Dark funny cartoons by Rubes Cartoons deliver the perfect storm of wit, weirdness, and just enough absurdity to make you chuckle and cringe at the same time. This review highlights 20 of Leigh Rubin’s best works — each one a brilliantly twisted snapshot of life through the lens of a warped sense of humor. Whether it’s animals behaving like people or people doing what animals shouldn’t, Rubes nails the sweet spot of single-panel brilliance.
About the Artist: Leigh Rubin and the Legacy of Rubes
Leigh Rubin, the mastermind behind Rubes Cartoons, has been tickling funny bones since the 1980s. Syndicated worldwide and featured in over 400 newspapers, his cartoons specialize in surreal, single-panel absurdities where cows give unsolicited life advice and dinosaurs dine on fine cheese.
Rubin’s career is filled with highlights, including speaking engagements at comic cons and university lectures on creativity. His signature themes often blend dark comedy, anthropomorphic animals, and clever wordplay — all wrapped in his distinctively clean and colorful cartooning style.
#1 The Asteroid’s Hot Take.
The irony in this one is asteroid-level brilliant. While humans are relieved they dodged disaster, the asteroid itself delivers the real burn: Earth is already a mess! A cosmic roast with a twist that’s out of this world.
#2 Elephant in the Bathroom.
Two elephants, one clogged toilet, and a plunger with PTSD. This one turns your everyday plumbing disaster into a heavy-duty punchline. Gloria knew better — always trust the matriarch.
#3 Evolution Has Questions
Opposable thumbs? Check. Intelligent apes? Getting there. Understanding tools? Not so fast. A clever commentary on evolution and education — with a rock-solid punchline.
#4 Writer’s Block, Cowboy Edition.
A cowboy troubadour channels his inner Shakespeare — only to fall victim to the dreaded “writer’s…” Yep. The punchline gets cut off mid-thought, but we all know the diagnosis.
#5 Skepticism Level 1000.
Skeptics Anonymous… or is it? The doubt starts at the door in this existential gag that questions everything, including itself. Brilliantly meta.
#6 Godzilla Gets Fancy.
Gorgonzola meets Godzilla in this cheese-fueled twist on monster tropes. With a glass of wine and pinkie raised, this lizard’s got class — and a killer appetite.
#7 Cock-a-Doodle Career Advice.
Climbing the pecking order takes hustle. A pig delivers tough-love wisdom to a hopeful chick, and suddenly, barnyard life feels like an office comedy. Pay your dues, feathered intern.
#8 Suburban Delights.
The mice are moving up in life thanks to cats as Uber Eats. Gourmet “carcass snacks” and feline deliveries — suburban living has never looked so morbidly convenient.
#9 Loves Me Not… Mutual.
A man plucks petals in hope, but the flower’s inner monologue says, “Not today, Romeo.” Love hurts, especially when even flora isn’t feeling it.
#10 Timeshare Hell.
You’re stranded on a desert island, and somehow the biggest threat isn’t dehydration — it’s a guy with brochures. This panel is painfully (and hilariously) relatable.
#11 Avogadro’s Inspiration.
Chemistry nerds, rejoice. A mob of molehills sparks a eureka moment — and a perfectly punny take on scientific discovery. Bonus points for sneaking in actual math.
#12 Goldfish Happy Hour.
Two fish meet up at the local bar (a.k.a. fishbowl corner). It’s the aquatic equivalent of “Same place, same time?” but way more bubbly.
#13 Poetry and Doggerel.
A pup swallows his own homework — again. But it’s poetry class, and what follows is a pun so groan-worthy it deserves extra credit.
#14 The Easter Bunny’s Dark Side.
That pink egg wasn’t dropped by accident. The Easter Bunny prefers revenge over belief. Hilarious — and a little unsettling for those who stopped believing in 2nd grade.
#15 Rookie Rodeo.
Hospital beds and rodeo dreams collide. The poor guy is mummified in bandages, proving once and for all — yes, it was his first rodeo.
#16 Culinary Catastrophe.
At the picky eaters potluck, untouched food becomes a badge of honor. A painfully accurate send-up of every awkward buffet you’ve ever survived.
#17 SPF 50 for Pharaohs.
Ancient Egypt meets modern sun care. Ramses needs sunscreen or risk incurring the wrath of Ra. Historically inaccurate? Sure. Hysterical? Absolutely.
#18 Mermaid Mystery.
Detectives investigate a fish in fishnets. Let that visual marinate. It’s noir meets nautical with just the right level of “what did I just see?”
#19 Laughter vs. Rage.
One bucket of water ends this hybrid therapy session — and nearly starts a brawl. Some emotions just don’t mix, no matter what HR says.
#20 Fish Evolution Fails the Cat Test
Three cats react to evolution… poorly. The one spinning this tall tale is clearly on some next-level catnip. And we totally want some.
Final Thoughts
These dark funny cartoons by Rubes Cartoons are proof that humor doesn’t need a setup — just one panel, one twist, and one perfectly strange idea. Leigh Rubin’s ability to take the everyday and twist it into something hilariously unexpected is what makes Rubes an evergreen favorite among fans of surreal, witty humor.
Credit: All comics featured are by Leigh Rubin.
📌 Official Website: rubescartoons.com
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/RubesCartoons
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/rubescartoons
🔗 For more offbeat laughs and visual absurdity, check out Boredcomics.com
