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The Far Sideis timeless, but some of Gary Larson's jokes hit different today than they did 30 or 40 years ago. In fact, some Far Side cartoons are actually funnier today than they were when they first came out. Here are just a few examples of Far Side panels that have gotten better with age.
Larson's humor was as avant-garde as it was a product of its time. This mix was essential to making The Far Side a success.
It's also a foundational part of why each new generation that comes along gives rise to new Far Side fans. Not every Far Side joke necessarily holds up, but these comics are emblematic of the ones that do.
The Far Side's Darkest Jokes Fit Right In By Today's Edgy Humor Standards
First Published: April 16, 1980
For better or worse, jokes like this early Far Side gag, about a houseplant that hangs itself, were more shocking 45+ years ago. Modern audiences might be more divided on this type of humor, but they're also more acclimated to it. If this kind of macabre punchline strikes a comedic chord with you, it's likely to get a bigger laugh than in 1980.
That is, you could say this Far Side comic has been upgraded from "subversively amusing" to "darkly funny." It's the kind of joke that was later mainstreamed by shows like The Simpsons in the 1980s. Which makes it fair to say Gary Larson's newspaper comic The Far Side walked so Matt Groening's cartoon could run.
The Far Side Offers An Early Example Of The "Rat In A Trench Coat" Gag
First Published: July 17, 1980
Today, the idea of "rats in a trench coat" masquerading as human is a familiar meme in popular culture. The exact origins of the meme are hard to pin down. In fact, it's possible this Far Side comic invented it. Alternatively, it's a sign that the joke was well-established by 1980, enough for Gary Larson to turn it into a Far Side panel.
Larson excelled at taking existing references, concepts, and analog memes and manifesting them in The Far Side. He also had an idiosyncratic sense of humor which frequently circled back to animals in disguise. In any case, this Far Side joke has aged like fine wine; it is even funnier today than 46 years ago.
This Early Far Side Nerd Joke Is A Blueprint For Decades Of Comedy That Came After
First Published: August 28, 1980
Here's another comic from The Far Side's first year that holds up. Going on five decades later, and humanity still hasn't found proof that we aren't alone in the universe. Maybe because, way back in '80, the only real picture of a UFO was overexposed by an overly doting mother. At least, that's the joke here.
It's an early "nerd still living with mommy" punchline, and also an example of Gary Larson's ability to capture comedic action in a single frame. Larson depicts the moment right before the amateur UFOligist's evidence is ruined. The comedic effect is amplified because the reader can imagine the endless variations on how the next moments go.
This Ahead-Of-Its-Time Far Side Cartoon Captures The Perils Of "Adulting"
First Published: April 7, 1983
Ever struggle with a simple task and feel like a total failure? Ever wake up thinking "how am I going to get through today?" Gary Larson distills that feeling into this Far Side comic. It's the ultimate "adulting is hard" punchline. The character here isn't stupid, he's going through it. Which makes him low-key one of Far Side's most relatable characters.
Back in the day, this joke had people scratching their heads, not quite sure what was funny about it. People today take one look and know exactly what Larson was going for. Call it subtle, or say that modern sensibilities have caught up to its ahead-of-its-time sentiment, but this Far Side comic hits way harder now than in the '80s.
The Far Side's Absurdist Streak Is More In Line With Today's Comedic Standards
First Published: August 9, 1986
Another perfect example of how The Far Side's absurdism has become more of a dominant strain in American humor. This would have been an eye-rolling joke 40 years ago; maybe it still is today, but eye-rolling humor is more in now. Non-sequitor and irrationality are more baked into modern humor.
The punchline begs the question, "why would an ant have that magnifying glass just lying around in the first place?" Modern readers know better than to ask such silly questions. But does that mean people today are savvier, or more mentally checked out? That's a bigger question than we have time for right now.
The Far Side Gets Too Real With Its Gag About Do-It-Yourself Surgery
First Published: September 13, 1986
It's sadly obvious why this Far Side joke is even more impactful 40 years after it was first published. America's healthcare system was imperfect in the 1980s; in 2026, it is catastrophically dysfunctional. The idea of DIY at-home surgery is horrifying, which is key to the premise of the joke, but time has given the joke a much more desperate feel.
It shouldn't need to be said that no one should ever try to perform their own surgery. But the idea of avoiding going to the doctor, because of the cost, is too real. This Far Side comic embodies that. Which made it funny in the mid-80s, but makes it even more urgent social commentary four decades after the fact.
The Far Side Lampoons The First Generation Of Punk Rockers To Go Corporate
First Published: May 21, 1990
In 2026, punk rock has gone from counterculture, to subculture, to just a part of mainstream culture. In 1990, punk was still barely 15 years old, but generations of punks had already grown up and "sold out." This Far Side pokes fun at them by depicting a couple hardcore dudes still figuring out how to acclimate to the corporate world.
That is, one has a calculator hanging from his pierced ear, and a tattoo that says "add, subtract, and die!" while the other replaced his nose studs and plugged up his gauged ear with pens and pencils. Today, no one really bats an eye at punk accountants, and in this case, that actually adds to the silliness of the imagery.
Did The Far Side Invent The Photobomb? This Comic Suggests It's A Possibility
First Published: July 3, 1990
This fourth-wall busting Far Side cartoon presaged the contemporary phenomenon of the photobomb, where someone jumps into a photo at the last moment and wrecks, or from their perspective, perfects it. Gary Larson depicts a proto-photobomb here, in which two guys "stuck their heads inside the frame and ruined one of the funniest cartoons ever."
In the background, a farmer holds a chicken in his hands while his wife says something, her hands-on-hips posture suggesting she's frustrated. It's a perfectly composed Far Side joke by all accounts, which makes it timeless, but the way it reflects the modern experience makes it a particularly notable Far Side today.
If You Feel Like The Universe Is Gunning For You, The Far Side Is For You
First Published: September 17, 1991
People today have a higher tolerance for sacrilege and irreverence, plain and simple. Not everyone, of course, but the average person is more inclined to find this joke funny. Especially because we all increasingly relate to the idea that the universe has a personal grudge against us. Or that God is about to hit the smite button on his at any moment.
Here, it happens in the most Far Side way possible: a piano falling from the sky. But the feeling the joke captures extends way beyond that. The captionless nature of this Far Side panel also adds to its cache as an internet meme. The joke hits readers immediately, and the implication will keep them laughing afterward.
The Far Side Confirms That No Vacation Is Enough, A Highly Relatable Sentiment
First Published: July 24, 1992
More than ever, the average person is constantly in need of a vacation. This Far Side joke, starring a fed-up and burnt-out character named Ernie, is another example of Gary Larson's humor being highly relatable. In the panel's top half, he screams out his apartment building at the crowded city street below that he's leaving them all behind for an island paradise.
The bottom half of the frame shows Ernie on an equally crowded beach, having picked a far too popular vacation spot. We all feel like we need a break from civilization these days, but there's less and less escape. As such, this Far Side joke hits harder in 2026 than it did nearly 35 years ago when it was published.
What do you think, readers? Do theseFar Side jokes resonate more today? What other Far Side comics have held up the best?
