10 Funniest Far Side Comics Set in Hell

Explore the delightfully twisted world of Gary Larson’s The Far Side with ten of the funniest of the comic’s panels set in Hell. Renowned for its offbeat humor, outrageously blending the mundane with the surreal, Larson’s series frequently offered a devilishly entertaining exploration of the afterlife. Through his distinctive artistic style and wit, Larson painted a comically warped vision of Hell, where the absurdities of the underworld collided with his signature humor.

Larson’s Far Side comics frequently explored the afterlife, juxtaposing heaven and hell in his unique and comically absurd way. He often infused his heaven-themed Far Side comics with a playful portrayal of God, presenting whimsical and sometimes unconventional interpretations of the divine figure. Conversely, many installments went in the other direction – taking a departure from the divine and shifting the reader’s attention towards the Devil himself, cataloging the amusing fates of the poor souls in his clutches. The Far Side’s depiction of hell was acerbic and insightful – with the entries below representing some of Gary Larson’s best trips to the realm of eternal torment.

10 “To Heck With You!”

Just Because Its Hell Doesn’t Mean Cursing Isn’t Impolite

Kicking off the list is a classic example of Gary Larson’s renowned work; this comic encapsulates the essential elements that define his iconic style. Embodying The Far Side’s signature traits, such as the simple yet unmistakable art style, the single-panel format, and the prevalent single-speaker humor found throughout his comics, this particular strip stands as a quintessential representation. The humor lies in the absurdity of the situation – where the starring devil in this strip refrains from cursing, replacing ‘hell’ with ‘heck,’ despite literally being in Hell. This exemplifies Larson’s idiosyncratic style, a hallmark that resonates across generations, contributing to the timeless appeal of his comics.

9 “The Dog’s On Fire.”

He Doesn’t Seem Too Phased

Larson is known for transforming every day, mundane interactions, especially those rooted in family dynamics, into absurdist hilarity within his comics. This particular strip exemplifies his knack for injecting a twist into traditional scenarios, showcasing a clever reimagining of a classic husband-and-wife trope. Instead of the familiar household scene, where a wife requests her husband to tend to the dog’s bathroom needs, the comic takes an unexpected turn. Placed in the fiery setting of hell, the scenario portrays the wife urging her husband to extinguish their flaming pet. Larson’s genius lies in recontextualizing a common situation, pushing it into a bizarre and comical realm.

8 “Graffiti In Hell.”

“Hey! You Call This Hot?”

Envisioning the concept of graffiti in Hell, this comic provides a humorous twist on the typically rebellious art, and its often negative portrayal. What makes this Far Side installment particularly witty is the reversal of expectations; instead of depicting negative sentiments, the graffiti exudes kindness and heartwarming thoughts. Among the amusing graffiti depicted, one reads, “Satan is a warm and tender guy!” The hilarity amplifies as the Devil reacts with outrage at the display of positive sentiments. This juxtaposition between the Devil’s expected demeanor, and the uplifting messages, contributes to the comic’s witty and humorous undertone, showing the appeal of playing with contrasts to create comedic scenarios.

Related: 10 Funniest Far Side Comics Where Everybody Dies

7 “Aerobics In Hell.”

“Five million leg-lifts. Right leg first!”

This comic brilliantly resonates with anyone who’s ever sweated through a workout, capturing the relatable sentiment that a fitness trainer can sometimes feel like the devil incarnate during a grueling exercise session. It cleverly embodies the universally shared sensation of seemingly never-ending sets and repetitions, which many encounter in workout classes. This Hell-centric comic has gained widespread attention across the internet due to its relatability, striking a chord with countless individuals, who empathize with the torturous yet humorous parallels between workouts and the underworld. Larson’s knack for capturing universally felt experiences with his distinct brand of humor is acutely present in this strip.

6 “Dog Hell.”

