There is no official or measurable ranking of the 20 most underrated Far Side comics. This is an editorial way into Gary Larson’s single-panel series: a list should identify each panel from the official archive or a licensed collection and explain why it merits a second look, rather than inventing titles, dates, captions, or claims about what readers overlook.
What “underrated” means here
The Far Side is a single-panel cartoon created by Gary Larson. The official site says the comic ran daily in newspapers from 1980 to 1995. “Underrated” is an editorial lens, not an objective status or a ranking supported by audience data.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Far Side® Gallery | $12.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Far Side® Gallery 2 | $10.08 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Complete Far Side: 1980-1994 | $185.31 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Far Side® Gallery 3 | $19.73 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Far Side® Gallery 4 | $10.61 | Buy on Amazon |
A defensible list of 20 would select and verify the individual panels, then make its reasons for inclusion visible. Those reasons might include a joke that lands on a second look, a small visual detail that changes the scene, or a panel less often featured in familiar best-of collections. Without verified panel references, naming 20 cartoons or describing their gags would risk getting the work wrong.
Why a verified list matters
The scale of Larson’s archive makes a curated selection useful, but it also makes specific identification important. Andrews McMeel Publishing describes The Complete Far Side as containing over 4,000 syndicated cartoons and more than 1,100 cartoons that had not previously appeared in a book; the publisher does not state a publication year for those figures. It describes the cartoons as arranged in roughly chronological order. These are the publisher’s approximate counts, not an independent tally. Andrews McMeel Publishing: The Complete Far Side
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
Larson’s own description offers a reminder of the personal, spontaneous origin of the cartoons: “Every one of these cartoons is just something that drifted into my head when I was alone with my thoughts. And, for better or worse, I ‘jotted’ them down.” The quotation appears in the preface excerpt reproduced by Andrews McMeel on its publisher page.
Where to browse Far Side cartoons
The official website
TheFarSide.com offers a Daily Dose of classic selections updated daily, themed collections updated weekly, and material from Larson’s sketchbooks. These are ways to browse official selections, not a guarantee of a searchable index covering every panel. The available features and selections can change. See the site’s About page for its description of the comic and site.
Rank #2
- Author: Larson, Gary.
- Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
- Pages: 192
- Publication Date: 2003
- Edition: Illustrated
The Complete Far Side
For readers who want a book-format archive, Andrews McMeel describes The Complete Far Side as containing every syndicated cartoon, presented in roughly chronological order, as well as additional cartoons. The publisher’s description is the clearest basis here for the book’s scope; current price, stock, and edition availability are not established. Simon & Schuster: The Complete Far Side
Looking for one specific cartoon?
If you remember a scene, animal, setting, or fragment of the gag but not the panel itself, begin with the official site’s daily selections and themed collections. They may help you recognize it, but they are not described as a complete searchable catalog. A broad archive such as The Complete Far Side is another route when browsing a larger body of work is more useful than searching online.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRank #3
Newer Larson work is not a revival of the newspaper strip
The official site also hosts newer work, but Larson explicitly distinguishes it from the old daily comics. On the New Stuff page, he writes: “I don’t want to mislead anyone here. This corner of the website—‘New Stuff’ is not a resurrection of The Far Side daily cartoons.”
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
