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time-machine

Original: time-machine on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal

Transcript

Panel 1: A time traveler in an orange-and-blue costume stands inside a time machine pod.
Time traveler: TIME MACHINE ACTIVATE!

Panel 2: The time traveler has arrived in a green future landscape, greeted by a man wearing a metallic visor/goggles.
Visored man: WELCOME TO THE FUTURE, TIME TRAVELER! WE LIVE IN A POST-SCARCITY SOCIETY. EVERYONE HAS PLENTY TO EAT, FREE EDUCATION, AND A BEAUTIFUL HOME.

Panel 3: Close-up of the time traveler.
Time traveler: WHY NOT TWO HOMES?

Panel 4: Close-up of the visored future man, looking pained/grimacing as he considers the question, hand to his chin.
(no dialogue)

Panel 5: Caption at top: SIX MINUTES LATER...
The landscape is now red with multiple mushroom clouds rising from nuclear explosions on the horizon. The time traveler watches.
Time traveler: WHOOPS.

Votey: A close-up line-drawing of a man's face with a calm, slightly resigned expression.
Man: Well that's embarrassing

Alt text

A five-panel SMBC comic. Panel 1: a hero-costumed time traveler stands in a time-machine pod shouting "TIME MACHINE ACTIVATE!" Panel 2: he arrives in a lush green future where a man in a metallic visor greets him: "Welcome to the future, time traveler! We live in a post-scarcity society. Everyone has plenty to eat, free education, and a beautiful home." Panel 3: the traveler asks, "Why not two homes?" Panel 4: the visored future man grimaces, hand to chin, troubled by the question. Panel 5, labeled "Six minutes later...": the sky has turned red and three mushroom clouds rise on the horizon; the traveler says "Whoops." The joke: introducing the idea of accumulating more than one home destroys the post-scarcity utopia. Votey: a calm line-drawn face of a man saying "Well that's embarrassing."

Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.