In the 1980s and 1990s The other side was one of the most popular comic strips. Known for its absurd humor and its commentary on society and culture, The other side caused a lot of laughs when published in newspapers, anthologies and related goods. The other side He often used animals in his single-panel comics; a particularly popular species was chickens.

The other side Creator Gary Larson is an avid environmentalist and has always had a great interest in animals. This interest is evident in his cartoons, in which animals are often treated better than human characters. Although The other side is best known for its cows, chickens are naturally comical animals both in terms of sound and appearance and play a role in a surprising number of Wide side Comics.

10 The Far Side predicted the true story in the Chicken Museum

Release date: March 19, 1990

Modern advances in paleontology have shown that dinosaurs are closely related to birds and may have been an evolutionary step towards modern birds. At the time these Wide side When the cartoon was created, however, the idea that a dinosaur could be a giant chicken was laughable to most readers.

Gary Larson often used animal characters that act like humans to highlight absurd human behaviors. In this case, however, it seems more likely that Larson wanted to make a simple visual gag with the dinosaur-like chickens. If Larson had featured another animal in this film, such as a dog, Wide side Comic, the comic wouldn’t have been so well received. He didn’t know that his prediction that dinosaurs and chickens are related could be true.

9 Free-range chickens Enjoy life to the fullest on the Far Side

Release date: October 13, 1992

Many people are concerned about the welfare of animals. Even people who consume animal products want animals to be treated humanely during their lifetime. Many chicken farmers therefore sell “free-range chickens” that have access to outdoor enclosures, thereby improving their quality of life.

In this The other side In this cartoon, Gary Larson reinterprets what it means to be a free-range chicken. Far from the reality of enjoying a bit of fresh air before slaughter, this free-range chicken has escaped to the beach where it starts hitting on a nearby human woman. Although this is completely detached from reality, it is a prime example of the absurd humor The other side is known for.

8 Chickens have unusual fantasies in The Far Side

Release date: Unknown

Animals in The other side Comics are often portrayed as people living full, human lives. Much of the humor in these Wide side Cartoons in which animals take the place of humans are based on the absurd idea that animals behave in the same way as humans. Of course, these cartoons often show how absurd human behavior is when placed in a new context.

In this strange The other side Comic strip: Two chickens are lying in bed. One chicken is watching the other intently, but is imagining another creature that appears to be a duck. The idea that chickens have sexual fantasies is absurd enough in itself, but the idea that they desire other species makes the comic even funnier.

7 Chickens in The Far Side sometimes imitate humans too much

Release date: May 4, 1990

Chicken eggs are a common part of the diet of many human cultures. Rich in protein and requiring no animal to be killed to obtain, the eggs are generally unfertilized when sold in supermarkets. On farms, however, the eggs are often fertilized by roosters and can develop into and hatch into chicks.

In real life, chickens instinctively know how to care for their brooding young. Chickens lay eggs and brood on them as the eggs develop. Here The other side imagined a more absurd situation in which a pair of chickens imitate humans and lay their eggs in the refrigerator and then complain about not having had any children.

6 Chickens at the Boneless Chicken Ranch don’t move much

Release date: December 12, 1983

Chicken wings have been a popular finger food in many cultures for centuries. However, more recently, restaurants have begun offering customers “boneless chicken wings,” which are simply small pieces of chicken that are breaded and deep-fried. Boneless chicken breasts and thighs are also available in the supermarket and sold as “boneless.”

The other side The humor typical of the comic often consisted of the use of puns, and one technique used was to take expressions literally, leading to absurd results. The other side His comics also often used farm animals like chickens. Here, the two techniques were combined to imagine where boneless chicken parts might actually come from.

5 The Far Side gave chicken dinner a horrific twist

Release date: May 30, 1990

People all over the world eat meat and don’t think much about where it comes from. As an animal lover, Gary Larson often forced The other side Readers must confront the reality of their habits regarding animal welfare and consumption. Larson also likes to address hypocrisy in human culture, such as the vastly different attitudes people have toward different species of animals.

Chickens are an incredibly common source of meat in many cultures around the world. Although both chickens and dogs are animals, most Western cultures are horrified at the thought of eating a dog. In this The other side In the comic, this hypocrisy becomes clear when the human guests become aware of the horrific reality of what they have just consumed.

4 The chicken of depression is an uninvited guest on the other side

Release date: Unknown

Many people around the world suffer from depression, so comics that make people laugh about this serious illness resonate with many people. This universal appeal is probably why this popular cartoon is one of the best Wide side comics ever written.

A blue bird has symbolized good luck in many cultures for thousands of years. The other side usually takes common expressions and turns them on their head. The other side imagined the opposite of a happy bluebird, and the most depressing bird Gary Larson could think of was apparently the humble chicken.

3 People don’t get special treatment in The Far Side

Release date: Unknown

Most non-vegans eat eggs without thinking about it. Eggs are a particularly popular source of protein because they can be obtained without killing an animal, and most eggs sold in grocery stores are unfertilized (although the egg industry kills a large number of chickens).

In this The other side In this cartoon, Gary Larson has turned the human behavior of egg gathering on its head and looked at it from the perspective of a chicken. As the farmer walks to his house with a basket of eggs, a chicken walks toward his coop with a human baby in her arms. From a chicken’s perspective, this is a fair trade.

2 Chickens, on the other hand, have no luck

Release date: April 16, 1994

The other side Creator Gary Larson loves animals, and this affection is often shown in his comic strips, whether they are commenting on the treatment of animals, meat consumption, or hunting. Many people who eat meat do not think very carefully about where the meat comes from. This Wide side Cartoon tries to change this fact.

Many people go to fortune tellers to learn more about their future, from people with supposed psychic abilities or techniques. Part of the humor in this Wide side The comic is based on the absurd idea of ​​a fortune teller who is a chicken. The other side However, he has a very dark sense of humor, and the rest of the joke refers to the sad fate of all chickens that are to be slaughtered for consumption.

1 Chickens in The Far Side have a cruel cure for diseases

Release date: May 18, 1984

As children, most people learn that chicken soup is one of the best remedies for a cold or flu. Chicken soup has many health benefits because it is usually low in fat, contains protein from the chicken, and is often full of nutritious vegetables. The warmth of the soup also relieves congestion and makes you feel good.

The other side Comics often had a pretty dark sense of humor. Terrible things happen in The other side regularly. In this hilarious Wide side In this cartoon, a sick chicken is served chicken soup to ease its illness. The sick chicken may be horrified by the obvious cannibalism, but readers are left laughing at the chickens’ justifications for eating their own kind.