this post was submitted on 07 Jun 2024
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Comic Strips

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[–] [email protected] 160 points 5 months ago (6 children)

I don't get it. Where is the joke. (Seriously, I'm lost)

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Pretty sure it's that they were a lesbian couple but one realises they're a guy and the other realises they want kids so they break up but remain besties and try to set the other up

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

That's pretty wholesome, tbh.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Part of the humor comes from subverting the expectations. You might expect this kind of conflict- that one wants kids the other doesn't, that one wants to change their gender expression into something the other doesn't like- to cause conflict. Fighting. Anger.

Instead they just fully support each other.

Further, it subverts the mainstream possessiveness of partners. It's very typical for people to be like "don't be interested in my partner!" Or to be very uncomfortable with their ex seeing other people. Instead, this person is being very supportive of their person.

A lot of behavior in typical monogamous relationships is really shitty and selfish.

It's not the funniest thing ever, but that's how I see the mechanics of it working. Subverting some relationship expectations.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Instead they just fully support each other.

The driver saying they don't line up with the passenger's preference is the driver thinking things should end for the benefit of the passenger. I'm pretty sure the driver is still into the passenger, so breaking up is for the benefit of the passenger.

The passenger wants kids and the driver doesn't. Breaking up is for the benefit of the passenger, not the driver.

So the driver is supportive of the passenger, but it is not reciprocated within this comic, including the extra panels.

It is still a positive outcome that is most likely a reflection of past support for each other that would add context, but if someone has only seen this one comic then it just looks like an amicable divorce with the driver hyping up their wife because the driver no longer align with their wife's wants and needs.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I expected a comic strip to have a decent punch line and actually try to make the reader chuckle.

Boy, were my expectations subverted.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Amicable divorces are apparently funny?

I don't know. It's an odd one.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

I do think amicable divorces are kind of a little funny

[–] [email protected] 27 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Comics don't have to have a joke, they can just tell a story. This is a nice story of two people who care for and support each other in spite of discovering their selves and life goals don't sync with continuing the original relationship. They manage to break up the romance with each feeling freed rather than dumped, so they can continue to be friends. Hopefully their eventual new partners will appreciate this.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

The artist / writer literally mentions their joke in the bonus panel and they'd "die if they stopped being funny".

The funny part is supposed to be: my wife is single.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Who would have thought that a thing called a "comic" would be funny?

It's not like serious works of fiction using the same format would need a separate term like "graphic novel" or anything. That would never happen.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

When I was a kid I asked my mom why Superman was in a comic book when he wasn't funny. The answer is the same.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Yes, I'm sure your mother really has her finger on the pulse of nerd pop culture when it comes to nomenclature.

"I asked my mommy" isn't exactly a compelling argument.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Comics aren't nerd anything, they've been mainstream since the 1930s, honey. And a large number of them haven't been comical, although there are plenty which are. This one may be modern but it's nothing really new. The same story could have played out in a hetero relationship between supportive adults as far back as my mother's era. I wasn't using her as an authority, just a representative of the populace. And to note that only a little child thinks comics have to be funny. This one may be modern but the story here isn't all that new. It's personal and fresh to the author, and I'm happy for them that their life is working out so well, but the plotline is straight out of a 1950s romance comic.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Plotline? You're giving this low effort, meaningless shit too much credit.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Ah, cool, a new toxic user to block.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Hey how about instead of picking fights on the Internet, or even while picking fights on the Internet, why don't you go to your nearest blood bank and donate a pint like I'm doing now?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Your "humblest user" award is in the mail.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Not wanted. Get your ass out there and give a pint. You'll be glad to know they're not excluding for Mad Cow anymore, so you should be fine.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago (2 children)

You can't call something a graphic novel if it's only one page long though, so what do you call it?

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago

A graphic anecdote?

[–] [email protected] 52 points 5 months ago

The link has extra panels and a comment from the artists that explains it more. This isn’t a joke so much as it is explaining their situation in a joking manner.

[–] [email protected] 93 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The joke is the absurd and funny statement, "ladies, my wife is single (and you should date her (implied))". Basically they are best friends who broke up and now they are supporting the other dating by joking absurdity of the situation.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 37 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

I guess they are acting right away instead of waiting for the paperwork to get sorted out.

Not really seeing this as a haha funny moment as much as it is two people who realize their marriage isn't going to work out having a calm and rational discussion followed by being supportive of each other. Well, it isn't long enough to show the passenger being supportive, but kind of assume they must be based on context.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

In some states you have to be separated for at least a year to file for divorce.