Why Gary Larson's Kill Marking Jokes Are So Hilarious
Why Were Gary Larson’s Kill Marking Jokes So Funny?
If you were a fan of The Far Side back in the day - or are now rediscovering it - you probably loved those hilarious comic strips! And if you are a real fan, you might notice a certain repeated gag that Gary Larson kept coming back to! Let's look at those awesome kill markings, shall we?
What's a "Kill Marking"?
- It is a joke that Gary Larson came back to throughout the entire run of the The Far Side. It wasn't like some other recurring jokes that came up over and over - like those The Far Side dogs and cats, but it had an odd effect.
- Those kill marking jokes, he used in some crazy contexts! It all started with those planes - it's totally a reference to how World War I pilots marked down those victories. He twisted things up with a touch of dark humor! It shows how Larson's work had different levels to it, he used this repeated visual gag and it really stood out, which you have to respect.
- You can kinda see a change in his work as the years passed by. It's super fascinating to see how he started using those kill markings more and more, but made them even funnier each time, too! Those jokes all made a statement about his work - it's about having that ability to see the same gag, but then completely switch up its style and context. The whole point of his work - he always looked for a different spin.
Tell Me About The Snoopy Joke
- Those kill marking jokes! This first one, everyone knows the Red Baron from Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip, right? And you have to know Snoopy, everyone's favorite, super smart dog.
- This comic has this iconic The Far Side humor: it’s funny and kinda dark. It takes this classic Peanuts joke with Snoopy and shows what might happen if Snoopy's imagination took on a whole new reality. He made this Red Baron character feel more terrifying - it made the joke come alive. It totally sums up how Gary Larson worked! He had a way to look at something so simple - Snoopy playing around - and make it extra, extra special and make us laugh and squirm.
- He combined The Far Side with history too, like that whole idea about marking the planes. He's clever, isn’t he? That's exactly how he makes you think and think again! And those early kill markings show you how he played with his humor and what to expect!
Any More Kill Marking Jokes?
- It might sound like it's one time but no! It came up again a while later. This time we get this totally ridiculous, bizarre image - those kill markings were on a giant elephant in a jungle! That elephant looks super suspicious and that whole image - like a man trying to hunt. It shows us how he always was going for something different - he'd bring a new dimension.
- Those jokes kept showing up as time went on. Like a third one where you’ve got this super funny idea about those sandcastle hunters! The guy driving a giant tank is all smiles and a beach full of those kids is running away - so ridiculous but funny.
- And in a fourth joke we get that giant cruise ship, but if you look closely - it shows the crazy, maniacal expression on the captain. And those kill markings are all from smaller ships he ran over!
It's cool that The Far Side is so great for re-discovering those classic jokes. But when you notice these details - it shows how special those Far Side cartoons really are. Those kill markings - those little repeated moments - make those jokes pop and are a totally cool part of Gary Larson’s legacy.