The animal-filled world of Gary Larson’s The Far Side notoriously features the creatures of the Earth triumphing over humans, usually in hilariously twisted fashion. While Larson is known for his timeless comics, his lifelong passion for environmentalism provides a lot more context to the Far Side’s pro-animal sensibilities.

As discussed in this 1987 interview with ABC’s 20/20, The Far Side is only a glimpse into Larson’s obsession with animals. The segment follows Larson on a routine trip to the zoo – getting up close with penguins, elephants, and even one giant snake – and it is clear he is in his element. While Larson is not one to take things too seriously, the cartoonist does actually have one mission with his life’s work – “A firm commitment to save the environment in a world that has often killed so watonly.” If The Far Side’s success is any indication, Larson’s love for animals, as well as his reservations with humanity, will always live on through his timeless comic strips.

10

An Elephant’s Cinematic Revenge

November 24, 1984

Among the many animals featured in The Far Side, elephants tend to show up quite a lot. Alongside some of his greatest visual gags, Gary Larson once used an elephant to take a stance against trophy hunters, as seen in this hilariously cinematic comic. In typical Far Side fashion, Larson depicts an elephant’s revenge in the guise of a 1940s crime movie, and it somehow makes perfect sense.

From the elephant’s trench coat, to the way it emerges from the shadows, the anamorphic caricature is clearly vindictive, echoing a protagonist straight out of old-school cinema. Larson’s inclusion of “Kenya. 1947” functions both as a hilarious homage to movie-inspired dialogue, while also setting the tone for the sweet revenge that’s to come. As one of the more direct environmentalist stances in The Far Side, this strip is a perfect example of how Larson infused his comedy with his pro-animal messaging.

9

Don’t Mess With Bears

September 18, 1984

A common thread within The Far Side is human stupidity in the wild, especially when encountering bears. These strips offer some of the best examples of Larson siding with nature, weighing human hypocrisy against animals deemed the most violent by humanity. It is also no secret that Larson loves the worst-case-scenario, with bears serving as an especially great vehicle with which to poke his audience.

In this particularly memorable Far Side strip, a talking bear mocks two people who wandered into its cave – by using their skulls to re-enact their stupidity. It plays out like a hilarious cautionary tale, emphasizing the raw truth that bears do eat people, especially when they stumble into their homes. Sure, it’s dark, but Larson equally asserts the violence as a product of human carelessness – something that would even make a bear shake its head.

8

Scorpions Have Feelings Too

June 3, 1980

Another delightfully morbid take from The Far Side, this scorpion cartoon demonstrates the reach of Larson’s sympathy; even the most-despised insects have a place in his heart. A Pacific-Northwestner, Larson has admitted to spending most of his childhood hunting for critters, so it’s no surprise that he has an obsession with bugs.

This affinity for all walks of life embodies a huge piece of The Far Side’s magic – extracting the humor from universal fears in nature, but never shying away from them. The scene here with deadly scorpions is just that. It is a truly unprovoked scenario, one that genuinely holds no accountability on the part of the human, who may or may not be dead. Still, Larson knows that just as much as people do not want scorpions in their shoes, scorpions equally do not want to be inside of them. They also probably think humans are pretty scary, too.

7

A Bird Escapes Its Cage

June 24, 1980

When it comes to humans vs. nature in The Far Side, domesticized animals always make for some great moments of hi-jinx. While Larson is notorious for his comics involving dogs, his active imagination has inspired a variety of pet-oriented situations, all hilarious. In this strip from the comic’s earlier years, Larson serves up a classic case of The Far Side’s absurd turning of the tables – this time for a bird-owner. The worst-case-scenario is yet another iconic example of Gary Larson not letting his animals win without also punishing the human antagonizer.

For environmentalists, particularly bird-lovers, there is something delightfully gratifying in this strip, knowing the bird most definitely will “get away with it.” While it might not be the darkest form of animal revenge in a Far Side story, Larson still makes sure to give his subject a sweet victory.

6

Bears vs. Cavemen

July 22, 1982

The cavemen of The Far-Side always offer some hilarious insight into human behavior. Similar to The Far Side’s anthropomorphic animals, these cavemen talk and act like modern people, even if they’re hunting mammoths or learning how to count rocks. While this obviously makes for some great slapstick comedy, it also emphasizes the naturalistic angle of Gary Larson’s work; specifically, the idea that humans are animals too.

