Though the Far Side why the Far Side was so obsessed with cows, and Larson himself professed an affinity for the animals.
Whether they were turning on their human masters or confusing readers with their "tools", Gary Larson's bovine s were some of the funniest he ever produced. Though cows appeared in a slew of Far Side comics over the years, only the absolute funniest still make readers laugh today.
When Cows Ruled The Earth
Cows weren't the only animals that struck Larson's fancy, and many of his Far Side strips involved dinosaurs as well as other animals that weren't extinct. Showing off more of his absurd sense of humor, his "When Cows Ruled the Earth" is exactly what long-time readers of the strip had come to expect from Larson.
Throwing evolution out the window, the hilarious posits that there was once a prehistoric era in which a variety of dinosaur-like cows roamed the countryside. The phrase is funny enough as it is, but the accompanying image of a long-necked cow wading in the water helps to push the into hilarious territory.
A Realization
As anyone who has ever been around a bovine can attest, cows aren't known for their superior intellect, and many of Gary Larson's best comics took advantage of that fact. Simple but effective, the "This Is Grass" comic is so funny because it makes the audience recall a time that it took them too long to realize something that should have been obvious.
Cows spend their whole lives munching away at any greenery that they can get their teeth on, and the seems to be suggesting that they wouldn't if they knew what their diet truly consisted of. The shocked look on the cow's face is tinged with a hint of anger, and the words are made funnier by Larson's cartoonish art style.
Empty Stomachs
One thing that set Gary Larson apart from many other humorists is that he is a truly intelligent writer who often calls on his knowledge of science for a good joke. While they are mammals like humans, cow anatomy is quite different and the "Empty Stomachs" comic puts their anatomical difference to good use.
Despite their abundant absurdity, the relatability of Far Side comics was one of their greatest strengths, and the comic is no different. Every reader has known someone who could eat more than the average person and the fact that cows are known for their eating prowess makes the comic's main character even more hilarious.
Choice Cuts
Though the Far Side is a comic strip that revels in eye-rolling jokes and silly characters, Larson was also never afraid to take things to a dark place for a good joke. Cows and humans have a strained relationship for obvious reasons, and the featuring cows preparing to butcher their owner turned that relationship sideways and was one of the darkest Far Side strips of all time.
It was always funny when Larson gave his bovine characters human characteristics, and the look of genuine surprise on every character's face is a stroke of genius. The choice cuts chart is partially obscured, but what the reader does see is enough to give them an idea of what is about to happen to poor farmer Brown at the hands of his long-suffering cattle.
Cow Philosophy
Using speech bubbles sparingly, the reader always knew they were in for a treat when a character in the had something to say. "Cow Philosophy" can be seen as one big joke, but it could also be interpreted as a version of Larson's own philosophy concerning the simple things in life.
Always thinking about food, the thoughtful cow doesn't stop to smell the roses, instead, he is instructed to stop and eat them which has a meaning of its own. Driven exclusively by the need to eat, it is hilariously astute that Larson's worldly-wise cow would have a food-centric philosophy of life.
Bovines At Work
The funniest Far Side comics didn't need to use words to get their point across, and Larson's subtle artwork was usually all it took to convey humorous meaning to the reader. Allowing the viewer's eye to explore the image without distraction, "Bovines At Work" is a comedy gift that unwraps itself the longer it is stared at.
Taking a persistent societal problem like harassment and making it funny isn't done out of malice, but it is Larson's way of equating harassers to thick-headed pack animals. On top of its deeper meaning, the is also simplistically funny because its casting of cows in regular human jobs like construction work.
Why Now Brown Cow
Gary Larson was a groundbreaking artist and humorist for his time, but that didn't mean that he wasn't susceptible to a dad joke occasionally as well. The hilarious "Why Now Brown Cow?" is a silly twist on the classic nursery rhyme, that is also dusted with a hint of Larson's dark sense of humor.
Obviously, the cow is on trial for something serious and the is even funnier because the reader never finds out what. Hearkening back to all the great courtroom dramas of cinema's past, the is as much a spoof as it is a groan-worthy send-up to the classic rhyme.
Cows In A Field
Humans like to think that they are the smartest animal on the planet, and Larson often used his Far Side bovine to poke fun at that inflated idea. Told in a series of three s, the comic gives readers a brief glimpse into the secret lives of cows as they pretend to be simple for the benefit of the human public.
The joke is brilliant to begin with, but it is the execution that pushes it into hilarious territory because of the use of the rule of threes. Seeing the cows return to their relaxed state in the third seals the deal, and the lack of a caption allows the reader to experience the joke uninterrupted.
Sick, Sick, Sick!
Using his cows to say things that human characters simply couldn't, many of his best bovine comics were like a mouthpiece for the artist himself. As if a cow grilling burgers wasn't funny enough, the inclusion of two revolted onlookers allows for even more sidesplitting humor.
Possibly poking fun at militant vegetarians, or even at himself as a meat eater, the reader's own interpretation of the piece doesn't pigeonhole it and diminish Larson's humor. The pointing cow's body language directs the reader's eye to the cow at the center of the frame, and the inclusion of a chef's hat is like an extra punchline for an already memorable joke.
Cow Tools
Readers had come to expect a level of absurdity from Far Side comics, but the infamous "Cow Tools" took things to a new level. Going down in history as the weirdest Far Side comic ever, the image of a cow standing over an array of seemingly useless tools sparked outrage and sparked readers' imaginations.
While not outwardly funny on its own, the longer the reader stares at "Cow Tools" the more the giggles begin to form. The comic means absolutely nothing, and yet it means whatever the reader wants it to mean because it is designed as a blank slate. Like the cow's tools themselves, the is entirely up to interpretation which is where the true humor lies.