The Far Side has a reputation for being niche humor, but these cartoons prove that it could be accessible to everyone, at least when creator Gary Larson wanted to be. Larson's humor was idiosyncratic, and unlike anything else in newspapers at the time of its publication, but in order to achieve the mainstream success it did, it also needed to have some degree of mainstream appeal.

Yes, Larson did have a penchant for perplexing punchlines, and he loved to make obscure references in Far Side cartoons, but there were also countless cartoons that were readily enjoyable by all types of readers, which was as essential to the comic's success as his ability to shock, surprise, and subvert expectations.

Collected here are just a few examples, from iconic s to underappreciated gems, which showcase the range of The Far Side's accessible, and even relatable strain of humor.

10 The Far Side's "Dog Drives Man" Cartoon Is Gary Larson's Humor At Its Most Bare Bones And Effective

First Published: August 7, 1980

There is little barrier to entry when it comes to understanding, or appreciating, this early Far Side cartoon, which in many ways embodies the simple pleasures of Gary Larson's work. The features a classic "dog acting like human/human acting like dog" scenario, as a canine sits behind the steering wheel of a car, cruising down the road, while a suit-and-tie-wearing human is in the enger seat, head stuck out the window, tongue flapping wildly in the breeze.

Like many of the best Far Side cartoons, this one needs no caption; the inversion of the human-dog car dynamic is enough, and the wordless, minimalist illustration lays it bare for the reader that there is no deeper meaning here, just a straightforward "what if you and your pup could swap places" bit of whimsy.

9 The Far Side Captures The Deflating Effect Of Failure In This Classic Caveman Comic

First Published: August 17, 1982

Gary Larson loved to imagine the early days of human innovation, particularly the a highly relatable Far Side cartoon, which makes it significantly easier to engage with.

Again, Larson omits a caption here, in favor of a sequence of images telling a story across a single ; here, a prehistoric visionary starts hammering away at a rock, and eventually, forms it into a perfect wheel...only for it to absurdly deflate, like the tires of the future (from his perspective), giving him just a fleeting few moments of satisfaction before it turned to disappointment. This is a feeling everyone who has tried a craft can relate to, whether it is stone-carving, woodwork, fixing a car, or more artistic outlets, such as painting, or writing.

8 On The Far Side, Business Was Never "Usual" In Any Way, Shape, Or Form

First Published: May 2, 1983

Again, there is no caption to this Far Side , but Gary Larson "cheats" here, as the illustration's punchline is text, just located within the image itself, in the form of a crumpled note that reads, "brick through your window? Call Al's Glass." From the shattered glass on his floor, below a window with a jagged hole through the center, it is obvious to the reader that this is Al's innovative, though highly unethical, and highly dangerous, new marketing gimmick.

Though Al is unseen, this Mafia-style tactic for drumming up business evokes The Far Side's many mobster jokes; in any case, the irony of this punchline is very amusing, and the way it tells a fully "story" in a single image, while still leaving fans wanting more, is what makes this an all-time great Far Side comic.

7 The Kind Of Far Side Comic You Can Show Your Grandma

First Published: July 9, 1984

The Far Side could make anything funny, including flowers, but Gary Larson being the wildcard creator he was, his plant-based humor could often veer into predictably unpredictable, "out there" territory. This is perhaps the most famous Far Side flower joke, because it is the opposite; this cartoon is easily accessible to even the most sensitive reader, to a degree that it wouldn't be out of place on a greeting card.

In this split- Far Side cartoon, the top half depicts "how we see flowers," as pretty, aesthetically-pleasing objects, while the bottom reveals "how flowers see themselves," which is actually goofy-looking and awkward. It is a smart joke about self-image, but one that doesn't sacrifice the gentleness of its humor for its intelligence but instead finds the perfect balance, and the result is a great Far Side comic any reader can enjoy.

6 This Perfect Far Side Cartoon Highlights The Strength Of Gary Larson's Minimalist Mode

First Published: July 27, 1985

This memorable Far Side highlights several noteworthy aspects of Gary Larson's humor. Once again, Larson's decision to forego a caption demonstrates that, perhaps counterintuitively, these could be Gary Larson's most accessible s, in many cases, at least as often as they threw readers for a loop.

