In the realm of comic art, The Far Side stands out for its brilliant use of wordplay and absurd comedy. Gary Larson, the creative genius behind the series, had a unique talent for twisting familiar phrases and tropes, turning them into laugh-out-loud moments that resonate even decades after their original publication.
One of the hallmarks of Larson’s comedy is his ability to take well-known jokes and transform them through his distinct lens of humor. This article unveils ten memorable Far Side cartoons, each of which reinterprets classic jokes that many readers will instantly recognize.
10 The Classic Slapstick with a Unique Twist
First Published: September 12th, 1983
This Far Side cartoon takes a well-trodden slapstick gag—an elephant slipping on a banana peel—and enhances its humor. With no need for captions, the drawing showcases an embarrassed elephant reclining next to the peel, effectively communicating the punchline through visual comedy.
Slipping on a banana peel has become synonymous with comedy, providing an easy laugh. Larson’s choice of an elephant amplifies this gag, bringing a fresh perspective to an age-old joke.
9 “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?”Reimagined
First Published: October 5th, 1984
This comic introduces a clever twist on the familiar chicken joke. When a chicken returns home covered in blond feathers, its partner challenges him with, “You crossed the road just to get to the other side?” This humorous inquiry presents a new narrative, suggesting other possible scenarios behind the chicken’s adventure.
8 “Can You Make Him Drink?”
First Published: January 22nd, 1981
Another classic joke finds new life in this cartoon, where a horse walks into a bar. The humor lies not just in the horse’s entry but in the response, “But can you make him drink?” This line cleverly combines the popular idiom about leading horses to water with a comedic twist, layering humor upon humor.
7 “It’s Genghis Khan! Made You Look.”
First Published: March 17th, 1987
This cartoon illustrates the timeless joy of fooling a friend. A soldier mistakenly alerts his colleague to an approaching Genghis Khan, only to follow with the punchline “Made you look.” This juvenile yet effective gag reminds us of the fun found in playful deception.
6 “Houdini Escapes From a Black Hole”
First Published: November 21st, 1987
The Far Side also takes a jab at famous escape artist Harry Houdini with, “Houdini escapes from a black hole.” This succinct cartoon humorously suggests that Houdini’s escape artistry could take on the unimaginable, pushing the boundaries of comedic expectations.
5 “Snakes Try to Chew Gum and Crawl at the Same Time”
First Published: March 15th, 1986
This cartoon reveals some hilarity in biology as snakes battle to “chew gum and crawl at the same time.” This joke combines the absurdity of serpents attempting an inherently human task, drawing parallels between human challenges and those faced by snakes.
4 “I Was Taking You Quite Literally When You Said You Had One in the Oven”
First Published: August 1st, 1990
In a humorous twist on fairy tale tropes, this cartoon showcases a dialogue between witches. When one reveals her pregnancy, her friend humorously remarks that she took the phrase “a bun in the oven” far too literally, providing a whimsical interpretation of an idiom familiar to us all.
3 “Here’s One of the Mysteries of the Universe. .. Which Came First?”
First Published: July 15th, 1980
Chickens are notoriously associated with philosophical debates, and this comic portrays them pondering the age-old question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. As one chicken points to a chart, it humorously emphasizes the absurdity of this perennial mystery.
2 “Anyone See What Happened Here?”
First Published: June 2nd, 1992
In this clever twist, the comic takes the chicken-and-egg debate into a whole new territory. With a chicken and a shattered egg lying on a bar floor, a cowboy’s question “Anyone see what happened here?” raises the stakes of this classic conundrum to comical heights.
1 The Aspiration of Chickens: Crossing the Road
First Published: June 12th, 1991
In this quintessential cartoon, Larson revisits the classic question of why chickens cross roads. A chicken stands before a sign that reads “Why do you need a reason?” Larson brings clarity to the jest, emphasizing that sometimes, there simply isn’t a reason needed—an amusing conclusion to the age-old riddle.