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Could you tell a joke without using any words?
It's a lot easier when you have a piece of paper, a pen, and the imagination of Gary Larson. Throughout the 15 years that Larson's The Far Sidehad its initial run, as well as during its digital return in July 2020, the artist frequently nailed more than a few jokes without any of his iconic characters ever needing to utter a single word. This is all because he possessed such a unique eye for some of the strangest things happening in our society, and understood how to convey his perceptions to a larger audience.
At their worst, these comics are a humorous take on everyday tropes that most readers are well acquainted with. At their best, they are some of the greatest The Far Side comics that Gary Larson ever produced, and they deserve recognition as such.
Some Fish Have Made a Deadly Mistake
A Fun Ball Game Goes Wrong
Having pets is fun, as many The Far Side comics highlight, and it’s equally as fun imagining what they might get up to when their owners are away. Gary Larson takes advantage of this question in this wonderfully funny wordless comic. Baseball is a popular pastime, but these fish should have taken the time to think about the consequences of a hit, given that they live in a glass bowl.
This situation could rapidly deteriorate into a death scenario for these poor fish as the water continues to spill out. Hopefully their owner notices before it’s too late. Despite the dark side of this comic, though, the thought of fish playing baseball carries enough humor to make this wordless comic funny. Additionally, the expressions on the fish’s faces are hilarious.
Hunters Bite off More Than They Can Chew in The Far Side
They Can Experience the Same Fear as Their Prey
Hunting can be a fun pastime, as long as one is the predator and not the prey. In this wordless The Far Side comic, though, the hunters experience what it’s like to be the hunted as pterodactyls fly overhead. It is unclear whether dinosaurs are common in this world, but it would nonetheless be startling to see them appear unexpectedly. Even the ducks have wide eyes due to the dangerous animals.
The absurdity of the situation is what contributes a lot of the humor. The typically peaceful water feature is being disrupted by prehistoric beasts. Clearly, the hunters weren’t chasing after the reptiles as neither seemed prepared to shoot the game. The horrified expression on the left hunter’s face in particular speaks volumes to how terrifying the situation must truly be.
A Penguin Slips On a Banana
This Panel Is Pitch-Perfect Far Side
The realm of the ridiculous in comic strips still belongs to Gary Larson. Over the years, he has used a variety of ways to bring his readers into the world of the absurd, and this improbable situation is one of them. Some of his panels could almost be put into a competition comparing how unlikely the scenario depicted actually is.
This panel shows a penguin lying on its back next to a banana peel. It has lifted its head and is staring at it in shock. The obvious conclusion is that it has slipped on the banana peel and fallen. Unlike some Far Side panels that may need an explanation, any concerns about how a tropical fruit made it to the Antarctic, was eaten, and then discarded are irrelevant here.
Cowboys Have a Cliff-Top Fist-Fight
The Appropriate Music Is Playing At the Bottom
Gary Larson is a jazz guitarist, something he pursued after leaving The Far Side in 1995. Readers could have guessed Larson was a musician from all the musical jokes that made their way into the strip. One particularly favorite joke of his was to break the fourth wall of classic TV shows or films by making the characters aware of the show's soundtrack.
In this version of that same musical joke, two cowboys are having a fistfight near a clifftop. This is a classic scenario from the golden age of the Western (something that also probably influenced Larson, given all the cowboy jokes there are). At the bottom of the cliff, a piano player is playing and looking up at the top, waiting for his cue to change the music when the two get nearer the edge.
Chefs Need to Find Ways to Keep Cooking Interesting
This Leads to an Interesting Situation for Their Food, Though
The job of a chef can be equal parts exciting and boring depending on the part of the process. When creating new dishes and dealing with the influx of guests at mealtimes, being a cook demands a lot of fast-paced work. However, there are also down periods set aside for prep work. Clearly, these The Far Side chefs have found a way to keep things interesting, much to the consternation of the lobster.
While this is debatably cruel to do to the crustacean, the visual of lobbing balls at a target to drop it into the boiling water is undeniably hilarious. The line behind the chef holding the ball also implies that many of the cooks like to participate in this game. The inventive nature of these chefs is sure to keep things interesting in the kitchen, as well as for fans of The Far Side.
Caveman Car Has No Wheels
That Invention Comes Later
The Far Side didn't have a recurring cast of characters but featured many recurring settings, from Viking battles to jokes about chickens. One of the settings Larson liked to return to featured cavemen as they learned about the world around them. A subcategory in this broader genre features jokes about the invention of the wheel.
In this panel, a pioneering caveman has chiseled an entire car out of stone. But the poor inventor looks puzzled as he stares down at the car. He has made everything, including the shapes of the headlights, the bumper, and the open spaces for the windows. He has even hollowed out the inside of the car, but he can’t seem to realize that the wheels are missing. Even back in prehistory, there were inventions ahead of their time.
