The Far Sideis infamous for its idiosyncratic, iconoclastic humor, which makes it appeal to readers who consider themselves outsiders, in some way, shape, or form. While the“nerdy kid” became one of the strip’s greatest recurring figures, artist Gary Larson depicted loners, fringe-types, and outcasts in numerous ways over the years.
This list celebrates some ofThe Far Side’sbest cartoons about characters who stuck out like a sore thumb, went against the grain, and often were just plain out of place, as well as some that were otherwise out of sorts, or in one instance, actually falling apart.
The Far Side’s success was as much a product of creating art that readers recognized and related to, as much as it wasshocking and surprising them, and these panels perfectly illustrate that.
10Far Side Fans Know What It’s Like To Be Completely Out Of Sync With Everyone Around Them
First Published: July 30, 2025
ThisFar Sidebanjo cartoonis particularly metaphorically potent, as itdepicts a man in the bottom-left corner of the frame plucking his banjo as a classical orchestra tries to play nearby.The banjo player represents Larson himself, in a way, as an artist who stood out from the rest of his contemporaries; in turn, readers who know what it is like to be out of step with their peers will recognize themselves in this joke.
As a syndicated newspaper cartoon,The Far Sidehad many readers, who engaged with the comic for many different reasons, and reacted to it in many different ways, but in large part, people who becameFar Sidefans did so often did so because they found it relatable in some way, as much as they found it funny.
9Gary Larson Illustrates How It Feels For Some Introverts To Try To Socialize
First Published: Aug 21, 2025
On the surface, thisFar Sideclown cartoon is a silly throwaway visual gag; at a restaurant,a clown sits alone at a table, trying to look innocent, after having just stuck a suction-cup dart to the back of the bald patron at the adjacent table’s head. Some readers, however, will recognize a deeper meaning to this cartoon, especially those who have a hard time in social settings.
The Far Side’s “Chicken Of Depression” Comic (And How It Shows Off Gary Larson’s Technique Of Taking Things Too Literally On Purpose)
Despite the Far Side’s reputation for sowing confusion, Gary Larson’s humor was often overly literal, as his “Chicken of Depression” comic shows.
That is, intentionally or not, with this comic, Gary Larson captures the sensation of trying to socialize, only to wind up feeling like a clown, or a weirdo, or worst of all, a bother. The clown here has tried to connect in the only way he knows how – which doesn’t seem to stand a high chance of being well-received.
8The Far Side Highlights How Intimidating The Dating Game Can Be
First Published: July 15, 2025
The Far Sidefeatured a surprising number of miniature peoplethroughout its run, providing Gary Larson with a unique way of subverting normal interpersonal dynamics. That is the case here, but Larson also goes a step further and also uses the mini-character’s internal monologue to double down on his thematic point, asa mini-man works up the nerve to talk to a normal-sized woman at a bar, except he has no clue whatsoever what he’s doing.
Talking to the opposite sex can be intimidating for introverts, or more generally, anyone who lacks a certain level of self-confidence. In moments like this, they might feel a fraction of their size – which Larson literalizes here – and fumble the opportunity to flirt completely, such as by being “shy and vulnerable” rather than engaging and self-assured.
7A Far Side Ode To Anyone Who Has Struggled With The Basics
First Published: August 09, 2025
Once again, thisFar Sidecartoon seems simple – superfluous, even – but it actually resonates with many readers far more deeply than Gary Larson ever expected, or intended. On the surface, the joke seems to be about a character who is too unintelligent to dress himself thathe needs a giant note on his wall that says “first pants, then your shoes,” but anyone who has struggled with depression will acknowledge how difficult and overwhelming the most simple tasks can seem sometimes.
To reiterate, this wasn’t necessarily what Larson was going for with thisFar Sidepanel, but like any truly great art, his panels have a way of taking on a life and a meaning of their own, created by the response of generations of readers as they continue to engage with his body of work.
6Everyone Feels Like They’re Falling Apart Sometimes, Especially On The Far Side
First Published: August 08, 2025
This is anotherFar Sidecartoon that people struggling with mental health, or even just day-to-day motivation to get out of bed, will find relatable. At first glance, it is aplay on the “Little Piggies” nursery rhyme,featuring a man who wakes up to discover that the big toe on his left foot is gone, with a note saying “gone to market” stuck in its place.
