Gary Larson’s The Far Side has quite a lot of fixations for its surreal model of humor, however few are extra shocking than the common-or-garden mailman. The workers of the US Postal Service seem all through Larson’s comics, beset by myriad threats together with canines, carnivorous mailboxes and Hell itself.
Listed below are the ten funniest Far Facet comics starring mail carriers, showcasing Larson’s surreal sense of humor, typically morbid sensibilities and main recurring obsessions. Be sure you vote in our end-of-article ballot to your #1, and to see which strip different readers thought of one of the best of one of the best.
10
The Can of Mace
The Far Facet Loves Canine vs Mailman
The ‘canine vs mailman’ rivalry might be a recurring theme on this record, as Larson faucets into the primordial battle between canine and mail provider. On this strip, a canine instantly realizes it is pushed the mailman somewhat too far when he drops a can of mace, altering the principles of their one-sided battle of wills. It is a completely Far Facet element that the canine is sensible sufficient to acknowledge a can of mace, however not good sufficient to appreciate the mailman doesn’t suggest any hurt by getting into its territory daily. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics starring canines.
Whereas Larson was a lover of animal life and canines specifically – “I by no means met a crimson setter I did not like” – that does not imply he goes simple on canines in The Far Facet. Larson’s dogs are generally depicted as excitable buffoons who love horrible smells, consuming rubbish and harassing cats and mailmen.
9
Mailman vs Mailbox
A Far Facet Strip Stephen King Would Love
After all, canines aren’t the one risk that mailmen face within the surreal world of The Far Facet. This uncommon multi-panel comedian reveals a mail provider being swallowed complete by a mailbox, which then raises its ‘flag’ in a present of victory – begging the darkish query of what is going on to be found inside by the subsequent individual to test the mail.
The idea of an ‘evil mailbox’ that consumes a mailman is the form of factor you may see in a Stephen King ebook. King is legendary for turning on a regular basis objects into antagonists, together with vehicles, cell telephones, cameras and (as just lately tailored in 2025’s The Monkey) toys. It is due to this fact not shocking that Stephen King is a major fan of The Far Facet, writing the foreword for The Far Facet Gallery 2. King has additionally featured within the comedian, with Larson depicting the horror icon as a snub-nosed child.
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8
Wiener Canine Nest
A Excellent Instance of ‘Weiner Canine Artwork’
On this strip, Larson imagines Wiener canines as a minor however annoying hazard for mail carriers, with the picture of a ‘nest’ of the diminutive canines offering a goofy visible. Larson has a selected fondness for Weiner canines, as seen in Wiener Canine Artwork: A Far Facet Assortment, which incorporates quite a lot of illustrations inserting canines into basic artistic endeavors just like the Mona Lisa and The Scream.
7
Look What You Resort To
Far Facet’s Canine Are Dangerously Good… In Sure Methods
Whereas Far Facet‘s mailmen could also be apprehensive about getting ‘nipped’ whereas on their rounds, it could possibly be so much worse. It is enjoyable to think about this comedian because the sequel to our #10 strip, with the mace convincing the canine to again off, changing tried bites with a voodoo doll that is clearly been far more efficient in doing injury to its goal. Credit score goes to Mr. Carlisle, who regardless of a damaged leg, an injured neck and an arm in a sling (to not point out some unspecified nostril damage) continues to be apparently exhibiting up day after day to ship the mail.
6
This Is Our Hour!
Far Facet Loves a Big Monster Assault
Larson loves flipping a well known premise on its head. On this comedian, the canine/mailman rivalry turns the canines into heroes when an enormous mail provider inexplicably assaults the town, toppling skyscrapers and beginning fires. It’s going to seemingly take all the town’s canines working collectively to topple this bizarrely distinctive risk, although it is not precisely clear why the kaiju mailman will not merely squash his attackers flat. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics that includes unlikely giants.
Larson loves the picture of an enormous creature stumbling across the metropolis. Whereas Godzilla and King Kong are each parodied in The Far Facet, the comedian’s creator is simply as comfortable to unleash a towering clown or penguin.
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5
Canine Hell
Far Facet’s Hell Is not Often This Efficient
On this comedian, canines consigned to Hell are pressured to tackle the function of their pure enemy, pointlessly delivering mail for all eternity underneath the watchful eye of Devil. It is an ironic punishment for canines that bit individuals who had been in the end simply doing their job, however far more disagreeable than Far Facet‘s Hell often will get. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics set in Hell.
