10 Hilariously Weird Far Side Plant Comics You Need to See

Gary Larson's Far Side: 10 Hilariously Weird Comics About plants!

Gary Larson's Far Side: Where Plants Get Hilariously Weird!

Gary Larson's The Far Side is legendary for its darkly humorous and often bizarre take on the world. And let's be honest, his plants were no exception! He had a genius for anthropomorphizing nature, giving those inanimate objects and animals some surprisingly relatable traits, completely subverting the conventional and those deeply-set ideas regarding what nature and art really could be. And sometimes, that resulted in pure comedic genius; exploring unexpected, sometimes strangely relatable elements in the most unexpected ways!

Larson infused his Comics with intelligent, and often mischievous life; even the simplest plant in The Far Side becomes surprisingly expressive and memorable; sometimes these were unexpected antagonists capable of taking revenge, even capable of taking actions which are uniquely intelligent in creative yet highly relatable ways! From blades of grass to towering trees, everything felt alive – resulting in hilarious and truly dangerous situations involving both animals and those completely unsuspecting humans who often became victims of plant-based malice, creating unexpected situations with memorable yet unexpected outcomes, generating those kind of darkly funny, quirky and unpredictable stories! Let’s dive into ten of his best plant-based gags.

Also Read: The Far Side: Gary Larson's Hilarious Animal Comics

Top 10 Hilarious Far Side Plant Comics: Prepare for Some Unexpected Laughs

Far Side, March 2, 1982, two flowers look on in concern as a pair of scissors slowly crawls toward them Image

10. "Zuzu's Petals": A Collector's Obsession

This comic is just a ridiculously hilarious and brilliantly simple panel. A fancy man, all dressed up, shows off his amazing flower collection. He points out "Zuzu's Petals", saying it cost a king's ransom! The joke cleverly combines rare collections with surprisingly accessible and relatable material, the humor delivered through showing that almost everyone has something which they value; yet those things considered precious have their own subjective quality, demonstrating a perspective on personal preferences and those items highly treasured!

Larson's artwork's brilliance lies within the framing. “Zuzu’s Petals” are displayed with intense reverence; placing emphasis on personal preferences, highlighting an additional aspect: The Far Side becomes its own type of anthology in many ways.

9. "Down On My Luck": A Four-Leaf Clover's Hard Times

Far Side, January 20, 1992, a man showing off his rare flower collection Image

This is simple; and ridiculously clever wordplay and utterly unexpected visual gags which truly embody the essence of The Far Side’s approach. This one's pure gold – showcasing four-leaf clovers as humans struggling in life; creating surprisingly memorable and yet so effective images. One clover sits begging; its sign saying "Down on My Luck." It’s a perfect pun delivered effectively!

Larson's mastery with wordplay adds extra value. Even though there remains a bit of mystery and strangeness regarding this very comic panel, it is simply just very creative and perfectly enjoyable!

8. "The Nose Collector": A Hilariously Creepy Flower

Far Side, February 26, 1990, a four-leaf clover begs on a street corner with a sign that says 'down on my luck' Image

This one's initially baffling! A fanged flower on a fence with a collection of human noses! But the smiling face and those incredibly sharp teeth finally make things incredibly clear. The man's shadow adds another dimension. The punchline hinges on understanding the details and appreciating how wonderfully dark and morbidly creative The Far Side could easily become.

7. "Mrs. Talbot's Flower Bed": Canine Warfare at Its Finest

Far Side, September 20, 1988, a fence with noses and a flower with fangs, approached by the shadow of a man Image

A recurring element across various panels shows those classic conflicts; this one, between dogs and gardens, demonstrates just how wild Larson could let things be! A caption, “Ginger decides to take out Mrs. Talbot's flower bed once and for all,” showcases the unexpected use of heavy machinery to carry out gardening revenge. Those poor flowers; utterly unprepared to the sheer destructive capabilities shown in this darkly comedic moment. The unexpected results and the lack of restraint makes these very unique scenarios easily understood!

