Close to Home comics by John McPherson deliver a delightfully twisted look at everyday Life And this review is here to showcase ten of his funniest Works. John McPherson is the cartooning genius behind Close to Home, a long-running single-panel comic that’s graced newspapers and websites for decades. Launched in 1992 and syndicated by Andrews McMeel, the strip quickly gained a reputation for pushing the limits of family-friendly humor with offbeat, unpredictable punchlines.
Whether he’s poking fun at suburban life, the quirks of aging, or the strange corners of society, McPherson’s knack for observational comedy is Unmatched. His art style leans toward expressive caricatures with exaggerated features that amplify each gag’s hilarity. While some comics veer into dark humor, most remain rooted in everyday absurdity — the kind of humor that hits a little too close to home (pun intended). With a dedicated fanbase and features in countless major publications, McPherson has cemented his place among the legends of cartoon satire. If you’re into humor that makes you laugh and wince, you’re in the right place.
Profile info Facebook | Instagram Go Comics
1. The Left Turn That Wasn’t: Nail Salon Edition
What do a confused cop and freshly painted nails have in common? Miscommunication! This comic lands the punch by mashing up beauty routines with traffic law. The woman’s nonchalant excuse — “I wasn’t signaling a turn, I was drying my nails” — is delivered with such deadpan conviction that you can’t help but laugh. It’s the kind of absurdity we’ve all almost witnessed at a stoplight. Classic McPherson: turning the mundane into the ridiculous.
2. Ancient Fail: The Venus de Milo Backstory
So that’s what happened to her arms. This hilarious reimagining of the iconic statue’s fate gives us a peek behind the historical curtain — and into the chaos of ancient movers. The Zeus Movers guy looks like he’s about to lose more than a customer. The exaggerated panic on the characters’ faces makes the absurd scenario all the more believable. History nerds and slapstick lovers, unite!
3. Jealous of the Dog? Sleep on It, Buddy
Ah, the age-old triangle: wife, husband, and… dog? When the pet gets more bed space than the husband, it’s comedy gold. This panel thrives on its exaggerated domestic melodrama — the dog smugly curled up while the poor guy is exiled to the floor. And that zinger from the wife? Iconic. Every dog owner who’s lost pillow rights to their pup will relate.
4. Uber-ing the Heist? Criminally Bad Planning
Nothing screams modern chaos like criminals relying on Uber as a getaway car. This comic merges the digital age with criminal ineptitude in a way that’s hilariously on point. The absurdity escalates with every detail — from Jason’s cluelessness to the panicked passengers. Also, RIP Uncle Duncan — apparently the more reliable getaway driver. It’s heist humor for the TikTok generation.
5. Charlotte and Her… Service Beaver?!
This one dives straight into bizarre territory — and it’s brilliant. Charlotte can no longer trim her own toenails, so naturally, she gets a service beaver. The earnest look on her face paired with the beaver’s enthusiastic nibbling is a combo of gross, cute, and laugh-out-loud weird. It’s one of those “what did I just see?” gags that sticks with you.
6. Cubicle Culture Meets Razor Wire Realness
Office humor doesn’t get darker than this. Two workers marvel at razor wire strung across cubicle walls — apparently a company strategy to stop small talk. It’s a sharp (pun intended) take on corporate absurdity. The blank stares and grim commentary hit home for anyone stuck in soul-sucking office environments. File this under: “humor HR wouldn’t approve.”
7. The Yoga Class You’ll Never Forget
This hospital scene is the aftermath of what must’ve been the world’s most extreme yoga class. The caption? “Are you pressing charges against the yoga instructor?” — brutal and brilliant. Everything from the guy’s traumatized expression to the nurse’s casual concern makes this gag laughably twisted. It’s yoga meets ER, and we can’t stop giggling.
8. The Great Baseball Card Confession
This cartoon takes a darkly hilarious spin on family drama. Under a literal interrogation light, an elderly woman finally confesses: she threw out Brian’s baseball cards — in 1972. The way the scene mimics a crime thriller setup over such a mundane (but emotionally devastating) offense is genius. For any collector, this comic is both terrifying and hilarious.
