When it comes to the pains of the workplace, few comics capture the drama better than The Far Side. Gary Larson’s iconic strip explored a number of themes over the years, dealing with the annoyances of modern life, all through the cartoonist’s classic absurdist lens to create a strip that was both incredibly funny and shockingly timeless.
Let’s face it: work sucks and the workplace isn’t much better. With bothersome co-workers and upper management always present, it’s a pressure cooker for drama and strife. Larson knew all about the aches and pains of the workplace and expertly communicated them in his comic. Whether it be with strips that show co-workers playing pranks at the worst possible moment or a boss being way too invasive, The Far Side had a lot of strips that perfectly captured the things that sucked most about work. Read on to discover 10 Far Side strips centered around workplace drama.
10
Corporate Fairy Tale
Publication Date: October 3, 1987
The Far Side often got mileage out of blending different genres or themes. So, instead of being a more straightforward workplace strip, Larson includes a bit of fairy tale fun. A man is conducting a meeting when it’s suddenly interrupted by a wolf. Absurd, sure, but like all fairy tales, it’s an allegory. After all, is there anything more annoying than a meeting that’s hit by the unexpected, whether its sudden news or a surprise guest? Like all fairy tales, this Far Side strip does its best to warn the reader of what is likely to happen in the workplace.
9
Office ‘Marbles’
Publication Date: October 2, 1986
A sad reality is that some employees not only shirk their duties, but they completely break the rules in ways that defy comprehension. In this Far Side strip, for example, two men are playing marbles when they should be working. It seems harmless enough, until one realizes that the sign in the window indicates that this is a store that sells glass eyes. While most people would never do something so inappropriate or morbid, there are a handful that would. And as anyone can attest, things like this can blossom into a full-blown controversy quicker than people think.
8
Mama Bear and Cub
Publication Date: May 9, 1990
One thing that really sucks about workplace drama is that sometimes people fall into it without even being aware. But as is tradition with The Far Side, Larson takes things to a much more ludicrous extreme. In this strip, a man heads to work and steps into an elevator, only to get between a mama bear and her cub. Granted, people in the workplace don’t risk being ripped apart, but it’s not uncommon to accidentally get in the middle of drama and end up hurt as a result. Just be grateful most workplaces don’t have bears there.
7
Military Screw-Up
Publication Date: August 1, 1983
One would think the military is an environment free of bush league mistakes. But even a professional outfit doesn’t knock it out of the park 100% of the time. This Far Side strip shows a slideshow presentation of a new military weapon, but, to the speaker’s dismay, someone has put in the slide upside down, causing the army leader to become exasperated at the recurrence of this particular error. Mistakes happen, obviously, and this Far Side strip shows that even something as orderly as the military can’t avoid the frustrations that come with human error.
6
Dinosaur Toys
Publication Date: March 2, 1985
Working with others can be a frustrating thing. Not everyone works at the same speeds and sometimes tensions mount when one worker sees others slacking. This Far Side strip perfectly communicates that (with a dash of its usual outlandishness). Here, a researcher is berating his co-workers for slacking on their work, as they’ve become too engrossed in playing with dinosaur models as if they were toys. The Far Side understands that no one wants to be the bad guy at work, but sometimes it’s an inevitability when the temptation of slacking off rears its head in the workplace.
5
Higgins Wants More
Publication Date: June 19, 1987
Who hasn’t gotten distracted while working? No matter the job, it’s not unusual for people to zone out and daydream of something they’d rather be doing. But as The Far Side shows, fantasizing during working hours won’t win anyone favors with their boss. Here, a cartoonist is chastised by his boss for taking a break to scribble out a couple of physics equations. It just goes to show that no matter the career, people can’t help but think about their dream jobs, even if it causes a bit of friction with their current employer.
4
Office Distraction
Publication Date: May 4, 1984
Nothing’s more embarrassing than being called out in the middle of a meeting. The Far Side illustrates that point in its usual absurd way, having a business meeting being conducted by anthropomorphized dogs. The dog leading the group takes a break to shame Mr. Sparky, who has zoned out and begun to lick himself in the middle of the meeting. Tensions can get high in offices, and sure, most people aren’t going to be called out for licking themselves (one would hope). Still, it’s a great Far Side strip that shows how quickly meetings can turn for the worse.
3
Nerd Pranks
Publication Date: June 4, 1983
Anyone who’s ever watched The Office knows that workplace pranks can be just as annoying as they are entertaining. This classic Far Side strip shows a scientist who should absolutely know better playing a prank at the absolute worst time. While one scientist works on a missile, his co-worker sneaks up behind him, preparing to surprise him by popping a paper bag. One can only imagine the deadly consequences that follow. Granted, people aren’t likely to be exploded in most workplaces, but The Far Side does a good job of showing how workplace pranks sometimes just aren’t funny, period.
2
Red-Noser
Publication Date: August 5, 1982
Workplace dynamics can be tough. One usually wants a good relationship with their boss and co-workers, but sometimes that’s impossible. This Far Side strip shows an office full of clowns where a group talks among themselves while their co-worker yuks it up with the boss. One even goes so far as to call their rival clown a ‘red-noser’. A humorous twist on the brown-noser insult by throwing in a dash of clownery. Granted, no one likes a suck-up and, as The Far Side shows, even among clowns, there’s a certain kind of loyalty people expect in the workplace.
1
Lewis Gets Fired
Publication Date: April 2, 1992
The Far Side was always good for a meta gag or two and here, Larson manages to make a good joke about work as well. Here, a man is insulting his boss in his head, riffing off a number of insults. However, the boss recognizes that they’re in a cartoon, and he can see all of his underling’s thoughts and fires him on the spot for it. It’s absurd and meta sure, but it also makes a good point that, even in The Far Side, it’s possible to lose out on work when one shoots their mouth (or mind) off.
- Writer
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Gary Larson
- Colorist
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Gary Larson
