If you read a Sunday newspaper in the late '80s or early '90s, you probably came across The Far Side. Gary Larson's sharp wit and ability to approach every topic with a humorous perspective have produced truly surreal comic strips. Larson often surprised his readers by taking the strips in unexpected directions. One day, he could present a strip about an ensign facing a terrible truth for wearing a red shirt in a Star Trek parody, and on another day, he could depict a cow grilling steak on a barbecue while other cows watched in horror.

The Far Side really shone when it tackled science fiction themes. This is because both science fiction and humor genres often address heavy subjects through metaphors. In sci-fi works, aliens or robots represent the deep fears humanity grapples with, while humor uses jokes to lighten that tension. Given Larson's ability to depict sci-fi and comedic situations, it's no surprise that the best strips in The Far Side include bizarre sci-fi scenarios.

On September 2, 1994, The Far Side published a strip titled "The Romanticized Image of Cowboys and Aliens." In this strip, a cowboy on horseback is advancing across flat terrain, firing at flying saucers. The strip uses absurd imagery that makes reading The Far Side worthwhile, illustrating that the idea of a cowboy being chased by aliens is completely ridiculous yet striking. The title also alludes to the tendency of many films and TV shows to romanticize the Western theme by simplifying it with gunslingers and open landscapes.

What is impressive about the strip is its subtle suggestion of how one-sided the encounter between aliens and humanity could be. Contrary to what Independence Day or Stargate tell us, the fact that visitors from the stars would likely possess weapons and technology far beyond what humanity has developed cannot be ignored. If we were to greet these aliens as in Disclosure Day, it is evident that the outcomes would not be pleasant. This situation also overlaps with the concept of "Manifest Destiny" that many Westerns portray, as such productions often overlook how settlers intruded into lands inhabited by others.