the other cowboys that they can't blame him for his reaction, since they all witnessed the unforgivable slight. If anything, The Far Side's cowboy embodies Books' creed more than any of Wayne's characters, showing what it looks like when someone really won't be insulted.
8 The March to the Sea
Far Side's Take on How the West Was Won
John Wayne played General Sherman multiple times, but most famously in 1962's How the West Was Won. Sherman's 'March to the Sea' was a military campaign carried out in 1864, cutting a path across Georgia with attacks on not just military targets, but also on the Confederacy's industry and infrastructure. Of course, in the world of The Far Side, even military campaigns can't be taken seriously. Larson takes the 'March to the Sea' literally, with the troops striding out into the water with no intent of stopping. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics about American History.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Will Change How You See Stephen King
The King of Horror, Stephen King is one of the most successful writers of all time... and a huge fan of Gary Larson's Far Side
7 Shoot First and Ask Questions Later
Far Side Takes an Iconic John Wayne Quote Way Too Seriously
The concept of 'shoot first and ask questions later' has both positive and negative connotations depending on who's using it. As a criticism, it accuses the subject of taking hasty, irrevocable action before taking the time to fully understand a situation. As a motto, it implores the listener to protect themself from an immediate threat without wasting time trying to nail down the details first - if someone's about to shoot you, it's more important that they don't get the chance than that you know what their grievance is. As much as this second version of the idiom embodies the cowboy spirit, both John Wayne and Gary Larson saw the funny side of taking it literally.
In Larson's comic, the 'questions' aren't related to the gunfight at all, but are just random trivia that the cowboy demands his victim answer. Larson's goofy take makes the saying nonsense by turning the 'ask questions' part into a pointless exercise. Meanwhile, John Wayne is often quoted with the bon mot, "A friend of mine told me to shoot first and ask questions later. I was gonna ask him why, but I had to shoot him first." In Wayne's version, it's not about choosing one or the other - if you want to ask a question, you first have to gun down the person with the answers.
6 " the... Uh..."
Far Side's Take on 1960's The Alamo
John Wayne directed, produced and starred in The Alamo, playing Davy Crockett, aka the King of the Wild Frontier. The Battle of the Alamo was an iconic clash, with " the Alamo!" becoming a battlecry in the aftermath. Of course, it's the exact kind of phrase that Gary Larson can't help but undermine, as the general bellowing the iconic phrase can't the name of the battle he's attempting to commemorate. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics starring soldiers from different eras (and species.)
10 Funny Far Side Comics You Need to See If You Love Clint Eastwood
With violent outlaws, honorable cowboys, and cops pushed too far, The Far Side has some surprising overlap with Clint Eastwood's movie career.
5 "Why Ain't Your Legs Bowed?"
John Wayne Wasn't Alone in Being a Cowboy from the Rio Grande
This strip references Bing Crosby's I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) - a comical song celebrating the cowboys of old, narrated by a modern-day cowboy "who never saw a cow." The singer notes that he lives a much easier life than the icons of the Old West, noting that he's free of the physical toll of riding all day in the merciless sun. In Larson's comic, that freedom comes with a price, as a posse of cowboys find themselves mighty suspicious of anyone who doesn't show the wear and tear of frontier life.
While John Wayne starred in 1950's Rio Grande, he wasn't a cowboy any more than Crosby's character - instead, he's the leader of a cavalry regiment who is shocked to find his estranged son suddenly under his command.
4 "This Ain't Gonna Look Good"
Far Side's Take on John Wayne's 1939 Movie Stagecoach
In Stagecoach, a group of engers are caught up in a quest for revenge by Wayne's wronged outlaw the Ringo Kid. After encountering various hazards, the stagecoach reaches its destination safely, however there's one threat that Wayne and co. thankfully escape - larcenous rabbits. Larson's comic sees a stagecoach similarly get into trouble, with the driver held up at gunpoint. Unfortunately, while the outlaw threat is very real, the six-shooters pointed at the poor men happen to be held by rabbits - something the driver is already worrying will be impossible to explain when they have to report the threat later.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Will Change How You See Ghosts
The world of Gary Larson's Far Side is often a deadly place, so it's no surprise that there are so many ghosts wandering around.
3 Noah's Ark
John Wayne Survived This Disastrous 1928 Film
Major fans of John Wayne know that before he was a star in his own right, he worked as one of thousands of extras on 1928's Noah's Ark. The film is notorious for its disastrous flood scene, in which three extras supposedly drowned and many more were seriously injured after thousands of gallons of water were unleashed. Larson images the real Noah's Ark encountering a smaller-scale but still serious problem, as Noah finds himself perched between the dock and his rapidly departing boat.
It's a goofy visual gag, but Larson also delivers on the dark humor that Far Side is known for, as a watching bear acknowledges that the animals are in trouble. It's unclear whether the bear is doubting Noah's competence to get them through the flood alive, or whether it's acknowledging that without a captain, the boat isn't likely to get very far. Either way, it's an accurate observation.
2 He'd Have to Play It Out
Far Side Pulls Off the Classic Shoutout With One Tiny Change
John Wayne engaged in countless shootouts over his cinematic career, with 1966's El Dorado and 1962's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance being particular standouts. The Far Side gives this Western trope a PG-rating by replacing revolvers with ping-pong paddles, though with no less sense of drama and stakes.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Will Make You Fear Your Own Car
Whether driving to the moon or being mauled by bears, Far Side's drivers just can't catch a break in these hilarious comics by Gary Larson.
1 Sidekicks
John Wayne Had His Fair Share of Cinematic Sidekicks
John Wayne had a number recurring sidekicks across his many Western movies, including Harry Carey Jr. (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Searchers) and George "Gabby" Hayes (Dark Command, Wagon Master.) In Larson's world, the common trope of cowboy sidekicks is formalized with an official 'sidekick store,' where Western heroes like Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger can hire the perfect crony. Larson enhances the humor of the idea by having the sidekicks looking up at a browsing cowboy like puppies in a pet store window.
Those are the 10 funniest Far Side comics every fan of John Wayne needs to see - let us know which of Larson's other strips bring the Duke to mind in the comments section below.
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The Far Side
The Far Side is a humorous comic series developed by Gary Larson. The series has been in production since 1979 and features a wide array of comic collections, calendars, art, and other miscellaneous items.
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John Wayne
