How to Make It Clear That You're Joking

This is one of those comics where I know that my intention was that three loafish full-grown men talking about ponies and boys was funny, but looking at it now, I can see where this comic might be construed as homophobic. I figured that in this case it would be more productive to admit to it and make my position clear than to just sweep it under the rug.

I will say this, though: Tiger Beat is an inherently funny name for a magazine. It doesn’t matter that it’s about teen idols. You could rename the Journal of the American Medical Association Tiger Beat and it would be just as funny, if not funnier.

Note from Missy: Huh, I didn’t see the possible homophobia angle on this either. Likely because I equate ponies and boys with 12-year-old girls. It feels the same as when I, a middle-aged woman, joke about being a 12-year-old boy because I giggled at a fart joke.  (Changing topic: I seem to recall that Tiger Beat had some of the best pull-out posters of dreamy ’80s dudes. Way better than Sassy or 16. Though in hindsight, those magazines all learned their centerfold game from Playboy and Penthouse, which feels disturbing in its own way.)