9 Spooky ‘Far Side’ Comics That Are Perfect to Read Before Halloween
The article highlights nine Gary Larson “Far Side” comics that put classic horror figures into absurd, everyday situations. It presents them as seasonal Halloween reading and shows how Larson’s unexpected twists gave familiar monsters a comic edge.
The examples include a vampire cow defeated by a steak, a potentially hazardous sun-lamp gift for a vampire, a mummy performer, witches discussing cosmetic enhancement, and werewolf jokes involving fake silver bullets and a salesman in disguise. Other strips feature Frankenstein’s monster being sewn up, the monster and his bride sharing a quiet moment, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
In short
- Gary Larson gave classic monsters unexpected comic twists.
- The nine strips include vampires, witches and Frankenstein’s monster.
- Halloween is a fitting time to revisit the cartoons.
Explained simply
Gary Larson’s The Far Side was a newspaper comic strip known for placing animals and familiar characters in unexpected situations. Its single-panel cartoons often relied on a sudden twist, rather than a longer story, to create their humour.
Many of the figures in these Halloween-themed strips come from horror stories and films: vampires, werewolves, witches, mummies and Frankenstein’s monster. Knowing the usual traits associated with these characters helps explain the jokes, which turn those expectations into comic scenes from everyday life.