In accordance with this, Larson’s cavemen fumble through prehistoric Earth, struggling to advance their culture and conquer the predators that surround them. As in most cases of humans vs. wild in The Far Side, this is a losing battle for the humans, sprinkled with a little bit of pro-nature commentary. Here, Larson depicts his cavemen below the intelligence of the bears, even to the point of acting like vermin.

5

Alligator Mayhem

October 21, 1982

While The Far Side typically leaves its chaos just out of view, there are some panels that definitely bring the insanity. It is no shock that these moments would highlight animals unleashing their fury, seen in this 1982 strip of an alligator attacking a couple. Where this scene really earns its laughs — a hilarious command to rub the alligator’s belly — is also a perfectly executed jab at humanity’s jaded attitude toward wildlife.

Larson has always made it clear how he feels about human ascendancy, and nothing says that more than humankind’s “all-knowing” protocols against animals. In the same vein as yelling at a black bear or remaining front-facing towards a bobcat, Larson injects the idea of belly-rubs as this woman’s token of wisdom. It’s such a hilariously misplaced piece of knowledge that perfectly captures how The Far Side parodies human frailty in the wild.

4

Boat Tour Gone Wrong

February 9, 1983

Gary Larson loves to incorporate misfortune into a lot of Far Side scenarios, especially in the pursuit of the great outdoors. While Larson speaks openly about his love for exploration, that’s never stopped him from lampooning the topic over and over again. This particularly tragic “Al’s Glass-Bottom Tour” strikes at a niche that The Far Side loves to revisit – outdoor leisure.

Echoing similar criticisms of past entries, this joke digs into humanity’s perceived superiority, one that is perhaps most present in the act of watching animals behind glass. Larson unearths the concept with one brutal act of irony, and does it with classic Far Side dark humor. As the humans observe their doom from the bottom of “Al’s” boat, the creatures of the ocean get a full view right back. But at least someone’s entertained, right?

3

Whale-Hunting Gone Wrong

March 23, 1982

Gary Larson’s ability to tell an entire joke in one image is a big part of The Far Side’s magic. In some instances, he even excludes words, relying completely on his artwork to convey emotion, tone, and story. In the context of a whale hunt gone terribly wrong, this strip delivers an entire story with a carefully placed harpoon leading into a comically swollen cheek. From the look on the whale’s face, it also seems the so-called “hunt” did not last very long.

The whole image is so punctual; it seems to reflect Larson’s impatience with such a cruel attempt on a notoriously friendly animal. While it may subvert The Far Side’s typical approach to impending doom, animal-lovers should enjoy the fact that the unseen whale hunters have already met their demise.

2

The Danger of Wildlife Photography

July 13, 1982

Add wildlife photographers to the list of humans Gary Larson loves to mock in The Far Side. In Larson’s defense, people (not the certified, permit-granted kind) have notoriously over-stepped their bounds trying to capture Mother Nature. One can imagine a lot of the more “violent” animal attacks probably start with this type of behavior – Larson seems to think so – as parodied in this 1982 Far Side comic.

Perhaps the greatest addition to the artwork here is the leopard’s eyes shooting open upon hearing the “click” of the camera. This perfectly communicates the human’s accountability via his own negligence. The joke is, of course, even made more absurd by the fact that this will be the leopard’s fourth negligent photographer of the day. Lesson from The Far Side: even humans who admire nature should still get out of its way.

1

The Cows Come Home – And They Want Revenge

July 7, 1992

Any longtime fan of The Far Side knows Gary Larson is obsessed with cows. The bovine creature is synonymous with The Far Side’s legacy, appearing in countless strips, and at one point, making history with the infamous “Cow Tools” joke. Larson himself even acknowledged his love for the animals, seeing them as “tragic figures,” an opinion that clarifies his uniquely sympathetic perspective of the natural world.

With all the ways humans have used cows for consumption, it’s no surprise they make for some great commentary, and in this case, some intense moments of gratification. The story of Farmer McDougal and his wife is indeed “grisly, yet strangely hilarious,” emphasizing just how far Larson is willing to go for his beloved animals in The Far Side.

Source: ABC 20/20 Gary Larson Interview, January 8, 1987