Gary Larson’s The Far Side is known for absurd premises, ridiculous characters, and Larson’s refusal to see many repeated characters. In his surreal and bizarre world, animals act like people, and people sometimes act like animals. Everything fits in a single panel without much room for more than a one-off joke or two. By the next panel, an entirely new cast discovers an absurd and often hilarious phenomenon from Larson’s imagination.
Controversy is nothing new for the arts and entertainment, and not all of Larson’s work was controversial. Controversy can also be subjective to a degree, meaning that Larson’s transgressions weren’t all that heinous. While that cartooning style often led to brilliant panels that helped The Far Side become an absolute hit, the many controversies also raised its profile. While the comic is best known for its unique sense of humor, the controversies also came early and often in the strip’s long-lasting two-decade run.
The Far Side Had Incredibly Controversial Strips
- The above strip was published on December 9, 1986.
From a bird’s eye view, it doesn’t seem like there should be anything controversial about The Far Side. It is little more than a laughable daily strip with anthropomorphized animals going about their daily lives. Not every joke lands perfectly, but that’s true for any comic strip. The problem for Larson was the strip’s popularity. By the end of The Far Side‘s run, it was published in nearly 2,000 newspapers. Over 4,000 panels were published, and each had an extreme reach. Countless people read each new release and laughed along with every cow, chicken, and dog that happened to grace the pages.
With such an extensive reach, any controversial strip reached tens of thousands of people — if not far more. While Larson rarely expected to see strong reactions, they came early. In 1986, Larson published “Bobbing for Poodles,” which saw a group of five alligators attempting to eat poodles out of a barrel. It was a dark concept, especially given how lovable the little dogs can be. The idea of seeing five gators readily chomping on puppies is gruesome, and it earned widespread condemnation.
The “Bobbing for Poodles” strip was not alone in depicting especially horrifying images. The strip featured numerous deaths, with the darkest Far Side comics depicting a nuclear apocalypse, bears playing with human skulls, and even an infamous strip that depicted a snake after it ate a human baby. No one was safe in any of Larson’s panels. Babies, dogs, and even adorable cows could be killed for sport or as part of a one-off joke. It was a harsh return to reality for audiences looking to read a strip next to Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes.
The Far Side Targeted Real People
- The above strip was published on August 26, 1987.
Another serious issue was that Larson was not afraid to tackle real-world problems. In one controversial strip, he depicted an ape picking at another’s fur before discovering blonde hair. The ape then referred to Jane Goodall, the famous primatologist, as the likely culprit and referred to her by a derogatory name. Given the obscene nature of the implied joke, the strip drew complaints on Goodall’s behalf. The Goodall Institute took offense and published a letter condemning the strip. Goodall, herself, actually found the strip hilarious and celebrated that she had reached a level of fame that saw her appearing in The Far Side. Considering how popular The Far Side still is, it remains a notable accomplishment.
Jane Goodall wasn’t his only target, however. In one strip, he went so far as to depict a nursery next to a dingo farm, referring to the tragic case in Australia when a wild dingo ate an infant. The courts and public opinion completely rejected the mother’s explanation, assuming that she had killed the child. She and the father spent years in jail before evidence emerged that proved that a dingo had eaten their daughter. The Far Side‘s joke retroactively became even darker, though it was already about dingos eating children.
Some Issues Were Controversial Because of Humor
- The above strip was published in October 1982.
Most of the strip’s controversy came from complaints against its especially dark subject matter. Some strips drew complaints for other reasons, however. Some of The Far Side‘s strips didn’t make any sense. Instead of drawing a laugh from readers, the audience was left to question the point of the strip. Sometimes, there was only a half-hearted attempt at humor and little more than a wordless depiction of bizarre events that didn’t even touch on humor at all.
The “Cow Tools” panel was the most egregious. It depicted a cow standing in front of a barn. On a table in front of the cow, four tools sit sprawled out and waiting to be used. They are oddly designed, but one appears to be a handsaw. The title simply reads “Cow Tools.” Countless readers were left wondering what the joke even was. Larson penned a letter to every newspaper that carried the strip to explain the joke. Larson wrote:
“This cartoon was meant as an exercise in silliness. I’ve never met a cow who could make tools, but if I had, I feel sure that its efforts would lack something in sophistication and would resemble the crude specimens shown in the cartoon.“
Larson later added another statement:
“At the time, I thought it was hysterical…Wrong.“
The controversy came from the bizarre joke and the lack of any real explanation within the panel.
Gary Larson Never Let the Controversy Scare Him
- The above strip was published on May 4, 1990.
Despite facing so much controversy, Larson never shied away from his beloved strip. He continued to produce it from 1979 to 1995, when he entered a temporary state of retirement. Recently, as the internet age took form, Larson began creating a few rare new releases that appear solely on his website. Larson also sells collections and produced two animated specials based on his universe. Though there was near-constant controversy, he always pursued his vision to the fullest and never particularly minded when the audience struggled to understand it.
In all likelihood, The Far Side would not be quite as respected today had Larson avoided the more controversial elements of the strip. His bizarre sense of humor, unique art, and willingness to stick to his vision set the strip apart from its contemporaries. The Far Side‘s creator proved that modern comic strips can be reimagined entirely rather than sticking to age-old visions of the medium.
Gary Larson never flinched from any issues, addressed then-pressing issues in the media, and willingly pushed past complaints to continue producing a beloved series. It’s exactly why the strip is remembered so fondly and why Larson stands out among cartoonists.
- Writer
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Gary Larson
- Publisher
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Universal Press Syndicate
- Artist
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gary larson
Gary Larson’s The Far Side is a single-panel comic strip renowned for its offbeat humor and unconventional take on everyday life. Featuring bizarre situations, anthropomorphic animals, and quirky characters, the strip delves into surreal and absurd scenarios that challenge typical comic norms. Often blending dark humor with insightful commentary, it explores a range of themes from science to society, making readers both laugh and ponder the absurdities of existence.
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