Bears Get Back At a Photographer
They Go Through His Wallet
In The Far Side, as in reality, humankind is at odds with nature. But occasionally in The Far Side, animals get their own back. Whether it's cows dividing up humans into appropriate "cuts" or bears realizing that the muzzles they wear can snap right off, animals sometimes get revenge against a species that mistreats them.
In this panel, two bears have just attacked a photographer. The man lies stretched out in the forest, and the bears are going through his wallet, much like thugs in the city after having attacked someone. As one bear slips out money that is useless to it, the reader can't help but realize that animals usually attack for two reasons. They feel threatened, or they want food. Money isn't on the list, unless, of course, it's in The Far Side.
This Artist Has a Unique Source of Inspiration
He Finds Real Abstraction
The world of abstract art seems entirely subjective. Abstract art allows people to expand the horizons of creative works, painting in shapes and colors that don't connect to reality. Other comic strip artists have used some of their jokes to criticize this world of art, such as Calvin and his snowman sculptures in Bill Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes, but not The Far Side. In Larson’s comic strip, this artist has found the perfect inspiration for his abstract renderings of bugs.
The artist simply looks at the bottom of his shoes. As the reader looks at this panel, two absurd images come to mind. The first is the thought of the artist finding bugs to stamp on for his art. The second is that abstract art in The Far Side may have a source in real life. In either case, this great wordless comic also serves as a reminder that inspiration can come from anywhere, as long as an open mind is kept.
Diving Can Be a Disaster In The Far Side
People On the Boat Should Watch Where They Stand
There are many things to worry about when going for a deep sea dive. Divers don’t know what is waiting for them at the bottom of the ocean, and they may have to worry about getting the bends on the way back up. Even an experienced diver could easily find themselves suffering anxiety ahead of a trek through the deep. In typical The Far Side fashion, though, dangers are present even on the surface.
Rather than having to worry about mechanical or user malfunctions, the threat of a bystander simply standing on a diver's oxygen supply is the true danger, as seen in this classic comic strip. Although this scenario is incredibly unlikely in real life, or maybe because it is unlikely, the situation is very humorous. At least, it is funny for everyone who isn’t the poor diver who will soon need to come up for air.
The Far Side Often Offers Ironic Commentary
On a Related Note, This Wordless Comic Is Darkly Funny and Also a Bit Sad
Some of the best comics in The Far Side are not only humorous, but also have a bit of commentary. This wordless Larson comic depicts the actions of a hunter who hides to shoot a bear, but then sets it up like a fierce animal. The humor is derived from the hunter setting up the bear like something to be feared, highlighting his own fearlessness, while he actually didn’t take any brave actions at all.
This also speaks to the sometimes-contradictory nature of hunting. While there are many just ways to go about hunting, such as paying attention to animal populations and using the animal for its meat, this hunter was not so honorable. Thus, this The Far Side comic works to highlight the unjust actions that this hunter takes to put on a fake show of bravado and skill.
Everyone Screams for Ice Cream In The Far Side
Even Scientists Do It
The Far Side has supplied readers with plenty of riffs on food over the years. One of the most recognizable is the classic rhyme, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream." This notion is so true in The Far Side that even its most dedicated scientists can't help but drop their important research and run outside when they hear the familiar chime of an ice cream truck's musical tune.
There aren't any words necessary to get the point of this comic across. The scene of a group of scientists making a run for the ice cream truck might not be outrageously funny, but it does merit a chuckle. It is also a testament to how easily Gary Larson could convey a definitively absurd gag without any dialogue to explain it.
Intelligent Life On Other Worlds Is (Almost) Found
In The Far Side, It's Wiped Out Before Discovery
For countless years, people have imagined what mysteries the cosmos has in store, just waiting to be found. In more modern eras, the idea that life could be on other planets has enamored and occasionally terrified both smaller subcultures and the population. While the moon can't sustain life in reality, there are no such constraints in fictional worlds, such as that of The Far Side, and the meaning of this panel is clear.
Fortunately for the inhabitants of The Far Side who might be worried about little green men from the Moon coming to steal away with them or their cattle, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has already taken care of that problem, even if they didn't mean to. As it turns out, whatever intelligent life existed on the Moon was wiped out when humankind first landed there. This accidental crushing of any potential alien opposition (or alliance) will potentially lead to some good specimens, though, if the bodies are found under the ship.
VikingsTake Safety Seriously in All Situations
Along With Stretching, They Were Ahead Of Their Time
Anyone who has worked in construction or contracting has worked with a ladder, and anyone who has worked with a ladder knows they can be unruly. Even people not in the trade would likely have had to climb onto a roof or other tall area, ultimately encountering the warning that "This is not a step" in the process. Applying modern safety concerns to ancient times provides a great source of humor, as demonstrated in this The Far Side comic strip.
It is hard to imagine exactly why the same warning would appear on a siege ladder. Then again, safety is key, and no one can afford to be too careful when scaling a wall for whatever reason, especially if there are defending soldiers waiting for them at the top of it. But the absurdity of maintaining safety amid other more probable dangers makes this Far Side panel hilarious.
