The Far Side by Gary Larson was an absolute phenomenon, with iconic illustrations, memorable animals and a very specific brand of humor.
The Far Side And Its Brilliant Twists:
Gary Larson really knew how to get audiences to laugh with one unique approach- using common sayings to produce the wildest results!
Those common, recognizable sayings often showed up and many are still used in this era.
Larson could take those expressions and create this hilarious absurdity! And one of those key components for The Far Side was to use literal language, allowing a real laugh at these iconic, humorous twists!
10 Far Side Comics That Reinvent the Meaning Of Classic Sayings:
Out Of Left Field!
The world of baseball and some classic idioms give us a great set of laughs!
What really makes this scene funny, is when you combine the scene with what makes this one of those hilarious moments!
What is meant to be said by people who are super surprised? That things came out of the blue?
- It shows someone on the street and a cop talking about an individual who had just been crushed by a big baseball!
- It looks like that person literally went "out of left field.", and the shock! Is something you won't believe.
Riding into the Sunset!
It's about what people love about Cowboys, with their rugged nature, their daring and that iconic moment that movie watchers will forever remember.
Larson makes us remember just how important these moments were in the early days of "Westerns", especially since he gave a true Hollywood, spin. It's not just riding off. In fact, a cowboy is burning, but that isn't stopping him! He has a specific idea and as a fan, I really appreciate "Larson" style and he went to great depths in making us smile! He gave us something fun and memorable that stands out.
Rattle Someone's Cage:
It seems the bird really wants to know who's boss.
If there is an animal that was a hallmark in "The Far Side", they had so many interesting birds that people loved! What happens with this bird? What makes this comic truly remarkable, is the meaning of "rattle your cage.",
When this comes together, we have one bird saying "maybe I'll rattle your cage!". In essence, he takes it back to that idea, in a really memorable, yet silly way. That is why so many fans were obsessed with these animals! And that makes it stand out! That's Larson's, magic. The way he brought that real world idea!
Forbidden Fruit:
That special Apple had one thing going against it!
You may not remember this part. Larson has that uncanny knack of using fruit and it really does seem he really had this knack for taking one small moment and getting to the root of it to generate a super interesting comic. We have a "Club Citrus", a place that's made for all fruits, especially for citrus fruit. Except for the apple! Why was he forbidden to enter? It appears he isn't welcome!
Mean Business:
You can't forget "Vikings," what better people to capture this crazy sense of mayhem? But the amazing thing is how "Larson" brings this to life! There's an attack on a castle and these defenders are a bit scared because these warriors are super intense and look like they're really going to wreak havoc! They do "mean business!".
What made it special, is how they were dressed, their unique gear is briefcases, that was so silly. But they do mean business with those briefcases. This takes that common phrase, "means business" and turns it into the most unlikely attack of a Castle.
Knocking on Death's Door:
If there was anything else that Larson excelled at! He was able to find humor even in the face of the unknown. We see that again in the "Grim Reaper", one of the biggest recurring roles that fans know from this comic! What we see is a "salesman" trying to sell someone a good deal, except he has the unfortunate job of having to sell things in "hell." This really shows off "Larson" genius!
Dressed To Kill!
It appears that the world is a beautiful, fashionable place, and in this particular comic! There's nothing more fashionable to have on as "great white sharks" looking sharp and stylish, wearing tuxedos. This time around it doesn't have that twist in words. It actually hits that phrase in a pretty hilarious way.
A Tree Falling in the Woods!
One of the questions we can never really solve! Does a tree make a noise if it falls with no one there to hear? Well, it turns out for "Larson" it does.
- This tree falls, and this time it can speak! In a real-world sense, if you had a tree falling with nobody around. It wouldn't. But in Larson's mind, a great tree fell. In his amazing, clever work! And we all got to share this humorous, quirky perspective that left fans laughing!
Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't!
What makes it truly fascinating is that this is what "Larson does. That simple saying of the "damned if you do, damned if you don't" comes with a twist of a character in "hell." That also features a character being stuck, with one of those terrible choices!
The Cat Is Away, the Mice Will Play:
We have "mice," in their suits. There's just this one twist and turn about what to do.
They seem to be doing more "work" and "research," and it really throws everything off as you remember these moments and find yourself truly immersed! The classic "The Cat Is Away" and all the fun moments, are completely upside down! That makes it really memorable for fans of this amazing comic!
Gary Larson's Genius:
The "Far Side" was something to always have a smile at. Whether you saw the comic in the 1980s and 90s or you see the works today, it still generates laughs and that's one of the reasons why this cartoon became such a success and something that remains a lasting impact in our world, so that it is recognized as a classic, as well!
