Gary Larson’s The Far Side comics ran for an incredible 15 years, from 1980 to 1995, right as the digital age was beginning to stir. This was well before nearly every human on Earth had a mini computer tucked into their back pocket, and even further before artificial intelligence became a part of everyday life. Yet somehow, Larson saw it all coming. A handful of his comics prove that he had a sharp eye on the future of AI, tech, and gaming long before anyone else was paying attention.
Larson didn’t create a ton of comics about artificial intelligence, computers, or video games, but the ones he did pack a surprising punch. Not only are they hilarious, but they also feel strangely prophetic. These panels offer a peek into what might have been going through Larson’s mind as the digital revolution started gaining speed. From kids turning gaming into six-figure careers to robots that blur the line between machine and human, The Far Side managed to predict some of the most unexpected developments of the modern world.
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Hopeful Parents
Predicting the Rise of Professional Gamers
Perhaps one of Larson’s most widely known and alluded-to comic strips when it comes to predicting the future is his single-panel Hopeful Parents. This Far Side comic shows a young boy hunched over and completely engrossed in his video game. His parents watch from the background, their thought bubbles showing “Help Wanted” ads featuring high-paying jobs for video game players, with specific references to Nintendo’s Mario Brothers, which was extremely popular at the time.
Adding to the prophetic tone of this comic is the fact that the “Help Wanted” ads are dated September 2, 2005, while the comic itself was first published in 1990. As we all know today, playing video games well has actually become a career, proving that Larson literally predicted the future with this Far Side panel.
A Child’s Robot Foreshadows Today’s Classrooms
For decades, robots were the stars of various sci-fi hits and franchises. People loved this content because the idea of artificial intelligence was so fantastical that seeing it brought to life on the silver screen was mesmerizing. And while the Nerdy Kid’s robot in this comic is rather crude in both design and likely capability, it still feels incredibly prophetic.
The humor comes from the absurdity of a grade school child building a monstrous robot in his probably underfunded metal shop class. However, kids building robot prototypes in class is now a reality, although this usually happens in robotics classes rather than metal shop.
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Size D Flashlight Batteries
Did Gary Larson Predict the Tesla Bot?
Dr. Frankenstein and his lab assistant Igor are two of The Far Side’s most hilarious and beloved recurring characters, usually caught up in Frankenstein’s ill-advised, never-ending experiments and other general shenanigans. In this strip, the humor comes from Frankenstein trying to take over a city with his robot, only for the giant machine to crash when its batteries die.
This prompts Frankenstein to send Igor on a frantic store run to “get two D size flashlight batteries.” While we have yet to see a giant robot attack a city, this comic may give readers déjà vu, since Frankenstein’s robot bears an uncanny resemblance to Elon Musk’s Tesla Bot.
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Careers in Computers
Even Quasimodo Knew Tech Was the Future
This next entry features the Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Quasimodo, clearly questioning his career choice of “Giant Bell-Ringer” as he flips through a book about careers in computers. It’s obvious that Quasimodo is thinking of a career change and is intrigued by all the promise that computer science offers. While the contrast between Quasimodo and tech is what makes this comic funny, it was also spot on.
Computer-related careers have become one of the most booming and rewarding fields. Given that this comic was originally published in 1981, it is unlikely that Larson or his readers knew just how right he was, and that they, too, should have followed Quasimodo’s lead into the world of computers.
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Mitch the Janitor vs. Robot
The Grim Future of Robots in the Workplace
This comic combines Larson’s love of giant robots with his signature dark humor. It tells the story of an unsuspecting janitor named Mitch and two sadistic scientists who decide that their robot’s test run will be far more interesting now that Mitch is within range. While we haven’t yet seen any janitor-versus-robot incidents (that we know of), the comic hits uncomfortably close to home.
As AI continues to advance, it feels like only a matter of time before humanoid robots are used against humans, whether in war, civil unrest control, or other scenarios. This prediction hasn’t come true just yet (for the most part), but it certainly feels like it’s looming on the horizon.
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God’s Computer: CTRL, ALT, SMITE
Divine Judgment in the Digital Age
The Far Side’s version of God is one of Larson’s most hilarious and beloved characters, often featured in tongue-in-cheek scenarios about how Heaven operates. In this comic, God uses a computer to carry out his divine duties, pressing a “Smite” key located right next to the “Z” key.
The humor lies in the subversion of expectations; it’s absurd to think of such a righteous and monumental act as smiting being reduced to the press of a keyboard button. But apparently, even the Lord is modernizing his workflow and embracing the digital age.
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Pushing Each Other’s Buttons
The Divide Between AI & Humans Lessens Every Day
While Larson has featured various robots in The Far Side, the robot couple in this therapy-centered strip may come closest to the AI we know today. The two robots are in a counseling session, and their conversation suggests they aren’t just machines following commands but capable of independent thought and mimicking emotional responses.
Back in 1993, the idea that robots could express human-like emotions or function socially was laughable. Yet today, AI systems like chatbots and Tesla Bots respond to prompts in eerily human ways. This Far Side comic now reads as an uncannily accurate prediction of where AI was heading.
- Writer
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Gary Larson
- Colorist
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Gary Larson
