Sometimes, the best comics in the Far Side franchise warrant repeat viewings. Comic strips are typically short because they are meant to be consumed once, or at least expected to. It's why they can be found in a local newspaper as a quick morning laugh before work and something hilarious to read over coffee.

Gary Larson disrupts the classic comic strip format by turning The Far Side into something that requires a bit more thought. There's a cleverness to Larson's pen. That doesn’t mean his comics are only meant to be understood by high-IQ geniuses, but rather that many of his strips reward multiple viewings for full enjoyment. Rereading Larson’s works allows readers to catch small details they might have missed the first time. In some cases, his gags are so hysterical that they get funnier with every read.

10 "It Seems That Agent 6373 Has Accomplished Her Mission."

First Published: March 13, 1980

Some readers may scratch their heads the first time they see this strip, confused about why Chicago is on fire, how these cows could be involved, or exactly who Agent 6373 is. To fully appreciate the comic, a minor understanding of the history of the Illinois city is needed, specifically the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which lasted from October 8 to October 10. The fire began one night at the O'Leary family's cottage when their barn caught fire. The flames quickly spread throughout the city due to high winds.

There has been much speculation about what caused the fire, with the most popular folklore theory being that Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern in the barn. The comic takes that urban legend and turns it into an inside job orchestrated by Gary Larson's beloved anthropomorphic cows.

9 "I Got A Bad Feeling About This, Harriet"

First Published: March 19, 1980

There was once an old idiom, now somewhat out of fashion, that likened rambunctious behavior to "a bull in a china shop." It's such an outdated saying that younger readers might not fully understand this comic. This context helps explain why the China shop owners are so uneasy about the well-dressed bull at the center of the comic. The joke takes on a new layer when readers notice the second gentlemanly bull in the background.

The second bull is easy to miss, as its back is turned and its horns are partially hidden beneath its hat. What reveals the second bull is, if the reader looks closely enough, noticing Harriet veering to her left while the second bull fiddles with some delicate items.

8 "Sandwiches!"

First Published: July 23, 1982

The image itself may be considered terrifying to some Far Side readers. Despite the bear's cartoonishly gleeful expression, anyone who has spent time camping in the woods is bound to shudder at the thought of not just one, but two bears stumbling upon them while they are sleeping. The bulk of the joke comes from the caption, which reads, "Sandwiches!" The line refers to the humans tucked in their sleeping bags, which is essentially the bear version of a sandwich, with the meat being the human and the bag being the bread.

It's no wonder why bears are among Larson's most recurring and wild animals in his comics. A scenario like this only works with bears, and the sheer cleverness of equating human sleeping bags to sandwiches is too funny to ignore.

7 Popping the Bag and the Missile

First Published: June 4, 1983

It's not often that Gary Larson produces a comic that a reader can hear, but the longer they peer at this one, the harder it is not to imagine the loud bursting of a brown paper bag from the scientist. Considering that the other scientist is working on a delicate missile, the sound that succeeds the pop would likely be even louder, not to mention deadlier. The sight of the would-be prankster stalking the missile expert on his own is a funny one to get a good giggle from.

Then, like magic, the longer a reader just stares at this image, the more the imagined sound pierces through the screen, getting even louder. The combination of sight and hypothetical sound is both childish and outrageous to the point that it's gut-bustingly riotous. It's a comic that instantly withstands the test of time.

6 "Okay, One More Time..."

First Published: September 18, 1984

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It has already been established just how spine-tingling the sight of a bear can be, but Gary Larson manages to make this bear both petrifying and comical at the same time. In this comic, the bear is essentially playing with its food, likely hikers who were caught while camping in the woods. What were once two unsuspecting humans have now become both dinner and entertainment. Their remains, reduced to a skull and a hat, are being used as makeshift puppets for the mother bear’s cubs before bedtime.

