Far side was known for his hilarious depictions of dogs, many of which reflected creator Gary Larson’s deep understanding of the behavior of readers’ canine companions. Fans of Larson’s work know that he used dogs to induce laughter in many ways, but often his panels playfully depicted puppies, which dog owners could immediately recognize as his most successful.
That is, although many of Far side dogs behaved like people; there were just as many memorable instances where their canine behavior was highlighted; cartoons in which Gary Larson managed to balance both of these things naturally rank among the most sublime works in his oeuvre.
As it was with everyone Far side with cartoons, even a slight familiarity made a big difference to readers, and the immediate connection provided by a dog’s appearance on a panel was a major factor in why Larson’s dog comics enjoyed such enduring popularity.
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Sitting at the far end of the table won’t stop Mr. Sparky from getting into an awkward moment.
First published: Far Side, May 4, 1994
Here’s one fine example of a panel in which Gary Larson skillfully combines his penchant for anthropomorphizing. Far side animal population and its ability to make everyday behavior of domestic dogs fun. Comic Features a group of dogs in suits and ties around a conference table, one of them pointing at a chart on the wall – except the business presentation is interrupted by “Mr. Sparky” licking himself at the end of the table.
Dog characters’ heads on top of human bodies are the main element Far sidebut it’s especially funny here, with dogs in business suits. What’s even funnier is that the “business” that Mr. Sparky distracts from with his licking is itself related to dog things like “the cat is chasing” “dig a garden,‘ And “garbage disposal“- all this is written on the board with errors.
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Gary Larson leaves readers with the burning question of what this dog did
First published: April 27, 1993
“His story?“The Man Sitting in the Waiting Room of Hell talks about a dog curled up on the floor nearby.”Well, I don’t know. I always just assumed he was a bad dog.“ Gary Larson installed more than one Far side the comedian is in hell, and this dog was far from the only dog who somehow ended up in the underworld. However, it’s the mystery of this panel that makes it so fun.
Far side often left readers with more questions than answers; sometimes it was an accident, as Larson explained in his analysis of one particularly confusing comic, but just as often it was intentional on the part of the artist. That seems to be the case here, as the point of the joke is the realization by the people awaiting their eternal torment that they don’t actually know why the dog is there.
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A twisted version of Gary Larson’s “Old Dogs, New Tricks”
First published: April 23, 1993
Funny premise behind this. Far side the cartoon belies the dark twist that takes place at the end. He has two old dogs sit on the porch and grumble at a couple of young puppies rushing past, thinking about the fact that “in our time we had to play with a half-rotten cat’s head,“ not a collection of balls and toys scattered across the front lawn.
Connected
Transferring stereotypical human behavior onto dogs is a classic Gary Larson comedic move, and he does it effectively here, in this “back in my day” moment, minus the visceral imagery evoked by “half-rotten cat’s head”, is a special creative choice on his part. This is just as likely to shock readers as it is to disgust them.
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On the far side, drinking from the toilet was no laughing matter
First published: June 30, 1992
The stupidity of this Far side the commission relies on its false seriousness. Featuring a dog behind the news desk and silhouettes of three more waiting just behind the camera. this dog news program offers an expose”dogs that drink from the toilet”
By presenting this issue as serious enough to require a dedicated news report, Gary Larson is sure to make dog owners laugh as it reflects their own mixture of amazement and horror at their pet’s illegal activities. Hiding toilet drinkers with a shadow is a particularly nice touch, as it emphasizes that it is considered a shameful act; any dog owner who has caught their dog running out of the bathroom with a guilty look on their face will find something to appreciate in this Far side dog comic.
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According to Gary Larson, Not All Dogs Go to College
First published: June 17, 1992
Instead of the SAT, these Far side dogs shown take their cats to get”their admission to any dog university” as one dog named Rex works on a math problem involving a Rottweiler chasing a Siamese cat.
Once again, this is an example Far side a comic in which Gary Larson finds the perfect middle ground between anthropomorphism and animal humor; these dogs are shown sitting at tables and using pencils like humans, but their concerns are entirely canine. In this way, Larson creates an almost immersive world that combines the animal and human worlds, which can be considered a precursor to shows like Bojack Horsewho later did the same in her own incredibly successful way.
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Gary Larson dabbles in canine sociology with this cartoon about dogs from the far side
First published: December 13, 1991
Here Gary Larson once again combines something human – in this case clothing, particularly hats – with dog behavior, but in this case the scales tip much more towards the latter. This is intentional because the placement of hats on these dogs’ heads is meant to be inconsistent with their all-canine image.
Signature “if pets wore hats: a study of animal personalities and styles,“This panel also has cats in fedoras and a bird in a sombrero, but the focus is on the dogs wearing baseball caps, and their choice of headwear reflects their focus on simple pleasures such as chasing felines through trees.. Besides Larson’s love for animals, Far side reflected his fascination with subjects such as sociology, which is also evident here in relation to the world of pets.
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The most challenging guide dog training program on the far side.
First published: August 8, 1990
This stands out as one of the best Far side panels where Gary Larson used dogs to laugh at a joke. The mural, set at the Anderson Guide Dog School, depicts one of the students leading a dummy on roller skates up a ramp toward an airplane turbine. as the coaches note:
Well, and scratch number 24. Although he did well – right up to testing the jet engine.
As absurd as it may seem, Larson does a fantastic job here, offering fascinating details that will stick with readers long after they’ve read it. Far side cartoon. The idea of a “jet engine test” is laughable in itself, but the true pinnacle of this climax is the mock-up of a man on ice skates and how real people react to this disappointing result for “Number 24.”
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This Dog from the Far Side Gets a Taste of His Species’ Own Medicine
First published: August 31, 1988
Many dog owners are familiar with the experience of sitting down to eat and feeling their dog’s eyes boring into them, hoping that they will get just one piece of food from the person – although even if they get it, that alone will never be enough to stop stare.
Turn is fair game at this Far side comic like a group of four people stand motionless, their eyes glued to the dog, who is chewing the contents of his bowl, and awkwardly think “Man, I wish they wouldn’t do that while I was eating,“ Legions of home parents have done the same since time immemorial. As he often does, Gary Larson captures the feeling of being a pet owner and being a pet in this very funny cartoon.
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Gary Larson’s image of dogs on ambush says it all.
First published: January 10, 1988
Gary Larson was very attentive to detail. Far sideregarding both illustrations and captions. This means that when Far side The comic dropped the title, the visual had to say everything Larson wanted, and this panel of the dogs in the surveillance van spying on the house cat is a great example.
Connected
Again, detail work is important here; although the punchline should be fairly obvious to most readers, even without the caption providing additional context, making it especially hilarious Far side comics details like the notebook in one dog’s hand, the coffee mug in another’s hand, the headphones they’re all wearing, and, of course, the unsuspecting expression on the cat’s face.
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While the dogs are away, the person will… worry?
First published: November 25, 1987
This is a split image Far side The hilarious panel flips the dynamic between dog and human, as the top half of the image shows a worried man reading a note from his dog demanding that he “STAY“like his dog and another one named Rex”took the car to the city,“, and at the bottom of the panel there is a picture of a carefree couple of dogs during a walk.
Far side there have been a couple of bad pet owners and bad pets, and this is a very funny example of the latter; As funny as this is, it also carries a hint of subtextual tension, as anyone whose dog has escaped and run free will feel a pang of secondary concern, even at this patently absurd joke. In that sense, it is without a doubt one of Gary Larson’s greatest works. Far side comics about dogs.