Comic Book Resources published a roundup titled “10 Classic Far Side Comics From 1980 That Prove Gary Larson Was a Genius,” listing ten Far Side strips from 1980 including “Welcome Amelia” and “Bulls in a China Shop.” The piece notes these early 1980 comics show Larson experimenting with both single- and multi-panel formats.
CBR’s article, written by Annie Banks and published Aug. 18, 2026, highlights specific 1980 strips such as “Ernie’s Prison Cake,” “Dogaway Monster Kit,” and “A Houseplant Unalives Himself,” explaining why each cartoon still lands for modern readers.
Larson’s 1980 work is framed in the piece as a formative year for The Far Side: CBR says the strip’s first year saw experimentation with layout and more visual, textless jokes that would become trademarks of Larson’s style.
The article walks readers through each chosen cartoon and why it feels “doomed” or darkly funny — from historical jokes about Amelia Earhart in “Welcome Amelia” to a literal reading of idioms in “Bulls in a China Shop.” CBR describes how small, everyday anxieties are often the source of the comic’s humor.
For fans wanting more themed lists, see our picks of Far Side comics inspired by books and a look back at the Far Side demon comics, both of which examine different recurring tones in Larson’s work.
Why these 1980 strips still connect
CBR argues the humor persists because Larson combined a finely observed human absurdity with surprising visual reversals; several of the 1980 strips rely on misreadings and literal takes that force the reader to reframe a familiar idea.
The article gives context for a few standout panels: for example, it notes “Two Sides of the Same Beach” was released May 17, 1980, and praises its wordless reversal of perspective where sea creatures view humans as strange.
CBR’s list also draws attention to tonal variety across the year — playful multi-panel gags, quiet visual jokes, and darker premises like the parrot that exposes a crime in “The Birds Don’t Lie.” The piece frames these as examples of Larson pushing the strip’s boundaries in its earliest months.
Sources
- CBR — full roundup of ten Far Side comics from 1980, author name, publication date, and panel-by-panel explanations.
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