“Best Gary Larson cartoons” is the perfect phrase to describe this wild review, and today, we’re diving into a hilarious, quirky, and a little twisted collection from the one and only Gary Larson. This is a full cartoon review of The Far Side that will take you straight into Larson’s brilliant (and weird) world.
About Gary Larson: The Genius Behind The Far Side
Gary Larson, born in 1950, completely revolutionized newspaper comics with The Far Side, which ran from 1980 to 1995. What made his work legendary wasn’t just the single-panel format; it was his bizarre, surreal humor, his clever takes on animals, science, and human nature, and the way he made even the simplest idea into something laugh-out-loud hilarious. Over his career, Larson published multiple best-selling collections, won the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award twice, and influenced generations of cartoonists. His art style, simple but expressive, pairs perfectly with his sharp, offbeat wit. Whether it’s cows acting like people, scientists doing ridiculous experiments, or animals plotting hilarious schemes, Gary Larson’s The Far Side remains an unmatched comedic universe.
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1. Cowboys Gone Too Far When Hunger Strikes
When cowboys joke about being hungry enough to eat a horse… and then actually do it, you know you’re in Far Side territory. Larson captures absurdity with deadpan brilliance in this unforgettable cartoon.
2. Beachside Horror Sharks with a Plan
Only Gary Larson could make a beach attack seem casual. A shark wriggling onto the sand to grab someone? It’s just a totally normal day at the beach. This one’s dark, weird, and absolutely hilarious.
3. The Dog Scientists and the Doorknob Mystery
In a genius bit of canine humor, dogs become lab scientists studying the “doorknob principle.” It’s the ultimate “man’s best friend meets scientific genius” mashup, and it’s adorable in a deeply twisted way.
4. Cheating Varmints Classic Western Chaos
At a dusty saloon poker game, it’s the varmints who are cheating—literal animals under the hats! Larson takes classic western tropes and flips them into a gut-busting visual joke.
5. Stranded and an Unexpected Nemesis
Marooned with a tiny nemesis on a desert island, one man’s gloating feels absurd and ridiculous. Classic Far Side irony, where even victory seems pathetically hilarious.
6. Surrounded by Hope and Still Doomed
A castaway, literally surrounded by crates labeled “inflatable boat” and “outboard motor,” still looks hopelessly stranded. Larson’s take on human obliviousness is pitch-perfect (and depressingly funny).
7. Toad Talk: Remembering Jerry
Frogs drinking wine and reminiscing about a friend they never understood—this cartoon is equal parts absurd, touching, and hysterically weird. Only Gary Larson could make amphibians so relatable.
8. Snake Rivalry: Who Bit the Best?
Two snakes arguing over which one left the biggest bite mark? Absolutely peak The Far Side humor—taking natural instincts and making them hilariously petty.
9. Cavewoman Strength Then vs. Now
Cavemen marvel at a strong woman lifting a giant rock—but insist rocks were heavier “back in their day.” A perfect satire on old-timers and their nostalgic delusions!
10. Party Crash Unleashing the Wolverine
Everything was going swimmingly at the party… until Morty opened the cage and released a wolverine. A classic Larson disaster: polite society meets sudden, hilarious chaos.
11. Brotherhood of the Chicken: A Close Call
Seconds before slaughtering a chicken, a farmer notices a matching tattoo. Turns out, they’re ancient Tibetan brothers sworn to loyalty. Surreal? Yes. Hilarious? Absolutely.
12. Lost at Sea When Sausage Hallucinations Begin
Two castaways in a lifeboat, one starting to hallucinate about the other’s nose being a German sausage. The situation has officially gone from desperate to deliciously absurd.
13. Symphony Chaos The Shave and a Haircut Incident
In the middle of a serious concert, someone sneaks in “Shave and a Haircut”—and the conductor has HAD IT. A brilliant jab at how even high society has trouble resisting dumb jokes.
14. The Family Photo Nobody Framed
Somewhere in every photo album is a picture that was almost perfect. Then there’s the cousin who decided that exact moment was his time to shine.
15. Dad said, “Don’t.” We did anyway.
There’s a specific kind of silence that happens in a boat when someone breaks the one rule. It lasts exactly until Dad finds out.
16. Crossing the Road Caught Red-Handed
A rooster comes home covered in blond feathers and tries to claim he just crossed the road. Larson’s parody of the age-old “chicken joke” is so good, it might be the best version ever.
17. Nobody Told the Birds About the Dress Code
There’s always one animal in the group who takes things too far. The others have learned to just keep eating.
18. Bear Prankster Jim Wilkins, Trussed and Gift-Wrapped
A bear with a sense of humor has a very specific way of dealing with hunters—gift-wrapping them like Christmas presents. Savage, clever, and peak Far Side.
19. Mob Retribution Mime Style
Instead of traditional mob hits, victims are trapped in glass boxes and forced to mime until they perish. Larson’s dark sense of humor shines brilliantly here—it’s morbid, hilarious, and totally unique.
20. Norman’s Funeral for a Chicken with Humor
Norman the chicken might be plucked and roasted, but even in death, his wacky sense of humor lives on. The absurdity and dark humor in this funeral scene is pure Gary Larson magic.
Summery
There’s a reason why the best Gary Larson cartoons from The Far Side remain iconic decades later. Larson had a rare gift for taking everyday scenarios—animals, science, human nature—and twisting them into clever, hilarious, and often absurd masterpieces. His comics invite us to laugh at life’s oddities, rethink the obvious, and appreciate the beauty of bizarre humor. A huge shoutout to Gary Larson for blessing the world with The Far Side, a comic series that continues to inspire cartoonists and entertain fans around the globe.
For more hilarious comic reviews, daily humor, and a deep dive into the world of cartoon greatness, be sure to visit TheHumorSide.com—where the funny never stops!
