Gary Larson The Far Side loves to portray mundane reactions to truly bizarre situations, making grumpy old men his perfect subject. Whether it’s being attacked by squirrels or receiving superpowers, Far SideThe older gentlemen of the group step forward with a well-deserved growl and a few well-chosen words.
Here are the 15 funniest Far Side comics starring grumpy old men, from Pinocchio’s later years to old dogs who don’t want to learn any new tricks. Don’t forget to vote in our end-of-article poll and tell us which of these hilarious comics is the best of the bunch.
15
Balloon
Far Side knows misery and loves company
This comic is from February 1981, just Far SideIt’s the second year of distribution, and yet Larson’s sense of humor is already on full display when a grumpy older man uses a blowgun to take the balloon away from a passing child. Far Side is famous for its witty captions, but in this case the joke works without dialogue or explanation, and Larson makes the smart decision not to complicate the joke with anything unnecessary. This feeling when an attractive image was enough created some of the Far Sidethe best strips.
Despite its initial place in Far Side story, the balloon joke is still among Larson’s best uncaptioned comics, simply for perfectly evoking the mood of feeling incredibly grumpy and being unable to see why anyone should be having fun.
14
Mom was right…
Larson never met a saying he didn’t want to take literally
Gary Larson loves take an idiomatic expression or saying and translate it literally, in this case the accusation that a stubborn man is “an old goat.” Larson’s unique images create impossible past events as part of his narratives – how could this man’s wife have only realized he was a goat later? decades of the wedding?
13
Old Dogs
Far Side knows that man’s best friend (grumpy old man) also ages
In this strip, two Far SideThe family dogs realize they’re getting older when the sight of a cat who’s also a mailman isn’t enough to make them bark and chase. Far SideThe surreal side of is shown here – most comic book creators could come up with basic jokes about old dogs too tired to chase a cat, but it takes Gary Larson to give the cat a mailbag, so it’s even more irresistible. Like many Far SideIn dog comics, the joke here focuses on dogs with human consciousness and language but maintaining their animal priorities.
Far SideDogs have talk shows, supermarkets, schools and even go on dates, but they still drink from the toilet, eat garbage, tear up homework and love to roll in anything that smells.
12
Michelangelo’s father
Far Side takes ‘Back in My Day’ to the extreme
Michelangelo receives some “useful” advice from his father about how to paint the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Larson makes a smart artistic decision by elevating the great master beyond the panel, making the reader imagine his exasperated expression.
11
You again!
Old men and squirrels are the most unexpected enemies on the other side
Some of the Far SideGrumpy old men have reason to be in a bad mood – especially this guy, who apparently lost several hats to the same thieving squirrel. Once again, Larson’s joke implies a surreal past where this same man keeps having his hat stolen by a squirrel, yet returns repeatedly to feed the squirrels at the same bench.
10
Vultures
Far Side’s grumpy old men feed the birds
Larson loves the image of vultures stalking their prey – a cliché that normally only takes place in the desert, but in the world of Far Side it can happen anywhere. To their credit, although these older gentlemen still haven’t figured out why they are being chased, they also don’t seem the least bit frightened by the large scavenging birds.
9
Pinocchio
Gary Larson Loves (or Hates?) The Little Wooden Boy
This strip takes the time-honored tradition of grandpas telling fantastic stories to their grandchildren and gives it a twist, making grandpa the only character who can never run away with spinning wires. However, if you feel sorry for Pinocchio in this comic, know that he has already been through distant worse on your other Far Side appearances.
Although Gary Larson often shot Disney characters, he seems to have a special hatred for Pinocchio. In several Far Side cops, he is pecked by woodpeckers, scratched by cats and attacked by lions, while Jiminy Cricket suffers an even darker fate in an entomologist’s death jar.
8
House of Former Cartoonists
Far Side gains goal with the fate of former cartoonists
Larson offers a glimpse into the feuds between elderly cartoonists, who use insulting graffiti to attack each other with ridiculously specific jabs, such as “Bob doesn’t know how to draw feet.” Larson often treats people with shared professions as if they were a unique species, and cartoonists here have abandoned the normal arguments in favor of communicating through their artistic abilities.
7
The squirrels got him
Far Side brings back old men vs. squirrels
Somehow the theme of grumpy old men running afoul of squirrels returns, while Andrew’s poor grandfather is put away for the winter. Larson clearly saw the image of a grown man under attack by small rodents as inherently hilarious, but the staging of this comic strip takes it to the next level, as the old man tucked into a tree knot is just visible in the background of a another way. normal scene.
6
Tell the children a pleasant story
Far Side knows some grumpy old men have a reason
In this joke, an older man tells his grandchildren the story of how he lost his entire bodywhile his wife complains that it would be nice for them to hear a pleasurable story instead. The hilarity comes from the fact that if someone were turned into just a head, all he would like to hear that story, and he could be forgiven for telling it to everyone he met for the rest of his life.
5
Superman
Even the Man of Steel will age
In a pop culture landscape defined by superhero stories, it’s a shame that Larson didn’t focus more on the subject more. The Far Side. There are only a handful of Superman comics in The Far Side‘, often inverting the character, turning him into an everyday idiot with a bad memory, marital difficulties or annoying neighbors. However, the Man of Steel also gets some more surreal jokes, including him buzzing around a lighthouse like a red and blue moth.
4
These puppies today
A surprisingly dark entrance, even to the other side
Larson has received a lot of hate mail throughout his career, and it happened like clockwork when he suggested harm to children or animals. This strip he must I received one or two angry lettersas two dogs complain about how easy today’s puppies are, it ends with the revelation that they used to play ‘ball’ with a decapitated cat. Larson leans into the horrible joke, hilariously describing it as a “simply old” cat head.
3
Equal portions
The grumpy old men of Far Side have a worse enemy than squirrels
Grumpy old men can face squirrels in the world of Far Sidebut no enemy could replace his true natural enemy – other grumpy old men. After what seems like an endless fight, four elderly characters decide to stop fighting with a good old-fashioned eating contest.
2
Your Henry
‘Again’ Might Be Far Side’s Funniest Word
Larson often uses the word “again” to make a bizarre situation even funnierwhich implies that everyone involved in this meeting has been through this before and learned nothing. This is the case with this joke, where a grumpy old man was repeatedly chasing a cat up a tree. Given the amount of Far Side comics where dogs act like humans, it’s only fair that Larson created some where humans act like dogs.
1
You forgot something again
The Far Side unleashes ‘again’ again
We’re calling this Gary Larson’s funniest comic about grumpy old men, thanks in part to the hilarious art — Mr. Oswald couldn’t look funnier (or angrier) forced into the shopping cart. This strip is from 1980, and it’s clear that Larson hasn’t found her minimalist art style yet, especially considering how empty the ‘store’ is. However, it is already implementing “again” with hilarious effect. Like Larson’s other strips, the implied setup is a big part of the joke, asking a) why Mr. Oswald is in the cart, b) how Mrs. herself is.
These are Gary Larson’s 15 Funniest Comics Starring Grumpy Old Men – Don’t forget to vote in our poll below to decide which of these Far Side comics you think deserves the top spot as the best of the best.