''The "Cow Tools" cartoon, created by Gary Larson and published in October 1982, depicts a cow standing behind a table of bizarre, misshapen implements with the caption "cow tools." The cartoon confused many readers, who sought an explanation of the joke. In response to the controversy, Larson issued a press release clarifying that the thrust of the cartoon was simply that if a cow were to make tools, they would "lack something in sophistication" and resemble the sorry specimens shown in the cartoon. Larson further explained that the cartoon was intended to be an exercise in silliness and that his fondness for cows led to such confusion. The meaning of the cartoon is essentially that if cows were to make tools, the tools would lack sophistication, reflecting Larson's comedic interest in the tragicomic nature of cows
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.The cartoon is known for its utter meaninglessness, which has led to it being both loathed and celebrated, and has even developed a cult following, with some ascribing deep, symbolic significance to the concept of "cow tools"
His cartoon, however, was rather predictive of Peter Dutton in years to come - who bears a remarkable resemblance to the cow
