Summer can be a fun and exciting time, but inThe Far Side, much like in the real world, that is not always the case. As usual,The Far Sidepresents the absolute worst-case scenarios and in the most surreal way imaginable.
In this hilarious selection of Larson’s best, summer takes a darkly comical turn for the unlucky characters ofThe Far Side.These strips might just make you second-guess your own vacation plans. Whether it’s a mysterious creature stirring up trouble or a beloved summer pastime gone terribly wrong,Larson’s twisted take on the season turns sunshine and relaxation into something far more unpredictableand oddly relatable.
Originally Published: June 25, 2025
A man opens his fridge to see his potato salad pointing a gun at him,signaling that the potato salad has gone bad, but even more literally in this case. Instead of having a sour taste, this potato salad going bad involves some bullets and a dangerous disposition.
As a popular food to have at summer potlucks and get-togethers,The Far Sidemakes the caseto avoid mayo-based food altogether, unless someone wants a weapon in their face.Usually, when food goes bad, it just terrorizes the person’s digestive system,but this bad potato salad is a menace to his fellow foodies too, as the bottles and jars with their hands up in the strip show.
9"That Eerie Music"
July 08, 2025
Two fishermen are met with eerie music that just so happens to coincide with a huge great white shark swimming right under them,ready to take a huge bite.Using the imageryfrom the classic summer movieJawsand its iconic, suspenseful theme,The Far Sidepaints a picture of danger that anyone remotely familiar with theJawsfilms can readily understand.
This moment leans into the dark humorThe Far Sideis known for, as two unsuspecting fishermen enjoy a not-so-great summer, completely unaware of the disaster looming just below them.
8"Slug Vacation Disasters"
Originally Published: June 29, 2025
A family of slugs drives on their summer road trip, excited about their vacation. Little do they know, a disaster awaits them as they head to the Great Salt Lake. For those who may not know, salt is deadly for slugs, sothis slug family heading right towards a gigantic salt lake is a sodium-filled disaster waiting to happen.
Family road trips can be a blast, but not when doom awaits them at their destination, like it does for theseoblivious slugs inThe Far Side. The eagerness of the slugs to go for a swim in the salt lake is not helping matters either.
7"I Love The Way You Do That"
Originally Published: August 04, 2025
A man has some sweet dreams while camping in his tent, thanks in part to external cues he receives from the outside world. Thinking he is being kissed by one special gal in his life,he is actually mere inches away from a huge anaconda-like snake devouring him.
Waking up from his good dream would have been hard enough for him, but waking up to a snake hovering over him adds insult to injury.Camping seems a tad less fun after seeing what can happen in a tentout in the wilderness,thanks toThe Far Side.
6"Most Kids Would Count Their Lucky Stars"
June 07, 2025
A family of crabsis at their place for their beach summer vacation, but like human summer vacations, the kids are not always the most grateful. In the comic strip,a crab father barks at his childrenthat, despite their demands and complaints, they are not going to the mountains for their summer vacation; instead, they will stay at the beach.
Like many exasperated parents, the crab dad throws in that most kids would be so lucky as to have a beach vacation every year.Many parents can relate to the frustration of this crab dadand his ungrateful kids during summer vacation.
5"We All Cuss For Asparagus"
Originally Published: June 05, 2025
We all scream for ice cream in the summer, but The Far Side imagines a very different neighborhood treat, one that’s far less popular.Instead of an ice cream truck, a food truck rolls down the street serving asparagus, much to everyone’s dismay.
With a song that plays on an asparagus speaker and a tagline that says"we all cuss for asparagus",the attempt to get kids to have a nice healthy treat during the hot summer days has backfired massively. As a result, one truly poor marketing ploy fails miserably inThe Far Side.
4"Bear!"
Originally Published: July 09, 2025
One enterprising sharkdevises the ingenious idea to lure people into the water by scaring them.Yelling that there is a bear on the beach, the shark cleverly gets the sunbathers into the water,completely oblivious to the very real threat of a hungry shark in the water.
Much like how Jaws scared summer vacationers away from the beach, this incredibly smart shark fromThe Far Sideprovokes the thought of whether it is safe to enjoy a dip in the ocean.The family running into the water in the comic strip would answer a resounding no to that question.
3"Sandwiches!"
Originally Published: July 02, 2025
A group of campers sleep snugly in their sleeping bags,totally unaware that some bears see them as a chance for their next meal.With the blankets being the bread and the humans being the meat, the bears see some sandwiches in their path that they are excitedly waiting to devour.
Seeing bears during a camping trip would be enough to instill fear in any summer traveler.Still, when the bears are as excited and hungry astheseFar Sidebearsare, even the most experienced campers may be thinking of different vacation options for summer.
2"Where’s Your Spirit of Adventure?"
Originally Published: June 14, 2025
Two women drive down a deserted highway where a hitchhiker has his thumb out for a ride.Most people are skeptical about hitchhikers, but this guy inThe Far Sidedoes not help his case, wearing all black and having a sign that says he will go anywhere.
A hooked hand and a haggard-looking visage also add another layer to wariness.Those aspects of the hitchhikerdo not deter one of the women in the car, however, as she tries to persuade her buddy Sylvia to pick him up against all common sense.
1"Helen, Is This Hawaii Or Florida?"
Originally Published: June 27, 2025
Presenting a slideshow of their summer travels,some sharks show a picture that may seem fun to their guests but horrifying to humans.Showing a picture of one of them in front of a group of legs,the sharks wonder whether it was takenin Hawaii or Florida.
While readers don’t see the aftermath,it’s safe to assume things did not end well for the humans.What seems like a fun summer getaway for sharks is a stark contrast to the typical human beach vacation. ThisFar Sidecomic might make anyone think twice before planning a relaxing day by the ocean.
