Top 10+ Far Side Comics That Capture the Chaos of Back-to-School Season

There’s something about Gary Larson’s The Far Side that perfectly channels the frantic energy of back-to-school season. Maybe it’s the frazzled teachers, the confused students, or the general sense that no one really knows what is going on, including chickens trying to learn to speak duck.

Larson’s single-panel masterpieces find the humor in academic boredom, cafeteria chaos, and classroom pranks. As the school year creeps back into our lives and supply lists start burning a hole in our pockets, these ten comics capture the kind of mayhem a good majority of us are about to experience.

Gifted Kid Burnout

The Far Side Comic That Nailed the Back-to-School Struggle

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A kid trying to enter his school by pushing a 'pull' door in The Far Side.

This wouldn’t be a proper back-to-school list without one of the most iconic Far Side comics ever printed. The strip features the unofficial mascot of Larson’s universe pushing on a door labeled “pull.” While the gag works as classic visual humor, the joke hits deeper thanks to a perfectly placed sign that raises the comic’s irony to legendary status.

What makes this comic especially hilarious is that the building is labeled “Midvale School for the Gifted.” The Nerdy Kid’s slumped, defeated posture only adds to the hilarity, making this panel painfully relatable for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the academic grind. Whether you’re a gifted (past or present) student or just trying to get through the school day, this comic sums it up perfectly.

The Far Side Comic That Proves Pranking Teachers Is Prehistoric

Swapping a Tack for a Thagomizer Is as Devious as It Is Hilarious

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far side comic about caveman school

With school back in session, classroom pranks are back, too, especially those aimed at unsuspecting teachers. While tacks on chairs may be outdated, students are still incredibly creative when it comes to messing with educators, whether it’s for the latest TikTok trend or part of those infamous senior-year traditions. The spirit of pranking is alive, just with a modern twist.

In The Far Side, Larson pushes that prank tradition into absurd territory by imagining just how long students have been pulling fast ones on their teachers. The result? A caveman swaps out a tack for a full-blown Thagomizer. It’s a hilariously exaggerated reminder that classroom chaos is timeless, no matter the century or species.

The Far Side Comic That Gave the Mafia a Cafeteria Twist

Nothing Says Betrayal Like a PB&J Sent to the Fourth-Graders

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Far Side, March 16, 1994, the 'sandwich mafia' throws one of their own into a middle school cafeteria

Anyone who has watched a gangster movie or anything crime-related has likely heard the cliché threat about sending someone to “sleep with the fishes,”meaning they are about to be killed and tossed into a body of water. It is an old phrase, but Larson finds a hilariously creative way to give it a school-themed makeover.

In this strip, Larson imagines how a “sandwich mafia” might deal with a traitor by sending a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to “sleep with the fourth-graders” during the chaos of lunch hour. It is a ridiculous yet brilliant reimagining of a crime cliché, one that turns cafeteria time into the perfect setting for cartoon-level drama.

Even The Far Side Has Its Designated Attention-Seeker

Now Introducing Every Teacher's Worst Nightmare: THE ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICE

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far side comic about school

Any teacher knows that in every classroom, there is always at least one student who lives to disrupt lessons. In this Far Side comic, that all-too-familiar scenario is taken to an absurd extreme when a kid proudly unveils their “attention-getting device,” turning classroom disruption into a hilariously over-the-top moment of cartoon mischief.

Larson leans heavily on visuals for the punchline, showing a student with a ridiculous contraption packed with buttons, levers, speakers, and even a jack-in-the-box on a spring. While exaggerated, any teacher can confirm that some classroom distractions truly feel just as outrageous.

Some Students Are Impossible to Forget

A School-Themed Twist on Pandora's Box

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far side pandora box teacher

Sometimes misbehaving students stick with teachers just as much as the favorites do. That’s especially true in this Far Side comic, where a teacher receives an unexpected package from a former student named Pandora. Anyone familiar with Greek Mythology can probably guess that this delivery won't be filled with apple slices and thank-you notes.

Instead of the classic legend unleashing chaos on Earth, Larson brings the havoc straight into the school system. The moment Pandora’s box arrives on the teacher’s desk, it becomes clear that whatever is inside will spell trouble. It is a clever mash-up of Greek mythology and everyday school shenanigans.

The Far Side Comic That Took “New Kid” a Little Too Literally

Showing Up Sparkling is One Way to Make an Impression

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Far side new kid class school

Most of us have either been the “new kid” or seen the trope play out in books and movies. Larson gives this concept a visual twist by showing the new kid quite literally sparkling, highlighting their fresh arrival with an over-the-top shine. It’s a simple gag that turns a familiar feeling into a cartoon-worthy exaggeration.

While one of Larson’s more straightforward jokes, the comic still lands perfectly. Anyone dreading the awkwardness of being new might find comfort in this exaggerated take. After all, even if you're starting fresh this school year, chances are you won’t be glowing with that much literal newness.... at least, we hope you aren't.

Everyone Knows Horses Are Math Wizards

The "Clever Hans Effect" Meets The Far Side

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far side comic about horse school

Trigger warning for the mathematically faint of heart: this comic dives straight into the world of numbers. The Far Side pokes fun at the famous “counting horse” story, where a horse named Clever Hans amazed audiences by appearing to solve math problems. In reality, he was simply responding to subtle, unintentional cues from his math teacher of an owner.

Larson uses this bizarre bit of history to fuel a gag that math-weary students will instantly lock in on. If only today’s math teachers gave unspoken clues like Hans’ handler, those surprise test days might not feel so brutal. For anyone bracing for the upcoming school year, this comic adds a little humor to the looming panic of pop quizzes and problem sets.

The Far Side Comic That Proved Higher Learning Is Fatal for Cats

Curiosity Killed the Cats...

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far side comic police officers enter a classroom and see dead cats looking at science notes

What happens when cats pursue higher education? Apparently, they all drop dead. Larson gives new meaning to “curiosity killed the cat” by showing a classroom of lifeless felines, victims of their own academic drive. It’s a triple win from Larson, blending a school setting with dark humor and his signature love for anthropomorphized animals in ridiculous roles.

Cat lovers shouldn't panic, though. If this comic had a sequel, it might show those same cats revived and smugly satisfied. After all, the full phrase is, “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” Still, this isThe Far Side, where the rules of real life don’t always apply, especially when Larson’s darker punchlines are involved.

This Strip Speaks for Every Overloaded Student

Because Sometimes Your Brain Really Is Full

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far side classroom relatable

This might be the most relatable Far Side comic for anyone currently in school or who has survived it. We have all been the student who asks,“Mr. Osborne, may I be excused? My brain is full.” It is the kind of perfectly absurd line that somehow feels completely logical during a long school day.

Whether you loved or hated school, everyone has experienced that moment when their brain hits max capacity. If only it were that easy to excuse yourself with a quick sentence and a polite wave. Larson taps into the shared experience of mental overload with a punchline that makes students and former students alike feel hilariously seen.

Even Birds Have to Take Mandatory Language Classes

Nothing Says “Back to School” Like Quack Conjugation

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far side comic about chicken school

In another brilliant example of Larson’s love for anthropomorphic animals in human roles, this Far Side comic takes aim at language class. Most of us had to endure Spanish, French, or German, but here, the subject is “Duck.” And instead of human students, it is a room full of chickens.

The humor here leans entirely on visual gags, with a chalkboard showing various conjugations of “quack” as a chicken teacher instructs her class. It is an absurd but clever take on classroom culture, and anyone who has ever struggled through sentence drills will sympathize. This strip is The Far Side's perfect answer to the universal language of school frustration.

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