10 Far Side Comics That Show Why Lions Rule the Jungle
The Far Side loves to show the many facets of the animal kingdom, with lions being a big source of inspiration for numerous comic strips. Typically targeting the lion's carnivorous taste, The Far Side comics that star lions can be a bit dark, which is perfectly in tune with The Far Side.
Likewise, while the lion-centered comic strips of The Far Side always feature something different from what is to be expected, the comics have always stayed true to the cynical, weird, and unpredictable style, tone, and humor of the beloved comic staple. Many animals have had their starring moments in TheFar Side, with lions having their time in the sun too, much like pigs, dogs, cats, and just about any other animal under the sun. For the big cat lovers out there or just for anyone who would like a good laugh, these lion comic strips are sure to be a hit.
10 "Christians vs. Lions"
June 11th, 1993
The Far Side always loves a good history-based comic strip, with this '90s comic using ancient Rome as a springboard for a lion joke that history buffs will appreciate. In ancient Rome, religious persecution against Christians was committed by throwing them to the lions to be eaten, with some accounts of Christians even being fed to lions for entertainment for the masses.
The Far Side uses this dark piece of history and puts its trademark dark-humorous spin on it; Christian prisoners and lions in their lion's den sign up on the Christians vs. Lions battle sign up sheet. What exactly they are signing up for is not known, but with the way The Far Side is, one can expect an American Gladiators or WWE-type event. Maybe it will just be an all-out brawl like a scene out of Gladiator 2.
9 "He's Completely Harmless Unless..."
When a man gets into an elevator with his pet lion, he sees that the other people are ill-at-ease at the sight of the big cat, and so he informs them that there is nothing to be alarmed about - because the lion is harmless as long as nothing startles him. While having a lion as a pet may seem like something that is only possible in The Far Side, Tiger King proved that assumption very wrong, so who knows, maybe a sight like this Far Side comic strip could happen in the real world.
Regardless, anyone with half a brain cell would be incredibly on edge at the sight of a lion in an elevator, which is a sentence that can only be uttered referencing The Far Side. Taking the reader by surprise, placing a lion in an office building setting creates a surreal scenario that is right at home in The Far Side.
8 "Lions Making a Kill"
July 22nd, 1986
Lions stop any incoming traffic with road signs when they are about to embark on hunting for their dinner. Acting as if it is a routine traffic stop for upcoming road work or construction, the lions make the signs a bit more suitable to their needs - namely, to hunt some poor prey animal for their meal. It is not every day that someone sees a traffic sign for lions making a kill... or lions directing traffic in general.
One of the great things about The Far Side is that whether it is a lion or any other creature that creator Gary Larson's imagination can conjure, what will be in a Far Side comic is always unpredictable, with this strip being no different. Making lions do very human things, like directing traffic in order to do a very lion activity (like killing prey), The Far Side inverses behaviors. As a result, the reader never quite knows what to expect.
7 "Team Huddle"
September 18th, 1981
Teamwork makes the dream work - for both humans and animals, apparently, or at least that is what TheFar Side decides in an early '80s comic strip.A few lions huddle together to enact their game plan, which clearly involves taking down the neighboring antelopes for a family feast. The way one of the lions is looking straight at the nearby antelopes tells the reader everything they need to know about what the lions are huddling about.
Consequently, the antelopes have become a bit on edge. Having a main predator be feet away from them would be enough to make them skittish, but the fact that one of the lions has them locked in their sight line is all the more unnerving. The antelopes should really take advantage of the lions being distracted and move before they enact their team plan.
6 "Tofudebeest"
January 17th, 1991
Lions love their protein - animal protein, that is. A vegetarian lion is just unnatural, after all. However, in The Far Side, sometimes lions have to get their protein from some plant-based sources instead, even if unknowingly. A lioness pride is happily eating their dinner of what they think is antelope meat - until they eventually realize, much to their anger, horror, and disgust, that they have been eating tofu instead.
