2011-09-25
Explanation
This comic contrasts the romanticized expectation of being a doctor with the unglamorous reality. The top panel is labeled "What you think being a doctor will be like" and shows a dramatic scene where a nurse urgently calls for a doctor, exclaiming that a patient's tumor is growing so quickly it may explode and take everyone with it, begging the doctor to save them with her incredible skill. The female doctor coolly responds "I'm on my way," looking like an action hero about to save the day.
The bottom panel is labeled "What it's actually like" and shows a far less cinematic scenario. An older man matter-of-factly tells the doctor "We need you to drain some pus," and then adds "Take your time. That scrotum's not goin' anywhere." The doctor again says "I'm on my way," but the context has shifted from thrilling heroism to mundane (and somewhat gross) medical procedures. The humor lies in the deflation from life-or-death drama to the tedious, unglamorous bodily realities that make up much of actual medical practice.
The votey panel contains a text note saying "Today's comic features my sister, Candice. If you read this, please consider it an early birthday present." This is author Zach Weinersmith breaking the fourth wall to dedicate the comic to his sister, who is presumably a doctor. The dedication adds an extra layer of humor, as the comic is simultaneously a birthday tribute and a playful roast of her profession.