Let’s be honest, not every joke and punchline fromThe Far Sideis as easy to understand as most. While most of Gary Larson’s comics are laughably relatable and chocked full of pop-culture references, these strips are so far out there that even we struggle to understand what Larson’s intention was. Fortunately, we have full faith that you may help us understand these especially oddFar Sidecomics.
The Far Sideis just as well known for its absurdist and outlandish sense of humor as it is for its dry-witted satire. However, sometimes a comic is so absurd that it ceases to make sense. Other times, a comic may be easy to read, but the joke falls flat simply because the reader doesn’t understand the punchline. After having created so many comics, it’s not surprising that some of Gary Larson’s work isn’t as easily relatable as others, and some have certainly stumped us. However,we’re hoping that you can help us figure out these particularly confusing comic strips.
10Suddenly, The Whole World Blows Up
First Published: August 15, 2025
In this oddlyperplexingFar Sidecomic, the world has suddenly blown up. That’s it. Well, except for a personalized message to a person named “Billy Sutton” in Tampa, Florida. This comic seems to be a direct dig at a particular person the cartoonist has a grudge against. Or, maybe, Gary Larson is just warning the Tampa area that our world could end at any moment. That said, considering Larson’s love for biology and the natural world, this could very well likely be warning readers of the dangers our planet faces. However, we still have no clue who Billy Sutton is or what he did to warrantwhat feels like a vague threat from Gary Larson.
9Some Of The Non-Vital Organs
First Published: June 03, 2025
Our bodies are host to many specialized cells and organs that work together to keep up going. However, according tothisFar Sidecomic, the body also contains an assortment of “non-vital” organs. Featured, we see a collection of confusing-looking organs shaped like random objects, including a hat, a trumpet, and a sandwich. However, if you want to know what this comic is really about, we have no clue at all.The Far Sideis often as absurd as it is referential or satirical, but this comic seems to be missing both of the latter. It’s just absurd. Maybe the cartoonist simply ran out of ideas and this was the best he could muster that day. Honestly, we’re at a complete loss.
8All Things Cold And Slimy
First Published: Jul 14, 2025
In this comic, an older man sits in his comfortable-looking chair as he reads a book calledAll Things Cold and Slimy. As the man sits alone in an uncannily empty room with nothing but a single lightbulb to brighten his reading corner, this comic feels just as cold as the title of the book. But what exactly is in a book calledAll Things Cold and Slimy? Is it just pictures of ice cubes and snot? Many times, these vague and obscure panels are just specific enough to glean something from the punchline. However,we’re not even sure what the joke is supposed to be here.Once again, this comic may simply be absurd for the sake of being absurd, leaving readers with more confusion than chuckles.
7A Fly Out Of Time
First Published: June 17, 2025
There aren’t manyFar Sidecomicsthat don’t feature a single line of text, but this is one of them. In this comic, we see a fly that has just crashed into the side of a cuckoo clock, set one-minute past midnight. There is no caption nor is there dialogue, just the confusing still image of a cross-eyed fly and a clock. Frankly, we’re at a complete loss with this comic. With no other detail to discern what’s going on in this scene, our best guess is thatthe fly was recently crushed by the door of the cuckoo clock.However, we’re still struggling to find the humor in the situation. What do you think we’ve missed?
6The Ketchup Bees
First Published: Jun 05, 2025
Here, a beekeeper is opening up one of his hives to harvest his bees’ hard work. However, instead of honey, this apiarist collects ketchup from his bees.Why do his bees make ketchup?Who knows, there’s nothing in this comic that would indicate why. Honestly, we would have expected a nearby tomato farm to be pictured or possibly a restaurant, but there’s nothing. Instead, it’s just a man and his ketchup-producing bees. Once again, we’ve run into anotherFar Sidecomic that seems to be absurd for the sake of it, devoid of any satire or clear punchline thatGary Larson’s workis known for. This could be a rare example of Gary Larson running out of ideas.
5That’s One Big Bird
First Published: Jun 03, 2025
There has been a long-perpetuated myth that Romani travelers possess fantastical powers and frequently curse those who cross them. In thisFar Sidepanel, a man named Harold walks down the street and as he approaches a corner he soon meets a gargantuan bird as the caption readers“Harold would have been on his guard, but he thought the old gypsy woman was speaking figuratively.”After thinking about it for far too long to be proud of, we believe that the comic is referencing the idiom “There’s something big around the corner,” but it’s hard to say for sure. Gary Larson frequently referred to idioms in his work, taking common phrases and twisting them with his classic brand of satirical absurdity.
4Don’t OpenThatBrand Of Beer!
First Published: August 03, 2025
Apologies to any arachnophobes, but apparently there’s a type of beer that attracts monstrously large, man-eating spiders. In this comic, two men frantically brace when a behemoth of a spider bursts through the wall, as one of the men exclaims“Wait! Wait! Don’t open that brand of beer!”To avoid calling all of these comics purely absurd, there is a greater chance that this comic may be referencing something.Gary Larson loved to reference popular culture in his comicsas he believed it would make his work universally relatable. However, there is nothing about this strip that is relatable; it’s just as terrifying as it is confusing.
3Let’s Get This Baby Off The Ground
First Published: July 04, 2025
Alright, this may finally be one of the moreconfusingFar Sidecomicsthat we understand. Here, a pair of pilots sit atop a massive, naked baby while they go through all the pre-flight checks. Meanwhile, two other gigantic babies are seen flying in the background as the original pilots say“Let’s get this baby off the ground.”Clearly,Larson is poking fun at our collective habit of calling objects (especially vehicles) “baby,”but we’re struggling to figure out why Gary Larson chose to go in this direction. Usually, the artist’s comics are highly relatable, so we would have expected something more universal, like a car as the vehicle stand-in. However, maybe flying babies just seemed funnier. What do you think?
2You’ve Got A Lot Of Anger
First Published: July 28, 2025
Wouldn’t the world be frustrating if you were only an eye? Because we think that’s supposed to be the joke of this comic, but we’re not quite sure. In this confusingFar Sidecomic, a therapist looks down at one of his patients who is nothing more than a singular eye. As the eye lies down, simply staring into the ceiling, the doctor concerningly says to him“Frankly, you’ve got a lot of anger toward the world to work out, Mr. Pembrose.”Admittedly, we tried to look up the name “Mr. Pembrose” to find any clues, but everything led back to this comic alone. It seems thatwe aren’t the only ones confused by this confounding comic.
1Cow Tools
First Published: Jul 28, 2025
“Cow Tools” is easilyThe Far Side’s most confusing comic, if not its most famous too. In this panel, an anthropomorphic cow stands next to a set of poorly constructed tools with a caption that simply reads “Cow tools.” That’s it, that’s the comic; there’s really nothing else to it. “Cow Tools” still stands today as one ofThe Far Side’s most iconic comics, but purely because nobody knows what Larson was trying to say. Perhaps thisFar Sidecomic was simply meant to make us scratch our heads and nothing more. Only Gary Larson truly knows.
