The Far Side is an often-brilliant non-serialized single-panel comic by Gary Larsen, and it was definitely one of the stones upon which my joy of reading comics was built. Naturally a comic which had to find a new topic every day for so long covered did touch upon Beekeepers, though I only remember one occasion. Luckily, that strip went up onto the official Far Side page today, so now I can finally review the two Beekeepers contained therein.

There’s only so much that I can glean from this panel, but what there is seems to indicate successful Beekeepers. They have multiple hives and lots of seemingly healthy bees going about. And I think their dancing is a sign that they are good at working together. They seem to have a nice healthy relationship and I approve of it. I ship them, as the kids say.

I can also make a case that their dancing could indicate something beyond mere ordinary apiary skill. The strip’s joke grows out of the fact that bees dance as a means of communication. Is it possible then that these Beekeepers have developed a method of dancing that allows them to communicate with their bees? I see no reason to assume otherwise.

3 Honeycombs out of Five.

Myrtle Wiseacre manipulated strange mystical forces, giving the team whatever advantage she could find.

Gladys Blue moved quickly, jumping and flipping, preventing the Beekeepers from flanking the team.

Clint Rojas, the Street Sentry, stayed on the offensive, striking out with powerful fists at any foe that came within reach.

October Bradshaw stuck beside her allies and, where possible, found opportunities for precision attacks that others had not noticed.

Nineteen Snakes pinned down any foe who was knocked off their feet.

Jason Dante grabbed a Beekeeper by the throat and began to squeeze.

Adam Obianu shouted for his allies to stop.

The scene was a mess. Adam’s allies, people he has only briefly known, fought a group of Beekeepers he has known since his childhood.

Adam’s aunt Abuya was there among the attackers. And there was his friend Chris, with whom he had lived with for a month when he was thirteen. There was old Mr. Njoku, of whom Adam had always been unreasonably afraid. And there, Daluchi, whom he had dated for a time. And all the rest were faces Adam had seen around for decades.

Adam stood between the violence and his hive. He would not involve the bees.