The Far Side has always managed to capture the most basic and mundane elements of the human condition through an absurdist lens that consistently produces some of the funniest, if occasionally disturbing, comic strips. The Far Side almost always has something to say about how ridiculous life is, whether it be otherwise ordinary family matters, obscure phobias that keep people trapped by fear, or simple day-to-day tasks that continue piling up. Sometimes, the funniest are the ones that hold a grain of relatability.
This is especially true when it comes to The Far Side’s workplace comics. Everyone has something that they’re good at or do to make ends meet, and while some truly enjoy their work, there will always be some inconvenience or issue to be dealt with. As far as The Far Side is concerned, humor is the best way to tackle those issues, even if the jokes aren’t necessarily the most poignant examinations of the human working condition.
Updated on April 10, 2025, by Natasha Elder: The Far Side always gets a chuckle, whether it’s through relatable jokes or shocking twists. This is impressively consistent, especially given the typical one-panel space that most of The Far Side comics take place in. Larson’s workplace comics are particularly hilarious, which is why we wanted to recognize even more of them. We have also added detail as to why these The Far Side comics are so great.
15 Poorly Put-Together Presentations Are Very Relatable
They Can Also be Very Funny
Giving presentations, or being on the receiving end of them, are inevitable part of most jobs. Even more action-oriented professions, such as a career in the military, necessarily require a certain degree of planning and presentations to strategize. Inevitably, a presentation will have some mistakes. In real life, this can be funny or frustrating depending on the circumstances, but in The Far Side, it is undoubtedly the former.
Seeing an upside-down slide during an otherwise serious situation is certainly funny. What makes it even more so, though, is the implication that this is far from the only time that this has occurred. Thinking a mistake has been fixed, only to find out it is not, is an unfortunate thing that happens to everyone at one point or another. Although this is a humorously relatable comic, it is far from Larson’s most memorable, which is why it’s ranked at the bottom of the list.
14 Workplaces Aren't Confined Solely to Planet Earth
Astronauts Can Be a Great Source of Jokes, Too
Larson has many humorous comics about astronauts as they go about their work. However, what is often lost among the amusement is the fact that for these explorers, the spaceship is not only a fantastic invention. For astronauts, the spaceship is their workplace and, just like other types of workers, there are situations they encounter that are both absurd and somehow mundane in The Far Side.
In one such comic, two astronauts find out that the Earth isn’t actually round, as expected. Rather, it is a balloon, complete with a string. Whether or not it is the right choice to hide this discovery from the people on Earth is irrelevant, as it’s just funny to think of the Earth being a balloon. The humorous visual is further enhanced by the astronauts taking the situation in stride.
13 Botanists Decide to Attempt a New Achievement
They Might Have Created Something They Don't Understand
There are quite a few great The Far Side comics centered on flowers and other plant-life, but many of them take the perspective of the plant. However, this amazing Larson comic instead imagines what it would be like for botanists to make a Frankenstein-esque flower creation. The lightning outside is the cherry on top of the environment, which resembles a low-cost brick building.
While this workplace is perhaps not quite what would be expected for botanists, it is still a workplace nonetheless. There is something to be said about creating artificial plant-life, but the set-up of the situation is wonderfully ridiculous. From the strapped-down flower to the choice to give it a face despite being a plant, these scientists were fully committed to making the situation as Frankenstein-like as possible, leading to a very funny The Far Side comic.
12 Even Serious Professions Can Be a Source of Humor
The Simplicity of the Visual Enhances the Satire
For some professions, a workplace can be a bit mobile. In the case of detectives, they may have a precinct or office to return to, but a large part of their work takes place at the scene of the crime. Larson cleverly recognized this, crafting a comic about a humorous situation taken seriously. While he is far from the only comic to put a Sesame Street character in a dark situation, the way he portrays the situation is still funny.
What makes this workplace The Far Side comic work is the fact that all the characters in it are taking the situation seriously. Aside from the allusion to Big Bird’s name, there is no hint of the satirical nature of the comic. Additionally, the neighbors look horrified and the detective and police officer are doing what they can to assess the situation. All of this adds up to a darkly humorous scenario.
11 Dinosaur Toys Are Hard to Resist Playing With
This Is True Even for Paleontologists
Many children love everything about dinosaurs – learning about dinosaurs, watching content related to dinosaurs, and playing with dinosaur toys. Moreover, for many, interest related to the extinct creatures never fully goes away. Luckily for the truly dedicated, there is a profession centered on researching dinosaurs. Paleontology is a fascinating area of research, and those in the profession obviously have a passion for their research topic.