The 40-plus-year-old Far Side comic is incredibly dark on the surface, but its black comedy hits in a way that feels both wrong and strangely effective. A bear using the heads of her victims to entertain her children probably shouldn’t be funny, and yet the longer one dwells on it, the more ridiculous and amusing the idea becomes.

5 Midvale School for the Gifted

First Published: November 24, 1986

This is a comic that has been argued to be Gary Larson's single best Far Side comic, and with good reason. This comic harnesses a twofold joke wherein the reader immediately gets the visual gag of a child struggling to push open a door that, somehow unbeknownst to him, is clearly marked "PULL." When the reader looks lower to the bottom of the page, they will see the second portion of the joke, a sign that reads: Midvale, the School for the Gifted.

If the door is too advanced for this boy, then maybe the school itself may be too much of a challenge. And that's assuming he ever gets inside. Both jokes are made all the funnier for readers who notice this kid to be Nerdy Kid, Larson's recurring character. Readers unfamiliar may stumble upon additional comics starring him, then return to this one laughing harder to see him humbled for once.

4 "In the Early Days, Living in Their Squalid Apartment..."

First Published: April 6, 1987

No pun intended, but the reference here is a deeper cut than some readers might realize. Even those old enough to recognize it may not catch it the first time they see it. At face value, this just looks like kitchen utensils playing cards with each other and playing the piano. ittedly, there's nothing particularly funny about that, so if readers think the comic is nothing more than gambling forks and spoons, they’re going to miss the humor entirely.

Bob and Ernie may just seem like simple names, but Mack the Knife? That’s the name of a song originally composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht back in the 1920s. The song is about a thief named Macheath, or Mack, who earns a fortune through the criminal underworld. Now, re-read the comic with that in mind.

3 "Hey, Bucko ... I'm Through Beggin."

First Published: June 3, 1987

No in Far Side history better illustrates Gary Larson's favorite animal trope quite like the "Dog with Gun" comic. It plays on the idea of a dog begging its owner for a treat. As often happens whenever an animal shares the room with a human in a Far Side comic, the tables turn. The humor is beyond just a twist on an old-time tradition between a man and his best friend. The sheer absurdity of a dog holding a gun to a human's head is what makes this comic funny every single time.

It's such a ludicrous sight that it sparks laughter the moment you see it. The absurdity never wears off; in fact, this is one of those rare Far Side comics that gets funnier the longer you look at it and the more times you come back to it.

2 "Anatidaephobia."

First Published: October 5, 1988

Disclaimer: Anatidaephobia is not real. There is no such disorder under that name, nor is there a mental health disorder recognized by the DSM-V that refers to a fear of being watched by a duck. So, when a reader Googles the validity of Anatidaephobia only to find out that Gary Larson made it up for his duck obsession, it's certain to get a hearty chuckle out of anyone. Those who don't go into this strip with that knowledge still have plenty to laugh at.

The DSM-V (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) is the most up-to-date guide and fact sheet on every official condition and disorder related to mental health. It is officially trademarked by the American Psychiatric Association.

A reader may first notice the petrified expression on the desk worker's face, and combined with the caption, it's a funny sight gag. What makes for an even funnier visual, however, is when keen-eyed viewers look far behind the worker and into the other building to see a duck peering at him from one of the windows across the street.

1 "Leonard Painted That..."

First Published: November 18, 1994

This is a Far Side comic that ages well because the reader notices something new every time about it. With each shift in eye movement, the reader notices details that they likely didn't even notice at first glance. The caption details how young Leonard made a painting for his parents that hovers above their television set. He calls it, "It's My Couch! My Couch! Don't They Understand?" The gag, of course, is not only that Leonard hates when anyone else sits on his couch, but is willing to kill for the living room couch.

The first thing a reader is going to notice is that the painting looks like a mirror image of Leonard standing behind his parents with a knife. That's funny enough, but then upon a second sight, the reader notices Leonard's shadow in the far bottom corner. Here, The Far Side alludes to their grimly funny fate.