10 Funniest Far Side Comics About Food

The Far Side has covered a myriad of topics, with comics featuring everything from aliens to animals, with food being a subject that’s led to a number of classic comic strips. Since it is The Far Side, it should come as no surprise that these comic strips, even with a focus as universal as food, present the subject matter in a way that few other comics could attempt, all through creator Gary Larson’s surreal sense of humor.

While the comic strips feature food, there is little chance of these works stirring up an appetite as Gary Larson creates crazy vignettes. From presenting food in a magical way, such as a wish-granting lobster, to unique restaurant situations, like actual mythological gods ordering at a diner, The Far Side serves up some sidesplitting culinary-themed comic strips.

10

“My Fly”

Published in 1991

When eating, there are some things that even the most adventurous eater does not want to see enmeshed in their food. Hair and bugs tend to rank highly on the list of grossest things to find. However, in The Far Side, every day is opposite day. Therefore, rather than a diner finding a fly in their soup, there is soup on a human-sized fly. That sight is bound to turn some heads in a restaurant.

The whole strip is completely ridiculous, just as fans would expect from the comic series. Gary Larson always knew how to twist the most mundane, if not annoying, moments in life, like getting a fly in soup, to be incredibly surreal and nearly nightmarish (who wants to see a gigantic insect?). As a result, a comic about food becomes completely weird and silly, a perfect encapsulation of The Far Side’s sense of humor.

9

“Wendall Zurkowitz”

Published in 1987

Those who love to eat know the feeling of waiting with excited anticipation for the microwave, oven, or any cooking instrument, even waffle makers, to be ready with their hot, fresh food. In The Far Side, one man in particular, Wendall Zurkowitz awaits with bated breath by his waffle maker just aching for the ready light to flash, signaling to him that his waffle is finally ready. Absolutely no one wants a burnt, gross waffle, especially not Wendall Zurkowitz, so he has become ruled by his own waffle maker.

Some workaholics are called slaves to the grind, but The Far Side imagines a different kind of subservient person, but, of course, one who is unexpected but still oddly relatable. While most love a good waffle, good old Wendall Zurkowitz takes his love of the breakfast favorite to obsessive heights.

8

“Animal Crackers”

Published in 1983

Animals crackers are a beloved childhood treat. While not the most flavorful treat in the world, animal crackers are tinged with nostalgic feelings. Also, how could anyone resist food in the shape of animals? Regardless, in The Far Side, animal crackers are no simple, safe childhood cookies. Rather, these vanilla concoctions have some bite, literally, in the alternate reality of The Far Side.

In an early ’80’s comic strip, a young boy sees his hand being nibbled at by his carnivore-shaped snacks. It’s like if Gary Larson imagined Jumanji but with food. It’s a weird imagining, but definitely not Larson’s strangest. The poor kid in question will think twice before picking up that classic box of animal crackers ever again. In this strip, readers get a look at what it is like when food bites back.

7

“Fly Heaven”

Published in 1984

There are few things that are as annoying at outdoor get-togethers than pesky flies on the food. It makes everything unappetizing to the party goers and is prone to giving the heebie jeebies to those who can’t stand bugs. Yet, the ire of having bugs in the food is not shared by the bugs themselves. In fact, The Far Side points out that a big bowl of potato salad, ripe for the taking, is a fly’s version of heaven.

Complete with fluffy clouds and blue skies, a big red bowl of potato salad is nirvana for every fly the world has ever seen. No wonder the potato salad is always the first to attract the winged insects at barbecues. The best part of this Far Side version of fly heaven is that there are no human hands swatting them away, making this scene paradise for the bug members of the animal kingdom.

6

“Four Wishes”

Published in 1983

For those unaware, there is a folk tale about a fisherman who catches a magic fish, who will give the fisherman three wishes if he lets them go. This clever Far Side strip is a take on the Fisherman and the Magic Fish fable. A lobster, about to meet his end, bargains with the determined chef that he will up the ante and grant him four wishes instead of the usually promised three if he will finally release him.

