Few rivalries in pop culture are as delightfully absurd as the eternal feud between dogs and mail carriers, and no one captures that chaos quite like Gary Larson’sThe Far Side. This legendary comic strip has delivered some of the most hilariously exaggerated takes on this rivalry, turning mundane deliveries into full-blown canine warfare.
Whether it’s ambushes, psychological warfare, or dogs harnessing technology for evil,The Far Sidenever holds back. These comics take the already silly trope and push it to outrageous extremes, often leaving readers laughing and nervously checking their windows for barking silhouettes.Here are 10 of the funniest strips that take dog vs. mail carrier way too far.
10Voodoo Mailman Mayhem
When a Shorter Leash Only Fuels Dark Magic
Part of what makesThe Far Sideso effortlessly hilariousis its absurdity, andfew things are more absurd than a dog crafting a voodoo doll of the mailman.In this strip, a fed-up dog owner shortens her dog’s leash to keep him from harassing the mail carrier. However, she quickly discovers that her dog has adapted to the situation by turning to supernatural revenge.
He’s built a mailman-shaped voodoo doll, complete with pins,which correlates perfectly to the battered and bandaged state of the actual mailman.With visual gags and dark creativity, Larson captures this rivalry at its most ridiculous.
9Archaeologists Uncover the Oldest Dog Bite
Even in Death, the Mailman Can’t Escape the Dog
This comic is perfect for fans ofThe Far Side’smail carrier versus dog rivalry, especially when paired with archaeology humor. In this scene, two archaeologists marvel over their find:the skeletons of a mailman and a dog, still locked in eternal battle.The mailman’s identity is confirmed by a hat and satchel, while the dog remains attached, jaws clamped onto the mailman’s ankle.
One researcher calls it an extraordinary find, citing the specimen’s intact state and the attached“canine nipponicus.”It’s hilariously grim and clever, asLarson imagines that even in death, mailmen can’t escape their canine nemeses.
8Wiener Dog Swarm Claims Another Victim
Mailman Battles a“Nest”of Tiny Terrors on Fifth and Maple
Gary Larson’s ability to depict visual chaos is on full display in this strip featuring a mailman swarmed by wiener dogs. The man stands helpless, pleading for help from his wife, Etta, whileseven determined dachshunds cling to his arms, legs, and back.
His comment,“I got into a nest of wiener dogs over on Fifth and Maple,”is both deadpan and deeply relatable to anyone who’s had a dreaded stop on their delivery route. With Larson’s trademark exaggeration and detailed visuals,this comic turns an everyday occupational hazard into a slapstick scenariothat is equal parts relatable and absurd.
7The Mace Standoff
Gen Z-Level Awkwardness Hits the Front Lawn
This comic captures the kind of humor that resonates with Gen Z,delivering a moment of perfectly illustrated awkward tension.In the strip, a mailman named Bill drops his can of mace, only to lock eyes with the neighborhood dog who was likely his intended target. The standoff is both silent and loaded, as each character mentally processes the situation.
It’s a relatable beat of social discomfort, exaggerated through an absurd setup.The humor lies in that shared, awkward pause, something that fans of visual memes and uncomfortable humor will immediately recognize andappreciate in thisFar Sidegem.
6Spoiler: Not All Dogs Go To Heaven
Becoming the Very Mailman They Swore to Destroy
They say all dogs go to heaven, but in thisFar Sidecomic, some clearly end up in a specially tailored canine hell. Larson imagines a torturous afterlife where dogs are forced to take on the roles they despised most in life, specifically, that of their caretakers and mail carriers.Here, they scoop their own poop and deliver mail,looking miserable as they do it.
It’s a hilarious reversal that suggestseven dogs must face karmic justice.Meanwhile, any longtime mail carrier reading this cartoon is likely grinning at the poetic irony, watching dogs finally experience the trials they once dished out.
5Monster Mailman vs. Dogs
When Kaiju-Sized Mailmen Collide with Canine Vigilantism
In one of Larson’s most over-the-top comics,a mailman becomes a towering kaiju monster attacking a city. Buildings crumble as he stomps through the streets, evoking scenes from classic Godzilla or King Kong films. But in trueFar Sidefashion, there’s a twist. The city’s salvation lies with the dogs, who rally together to stop their sworn enemy.
One heroic pup declares,“This is our hour,”signifying thatall the years spent nipping at heels and shredding letters have led to this very moment.It’s both a parody of monster movie tropes and a love letter to the timeless dog-mailman feud.
4The Leg-O-Mangler Is a Dog’s Dream Come True
A Mailman’s Nightmare Gets the Full-Panel Treatment
This landscape-formatFar Sidestrip delivers a rare but memorable change in presentation, used to fully showcase an outrageous invention: the“Leg-o-Mangler.”Described as“For every dog who likes to bite! but hates mace!”the contraption is clearly designed to counter mail carriers’ most common defense tactic.
Onlookers see a mailman peering nervously over a fence at the waiting dog, who is gleefully armed with this bizarre device. Larson’s humor shines in the blend of parody and ingenuity, ashe playfully imagines dogs going beyond instinct and turning to technology in their endless waragainst the postal service.
3Violin Practice While the Real Fun Happens Outside
A Dog Longs to Bite, but He’s Stuck with Bach
This comic takes a clever twist on a classic trope:the sad kid stuck inside practicing violin while others play outside.Only here, the“kid”is a dog watching his canine peers go wild, mauling a mailman just beyond the window. With his snout pressed to the glass and bow in paw, he stares wistfully at the chaos he’s missing.
Larson turns a relatable childhood moment into absurd comedy goldby inserting it into the dog versus mailman narrative. The gag works so well because it’s rooted in something familiar, made funnier by flipping the expected scenario on its head.
2Paperboy Slayer and His Bicycle Graveyard
One Dog’s Trophy Collection Should Terrify Every Delivery Kid
In this darkly funny strip, a dog has clearly been terrorizing paperboys for years, and has the trophies to prove it.The comic shows a doghouse with a massive pile of mangled bicycles out front, while the dog’s paws rest ominously at the entrance.
The visual is simple, but the implications are laugh-out-loud grim.This isn’t just a one-time incident. This dog has a legacy, andhis lawn of broken bikes serves as both a warning and a twisted victory display.Paperboys and mail carriers, proceed with caution.
1Dogs Infiltrate Post Office in Full-On Heist Mode
When Canines Go Undercover to Strike Their Arch Nemesis
Larson pushes the rivalry to its most outrageous extreme in this comic, wheredogs disguise themselves as humans to launch a surprise attack on a post office.Wearing hats and trench coats, they blend in with the crowd until their leader shouts, “NOW!”At that moment, chaos erupts as the dogs shed their disguises and leap over counters.
The absurdity of dogs staging a coordinated assault is perfectly exaggerated, making it one of the most memorable entries in the series. If there were any doubt that dogs are the true villains in theFar Sideuniverse, this strip erases it.