However, as Larson so comedically points out, this doesn’t exempt scientists from engaging in more playful dinosaur-related options. Instead of doing their jobs, two paleontologists are found playing with dinosaur models like they were toys. This is a very relatable situation, as most would do the same as these scientists. The two getting scolded is also amusing, reinforcing the imagery of these researchers acting like children.
10 Sometimes Work Can Simply Wait — Even in The Far Side
No Matter the Age, Ice Cream Trucks Can be Exciting
It doesn’t matter how much someone loves their work; everyone needs a break. Getting away from a pressing task could seem like the last thing someone should do, yet it can also provide untold clarity after the fact. It might be a chance to step away from the office and get a fresh perspective or even just the opportunity to focus on something entirely unrelated to the job.
Or, in the case of the most esteemed scientists from The Far Side, it could be the simple distraction of a passing ice cream truck that draws them out of their doldrums and out into the streets in the form of a screaming mob. It may not look like the kind of reaction that a group of studious researchers would have, but it is objectively hard to ignore the allure of a jingling ice cream truck, especially in the world of The Far Side. As funny as this The Far Side comic is, though, others are even more creative and hilarious, which is why it is ranked at #10.
9 An Overly Consuming Work Life Can Become Truly Killer in The Far Side
Distraction Proves Deadly for an Unfortunate Businessman
Many people know what it is like to have a decidedly one-sided work-life balance. Work doesn’t need to creep directly into a person’s personal life for this to be the case. Instead, all it needs to do is become the thing that consumes the majority of its waking hours, even if those hours aren’t spent directly working.
When things get to the point where all a person can think about is their job, it is only a matter of time before some inconvenient or embarrassing event happens. For most people, this would mean something relatively silly, like putting salt in their coffee instead of sugar. For others, like this unfortunate fellow from The Far Side, that means not seeing the lumbering bear standing next to its cub in the elevator, which is likely the last thing Conroy didn’t notice in his lifetime.
8 Work Commutes for Canines Provide a Simple Pleasure
The Visual Provides a Pleasant Joke for The Far Side Enjoyers, Too
Most people who commute to work have competing feelings about what that means. Even if a commute is long and arduous, it is at least an opportunity to do nothing for a while, maybe even a chance to get their thoughts together and prepare for the workday ahead. Then again, most people who commute to work are, in fact, people, making said commutes less interesting than they could be.
As it just so happens, this isn’t necessarily the case in the world of The Far Side. Although plenty of ordinary folks still make their way to work every day, they are far from the only ones. And, for the dogs of The Far Side, there might be no better part of their day than catching the bus to head to and from work, even if the joy they find in said commute is entirely due to the windows rolling down.
7 Everyone Knows the Pain of an Expensive Quote
Unfortunately for People Born in the Stone Age, This Was Apparently True Even When They Were Alice
Office jobs and lab work are far from the only industries thriving in The Far Side. As in the real world, there is no shortage of opportunities for people to make a living. At the same time, not all of these opportunities come with the same kind of upward trajectory, least of all those available to The Far Side‘s Stone Age denizens. This isn’t because the work isn’t valuable, but rather because the most identifiable positions have been reduced to their absolute most basic forms in a humorous move.
There isn’t much room to move up through the ranks when it comes to prehistoric plumbers, who largely only have to deal with literal holes in the ground. That being said, the work is still plenty good, even if it is filthy. Anyone who has faced plumbing issues knows that costs can add up quickly, no matter how simple the problem might seem. And, anyone who has been called up to fix said issues knows that breaking down those rates for customers expecting an easy fix isn’t easy, although there may be room to negotiate in the case of these particular Neanderthals.
6 Realistic Expectations are Rare in The Far Side
This Leads to Many Comedic Situations Between The Far Side Characters
Everyone has a dream job, though hardly anyone ever lands theirs. That isn’t just because attaining such highly sought-after and illustrious positions is difficult, but because occasionally, said dream job is more of a dream than it ever would be a reality. This realization typically hits people in their twenties, though it is also one that overly ambitious parents seem to never arrive at on their own.
