10 Best Far Side Comics About Ducks

Published Sep 20, 2026, 1:34 PM EDT TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. The Far Side has a multitude of recurring motifs, but among the most iconic are DUCKS. Any Gary Larson fan knows the comic strip creator loved inserting anthropomorphic animals into his comics, and ducks fit perfectly into his signature animal-vs.-human humor. This type of humor became one of the most recognizable aspects of The Far Side’s legacy, with ducks appearing in some of Larson’s greatest comic strips. Now, we’ve selected the very best duck-starring strips for your entertainment. So, sit down, quack up, and get ready for a collection that ranges from downright hilarious to profoundly moving, with some exceptionally dark humor thrown in for good measure. 10 The Plot Thickens Published: 5/9/80 While The Far Side has more than its fair share of clever writing and punchlines, the strip also relied heavily on good ol’ fashioned gag humor with a heavy dose of absurdism, and this comic strip is a perfect example of that. Here, we see some of Larson’s most beloved recurring motifs collide in a single strip: ducks and a detective at a murder scene; specifically, the detective opening a closet door, only to find something absurd within it. In this case, the detective finds a flock of ducks. This is hilarious, with some outright ridiculous imagery, and it earns bonus points for being a recurring gag. Both the Far Side’s detectives and ducks are beloved motifs in the strip, so seeing them collide in this truly absurd way is fantastic, with the caption of the strip, “Ah… the plot thickens,” acting as the cherry on top. 9 Duck vs. Man Published: 2/10/88 As mentioned in the introduction, Larson’s use of the animal-vs-human theme is one of the core driving forces of The Far Side. The strip was famous for repeatedly using animals to turn the human world upside down, with Larson often giving animals, including ducks, an uncanny awareness and intelligence that let them become an absolute menace to their human counterparts. In this strip, we see yet another absurd comic that heavily relies on visual humor, as a duck hunter finds himself in a maze of mirrors while trying and failing to hunt and kill a duck. The implication here is that the duck was not only smart enough to use the maze of mirrors to “hide” itself, but that it is actively mocking the hunter. This mocking nature is made clear by the caption, "Ah, yes, Mr. Frischberg, I thought you'd come...but which of us is the real duck, Mr. Frischberg, and not just an illusion?" 8 The Ugly Duckling Published: 7/11/81 Some of the best duck/goose-starring Far Side comics don't find their greatness in humor, but in something far more profound, and this strip is a perfect example. Here, Larson depicts a conventionally unattractive goose, complete with a balding head, mismatched eyes, and an awkwardly shaped beak, gazing into the water and seeing himself reflected as a beautiful swan. Rather than seeing himself as he appears on the outside, the goose sees his own inner beauty and allows that perception to define him. In a comic strip better known for its absurdity and dark humor, this is perhaps one of Larson's most unexpectedly touching comics. 7 Duck-Bites Published: 3/15/86 Speaking of dark humor, this strip may be one of The Far Side’s darkest. The comic doesn’t contain a single word, instead relying entirely on gag humor, albeit exceptionally dark gag humor. Here, a mother duck is leading her ducklings across the road, while a snake follows closely behind them. The implication is clear, but the comic gets even darker when you look more closely at the snake. The snake’s body has three duckling-sized lumps bulging from within it, implying that it has already eaten three ducklings and is on its way to eating the fourth. The sheer absurdity of the snake casually following behind the mother goose, seemingly waiting for its next meal, is what makes this strip such a quintessential example of Larson’s dark sense of humor. 6 The Duck Files Published: 8/20/81 Continuing the theme of dark humor is one of Larson’s most famous and well-known duck-starring comics. Pictured in this strip is one duck at the bottom of a wooden staircase and another at the top, kicking poor “Margaret” down the stairs. The caption reads exactly as the scene plays out: “As the first duck kept Margaret's attention, the second one made its move.” Why the ducks are plotting to murder this poor woman, we don’t know. However, that is part of the humor in this strip, as it’s an absurd idea to think of two ducks not only trying to kill a woman for no apparent reason, but actually having a well-thought-out scheme to do it. The fact that the ducks are treating their plan with such calculated precision only makes the bizarre situation even funnier. 5 South For The Winter Published: 10/24/83 Some fans may find this comic strip particularly relatable, minus the duck part, of course. However, the strip presents a scene of family life that many can relate to, or at least recognize. Many will likely agree that moms and dads can have very different approaches to dealing with their children, with mothers often reminding sometimes-more-callous fathers to be careful with their words and not risk driving their children away when approaching a sensitive conversation. However, in this strip, instead of two parents confronting their human child, we see this familiar scene play out with a unique duck-shaped twist: "Here he comes, Earl. ... Remember, be gentle but firm... we are absolutely, positively, NOT ... driving him south this winter." 4 The Missing Duck Formation Published: 11/5/84 This next entry takes a break from Larson’s strip-defining humor and instead presents something far more somber. Here, Larson depicts a hunter holding his recently killed duck as he watches its flock fly away in a V formation. However, there is a notable gap in the formation, as the other ducks appear to acknowledge their friend’s absence. This comic not only highlights the tragedy of an animal’s life being taken for sport, but also serves as Larson’s nod to the Air Force’s “Missing Man” formation, an in-flight tribute used to acknowledge the loss of a comrade. Given that the hunter appears to watch the formation with a somber expression, he seems to have come to realize the weight of his actions. 3 Duck Calls Published: 7/1/83 As an apology for the emotional gut punch of the last entry, we have a ridiculously hilarious strip to give you a good laugh. Here, Larson delivers one of his more clever strips by combining the human and animal worlds and reimagining what a “duck call” might actually mean. In hunting, a duck call is a device used to mimic duck sounds to attract ducks. However, the twist here is that Larson takes the phrase “duck call” completely literally. Instead of using the hunting device as intended, the human uses it during an actual telephone call to a duck, blowing the duck call directly into the phone. This results in what the comic labels an “obscene duck call,” turning the innocent hunting term into a ridiculous double entendre. Essentially, the joke is that the human is behaving like a creep by cold-calling ducks and then making sounds specifically designed to attract them. 2 Duck Decoy Published: 12/27/94 Coming in as one of the funniest entries on this list is a strip that sees a trio of duck friends hanging out at a bar, with one of them noticeably injured. The caption reads: ... "Well, hell no, I can't tell Harriet! First thing she's gonna ask me is what was I doin' checkin' out a decoy!" Although we only get a snippet of dialogue, we can infer what kind of conversation is taking place. The injured duck is clearly responding to a friend asking whether he plans to tell his wife how he got hurt. He is adamant about keeping it a secret because the injury apparently happened while he was “checking out a decoy,” meaning he was injured while admiring what he thought was another duck. Naturally, his wife wouldn’t take kindly to him checking out another female duck. The joke hilariously inverts a very human situation, with Larson applying the concepts of marriage and infidelity to the world of ducks. 1 Anatidaephobia Published: 10/5/88 Topping off our list is perhaps the most iconic and recognizable duck-starring Far Side comic of all time. This comic introduced many of us to a new irrational fear: anatidaephobia. Coined by Larson himself, the word means “the fear that somewhere, somehow, a duck is watching you.” This comic once again showcases Larson’s absurdist humor, but it gets even funnier when you realize that there is, in fact, a duck watching the office worker from a building across the street in the background of the strip. #FearValidated. If we missed YOUR favorite duck-starring Far Side comic, then let us know in the comments! Writer Gary Larson Colorist Gary Larson