Probably the best thing about The Far Side is that it does not follow the normal style of comic book media, as the series does not feature a main character. Recurring characters, sure, but no main characters. It's like this The Far Side can get away with putting any type of character in his comics, as they only serve to highlight the outcome of a certain joke.
There was no shortage of bizarre characters featured in The Far Sideincluding babies, aliens, and even trees (yes, trees). Detective elephants and psychopathic ducks also litter The Far Sidefurther confirming that there really is no telling what to expect from one of the comics in the series. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to anyone that The Far Side used insects as main characters in several of his strips – enough, even, to put the Pixar film Bug's Life embarrass. Here are the 10 funniest Far Side comics starring insects!
10
Bugs have the strangest daily problems on the other side
One day, an anthropomorphic ladybug walks up to the front door of her house while her son is watching TV in the living room and she sees an antenna stuck to the closed door. The ladybug comments on how her husband was in such a hurry that morning that he closed the antenna on the door and accidentally ripped it off on his way out. And strangely enough, this isn't the first time this has happened.
These insects are living their lives in a similar way to humans. They live in houses, they have jobs and their children watch TV. Yet for all their similarities, these insects still have strange daily problems that humans could never relate to, like losing an antenna on the way out the door. While strange, it's certainly hilarious in just one way The Far Side could it be.
9
The other side reveals a hilarious mosquito paradise
Two mosquitoes are talking to a third that is noticeably larger than the other two, as the third mosquito is practically exploding from the amount of blood it has recently managed to drink. The first two mosquitoes are wondering how this one got so much blood, and the third mosquito has an answer for them: a nudist camp.
Apparently, the mosquito has discovered a nudist camp not far from where the conversation is taking place and is telling the other two mosquitoes everything. Not only where the camp is located, but also why it is a must-visit for mosquitoes everywhere, as none of the people have an inch of clothing to protect their bodies from mosquito bites, leaving them completely open to the mosquitoes drink so much. blood as you please – just like this.
8
Fleas are much more developed as a society on the other side
Two fleas are sitting on a tiny couch watching the local news on TV. The Flea Reporter is covering the latest developments in the flea community as it relates to the dog they all live in. The two TV-watching fleas don't even live in a house, just a patch of skin they've claimed as their own, with the rest of the community members spread across the animal's body.
The fleas have a local news station, a home life, and even a police department. Everyone knows that entire colonies of fleas live on a single animal, making this Far Side comic totally hilarious as it imagines one of these societies as being highly developed.
7
The Far Side takes 'gentlemen's clubs' to a (weird) new level
A crowd of insects stands in front of a stage inside a nightclub, watching another insect perform for them. The insect on stage is undergoing a metamorphosis, ripping the cocoon off its body in a way that appears exciting to the other insects in the crowd. The caption reveals that this is a 'Metamorphosis Nightclub', meaning that every bug in the crowd came to this establishment specifically to see this bug emerge from its cocoon.
This nightclub is suspiciously similar to a “gentleman's club” where people watch women take off their clothes on stage. But instead of clothes, this bug is taking off the cocoon she was encased in throughout the process of her metamorphosis, meaning The Far Side's version of a “bug gentlemen's club” is hilariously weird.
6
Fly's birthday parties are very striking on the other side
Three flies are sitting inside an open trash can, and one of them has a birthday party hat and a balloon, indicating that this fly is celebrating his birthday with two friends. A fourth fly is trapped inside a house, frowning at the three flies at the birthday party, sad that they weren't invited. But while the sad fly is a funny touch to the overall scene, the real punchline is the scene itself.
A fly's idea of an ideal birthday party location is literally a trash can. In fact, it's so ideal that other flies are sad when they can't go. Obviously, flies love filling trash in search of food, but the idea that flies see trash cans as special destinations for celebratory events is actually hilarious. Far Side fashion.
5
Nuclear war is a bug paradise on the other side
In a scene that would otherwise be a horrible tragedy, The Far Side shows readers the consequences of nuclear war. Mushroom clouds can be seen in the distance, widespread destruction spreading across the comic panel. From beneath the rubble crawls a single insect, which takes in the death and carnage around it before shouting to the other insects hiding beneath the destruction: “Get out… I think they're done.“
Nuclear war on a global scale would effectively mean the end of the human race, but it would also mean the creation of an insect paradise. Humans are responsible for killing countless insects, with entire professions dedicated to doing just that. So, without more people, the bugs are free to inherit the Earth – just like those bugs on Earth. The Far Side.
4
Ants have their own morality stories on the other side
A mother ant is reading a bedtime story to her two children and has decided that the book they will listen to that night should be a morality tale. The book in question is “The Ant Who Cried Aardvark”, which aims to teach ant children the importance of not telling lies. This book appears to be quite intense, as the ants lying on the bed appear horrified by what they are hearing, which means the book is apparently doing its job.
“The Ant Who Cried Aardvark” is a play on the story “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, although it has obviously been reworked to apply to ants. Aardvarks eat ants, which makes them as terrifying to ants as wolves are to humans. This makes aardvarks a perfect substitute for this morality story, as even ants read these stories to their children in The Far Side.
3
Even insects can be classist on the other side
Several insects had gathered for a sophisticated party, each of them wearing elegant dresses and suits while chatting in a polite and proper manner. Everyone there is having a great time, until some 'undesirables' walk through the door. It's unclear who these insects knew at this party or who invited them. But the one thing that's clear is that many of the sophisticated bugs don't want them there, and for one reason: classism.
Sophisticated insects don't like these newcomers because they are dung beetles that wear their 'overalls' instead of expensive clothes. It is immediately clear that this is a classist situation, as the beetles are being judged for their clear lack of money. It's hilarious to consider that bugs can be classist, and that's just a joke The Far Side can deliver.
2
Even lice have parasites on the other side: in-laws
Two lice, who are clearly an elderly couple, are in the middle of a small fight because the lice-husband didn't tell his wife that their relatives were coming. The louse-wife is irritated, not only by the fact that her husband evidently didn't tell her that they should expect company, but by the fact that she now has to spend more time with her in-laws. She makes this very clear when she says: “It's ironic that even we lice have parasites.”
Lice themselves are parasitic insects that live on people and are considered a public health problem – and it seems that's generally how the louse wife thinks of David's family. Only in The Far Side even lice can have parasites (even if those 'parasites' are just annoying in-laws).
1
Bugs find humans scary on the other side
An insect is looking at another that is in front of it screaming about having a human on its back. The animal is shouting at the other: “Take it from me! Take it from me!“, as this insect is evidently terrified of tiny humans and cannot stand the fact that one of them is lying on its back. The panic seen in the insect's eyes is in direct contrast to the calmness of the human lying on its back, as if the person has no idea of the animal's fear of him.
Most people tend to freak out if they have a bug, and this scene completely reverses that, as bugs seem to find humans scary. The Far Side. And, like insects in the real world who apparently have no idea why humans are afraid of them, this human doesn't know why this insect is so scared, making this absurd scene even funnier. And that's why this is one of the 10 funniest Far Side comics about insects (and Pixar Bug's Life there's nothing about them).