Gary Larson Far Side art – Comic/Cartoon Review

Gary Larson Far Side art is the comedic equivalent of a caffeine jolt with a dash of surrealism—it wakes you up and scrambles your brain in the most delightful way. This is a comic/cartoon review of 20 Far Side panels that prove why Larson’s work is still quoted, shared, and stuck on fridges decades after its original run. Strap in for absurd cows, philosophical chickens, sarcastic devils, and enough unexpected punchlines to make your coffee shoot out your nose.

About Gary Larson

Gary Larson, the reclusive genius behind The Far Side, ruled the newspaper funnies from 1980 to 1995, appearing in nearly 1,900 papers. His humor blended dark absurdity, animal mischief, and oddly specific human situations that felt just a bit too real. Twice a Reuben Award winner and forever a pop culture staple, Larson is known for spawning phrases like “cow tools” and inspiring endless coffee-table collections. His knack for distilling entire worlds of humor into a single panel remains unmatched—quirky, brainy, and a little dangerous for anyone holding a full beverage.

#1 Civil War’s Quiet Irony

Near Gettysburg, 1863—a soldier in full armor polishes his helmet while history unfolds outside. Larson’s knack for dropping the wrong character in the right era is on glorious display.

#2 Cinema’s Tallest Problem

A packed theater, two giraffe-like moviegoers—and suddenly you know exactly what it feels like to sit behind them. Painfully relatable.

#3 Moo-ving Fast Food

“Minute” steaks explained—by cows grazing with suspicious clock-hand patterns. Larson weaponizes puns like nobody else.

#4 Hell’s Pizza Policy

The Devil himself refuses a delivery order. The gag works on two levels: the “We deliver anywhere!” sign and the universal truth that not even hell wants cold pizza.

#5 Russell’s Classroom Antics

A student preps a Rube Goldberg contraption mid-lesson. Proof that some kids don’t need attention, they manufacture it.

#6 The Asparagus Incident

Failed marketing ploys: the asparagus ice cream truck with a rhyming slogan that guarantees no one’s appetite survives.

#7 Pinocchio’s Post-Truth Years

Grown-up Pinocchio telling tall tales to kids, his nose once again giving him away. The man’s still wooden, just in a more jaded way.

#8 Lunar Lycanthropy Twist

Siamese twins at the doctor’s—one insists the other turns into a werewolf on full moons. It’s so specific you almost believe him.

#9 Chickens With a Past

A chicken’s mate returns home “covered in blond feathers.” So much for the old “just crossed the road” excuse.

#10 Carnivore Café

A pig casually orders “ham and eggs” in a diner full of farm animals. Awkward silence follows.

#11 Monster Punch-In Time

Two monsters over coffee discuss their schedule. Turns out even closet monsters have time clocks.

#12 Couch Cushion Cryptid

Lost pet? Nope—Andrew’s been living under the couch cushions along with a hairbrush and possibly an ecosystem.

#13 Crosswalk Conspiracy

Aliens disguised as pedestrian signal lights plot Earth’s downfall. We’ve all been warned.

#14 Sled Team Shenanigans

Dog sledding turns into a human “crack the whip” game. It’s the most Canadian disaster imaginable.

#15 Caveman Contractor Shock

An “early plumber” discovers modern plumbing… and the invoice practically writes itself.

#16 Caffeinated Mayhem

Carl’s had too much coffee—and possibly a vendetta against the TV. Decaf for life, buddy.

#17 Spinach-Fueled Chaos

A bar fight erupts after a sailor eats spinach. A sly nod to Popeye with Larson’s trademark aftermath-focus.

#18 Ancient Accessibility

An elaborate sacrificial altar… with a wheelchair ramp. It’s wrong, it’s right, it’s Larson.

#19 Legendary Lake Loon

Two boaters spot the mythical “Character of the Lake.” The lake is never boring if you look close enough.

#20 Amphibian Road Rage

Two frogs in a car argue about driving—ending with the perfect obscure insult: “pithed.”

Closing Thoughts

Gary Larson’s Far Side isn’t just funny—it’s an exercise in turning the ordinary inside out and making you see the absurd hiding in plain sight. These 20 panels show why his work endures: the blend of everyday truth, wild imagination, and humor that occasionally makes you question reality itself.

Credit: All featured comics are the brilliant work of Gary Larson. You can explore more of his art at the official The Far Side® website. Larson’s distinctive style continues to inspire cartoonists and crack up fans worldwide.

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