Gary Larson loved to feature dinosaurs in his Far Side comic strips. Whether creating absurd backstories for the dinos or placing them in modern, traditional settings, the dinosaur Far Side comics are some of the strip's fan favorites. While many are familiar with the iconic Thagomizer comic, there is a slew of dinosaur Far Side strips that tend to go under the radar despite their exceptional humor.

Launching in 1979, The Far Side often showed an anthropomorphic view of the world, usually from animals or dinos. This could be traced to creator Gary Larson's background in biology. The unique qualities of The Far Side like its surrealness and sometimes morbid sense of humor (which led to some dark and controversial Far Side comics) sets it apart from the typical comic strips of titles like The Family Circus or Garfield.

10 Caveman Bubble

Using a poor, unfortunate caveman to make a bubble, the dinos of the strip embrace their prehistoric version of bubblegum. A perfect example of Larson's penchant for sticking the mundane into an unexpected setting, this strip shows the absurdist and frequently silly humor of The Far Side.

One of the most beloved comic strips, The Far Side loved to show awkward interactions. Fittingly, this strip exemplifies the awkward interaction between dinosaurs and humans.

9 Roughage

Comparing the small dino of the comic to roughage, the food term dedicated to leafy greens like lettuce, Larson transplants what could easily be a human conversation but transforms it by having it be discussed by dinosaurs. The two T-Rexes don't seem too thrilled at the prospect of eating the roughage dinosaur either, similar to how many stick their noses up at salad.

The humor of the strip could be understood regardless of the decade in which it was printed. As a result, demonstrating an instance of how timeless the majority of The Far Side's comics are.

8 Fresh Eggs

The element of surprise can always be a good thing in comic strips. Larson is for sure well aware of this, noticeable in many of the weirdest Far Side comics, including this strip. Paleontologists study some supposed ancient dinosaur eggs with the T-Rex mommy lurking in the shadows close behind. No doubt in surprise to the bumbling paleontologists.

Larson was no stranger to making the scientists in his strips be a little absent-minded. Likely, the two paleontologists in this strip follow that tradition, given that dino eggs would be millions of years old and look nowhere near as polished as day-old eggs.

7 Walnut Brain

If the species were facing extinction, there would be some sort of meeting about it. Well, the dinosaurs did just that in this far-out Far Side strip. Holding an assembly to discuss their impending doom, these stegosauruses profess their slim odds of surviving thanks to their less-than-enviable brain size.

Larson was particularly adept at showing creatures, whether it be aliens, animals, or dinosaurs, in unexpected, more human ways. The head dinosaur's discussion of their small odds of enduring in a town hall setting is a great example of Larson's talent for the bizarre and irreverent.

6 Dino Dinner Table

The brunt of many a joke, the tiny arms of the gigantic T-Rex are widely associated with the otherwise ferocious beast. Gary Larson uses this common knowledge in this comic strip that sees a T-Rex family struggling to pass each other the potatoes over a tiny table.

Placing the dinosaurs in the very traditional environment of a family surrounding a dinner table lays in stark contrast to what one thinks when a T-Rex is brought up. As a result, the strip smartly anthropomorphizes the dinosaurs to gain some laughs.

5 Cold Blooded/Warm Blooded

The Far Side''s fascination for science is well-known, and this comic strip is a great blend of wit and crass. Poking fun at the old-time thermometers that only took temperature through a certain part of the body, this Far Side comic evokes the fun of the more blue humor of the thermometer joke but does so in a way that elevates the material.

Smart as ever in how he presents his strips, Larson is particular about what the reader sees in the comic frame. This works perfectly for this strip, only showing the viewer enough to sell the joke.

4 Time Machine Mix-Up

Putting his characters in unexpected situations is a hallmark of Far Side comics. This is definitely the case for this hilarious Jurassic-set strip.

Professor Schanbel's cleaning lady is in for quite the rude awakening when she realizes that the supposed dryer has dropped her into the age of the dinosaurs. It's not quite her fault though, Professor Schnabel did design his time machine to be eerily similar to a laundry dryer. Hopefully though, she gets out of there before that troublesome meteor arrives.

3 Dino Cereal

Using popular culture to add another dimension to the surreal comic strip, Larson uses familiar items to make his absurdist strip even funnier. A play on Wheaties cereal, the little dino's cereal is instead called Meaties, keeping in line with these carnivores' appetites. What would a T-Tex do with whole grain anyway?

The joke goes one further with the prize inside. Most kids can attest that the prize in a cereal box can be the best part. In the case of the breakfast-munching dinosaur, his prize would be an actual kid. Not the typical prize in the real world but purely the mundane in The Far Side's.

2 Smoking Kills... Dinosaurs

Given that the dangers of tobacco are widely well known now in the 21st century, people understand the connection between smoking and mortality. However, the dinosaurs learned that lesson too late according to this comic strip.

In one of his most popular strips, Larson illustrates the real reason the dinosaurs died out; smoking. Forget meteors, cigarettes are the true culprit. This hilarious Far Side comic made its way into The Simpsons in a 2011 episode, perfectly paying homage to Gary Larson.

1 Thagomizer

An incredibly influential strip not just for comics but also for, amazingly, paleontology, the Thagomizer comic is arguably one of Larson's most famous and highly regarded works. This dinosaur-centered comic is the reason why a part of the stegosaurus's body is called the Thagomizer.

Previous to this smart and clever strip, there was no established name for this part of the Stegosaurus. While not the official term, according to Smithsonian Magazine, it is the name of preference by paleontologists with a sense of humor.