Gary Larson has a way of seeing the world through different lenses. He’s taken dozens of well-trodden concepts and had fun with them, including classical literature. It’s why The Far Side resonates so well with readers, even years after a comic strip has been published. When it comes to playing around with novels, The Far Side knows how to turn expectations upside down.
The best part about this comic strip is that one never knows what to expect. Will it be a comic full of dark or introspective humor? Or will it be a lighter comic that doesn’t require any deep thinking? The series certainly runs the gamut, but that’s part of the appeal.
10 Doctor Frankenstein Visits The Far Side
First Published: August 31, 1993
«Excuse me, but may I assume you’re not Dr. Livingstone?»
Goodness knows that there are famous «doctors» of the literary world. In this The Far Side comic, a character is on a grand quest (presumably) to find Doctor Livingstone, a Scottish physician immortalized by the phrase «Doctor Livingstone, I presume?» (which isn’t actually how the quote went, but that’s an entirely different debate). Unfortunately, the character has instead found a very different literary doctor.
Imagine how terrifying it would be to accidentally walk upon Dr. Frankenstein in the middle of the jungle. Worse, he seems to be in the middle of an experiment, and readers know how well that turned out! Granted, it’ll probably be worse for Frankenstein, but that hardly seems the point. Now would be a good time to start running — and fast!
9 The Little Engine That Could Probably Shouldn't
First Published: August 30, 1980
«I think I can. I think I can.»
The Little Engine That Could is an inspiring story about how one should keep on trying, even against all odds. For many children, it’s the first of many stories motivating them forward. Unfortunately, Larson’s The Far Side comic offers a good example of what happens when one repeatedly tries without looking ahead. However, none of what might follow should be considered The Little Engine’s fault.
Enter a tired cliche from the silent film era, in which a woman has been tied to the train tracks. This is usually done by some dastardly villain too cowardly to actually commit the foul deed themselves, leaving it in the hands of an unsuspecting train conductor, or in this case, the Little Engine That Could. This Little Engine is in for a world of trauma if it can’t stop in time.
8 The Far Side Has the Perfect Book for Little Men
First Published: June 27, 1981
Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women, with the first publication hitting the shelves in 1868. It’s a semi-autobiographic tale about the March sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy. While the story is largely about Jo, the other sisters play a significant role in the tale, which has largely held up over the years. However, it seems pretty unlikely that this is the book being read in this The Far Side comic.
Here, readers see a cluster of three very small men, if the size of the furniture around them is anything to go by. They’re all eagerly reading a novel titled Little Women. Now, is this the book that Louisa May Alcott wrote, or is it another novel? One way or the other, it’s safe to assume that these guys are trying to learn more about women.
7 The Far Side Shows That Editing Is Never a Fun Process
First Published: February 6, 1982
Ask any author what the worst part of writing is, and they’ll probably say the editing. Editing is a brutal process, requiring writers to cut out weaker parts of the story to make the whole that much stronger. Sometimes, editing can also cause little problems, as writers focus too heavily on the details, such as an introductory phrase, character name, or grammar choice.
That is the concept this particular The Far Side comic has decided to play with, as a harried author (Herman Melville) is struggling with an iconic phrase of the novel. Moby Dick‘s famous first line is «Call me Ishmael.» However, it seems like the author hasn’t yet hit that point in writing, as many iterations can be seen strewn about the desk.
6 Peter Pan Hit the Window a Little Too Hard
First Published: March 9, 1982
«My word, Walter! … Sounded like a good-size bird just hit the window.»
Over the years, Gary Larson has established a reputation for his surreal humor, and this comic from March 1982 perfectly showcases why. In this comic, a couple has been rudely interrupted by a thud on their window. Naturally, they assume some poor bird has hit the window, which is enough to put any animal lover in a tizzy.
However, this is where the comic takes a turn, as there is no bird at the base of the window! A boy has struck the window. More accurately, it’s the one and only Peter Pan. Peter Pan is famous for his refusal to grow up. Based on the clothing, it feels safe to assume that it is, in fact, Peter Pan who has received a concussion while flying around the suburbs. This is why one always has to pay attention when flying.
