2014-04-06
Explanation
The Joke
The comic is drawn in the style of the classic Popeye comic strip. Popeye and Bluto (or Brutus) are in their typical rivalry scenario. Popeye announces he is a 4-star general, and the dialogue involves a military context. Bluto boasts about his rank or accomplishments, and Popeye challenges him.
The conversation escalates with increasingly absurd military claims. At one point, a character claims to be a "four-star talk show host" or something similarly incongruous. The characters argue about ranks and credentials in typical Popeye fashion -- with malapropisms and tough-guy posturing.
In the punchline, one character delivers a final boast or revelation that undercuts the entire argument, and the other responds with characteristic Popeye aggression. The final panel shows Popeye's classic squinting expression as he delivers the closing line, with "I YAM WHAT I YAMBAH" or a similar play on his catchphrase.
The Humor
The comic parodies the Popeye comic strip's art style and speech patterns while injecting modern absurdist humor. Popeye comics were known for their surreal humor and bizarre plots, and Weinersmith channels that energy while adding his own brand of escalating absurdity. The humor comes from the contrast between the old-fashioned Popeye presentation and the modern comedic sensibility, as well as the characters' increasingly ridiculous claims that spiral out of control.
References
- Popeye: The classic comic strip character created by E.C. Segar in 1929, known for his spinach-fueled super strength, his rivalry with Bluto, and his distinctive speech pattern.
- Bluto/Brutus: Popeye's nemesis, a large, bearded bully who competes with Popeye for the affections of Olive Oyl.