this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2024
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There is a punching in this comic.
There really isn't. The "punchline" here is predicated on the idea that the reader will assume the character will react with transphobia, as if transphobia is the default reaction, but if you don't assume that reaction either because that's not your worldview or you're familiar enough with the creator to understand the context of their work, then there is nothing left to serve as a punchline. I won't say "virtue signaling" because that's a stupid phrase and frankly there is legitimately some value to the signaling of virtue in the first place anyway (especially when said signal is one of welcoming to a disenfranchised community like our trans brothers and sisters), but the only "joke" here is pandering. It's "hey you expected me to be awful but I'm actually incredible!!," and that's not a punchline.
edit: typos
It is really a punchline. Also it isn't predicated on the reader's reaction being transphobia. The reader could simply be aware that transphobia exists and is a common reaction to the familiar situation she depicted. You don't need to self insert as literally one of the characters in the comics you read. She isn't saying that you are transphobe or that she is incredible. She is making a comment about how parents and society's reaction to a trope situation is changing.
I didn't say the reader, I said the character. She isn't making any "comment" about anything here; acknowledging a situation exists is not inherently making commentary on it nor injecting humor into it. This is at best pandering, at worst pandering with an appetizer of rage-baiting.
Do I hate this? No. Is it evil? No. Do I hate pizzacake? No. Do I even object to this awful non-punchline comic being posted here? No. The only thing I object to is the bullshit special treatment and kid gloves certain creators on the other site received for no worthwhile reasons, and am preemptively sounding the alarm that we should be wary that such behavior does not seep over here too.
Point being, if you enjoy this comic, punchline or not, that is okay. I'm not really interested in further spending time arguing the merits or non-merits of the work of somebody I'm not interested in with you, so if you still wish to argue that there is some deep commentary or punchline to be found here, I hope we simply land on agreeing to disagree on the topic.
That doesn't ring true. It is clearly a punch line, easily identified by both of us. You just don't like it. You find it weak and bland like you do most of her work.
I find it doesn't meet my standards for a punchline, if that's what you're trying to say, yes.
It doesn't meet your standard for a funny punchline. It is clearly a punchline though. It's a weird mischaracterization to say that this comic is without a punchline.
My friend, I do not agree with you.
Or with the definition of a punchline.