One is what they eat, as the saying goes, with this "tofudebeest" going a little overboard with the soy-based protein alternative. It is one thing to enact healthy behaviors and to espouse the benefits, but when one completely turns into their food, then that seems like a step too far. The lions definitely think that it is a step too far, with their meal ruined by this antelope's healthy eating habits.
5 "Convertible!"
1994
Out in the savanna, animals need to be vigilant on the hunt for their food at all times because they never know when their next meal will be or where it will come from. Sometimes, their meal comes to them on a silver platter, which takes the form of a green convertible in The Far Side. Two tourists cruising through the grasslands of the animals' habitat are easy prey thanks to their car of choice, which happens to be a convertible.
The open-top roof makes for incredibly easy access for the lions, which make quick work of spotting the two humans and their car. Alerting their fellow lions to the roving meal they have before them, the convertible will be all that is left of these driving tourists if the lions get their way.
4 "Pinocchio Had His Longtime Wish to Be a Real Boy Suddenly and Unexpectedly Granted"
April 1st, 1992
Happening at the worst time possible, Pinocchio's long-held dream of being a real boy comes to fruition... while being surrounded by a pride of hungry lions who eye him immediately. It is wonderful that Pinocchio's dream is finally coming true, but maybe it could have been put off by an hour or so, so he was not at risk of being gobbled up the second that he becomes a real boy.
Pinocchio has about as much bad luck as one can possibly have; he gets swallowed up by a whale as a puppet first, and now he is about to get eaten by a pack of lions once his wish has been granted to be human. At least the lions were nice to Pinocchio when he was a puppet, instead of using him as a chew toy or scratching post.
3 "Ssssss"
1983
Lions are quite sneaky animals; one of their hunting tools is to stealthily lurk in the tall grass before pouncing on their prey in a sneak attack. In The Far Side, lions are pretty crafty on top of knowing their way around a car, especially when tasty tourists are in reach. When some travelers ride through the animal-populated plains in their car, a lion uses their sharp claw to poke a hole in the tire to trap them - and just in time for dinner!
Holding the travelers captive, the lions know exactly what they are doing, with the other two lions excitedly awaiting their meal. After being around people for some time, the lions have learned the weaknesses of their prey and are smart enough to choose the weakness that requires the least amount of work possible, which is just poking a tire.
2 "I Think I'd Like a Salad"
February 1st, 1983
Lions are hardcore carnivores, with their favorite foods being meat with a side dish of meat. However, variety is the spice of life, which is something one lion in The Far Side has come to learn. With a pride of lions digging into a gazelle like it is Thanksgiving, one member decides that he would actually prefer a salad instead. Call this lion different or even a misfit, but just do not forget to bring this lion a nice Caesar salad dinner.
This lion is thinking about his cholesterol, unlike his peers. One would never think of a lion actively wanting a salad, making the reader laugh from being taken aback by the surprising caption, which is more or less the typical strategy of The Far Side. Larson was well adept at adding unusual behaviors to what one would expect, adding to the bizarre feel and tone of The Far Side.
1 "Drive, George, Drive!"
1987
Lions are fierce predators, with their tricks of the trade learned and exceptionally enacted thanks to years of experience. That said, changing times require some adaptations, so with newer and sturdier cars, lions need to get a little creative with their hunting approach. Two travelers are scared out of their wits when a lion comes to their door with a coat hanger, undoing the lock on their car door. That lion is very bold, and also pretty crafty, being able to break into a car with a coat hanger.
Not many people can do that (nor should they), let alone lions, making this breaking-and-entering lion a criminal mastermind among his pride, which is much to the misfortune to the people in the car. The smart thing to do would be to press that gas pedal like there's no tomorrow so they can get away from the lion who is a coat hanger away from eating them, but it's The Far Side, where there are no intelligent people around.
- Writer
- Gary Larson
- Colorist
- Gary Larson
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.
