How to Find the Cause of the Problem
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Learn a Language
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Expand Your Palate
BRIEF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
I try to keep politics out of the comic. I want people from every point in the spectrum to feel welcome here, and frankly, I just don't find the government very funny. Also, I suspect the majority of the comics readers have a good idea where I stand. That said, it is election time in the USA.
If you are a US citizen, please vote.
Specifically, please vote for Kamala Harris.
She is not perfect. She is not even close to perfect. But, she far better than the alternative.
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How To Think Critically
This comic posed me with an ethical question.
Not about bombarding hibernating bears with gamma rays (which is a real thing we 100% did, btw). I think we all have a very clear idea where we stand on that issue.
No, I had to think long and hard about an ethical question related to comedy writing.
I heard about the bear gamma ray experiment while listening to StarTalk, the podcast hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson and the comedian Chuck Nice.
Their guest mentioned that experiments were done exposing hibernating bears to high levels of gamma radiation, and my brain immediately went to the idea that they were trying to make bear hulks. The guest spoke a bit longer, then Chuck Nice, having made the same cognitive leap I had, asked if when they woke up, the bears said, “Bear smash.”
Then Neil deGrasse Tyson said something about us not wanting bear hulks, and they all moved on.
I was left wondering if it was ethical for me to make a comic about the idea of creating bear hulks, because I really wanted to.
In the end, I decided I was comfortable proceeding because I had come up with the premise on my own before they mentioned it. Also, I intended to name them specifically as the source of the story and give them credit for also seeing the connection. Furthermore, I intended to explore areas they had not.
These are the things I lose sleep over.
Another problem is that they bombarded the bear with gamma rays while it was hibernating, which, if I understand comic book logic, would result in a bear that turns into a hulk when it gets sleepy. If the goal is to weaponise the bear hulk, that seems less than ideal. I mean, it might be crankier than usual, but the idea of a super strong being taking super powered naps doesn’t really strike fear into the hearts of your enemies.
(NOTE: Commentaries, similar to this, but of varying lengths, company every comic I write, and are available to my Patreon supporters, along with access to the comics a week early, the extra “One Line Taken Out-of-Context” comic, and access to a comments section I read.)
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
One Line from a Future Comic Taken Totally out of Context
(NOTE: Extra “One Line Taken out of Context” comics like this one are available to my Patreon supporters, along with commentaries of varying lengths on the full weekly comic, access to the comics a week early, and access to a comments section I read.)
How to Open Your Mind to New Ideas
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Embrace New Forms of Entertainment
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Engage in World-Weary Banter
I was recently interviewed for the Dabble podcast. Please go check it out, if you like.
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Figure Out Why You Enjoy Something
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to Accept the Truth
As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada), and for considering joining my Patreon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.