Many readers associate The Far Side with obtuse, often difficult to decipher punchlines, and this list collects some classic examples of how that reputation was earned. Not every Far Side cartoon was a head-scratcher, but regularly, creator Gary Larson left fans to figure out his jokes for themselves; often, this just took fans a few extra moments of unpacking the cartoon, but in some instances, Larson's humor was nigh-indiscernible.

The ability to interpret The Far Side isn't a gauge of intelligence, but rather of intuitiveness; for the most part, the comics listed here aren't impossible to understand, but they do range from confusing, "What the?" Far Side cartoons to full-on flummoxing.

It is also worth pointing out up front that all the Far Side s aggregated here share one commonality: they are of the variety of Larsonian that lack captions; on a case-by-case basis, it is worth considering whether the artist intended his humor to be subtle, or if his point fails to come across.

9 If It Wasn't Immediate On The Surface, The Far Side's Humor Could Be Tricky To Navigate

First Published: December 6, 1980

In this early Far Side brain-teaser, Gary Larson depicts a water skier who has become untethered from his boat, leaving him floating in the water with a bunch of dangerous debris floating just beneath the surface, most notably a giant mine, as well as a smaller mine, in addition to some assorted refuse.

For our purposes, we'll refer to a Far Side comic where the joke isn't immediately obvious a "brain-teaser," as shorthand for a cartoon that, deliberately or otherwise, forces the reader to actively participate in figuring out what makes it funny.

The lack of caption here prompts readers to take a closer look at the cartoon, in order to discover if there is some particular kicker to the punchline that doesn't strike them at first glance. The humor of the is centered on the peril of the suddenly stranded individual, with an added layer seemingly coming from the idea that up until moments earlier, this guy was skimming along the surface of the water, blissfully unaware, in classic Far Side fashion, of what lies beneath the waves. Here, readers catch a glimpse of him moments before he finds out, and the implication that the revelation won't be pretty also adds a dash of macabre humor.

8 The Way This Far Side Comic Flips The Script Is Too Subtle For Some Readers

First Published: October 31, 1981

In this Far Side comic, a group of porcupines gathers around and observes one of their own lying on its back on a mattress, in an inversion of the idea of an ascetic, or yogi of some kind, lying on a bed of nails to demonstrate their willpower and pain tolerance. This falls into the category of "deceptively simple" Far Side jokes, one in which the joke will come across immediately to some reader, while others will be left with furrowed brows and puzzled expressions, at least before an "aha" moment where the joke clicks for them.

This Far Side might have used a caption for added clarity, but this seems to be an instance where Gary Larson expected the joke to be obvious, and it is simply that the gag doesn't entirely translate for every reader immediately; yet as far as confusing Far Side comics go, this one is certainly not the most difficult to grasp with a little effort.

7 The Far Side's Humor Could Sometimes Get Garbled In Transmission From Artist To Reader

First Published: September 27, 1982

This is representative of the kind of Far Side that might be amusing in one regard, and confusing in another. The illustration features a dog in the foreground of the frame, hiding behind a tree, barking into a hose, with the sound coming out the other end and causing confusion for a man who is in the middle of raking leaves.

The "action" of the cartoon alone can bring a smile to readers' faces, but when it comes to the "meaning" of this , or in Far Side , what is supposed to be funny about it, there is plenty of room for interpretation. Given the proliferation of talking dogs in The Far Side, it is possible the man is unnerved by hearing human speech coming from the hose, or perhaps he is simply taken off-guard by a barking hose.

6 Despite All The Confusion, The Far Side's Formula For Subtle Humor Was Part Of Its Charm

First Published: September 1, 1983

There are multiple highly-regarded Far Side cartoons where equations are made hilarious, and ultimately, this is as funny as some of the others, but it takes a beat to "get" the gag. In the comic, a man on a beach confidently holds up a portable chalkboard with a complex equation on it, drawing the attention and iration of some beach babes, in the process emasculating another man with a smaller chalkboard, bearing a less involved formula.

It is a classic Far Side melding of two ideas that don't necessarily go together, namely, beach culture and the world of scientific research. Yet the initial reaction for many readers is likely to be "What the?", serving as a reminder that there a two sides to every Far Side comic, and confusion can be just as much on the reader as it is on author Gary Larson.