Hellhounds Takes On A Whole Different Meaning

Larson skillfully dismantles the widely accepted notion that ‘all dogs go to heaven’ by ingeniously envisioning what ‘Dog Hell’ might entail, presenting a hilariously twisted take on the concept. This creative reimagining features a canine underworld where several dogs are amusingly portrayed as mail carriers, a hound’s arch-nemesis. ‘Dog Hell’ also features various dogs who face severe consequences for their actions, such as being given pooper-scoopers, tasked with the unorthodox punishment of cleaning up their own mess, an unheard of predicament in their carefree lives. This comic offers a devilishly entertaining scenario, where even canines face comically absurd repercussions in the afterlife.

Related: 10 Funniest Far Side Comics That Don’t Use Any Words

5 “‘H,’ Please…For Both Of Us”

Maybe Take The Stairs

At the core of The Far Side comics is Larson’s unique talent for conveying humor predominantly through his artwork, often relying on minimal or even no speech. “‘H,’ please… for both of us,” brilliantly exemplifies this approach. The combination of the concise, yet witty dialogue and the image makes this particular strip stand out in Larson’s repertoire. Moreover, it showcases Larson’s adeptness with timing, evident in the delayed punchline of “for both of us,” adding an extra layer of amusement to the scene. This comic serves as a prime example of how Larson managed to skillfully weave together visual humor and subtle dialogue to create comedic gems within a single panel over and over again.

4 “That’s The Third One You’ve Lost This Month”

Sometimes Hell Is Losing People

In a wonderfully absurd twist, this comic humorously reimagines Hell as a corporate office, complete with HR protocols and work performance reviews, a concept far removed from traditional depictions of the afterlife. The strip cleverly integrates common workplace woes into the context of Hell, crafting a delightfully unconventional scenario. The strip’s hilarity reaches its peak when the comic reveals that humans are continuously escaping under Edgar’s supervision, as he repeatedly falls for their deceptive excuse of “just stepping out to use the bathroom.” This amusing portrayal adds an extra layer of comedy, by infusing the mundane workplace excuse with a devilishly comical twist.

3 “Who’s The Wise Guy That Just Turned Down The Thermostat?”

The Devil Has Major Dad Energy In This Strip

This comic stands out as a comedic gem for multiple reasons. The presence of a thermostat in hell itself introduces an unexpected and humorous element to the underworld setting. What adds to the amusement is not just the existence of the thermostat, but also the fact that the residents have access to it. However, the pinnacle of humor arrives with the Devil’s disgruntled exclamation of, “Hey! Hey! Hey! … Who’s the wise guy that just turned down the thermostat?” This unexpected reaction highlights the Devil’s lack of control, and also reveals his evident confusion about the situation, flipping the expected image of a tightly managed Hell overseen by the Devil.

Related: 15 Funniest The Far Side Comics That Will Never Get Old

2 “The Coffee’s Cold!”

“They Thought Of Everything!”

Much like ‘The Devil’s Thermostat,’ this comic brilliantly capitalizes on the absurdity of envisioning unexpected elements in Hell, notably a coffee machine. The sheer presence of a coffee machine in such an infernal setting is inherently comical. However, the true humor lies in Larson’s dialogue, wherein one of Hell’s inhabitants exclaims, “Oh, man! The coffee’s cold! They thought of everything!” The small-scale torment of having cold coffee serves as the crux of the humor, amplified by the innocent shock displayed by the Hell resident. The juxtaposition of a seemingly minor inconvenience, with the grand scheme of Hell’s purpose in the cosmos, generates a disproportionate amount of laughter.

1 “First Of All, This Is Going Straight Back”

No Pizza Allowed In Hell

This particular comic is both the funniest addition to this list and one of Larson’s comedic masterpieces. It splendidly combines visual humor and witty dialogue, the elements working in tandem to elevate the panel’s humor. The comic ingeniously twists the concept of pizza shops boasting their ‘We deliver anywhere’ motto by portraying a pizza boy making a delivery to Hell. The inherent comedy of this notion is further amplified by the Devil’s exasperated and slightly disappointed expression, coupled with his almost parental reprimand, “First of all, this is going straight back…” The comic showcases Larson’s exceptional comedic flair, consistently having delivered unexpected and uproarious scenarios within his The Far Side comics.