Comic #2177: 2011-04-30
Description
Here’s a detailed, accessible description of the comic along with the transcribed text:
Panel 1: A boy with light brown hair and a green shirt looks up at a man with glasses, a light blue shirt, and a serious expression. The boy’s expression is slightly worried.
Text: Son, I know you need punishment, but social taboos and our litigious society make real punishment impossible.
Panel 2: The boy frowns, and the man thinks while holding a phone.
Text: I could send you to your room, but you'd play video games. I'd take away your games, but you'd grind until I returned them.
Panel 3: The boy looks curious as the man gestures with his hands.
Text: So, I created this time portal generator.
Panel 4: The boy stands next to the man while he activates the generator, which glows. The man speaks confidently.
Text: From the past… I summon… Victorian Dad.
Panel 5: A stern-looking man in a Victorian outfit appears. He has a mustache and a top hat. The boy looks alarmed.
Text: Boy! Were you thinking about masturbation?
Panel 6: The boy looks defensive and shocked, raising his hands.
Text: No!
Panel 7: Victorian Dad scolds the boy with a raised finger.
Text: Not only are you a liar, you also knew what "masturbation" means. A smarting blow to the inner ear ought to fix that.
Panel 8: The boy seems frightened while Victorian Dad spreads his hands wide, looking somewhat ominous.
Text: Please stop.
Panel 9: Later… The scene shifts to a calmer setting with three people sitting at a table. One person has glasses and gives a gentle smile.
Text: Doesn't it bother you that you're suppressing your expressiveness just so you can get some peace and quiet?
Panel 10: The boy looks puzzled, while another person, a woman with brown hair, smiles warmly at him.
Text: That is so adorable.
Overall, the comic portrays a humorous interaction between a boy and an absurd version of parental discipline across time periods, highlighting modern parenting challenges with a tongue-in-cheek approach.