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contemplation-girl

2015-07-05 View on smbc-comics.com → 1 revision
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contemplation-girl
Votey panel for contemplation-girl
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Explanation

The Joke

A man is lying in a puddle of water while an octopus makes love to his face. He calls out: "Help me, Contemplation Girl!" A superhero named Contemplation Girl flies in. Instead of rescuing him, she says: "I think you should reflect on the life choices that led to you lying in a puddle of water while an octopus makes sweet love to your face." The man responds: "I think I'm gonna go to med school." Contemplation Girl then flies away screaming "AWAYYYYYYY!" in true superhero fashion.

The Humor

The comic parodies the superhero genre by creating a hero whose power is utterly useless in an emergency: instead of physically saving people, Contemplation Girl forces them to reflect on their life choices. The absurdity is twofold -- first, the victim's predicament is so bizarre and specific (octopus romance in a puddle) that contemplating the life choices that led there is genuinely bewildering. Second, the hero's intervention actually works in a roundabout way: the man decides to go to med school, suggesting that being forced to contemplate your life during a crisis might actually be effective motivation. Contemplation Girl's dramatic superhero exit (flying away yelling "AWAYYYYYYY") is the final comedic touch, applying grandiose superhero theatrics to what amounts to giving someone unsolicited life advice.

View History (1) Original Comic