The legend of The Far Side has become iconic in its own right, though still not quite as legendary as actual legends. While Gary Larson’s comics continue to stand the test of time, the classic strips still have a few years to go before they can rival the lasting power of the world’s most enduring myths.
The very concept of myths, legends, and cryptids dates back to the dawn of time. These stories are often fantastical, with a healthy dose of skepticism about whether the characters or creatures ever truly existed, but that hasn’t stopped people from keeping them alive through constant retelling. Some of the most memorable myths are delightfully unconventional, much like The Far Side and its bizarre cast of characters. The absurdity of both is a match made in heaven, and it’s a pairing that has consistently delivered hilarious results.
10 "Of Course I Never Eat the Shells"
First Published: January 2, 1980
It's funny to imagine animals having the same standards for eating food as humans, even if said 'food' is humans. Just as humans avoid eating shells of foods like shrimp and oysters, dragons prefer not to eat shells of people, or more specifically, the outer armor of the knights they chowed down on during medieval times. Like when humans eat shells, there's likely a hazardous component to eating armor for dragons.
Nobody likes the feeling of choking on shells, and no dragon wants to choke on armor. At least humans can perform R on each other in a worst-case scenario. However, these dragons' arms are too short for that. Thankfully, they are considerate enough to bury the armor in a hole when they're done, while some humans don't even bother to toss shells in a trash can.
9 "It Certainly Has Taken the Romance Out of the Bigfoot Mystery"
First Published: April 22, 1980
The legend of Bigfoot began with an enormous footprint found in the ground. It doesn't seem as though anyone stopped and considered that, rather than a giant man with giant feet, Bigfoot might be a small man with giant feet. Sure, it takes the fun out of the idea of Bigfoot if everyone imagined him as anything but a big creature, but the name was always Bigfoot, not Bigman.
10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Will Make You Fear Mother Nature
Nature is a powerful force and humans disrespect it at their peril - especially in the world of Gary Larson's Far Side, where even clouds get angry.
Those oversized feet might just be the reason Bigfoot is so elusive. After all, who would want to be seen with embarrassingly large feet that seem wildly out of proportion with the rest of their body, especially when they know they can never live up to the myths and expectations surrounding them?
8 "And That Goes for Lancelot, Galahad, and the Rest of You Guys..."
First Published: July 8, 1980
Most people are hard-pressed to find a table of any kind that doesn't have a piece of gum underneath it. It's an age-old tradition that makes humans out to be creatures of habit. They can't help but use a table to dispose of the gum they walk around chewing. Some readers can probably attest to doing it as far back as grade school at the lunchroom tables. And when it comes to how far such a tradition goes back, it might even date back to the days of King Arthur.
10 Hilarious Times The Far Side Went Full-On Medieval
The Far Side has comic strips that take place all throughout history, including during Medieval Times. Here are the Top 10 that went full-on Medieval!
Not even the tables of medieval times were safe from the onslaught of gum soaked in mouth saliva. Of course, this isn't just any table, but the most famous table in human existence, belonging to the Knights of the Round Table. Hopefully, those knights will eventually get around to cleaning the table.
7 "Well, So Much for the Unicorns."
First Published: December 31, 1981
The easiest way to tell a real creature from a fake one is to ask whether it was on Noah's Ark. Following God's instructions, Noah built an ark to carry two of every animal in existence. So, in theory, any creature that didn’t make it onboard, like a unicorn, couldn't possibly be real. Or could it? Some believe unicorns actually did exist. They just went extinct shortly after the famous boarding of Noah's Ark (you can blame the carnivores for that one).
Gary Larson is no stranger to giving his own take on biblical tales, but this might be his most hysterical and unexpectedly thought-provoking one yet. Just imagine how many species were lost because they became mid-voyage snacks for the ship’s lions, tigers, or bears. Oh, my! Did Noah's Ark even have real snacks for the animals?
6 "Loch Ness Mobsters"
First Published: August 12, 1982
The fun thing about wordplay is that, in some cases, all it takes is replacing one letter of a word with another to warp the meaning of a sentence nearby. There may be varying responses if one were to say that the Loch Ness Monster was nearby. Perhaps shock, disbelief that an unreal behemoth could be within walking distance. Few people are bound to be scared enough to believe that a Loch Ness Monster is anywhere close. If one were to say the commotion was about the Loch Ness Mobster, there's a greater chance everyone would run for the hills.