5 Salman Rushdie's Novel Gets a New Title
First Published: March 1, 1991
«The Atlantic Versus»
Every now and then, Gary Larson will throw out a comic that reminds readers of just how sharp and quick-witted he is. Actually, scratch that, many of his comics do that. Comics like these simply go the extra mile. In this comic, readers will see a fish reading a book. Silly, but not that deep, right? Wrong! The fish is reading a book titled The Atlantic Versus by Salmon Rushdie.
In other words, this The Far Side comic from March 1991 is a satirical take on another infamous novel. The inspiration in question is The Satanic Verses, written by Salman Rushdie. It’s easy to see where the pun and inspiration for this comic came from, but it still feels borderline out of left field.
4 The Picture of Dorian Gray Looks Different in The Far Side Universe
First Published: December 25, 1986
The portrait of Dorian Cow»
Oscar Wilde published a widely popular novel titled The Picture of Dorian Gray in 1890. It’s a classic gothic horror following Dorian Gray, a handsome and wealthy man whose life is turned upside down following the completion of a commissioned painting. There’s much more to it than that, as Dorian quickly learns that the portrait captures his true self, leaving the original him unmarred.
Larson has once again taken a classic book and turned it on its head. Here, a cow named Dorian is happily reading the newspaper while a decrepit portrait hangs in the background. The story is clear as Dorian stays young and beautiful in the foreground. Meanwhile, his real nature shows in the painting behind him. Unlike Dorian Gray, this Dorian seems content to let this version of himself hang in plain sight.
3 This Far Side Character Looks a Little Familiar
First Published: August 21, 1980
«Oh, sure-white wales. … We’ve got plenty of them.»
Clearly, Gary Larson is a fan of Herman Melville, as this is not the first Far Side comic surrounding Moby Dick. The novel famously portrays Captain Ahab as he obsessively hunts the infamous white whale. He’s driven to madness and later dies because he simply cannot let the obsession go. It’s a long novel full of important lessons for the reader to take away.
However, those lessons shouldn’t stop one from having a bit of fun. For example, Larson took Ahab’s obsessive hunting and put it in a new light. This comic portrays a different side of Ahab’s hunt, as he winds up in a bar alongside an environmentalist. It’s safe to say that neither of these characters should trust the other. Based on the scene, it’s likely the whale lover happily led Ahab astray.
2 The Far Side's Whales Get a Letter from Their Son
First Published: December 4, 1986
«Moby’s parents»
Even those who have never read the classic Moby Dick are likely to be familiar with the core premise and its characters. It’s that ingrained in society at this point. That helps to explain this comic, which happens to portray Moby’s parents. Yes, that’s right, the infamous white whale would logically have parents of his own, and apparently, they’re thrilled to have received a letter from him.
It’s safe to say that there are many layers to this Far Side comic. There’s the obvious commentary about Moby’s parents, as they’re a classic elderly couple, complete with reading glasses and a newspaper. Speaking of the newspaper, see that headline? A joke about plankton, of course. Leave it to Larson to include little details like that.
1 Tarzan Learns How to Say a Name
First Published: April 30, 1991
«My Tarzan! You Jane!»
Even before Disney got its hands on the story, most people were familiar with the tale of Tarzan. It’s the story of a boy raised by great apes (gorillas in the Disney version) in the middle of the jungle before eventually meeting the love of his life, Jane. This is the butt of many jokes, as Tarzan didn’t exactly have a foundational understanding of the English language. Apparently, Gary Larson has decided to take the joke in another direction.
In this Far Side comic, readers can see Tarzan carefully practicing his introduction to Jane. It’s a shockingly relatable moment, as most people have done this at least once in their lives, usually while mentally preparing for a conversation with a crush. Naturally, Tarzan completely blows it, falling back on his stereotypical ways and shouting out the most embarrassing introduction of all time.
