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Observing the weird and dark aspects of human nature through comedy, Gary Larson’s The Far Side is often a satirical and critical view of humans’ place in the world. Often using animals and science to get his message across, Larson’s genius lies in his ability to make mundane situations both funny and thought-provoking. The cartoonists’ unique perspective on comedy and the world opened up an entire new lane of visual storytelling, with the effects of Larson’s innovative style still being seen today.
Continuing these same themes into the new decade, The Far Side cartoons of the 90’s took a more introspective turn and highlighted the absurdities of itself compared to other newspaper cartoons or comic strips. Evolving in his commentary on society, Larson’s work in 1991 saw the cartoonist take his classic themes even further to reveal new and hilarious truths about the world.
10 Prehistoric Pillows
The evolution of a good night's sleep
In the early days of humanity, it was more important than ever to get a good night’s rest. Without the luxuries of modern comforts such as beds, the early Neanderthals had to work with what they had. Such as the caveman depicted in The Far Side cartoon on Valentine’s Day 1991 who sleeps on a Pterodactyl and the caption reading» In the days before feathers».
A funny twist on a mundane aspect of everyday life, the Pterodactyl pillow is a visually funny gag that becomes better upon reflection. Not only does the pillow not look comfortable at all, but it also shows the cruel way in which we exploit animals in modern society, such as chickens, to make human lives more comfortable. The cartoon also cleverly mirrors evolution in the real world, as chickens have been found to be the closest living relative to prehistoric monsters such as the Velociraptor and T.rex, adding another layer to an already clever punch line.
9 "The Ohplease-ohplease Syndrome"
Humans' appreciation of nature can be deadly
Exploring the vast unknowns of the jungle, the field of studying insects can be a hazardous one. Constantly on the search for a new species to add to its genus, no self-respecting entomologist could pass on the opportunity to capture an interesting insect. Following two such explorers, April 15th’s cartoon depicted two entomologists at their campsite when one discovers a new type of wasp on his partner’s back. The scientist excitedly traps the insect in a jar on his partner’s back with the caption reading that it’s something in the Vespula genus, and it looks mad.
Vespula being the genus of wasp, the cartoon depicting the two bug-loving scientists is just as horrifying as it is funny. Being pulled by the beauty of nature despite the potential danger is a common theme in The Far Side and one Larson has dubbed «The ohplease-ohplease Syndrome.» Described as the inexplicable pull that people in the fields of science feel to explore the unknown and observe the natural wonder of the world, Larson has long been afflicted with ohplease-ohplease syndrome since he was a child searching for bugs and other creatures. The cartoon perfectly captures the feeling Larson describes as the ohplease-ohplease syndrome and shows how even appreciation of nature can make humans do stupid things.
8 Gary Larson Holds His Cartoons Hostage
There is no escape from The Far Side
Often using perspective as the punch line, some of Larson’s most clever work is when he references himself. The Far Side cartoon, published on May 30th, 1991, shows two explorers seemingly lost in the jungle and the cruel way in which Larson treats his creations. As the explorers try and find their way to freedom, the cartoonist blocks their escape by drawing lines across the page with the caption explaining that it’s the international cartoon symbol for glass, and the two come to the realization that Larson has trapped them yet again.
Often portraying his bleak view of humanity, this cartoon suggests Larson’s pessimistic outlook also extends to his own characters. The concept is dark but incredibly funny as readers imagine the Far Side characters being self-aware and Larson purposely torturing them for readers’ amusement. The cartoon also plays into many of Larson’s previous panels depicting lost explorers and adds another layer to all of their punchlines with the idea that they are the same characters that Larson continuously puts in worse situations that they can never escape from.
7 Human Defense Mechanism
Humans can learn a thing or two from the animal kingdom
While humanity has brought itself to the top of the food chain, there are still many areas in which it fails to compete with some species considered lower in the social hierarchy. One such way is in humans’ inability to sense danger, which Larson hilariously points out in 1991’s December 31st cartoon. Showing a man being approached by a stranger, the man crouches down and extends his hands out to reveal eyes on the top of his head that stop his attacker in place. The caption says that he flared his eye spots after sensing danger.
Eyespot mimicry is a common defense mechanism for many species of butterflies, birds, and reptiles to deceive predators. Larson, using the concept to apply to humans facing danger, is a funny twist on the interesting way in which nature has advantages over humans despite their perceived importance. While the panel shows the attacker stopping to see the man’s display, the cartoon also doesn’t show him leaving, indicating that this tactic most likely didn’t work.
6 Gary Larson Pokes Fun At Other Cartoons
The Far Side kills the competition
Being different from any other cartoon or comic strip on the paper, Larson never passed on the opportunity to poke fun at his fellow cartoonist. While often subtle, the cartoonist would also sometimes be more overt with his reminders to his competition. Using the punch line of a ghost newspaper, the cartoon shows a ghost indicated by a pair of floating glasses reading newspaper comics such as Deathnuts, Dunesburied, and For Deader or Even Worse.
