Copernican
Original: Copernican on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1: A green alien walks alongside a red-haired human (shirtless, in boxers) inside a spaceship corridor, stars visible outside.
Alien: Ever since we realized we weren't the center of the universe, we've been waiting for you.
Human: Ha, we went through a similar thing.
Panel 2 (close on the human and alien):
Alien: You realize your planet isn't the center of the solar system.
Alien: Your star isn't the center of the galaxy.
Panel 3:
Alien: Your galaxy isn't the center of the universe.
Alien: Your time isn't the beginning or end.
Panel 4 (the human stands looking unsettled, alien beside him):
Alien: "Consciousness" is an uninteresting recursive algorithm.
Panel 5 (close on the human, a single tear, looking devastated):
Human: ...
Panel 6 (the alien holds up a small red object/orb):
Alien: I mean mind is made of magic ghosts.
Panel 7 (the human throws his arms up in joy):
Human: Hooray!
Votey:
A bald, elongated-headed alien speaks.
Alien: They're so cute, I hate having to airlock them after use.
Alien: Ever since we realized we weren't the center of the universe, we've been waiting for you.
Human: Ha, we went through a similar thing.
Panel 2 (close on the human and alien):
Alien: You realize your planet isn't the center of the solar system.
Alien: Your star isn't the center of the galaxy.
Panel 3:
Alien: Your galaxy isn't the center of the universe.
Alien: Your time isn't the beginning or end.
Panel 4 (the human stands looking unsettled, alien beside him):
Alien: "Consciousness" is an uninteresting recursive algorithm.
Panel 5 (close on the human, a single tear, looking devastated):
Human: ...
Panel 6 (the alien holds up a small red object/orb):
Alien: I mean mind is made of magic ghosts.
Panel 7 (the human throws his arms up in joy):
Human: Hooray!
Votey:
A bald, elongated-headed alien speaks.
Alien: They're so cute, I hate having to airlock them after use.
Alt text
An eight-panel SMBC comic. A green alien escorts a shirtless red-haired human through a spaceship and explains: 'Ever since we realized we weren't the center of the universe, we've been waiting for you.' The human cheerfully replies, 'Ha, we went through a similar thing.' The alien then lists humbling cosmic truths: your planet isn't the center of the solar system, your star isn't the center of the galaxy, your galaxy isn't the center of the universe, your time isn't the beginning or end, and finally, '"Consciousness" is an uninteresting recursive algorithm.' The human is shown in close-up looking crushed, a tear on his cheek, and says only '...'. The alien, holding up a small red orb, relents: 'I mean mind is made of magic ghosts.' The human instantly throws his arms up in delight, shouting 'Hooray!' The joke: he can accept being cosmically insignificant but is only comforted by being told his mind is literally magic. Votey: a separate bald, big-headed alien comments, 'They're so cute, I hate having to airlock them after use,' revealing the visiting humans are disposable.
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.