viking

A six-panel SMBC comic contrasting the innocent way kids play pretend with the dark reality of the things they're imitating. In each panel, a child describes a cool costume or theme while an adult asks a blunt question exposing the real-world horror behind it. Panel 1, "KIDS BEING VIKINGS": a kid says "We have helmets and wear fur and we sail the sea!" The adult asks, "Do you set fire to villages and enslave the populace?" The kid replies, "What are you even talking about?" Panel 2, "KIDS BEING PIRATES": a kid says "We have eyepatches and parrots and hooks!" The adult asks, "Do you kill people and steal their possessions?" The kid says, "God parents are weird." Panel 3, "KIDS BEING NINJAS": a kid says "We have swords and we dress in pyjamas!" The adult asks, "So who are you assassinating?" One of three black-clad ninja kids protests, "A ninja would never do that! Never!" Panel 4, "THE FUTURE": a hat-wearing kid holding a bottle declares, "I'm a druglord! I have a trenchcoat full of bottles, like Druggo in the movie, Doggy Druglords!" Panel 5: the adult asks, "Is that as good as Panda War Criminals II?" and a small child answers, "They're both good!" The joke flips: in a dystopian future, kids cheerfully play pretend as druglords and war criminals from violent media, the way today's kids play vikings and pirates. Votey (aftercomic): the smiling kid spreads his arms and adds, "But my favorite is Dino-Terrorism 3!"