In the whimsical universe of Gary Larson’s The Far Side, many characters find themselves mired in their own predicaments. Often, their misfortunes stem from personal errors—be it neglecting a crucial detail or compounding an already challenging situation. The comic strips feature a wide array of characters, including humans, animals, and extraterrestrials, each grappling with one significant regret that changes everything.
This article highlights twelve of Larson’s most humorous strips, all centered around the theme of major blunders. From aliens stranded on Earth to the miscalculations of history’s greatest escapists, these characters could have fared better had they made just one different choice.
12 Magazine
Could This Far Side Character Find Joy in the Afterlife?
In this opening comic, one character discovers the dullness of eternity upon arriving in Heaven. Faced with a lack of activities, he laments not bringing along a magazine, a simple item that could have added some excitement to his otherwise uneventful afterlife.
11 One Lousy Little Bee
Far Side’s Aliens: Not as Wise as They Think
This strip humorously illustrates how minor irritation can escalate into major crises. Here, alien characters misjudge a mere bee, leading them to crash-land on Earth. Their hopeless demeanor, set against the backdrop of approaching humans, underlines the absurdity of their predicament.
10 The First Drop of Rain
Far Side’s Humor Often Comes with High Stakes
This comic depicts a haphazard prison escape that leads the trio directly into a large body of water. In Larson’s signature dark humor, the moment captures the lead prisoner celebrating what he mistakenly believes is rain, just moments before calamity strikes.
9 Firefighters
No Captions Needed: Larson’s Visual Comedy
In another iconic Larson comic, firefighters attempt a daring rescue using a lifenet, only for their equipment to backfire. Instead of jumping to safety, the woman soars into another flaming building, leaving the firefighters and the situation in chaos—perfectly encapsulating Larson’s knack for visual humor.
8 Let Me Drive!
Exploring Road Safety with a Touch of Humor
In The Far Side, Larson highlights humorous road incidents, from bears hijacking cars to bizarre interactions with mythical creatures. Amidst the absurdity, there are relatable moments, such as an innocent bird plotting to vandalize a car—reminding us of everyday nuisances.
7 Houdini’s Final Undoing
Even the Greatest Escape Artist Fails in The Far Side
Houdini encounters a comical demise, entrapped by a simple finger trap toy. This nod to his legendary escapism contrasts hilariously with his ultimate failure. Interestingly enough, Larson found the creation of this strip particularly challenging, striving to balance a grave yet humorous portrayal.
What we have here is a decomposed body, with the main focus on the head. If it’s too gruesome, it doesn’t work. If it’s too corny, it doesn’t work…for me, this meant draw, erase, draw, erase…for hours. I couldn’t get it, although I think in the end I got sort of close.
6 The Anderson Brothers
The Consequences of Disrespecting Nature
In Larson’s universe, tampering with nature rarely ends well. The comic featuring the brothers carelessly tossing a bear cub captures the imminent danger posed by its furious mother, demonstrating Larson’s effective use of foreground and background to convey tension in a single-frame format.
5 A New Dryer
A Glimpse of Far Side’s Most Unfortunate Character
This strip tells the lighthearted tale of a cleaning lady who inadvertently activates a time machine, leading her to the age of dinosaurs. Her fate is grim, as she finds herself pursued by a T-Rex. Despite her pivotal mistake, it’s tough to fault someone for meddling with technology they barely comprehend.
4 Wings Fall Off
A Comic Highlighting Misplaced Blame
In this darkly comedic strip, Ted unwittingly activates a button that detaches his airplane’s wings, transforming it into an oversized projectile. While his mistake is clear, the ridiculousness of such a feature being accessible to passengers raises eyebrows about airline safety practices.
3 Center for the Study of Viral Pathology
Researchers Drop the Ball in a Viral Crisis
Here, Larson tackles a scenario where two scientists inadvertently risk public health by dropping a vial of a dangerous virus. Their comical underreaction underscores the absurdity of the situation, capturing Larson’s unique ability to frame dark themes with humor, questioning the logic of their proximity to an open window.
2 Roy Dooms the Entire Earth
The Comic That Could End All Existence
In another gripping Far Side comic, we see a farmer unwittingly leading to Earth’s destruction by mistaking an alien’s gesture for a friendly handshake. His blissful ignorance, paired with the incredibly dire outcome, creates a juxtaposition that perfectly encapsulates Larson’s comedic style.
1 Uh-Oh
A Humorous Spin on the Book of Genesis
In perhaps one of his most controversial strips, Larson depicts God as accidentally releasing humanity into the world. This framing of divine creation is complemented by several other gags depicting God’s bemusement, from trivial yet comedic scenarios to His interactions with humanity punishing Himself with modern technology.
These twelve comics portray the humor in human—and non-human—errors, ranging from alien encounters to cosmic mishaps, all wrapped in Gary Larson’s unique comedic vision.