5 The Humor Behind The Far Side's Most Confusing Chicken Comic Is Difficult To Crack

First Published: July 21, 1984

Without question, this is one of The Far Side's most perplexing s. The illustration features a hen house full of chickens slumped over in their nests, while a farmer lies flat on his stomach on the floor, an upturned basket of broken eggs sprawled out in front of him.

The best explanation for the joke here is that the farmer fell, breaking all the chickens' freshly laid eggs, and the shock of this caused all the chickens to out. Yet this explanation, like the , will leave most readers wanting something more satisfying. While some Far Side cartoons were great at conveying action, this one leaves both the preceding moments and aftermath hard to parse, rendering this one of Gary Larson's more confusing cartoons.

4 The Far Side's Most Deep-Cut Reference Illustrates Gary Larson's Obscurist Impulses

First Published: December 3, 1985

This is another example of a Far Side cartoon that seems, on the surface, nearly impossible to figure out, and that is because it is, in fact, one of Gary Larson's most obscure pop culture references. The features a praying mantis staring up at a gramophone record player with a quizzical expression on its face. Only a select few readers will catch the callback here, but thankfully, Gary Larson's editor spilled the secret to this comic in the forward to The Complete Far Side, writing:

I know that the praying mantis standing atop a gramophone in one cartoon is the only insect that can cock its head at the same angle as the RCA Victor dog in the classic "His Master's Voice" pose.

In other words, this Far Side cartoon is a reference to a painting done in 1898, which was used to sell early record players at the turn of the 20th-century. Even if more people would have understood this joke forty years ago, to current generations, without context, it has become one of the most infamously inscrutable Far Side comics.

3 Far Side Comics Like This One Demanded Readers Take A Closer Look

First Published: May 4, 1986

This Far Side cartoon returns to the kind that is visually amusing, even if the precise details of the take some figuring out. Here, an "Andy's Towing" truck is shown towing a dead, or at least incapacitated, elephant through the jungle, with its owner riding the enger seat, a thought bubble with "$" above his head signifying he's worried about what this inconvenience is going to cost him.

It might take readers a second to recognize this as one of relatable about this Far Side cartoon, making it enjoyable even if readers don't immediately connect with the full joke.

2 Gary Larson Frequently Took Readers On A Tour Of The Far Side Of The Suburbs

First Published: January 31, 1992

Once again, while this might not qualify as the most confusing Far Side cartoon, it is one in which the lack of caption creates the conditions for confusion, or at least requires readers to do a double-take to fully grasp the comedy of it. The comic depicts two suburban houses, with a woman looking out on her front lawn at the familiar sight of plastic flamingos, while on the other side of the white picket fence separating her from her neighbor is an equally green, well-kept lawn, except this one has fake snakes and spiders scattered around it.

Pivotal to the humor are the glimpses of the homeowners themselves, and their contrasting vibes; the flamingo woman is shown looking skeptically in the direction of her neighbor's yard, while he is drawn relaxing, reading his newspaper, with a big smile on his face, seemingly totally unaware of how his decorative choices might unnerve ers-by.

1 There's No Hiding It, This Far Side Play On Words Doesn't Entirely Connect

First Published: December 23, 1994

Gary Larson is well-known for his wordplay, but while he produced some truly brilliant puns and plays on familiar sayings, there were also times where his linguistic humor could be a bit of a stretch. That is the case here, with a punchline that highly-intuitive Far Side readers will get immediately, while others will be left scratching their heads.

In the cartoon, an empty dress, worn by nobody, stands in what appears to be the top of a tower, looking out a window at the moon and singing "someday, my pants will come..." Of course, the dress is meant to be a princess, and for a piece of clothing, "pants" is apparently the equivalent of a "prince." It is a bit of a wonky joke, one that might evoke a smile purely as a result of how extremely silly it is, while many readers will not immediately recognize the punchline at all. It is fair to say that this is a less-than-perfect Far Side joke, embodying the spirit of Gary Larson's humor, but not exactly delivering it in its most potent form.