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.)

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