9. TMI from Grandma: A Thong Too Far
The horror on these teenage boys’ faces says it all. Grandma casually asking about her missing “red pair and the sparkly ones” is enough to induce collective therapy. The comic captures that special kind of family embarrassment that hits you like a freight train — suddenly and with no escape. It’s raunchy, awkward, and pure comedic gold.
10. License Plate Pickup Line? Blind Date Nightmare
Imagine going on a blind date only to hear, “Hey, I made that license plate!” Yep — we’re diving headfirst into ex-con comedy. The mix of shock and dread on the woman’s face seals the gag. It’s a punchline you can practically hear echo in your own dating horror stories. One phrase, infinite awkwardness.
11. “The Office Window Replacement You Didn’t Ask For”
Nothing says “corporate compassion” like a scale model of the city skyline and three live pigeons delivered to your cubicle. This cartoon skewers the sad hilarity of workplace morale boosters that Try And fail to imitate actual human experiences. It’s the kind of joke that hits too close to home… literally.
12. “El Niño: Just a Little Damp… and Apocalyptic”
A homeowner stands confidently in his front yard, dismissing El Niño as “just three degrees warmer,” while a colossal tsunami-sized wall of rain towers behind him. McPherson mocks climate change denial with such exaggerated flair, it’s both genius and terrifyingly plausible.
13. “Mom’s New Zip Code: The Junior High Parking Lot”
When Shelley gets so burnt out from carpooling her kids that she literally moves into a tent outside the school, you know parenting has reached DEFCON 1. This comic masterfully captures the exhaustion of modern motherhood with a sleeping bag and some campfire eggs on the side.
14. “Dating App Disasters: Height Edition”
Elise shows up to a date and brings… a measuring tape. What follows is a brutal takedown of online dating dishonesty — and a not-so-subtle PSA that maybe, just maybe, you should be honest in your bio. This one is sharp, modern, and painfully accurate.
15. “The Sacred Phrase of Tech Support”
A lecture hall full of eager tech support trainees learns one holy truth: “Unplug your modem and router for one minute.” It’s hilarious because it’s true. The comic perfectly captures the robotic wisdom of every IT help desk you’ve ever called in desperation.
16. “Gullible Virus Now Comes With a $30K Co-Pay!”
Doctor visits can be nerve-wracking — but this one? Downright financially traumatizing. A doctor cheerfully explains that the virus “attacks the part of your brain that makes you gullible” before casually dropping a $30,000 copay bomb. American healthcare satire at its biting best.
17. “Plastic Surgery… for Poodles?”
A “veterinary plastic surgeon” presents various snout options to dog owners like a canine cosmetics catalog. It’s an uproarious jab at the vanity culture that’s apparently gone to the dogs. McPherson’s deadpan humor and imaginative absurdity shine through here.
18. “Winter’s Cruelest Joke: The Return of the Snow Plow”
Frank has just completed six grueling hours of shoveling when a truck barrels through his clean driveway, spraying snow like confetti at a pity party. The final “YEE HA!” from the driver is both infuriating and laugh-out-loud funny — especially if you’ve ever lived in a snowy suburb.
19. “Pulling a Rabbit Out of… the Delivery Room?”
An obstetrician who moonlights as a magician decides to “pull a rabbit out of a hat” during childbirth. Somehow, McPherson makes this disturbing image hilariously weird. The mix of hospital horror and vaudeville charm makes this a stand-out moment of surreal brilliance.
20. “Popcorn Pirates at the Theater”
A group of rogue moviegoers sets up a popcorn-smuggling ring with signs and all. This comic tackles outrageous concession stand prices with the flair of an undercover sting operation. It’s peak McPherson: bizarre, relatable, and hysterical.
Summery
From yoga injuries to service beavers and everything in between, these Close to Home comics by John McPherson are a masterclass in off-the-wall wit. McPherson continues to twist everyday scenarios into comedic gold, and honestly, we’re better for it.
Credit to John McPherson for keeping the awkward, weird, and wonderfully human moments Alive One panel at a time. For more laugh-out-loud cartoons, check out Boredcomics.com your next giggle is just a click away.
