2013-05-12
Explanation
This comic presents "Lex Luthor's" step-by-step plan to kill Superman, rendered as an absurdly overcomplicated scheme. Step 1: Place deuterium capsules inside sponge spheres. Step 2: Send them to Clark Kent's office as "free stress balls." Step 3: Bribe his boss to enforce arbitrary rules -- specifically, banning Clark from wearing his tie (even though it's just a plain gray tie). Step 4: When Superman squeezes the stress balls in frustration, the deuterium capsules undergo nuclear fusion, causing an explosion. Afterward, a colleague congratulates Lex, who then proposes using "physics" to kill Batman too. When asked how, he says: "Kinetic energy. Kinetic energy and a bullet."
The joke operates on two levels. First, it parodies the classic supervillain trope of devising absurdly elaborate plans when simpler solutions exist -- the deuterium stress ball scheme requires multiple improbable steps, including somehow achieving nuclear fusion through hand pressure, which is physically impossible. Second, and more importantly, the real punchline comes when Lex suggests killing Batman with "kinetic energy and a bullet" -- i.e., just shooting him. Unlike Superman, Batman is a regular human with no superpowers, so the most effective plan is simply the most straightforward one. The comic highlights the absurdity of comic book villains who never think to just use a gun on the non-superpowered heroes.