For fifteen years, Gary Larson's The Far Side was a daily dose of twisted genius. With a single panel, he could skewer everything from science to suburban life, often with a dark, satirical edge. His Halloween-themed strips were especially beloved, blending horror tropes with his signature absurdity. While some have become classics, others have slipped into obscurity. Let's dust off seven near-perfect Far Side Halloween comics that deserve a second look.
1. The Jaws Parody That Says It All
Steven Spielberg's Jaws made everyone afraid of the water, thanks in large part to John Williams' iconic two-note score. Larson's strip captures that dread perfectly: two fishermen sit in a boat, and we see the shark leaping toward them, just like the movie poster. No dialogue needed—the music is practically audible. It's a masterclass in visual storytelling.
2. Bait Motel: A Worm's Nightmare
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho gave us the Bates Motel, but Larson gives us the Bait Motel. In this clever wordplay, a car full of worms pulls up to the motel, and in the window sits the shadow of a woman with a fishing rod. The joke is simple, but the execution is perfect—especially the nod to Anthony Perkins with a worm named Anthony.
3. Sylvia's Spirit of Adventure
Urban legends taught us to be wary of hitchhikers, but Sylvia's friend clearly missed that lesson. In this strip, a creepy-looking man with a hook for a hand and a peg leg holds a sign that reads "Anywhere." Sylvia is suspicious, but her friend sees it as an adventure. The punchline is left to our imagination, which makes it all the more chilling.
4. Frankenstein's Monster and Bride: Made for Each Other
Larson takes on Bride of Frankenstein with a domestic twist. The monster and his bride sit far apart on a couch, clearly not hitting it off. Dr. Frankenstein, exasperated, reminds them they were "made for each other"—literally. The image of a pile of corpses as proof is darkly hilarious and quintessential Larson.
5. Deer Halloweens: Trick-or-Treat, Hunters
Larson often humanized animals, and deer were a favorite subject. In this Halloween strip, little deer go trick-or-treating dressed as hunters, complete with flannel and goofy hats. It's a role reversal that's both cute and dark, a perfect blend of the strip's humor.
6. Scene from Dinner on Elm Street
Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced Freddy Krueger, a dream-haunting killer with knife fingers. Larson's parody, "Scene from Dinner on Elm Street," reimagines Freddy as a dinner guest, but the joke is in the details—the striped sweater, the hat, and the knives. It's a clever nod to a horror icon.
7. The Eerie Music of Jaws
We mentioned the Jaws parody earlier, but it's worth noting that Larson returned to this theme more than once. In another strip, a group of people at a party hear the ominous music and look around in panic. It's a reminder that the fear of the unseen is often more powerful than the monster itself.
These forgotten gems show why The Far Side remains a beloved part of pop culture. For more Halloween nostalgia, check out Calvin and Hobbes' funniest Halloween comics or revisit Gravity Falls' Summerween. And if you're in the mood for more spooky entertainment, Halloween III deserves a second look.
