2013-08-11
Explanation
This comic and the following day'''s comic (2013-08-10) form a pair with a shared theme about Hitler and counterfactual history. In this single-panel comic, three friends are sitting at what appears to be a pub, playing a game. One says "Franz Ferdinand'''s driver checked his map" (referring to the famous wrong turn that led to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered World War I and the chain of events leading to Hitler'''s rise). Another suggests "Increased popularity of architectural painting, circa 1919" (referring to Hitler'''s failed art career -- if he had been accepted as a painter, he might never have turned to politics). The third friend offers a cruder suggestion about Hitler'''s father.
Below the comic panel, text explains the rules of the game: "My Favorite Pub Game: Nay-Dolf. Gameplay: Person who can think of the smallest change that would'''ve prevented the rise of Hitler gets a free drink." The name "Nay-Dolf" is a play on "Adolf," with "Nay" meaning no, as in "no Adolf." The game is a humorous take on the popular counterfactual history thought experiment of how to prevent Hitler, which is a staple of time travel fiction and bar-room philosophy alike.
The votey panel is a meta-joke showing the cartoonist (Zach Weinersmith) sitting at his computer the previous week, thinking "Hmm. My comic doesn'''t have enough Hitler jokes." This is a self-aware acknowledgment that Hitler jokes are a well-worn comedic territory, and the cartoonist is poking fun at his own decision to go there.