The 10 Greatest 'Far Side' Comics From the 1980s, Ranked

The 1980s offered a wealth of entertainment, from blockbuster films like "Back to the Future" to television mainstays such as "Cheers." It was also a golden age for newspaper comic strips, which had evolved considerably by the time Gary Larson's "The Far Side" began its legendary run on January 1, 1980. This single-panel series, characterized by its non-sequitur jokes and distinct, non-cutesy style, stood apart from the prevailing aesthetic of the era and eventually graced the pages of 1,900 newspapers. While the comic continued into the mid-1990s, its 1980s output remains a benchmark for observational and surreal humor.

Dark Humor and Surrealism

Among the standout strips from the decade is a darkly humorous piece from May 18, 1984, depicting an ailing young chicken being served chicken soup by its mother. This theme of dark humor was present early in the strip's run, as evidenced by a May 11, 1981, comic about a botched execution that underscored the series' edgy nature.

Larson's mastery of comedic timing is also evident. A comic from October 29, 1984, features an inept musician remarking, "Gee… look at all the little black dots," at a moment when a major concert is about to commence. Another example of his timing appears in a June 4, 1983, strip where one scientist prepares to startle another, who is engaged in delicate work on a missile, with the pop of a paper bag.

Recurring Themes and Visual Gags

Cows were a frequent subject in "The Far Side," with one particularly memorable 1984 comic proposing that cows stand upright when humans are not present. A January 12, 1983, strip offered a surreal commentary on processed foods with a "Boneless Chicken Ranch" populated by listless fowl, presenting a strong visual gag. The strip also employed wordless humor, such as a March 31, 1981, comic where motion lines illustrate a woman jumping from a trampoline only to be propelled into a burning building next door. References to popular culture also featured, including a surreal take on Bobby Darin's 1959 song "Mack the Knife" involving anthropomorphic silverware.

A Comic Strip That Made History

One "Far Side" comic, published on August 26, 1987, sparked significant controversy. It depicted a female chimpanzee remarking to another about a blond hair, "Well, well — another blond hair. … Conducting a little more ‘research’ with that Jane Goodall tramp?" This led to a statement from the Jane Goodall Institute calling the comic an "atrocity." Goodall herself, upon seeing the comic, found it amusing and later wrote an introduction for a collection of Larson's work, sharing her perspective.

However, no "Far Side" comic from the 1980s had a greater impact than a strip from May 27, 1982. This comic featured a caveman teacher pointing to a Stegosaurus tail and explaining, "Now, this end is called the thagomizer … after the late Thag Simmons." The humor stemmed from the invented word and the concept of cavemen holding instructional classes, but the true significance lay in the implied joke: Thag Simmons was killed by the very tail he inadvertently named. This comic's widespread publication led paleontologists to adopt the term "thagomizer" for the spiked end of a Stegosaurus tail, a name that has since become scientifically recognized, cementing this comic as a landmark in both humor and paleontology.