Gary Larson’s The Far Side has a knack for twisting everyday fears into absurdity, and urban legends are no exception. From sewer-dwelling alligators to hook-handed boogeymen, Larson’s comics turn spine-chilling tales into laugh-out-loud panels. Here are 10 strips that hilariously reimagine the myths we love to fear—proving even monsters need a good punchline.
1. When Home Invasions Meet Curtain Peekers
First Published: December 4, 1982
A husband reassures his wife, “There’s nothing there, Barbara,” oblivious to the towering figure hiding behind the curtains. This strip flips the classic “killer in the house” legend into a darkly comic game of hide-and-seek. Larson’s genius lies in making the mundane terrifying—and then absurd. After all, who expects a lurking giant in the living room?
2. Hookhand’s Campfire Confession
First Published: October 8, 1992
The hook-handed killer, a staple of teen horror tales, gets a Far Side makeover. Here, “Harold Zimmerman” spins his own scary story to wide-eyed grandkids: “Teenagers, kids… shudder.” Larson turns the predator into a storyteller, making us wonder: do monsters fear us?
3. Sidewalk Cracks: A Mom’s Worst Nightmare
First Published: March 13, 1988
The nursery rhyme “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back” becomes a hospital crisis in Larson’s world. A sign reads: “Hospital for mothers whose children stepped on sidewalk cracks.” It’s a witty jab at how childhood superstitions could wreak very literal havoc.
4. Bigfoot’s Glamour Shot Fiasco
First Published: April 22, 1980
A hiker snaps a photo of Bigfoot… only to reveal the cryptid mid-mundane task: “It’s certainly taken the romance out of the Bigfoot mystery.” Larson strips the legend of its mystique, replacing it with a Sasquatch caught clipping toenails or sipping coffee.
5. Monsters Who Fear Bedtime Stories
First Published: August 25, 1983
Even creatures under the bed get spooked. A wide-eyed monster whispers, “Oh no! They’re telling the story of ‘The Hooked Hand’!… I’ll never get to sleep tonight!” Larson’s irony? The boogeyman is just as jumpy as we are.
6. Car Wash Cryptid Chaos
First Published: March 4, 1981
A couple spots a lake monster… in a car wash. “Quick, Agnes! Look!… There it is again!” Larson’s take? Urban legends adapt to modern life. Why haunt murky lakes when you can lurk in sudsy tunnels?
7. Sewer Gators vs. Plumbing Problems
First Published: June 18, 1980
New York’s sewer gator myth gets a Far Side twist. A frustrated alligator grumbles, “Curse this NYC sewer system!… It’s backing up again.” Larson’s gators aren’t fearsome—they’re just annoyed handymen stuck in a clogged pipe.
8. Uncle Irwin’s Country Getaway
First Published: June 23, 1982
A country-dwelling gator gapes as his city cousin emerges from a taxi: “Well, for cryin’ out loud!… It’s Uncle Irwin from the city sewer!” Larson pokes fun at the “country vs. city” trope—even reptiles need a vacation.
9. Cryptid Convention Camera Fail
First Published: August 5, 1987
A hiker stumbles upon Bigfoot, Nessie, and Jackie Onassis… only for his camera to jam. Larson nails the frustration of “proof” gone wrong—and throws in a First Lady cameo for absurdity.
10. Nessie’s Chicago Vacation
First Published: July 23, 1987
A blurry photo claims to show the Loch Ness Monster… in Chicago. Larson’s caption jokes: “Another unsubstantiated photograph (taken by Reuben Hicks, 5/24/84, Chicago).” Because why would Nessie stay in Scotland?
Why These Strips Stick
Larson’s comics thrive on flipping expectations. Urban legends, often rooted in fear, become playgrounds for his signature mix of dark humor and clever wordplay. By humanizing monsters and mocking our irrational fears, he turns campfire chills into chuckles
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