6. "How They See Themselves": The Subjectivity of Beauty

Gary Larson (foreground, right) with The Far Side's infamous Image

Larson's fondness for nature’s impact gets expressed through that split image demonstrating those perspectives about flowers. "How We See Flowers" shows classic, aesthetically pleasing images! “How They See Themselves"? These hilariously goofy, strange flower faces, make viewers realize those very distinct perspectives; what we perceive aesthetically isn't always what we get! The overall perspective also greatly affects viewers’ impressions and feelings concerning what they are viewing, completely subverting those traditional ideas involving what "aesthetically pleasing" really means, suggesting this entire topic remains highly subjective and often quite variable depending on who is involved.

5. "Just Before A Big Date": A Very Relatable (and Weird) Blemish

Far Side, a woman looks out through her window in dismay as a neighborhood dog steamrolls her garden Image

This one hits really close! Everyone’s had those pre-date anxieties, those frustrating moments regarding some flaw which always appears at precisely the wrong moment. Larson uses this very human experience! Yet he goes wildly unexpected with a tree growing from the man’s head! The comedic effect arrives from those very conflicting emotions between familiarity and sheer absurdity, completely changing how we might consider typical experiences, making even typical problems surprisingly wild!

4. "The Nervous Weed": A Touch of Humanism in Nature's Struggle

Far Side, July 9, 1984, panels depicting 'how we see flowers' and 'how flowers see themselves' Image

This wordless comic’s pure brilliance shows those things usually lacking across most comic media – humanism, the capability of applying this type of deeply-felt humanism and sensitivity even toward weeds; generating empathy even toward seemingly less valuable members in this grand scale of ecology. A looming silhouette wields a garden hoe, set to completely destroy this very nervous weed. This unexpected twist is made even more surprising when the nervousness in this very helpless creature's expression creates another emotionally surprising contrast!

3. "It Moved A Little Closer!": Sheer Paranoia (or Real Danger?)

The Far Side, May 4, 1983, a man sprouts a tree from his head just before a date Image

Anthropomorphic flowers are attacked by strangely animate garden shears slowly approaching. This craziness subverts reality with amazing impact, creating unexpected suspense using unlikely characters (shears) generating the necessary levels of tension and unpredictability while making this seemingly impossible scene incredibly fun and totally gripping. That potential paranoia versus actual danger is another aspect entirely; a dual storyline which keeps viewers surprised at every panel! And even a complete alternative reading involving the possibility of being inanimate objects remain unexpectedly suspenseful and entertaining; and these elements together elevate the comedic elements greatly.

2. "Danger: Carnivorous Lawn": ACME Salesman Meets His Match!

The Far Side Complete Collection Book Set Image

Larson's ACME salesmen often get into trouble— and this case involves a rather serious problem with completely unexpected results: those supposedly innocent lawn actually eat people. A sign proclaims "Danger: Carnivorous Lawn”, this salesman ignoring this obvious sign gets his hat and glasses eaten! This panel’s mastery shows subverting those widely-held expectations: grass and its general innocuous nature entirely transformed! It is absurd!

1. "She-Loves-Me, She-Loves-Me-Not": Nature’s Revenge, A Far Side Classic!

Far Side. October 6, 1982, a weed smiles nervously as a woman approaches her garden to remove it Image

This early Larson comic, an unbelievably memorable scene showcases those plants becoming utterly powerful antagonists taking their revenge on humans! Those giant flowers are seen holding up this incredibly shocked man, warning to play a very vicious game involving tearing him limb from limb; their reasoning for this being: the man's treatment of them parallels his mistreatment from a human lover!

The brilliantly clever detail makes this entire story more satisfying for readers – a brilliant demonstration on just how this topic became a staple for The Far Side!

Also Read: The Far Side: Hilarious Comics That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud

Conclusion: Gary Larson's Enduring Legacy of Unexpected Humor

Far Side, February 13, 1982, an ACME traveling salesman is devoured by a carnivorous lawn Image

These are just a tiny sample from those plants which made The Far Side amazing! They perfectly express the cartoonist's genius. Larson's unparalleled humor is always relatable despite having wild plots; and those clever touches made The Far Side’s plants not merely gags, but memorable characters, often unexpected yet strangely relatable for many readers; perfectly demonstrating that nature doesn’t really behave in the manner most of us consider, using the same materials but producing the most creative results with these unexpectedly twisted narratives which will stay in people's minds long after that reading session ends.