theodicy-3
Original: theodicy-3 on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Man (praying): Dear God, why do bad things happen to good people?
Panel 2:
Voice from a jagged red speech bubble: God is dead! The war is over! I, Satan, rule all!
Panel 3:
Man: So, bad things happen to good people because...
Satan (jagged red bubble): Because Satan's the boss! I'm bad, so your life is bad.
Panel 4:
The man looks up, wide-eyed.
Panel 5:
Satan (jagged red bubble): Are you crying tears of joy?
Man (clasping hands, smiling): My whole life makes sense now.
Panel 6:
Man (overjoyed, hands clasped): Thank you Satan, thank you!
Satan (jagged red bubble): Stop it!
Votey:
Satan (large speech bubble), with a weary, annoyed face: I hate my job.
Man (praying): Dear God, why do bad things happen to good people?
Panel 2:
Voice from a jagged red speech bubble: God is dead! The war is over! I, Satan, rule all!
Panel 3:
Man: So, bad things happen to good people because...
Satan (jagged red bubble): Because Satan's the boss! I'm bad, so your life is bad.
Panel 4:
The man looks up, wide-eyed.
Panel 5:
Satan (jagged red bubble): Are you crying tears of joy?
Man (clasping hands, smiling): My whole life makes sense now.
Panel 6:
Man (overjoyed, hands clasped): Thank you Satan, thank you!
Satan (jagged red bubble): Stop it!
Votey:
Satan (large speech bubble), with a weary, annoyed face: I hate my job.
Alt text
A six-panel SMBC comic. Panel 1: a man prays, 'Dear God, why do bad things happen to good people?' Panel 2: a jagged red speech bubble (Satan's voice) answers, 'God is dead! The war is over! I, Satan, rule all!' Panel 3: the man continues, 'So, bad things happen to good people because...' and Satan replies, 'Because Satan's the boss! I'm bad, so your life is bad.' Panel 4: the man stares up, wide-eyed. Panel 5: Satan asks, 'Are you crying tears of joy?' and the smiling man, hands clasped, says, 'My whole life makes sense now.' Panel 6: the man, overjoyed, gushes 'Thank you Satan, thank you!' while an exasperated Satan snaps, 'Stop it!' The joke: instead of despairing that Satan now rules everything, the man is relieved to finally have an explanation for his suffering, which irritates Satan. Votey aftercomic: a weary, annoyed Satan with a small speech bubble saying 'I hate my job.'
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.