Summary
According to creator Gary Larson,The Far Sidewas designed to do more than just make readers laugh – it was meant totest what he called their “What-the?” reflex, a driving artistic ethos that resulted in some of the strangest, most inscrutable installments in the legendary fifteen-year run of the syndicated comic strip.
During its time in publication,Far Sidereaders were just as likely to open their morning papers to the comic section and find a laugh-out-loudFar Sidepanel as they were one thatconfused, and even shocked them, or alternatively, one that left them thoroughly puzzled.
Larson was not shy about admitting that some of his most obtuse punchlines were as mystifying to him as they were to readers, but in each case, hebelieved that they would still get a reaction out of his audience – even if it left them asking “What-the?” and begging to know “Why?”
12 Far Side Comics From 1981 That Make Readers Go “What The?”
The Far Side could be hilarious , but as often as it was intended to make readers laugh, it was designed to leave them scratching their heads.
12The Far Side’s “Absurdity” Came From Twisting The Familiar
First Published: July 22, 2025
The humor ofThe Far Sideis often called “surreal,” “absurd,” and “downright bizarre,” and on any given day, it could be all of these things and more. Just as often, however, the comic provided a warped reflection of the familiar, as if reality had been filtered through the idiosyncratic mind of Gary Larson.
This is a great example, as one ofThe Far Side’smany men in trench coatstries tosell “hoofed animals”– depicted standing in the shadows of an alleyway, looking concerned – to a passerby on the street.While the real-life phenomenon Larson is representing is evident, the confluence of elements the artist has brought together here will have most readers asking “What-the?” before any guffaw or chuckle.
11The Far Side’s “Darkness” Resulted From Gary Larson’s Refusal To Hold Back
First Published: July 12, 2025
WithThe Far Side, writer/artistGary Larson was no stranger to criticism, something that he resolutely refused to let impact or alter his sensibilities. Instead, in addition to the “What-the?” reflex, Larson also produced panels that specifically targeted another reflex; these cartoons were expressly intended to make the reader exclaim “My god!”
This comic is a great example of both:a line of ants carry a nonplussed-looking infant toward their ant hill, clearly viewing it as food, only to be admonished that it won’t fit through the opening of their colony.The comic raises many equally unsettling and perplexing questions, which, by design, will have readers asking for – perhaps even demanding – answers, which are not likely to be forthcoming.
10The Far Side’s “Weirdness” Was A Calculated Effort
First Published: August 14, 2025
Among the many memorable recurring elements that proliferatedThe Far Sideduring its run wasGary Larson’s regular inclusion of monsters. There was good reason for this – like all of Larson’s regular motifs, monsters represented exactly the kind of intrusion on reality that Gary Larson excelled at depicting.
This cartoon makes that literal,as two men sitting at a bar are interrupted by a horrifying monster – with multiple, angry-looking eyes, a pincer mouth, and razor-sharp claws –bursting through the wall. Though seemingly called forth by one of the men opening the wrong kind of beer, once again, this strip asks far more questions than it answers. While the panel, andThe Far Sidein general, undoubtedly qualify as “weird,” that weirdness always served a deliberate purpose, even if the purpose was not always overtly comedic.
9Gary Larson’s “Punchlines” Weren’t Always A Laughing Matter
First Published: July 25, 2025
The Far Sidefrequently featured clowns, who naturally appeared in some of the strip’s goofiest entries. This is an example of a more subtle use of a clown character; while the joke of the panel will become evident upon closer examination,initially readers' attention is drawn to the contrast between the conventionally-attired characters occupying most of the frame, and the solitary clown sitting in their midst, looking sly pleased with himself.
It is important to note that Gary Larson’s “What-the?“Far Sidepanels were not always entirely inscrutable – often the humor registered after a few moments, or after more detailed scrutiny. That said, Larson professed that the initial reaction to his work was the one that he prioritized, and for most, the first reaction to this comic will be “What-the?”
8Gary Larson’s Habit Of Depicting Scenes “In Media Res” Led To Many Questions
First Published: August 09, 2025
ThroughoutThe Far Side, Gary Larson exhibited akeen ability to capture a single moment, frequently leaving readers to ponder questions such as “how did these characters get here?” and “what happens next?” Here,two men who are apparently spying on someone – with one depicted using a telescope, while the other has a pair of binoculars hanging from his belt – are in fact under surveillance themselves, as one sticks his face in front of a camera, and appears on a family’s big screen TV as they gather to watch him.
