Gary Larson’sThe Far Sidefeatures a wide range of unforgettable characters, from the Nerdy Kid to Igor to Thag Simmons. But the comic strip isn’t just defined by its human cast. It has also become famous for its hilarious and surreal portrayals of animals, which often steal the spotlight.
One of the most recognizable and beloved elements ofThe Far Sideis its use of anthropomorphic animals. These creatures adopt human traits and behaviors, creating a unique style of humor that is both absurd and oddly relatable.With so many animals taking center stage, it’s clear that Larson had a deep love for them.If you’re an animal lover yourself, you will definitely enjoy these 10 hilariously strange and clever comics.
10Cows Are the Masters of Ding Dong Ditching
A Cow With the Perfect Alibi
This is perhaps one of my favoriteFar Sidecomics of all time, as it reminds me of my childhood and also features cows, one of my favorite animals on the planet. In a rare multi-panelFar Sidecomic strip, fans see a cow playing"Ding Dong Ditch"on its owner. However, unlike human pranksters, the cow doesn’t need to run away; it has the perfect alibi simply by being a cow. After all,who would ever suspect a cow of ding-dong ditching?I was personally too much of a goody-two-shoes to ever try this prank on my neighbors, but this comic reminded me ofBack at the Barnyard, the Nickelodeon movie and TV series that defined my childhood and also featuredcows pulling pranks on unsuspecting humans.
9Proper Snake Bite Etiquette
A Rattlesnake’s Guide to Targeting Humans
I am a desert-born child, and part of growing up meant my parents constantly drilled into me the importance of staying vigilant around snakes, especially rattlesnakes. This was particularly crucial when I went dirt biking in the desert, as encounters with rattlesnakes were not uncommon. My steel-toe boots weren’t just for protecting against rocks, but snakes, too.ThisFar Sidecomic hilariously imagines snakesbeing well aware of human gear, asone snake gives a slideshow lecture on the safest bite zones, emphasizing that boots are off-limits. Apparently, snakes prefer to strike at the calf or higher, which suddenly makes their uncanny aim in the real world feel very intentional.
8Don’t Worry, the Dog Is OK!
When Dogs Rewrite the Warning Signs
We can all relate to thisFar Sidecomic, as it’s common to see“Beware of Dog”signs while walking through a neighborhood. These signs serve as both a warning and a deterrent, signaling that the dog in question might not be the friendliest. That’s what makes this comic so hilarious: a dog has swapped out the warning sign with a nearly illegible one that reads“Dog OK,”clearly an attempt to lure someone in. It’s a funny reminder thatif dogs could control their own signage, we might get a very different message.
7Interspecies Film (Subtitles Included)
Dogs Enjoy Foreign Films Too
Here, Larson combines the concept of international films with his signature love for animals. In the United States, an international film typically refers to a foreign production featuring non-English dialogue, often accompanied by English subtitles. Larson flips this idea by imagining an“interspecies film,”wheredogs sit in a theater watching a movie starring humans, with dog-speak subtitles provided, of course. This clever twist not only parodies film culture but also playfully explores how animals might perceive our world if the roles were reversed.
6CLUE Gone Wrong: It Was the Rhino with the Knife in the Closet
A Murder Mystery No One Saw Coming
WhileThe Far Sideoften features familiar household animals, Larson occasionally gives exotic creatures their moment in the spotlight. In this case, a rhino is the unfortunate star of a ridiculous murder mystery. A detective dramatically announces,“Blast! Up to now, the rhino was one of my prime suspects,”just as the rhino falls out of a closet with a knife in its back.The humor lies in the sheer absurdity: Why was the rhino a suspect? How did it fit in the closet?This comic doesn’t offer answers, but that’s part of the fun.
5Forget Bed Bugs! We’ve Got Bed Buffaloes!
The Infestation You Never Expected
Bed bugs are one of the worst nightmares for anyone staying in a home, hotel, or apartment. Once they’re there, they’re almost impossible to get rid of. But in thisFar Sidecomic,Larson introduces an even worse scenario: bed buffaloes.The humor likely comes from a clever play on words, combining bed bugs with water buffaloes and creating a new, horrifying hybrid. These buffaloes aren’t just invading your home; they’re somehow living in your bed. It’s completely ridiculous, but that’s the point. It leaves you wondering if you’d need an exterminator or maybe even a wildlife expert to intervene.
4You Might Be Cool, But Are You a Cheetah-Popping-a-Wheelie Cool?
The Fastest Mammal Meets the Coolest Trick
Most people have seen someone pop a wheelie, whether it’s on a bike or a motorcycle. It’s a flashy, risky trick that looks cool and takes balance and confidence. In this comic, Larson imagines what that might look like in the animal world. Naturally, he uses the cheetah, the fastest land animal, and places it ‘mid-wheelie’ on its hind legs in the African savannah. It’s a ridiculous image, but also oddly fitting.If anyone could pull off the coolest bike trick, it would be a cheetah.This comic illustrates how Larson effortlessly blends animal traits with human behaviors for hilarious results.
3Giraffes Like to Limbo Too
Beach Games Take a Tall Turn
This comic is a perfect mix of Larson’s love foranthropomorphic animals and absurd humor. Here, a group of giraffes is shown on vacation, playing limbo on the beach. Limbo is hard enough for tall humans, so watching giraffes try it is hilariously unexpected. Even better,one of the giraffes is pictured mid-limbo and doing surprisingly well. It turns the assumption about height and flexibility on its head. Larson plays with the idea that we shouldn’t judge which animals (or people) will succeed at certain games just by how they look. In this world, even giraffes can master the limbo.
2The Secret Life and Woes of a Bat
When I was a kid, bats became one of my favorite animals after my grandparents took me to Carlsbad Caverns. We watched thousands of bats fly out at dusk, and it was awe-inspiring. But not everyone shares my admiration for bats, and thisFar Sidecomic makes that clear that the dislike may go both ways, with bats not being our biggest fans either.A bat husband returns home, complaining that he got tangled in“some bimbo’s hair.”It’s especially funny because it flips the usual human fear of bats into a bat’s frustration with humans. Larson reminds us that maybe bats don’t enjoy those close encounters either.
1Teacher’s Helper? More Like Teacher’s Alpha Wolf
When Classroom Roles Meet Pack Hierarchy
Most people remember the role of Teacher’s Helper in school, a temporary but empowering position where one student got to help lead the class. In thisFar Sidecomic, Larson reimagines that tradition in the animal kingdom. Instead of Teacher’s Helper, the wolves assign an “Alpha Wolf of the Day.”It’s a clever blend of human behavior and animal hierarchy, with the classic pack dynamic of wolves humorously applied to a classroom setting. This is a great example of howThe Far Sidetakes something most of us take for granted, like school-time rituals, and combines it with animal behavior to create comedy gold.