The Far Side Complete Collection
Fans of the far side can’t pass up this master collection of Gary Larson’s finest work. Originally published in hardcover in 2003, this paperback set comes complete with a newly designed slipcase that will look great on any shelf. The Complete Far Side contains every Far Side cartoon ever published, which amounts to over 4,000, plus more than 1,100 that have never before appeared in a book and even some made after Larson retired.
However, it is worth taking a closer look at the character’s disheveled state, and his look of resignation, rather than horror or concern. This makes it clear that this panel also serves as a tribute, inFar Sidefashion, to anyone who has had a hard time putting themselves together, or who has felt like a piece of themselves was missing.
5Gary Larson Makes The Case For True Love, Far Side Style
First Published: July 13, 2025
Gary Larson was known for his dark humor, but he occasionally betrayed a lighter side. Captioned “someone for everyone,” this cartoon is the rare optimisticFar Sidecartoon, which featuresa deliberately goofy-looking man walking into a room full of women, all of whom are drawn with a question mark in a thought bubble over their heads as he enters – except one who reacts with a heart.
For anyone who is ready to give up on finding that special someone, this cartoon is the perfect encouragement to keep going to those parties, to keep walking through those doors, because eventually “the one” is going to be there. As amusing as the joke might be to some, for others it is the reminder they need that there is love waiting for them, and that they will find it.
4The Far Side Evokes What It Feels Like When A Friend Group Becomes History
First Published: August 19, 2025
In thisFar Sidedinosaur cartoon,a young dino tries to round up friends for a game of baseball, only to find all of their caves empty, with signs saying “extinct” hung out front.As with many of Gary Larson’s best cartoons, here the artist takes a familiar scenario and warps it through an unexpected perspective. Plenty of readers will be familiar with the feeling of being the last friend standing, after everyone else has moved away, or moved on, making this a deeply relatable punchline.
The humor here comes from the sharp contrast between this note of relatability and the extremity of extinction as an excuse to not play ball; but while the punchline might not stick with readers the way someFar Sidejokes do, that part of the set-up is more likely to leave an impression.
3The Far Side Exposes The Downside To Being The Funny One In The Group
First Published: June 09, 2025
In an all-time greatFar Sidecomic, the caption explains how a character namedBrian ponders whether “the other guys” in his friend group “really listened to his ideas or regarded him only as comic relief” – with Brian obviously being the frowning clown in the back seat of a packed car.
10 Times Gary Larson Made the Mundane Absolutely Hilarious with One Panel
While some mundane activities are given an exciting, high octane upgrade, other Far Side comic strips turn the mundane into nightmare fuel.
The use of a clown is an intentionally obvious punchline, but that shouldn’t obscure the fact that the sentiment expressed in this cartoon is very real. Readers who have been the “funny friend” will recognize the existential crisis of coming to realize that this is their sole function in the group, and starting to want more, which can lead to a problem if their friends are fine with the group’s dynamics as they are.
First Published: June 29, 2025
In thisFar Sidebear cartoon,an ursine practical joker ties a hunter’s body to its own and impersonates the dead man, all in an attempt to get a laugh out of the other bears in the cave.As the caption explains, though, “Bernie’s sense of humor was seldom appreciated,” something that more than a fair share ofFar Sidefans will likely find familiar.
This cartoon will speak to anyone who doesn’t get enough credit from their peers for their sense of humor; from the “weird” to the cerebral, to the crude, comedy is often a “right time, right place” thing, and thisFar Sidecomic celebrates anyone who has tried to get a laugh from a hostile audience.
1The Far Side Reminds Readers That Rejection Is A Part Of Life
First Published: June 15, 2025
“Douglas is ejected from the spoon band,” the caption to thisFar Sidecartoon reads, as a man angrily walks away clutching a forkin his hand, having showed up with the wrong instrument, for reasons unknown. Anyone who has felt the sting of rejection can recognize themselves in this cartoon, as Gary Larson catalogs a hilarious example ofa so-called “artist"going unrecognized by his peers.
Everyone experiences rejection, but for those who feel like “rejects,” it is especially important to find art that puts this experience into context.The Far Sidedoes that exceptionally with this panel, which offers a simple joke that gets a laugh-out-loud result, and also reflects a very real experience in a concrete way.
The Far Side
The Far Side is a humorous comic series developed by Gary Larson. The series has been in production since 1979 and features a wide array of comic collections, calendars, art, and other miscellaneous items.
