the far side cast of characters
These wordless Far Side comics speak volumes about what made Gary Larson a genius. The formula for The Far Side was image + caption, but Larson loved to break all the rules of cartooning, including his own, and some of his best comics are the ones where the art totally speaks for itself.
You know what they say a picture is worth? Well, consider Gary Larson the great American novelist who never actually wrote a novel. Instead, he authored thousands of cartoons. Some that you need a thesaurus, or a history book to solve. Others that you'll get just from the image alone. This list includes examples of both. 10 The Simplest Far Side Jokes Can Be A Real Treat First Published: August 7, 1980 Gary Larson loved role reversals. This was part of his larger creative knack for subverting expectations. For using The Far Side to make the ordinary outrageous. This is an early, but essential example: the dog driving while the man sticks his head out the passenger side window. It's an easily accessible joke that still says a lot about Larson's sensibility. The Far Side could get highbrow, and high-concept. Gary Larson could flex his artistic muscles if he wanted and flesh out his illustration with detail. Or, he could drop a mini-monologue in the caption. But comics like"Dog Driving, Man Vibing," as we'll call this one, highlight how brevity was often the soul of The Far Side. 9 Sometimes The Far Side's Action Spoke Louder Than Words First Published: October 4, 1981 "Cow Playing Ding-Dong Ditch" is a great example of The Far Side's flexibility. Gary Larson uses multiple panels here, like a more traditional comic strip, in order to show a sequence of events, in which a cow decides to prank its owner by ringing the doorbell and then quickly going back to grazing on the lawn. Yes, the word"ding-dong" technically appears here, but we're counting that as a sound effect. Sound off in the comments if you think that should disqualify"Cow Playing Ding-Dong Ditch" from this list. Anthropomorphic cows are a staple of Larson's work, but Far Side fans know that not all anthropomorphic animals are created equal. Some act full-on human, while others are full-on animals that inexplicably think, talk, or act human. Ding-dong ditch cow is one of the latter, and that is key to making the comic funny. 8 Some Far Side Comics Were More About Capturing A Moment Than Telling A Story First Published: November 27, 1981 Many of the best Far Side comics leave us asking"what the heck?" These jokes leave us a little bit mystified. Bemused as much as amused. At times, straight up bewildered. And occasionally, even uneasy. You can decide for yourself how exactly this Far Side panel, which depicts a man madly driving his lawnmower toward a flower, makes you feel. Related 10 Perfect Far Side Comics That Are Funnier Now Than When They Were First Published Let's dig deep into The Far Side's vast catalog of comic panels and look at some of Gary Larson's cartoons that have gotten funnier with age. Posts By Ambrose Tardive Does he want to kill something beautiful? Is the flower actually a weed, and keeping his lawn immaculate is the one thing that brings this guy joy? It's entirely open to no interpretation. Or no interpretation. The image contains any and all possibilities you can conjure up, or you can just appreciate it for the goofy snapshot it is. 7 This Far Side Comic Uses The Lack Of Words To Its Maximum Advantage First Published: June 9, 1982 Let's call this Far Side classic"Salmon Shortcut." We all know that salmon swim upstream during mating season, but few of us have ever thought to ask,"but what if there was a better way?" That's the premise of"Salmon Shortcut," which depicts a shady fish in a trench coat using the stairs to get a leg up on his competition. Compositionally, the lack of caption to this Far Side fish comic is key to the comedy. As readers, our eyes are drawn to the center of the frame first, where we find a trio of salmon jumping out of the cascading water, fighting against the current. Then we look in the bottom left corner, and spy the sly fish who figured out an alternative. 6 This Far Side Comic Escalates The "Cats Vs. Dogs" Beef For Your Amusement First Published: February 3, 1984 Unlike the previous entry, there's a clear"plot" to this comic, to the extent that The Far Side had such a thing. That is, even though it is just a single, wordless image, a story unfolds from the details of the cartoon. You can imagine a backstory to this Far Side joke, and you can also speculate about what happens next. $71 At Amazon Expand Collapse In the foreground of the frame is a bullet-riddled doghouse. In the background, a car speeds away. Inside the car? The silhouettes of cats with rifles. It's a hilariously dramatic gangland escalation of the perennial"dogs vs. cats" conflict. All readers need is to know the trope Gary Larson is playing off in order for this Far Side to get a chuckle. 