In this way, Larson made readers comedically complicit in the twisted punchlines he inflicted on them.

“You’re kidding!”

Far Side comics are comprised of two core elements: an image and a caption.

The Far Side, a couple drinking coffee on their couch point as another couple is swallowed by quicksand.

Except sometimes Gary Larson left out the caption here’s why.

Ultimately, Larson was the one who made it.

A man in a yellow shirt writing on a piece of paper while a bearded man, a woman, and a cow wave behind him in The Far Side.

Far Side grinning man (foreground, left) and miners digging underground (right, background.)

Far Side man looking concerned (foreground, color) with a cow & barn in the background.

Far Side, April 29, 1980, cows in line to be slaughtered complaining about the wait

The Far Side, October 14, 1980, a torturer shows his parents around his workplace

Far Side, July 4, 1981, a man looks down at a broken piano stool as the piano falls directly on top of him

Far Side, September 8, 1981, a meteor about to strike a man wrapped in bandages in a wheelchair

Far Side, November 26, 1981, a bear is shot while peacefully drinking at a pond and then stuff in a scary pose

Far Side, January 1, 1982, a jack-in-the-box clown pops out of a man’s parachute case

Far Side, October 28, 1982, a cow stands in front of a table with ‘Cow Tools’ on it

Far Side, November 11, 1982, comic depicting ‘the evolution of man’ from fish to fisherman

Far Side, February 23, 1983, Tarzan and a pack of elephants rush toward a crash with a rollerskater

The Far Side Complete Collection Book Set

Far Side, May 11, 1983, Tarzan loses his wallet and keys while swinging on a vine

Comics

The Far Side