2011-10-20
Explanation
This comic reimagines Superman'''s approach to crime-fighting. In the first panels, an old woman is being mugged at knifepoint and cries "Help! Help!" A Superman-like hero arrives, but the mugger notices: "Oh no, it'''s... wait... you'''re not Superman." In the next panel, the hero violently and graphically dispatches the mugger (shown with dramatic red streaks), then flies away carrying the mugger'''s body while the old woman watches.
The comic then presents two graphs. The first shows "Crime Rate While Clark Kent Was '''Superman'''" -- a flat, steady line over time, indicating that Superman'''s restrained approach to justice (catching criminals and turning them over to police) did nothing to actually reduce crime. The second graph shows "Crime Rate After Clark Kent Became '''Disproportionate Response Man'''" -- a dramatically declining line with occasional spikes, suggesting that extreme, violent retribution is far more effective as a crime deterrent.
The joke is a dark satire on the logic of deterrence theory and the superhero genre'''s conventions. Traditional superheroes like Superman use proportionate force and work within the justice system, but the comic suggests (tongue firmly in cheek) that this accomplishes nothing, whereas terrifyingly disproportionate violence actually reduces crime. It'''s a commentary on the tension between justice and effectiveness that runs through many superhero stories. The votey panel shows the hero tearfully shouting "Jaywalkers!" -- implying that "Disproportionate Response Man" applies his extreme methods to even the most minor infractions, taking the concept to its absurd logical conclusion.