10 Far Out Comics About Loners Every Outcast Can Relate To

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10 Far Out Comics About Loners Every Outcast Can Relate To

The Far Side is famous for its idiosyncratic and iconoclastic humor, which makes it appealing to readers who consider themselves outsiders in some shape or form. While the “nerdy kid” became one of the strip’s biggest recurring figures, artist Gary Larson has portrayed loners, outcasts, and outcasts in a variety of ways over the years.

This list celebrates some of the The Far Side the best cartoons about characters who stuck out like a sore thumb, went against the grain, and were often simply out of placeas well as some that were out of control or, in one case, actually falling apart.

The Far SideThe success of was as much a product of creating art that readers recognized and identified with as much as it shocked and surprised them, and these panels illustrate that perfectly.

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Far Side fans know what it's like to be completely out of sync with everyone around you

First published: November 13, 1981


Far Side, November 13, 1981, an orchestra conductor is horrified to hear a banjo among his instruments

That Far Side banjo cartoon is particularly potent metaphorically, as It depicts a man in the lower left corner of the painting playing his banjo while a classical orchestra tries to play nearby. The banjo player represents Larson himself, in a way, as an artist who stood out from his other contemporaries; In turn, readers who know what it's like to be out of step with their peers will recognize themselves in this joke.

Like a syndicated newspaper cartoon, The Far Side had many readers, who engaged with comics for many different reasons, and reacted to them in many different ways, but largely, people who became Far Side fans did this often because they found it understandable in some way, no matter how funny they thought it was.

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Gary Larson illustrates what it's like for some introverts to try to socialize

First published: April 3, 1982


Far Side, April 3, 1982, clown sitting in a restaurant looking innocent after sticking a suction cup into another customer's head

On the surface, this Far Side clown drawing is a silly and disposable visual joke; in a restaurant, a clown is sitting alone at a table, trying to look innocent, having stuck a suction cup dart into the back of the bald customer at the head of the adjacent table. Some readers, however, will recognize a deeper meaning in this cartoon, especially those who have a difficult time in social settings.

In other words, whether intentionally or not, with this comic, Gary Larson captures the feeling of trying to socialize but ending up feeling like a clown, or a weirdo, or worst of all, a nuisance. The clown here tried to connect in the only way he knows how – which doesn't seem likely to be well received.

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The Far Side highlights how intimidating the dating game can be

First published: December 9, 1982


Far Side, December 9, 1982, a small man is bullied by a normal-sized woman at the bar

The Far Side featured a surprising number of miniature people throughout its run, providing Gary Larson with a unique way to subvert normal interpersonal dynamics. That's the case here, but Larson also goes a step further and also uses the mini-character's internal monologue to reinforce his thematic point, like a mini-man works up the courage to talk to a normal-sized woman in a bar, except he has no idea what he's doing.

Talking to the opposite sex can be intimidating for introverts or, more generally, anyone who doesn't have a certain level of self-confidence. At times like this, they may feel like a fraction of their size – which Larson literalizes here – and balk at the opportunity to flirt completely, as if “shy and vulnerable“instead of engaging and self-assured.

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A distant ode to anyone who has struggled with the basics

First published: April 7, 1983


Far Side, April 7, 1983, a man wakes up to a note that says 'pants first, then shoes'

Once again, this Far Side cartoon seems simple – even superfluous – but it actually resonates with many readers far more deeply than Gary Larson ever expected or intended. On the surface, the joke appears to be about a character who is too unintelligent to dress like that. He needs a giant note on the wall that says “first the pants, then the shoes,” but anyone who has struggled with depression will recognize how sometimes the simplest tasks can feel difficult and overwhelming.

To reiterate, this wasn't necessarily what Larson intended with this Far Side panel, but like any truly great art, his panels have a way of taking on a life and meaning of their own, created by the response of generations of readers as they continue to engage with his body of work.

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Everyone sometimes feels like they're falling apart, especially on the other side

First published: August 29, 1984


Far Side, August 29, 1984, a man wakes up to discover his big tom has 'gone to market'

This is another Far Side cartoon that people struggling with mental health, or even just the day-to-day motivation to get out of bed, will find relatable. At first glance, it's a play on “Piggies“children's song, featuring a man who wakes up to discover that the big toe on his left foot is missing, with a note saying “went to the market” stuck in his place.

