The Far Side is infamous for its dark humor, but fans of the cartoon will know that creator Gary Larson's darkness came in different shades, depending on the panel. While some of his comics were outright shocking, others obscured just how bleak their punchlines actually were under a layer of absurdity, or even outright silliness.

This list celebrates the Far Side panels that take a moment to hit readers; while they might not evoke an immediate shout of “My god!,” the stark, and at times even caustic humor of these comics is what leaves a lasting impact on readers.

That is, the darkness of these cartoons is what Far Side fans will be thinking about hours later, even after the joke itself has faded from memory. In this sense, they rank among the most relevant to Gary Larson's legacy as an artist, even if they don't have the reputation of some others.