and begging to know “Why?”

before any guffaw or chuckle.

Instead, in addition to the “What-the?”

A man from Gary Larson’s Far Side (foreground) against a red backdrop with silhouetted Far Side characters in white.

It is important to note that Gary Larson’s “What-the?

and “what happens next?”

The scenario of thisFar Sidepanel will leave as many readers scratching their heads as chuckling.

the far side a detective points at an elephant in a trenchcoat

7The Far Side Regularly Left Readers Begging To Know “Why?”

First Published: June 2, 1982

ThisFar Sidepanel is a pure “What-the?”

comic in the sense that it will invariably leave readers wondering how Gary Larson came up with the idea.

Far Side grinning man (foreground, left) and miners digging underground (right, background.)

5Far Side Romances Were Some Of The Comic’s Biggest “What-the?”

Far Sideromances perhaps had a higher-than-average share of “What-the?”

4Leaving Readers Asking “What-the?”

far side comic where a cat is being arrested 2

3Far Side Comics Often Left Readers Wondering “What’s Going On Here?”

Far Side, January 25, 1982, man in trenchcoat trying to sell hoofed animals in alleyway

Far Side February 15, 1982, ants trying to carry a baby back to their ant hill for food

Far Side, March 15, 1982, man tells another man he’s opening the wrong kind of beer as monster smashes through wall

Far Side, April 3, 1982, clown sits in a restaurant looking innocent after sticking suction cup to another patron’s head

Far Side, May 26, 1982, men looking through telescope discover they are on TV

Far Side, June 2, 1982, the North Pole with the words THIS SIDE UP printed on it

Far Side, July 14, 1982, a son pleads with his father to buy him a pet snake

Far Side, August 24, 1982, wolf and sheep lovers meet illicitly at night

Far Side, September 6, 1982, couple in bed wake up with their faces all askew

Far Side, October 2, 1982, man insists on plugging in a horrifying decoration with a human head

Comics

The Far Side