2009-11-14

A four-panel-style SMBC comic. Main panel: a gray-haired shopkeeper in glasses and an apron stands behind a store counter holding up a blister-packaged toy toward a red-haired woman and a small red-haired child. He says, "No, no, it's a placebo pill. It's totally cool!" The caption below reads: "There was one part of the 'super-realistic spy gear' toy set that was a bit too macabre." The joke is that the spy-gear toy set includes a fake suicide pill marketed as harmless. Votey (aftercomic): a close-up of another blister-pack toy from the set. A banner reads "Also, check out!" The package is labeled "Knife!" and contains a small knife, with text reading "Just like a real assassin!" — leaning further into the darkly macabre premise of an assassin-themed children's toy line.