The ghost newspaper is a funny twist on reading the Sunday paper that plays with the role reversal gag Larson made famous. Making the comics all fellow cartoons not only makes sense because it is a ghost version of the paper, but can also be seen as a statement that The Far Side was here to stay and surpass all other newspaper strips. However, Larson’s jabs are all in good fun, showing that even while dead, the cartoons still have an audience, and also includes his work with The Far Side in his collection of dead strips with The Other Side.
5 The Far Side Cast
Many of The Far Side cartoons feature familiar faces
Unlike other newspaper cartoons, Larson never wanted The Far Side to focus on any specific character, but rather on the comedy of the situation. However, some characters are subtly used for different roles, such as Professor Boris Needleman. Described as one of the cartoon’s most esteemed scientist-like characters, the panel shows Professor Boris taking the stage to give a presentation on the probability of other cartoons existing.
In addition to finding using a recurring cast limiting, Larson also didn’t want readers to sympathize with his characters so that he could continue putting them in terrible situations. The crowd also includes some other familiar faces to Far Side fans, including a cow and a caveman who are featured in countless Far Side cartoons. Larson’s ability to add subtle details into his work that enhance the punch line is one of the things that makes The Far Side so unique and this panel shows Larson poking fun at his own storytelling process.
4 The Plight of the Dodo
A species gone too soon
With Larson love of nature and naturalistic view of the world, the cartoonist often used extinct species to comment on humanity’s destruction. Often using more common extinct animals such as dinosaurs or mammoths, Larson also used more current species such as the Dodo bird. The strip shows the birds as an intelligent species capable of solving complex equations and playing chess. The Dodos lived in peace until the 17th century, when they were annihilated by men, rats, and dogs. Typical.
While a funny depiction of the famous lost bird species, the panel showcases the horrible true history of their extinction and how it relates to the world. Just like the cartoon, the Dodos were wiped out due to Dutch soldiers hunting them and bringing unnatural predators to the island. The cartoon exemplifies one of Larson’s best techniques of combining comedy with thought-provoking insights such as the idea of what other animal species have been wiped out that could have been more advanced than they seemed.
3 The Far Side Watches Other Cartoons
Gary Larson is always watching
Another example of Larson poking fun at his competition, October 8th’s panel from 1991, shows that he is always aware of what they are doing. Depicting numerous typical Far Side characters, including a cow and a duck, the group is seen intensely operating a surveillance control room. Featuring numerous screens on the back wall, each one shows a rival comic strip with a dark twist, such as Garfield, Peanuts, and Calvin and Hobbes.
Often pointed out for how strange The Far Side is compared to other newspaper strips at the time, Larson wasn’t afraid to lean into that criticism and agreed with critics that The Far Side was not like other cartoons and that’s the point. The cartoon also gets funnier and funnier the more readers analyze it, as the cartoons being spied on all reveal darker versions of how they act off-panel, including Charlie Brown and Snoopy telling someone they are going to put them to sleep and Hobbes attacking Calvin.
2 Larson Embraces Criticism
Many people had issues with Larson's comedy
Along with making jokes about his competition, Larson was also known to put his critics in the crossfire of his punch lines. With many people writing in complaints about the nature of his cartoons, Larson made it very clear that he did not care about their criticisms and that The Far Side was not for them. In a cartoon depicting typical Far Side characters, including the animals, answering the door for a more polished and well-put-together cartoon couple, the characters tell them they are in the wrong place and must be looking for serious-type cartoons.
The Complete Far Side collection is filled with angry letters from readers about the content of Larson’s comedy. With some critics going so far as to call him sick and gaining pleasure from torturing animals, most of the angry responses were rooted in not understanding the joke at all and asking for an explanation. However, Larson was not interested in providing one, as he felt a connection with his readers in that they understood him and didn’t need it explained. The cartoon shows Larson doubling down on his style of comedy and showing critics that The Far Side is not for them, and that they should seek their entertainment elsewhere.
1 The Far Side Answers The World's Hardest Questions
Larson tackles the oldest joke in the book
The best Far Side cartoons not only make readers laugh but also think. Always putting readers right during the action or the immediate aftermath, much of the comedy in The Far Side is left to the readers’ imagination. One of the most thought-provoking cartoons Larson produced tackles the age-old question of why the chicken crossed the road. Showing a chicken staring across the road at a sign that reads «The Other Side. Why do you need a reason?»
With no other caption or context, Larson leaves the answer with the reader while providing an interesting perspective on the unknowable question by proposing the question of why the chicken needs a reason at all. This could be interpreted as the idea of people being held back from pursuing what they really want and having to explain themselves to others. Larson suggests that a person doesn’t need to have a reason to take a leap of faith but that it is part of the natural way of life. The cartoon can also be seen in a darker and more sinister light, with the sign urging the chicken to come onto the road and put itself in danger, most likely made by humans trying to hunt it down.
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