2012-11-02
Explanation
This comic depicts a scene from ancient history where a group of proud barbarian warriors are confronting a Roman-style empire. Their leader gives a rousing Braveheart-style speech: "You promise us citizenship in your empire?! HA! We are a proud race! You may take our lands, our treasure, even our LIVES! But you will NOT take our FREEDOM!" The warriors are defiant and armed, willing to die rather than submit.
In the next panel, the imperial soldiers calmly respond: "We have your browser histories and will send them to your mothers." The final panel shows the barbarians now wearing togas, completely assimilated into the empire, with one casually remarking, "You know, these togas are actually really comfy." The joke is that no amount of military threat could break their will, but the threat of having their embarrassing internet browsing history exposed to their mothers was instantly sufficient to make them surrender unconditionally.
This is a modern anachronism gag that transplants contemporary anxieties about internet privacy into an ancient setting. The humor comes from the absurd contrast between the epic, life-and-death stakes of ancient warfare and the petty but devastating social embarrassment of having your browser history revealed. The votey panel adds a historical reference: someone asks "Was it worth it, Vercingetorix?" (the real Gallic chieftain who surrendered to Julius Caesar), and he replies "We'll make sure history forgets" -- ironically, since Vercingetorix is indeed mostly forgotten by the general public.