The Far Side humorously addresses dark and apocalyptic topics with irreverence and clever wit, injecting humor into what would otherwise be bleak subject matter. From asteroid impacts to alien invasions, Larson's strips explore various causes of the apocalypse with screwball visuals and clever humor. The comic presents unconventional perspectives, like dogs more interested in each other than the crumbling world, or aliens reacting to human destruction with awe rather than aggression.
Larson's Far Side strips showcase a variety of wacky ways in which he envisions the end of the world, including alien invasions. Although the apocalypse may not seem like a lighthearted topic, Larson approaches it with irreverence and humor that is characteristic of The Far Side. Throughout the history of the comic, Larson has depicted Armageddon in different ways, attributing the end of the world to events such as nuclear meltdown, alien invasion, or asteroid impact. Despite the gravity of these scenarios, Larson infuses his unique visuals and clever wit to create strips that are anything but depressing. One example of this is the strip titled "You're Kidding," which presents the impending impact of a giant asteroid with a darkly humorous twist. Another strip, "Jake Saw Something," similarly showcases Larson's ability to find humor in the face of potential apocalypse.
In a dog-eat-dog world, quite literally, the end of the world doesn't seem to faze our furry friends. In this comic strip, Jake the dog is more interested in meeting another dog than in the impending chaos and destruction. While dogs being fascinated by other dogs is normal, it does seem a bit excessive when the city is falling apart around them.
It's not reassuring that the fate of the world rests in the hands of a single man in "Roy Dooms The Entire Earth." A friendly gesture goes awry when a humble farmer's attempt at a handshake with an alien race leads to catastrophic consequences. A more gentle approach might have prevented this alien invasion and the potential end of the world in The Far Side.
The effectiveness of underground bunkers is humorously highlighted in "We're Alive!" as a couple survives the apocalypse while the rest of the world perishes. Their investment in a fallout shelter proves to be a wise decision, and the man may take pleasure in saying "I told you so" to the shocked Sylvia.
In "Every Street Corner," a comic from The Far Side, the chaos of the end of the world seems to be ever-present, with destruction lurking around every street corner.
Crosswalk signs in The Far Side are not what they seem. These seemingly innocent signs are actually aliens plotting to take over the Earth, taking everyone by surprise. Gary Larson's talent for surprising his readers is evident in this strip, and from now on, crosswalk signs will be viewed with suspicion.
Cockroaches surviving the end of the world is a common joke, but in The Far Side, it becomes a reality. The strip depicts a few creepy crawly survivors celebrating while the rest of the world goes up in flames.
In another strip, karate students have the chance to save their town and the Earth from alien invasion using their skills. Larson's ability to create outlandish yet humorous scenarios makes the end of the world seem less scary in this strip.
Finally, in "Can Opener," the idea of a can opener being used to destroy the world is the type of outlandish and humorous scenario that Larson excels at creating.
In a quality bomb shelter, a can opener is essential for opening canned non-perishables. Harold in this comic strip failed to realize this, making life in the shelter more difficult. The irony of being well-prepared for the apocalypse yet forgetting such a crucial item is not lost on the woman in the strip.
In a comic from October 5, 1982, Gary Larson features aliens on a distant planet witnessing the Earth's destruction from mushroom clouds. The aliens react with awe, portraying humans as the ones responsible for their own demise.
Another comic from June 19, 1982, humorously depicts the unfortunate fate of the Acme Sign Co., whose business of making "The End is Near" signs is rendered useless by the actual end of the world. This comic humorously highlights the absurdity of trying to profit from predicting the apocalypse.
The Far Side, created by Gary Larson, is a popular comic strip series that ran from December 1979 to January 1995. Known for its exploration of life's surreal side and use of a mix of humans and anthropomorphic animals, it became a worldwide hit. In 2020, Gary Larson decided to start creating The Far Side comics again and is now circulating them on his official website. He serves as both the writer and colorist for the series.