In the delightfully twisted world ofThe Far Side, safety is more of a suggestion than a rule, and even then, it’s usually ignored with cartoonish abandon. Gary Larson’s comics are packed with oblivious humans (and inanimate objects) that exist in a universe where danger lurks behind every absurd punchline.
If there’s a warning sign, someone’s ignoring it. If there’s a safety manual, it’s already on fire. These ten comics highlight just how hilariously hazardous life can be in Larson’s world, where Darwin Awards are practically a currency and common sense took a wrong turn several panels ago.
10Predator Mailboxes
Beware the Carnivorous Mailbox: Danger Lurks inThe Far Side’sNeighborhood
If anything proves how muchmore dangerous theFar Sideuniverseis compared to our own, it’s the existence of carnivorous mailboxes that will gladly eat your local mailman if given the chance. After seeing this strip, you might never look at your mailbox the same way again.
This rare multi-panel comic offers a step-by-step look at what happens when a mailbox goes rogue and devours the mail carrier. On a creepier note, there’s the unsettling possibility that whatever ate the mailman is a shapeshifting creature currently disguised as a mailbox but capable of becoming something else at any moment. Maybe living in theFar Sideisn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
9Cavemen vs. Mammoths
When Cavemen Play Basketball, Mammoths Are the Real Opponents
While theage of cavemen and mammothshas long since passed for us, it remains alive and well in theFar Sideuniverse. In this prehistoric setting, dangers multiply far beyond those in the modern world, reminding us that surviving in Larson’s world is an entirely different challenge.
In this comic, Larson shows cavemen attempting a casual pickup basketball game, but their threats go well beyond twisted ankles or missed shots. They must also watch out for crossing mammoths, creatures that won’t hesitate to squash anyone who crosses their path.Forget worrying about flat basketballs, the real danger is getting flattened yourself.
8WINGS OFF
When Flying inThe Far SideUniverse, Survival Is a Matter of Choice
The fear of flying is a very real and legitimate concern for many people. Even those without a specific phobia often feel nervous or find themselves imagining the worst-case scenario: a plane crash. In this comic, Larson shows just how dangerous flying can be in theFar Sideuniverse, where even the simplest comfort features are taken to dangerous levels.
Larson humorously depicts a passenger control panel featuring a bizarre option: a toggle between“WINGS STAY ON” and “WINGS FALL OFF.”This absurd feature is exactly what makes the comic so darkly funny, turning an everyday fear into an outlandish, unforgettable joke only Larson could dream up.
7Larson’s Vultures Meet the Falling Piano Trope
Desert Survival Takes a Wild Turn in ThisFar SideClassic
Gary Larson makes it clear that if you don’t die from heat exposure stranded in the desert, natural predators will finish the job, though not in the way you’d expect. Here, Larson shows a man crawling toward water for survival, while two vultures spot him and decide to intervene.
How do they intervene, you ask? By dropping a piano on him, of course. This absurd twist turns the classic“falling piano”trope up to insane levels,making it aFar Sidefavorite. The vultures’ dialogue adds to the humor, with one vulture openly declaring his goal to stop the man from reaching water.
6Beware of the Scissor Fish
When Ocean Mysteries Take a Hilariously Dark Turn in Larson’s World
The oceans of planet Earth remain one of the greatest mysteries, with over 80% still unexplored. This means countless creatures likely lurk in the depths, undiscovered.In theFar Sideuniverse, Larson imagines one such creature: the dangerous Scissor Fish, a terrifying addition to the ocean’s unknown residents.
Larson humorously shows aFar Sidediver in old-fashioned gear exploring the ocean floor, only to be approached by a school of Scissor Fish, which resemble their namesake. Larson leaves the rest to our imagination, but it’s safe to guess this diver’s fate isn’t a happy one.
5The Bowling Ball Waits to…. STRIKE!
When Bowling Balls Become the Predators in Larson’s Absurd Universe
The predator watching their victim from a car as the target goes about daily life is a classic trope in thrillers and crime films. It has even become popular in dark romance stories. But Larson takes this near-cliché to a hilariously absurd level, twisting expectations with his signature quirky humor and unexpected characters.
Larson reimagines this stalker scenario using a bowling ball and pins. The bowling ball sits in its car, silently watching the ten pins inside their home as it waits to strike (pun absolutely intended). This clever twistproves that in theFar Sideuniverse, not even typically inanimate objects are safe from danger and dark comedy.
4Little Pig, Little Pig, Let Me In!
Larson Turns a Childhood Fable Into a Full-Blown Cartoon Nightmare
Most of us know thestory of theThree Little Pigs, a tale about three pig siblings who each build a house to protect themselves from a hungry wolf. When the wolf comes huffing and puffing, only the brick house holds strong, delivering a timeless lesson about the importance of preparation, effort, and building something that can withstand a serious threat.
While the story offers a valuable message, most of us never expect to face an actual Big Bad Wolf. But inThe Far Side, he is no fairy-tale figure. He is real and actively terrorizing Larson’s cartoon world. In this universe, the wolf isn’t just a metaphor; he is an actual menace, making life far more dangerous than in any nursery rhyme.
3Beware of Quicksand!
The Far SideComic That Proves Quicksand Was Always a Legitimate Threat
Many of us (especially 90s kids) grew up convinced that quicksand would be a much bigger threat in life than it actually is. That fear came straight from the media we consumed, fromGeorge of the JungleandIndiana JonestoLooney Tunesand countless other pop culture staples that made sinking into sand look like a weekly hazard.
While most of us will never actually encounter quicksand, the same can’t be said for Larson’sFar Sidecharacters. In their universe, quicksand is not only real, it’s unavoidable. One comic even shows a character sinking while desperately warning others, proving that in theFar Side, even delivering a safety message can’t save you from disaster.
2It’s Raining… PIANOS?!
Larson Turns a Classic Slapstick Gag Into a Full-Blown Weather Forecast
ManyFar Sidefans alsogrew up onLooney TunesandTom & Jerry, where absurd violence ruled the screen, and one of the most iconic gags was the“falling piano.”This classic trope usually involved a piano dropping from the sky to flatten an unlucky character, perfectly blending slapstick humor with cartoonish chaos.
Larson takes that trope and dials the absurdity up to eleven by imagining falling pianos as a bizarre weather pattern. In the strip, pianos rain from the sky and smash into the ground below. The funniest detail is the calm reaction from the characters, who treat this wildly unsafe situation like it’s just a typical forecast.
1Planetary Annihilation Imminent
The Far SideComic That Turns Lightning Strikes Into the Least of Your Worries
If there’s one comic that perfectly sums up how wildly unsafeThe Far Sideuniversetruly is, it’s this one. Larson draws two characters in wheelchairs chatting when one exclaims,“You’re kidding!… I was struck twice by lightning too!”It’s a hilarious setup that already hints at a world where improbable disasters are just another Tuesday.
But the real punchline isn’t the lightning, it’s the looming catastrophe in the background. As the two talk, a massive asteroid plummets toward Earth, clearly moments from impact. This ominous detail drives home the point: danger inThe Far Sideisn’t rare, it’s constant, and the universe Larson created is an ongoing disaster zone for its unlucky cartoon citizens.
