10 Darkest Far Side Comics That Are Still Absolutely Hilarious

Published Aug 28, 2026, 9:30 PM EDT Emedo Ashibeze is a tenured journalist and critic specializing in the entertainment industry. Before joining ScreenRant in 2025. he wrote for several major publications, including GameRant. Gary Larson’s legendary single-panel comic strip, The Far Side, revolutionized newspaper cartoons with its unique blend of comedy and surrealism. His rare comedic style has earned him millions of fans who still find amusement in his comics. Throughout its run, he routinely explored several touchy and macabre topics, all of which were supported by clever punchlines. While some readers occasionally found his work unsettling, there is no denying the hilarity he repeatedly brought to the pages. Rather than leaving audiences totally horrified, he skillfully juxtaposed elements to create a distinct atmosphere in which darkness can coexist with comedy. This piece takes a closer look at the darkest strips he ever drew that still maintained their humor. 10 The Marble Factory Mass Shooting Set inside the workplace of Ace Marbles Incorporated, this panel depicts a horrific workplace massacre turned into a classic Gary Larson gag. After a deranged employee named Simmons begins shooting his coworkers, terrified staff members yell warnings down the hall. Unaware of the danger, executive Mr. Wagner steps outside to investigate the commotion. The humor stems from a fatal linguistic misunderstanding, as Wagner takes his employees’ panicked screams of “Simmons has lost his marbles” literally. Expecting a simple factory mishap, the boss steps right into the gunman’s line of sight. Judging from the wording of the caption, he won’t survive this ordeal unscathed, yet the comic still delivers a killer punchline. 9 The Donner Party Memorial This comic addresses one of American history’s darkest survival stories in a shockingly brazen manner. The Donner Party consisted of American pioneers who migrated towards California in a wagon train in 1846. They found themselves trapped in the mountains due to heavy snowfall, and many resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. The strip depicts the tragedy as a family-friendly sightseeing trip, showcasing a statue of a comically large foot nestled between two slices of bread. Visitors stand, taking photos of the grotesque sculpture as if it were a typical historical landmark. The weight of the tragedy is completely ignored, and the tonal subversion makes for a hysterical gag. 8 The Man Who Murdered His Wife This strip captures the immediate aftermath of a domestic homicide as police officers question a visibly anxious suspect. Also present in the room are a chatty parrot and the lifeless body of the woman who was murdered. While the officers meticulously take notes, their most decisive piece of evidence comes from the winged witness on his perch. The parrot delivers a damning testimony, uttering “Harry! Don’t Shoot!” alongside its regular vocabulary. It doesn’t take a detective to realize that was the victim’s frantic last plea, and the officers catch on quickly. While the topic covers a gruesome crime, the way in which it was resolved is absurdly funny, turning a tragic murder into a memorable joke. This comic takes a famous old proverb and pushes it to an outrageous extreme inside a hospital ward. It displays a frail patient who lies bedridden and hooked up to an IV bag while surrounded by three medical professionals. Rather than administering standard treatments, all the physicians present just stand there openly laughing at him. The caption explains they are literally implementing the popular saying that laughter is the best medicine, testing for its effectiveness. The sufferer, however, clearly does not see the funny side of things, as mockingly harsh guffaws have no place near a sick bed. Nevertheless, this blatant interpretation makes for a hilarious strip. 6 Woman Shoots Her Husband After A Bear Affair This comic centers on a twisted scene in which a husband meets his end during an unexpected ambush outdoors. It showcases a hunter who lies dying outside a mountain cave after being attacked. Shockingly, his attacker is not a wild beast, but his own wife, Margaret, who ambushed him while disguised in a furry suit. The strip suggests a surreal romantic affair between Margaret and an actual bear living inside the den. This is proven by both the caption and the lovingly framed photograph of Margaret in the panel belonging to the bear. Despite the violent assault, the ridiculous interspecies love triangle serves its purpose as a twisted source of laughter. 5 The Boiling Lobster Dunk Tank This comic depicts the sinister side of culinary preparation that probably doesn’t take place in your average restaurant. Within this establishment’s kitchen, a pair of bespectacled cooks has constructed a specialized target-practice range in the form of a dunk tank. Perched helplessly atop a wooden chair is an anxious lobster, directly above a pot of boiling broth. It would naturally be a disturbing scene featuring blatant and severe animal cruelty. However, there is an additional layer of context that can be gleaned from the image. Judging by the number of balls on the floor indicating several failed attempts, and their thick glasses implying poor eyesight, these chefs are bound to be here for an amusingly long time. In this comic, an elephant stands inside a glass telephone box while supported by a single crutch. The wild animal sports a thick bandage over one of its hind legs, making a frantic phone call seemingly to inquire about the theft. Notably, the surrounding open plains landscape adds to the peculiarity of the situation. The creature soon discovers that his amputated foot was crafted into a trash can, prompting a wildly surprised remark. It realistically depicts the warped nature of human greed, turning a vital appendage of a living being into a literal wastebasket. What makes it so funny is the elephant’s awareness, highlighting the ridiculousness of the situation if these animals could talk. 3 Poor Mitch The Janitor This comic presents a high-tech lab on the verge of activating an imposing automaton. As operators sit at their control console, they spot a blue-collar worker tidying up directly in the machine’s path. Instead of aborting the procedure, the lead inventor views the civilian’s presence as an exciting bonus for their experiment. The gag hinges on the scientists’ total disregard for human life, as well as the contrast between Mitch’s mundane chores and the possibility of his imminent demise. It aptly mirrors the dysfunctional dynamics of a toxic workplace, with a dark sci-fi twist and specific elements that highlight the situation’s hilarity. 2 Dungeon Torture Demonstration This comic shows what it would be like if an average family visited a gloomy medieval dungeon to watch their son work. It features a shirtless masked torturer clad in leather boots guiding his elderly parents through a gruesome workplace. He proudly points toward a prisoner bound to a wooden stretching rack, offering to demonstrate the contraption’s functionality. The brilliance of the strip lies in how casually the torturer treats his profession, displaying it like a standard trade skill. Presenting a live torture demonstration is by no means something casual, yet his parents accompany him like it is completely normal. His proud energy and their deadpan reaction, amid this grim atmosphere, make for a truly laughable panel. 1 Fifi’s Boarded-Up Doggy Door In this strip, Gary Larson illustrates the extreme extent of cruelty an owner can inflict on her pet. It features an older woman peering out an open window, hurriedly calling out to her small dog racing towards the house. Below the door, however, her designated pet flap is heavily blocked by thick planks nailed to the frame. The scene is clearly intentional, as the hammer and nails used to erect the barricade are still visible. The owner also encourages Fifi to move as fast as she can, hoping to maximize the force of the collision. This calculated sabotage promises to yield comical results despite the pain the unfortunate dog must endure.