Unlike Loch Ness Monsters, the criminal underworld is unquestionably real, hence the term true crime. The undeniable non-fiction is a little terrifying for anyone. Unless The Far Side's Detective is around to crack the case, no one wants to be caught dead within ten feet of the Loch Ness Mobsters.
5 "Another Sighting of the Loch Ness Dog"
First Published: June 12, 1984
Who needs the Loch Ness Monster when the Loch Ness Dog is afoot? Seeing a dog on the coast of the Scottish Highlands may not be as much of a rare find as the monstrous folklore beast, but it's certainly just as exciting for dog lovers. Anyone who has an ounce of love for man's best friend will surely jump at the chance to pet one the moment they appear. That's probably why these scientists and investigators are as invested as they are in trying to spot one. They just want to pet the dog.
Gary Larson most certainly loves the canine creatures, hence why dogs are often the focal point of his funniest comics. This time, Gary Larson finds a way to present a dog as a majestic beast of mythological proportions.
4 "When Birds Don't Read"
June 12, 1985
When readers imagine the Fountain of Youth, they usually imagine a vast, never-ending stream of water destined to make any lucky soul young again. In Gary Larson's world, the Fountain of Youth is much smaller and more akin to an actual drinking fountain. It may still get the job done as far as promising its drinker eternal youth, but the birds won't learn that anytime soon.
10 Brilliant Far Side Comics Starring Buzzards, Vultures, & Other Birds of Prey
The Far Side may perhaps be best known for its obsession with chickens & ducks, but vultures featured just as prominently in the classic cartoon.
As the scattered eggs nearby suggest, these birds are turning back the clock because they've been drinking too much from a well they should have avoided entirely. Reading is fundamental, folks, and not having this skill has quite literally reset their life cycle.
3 "Thor's Hammer, Screwdriver, and Crescent Wrench"
First Published: April 14, 1987
Whether readers are fans of the original Norse legend or the all-powerful Marvel figure, most people are aware of the legend of Thor. Not only he, but his mighty hammer, Mjölnir. As nifty of an artifact as it is, even the God of Thunder is in need of a different type of hammer when it comes to fixing his essentials. As strong as Mjölnir is, it's a little too large to make for a power tool. That's when he has to turn to the everyday hammer.
Any working man knows that every hammer is made better by a complementary screwdriver and a crescent wrench, arguably the three most important tools in any mechanic's arsenal. Thor may not be able to rule over Asgard with any of these tools, but he can win the title of Mr. Fix-It from the Hulk.
Joe Fixit is essentially the original Gray Hulk, first appearing in The Incredible Hulk #1, although he didn’t officially take on the name "Joe Fixit" until The Incredible Hulk #324.
2 "Just as Dale Entered the Clearing..."
First Published: August 5, 1987
To see one rare mythical creature out in the wild is enough of an anomaly. To run into two sounds too good to be true. To find two hanging out with a former First Lady is just plain strange. In her lifetime, Jackie Kennedy Onassis was no creature on par with Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, but there was a time when she was just as hard to find out in public due to her private life, especially following the death of JFK.
15 Funniest Far Side Comics That Make Fun of Real People
Gary Larson's The Far Side is known for its surreal sense of humor and often morbid subject matter, but there were times it took on celebrities.
Such a sight needs to be seen to be believed, so Dale has the right idea in trying to document it. Unfortunately, his camera jams as he attempts to capture the moment. The Far Side's local conspiracy theorists would get a kick out of seeing Bigfoot and Loch Ness alone, so adding JFK's widow might've been worth a fortune. Now, the world may never know.
1 "Well, Lad, You Caught Me Fair and Square..."
First Published: September 19, 1994
Gary Larson was more than just a writer and artist. He was also an analyst who deconstructed everyday ideas people took for granted, ideas so familiar that few ever questioned them. Basic myths and folk beliefs were often his favorite source of inspiration for this kind of exploration. Take, for example, the common belief that catching a leprechaun brings good luck. But how lucky can a leprechaun really be if they are unlucky enough to get caught?
8 Far Side Comics That Prove Cryptids Really Do Exist
The Far Side was not immune to showing comic strips about mythological creatures, something that is clear in these cryptid-themed strips.
That is the question posed in this strip, where a captured leprechaun pleads for mercy, itting, “As far as leprechauns go, I have never been considered all that lucky.” At first, this sounds like a clever attempt to avoid his fate. Then, viewers notice his peg leg and eyepatch, realizing he is telling the truth. The story of the unlucky leprechaun is one of the deeper ironies to come from The Far Side.
