The Far Side: 10 Incredible Strips Where Inanimate Objects Come to Life

The Far Side is well known for making the impossible possible in its own established universe. Animals acts like humans, dinosaurs became extinct from smoking, and cows have their own tools in the world of Gary Larson’s legendary comic strip. Another incredible occurrence of the comic is that inanimate objects regularly come to life and act like humans might.

Always adept at the blending of the kooky and witty humor, Gary Larson brought TheFar Side’s trademark surrealism to every strip, including the one where objects like flowers or bowling pins converse. While Larson liked to show animals doing things out of the ordinary, he also applied novel situations to all sorts of things, like random household objects. Here are some of the most hilarious instances where everyday items come alive.

Related

10 Outrageous Far Side Comics Featuring Anthropomorphized Animals

From dogs on a date to porcupines opening presents on Christmas, these Far Side comics anthropomorphize animals in the most hilarious ways possible.

10 “A Killer Waited”

Published in 1990

Bowling pins cannot be mentioned without bowling balls. Yet, in this installment of TheFar Side, a party of unsuspecting bowling pins are enjoying a party, completely unaware that they are in serious danger from a bowling ball who is lurking outside. Comparing a bowling ball to a serial killer stalking its victims, Larson paints an outrageous scene that one can’t help but admire the clever quality of the strip. Interestingly, Larson also sets up a potentially suspenseful situation where the audience knows the threat of what is about to happen, but the pins remain oblivious.

9 “Old Silverware Drawer”

Published in 1987

Utensils are commonly found in the house, except they’re usually in drawers, not lounging about on furniture and playing the piano as this bold strip illustrates. Larson makes inanimate objects come to life and gives them aspirations and dreams of stardom. Although, much like in real life, not everyone’s goals for fame and fortune come true, with only one of the three utensils in the scene hitting the big time. The names of the three pieces of silverware add another clever twist to the strip, with the only one going on to stardom being the knife named Mack, a clear reference to the classic song, “Mack the Knife.”

8 “There’s An Old Timer”

Published in 1992

The life cycle of a pencil is not a concept that would go through many people’s heads. However, as this Far Side strip illustrates, it is an important reality for pencils. With one of their comrades sharpened to nearly a nub, the other pencils are concerned that this old pencil is not long for this world. While trees’ ages are shown through rings, pencils’ ages are apparently shown through their size. The shorter the pencil, the longer in the tooth they are. Thinking about the implications of this strip adds a dark layer, as the pencils have a very clear realization of their impending deaths.

7 “Go To Sleep!”

Published in 1980

Food can speak to people, but usually not literally. In TheFar Side, however, the usual is left at the door. In this strip, an elder carrot regales a bunch of kiddie carrots with a terrifying tale of being skinned, boiled, and, horrifically, eaten. While humans have scary stories of monsters and vampires, carrots have their own brand of tales of horror. In the classic Gary Larson manner, he takes something incredibly mundane — in this case, just cooking and eating carrots — and gives it a little spin to show how absolutely terrifying it is from a different perspective.

6 “Artificial For Sure”

Published in 1986

Plastic surgery seems like something that would be unique to humans. Yet, TheFar Side disproves this assumption. A flower arrives at a party with a definite nipped and tucked appearance, which two more natural flowers instantly comment on. Just like humans might pronounce someone who’s had cosmetic work done as “fake,” it turns out that flowers can be equally judgmental. Labeling this stitched flower “artificial” shows Larson’s hilarious, playful, and surreal sense of humor. Positioning artificial flowers, which are flowers made from fabric like silk, as a flower character who’s had some cosmetic work done is unbelievable, clever, and preposterous in the best way possible.

5 “Seasonings Greetings”

Published in 1993

In one of The Far Side‘s many holiday-themed comic strips, the old adage of “Season’s greetings” is transformed into “Seasoning greetings” for the spices nutmeg and paprika. Larson loved a good pun from time to time, and nowhere is this more evident than in this comic. Giving total Toy Story vibes, except with kitchen spices rather than toys, this strip makes the inanimate spices anthropomorphic. As a result, they have personalities and exchanges not all that different from a person’s, making this comic seem like a holiday fever dream.

4 “That’s Not Real Ketchup”

Published in 1991

Arguably one of the world’s most popular condiments, ketchup gets a Far Side makeover courtesy of Gary Larson. In the kooky, strange world of TheFar Side, ketchup has recreational activities not all that different from any Tom, Dick, or Harry. They go to the movies like anybody else. They also, apparently, have violent movies just like us. However, their violent films are a far cry from what is typically seen in the real world. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect the little ones any less. Luckily, the young ketchup bottle’s parents are there to assure it that the violence on the big screen is just movie magic.

3 “Here It Comes”

Published in 1980

Larson’s strips that featured bowling were always unique, with the simplicity of the sport providing a number of different ways for him to display his distinct sense of humor. Just like in the earlier example of a killer awaiting its prey, The Far Side‘s bowling comics always saw bowling pins in danger of a looming bowling ball. There seems to be no escape for the bowling pins from their dreaded counterpart of the bowling ball. Unfortunately for the pins in this specific comic, the strikes just keep on coming as the center pin braces itself for impact.

2 “Carrots Of The Evening”

Published in 1985

Replacing the term “Ladies of the night” with “Carrots of the evening” in combination with the scene set perfectly shows Gary Larson’s approach to comic strips and comedy. The strip is off-kilter and surreal, absolutely in line with the ethos of The Far Side. While he’s shown inanimate objects enjoying more wholesome activities like going to parties or watching movies, this comic shows how they can also partake in some of the seedier parts of human life. Why there are vegetables instead of any other object or even animals in this scene is only known by Larson, but nevertheless, the comic keeps the outrageous spirit of The Far Side.

1 “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not”

Published in 1980

A flower has a serious bone to pick with a lovesick man in this comic that reads like a dream (or a nightmare). Tired of getting their petals picked so that the man can see if his love interest loves him back or not, the flower decides it is time for the human to get a taste of his own medicine. The other flowers seem to agree, too, as a colleague hoists the man up for the flower to threaten him closer to its eye level. Resisting picking flowers is better for the appearance of a flower bed, and apparently can save someone from a serious beating. By giving inanimate objects human feelings and personalities, The Far Side once again shows Larson’s brilliant ability to take something everyday and make it outrageous.