The Far Sideis known for veering into absurd territory with its subversive take on comedy, but it can also be surprisingly relatable despite its wacky reputation. After all, Gary Larson’s work largely consists of taking familiar elements of everyday life and channeling them through a lens that isn’t quite so familiar, thereby “defamiliarizing” the reader in order to catch them off guard.
The Far Sidemanages to be more relatable than it’s given credit for.
Essentially, althoughThe Far Sidesometimes comes off as confusing - andLarson’s work can certainly be weird- it’s all grounded by real-life experiences. As such, there are plenty of comics from the series' run that readers can see their own daily experiences represented in. The characters may not always look like ordinary people, since many of Larson’s cartoons staranimals, butThe Far Sidemanages to be more relatable than it’s given credit for.
10The Worst Thing About Movie Theaters
First Published: July 14th, 1988
This first comic employsThe Far Side’s signature method of telling a storywithout a caption, letting Gary Larson’s art convey everything the reader needs to know. In this particular case, a crowd is seated at amovie theaterand seems to be enjoying whatever film they’re watching, though that’s about to change as a group of tall men arrive.The men prepare to take the open seats in the front row, blocking three children’s view.
Any frequent moviegoers are sure to cringe upon seeing this cartoon. There’s always that one tall person who sits in the front row and ruins the experience. These men seem fully aware of what they’re doing, and they aren’t ashamed of being a nuisance to all the rows behind them.
9"You Little Softies! When I Was Your Age…."
First Published: February 3rd, 1994
Inhuman creatures, such as thewormspictured above, often take center stage inThe Far Side. As different as they may appear, though, they can be as relatable as any human. For example, this comic features an elderly worm speaking to his grandchildren. Frustrated with how “soft” the next generation has become, he remarks,“You little softies! When I was your age, I had to crawl 14 inches to the surface and back! Every day!”
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We’ve all been in the position of the younger worms, forced to listen to an elder drone on about the hardships they endured that “kids these days” couldn’t handle. On the other hand, we’re all doomed to become the older worm whether we like it or not, giving this comic a new perspective.
8"You Wanna Say Okay, Ernie?"
First Published: March 8th, 1986
Dog ownerswill be able to relate to this one, but those who aren’t fans of pets can also get a laugh here. A man is showing off his pet to his friend Ernie, listing off the many tricks he can pull off just like any dog owner tends to do with guests. Of course, seeing as this isThe Far Side, there’s a twist: the man’s pet is an alligator, not a dog.
The alligator sits with a chicken perched on its snout, and its owner says to Ernie,“He’ll keep that chicken right there until I say okay…. You wanna say okay, Ernie?“Anyone who’s visited someone with a large dog understands the feeling of facing a pet who comes off as terrifying to an outsider.
7"Same Planet, Different Worlds”
First Published: July 19th, 1986
Even the best sleepers can resonate with being kept up at night by one’s own thoughts, as it’s an experience that has plagued everyone at some point. This comic is split into two panels - ararity forThe Far Side- and presents two different late-night musings. In the top panel, a man worries about whether a woman he’s interested in knows he exists. The woman in question, meanwhile, has something entirely different on her mind that’s preventing her from falling asleep:“You know, I think I really like vanilla.”
In his usual joking fashion,Gary Larson illustrateshow everyone’s late-night thoughts are unique. This comic can also be interpreted as a commentary on how the things that keep us up at night don’t always matter that much.
6"One Lousy Little Bee Gets Inside”
First Published: August 11th, 1981
Believe it or not, evenaliens can be relatableinThe Far Side, and this comic proves it. These two aliens find themselves stranded after their spaceship crash lands on Earth, and this visual brings plenty of potential scenarios to mind. Perhaps they ran out of fuel, or their ship was damaged in a battle of some kind. However, the actual explanation is far funnier - and it’s something most people have also been guilty of.
One of the aliens says to the other,“I can’t believe it! One lousy little bee gets inside and you just freak out!“Presumably, the alien had spotted a bee and steered the ship off course in a panicked frenzy. As it turns out, aliens are as frightened by bees as humans are.
5"I Just Don’t Feel the Relationship Working Out”
First Published: August 12th, 1980
Gary Larson has depicted the highs and lows - mostly the lows - of romance in his work, and this comic offers a humorous take on a breakup. A couple appears to be on a date at a restaurant, but it isn’t going too well, and the woman says,“Look. I just don’t feel the relationship working out.“He’s aporcupineand her face is covered in injuries from being pricked, so it’s clear that her gut feeling is accurate.
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Many unlikely couples try to push through their differences in the hope that they’ll work out in the end, but sometimes they need to pull the trigger and call it quits. Doing so is never easy, yet it’s often necessary to avoid ending up like this injured woman.
4"The Dentist Just Buzzed Me”
First Published: February 28th, 1994
No one likes going to the dentist, and thisFar Sidecomic elevatesthat feeling of dread by turning the dentist into a literal monster. A boy named Bobby waits with his mother for the dentist to be ready for his appointment, and the woman at the front desk finally indicates that it’s his turn to be seated in the chair. However, through the door’s window, Bobby sees the dentist as the horrific creature he truly is.
The dentist appears as a monster with pointed teeth and a green face, and he’s getting ready to conceal his features with a mask that resembles a human head.While most dentists in the real world are proper human beings, this sums up the average person’s warped perception of one.
3"The Squid Family on Vacation”
First Published: January 9th, 1988
Family vacations are a good idea in theory, but in practice, they can be agonizing to endure. Gary Larson shows an example of a trip gone wrong as afamily of squidsembark on what seems to be a long drive to their vacation destination. Keeping siblings in proximity to one another never bodes well, and one of them exclaims,“Mom! Jerry still won’t keep his tentacles on his own side!”
Meanwhile, the mother is glaring at her children, while the father looks like he’s contemplating whether he should turn the car around and drive back home. This comic speaks to the experience of anyone who’s been dragged on a vacation and forced to watch their family get on each other’s nerves.
2"Moby Dick: Chapter 1”
First Published: February 6th, 1982
There’s no shortage ofFar Sidecomics that chronicle “writer’s block”, seeing as Larson himself has likely struggled with it, and this comic is one of the most painfully relatable of the bunch. Here,the writer ofMoby Dicksits with his head in his hands as he struggles to come up with an opening line for his story. Each sheet of paper scattered around him has a variation of the iconic"Call me Ishmael"line written on it, but poor Herman Melville can’t quite crack it.
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This cartoon demonstrates that every author, including those who have written literary classics, gets afflicted with writer’s block from time to time. With that being said, if Melville can overcome it, then so can other creatives who relate to his woes.
1"Makes You Feel Sort of Small and Insignificant"
First Published: July 9th, 1980
This last panel seems simple at a glance, but it’s unexpectedly profound. Here, two ants lay on top of a mushroom beneath a starry sky. One of them comments,“Just look at those stars tonight…. Makes you feel sort of small and insignificant.“There’s an irony to ants feeling small, but humans can resonate with this idea as well.
Everyone’s pondered how insignificant we are compared to the vast expanse of space that stretches beyond us. Our lives may seem all-encompassing to us, but in the grand scheme of things, we may as well be ants watching the stars from a mushroom.The Far Sidecan get seriously bonkers with its humor, but the grounded moments that speak to the human experience are just as - if not more - compelling.