5 The Far Side's Best Wordless Comics Work On Multiple Levels First Published: August 14, 1984 If we were to give out awards to Far Side comics, there are enough Far Side comics about frogs that they would merit their own category. This panel would definitely get a"Best Of" nomination. It depicts a frog trying to hitch an airplane ride, its tongue stuck to the underbelly of the plane as it takes off. As the landing gear retracts. It's subtle, but if you spend an extra beat thinking about this Far Side comic, you realize the frog is totally doomed. At least, unless its tongue comes unstuck in the next split second after the panel. This Far Side comic is a funny image, with slightly macabre implications, a mix that adds up to a classic. 4 Gary Larson's Penchant For Obscurity Made This An Undervalued Far Side Cartoon First Published: December 3, 1985 This is an example of a Far Side comic that is actually too smart for its own good. It's the most deep-cut of Gary Larson's deep-cut references. Even in 1985 this would have had plenty of readers scratching their heads. That's because it's a visual callback to a painting from 1898,"His Master's Voice," featuring a dog looking into a newfangled gramophone. Even appropriating the painting's title as a caption would've been a signpost pointing readers to the reference, but Gary Larson chose to leave this as a total IYKYK joke. It makes this one of The Far Side's most overlooked panels, but for what the artist was trying to accomplish, it is perfectly executed. 3 This Colorful Far Side Comic Is Hiding A Joke At Bad Decorators' Expense First Published: December 10, 1987 Here we are again, back at Gary Larson's skill at comedic inversion."Fish Bathroom," as we'll call this one, is a little trickier than"Dog Driving, Man Vibing," but it operates on the same principle. Take something recognizable and flip it. On the surface, the result here is an absurd Far Side image, but below the surface is a note of observational humor. The cartoon stars a fish taking a bubble bath, in a bathroom with wallpaper featuring a pattern of human beings. It lampoons gaudy, nautical-themed bathroom decor. It's also more brightly colored and detailed than Far Side comics often are, which tends to be readers' first and foremost takeaway from this cartoon. 2 This Far Side Cartoon Reminds Readers Of Our Place In The Universe First Published: June 12, 1988 This perfect, extra-strength Far Side cartoon is a funny image with a stark message: humanity's greatest technological feat is just trash to the rest of the universe. At least, that's the implication of a giant extraterrestrial trash collector spearing the leftover Moon landing module like it's no different than a giant soda can. Related 10 Hilarious Far Side Comics That Will Feed Your Hunger For Absurd Humor The Far Side proved there was a widespread appetite for absurd and outrageous humor that Gary Larson was able to feed into, leading to his success. Posts By Ambrose Tardive In fact, there's a giant soda can not far from the lander, which the alien will get to next. It's a comedic, but still powerful statement on humanity's insignificance by cosmic standards. The kind of theme that iconic sci-fi stories have been built on for generations, which Gary Larson distills into one cartoon image. 1 Space Is The Place Where Gary Larson Reeled Off Some Unforgettable Far Side Jokes First Published: December 22, 1992 Back to space. This comic plays into the recurring Far Side theme of humanity's insignificance, by alien standards. It also constitutes one of Gary Larson's semiregular not-so-subtle jabs at hunting and hunters. Here, a group of hunters with a buck tied to their roof find out turnabout is fair play when they're abducted by aliens. Of course, in the vacuum of space, they die. They must have been tied to the flying saucer's roof for some time, because the hunters and the buck alike have been reduced to skeletons. It's a classic dark Far Side gag, one that only needs its hilarious mix of imagery to make readers laugh out loud. We want to hear from you, Far Side fans. What other iconic wordless panels deserve to be included here?
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
FDA launches new AI-powered system to track drug and vaccine side effects nationwideFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
19-year-old found shot to death inside Northeast Side apartmentSAN ANTONIO — A 19-year-old man was found shot to death inside a Northeast Side apartment early Wednesday morning, hours after gunfire was first reported at the
Read more »
10 Perfect Far Side Comics That Are Funnier Now More Than EverFar Side grinning man (left) and wide-eyed man (right)
Read more »
Bella Hadid Channels the 2000s with Side-Swept BangsBella Hadid opted for side-swept bangs at a party to celebrate her partnership with Revolve.
Read more »
Stray bullet found in child’s shoe after deadly shooting at Northeast Side apartments, neighbor saysA neighbor said a stray bullet from a shooting in her apartment complex narrowly missed her 13-year-old girl, landing in her shoe.
Read more »
Arson investigators looking into cause of fire at East Side ICE facility, SAFD saysArson investigators are looking into the cause of a fire at an East Side warehouse recently acquired by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Read more »