Inadquate
Explanation
This comic explores the common feeling of inadequacy that comes from comparing oneself to history's geniuses, then undercuts it with a sharp observation about how unfair such comparisons are.
In the first panel, a man tells his mother: "Mom, I'm feeling inadequate. By my age, Einstein had overturned physics at least three separate times." His mother responds gently: "Sweetie, be fair to yourself."
She then makes a crucial point: "Einstein did that stuff while being a genius. Your achievements should be compared to what a non-genius would have done." In other words, comparing yourself to Einstein isn't fair because Einstein was operating on a completely different level of intellectual ability.
But then the comic takes a darker turn. She continues: "That's easy mode. Like, remember when you made a B in cutting out shapes? You did that without being intelligent or creative." The "comforting" comparison has become a backhanded insult -- she's not just saying "don't compare yourself to Einstein," she's saying "you're not even close to a genius, so celebrate your mediocre accomplishments accordingly."
The final panel has the man responding: "Wow, and with so many different levels of pain." His mother has managed to simultaneously console him and devastate him -- first by telling him not to compare himself to Einstein (comforting), then by making clear she considers him decidedly not a genius (crushing). The comic captures the particular kind of emotional whiplash that comes from a parent who means well but whose honesty does more damage than the original insecurity.