Many parents want to see their children’s hobbies turn into a fulfilling career, which is a noble enough aspiration. At the same time, many parents don’t truly understand the nuances of those hobbies and interests, let alone how they could translate into a paying job down the line. Luckily, the parents from this The Far Side comic are more than willing to dream big for their growing young boy, although considering the jobs they have in mind, that is almost assuredly as far as such a career will ever get for him.
5 Career Counseling Hits the Bullseye in The Far Side
A Historical Figure Needs To Carve Out a New Career Path
Opinions on career counseling vary wildly from person to person. Anyone who has taken the likes of an ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test knows full well that the career fields such tests offer range from menial office jobs to deep-sea fishing, seemingly at random. Still, such tests are developed carefully, no matter how little it seems like it at the time. This is perfectly displayed in this The Far Side comic, which showcases the range of jobs a vocational exam will suggest and the pinpoint accuracy they so often display within that same range.
When it comes to William Frederick «Buffalo Bill» Cody, careers in sales, advertising, and marketing research are all considered viable options. Slaughtering thousands upon thousands of free-ranging beasts across the American West is also an option, though many would argue things would be a bit more interesting in the United States if it weren’t. Such a meek portrayal of a figure typically depicted as a romanticized representation of the American West is hilarious, earning this The Far Side workplace comic its spot at number five.
4 The Far Side's Helpful Coworkers Aren't Always Helpful
This Can Lead to Funny Corrections, Though
When someone takes on a new job for the very first time, it can be an exhilarating experience. This is especially true when said job is in an industry they are already excited about. These opportunities are more than just a way to make money; they are a chance to dive into a whole new world, one replete with chances to step up and prove themselves as capable in their chosen field.
Of course, anyone who has trained a new employee has also probably encountered an over-eager coworker whose excitement makes them overlook very obvious facets of the job. Sometimes, that means explaining to the new person why their ideas won’t work out as hoped. Other times, it means kindly letting them down by pointing out that they might just be misreading the situation, such as explaining that the stack of crushed mice clearly indicates that the elephant being examined doesn’t need any further testing.
3 Being Distracted on the Job Can Has Explosive Results in The Far Side
When It Comes to Work, Concentration Is Key
For most people, going to work is a relatively lackluster affair. Commuting, clocking in, and grinding through the workday simply aren’t all that hazardous, at least not until they are. Working in hazardous industries might not be for everyone, but some are always willing to do it. The problem is that people are inherently human, which means that when life gets overwhelming, it can be impossible to focus on anything else.
This is especially true with problems related to romance, as this funny The Far Side comic demonstrates. Putting everything else out of one’s mind is an all-too-valuable skill when working such hazardous jobs. And, when that hazardous job just so happens to be bomb disposal, there really is no greater strength than the ability to focus solely on the task at hand, something which is tragically lacking where The Far Side‘s bomb disposal Bob is concerned.
2 Fourth Wall Breaks Aren't Conducive to an Upward Career Trajectory
They Are, However, Relatable and Hilarious
Though plenty of people genuinely love their jobs, there are just as many, if not more, who struggle with callous, cold, occasionally outright cruel bosses. Maybe they are perpetually in a bad mood, or maybe a personal grudge is being held, yet there is no doubt that an irate manager can make even the best of careers into an absolute slog. Thankfully, it is usually easy to navigate such a working relationship without devolving into one where somebody is losing their job.
Tragically, the same can’t be said for The Far Side‘s Lewis. Despite keeping his opinions of his boss to himself, Lewis made the all too easy mistake of forgetting that his life exists within the confines of a single-panel newspaper comic. At that rate, any personal thoughts are bound to be displayed in a thought bubble, making them readily available for anyone to read, including his fourth wall-breaking boss in an unfortunate, albeit funny, situation.
1 Gary Larson's The Far Side Takes Workplace Pranks Too Far
The Hilarious Set-Up Cuts off Before the Inevitable Ensuing Doom
There are few comics that speak to people’s sense of humor on quite as many levels as The Far Side. By its overt absurdism, The Far Side can pour on humor layer after layer, leading to gags that have kept readers laughing for decades. Gary Larson’s classic bag-popping scientist is among the most memorable, not just because of the comic’s explosive implications, which is why it is the best of his workplace comics.
The connotations of this comic are readily apparent, yet they are also nuanced across numerous levels. Although not every workplace has an office prankster, those that do quickly become a place where worry and unease override any semblance of ordinary activity. Coworkers can be left constantly on edge by inconsiderate pranksters’ antics, mostly when that workplace involves refining and developing giant missiles with the utmost precision.