Whereas there are just a few instances he is genuinely intimidating, The Far Facet’s satan is mostly depicted as fairly inept. Hell is a spot the place the inmates graffiti the partitions, flip down the thermostat and graffiti the partitions. Whereas the espresso could also be chilly and the video retailer solely has the movie Ishtar in stock, there’s not a lot by the way in which of wailing and gnashing of tooth. Nevertheless, even this milquetoast depiction of ‘canine hell’ was an excessive amount of for some.
In The Full Far Facet, Larson features a criticism letter from “a mom of a 3-year-old” complaining that ‘Canine Hell’ was revealed, stating:
This cartoon doesn’t belong within the “humorous papers” as a result of it is not humorous. Such a humor belongs in an grownup journal – not one thing in an area paper that’s (and ought to be) learn by a toddler. The opposite moms I’ve spoken to really feel the identical approach. If crucial, to be rid of this, I can begin a petition of involved mother and father.
Larson notes in The Prehistory of The Far Facet that he was no stranger to hate mail in his comedian’s prime, however that any time a newspaper dropped his collection, readers reliably (and efficiently) campaigned for its reinstatement.
4
Mailman Fossil
Someway, Far Facet Constantly Makes Fossils Humorous
On this strip, two archeologists uncover “Mailman” – right here named in the same solution to finds like Nariokotome Boy and Piltdown Man. Larson treats the ‘canine vs mailman’ battle as so inherent to each species that the fossil is taken into account ‘full’ as a result of it nonetheless has a hound connected to its ankle. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics about fossils.
Like mail carriers, fossils seem like an unlikely subject for humor, particularly on a repeat foundation. Nevertheless, Larson’s love of science ensured that varied bone-based gags made it into The Far Facet, from a museum customer toppling a T-Rex skeleton to a daring new concept that fossils are literally the stays of an enormous alien picnic.
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3
Neither Rain Nor Snow
Gary Larson’s Pop Tradition References Are Legendary
Sharp tooth and voodoo dolls give Far Facet‘s mailmen satisfactory cause to be afraid of canines, however they’re nothing in comparison with Rexbo – a Rambo-inspired canine who introduced a missile launcher to obliterate his parcel-delivering enemy. The Rambo nod combines an excessive character with a low-key scenario, full with the canine carrying Sylvester Stallone’s iconic bandana. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics that reference basic films.
Larson has a improbable eye for what pop culture references will remain relevant a long time later, with Far Facet together with nods to Jaws, Psycho, The Godfather, The Sound of Music, Alien and a number of Disney films, from Dumbo to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The ‘Rexbo’ comedian references the USA Postal Service creed, which reads “Neither snow nor rain nor warmth nor gloom of night time stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
2
The Wilsons
Gary Larson Is Obsessive about Tiny Folks
Far Facet‘s mailmen might need assumed they’d seen every little thing by this level, however there are at all times new surprises to return. On this case, a mailman opens a mailbox marked ‘The Wilsons’ solely to search out that it is the house of a complete diminutive household, who do not respect having their night interrupted. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics starring miniature folks.
Miniature folks present up all through The Far Facet, continually inconvenienced by their bigger brethren. Whether or not residing in a sand fortress or working a automobile radio from inside, these may very well be Far Facet‘s most traditional folks, largely simply making an attempt to get on with their lives.
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1
We’re Getting Previous
Far Facet Is aware of Getting Older Is not Simple
In his finest twist on the ‘canine vs mailman’ formulation, Larson depicts two previous canines who’ve grown so drained, they will now not be bothered to chase after a mail provider – even when their conventional goal is additionally a cat. Why the USPS is using felines is not defined, nevertheless it’s arduous to fault the choice when the kitty is extra profitable in its duties than any of the people we have seen thus far. Open the picture gallery beneath for extra Far Facet comics about previous age.
These are the ten funniest Far Facet comics starring mailmen as they encounter quite a lot of weird threats and inconveniences – make sure to vote in our end-of-article ballot to tell us your primary.
The Far Side
- Author
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Gary Larson
- Colorist
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Gary Larson
Abstract
Written and drawn by Gary Larson, The Far Facet is a comic book strip collection that ran from December 1979 to January 1995. A worldwide hit, The Far Facet explores life’s surreal facet and makes use of a mixture of people and anthropomorphic animals. As of 2020, Gary Larson determined to choose his pencil again up once more and has began The Far Facet up, circulating the comics on his official web site.