The other thing that makes this comic great is that it is a perfect Far Side action shot, featuring a predatory cat leaping from off-, lunging at a flock of birds, all of whom flutter off into the sky, avoiding danger...except one, who is wearing headphones and listening to a cassette player, who is about to be in for a terrible surprise. The simple illustration perfectly aligns with the simple hilarity of the joke, and the result is a memorable Far Side comic.

5 The Far Side's Canine Capers Rank Among Gary Larson's Most Memorable Recurring Routines

First Published: April 29, 1986

This Far Side cartoon does have a caption, and an important one, but it is only a single word, showcasing that Gary Larson was a master of brevity when it came to humor. Again, this is an unforgettable Far Side action shot, capturing the exact moment that one canine barks "NOW!" and a group of dogs in disguise launch a surprise attack on the post office.

The details of this cartoon, particularly the dog leaping in from off-, shedding its human clothes as it soars through the air at a postal worker with a stunned look on his face, who has not yet had time to process what is happening, make this a classic Far Side dog comic, but this is a case where the hilarity starts firmly with the premise, the very concept of a group of undercover dogs infiltrating and attacking the post office, brilliantly escalating the perennial dog/mail carrier feud.

4 The Far Side's Prehistoric Pioneers Get Ahead Of Themselves In This Classic Cow Cartoon

First Published: June 18, 1987

In another prehistoric Far Side cartoon, Gary Larson depicts "early attempts at the milkshake," which amounts to a group of cavemen with a tarp bouncing a cow in the air. In a sense, this is a great "entry-level" absurd Far Side comic, for people who might be on the fence about Larson's style of comedy.

Just as absurdity was only one of many categories of Far Side humor, it had its own subcategories; at times, Larson's absurdism could be abrasive, but in other cases, like this cartoon, it was wholly whimsical. It is these latter types of absurd Far Side comics that are more digestible for a wider audience. Here, the silliness stems from the fact that, in The Far Side's version of history, the idea for the milkshake preceded the technology to make them, but that didn't stop early humans from trying.

3 The Far Side Captures An Experience (Almost) Everyone Can Relate To

First Published: July 14, 1988

The trio of lanky gentlemen walking down the aisle of a movie theater in this Far Side cartoon, about to take front row seats, directly in front of three young kids, whose views of the movie are going to be totally obscured, can't be faulted for being tall, of course, or having nowhere else to sit in the theater.

However, all but the tallest people, like these three, have probably had an experience like this, while watching a movie, or out at a concert; often, the shorter someone is, the taller the person who decides to sit, or stand, in front of them invariably seems to be. Gary Larson expertly captures that trope in this Far Side comic, and he elevates the joke by depicting the moment before the tall men sit, and more crucially, before the kids in the row behind them realize their movie-going experience is going to be ruined momentarily.

2 We Have Some Questions About This Far Side Farm

First Published: June 13, 1990

This is another great example of a Far Side cartoon where the absurdism tips over into full-on silliness, and for the better, in of making this a joke anyone can enjoy. "Farmer Bob...your barn door's open" a horse says into the receiver of a pay phone, surrounded by grinning cows, sheep, and a chicken, as they gather to prank call their farmer, whose silhouette is seen answering the phone inside the house, in the background.

The hilarity here stems from the fact that Farmer Bob's barn door is, in fact, open, but the animals are leaving out a critical detail: that they can talk, and make phone calls. The peak absurdity of this Far Side farm , of course, comes from the fact that a phone booth is, for some reason, on the farmer's property, right next to his barn.

1 An Iconic Far Side Fairy Tale Riff Shows Gary Larson At His Most Accessible

First Published: November 30, 1992

In this genius Far Side twist on a fairy tale, a witch looks out the window of her "Brussel sprout house," and thinks "Dang...Zelda seems to attract all the little kids," as a Hansel-and-Gretel-coded pair of youngsters approach her neighbor's candy house, with the caption informing reader that "later Edna was forced to sell" her unappealing home.

Gary Larson's attention to detail here turns this from a good to great Far Side cartoon, as the "Brussel sprout house" is fully realized, while the gingerbread house across the street is made to look an order of magnitude more appealing. It is a classic example of Larson's ability, throughout The Far Side, to take something familiar and offer a totally unexpected perspective on it, but in this case, the punchline is still easy to grasp, and easy to enjoy, for all readers.