2013-02-27
Explanation
This comic explores the uncomfortable implications of building a "clone" of your ex. A man confronts his ex-girlfriend Sally, asking if she made a clone of him to date after they broke up. She replies "Not exactly!" -- he's like the man, but more emotionally available, shares her love of antique timepieces, and is "350% more tolerant of body hair." The joke is that she didn't clone him; she built an improved version, essentially listing all the ways he fell short as a partner.
The situation then mirrors itself: Sally discovers that Steve has done the same thing. His replacement for Sally is like her, but compromises more about housework, likes video games, and helps with baking -- all the things he wished the real Sally would do. When the original Sally asks "Was that all you wanted from me?" there's a brief emotional beat where they look at each other lovingly and say "I love you."
But the final panel undercuts any sentimentality: the improved clones are sent "back into the salt mines," revealing that the originals are just going to get back together while their replacement partners are literally enslaved. The comic satirizes how people in relationships often wish they could "fix" their partner's perceived flaws, but when given the chance, they realize the imperfect original is what they actually wanted. The dark twist about the clone labor camps adds a layer of commentary about how disposable these "ideal" partners really are -- they were never valued as people, just as customized products.