TheseFar Sidecartoons were practically made to be on coffee mugs, for one reason or another. WhileGary Larson’s iconic comic resulted in its fair share of merchandise, few mediums suited it better than the mug, which is perfect for showcasingThe Far Side’sjokes, from the most memorable to the deepest cuts alike.
Gary Larson himself was an avowed coffee drinker, and a night owl,producingThe Far Sidelate at nightwhile slurping down caffeine.
The following jokes about coffee, breakfast, and early mornings all would make great mugs, for one reason or another, highlighting the versatility of Larson’s idiosyncratic brand of humor.
“Latte, Jed?” Gary Larson’s Cowboys Get Fancy With Their Coffee Order
First Published: August 11, 2025
“Latte, Jed?” For such a simple joke, thisFar Sidecartoon actually confounded plenty of readers when it was published in the early 1990s. We think of lattes as a ubiquitous part of American culture now, but that wasn’t the case 30+ years ago, one of many reminders of how cutting edge Gary Larson’s humor could be.
The punchline here stems from theclash betweenthe rustic Wild West setting of the cartoon, and the seemingly “sophisticated” nature of the drink one cowboy is offering his companion. It is aclassicFar Sideanachronism, one in which the joke centers on something being glaring, and hilariously, out of time and place.
First Published: July 26, 2025
Of the handful ofFar Sidejokes about coffeecollected here, this one is the most deserving of its own mug because of the hilarious way it shouts out dedicated caffeine drinkers,by depicting “Carl ‘Javahead’ Jones and his chopped espresso maker,” which has a flame decal painted on the side, akin to a sports car or motorcycle.
“Carl” himself, meanwhile, is depicted with a jittery grin, sporting a “born to be wired” t-shirt, in a cleverFar Sideplay on words. The conflation of coffee enthusiasts and motor-heads here is highly amusing, because both have a “need for speed,” so to speak; it just manifests in different ways, something Gary Larson shrewdly observes here.
“Nervous Dogs Prepare For The Day”: The Far Side Reveals The Truth Behind Yappy Dogs
First Published: August 12, 2025
Once again, Gary Larson delivered an ode to espresso lovers here, this time using one ofThe Far Side’smany canine characters, who is shown getting over-caffeinated at dawn ahead of a long day of running around and barking. Or asthe caption explains: “while their owners sleep, nervous little dogs prepare for their day.”
The Far Sidewas frequently silly, but its silliness often came with a cutting edge to it, given Larson’s notorious penchant for dark humor. This is an example of aFar Sidepanel that is downright cute, exactly the kind of cartoon that anyone could have on a coffee cup and get a kick out of it.
“The Only Way I Know How”: The Far Side’s Relatable Commentary On The Early AM Struggle
First Published: June 15, 2025
The great thing about thisFar Sidecartoon is the way it starts with a highly relatable sentiment, before veering off course to deliver a punchline that straddles the line between smart and dumb humor.“Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to hop out of bed first thing every morning” a character says to their spouse, as the sun rises.
“African Dawn”: The Far Side Confirms Everyone Needs Their Morning Coffee, Not Just Humans
First Published: June 23, 2025
Captioned “the African dawn,” thissuper-sized SundayFar Sidecartoonis an obvious fit for a coffee mug, considering it features a pastoral scene of wildlife set against a backdrop of a rising sun…with the added touch being thatthe lions and rhinos are all drinking steaming-hot cups of coffee to get themselves going, just like humans.
This is an example of Gary Larson’s warped “slice of life” style of humor. There is nothing particularly outrageous about this punchline; instead, it is a simple visual gag, one that all early risers can relate to, making it perfect forFar Sidemerchandising, because it can appeal to more than justhardcore fans of the comic.
“Breakfast On Other Planets”: The Far Side Takes A Look At Extraterrestrial Morning Rituals
First Published: May 26, 2025
Captioned “breakfast on other planets,” this is another example ofThe Far Side’s"slice of life" subgenre, except in this case it is extraterrestrial life, which hilariously mirrors human morning routines. Again, the fact that this is primarily a visual joke, with the caption serving only to provide brief context, makes it perfect for a mug.
The Far Side Complete Collection
Gary Larson wasn’t afraid to go “high concept” withThe Far Sideat times, but there was a virtue to his simplest jokes, such as this one, which derives its humor from its details, such asthe alien cereal box, and the alien milk carton, with its equivalent of the familiar “have you seen this child?” ads on terrestrial cartons.
First Published: June 14, 2025
Captioned “Saturday morning in the Garden” thisBiblicalFar Sidejokefeatures Adam and Eve looking bewildered as various animals try to offer them fruit, forbidden or otherwise; more than just the snake with its forbidden apple, there is a cow hocking peaches, and a porcupine with apricots for sale.
ThisFar Sidecartoon would be great on a mug for people who don’t mind a bit of cheeky sacrilege now and then; it is a lighthearted dash of religious humor, one that does little harm by lightly lampooning the Eden story. In other words, it is simple, and silly, two of the core tenets of a mug-worthy panel.
“Beg Your Pardon”: The Far Side’s Humor Comes Down To A Matter Of Taste
First Published:June 02, 2025
In thisFar Sidediner cartoon, a man finds a fly in his soup,prompting the frog in a tiny fedora at the lunch counter next to him asks “you’re not planning to just throw that fly away, are you?“Ultimately, this is the kind ofFar Sidejoke that can get repeat laughs out of readers.
Which is precisely what qualifies it for representation onFar Sidemerch; it is the kind of punchline that typifies Gary Larson’s unique style of comedy, one that few readers would argue against calling a certified classic. That is, it is a perfect bit of humor to have in one’s coffee mug rotation throughout the week.
“A Traditional Contest”: The Far Side’s Wild West Coffee Joke Is A While Vibe
First Published: June 25, 2025
Certainly, this qualifies asThe Far Side’sgreatest ode to over-caffeination, featuring a pair of cowboys facing off in a drinking contest, with the spin Gary Larson puts on this trope being thatit is a coffee-drinking contest, in which the cowpokes “matched their caffeine limits"by going “hour after hour, cup after cup.”
The concept of this gag is amusing, and the premise is then elevated by the accompanying illustration, which features both cowboys tweaking out, practically vibrating off the page, as a group of much more calm spectators watch on. For any readers with a penchant for too much coffee, this is a must-have mug design.
“Cyclops Family At Breakfast”: Weird Far Side Cartoons Belong On Coffee Mugs Too
First Published: July 26, 2025
This list, nor any roster ofFar Sidecoffee mugs, would not be complete without at least one dose of Gary Larson’s bizarre humor, which comes courtesy of “the Cyclops family at breakfast.” In the cartoon, the Cyclops parents each accidentally catch a splash of food in their single eye, in a panel that relies heavily on its surreal imagery.
The punchline here might not beThe Far Side’seasiest to parse, but ultimately, the strange quality of the illustration is what makes it appealing for potential merchandise, in this case targeted strictly atFar Sidedie hards, those who have an affinity for Larson’s humor, even if they don’t always fully “get” it.
