Gary Larson's beloved comic strip, The Far Side, which ran from 1980 to 1995, consistently returned to the subject of dinosaurs, weaving them into over 4,000 strips with a unique blend of absurdity and keen observation. While only one of Larson's dinosaur-themed cartoons made a significant impact on scientific history, many others remain unforgettable for fans.
Perhaps the most scientifically impactful of Larson's dinosaur cartoons was published on May 27, 1982. This strip depicted a classroom of cavemen being instructed about the spiked end of a Stegosaurus tail, which the instructor dubs the "thagomizer" after a fictional character, Thag Simmons. At the time, this part of the Stegosaurus anatomy had no official name. The joke caught on among scientists, who began using "thagomizer" in jest. This colloquial usage eventually became so widespread that it achieved scientific recognition and is now used by institutions like the Smithsonian, a testament to how a simple comic strip gag influenced paleontological nomenclature.
Beyond the thagomizer, Larson frequently explored themes of dinosaurs acting in human-like ways, often highlighting their impending extinction. One memorable strip shows a Tyrannosaurus rex discussing flossing, juxtaposing the mundane human activity with the immense prehistoric creature. Another comic features a juvenile T-rex searching for a prize in a cereal box, with the cereal's packaging humorously proclaiming "Free kid inside!"
Larson also used dinosaurs to comment on broader themes, such as climate change and extinction. A press conference strip shows a dinosaur announcing that the climate is changing and mammals are taking over, a darkly humorous nod to the inevitable fate of these creatures. Many of Larson's dinosaur comics portray them as doomed, blissfully unaware of their imminent destruction, a recurring motif that adds a layer of poignancy to the humor.
Some strips play on the difficulty of dinosaur nomenclature, though Larson occasionally included pterosaurs, which are technically not dinosaurs but a separate group of reptiles. He also humorously noted that birds are technically dinosaurs, sometimes featuring chickens in his strips as a nod to this fact.
Larson's humor often extended to the scientists who study dinosaurs. His cartoons sometimes depicted paleontologists not as serious academics, but as childlike figures. This approach is seen in a strip where paleontologists are portrayed as merely "having fun." Another comic satirizes dinosaurs as schoolyard bullies who mock a mammal for its fur, only for one dinosaur to notice the snow, subtly reminding the reader of their ultimate demise.
One of Larson's most famous dinosaur comics, aside from the thagomizer strip, depicts dinosaurs smoking cigarettes with the caption, "The real reason dinosaurs became extinct." This cartoon brilliantly combines Larson's common themes of dinosaurs engaging in human activities and their extinction, offering a profoundly silly yet smart commentary that epitomizes the charm of The Far Side.
