prime
Explanation
This comic addresses the Fermi Paradox -- the question of why, given the vast number of stars and planets, we have not detected signs of extraterrestrial intelligence.
An alien ship arrives at Earth broadcasting prime numbers (a common trope in science fiction for first contact, since prime numbers are considered a universal sign of intelligence). Humans respond with confusion: "Why do you keep sending out prime numbers?" The aliens explain, "Prime numbers are only useful for establishing that we're intelligent enough to communicate." The humans realize that the aliens have been doing "the galactic equivalent of handing out a hotel room key to everyone we meet the moment we were old enough to do it" -- essentially, broadcasting primes is the cosmic version of indiscriminate sexual solicitation.
The Fermi Paradox is thus "resolved in the worst way possible." When another alien ship arrives decades later, the aliens greet humanity with "Hey, I heard you like primes?" -- confirming that Earth has now gotten a reputation in the galaxy as being "easy."
The comic satirizes the common sci-fi assumption that broadcasting prime numbers is a noble, scientific act of first contact. Instead, Weiner reframes it as desperate and indiscriminate -- the aliens are essentially the cosmic equivalent of someone handing out their phone number to every stranger. The Fermi Paradox answer: advanced civilizations do exist, but they're all just sending the equivalent of unsolicited pickup lines, and the ones who respond are the ones with no standards.