2012-07-29
Explanation
This comic features two aliens discussing plans to travel to Earth. The first alien enthusiastically declares they should go consume the humans, but the second, more rational alien systematically dismantles every proposed reason for the trip. Humans are 25 light years away, so it would take at least 30 generations to get there. The humans evolved separately, so they probably would not be tasty or nutritious, and might even be poisonous. They are not actually low on meat -- that is just media hype -- and even if they were, they could not afford to create a ship with food for 30 generations. When the first alien suggests mating with humans, the rational one points out they do not share a common ancestor, and being able to mate with humans is less likely than 1000 random keys fitting 1000 random locks.
The first alien, having had every aggressive plan shot down, finally proposes they observe the humans "for science," which the rational alien admits might actually be interesting. But when asked how they would conduct the observations, the first alien reveals its true nature: "Find people who'''ve recently had emotional experiences and appear to them while they'''re sleepy or intoxicated, haha hahaha!" The rational alien, disgusted, says "I'''m going back to my room."
The punchline reframes the entire conversation as an origin story for alien abduction reports. The comic suggests that if aliens ever did visit Earth, they would not come for invasion or scientific study, but essentially to prank vulnerable humans. The votey panel has the rational alien concluding "In sum, the History Channel sucks" -- a jab at the History Channel'''s frequent airing of sensationalized alien conspiracy content, implying those shows are based on nothing more than the antics of alien pranksters.