Summary

• Far Side comics portray dogs in outrageous scenarios that reveal humorous insights into their behavior.
• Gary Larson's s often blend anthropomorphism and humor to provide a unique perspective on canines.
• Through dark humor and exaggerated situations, Larson captures the essence of man's best friend in a comical light.

or in anthropomorphized form, dogs were among the most frequent recurring elements in Far Side history.

With the recent revelation that Gary Larson's "Talking Dogs" comic is scientifically accurate, fans of the long-running strip can't help but look back on some of Far Side's other great canine s. With their lovable demeanor and puzzling behavior, dogs were always one of the comic genius' favorite subjects to goof on.

Whether they were plotting against the mailman or trying to get the house cat, Far Side's resident pooches never failed to get readers laughing. Larson penned dozens upon dozens of s about dogs over the years, and the very best have readers barking with laughter to this day.

22 A Superstitious Canine Comes Out On The Wrong End Of Dog Math

First Published: August 3, 1987

With The Far Side, Gary Larson excelled at providing a delightfully skewed perspective on familiar tropes and folk sayings, as exhibited in this , where two dogs superstitiously lament the breaking of a mirror as bad luck.

The humor of the comic comes from the fact that – since dogs are said to age seven years for every human year – "Rusty" is in for nearly half a century's worth of suffering. "Bummer..." his canine cohort says, before working out the math, as the pair of hounds stand in the yard on their hind-legs, shoulders slumped, the broken mirror at their feet.

21 Even A Puppy Can't Disrespect The Boss Like That

First Published: February 13, 1980

This Far Side also stands out as an oblique movie reference, something Gary Larson loved to do throughout the comic's historic run. "He bit the godfather," the caption reads, as a trio of mafiosos stand on a bridge watching a dog – weighed down with cement shoes – plummet toward the surface of a river.

Not only is this an example of a dark Far Side installment where one character is totally doomed, it also brazenly pokes fun at the popular conception the mafia, who remained at powerful force at the time of the comic's publication.

20 Hopefully This Sled Racer Has Pet Insurance

First Published: March 27, 1980

In this , Gary Larson skillfully remixes a common problem for car owners, by depicting it as an issue for a sled-dog driver. "Egads...another flat!" the man on the sled cries out, as all the air has gone out of one of his dogs.

What makes this especially brilliant are the contrasting looks on the other dog's faces, with the leader of the pack looking entirely indifferent, while the others stare at their deflated comrade in evident horror. The human on the sled, meanwhile, cries out in indignation familiar to any driver whose tires need to be replaced.

19 Somebody Should Tail This Customer Around The Store

First Published: May 14, 1980

"Keep your eye on that guy..." one butcher says to another in this strip, leaning on the deli counter and gesturing to a suspicious character in the foreground of the frame. "He hasn't said or bought a thing for over an hour."

This is one of Gary Larson's signature multilayered jokes. The "guy" is in fact a dog, meaning he can't say anything. However, the suspicion the speaker treats him with is warranted, as the dog – wearing a trenchcoat, and hunched over in suspect posture – is certainly there to pilfer some unsanctioned meats.

18 City Dogs Know To Walk Quickly Past A Crime Scene

First Published: February 23, 1987

Gary Larson often delivered The Far Side was designed to test his readers' "reflexes" – that is, to get an immediate reaction out of them. Rather than holding meaning to be deciphered, this is intended to make the audience go "What the?"

In the cartoon, dogs dressed in human clothes the chalk outline of a dog on a city sidewalk. Rather than attempting to communicate something deeper beneath its surface, this Far Side is all about the immediate, and lasting, impact of the image.

17 Rubbing His Nose In It Afterward Won't Help

The front lawn was often a scene that Larson returned to again and again, and in the , he shows off his artistic ability to draw the reader's eye across the page.

Dogs aren't always the most graceful animals, and their destructive behavior has spelled doom for many pieces of furniture over the years. The "Blow Up the House" shows off Larson's signature skill for exaggeration and makes it very clear what some people think about dogs in the house.

The front lawn was often a scene that Larson returned to again and again, and in the , he shows off his artistic ability to draw the reader's eye across the page. The visual of a dog standing over a dynamite plunger is funny enough as it is, but the reaction of the dog's owner is what really puts it over the top.

16 This Dog Isn't Going To Like What's On The Test

First Published: May 25, 1985

Larson's impact on comedy can't be overstated, but some of his darkest Far Side s show that his humor was a bit blacker than his contemporaries. Featuring two dogs talking, the "Tutored" is a thinker that ends with a sidesplitting punchline that says a lot about the trusting nature of dogs.

Always looking on the bright side of life, the poor dog who's about to be snipped seems to think he's in for something good. Like a classic case of pride coming before the fall, the comic's true humor comes from the fact that the dog in the car is bragging to his friend without realizing the dark twist of fate he is about to endure.

15 This Whole Doggone Court Is Out Of Order

First Published: September 28, 1985

One of the oldest cartoon setups is the never-ending struggle between cats and dogs, and Larson used that premise to the fullest in Far Side. Set in a courtroom, the "Cat Killer?" comic is one that gets funnier the longer the reader takes to analyze it.

Not only is the lawyer's imioned plea hilarious, but it is made doubly so by the fact that he is preaching to a crowd exclusively composed of cats. As if that wasn't a perfect joke on its own, Larson really puts punctuation on the by including the goofiest-looking dog he could conjure up as the supposed perpetrator. The funniest Far Side comics have only gotten funnier, and the "Cat Killer" is no exception.

14 It's Possible This Dog Was Nothing More Than A Patsy

First Published: January 9, 1987

According to Gary Larson, many Far Side comics started out as short stories, which he then "adapted" into comics. This feels like it may be an example of this – as it depicts the aftermath of a dog's attempt to chase the President's limo, which has landed him in prison.

"Why'd you do it, Biff?" a female dog asks. Like many of Gary Larson's best jokes, the set-up and punchline here are gleefully silly. Yet while many Far Side comics provoke readers to ask questions that have no answers, this one feels like there's more to the story.

13 Not All Dogs Go To Heaven

First Published: June 8, 1986

Larson wasn't afraid to show the darker side of man's best friend, and he often tapped into the canine's deepest darkest fears.

Though dogs are heavenly creatures, Larson wasn't afraid to show the darker side of man's best friend, and he often tapped into the canine's deepest darkest fears. "Dog Hell" combined two of Larson's favorite muses in the form of the underworld and dogs, and he presents the reader with a unique vision of the bad half of the afterlife.

Casting the dogs as mail carriers and cleaners, the iconic writer conjured up the perfect biblical punishment for the angelic species of pets. Of course, since dogs are beloved by the writer, their hell isn't too dark, and their fitting punishment is a much lighter sentence than many of his human characters who wind up in the underworld.