2011-05-24
Explanation
This wordless comic depicts an intimate moment between a couple that takes an unexpected turn. As they begin to get romantic, the woman produces what appears to be a condom packet -- but a close-up reveals it is labeled "Lubricated Monocle." In the final panels, the man is shown wearing nothing but the monocle over his eye, looking pleased with himself, while the woman looks thoroughly disappointed and annoyed.
The humor comes from the bait-and-switch. The comic sets up what looks like a standard romantic scenario where a condom would be produced, but instead reveals a completely absurd product: a lubricated monocle. The man's visible satisfaction at wearing the monocle contrasted with the woman's exasperation creates the punchline. It is a joke about misplaced priorities and the absurdity of taking a romantic moment and derailing it with something as ridiculous as fancy eyewear. The "lubricated" detail parodies the packaging of condoms while making the product even more nonsensical.