I Didn’t Get The Far Side, Until This Comic Made Me A Fan
I've only recently begun covering The Far Side, and working my way through Gary Larson's work hasn't been smooth-sailing from the beginning. At the start, I admittedly didn't have a grasp on the series' humor, as it isn't like anything I'm familiar with as a Gen-Z reader. That is, until I stumbled upon one genius comic that caused me to fall in love with The Far Side.
The Far Side is known for its dark and absurd jokes, though I was put off by those very aspects of it initially. Some comics felt too strange, while others were too dark for my taste. Then, one clown comic managed to show me how these elements work in The Far Side's favor.
In this cartoon, which was first published on June 10th, 1991, a clown is seen purchasing a gun as he thinks to himself, "Laugh at me, will they?" The idea of a clown being driven to seek revenge after being laughed at, which is presumably most clowns' goal, is undeniably hilarious and a perfect encapsulation of Larson's comedic brilliance.
As a Newer Far Side Reader, It Took Time to Understand Gary Larson's Style
The Far Side's Humor Takes Getting Used To For The Uninitiated
I can concede that part of my problem with getting into The Far Side initially stemmed from my own wariness towards darker content. When watching reading comics, whether they're short-form strips or full series, I tend to be turned off by gratuitous violence since it often comes off as over-the-top. Dark humor can work in moderation, but an abundance of them cheapens the impact on the reader. As a newcomer to The Far Side, I was worried that the surplus of dark punchlines would get old after a while. The novel twists had to become predictable eventually, as shock value can't be the default form of humor for long.
Far Side's Final Comic Just Turned 30, And It's Only Gotten Funnier with Time
Gary Larson's final The Far Side comic just hit a major milestone, and we're looking back at his best ever comics mocking iconic movies.
From snakes eating babies whole to chickens contemplating baking their own eggs, The Far Side features so many bleak turns that it seemed inevitable to me that they'd grow stale. Notably, many of the twists at the end of these comics center on death, as characters face grisly fates. In one comic, for instance, a chicken reveals that it tricked a family into eating their pet dog rather than the chicken dinner they'd anticipated. This punchline is more dark than funny, causing me to question whether there can be a balance between darkness and comedy in The Far Side.
The Far Side's Clown Comics Opened My Eyes to What Makes Its Humor Work
Gary Larson's Work Has Finally Clicked For Me, Thanks to Clowns
Thankfully, my worries were assuaged once I discovered The Far Side's clown-centered comics. Gary Larson depicted many clowns throughout his work, putting them in various laughable scenarios, including the clown buying a gun that I mentioned before. These clown comics expertly balance levity with heaviness in their storytelling, as the situations are dark yet are made absurd by the fact that clowns are at the center. A man buying a gun for vengeance is a bit too grounded to be laughed at, but a clown doing the same thing is so unbelievable that it's hilarious.
A man buying a gun for vengeance is a bit too grounded to be laughed at, but a clown doing the same thing is so unbelievable that it's hilarious.
For example, one comic features a clown being taken to an electric chair for an execution, which would be a step too far if not for the caption reading, "I don't think I'll be able to tell the kids about this one." By portraying a clown rather than an ordinary criminal, this comic is silly without veering too far into controversial territory. I've found myself understanding the nature of The Far Side much more since reading these cartoons, as they've enabled me to see what exactly it is that makes Larson's comedy work in his works.
The Far Side's Absurd Comedy Is Perfect for New Readers Like Me
The Far Side Is Timeless, And My Newfound Love For It Is Proof
I've come to learn that the key to The Far Side's jokes landing is the defamiliarization that occurs through the series' wacky characters. Ordinary people doing dark things aren't quite as comical as clowns doing them, thus explaining why Larson often drew animals carrying out human-like activities rather than sticking with the standard human approach. Taking the mundane or darker elements of our world and translating them through a ridiculous lens, such as that of a clown, keeps The Far Side fresh. Years have gone by since these comics ceased their publication, yet I've only now become a Far Side fan thanks to its clown comics.
- Writer
- Gary Larson
- Colorist
- Gary Larson
