# What's the funniest single panel cartoon you've ever seen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 14, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531 "2016-10-14T17:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/121 "2016-10-16T18:17:07Z")
Too many trillions of 'em for a “funniest”. I’d be posting every day until 2078. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/122 "2016-10-16T18:45:14Z")
[Aw Blah Es Span Yol](http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/tbw/OLD/wc.labs.spring.2015/far.side.dolphins.spanish.jpg) [A Practicing Catholic and an Observant Jew](http://arnoldzwicky.s3.amazonaws.com/SingerPracticeObserve.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/123 "2016-10-16T19:06:53Z")
Well, I would be happy to clear up this mystery. Really. On a trip to Topeka I saw the picketers with some very graphic signs which actually disgusted me. I was told they were members of the Westboro Baptist Church. Now, I am not saying that my seeing these people didn’t subliminally influence the cartoon, but it certainaly could have. I gather inspiration for my work from numerous sources: books, magazines, conversations and on and on. So, there ya have it. Yours in cartooniness, Leigh Rubin > **[Rubes Cartoons - Leigh Rubin Syndicated Cartoonist](https://www.rubescartoons.com/)** > > Leigh Rubin, syndicated cartoonist of Rubes Cartoons offers speaking events, cartoon calendars, books, prints, e-cards, magnets and t-shirts. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/124 "2016-10-16T19:15:58Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Anyone who loves _The Far Side_ will also love [_Doctor Fun_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Fun), an early webcomic. Both comics have a heavy focus on science-themed humour, though _Doctor Fun_’s was often a bit more obscure. My favourite is [“Don Knuth finally sells out.”](https://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df200002/df20000210.jpg) My favorite Dr. Fun’s (from 1993-94): [The AV Police](https://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df9311/df931101.jpg) [Eggrunner](https://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df9403/df940330.jpg) [Altered Steaks](https://www.ibiblio.org/Dave/Dr-Fun/df9312/df931206.jpg) A little part of me died when he quit making them. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/125 "2016-10-16T19:38:53Z")
Wow, the cartoonist himself come to respond to our messages - that’s too cool! Thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/126 "2016-10-16T19:42:01Z")
> [@RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin](#): > > Well, I would be happy to clear up this mystery. Really. On a trip to Topeka I saw the picketers with some very graphic signs which actually disgusted me. I was told they were members of the Westboro Baptist Church. Now, I am not saying that my seeing these people didn’t subliminally influence the cartoon, but it certainaly could have. I gather inspiration for my work from numerous sources: books, magazines, conversations and on and on. So, there ya have it. > Yours in cartooniness, > Leigh Rubin > [www.rubescartoons.com](http://www.rubescartoons.com) Awesome! Thanks for stopping by and posting that. I’ve been a big fan of Rubes for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RubesCartoonsakaLeighRubin)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/127 "2016-10-16T19:46:53Z")
Happy to be of any help I can! Glad to hear you’ve been reading Rubes for so long. Next month marks the 32 anniversary of the cartoon. Man, am I getting old or what?! Cheers to you all! Leigh ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/128 "2016-10-16T20:52:43Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > And a New Yorker from 25+ years ago, I used to have the original on my kitchen corkboard > > [http://imgc-cn.artprintimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/60/6064/YLCD100Z/posters/mort-gerberg-fish-in-aquarium-thinks-fish-got-to-swim-bird-in-cage-thinks-birds-g-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg](http://imgc-cn.artprintimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/60/6064/YLCD100Z/posters/mort-gerberg-fish-in-aquarium-thinks-fish-got-to-swim-bird-in-cage-thinks-birds-g-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg) Having a dog myself, this one makes me kinda sad. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/129 "2016-10-16T21:03:23Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Jesus Christ! I was about to go googling for that one. LOL, I’m so glad I’m not the only person who appreciates that one. All these years later, and it still makes me giggle uncontrollably every time I think of it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/130 "2016-10-16T21:39:32Z")
Certainly not the funniest, but [this](http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z54/TheGreatUnwashed_album/McLachlan.jpg) makes me smile every time I see it. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/131 "2016-10-16T22:16:24Z")
> [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](#): > > Certainly not the funniest, but [this](http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z54/TheGreatUnwashed_album/McLachlan.jpg) makes me smile every time I see it. I don’t get it… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/132 "2016-10-16T22:27:27Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > I don’t get it… LOL! I think it might be very English: if [this](http://thumbs1.picclick.com/d/w1600/pict/371737593628_/FLYING-DUCKS-black-purple-goth-HANDPAINTED-WALL-HANGINGS.jpg)doesn’t help, I’m at a loss for an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e47774/32.png) [@quiltguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/133 "2016-10-16T22:29:52Z")
Alas the man is no longer with us, but John Callahan’s cartoons were some of the most wry AND hilarious. I’m unable to post, can someone help out? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/134 "2016-10-16T22:29:52Z")
[More Gahan Wilson](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-99TZdM7R-tc/Uz4IuGb6XfI/AAAAAAACVqA/BpaIMjJDTts/s1600/09_playboy_gahanwilson.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/135 "2016-10-16T23:42:11Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > [The Far Side’s “Cat Fud.”](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/8b/c5/56/8bc556e43bc9a7edf541f9042fc4bb26.jpg) Which is still how I write it on my shopping lists. You claimed my favorite Far Side, except maybe for “[What’s a Mountain Goat doing way up here in a cloud bank](http://image.slidesharecdn.com/defining-a-software-testing-strategy1443/95/defining-a-software-testing-strategy-37-728.jpg)?” So I will add this comic that made me laugh recently: [I like rocks](http://www.smbc-comics.com/comics/1472052164-20160824.png). Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal is probably my favorite webcomic. ---
**Author:** ![Goofus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7feea3/32.png) [@Goofus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goofus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/136 "2016-10-17T01:07:17Z")
Willy comes through the door and says “Clear the table, Ethel! I’ve got a pocketful of chump change!” ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/137 "2016-10-17T01:17:08Z")
In _Mad_ magazine, there was a one-panel showing Dennis the Menace walking into his mom’s kitchen carrying a human skull. The caption: ## _“Look what I found in Mr. Wilson’s head!”_ Honorable mention: “Dysfunctional Family Circus” - the father is on the couch necking with some unfamiliar woman. One of the kids observes, _“Daddy really likes Aunt Mary”_ ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/138 "2016-10-17T02:08:58Z")
Can’t find it; I’m sure it’s Gahan Wilson. A skeleton of a boy, with maybe a cobweb or two on it, is standing in front of a door, pressing the doorbell. He’s wearing dark glasses and holding a cup, with a sign that says “Give to the Blind.” The sign on the door says “School for the Deaf.” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/139 "2016-10-17T02:17:04Z")
**F. U. Shakespeare** : Interesting, because that sounds somewhat like one time a newspaper switched the captions of DtM and FS. [A Newspaper Accidentally Switched the Captions for The Far Side and Dennis the Menace. Twice. - Neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/2013/08/15/A-Newspaper-Accidentally-Switched-the-Captions-for-The-Far-Side-and-Dennis-the-Menace-Twice/) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531/140 "2016-10-17T02:32:42Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Can’t find it; I’m sure it’s Gahan Wilson. > > A skeleton of a boy, with maybe a cobweb or two on it, is standing in front of a door, pressing the doorbell. He’s wearing dark glasses and holding a cup, with a sign that says “Give to the Blind.” > > The sign on the door says “School for the Deaf.” Could this be a Larsen? :dubious: 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-funniest-single-panel-cartoon-youve-ever-seen/768531.md?page=8)