It’s not enough thatThe Far Sideis funny, it’s also one of the most forward-thinking comics. Gary Larson’s absurdist masterpiece delighted readers for years with his unconventional gags and his unique observations about life, the universe, and everything. But as funny as Larson is, he also demonstrated some remarkable foresight.
Gary Larson wasn’t just a cartoonist, but a man of the world and someone who had an appreciation for all facets of life.He usedThe Far Sideto tackle a number of subjects ranging from the banalities of everyday life to the very real fears of a nuclear apocalypse. WhileThe Far Side’speakwas from the late ‘80s to the early ‘90s, it touched on a lot of evergreen topics, things people are still dealing with today, like the woes of modern aviation or rampant drug use. Read on to read10 incredibly prescientFar Sidestrips.
10Offbeat Animal Experimentation
Publication Date: June 18, 2025
Experiments on animals were certainly nothing new back duringThe Far Side’sheyday, but it’s the nature of the experiment in this strip that seems more relevant. Here, a group of scientists are conducting a study of whether animals kiss or not. Bizarre certainly, but not too far from the truth. While scientists aren’t locking lips with various creatures, strange animal studies are conducted to this day, researching everything about them, from their behavior to their physiology, with the hopes that people can learn something from them. Hopefully,the kissing study remains contained inThe Far Side.
9Advanced La-Z-Boy
Publication Date: August 01, 2025
Tech was slowly getting more popular among average consumers whenThe Far Sidewas first being published. But now, tech is involved in so many aspects of people’s lives, from entertainment to house maintenance.The Far Side, hilariously enough, managed to lampoon the rapid evolution of tech in this strip, which shows a couple observing their La-Z-Boy recliner as it mows the lawn. Sure, chairs that advanced are years away, but Larson was right on the money that the average consumer would have access to products that practically defy comprehension while making their lives easier.
8MoneyCanBuy Happiness
Publication Date: June 01, 2025
Sure, they say money can’t buy happiness. But that doesn’t mean advertisers won’t try and sell it to people. ThisFar Sidestrip sees a business come up with the clever marketing gimmick of actually selling packaged happiness. It doesn’t say what the product is, nor how it makes happiness, only that people who want it can buy it. It’s not too far away from influencers and advertisers trying to hawk products that they promise have what it takes to fill an empty void in people’s lives. Happiness is relative, but for some, it’s a strong marketing tool.
7Oil Spill in Honah-Lee
Publication Date: July 04, 2025
Oil spills are some of the worst kinds of disasters that take a major toll on the environment.The Far Sideattempts to get a laugh or two out of these awful messes by having an oil spill occur in Honah-Lee, a reference to “Puff, the Magic Dragon”. Unfortunately, oil spills only got worse in the years after this strip was published (including the disastrous Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010.WhileThe Far Sidegot a chuckle or two by incorporating a fictional dragon, there’s sadly nothing funnywhen this kind of tragedy occurs in real-life.
6Torturer of the Month
Publication Date: July 02, 2025
The Far Sidemight not take too many political stances, but that doesn’t stop it from touching on some very sensitive issues. This particular strip was infamous for the way it makes light of torture, as a sign credits an employee named Bob as ‘Torturer of the Month’. While that seemed outlandish at the time, it doesn’t feel that far from the truth after stories about ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ that were used in places like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. Granted, no one’s probably getting monthly awards, but these places definitely weren’t condemning torture either.
5Snorting Quack
Publication Date: June 03, 2025
Drug use was a big topic of discussion back whenThe Far Sidewas still coming out. Larson puts his own comedic spin on the epidemic by having a pack of wolves falls prey to a vice, but rather than an actual drug, the canines start ‘snorting quack’ (i.e., inhaling duck heads). WhileThe Far Side’swordplay is always entertaining, this wound up becoming a tragically evergreen strip. Today, there’s a crisis in America when it comes to opioids, particularly fentanyl. While there’s nothing funny about addiction,The Far Sidecan at least make people laugh with its absurdity.
4Hopeful Parents
Publication Date: June 20, 2025
When video games took the world by storm in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, a lot of parents were concerned that it would rot their children’s brains and leave them unable to find gainful employment. Larson subverts that with a strip that shows a couple marveling at their son, thinking about all the potential jobs he could get with his video game experience.WhileThe Far Sidewas joking, professional gaming is actually a career path for some, not to mention gaming journalism or actually making a game. Looks like those parents were right to be hopeful.
3Third Most Common Cause of Forest Fires
Publication Date: August 06, 2025
Thanks to climate change, wildfires have become frightfully common in the news, leading to untold devastation and pain for those affected.The Far Sidewas ahead of the curve way back when with this little strip, which shows the third most common cause of forest fires: unattended clothing irons in nests. Of course, Larson is mixing up household and forest fires for comedic effect, but there have been some pretty awful fires in the last several years that have been caused because of human error or negligence. While humorous, it’s also a good reminder to practice proper fire safety.
2Wings Fall Off Switch
Publication Date: July 26, 2025
Things were scary for fliers everywhere at the beginning of 2025 when it seemed like there were more plane crashes and incidents than usual. One must wonder how these accidents keep happening,andThe Far Sidegives a hilariously demented answer. This strip shows a man trying to reach for the switch to recline his chair, only to hit the ‘Wings Fall Off’ switch. Of course, there is no such thing in real life, but with the number of accidents that kicked off the year, it could make one wonder if there actually was such a switch.
1Thriving in the Apocalypse
Publication Date: June 13, 2025
One of the most painful experiences of modern-day living is knowing how dangerously close the world is to some kind of calamity and not being able to do that.But asThe Far Sideshows, some people have embraced the inevitable doom and are celebrating in spite of impending chaos. Here, a group of bugs dances along happily, ignoring the nuclear war in the distance. Honestly, it’s hard not to feel like these bugs, knowing how close the world is to upending and how easy it is to distract oneself with something fun.
