Discover the enduring appeal of Gary Larson's iconic comic strip, The Far Side, even if you haven't been a fan. Explore its unique humor, social commentary, and ability to find the absurd in everyday situations.
Despite its commercial success, The Far Side was divisive in its time – and it continues to split successive generations of readers into opposing camps, those who find it funny, and those who don't. This list is for those in the latter category, who might not 'get' Gary Larson 's sense of humor, but are at least open to the idea of being converted to the pro-Far Side side of the aisle.
The Far Side encompasses a diverse set of reactions, from confusion, to outrage, to outright fan-worship of Larson, who is widely considered one of the GOATs of the newspaper comic medium, alongside contemporaries like Peanuts' Charles Schulz and Garfield creator Jim Davis. For anyone who is unsure exactly why Gary Larson is considered a titan of cartoons, alongside these other greats, this deep dive will hopefully help foster a greater appreciation of The Far Side's unparalleled style and wit – and in the process, will hopefully win the strip a few new fans. 10. The Far Side's Bedside Manner Wasn't Always Gentle – And That Is Part Of The Appeal First Published: January 21, 1991 'I'm afraid it's bad news, Mr. Griswold,' a poultry doctor tells his patient in this memorable Far Side chicken cartoon, 'the lab results indicate your body cavity is stuffed with a tasty, breadlike substance' – as Mr. Griswold, a bird that has clearly been stuffed, takes the diagnosis in stride. This cartoon encapsulates artist Gary Larson's ability to fully realize even the most oddball situations, from the improbable, to the unexpected. The caption and the image of this comic work together to deliver a clear, effective punchline, while still leaving a dimension of the joke for readers to supply themselves, in the way the panel lampoons doctors' use of technical medical terminology when dealing with the average patient, here hilariously substituted with language straight out of a cookbook.9. Gary Larson's Jokes Often Contained Insightful Social Commentary – Intentionally Or Not First Published: July 18, 1988 This Far Side panel doesn't need a caption, because the visual delivers the punchline effectively without one. In the illustration, a prehistoric man puts the finishing touches on the first wheel – as nearby, an entrepreneurial caveman chisels the first parking meter. It is a straightforward joke, one that should easily connect with most readers, and get a chuckle out of even the most stone-faced critic of Gary Larson's. It is also a great example of Larson's ability to embed social critique into his humor, even if this was a byproduct of his creative process, rather than an end goal. With this Far Side, the artist seems to clearly say that wherever there is human innovation, there is someone who will move just as quickly to capitalize on it. 8. The Far Side Was Able To Get Big Laughs Out Of Simple Twists Of Fate First Published: April 19, 1988 Gary Larson frequently used the 'lost at sea' trope to great effect, and if this panel does not strike a chord with Far Side skeptics, few will. Here, a man adrift on the open ocean – though inexplicably possessing a working television, an absurd note that is, to fans, part of the joke's charm – learns that his 'A-1' raft may very well be defective, suggesting that his days are numbered. This is an example of a Far Side joke that dances along the border between comedic and dramatic irony in order to make an impact on readers. There is an element of absurdity to the premise, while the punchline carries a note of tragedy; these layered aspects make this panel, like most Far Side cartoons, more nuanced than detractors might give it credit for.7. The Far Side's Operating Ethos Was: 'To Err Is Human' First Published: November 9, 1987 'Through some unfortunate celestial error,' the caption to this Far Side joke explains, 'Ernie is sent to hog heaven,' with the human character in question sporting a halo and wings, standing on a cloud among a crowd of pigs. There is a lot to love about this joke; it is a particular kind of Larsonian play on words, which involves taking a familiar concept or phrase entirely too literally, which proved to have potent comedic power time and again over the years. Further, there is something abjectly funny about the idea of this man, Ernie, achieving the ultimate metaphysical reward at the end of his life – only to be sent to the wrong afterlife by a quirk of cosmic bureaucracy. Most readers will feel a slight pang of sympathy, while belly-laughing at the overall screwball tone of the joke. 6. The Far Side Evens The Playing Field Between Two Perennial Adversaries First Published: May 20, 1987 A running gag throughout The Far Side was Gary Larson's depiction of the endless 'man vs. nature' struggle. In this particular panel, Larson takes a unique approach by portraying a squirrel, seemingly able to outsmart the various tools and traps humans have set up to keep it away from their bird feeders. This Far Side cartoon showcases Larson's ability to find humor in the unexpected, subverting the traditional power dynamic between humans and the natural world
COMICS HUMOR GARY LARSON THE FAR SIDE SOCIAL COMMENTARY CARTOON
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