However, it is worth taking a closer look at the character's disheveled state, and his look of resignation, rather than horror or concern. This makes it clear that this panel also serves as a tribute, in Far Side fashion, for those who had difficulty putting themselves together or felt that a piece of themselves was missing.

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Gary Larson Defends True Love, Far Side Style

First published: August 30, 1984​​​​​​​


Far Side, August 30, 1984, an intentionally goofy-looking man walks into a room full of women, one of whom is attracted to him

Gary Larson was known for his dark humor, but occasionally betrayed a lighter side. Subtitled “someone for everyone“, this cartoon is the rare optimist Far Side cartoon, which presents a deliberately goofy-looking man walking into a room full of women, all drawn with a question mark in a thought bubble over their heads as he enters – except one who reacts from the heart.

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For those who are willing to give up on finding that special someone, this cartoon is the perfect incentive to keep going to those parties, to keep walking through those doors, because eventually “the one” will be there. As fun as the joke may be for some, for others it's the reminder they need that there is love waiting for them and that they will find it.

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The other side evokes the feeling of when a group of friends becomes history

First published: September 6, 1984​​​​​​​


Far Side, September 6, 1984, All of a Dinosaur's Friends Were Extinct

In this Far Side dinosaur drawing, A young dinosaur tries to gather friends for a baseball game, but discovers that all his caves are empty, with signs saying “extinct“hanging in front. As with many of Gary Larson's best cartoons, here the artist takes a familiar scenario and twists it through an unexpected perspective. Many readers will be familiar with the feeling of being the last friend standing after everyone else has moved on or moved on, making this a deeply relatable joke.

The humor here comes from the sharp contrast between this note of relatability and the extreme of extinction as an excuse not to play ball; but although the joke may not please readers in the same way as some Far Side jokes, this part of the setup is more likely to leave an impression.

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The other side exposes the downside of being the funny one in the group

First published: March 15, 1985


Far Side, March 15, 1985, Brian the Clown fears his friends only like him because of his jokes

In a big moment Far Side comics, the caption explains how a character named Brian ponders whether “the other guys“in your group of friends”really listened to his ideas or considered him just as comic relief” – with Brian obviously being the scowling clown in the backseat of a packed car.

The use of a clown is an intentionally obvious joke, but this should not obscure the fact that the sentiment expressed in this cartoon is very real. Readers who have been the “funny friend” will recognize the existential crisis of realizing that this is their only role in the group, and starting to want more, which can lead to a problem if their friends agree with the group dynamic as they are.

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A Cartoon From the Other Side for Anyone Who Feels Their Sense of Humor Is Unappreciated

First published: November 13, 1987


Far Side, November 13, 1987, a bear ties a dead hunter to his body and impresses

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In this Far Side bear cartoon, An ursine joker ties a hunter's body to his own and poses as the dead man, all in an attempt to get a laugh from the other bears in the cave. As the caption explains, though, “Bernie's sense of humor was rarely appreciated“something that more than a fair share of Far Side fans will likely find it familiar.

This cartoon will speak to anyone who doesn't get enough credit from their peers for their sense of humor; From the “weird” to the cerebral to the gross, comedy is often a “right time, right place” kind of thing, and that Far Side comic celebrates anyone who tried to get a laugh from a hostile audience.

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The Far Side reminds readers that rejection is a part of life

​​​​​​​First published:​​​​​​​ November 9, 1993


Far Side, November 9, 1993, a man with a fork is thrown out of a spoon

Douglas is expelled from the spoon band“, the caption of this Far Side cartoon says, as a man walks away angrily holding a fork in hand, having shown up with the wrong instrument, for unknown reasons. Anyone who has felt the sting of rejection can recognize themselves in this cartoon, as Gary Larson catalogs a hilarious example of a supposed “artist” going unrecognized by his peers.

Everyone experiences rejection, but for those who feel “rejected,” it's especially important to find art that puts that experience into context. The Far Side does this exceptionally with this panel, which offers a simple joke that gets a laugh and also reflects a very real experience in a concrete way.

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