The Far Side's 7 Best Bad Puns: 1987-88

Screen Rant has ranked the seven best bad puns from Gary Larson's The Far Side, focusing on 1987 and 1988 — the years immediately after the strip became a national phenomenon and just before Larson took a year off. The outlet calls this period the pinnacle of Larson's work, while acknowledging that some fans prefer his earlier or later years.

To set the stage, Screen Rant notes that puns have a bad reputation, but Larson was a pioneer of absurdist wordplay in newspaper comics. The list moves from mild to extreme, with worse puns getting funnier for fans and more eye-roll-inducing for skeptics.

Number seven is "The Crepes of Wrath," a double reference to John Steinbeck's novel and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." A diner at "Le Petite Cafe" chokes on crepes. Screen Rant calls it a "proper" pun with a highbrow literary nod.

Number six: a Sunday strip where a wildlife preserve becomes "preserves" — animals stuffed into oversized jars like jelly. Screen Rant notes how a single letter changes meaning, and Larson used the extra space of a Sunday panel to full effect.

Number five: Romeo and Juliet becomes "Juliant" with rival anthills "Capulants" and "Montantgues" implied. The visual centers on two lovelorn ants meeting in the middle of a wide panel. Screen Rant calls it a stretch.

Number four: "Fruitcases" — suitcases made of fruit. The drawing shows an apple, banana, grapes, and lemon. Screen Rant says it may have been produced under deadline pressure, but it's pure Larsonian humor.

Number three: A faux-scientific illustration of sperm deceiving an egg. One disguises as an insurance salesman, another as a phone repairman. The pun swaps "conceive" for "deceive." Screen Rant notes it's one of the strangest Far Side cartoons.

Number two: A dog version of comedian Henny Youngman on stage, delivering "Take my wife's fleas." Screen Rant calls it the best of Larson's canine Henny gags and an elite groan-inducing pun.

Number one: "Phonecaw." A crow answers the phone and tells her husband, "It's for you. Phonecaw." Screen Rant calls it hilariously bad and stupidly brilliant, noting Larson's established use of animal characters and the onomatopoeia "caw."

• comics
• Far Side
• Gary Larson
• puns
• Screen Rant
• wordplay