In a sense, the legacy of The Far Side is defined by its recurring bits; both those that appeared constantly, like creator Gary Larson’s beloved cows, who, broadly speaking, could be used for any kind of punchline, or more niche, rare jokes, like the ones featured in The Far Side’s quicksand s.

Tracing the frequency, or infrequency, with which Far Side jokes were recycled and revisited, and the intervals between appearances of certain less-utilized premises, is helpful to developing a more holistic understanding of Gary Larson’s career.

This, in turn, leads to a greater appreciation of what made The Far Side culturally significant, in addition to why Larson’s notoriety as a cartoonist took off the way it did, and finally, why it continues to captivate, and perplex, legions of readers to this day.

6 This Far Side Comic Relies On A Reference Few People Wil Get Anymore

First Published: November 9, 1990

While not a many shout-outs to classic TV shows, in this case the '50s Western The Cisco Kid, which featured the eponymous gunslinger and his sidekick, Pancho, who was characterized by his hyperbolic accent.

For Gary Larson and his contemporaries, the caption's attempt to capture Pancho's intonation, by warning his companion about "the eenfemous Queeksand Beds of Chihauhau," was surely be a satisfying, nostalgic callback, but it's fair to say the joke doesn't hit the same for modern audiences, though the sand littered with the sombreros of travelers who walked straight into the sand, to their dooms, remains an amusing visual.

5 This Far Side Quicksand* Comic Is The Premise At Its Peak

First Published: February 15, 1990

Yes, technically, the pun at the heart of this deadly funny Far Side living room comic is about a "tar pit," rather than a bed of quicksand, yet for all intents and purposes, this Far Side cartoon finds Gary Larson elaborating on the same premise as his quicksand s, and in the process delivering what might be the best joke of the bunch.

In the , a couple watches as their guests are sucked into "the LaBreat Carpets," and go down shouting, clawing at the air for help, which is not forthcoming for their hosts, whose faces can arguably be described as caricatures of amusement, suggesting that they are enjoying this horrifying display.

4 This Far Side Comic Shows The Thin Line Between Disturbing And Amusing

First Published: September 1, 1987

This quicksand comic is a strong example of Gary Larson's ability to extract humor from tragic situations; the idea of two explorers getting stuck in quicksand, with one of them panicking and pulling the other down into the pit, is a darkly humorous parallel with the very real, very sad reality that sometimes drowning victims pull potential rescuers down with them.

What makes this Far Side funny, then? In this case, the medium itself allows readers to find levity in the situation, as the literally cartoonish illustration of two safari hats resting on top of the sand, while one of the explorers shouts "let go, Morty, you're pulling me in" despite already being subsumed by sand, can't be taken seriously, despite the underlying gravity of the premise.

3 One Of Many Pitiful Souls Who Suffered The Consequences Of Exploring The Far Side

First Published: January 9, 1984

"We may have to move shortly," one of The Far Side's ubiquitous birds says to another, as they sit on the brim of an explorer's hat, while the man underneath slowly sinks into a pit of quicksand, having evidently ignored, or briskly walked right by, the "Danger" sign right next to it.

The humor of this cartoon relies on the casual attitude of the birds, in contrast with the horrifying fate of this Far Side adventurer, who is shown buried right up to below his eyes, so that readers are privy to the last thing he will ever see, as well as the last thing he'll ever hear: the squawking of the birds as they decide where to hang out next.

2 A Scout Master Leads His Whole Troop To Oblivion Trying To Get To The Far Side Of A Quicksand Pit

First Published: June 11, 1982

In another strong contender for Gary Larson's "best" quicksand joke, this captionless Far Side comic features the grim scene of an entire troop of Boy Scouts who have followed their leader directly into a quicksand pit, once again leaving only their caps above the surface.

The great thing about this Far Side is its framing; from the reader's perspective, in the bottom right corner, a "quicksand, be prepared" sign is visible, albeit somewhat obscured by an overgrowth of shrubs, but in a hilarious bit of dark irony, the scouts approached from the opposite side, where there is evidently no warning posted.

1 The Far Side's First Quicksand Comic Remains Its Most Memorable

First Published: August 5, 1980

As shown, The Far Side's quicksand jokes had a high success rate, especially considering their limited number of appearances during the cartoon's run. That said, the very first one still remains, for many fans, the most memorable example of this recurring gag, if not the "greatest" or "perfect" example.

That is because, in another one of Gary Larson's captionless cartoons, it set the precedent for the "hat resting on top of quicksand" gag that future comics would elaborate on, showing a ballcap for an employee of "Ace Sign Co." abandoned next to a still-wet paintbrush sticking out of the sand, with the unlucky painter having finished all but the final "s" in sand before being sucked under. Even forty-five years after its publication, this continues to be an oft-cited fan-favorite Far Side comic.