The chef is either quite the bluffer or does not care one bit about having his wildest wishes granted, because he seems so disinterested in the pleas of the magic lobster that will do whatever he wants. Three wishes are not enough for the chef, who cares more about just getting the lobster in the pot than having his dreams (four of them, at least) come true.

5

“Earthworms Alfredo”

Published in 1985

Pasta Alfredo is a tried and true staple in a majority of Italian American restaurants. However, the pasta part seems horrible to the winged and feathered customer in The Far Side. It is not every day that a bird is a diner at a restaurant, so it is more than understandable that the waitress brings the avian animal a bowl of spaghetti with Alfredo sauce. Much to the bird’s chagrin, he has been brought actual human food instead of his favored earthworms in Alfredo sauce. Spaghetti may look like worms, but that is not close enough for this picky-palated bird. Unfortunately, it looks like the human diner behind them got the bird’s earthworm dish instead, creating two unsatisfied customers. A preposterous set-up is made all the more funny by the mix-up scenario in the strip, creating a farcical comic that is typical of The Far Side.

4

“That’s Milk!”

Published in 1986

One would think that being stranded at sea with a cow would ensure a consistent supply of calcium. However, if that cow turns out to be a sneaky, stingy castaway, then there are bound to be some rows, as shown in this Far Side comic. Being falsely told that his cow friend is out of milk, the man is furious to see that the cow has been sneakily drinking a glass of milk and puts them at odds at sea.

When survival is on the line, people (and cows) will resort to some crazy lengths. With an already outlandish situation, setting a cow and man on a lifeboat together, the comic adds an element of surprise with the revelation about the cow’s milk. Most times, individuals being stranded would be a tense and distressing setting. However, Gary Larson adds an absurdity to the whole thing through the characters’ choices and actions, ensuring that the whole thing is too funny to take seriously.

3

“Food For The Gods”

Published in 1994

“Food for the gods” is a term designated solely for food that is out-of-this-world delicious. In The Far Side, however, things get taken a little more literally. When a group of genuine mythological gods is ready to order at a diner, the waitress reveals that nothing they find will be up to their standards. An example of Gary Larson’s exceptional use of puns and word play in his work, this comic makes the phrase “food for the gods” a reality. Likewise, the comic shows Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, in the booth with the other mythological gods, prompting the waitress to recommend seafood. Larson had a wide range of knowledge on a multitude of subjects, which made him able to use all his stored facts to inform his comics. A perfect example is the use of his knowledge of mythological gods seen in this strip.

2

“Omelettes R Us”

Published in 1988

Everyone knows the nursery rhyme of “Humpty Dumpty” and his literal fall from grace. However, no one knows what happened after all the king’s horse and king’s men couldn’t put Humpty back together again. The Far Side answers this lingering question with a comic strip that sees the remains of Humpty Dumpty as a huge platter of omelets. At least something good came out of Humpty’s terrible accident; he’s able to feed the patrons of the small restaurant of Omelettes R Us all on his own.

A darkly funny comic, this strip positions Humpty Dumpty’s last days as a breakfast entrée, in line with Gary Larson’s previous strips that have skewered well-known children’s stories and nursery rhymes. Using tales that are embedded in culture, Larson presents his own unique take on the subject matter, filling in the blanks for the audience but in a morbidly funny way.

1

“Bad Potato Salad”

Published in 1987

Potato salad is one of those foods that are always a bit dicey to eat after it has been sitting around for a while, gaining the reputation of being a food that goes bad easily. However, Gary Larson has another meaning in mind when discussing potato salad going bad. With a gun in its hand and the other refrigerated items keeping their terrified arms up, this potato salad is embracing his bad side, turning for the worse. With a witness watching everything, the potato salad may have some tough decisions ahead of him in this outrageous situation.

Gary Larson could be a genius at wordplay, using the double meaning of a word to its full effect, always simultaneously going for a laugh. Using both uses of the word “bad,” one meaning spoiled food and the other meaning dangerous, Larson gives The Far Side‘s readers a ludicrous yet hilarious scenario, as only he can.