The scenario of thisFar Sidepanel will leave as many readers scratching their heads as chuckling. The details of the cartoon are inexplicable – deliberately eschewing many the traditional “who” “what” and “why” of storytelling in a way that Gary Larson realized the comic medium was uniquely suited for.
7The Far Side Regularly Left Readers Begging To Know “Why?”
First Published: July 20, 2025
ThisFar Sidepanel is a pure “What-the?” comic in the sense that it will invariably leave readers wondering how Gary Larson came up with the idea. Larson himself said that hedidn’t know where his ideas came from; rather, he followed an intuitive creative sense, and trusted his sense of humor. Considering how many outright hilarious jokes came from this process, it is clear that the artist’s faith in himself was largely well-placed.
Still, even at times when a joke was obvious,as in this panel where the words “THIS SIDE UP” are painted in massive letters on Earth’s North Pole, it is clear that Larson’s intent was less to elicit uproarious laughter than to provoke a cautiously bemused chuckle, less at the humor of theFar Sidecomic than at its very existence in itself.
“Confusing, Obtuse, Esoteric, And Strange”: Gary Larson Felt the Same Way About Far Side Comics As His Readers
Gary Larson was often as perplexed by The Far Side’s humor as his audience was; at one point, he offered the perfect description of the comic strip.
6Gary Larson’s Warped “Slice Of Life Moments” Were A Staple Of The Far Side
First Published: June 27, 2025
Once more, the punchline of thisFar Sidecomic lies in its inversion – or perhaps more aptly, subversion – of ideas and situations that readers would readily recognize. Here,a boy and his father stand in front of a pet shop window, as the boy pleads with his father to buy him “the little brown one.”
Were he pointing to a puppy, there might be little to distinguish thisFar Sidestrip from a Norman Rockwell painting. Given that this is a Larson, however, and not a Rockwell, the boy ispointing at a snake instead. Certainly, snakes make beloved pets for many people, but just as many audience members are likely to look at this panel and think “What-the?”
5Far Side Romances Were Some Of The Comic’s Biggest “What-the?” Moments
First Published: August 18, 2025
For readers acclimated to the quirks ofThe Far Side, who accepted that they were at the mercy of Gary Larson’s whims and caprices, anthropomorphized animals in unexpected situations became standard. In this panel, that serves as the foundation for an obvious joke, which gives way to a unique “What-the?” moment.
Far Sideromances perhaps had a higher-than-average share of “What-the?” moments, but this one stands out; not just because of the illicit nature of a wolf-and-sheep love affair, but because of the wildly different way the characters are portrayed by the comic’s caption.While the wolf “worried excessively"about the societal implications of his love, “Agnes simply ate the flowers"that had been presented to her. From concept, to execution, every stage of this cartoon will leave readers incredulous – but they will almost certainly have a smile on their face at the same time.
4Leaving Readers Asking “What-the?” Was An Art Form For Gary Larson
First Published: July 30, 2025
Gary Larson was often self-deprecating about his skills as an illustrator, but his art – from his black-and-white pencil sketches, to panels rendered in fully-detailed color, such as this one – was much stronger than he gave himself credit for.
In some cases, however,Larson played with deliberately “bad” art; this is one example, astwo characters are depicted in bed with their facial features askew, which is attributed to “morning face.“This is also another example ofThe Far Side’spenchant for tweaking the familiar to become something ridiculous – though rather than uproarious laughter, this one is more apt to result in raised eyebrows, in this case likely wondering how the author made the jump from “bed head” and “morning breath” to “morning faces.”
3Far Side Comics Often Left Readers Wondering “What’s Going On Here?”
First Published: June 04, 2025
Once again, thisFar Sidepanel takes a recognizable social situation and flips it. Here, a man insists onputting out a decoration in front of company – one that appears to be a lamp in the form of a disembodied head.
By design, readers' attention will be drawn to the lamp, with its head drawn in the familiar style shared by manyFar Sidecharacters, but will quickly be left with a host of questions about the scene. Interestingly, Gary Larson noted that some of hisFar Sidecomicsoriginated as short stories before he “adapted” them into comic form; with that in mind, readers who find themselves asking “What-the?” upon viewing this comic might be comforted – if only slightly – to know that there may be more to it, even if it will remain inaccessible to them.
