The absurdity of The Far Side proves that humor is a timeless entity. With its quirky comic strips, readers experienced laughter long before memes took over social media. Here, we explore ten standout titles that still resonate today.
Cow Tools
The iconic ‘Cow Tools’ comic features a cow standing in front of a table of strange items known only as 'cow tools.' This absurdity epitomizes the offbeat humor that The Far Side is famous for. It’s a profound illustration of randomness that aligns beautifully with modern memes like ‘Kid Named Finger’ and ‘Beesechurger.’ Both genres share a whimsical quality rooted deeply in absurdity. This comic remains as relevant as ever, proving that hilarious genius can withstand the test of time.
Street Ducks
In ‘Street Ducks,’ a man is cornered by a gang of ducks, leading him to pull out a shotgun in a comically absurd scenario. This dark humor echoes the trends of modern meme culture that often capitalize on callous punchlines. Just like contemporary memes that employ absurd violence for comedic effect, The Far Side lays the groundwork, enabling future generations to explore humor in dark and twisted contexts.
Dingo/Baby Joke
A particularly infamous comic, the ‘Dingo/Baby Joke,’ illustrates a nursery near ‘Ed’s Dingo Farm,’ captioning it with the warning, “Trouble brewing.” This darkly humorous reference alludes to the tragic story of Azaria Chamberlain, whose mother claimed a dingo had taken her baby. Such humor may feel offensive today, yet it's a foreshadowing of how memes often tackle real-world tragedies, reminding us that The Far Side was already walking that line long before memes became fashionable.
Bummer Birthmark
Another laugh-inducing comic is ‘Bummer Birthmark,’ where a deer character humorously laments having a target-like birthmark. This punchline encapsulates the essence of meme culture: brief, impactful, and absurd. The one-liner is the hallmark of how contemporary memes subtly communicate humor as quickly as possible to a scrolling audience.
Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing
In the comic featuring ‘Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,’ wolves disguise themselves as sheep while two of them contemplate dropping the facade. It's a clever take on the classic idiom, offering social commentary on deceitful appearances. This intelligent narrative runs parallel to the pervasive political memes today, serving as a reminder that impactful messaging often employs humor to communicate complex ideas.
“I 8 NY”
The humor-packed ‘I 8 NY’ comic shows a kaiju reminiscent of Godzilla driving away from New York City with a plate reading “I 8 NY.” It effectively conveys a joke with just visuals, emphasizing how memes frequently use simplistic images to elicit laughter. This comic exemplifies the comedic power of imagery, paving the way for memes to summarize jokes without the need for text.
“Beware of Doug”
Humor and wordplay converge in ‘Beware of Doug,’ where a salesman hesitates at a property marked with the warning sign. The clever play on words amplifies the comic’s charm, mirroring how countless memes utilize linguistic humor to provoke laughter. Few comics offer as sharp a wit as this one, demonstrating that wordplay movements have always been part of popular humor.
Moses Parting His Hair
The blasphemous hilarity of ‘Moses Parting His Hair’ showcases Moses humorously invoking divine assistance just to part his hair. This religious commentary encapsulates the same edgy spirit found in today’s memes, where religion often becomes fodder for mockery. The Far Side prepares a landscape for memes to thrive on these tender subjects, perfectly balancing humor with sensitivity.
Cow Cookout
The ‘Cow Cookout’ comic features a cow grilling hamburgers, a humorous nod to cannibalism. The absurdity in such an implied horror aligns closely with memes that utilize shock humor to deliver quick laughs. This compatibility highlights how humor can explore disturbing themes without crossing boundaries, illustrating parallels in comedic style between the comic and modern memes.
Thagomizer
Arguably one of the most scientifically impactful comics, the ‘Thagomizer’ depicts a caveman teaching about dinosaur anatomy. The term, created by The Far Side, became part of paleontology to honor a caveman named Thag. This intersection of humor with real-world science showcases how The Far Side crafted an impact much like memes today. This demonstrates how comedic brilliance carries informative weight, affirming the power of humor in pop culture.
The legacy of The Far Side remains timeless, revealing how Gary Larson's work melds seamlessly with contemporary meme culture. Readers continue to laugh at its distinct absurdity, proving that we have been entertained for decades by clever humor. Whether it's through comics or digital memes, laughter remains an integral part of our social fabric. The Far Side’s influence continues to shape the humor we engage with each day.