In The Far Side, Humans Aren't the Only Beings with Souls
A Hapless Lumberjack Watches an Ascension
Often, the only ones who are thought to have souls are humans, and perhaps animals. However, in The Far Side, it is made very clear that trees also have souls. Not only that, but trees, or at least this tree, are also heaven-bound. Understandably, all the lumberjack can do is watch in awe as the spirit of the tree reaches out to the angels descending to bring it to heaven. The fact that the tree has wings only further emphasizes its new role.
The spotlight highlighting the spectacle is the cherry-on-top, ensuring that the whole scenario carries a degree of majesty. The over-the-top nature is quite funny to see. At the same time, this memorable comic from The Far Side carries a reminder to honor all living things. Whether or not a soul is actually involved, it is worth respecting all forms of life.
The Far SideTakes Recipes For Disaster Literally
Larson Takes On Another Common Expression
Recipes for disaster are pretty commonplace in the world. Adding one bad scenario to another one is bound to produce disastrous results. While most people have no idea where that turn of phrase originated, the meaning of it is clear, combining too many bad things together will inevitably result in an even worse situation. It just so happens this cookbook exists in Gary Larson's The Far Side that aspires to do just that, though.
It's hard to imagine who would want to piece together this collection of calamitous recipes, and it seems that they paid the price, given the feet just visible at the bottom of the wordless strip. Creating a literal recipe for disaster should not have been taken lightly. Judging from the mayhem left in this Far Side kitchen, the cook on the floor was definitely in over her head, resulting in a humorous visual.
Small Details Matter In The Far Side
If You Don't Look Close, You'll Miss It
Jokes about suicide are among Gary Larson's darkest material in The Far Side. But there are a surprising number of jokes about this subject. Many of them revolve around animals committing suicide in bizarre ways, such as a bear stuffing himself or a snake hanging himself with his own body. In this panel, there's one tiny detail that matters.
At first glance, the man standing on the ledge appears to be flapping his arms as if attempting to fly, with the crowd below waiting for the inevitable outcome. But that is not the case. The man has put himself on the ledge and the crowd has gathered because he is threatening to jump. While he contemplates the final step to end his life, one bad-tempered Far Side pigeon gets its ledge space back with one small, swift kick.
Ranching is Serious Business in The Far Side
Watch Out For the Brand
There are plenty of controversial practices when it comes to farming and ranching. At the same time, practices such as branding cattle are usually done out of necessity. The threat of a broken fence leading to intermingled herds could very well put a lot of successful ranchers out of business, depending on how things shake out with their fellow herders.
Whereas most ranchers would settle on a set of initials or a simple yet easily identifiable logo for their herds, the man in this The Far Side comic has opted for something impossible to miss or misconstrue. It is also likely to be impossible for his cattle to take, both based on the size of the brand itself and the hilarious looks on the faces of the herd. Nevertheless, the owner is excited for the most grueling day anyone involved has ever experienced.
The Far SideShows the Invention Of the Wheel
The Parking Meter Was Invented Alongside It
A handful of inventions throughout history have changed everything about the world as it once was. The internet, combustion engine and assembly line are all relatively modern developments that have moved industry in a new direction. However, long before any of them, there was the wheel. Without this miraculous invention, many others would have taken much longer to come to fruition, if they had been made at all.
There are also plenty of rules and regulations regarding what forms wheels can take and, if they happen to be holding up a vehicle, where they can go. Unfortunately for the pioneering caveman in The Far Side, parking enforcement was a human development that took place alongside the invention that keeps everything humankind builds turning. There is certainly humor in the situation, picturing caveman facing the same frustrations with paid parking as modern day drivers do.
Non-Handwashers Are Outed in The Far Side
An Alarm Tells All
Keeping good hygiene isn't just a matter of personal comfort or cleanliness, but also one of consideration for other people. Whether a person washes their hands after using the toilet isn't necessarily going to uproot anyone else's day. But it isn't the kind of thing that goes free of judgment on the off chance that it also doesn't go unnoticed by others.
When you're a restaurant patron in The Far Side, however, you can rest easy knowing that your fellow diners are being held to the highest of standards in terms of personal hygiene. If someone emerges from the restrooms without washing their hands, the "Didn't Wash Hands" alarm will alert everyone to the situation. However, how that particular security measure is enforced is something that readers really shouldn't think too hard about.
This Crisis Clinic Is Too Literal For Their Own Good
It's Headed For The Deep End
It can be hard to make a decent joke about personal struggles or mental health, as it is easy for such jokes to be misinterpreted even when they are spelled out in the plainest way possible. This is especially true with overly wordy jokes. Too many words can lead to portions of the setup being lost in translation, which, in turn, leads to a punchline that is all but sure to miss the mark.
Thankfully, Gary Larson doesn't need any long-winded explanation of a scenario to set up a fantastic single-panel gag for The Far Side. Nor does he need to poke fun at any particular fear or phobia (even if inventing new ones seemed to be one of the cartoonist's favorite pastimes). Instead, all that Larson needed was the most literal interpretation of the words "crisis center" that he could imagine.
