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Gary Larson's The Far Side ran from 1980 to 1994, and many of its funniest comics have been shared so often since that fans know them at a glance. However, there are still some A-tier strips from near the end of Larson's original run that you may not have seen.
Here are 10 hilarious Far Side comics from 1994 and beyond, with a focus on those that haven't been overexposed and could even be new to longtime fans.
Zoo Keeper
A Special Comic from Larson's 1996 "The Last Chapter and Worse"
Published in 1996, The Last Chapter and Worse collected the final strips from The Far Side's original run, including some bonus strips that were never syndicated. The above strip - in which a zookeeper admits he just plain doesn't like animals - is one such comic. This character's perspective couldn't be further from Larson's own. The Far Side creator famously loved the animal kingdom and drew endless inspiration from wildlife. Open the image gallery below for Far Side comics celebrating animals.
Indeed, in a 1987 interview with ABC's 20/20, Larson was asked outright if he liked animals more than humans. The Far Side creator claimed that "down deep inside, no I don't, but I've never met an Irish Setter I didn't like."
"A Place of My Own"
Far Side's May 11, 1994 Comic
In this strip, a dog breaks it to his owner that he's considering moving out. Far Side gets a lot of humor out of animals behaving like humans, and Larson also likes to undermine assumptions and idioms at every opportunity. In this case, it turns out that man's best friend isn't exactly that wild about his master.
It makes sense this Far Side comic hasn't been shared as widely as Larson's more extreme dog vs human strips, however the downplayed nature is part of what makes it so fun. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics where dogs take on their owners.
"Here in the Shade"
Another Entry from Larson's 1996 "The Last Chapter and Worse"
In a hilarious moment of pettiness, two cowboys are buried up to their necks, but one can't help boasting about how he's in slightly better shape because he's hidden by the shadow of the other's hat. Larson often mines humor from characters having minor reactions to extreme situations (and vice versa), and this strip definitely qualifies, with neither cowpoke in a condition to boast about anything.
"I'm Sorry, Delores"
Far Side's July 12, 1994 Comic
The Far Side is famous for its desert island comics, where castaways cope with a new life on a tiny island with a single coconut tree. Larson's jokes often hinge on how his characters can't quite adapt to their limited options, and in this case, the castaway has missed the fact that his former girlfriend does have somewhere else to go, albeit not very far away. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics about desert islands.
A Great Campsite
Far Side's May 17, 1994 Comic
In this strip, two cowboys do their best to cope with a truly terrible campsite - one infested by skunks, snakes and lizards, and so crowded with cacti that one cowboy is being held off the ground by the needles. In a hilarious twist, it turns out there's an amazing campsite just a few steps away. Larson's characters are inherently unreasonable, making the possible impossible and vice versa. In this case, despite a great campsite being up for grabs, both cowboys apparently feel like they have to live with their first choice.
Scientist Hell
A Special Comic for The New York Times' 'The Far Side of Science'
In another comic never syndicated as part of The Far Side, a scientist is ushered into his private Hell, where he'll be forced to engage in discussion with psychic, astrologists and mediums for the rest of eternity. The Devil is often incompetent in Larson's world, with the denizens of Hell often making life difficult for its demons, rather than the other way around. However, in this case Satan got it right on the money, sentencing a big-brained scientist to infinite magical thinking.
"Their Little Party"
Far Side's December 1, 1994 Comic
In Larson's final month of comics, two duck hunters miss out on bagging their prey, taking solace in the fact that at least they broke up a party among the reeds. The idea of hunters having such a committed level of hatred towards their quarry is a funny premise, but the badly written sign and sloppy cake are the best part of this strip.
While Far Side is famous for its cows, ducks also appear throughout. To be fair to the hunters above, Larson's ducks tend to be pretty malicious, often causing major trouble for innocent people. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics starring ducks.
Ted and Jerry
Far Side's August 25, 1994 Comic
Larson's desert island returns, as two castaways submit to cabin fever just as two dueling pistols wash ashore. While Larson may blame "the gods" for this cruel twist of fate, it's actually Larson himself who's continually torturing his characters with the worst-case scenario. The Far Side is full of way more bizarre scenarios, but again, the simplicity of this set-up - and Larson's taste for showing the moment just before all Hell breaks loose - makes for a great gag.
On His Head
Far Side's June 25, 1994 Comic
Right up until the end, Larson loved taking idioms and sayings way too literally. In this case, "standing on your head" becomes a literal feat for the one pop culture character who can slip out a neck bolt and harmlessly decapitate themself. Open the image gallery below for more Far Side comics starring Doctor Frankenstein, Igor and the Monster.
The world of Far Side is full of dark humor, but Larson also softens his characters. In Mary Shelley's original story, Frankenstein and his creation are mortal enemies. However, throughout The Far Side, they're more like a big kid and his hard-to-please dad.
Elephant Breeding Grounds
Far Side's May 23, 1994 Comic
In this tribute to the natural world, Larson's explorers discover the elephant breeding ground - a clearing in the jungle full of squashed beds. Throughout The Far Side, Larson enjoyed the imagery of elephants crushing things flat, and that idea gets a risqué twist in this strip.
Those were the 10 late-stage Far Side comics that haven't been overshared. Did we manage to show you a Far Side comic you've never seen before? If so, let us know in the comments!
