Editing 2425: mRNA Vaccine
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| number = 2425 | | number = 2425 | ||
| date = February 15, 2021 | | date = February 15, 2021 | ||
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| title = mRNA Vaccine | | title = mRNA Vaccine | ||
| image = mrna_vaccine.png | | image = mrna_vaccine.png | ||
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Created by a THERMAL EXHAUST PORT. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | This | + | This is another analogy to how {{w|mRNA vaccines}} tend to work; essentially creating an inactive analog of the virus to give the immune system knowledge of it so it's prepared to stave off the real thing. The resulting comic is related to Cueball's question to the person vaccinating him: "Why would my body attack something it made itself?" |
− | The | + | The 2nd panel is a reference to ''{{w|Star Wars (film)|Star Wars}}'' (Episode IV). The Rebel Alliance has retrieved the {{w|Death Star}} plans. The Death Star is a space station the size of a small moon, which has the power to destroy planets. However, in this panel, the "Death Star plans" are used to build a Death Star, in contrast to the film, where the plans are used to find a weakness in the enemy Death Star and destroy it. The ensuing panels mention that people are sent to build the Death Star, according to the plans that Princess Leia provided. |
− | After | + | After the Death Star has been built, it is positioned near a planet/moon, referencing the end of ''Star Wars'', when the Death Star is orbiting {{w|Yavin IV}}. Like in the film, the Rebels mobilize to destroy the Death Star because it looks like an enemy battle station, however, the Death Star operators are confused, because Leia (a member of the Rebels) had ordered the construction of the space station. The Rebels initially attack the surface of the space station before finding a "thermal exhaust port". The mentions of "proton torpedoes" and a "thermal exhaust port" reference the weapons and target used to destroy the Death Star. Cueball notices these things as "side effects" from the vaccine and he lies down and rests. After the Death Star is destroyed, he is feeling better. |
− | + | Later on, Cueball (who has been vaccinated) approaches White Hat, who is coughing. His body once again destroys another Death Star, this time led by the enemy, {{w|Darth Vader}}, who gives a quote from ''Star Wars''. They already know the weakness, the "thermal exhaust port", and quickly destroy the space station. This shows that his body is able to destroy "foreign" invaders (Death Stars), after learning their weakness and destroying the invaders that his body created itself. | |
− | + | The title text mentions that the two COVID-19 vaccines as of the date of publication (the {{w|Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|Pfizer-BioNTech one}} and the {{w|Moderna COVID-19 vaccine|Moderna one}}) require [[2422: Vaccine Ordering|2 doses of vaccine]], thus destroying 2 Death Stars. | |
− | + | Vaccination was also explained, xkcd-style, in [[2406: Viral Vector Immunity]]. References to the ''[[:Category:Star Wars|Star Wars]]'' franchise are a recurring theme on xkcd. | |
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− | Vaccination was also explained, xkcd-style, in [[2406: Viral Vector Immunity]]. | ||
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− | References to the '' | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Cueball seated in a doctor's office getting | + | :[Cueball seated in a doctor's office getting (what seems to be) the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Both he and the doctor are wearing masks; the doctor is also wearing a scrub cap.] |
:Doctor: The vaccine contains mRNA instructions for making the virus spike protein. | :Doctor: The vaccine contains mRNA instructions for making the virus spike protein. | ||
:Cueball: Weird, so the vaccine is just blueprints? | :Cueball: Weird, so the vaccine is just blueprints? | ||
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:Doctor: Well... | :Doctor: Well... | ||
− | :[Princess Leia and | + | :[Princess Leia and Hairy in frame.] |
:Leia: Here are the Death Star plans. | :Leia: Here are the Death Star plans. | ||
− | : | + | :Hairy: Thank you, Princess. |
− | :[ | + | :[Hairy, Ponytail, and White Hat in frame.] |
− | : | + | :Hairy: These blueprints are from Princess Leia. |
:Ponytail: Ugh, she's always giving us projects. | :Ponytail: Ugh, she's always giving us projects. | ||
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:Voice from Death Star: Hi, Commander? Construction crew B here. | :Voice from Death Star: Hi, Commander? Construction crew B here. | ||
− | :[A view from inside the Death Star, with | + | :[A view from inside the Death Star, with the Earth visible through two adjacent windows. Cueball is standing at some kind of control/communications panel.] |
:Cueball: We finished building the Princess's big metal orb thing. | :Cueball: We finished building the Princess's big metal orb thing. | ||
− | :[A view from outside the Death Star again, with the curve of the | + | :[A view from outside the Death Star again, with the curve of the Earth in the foreground.] |
:Voice from Death Star: Do you know if she wants us to park it somewhere, or— | :Voice from Death Star: Do you know if she wants us to park it somewhere, or— | ||
− | :Voices from | + | :Voices from Earth: '''''AAAAAA!!!''''' |
− | :[A view from the | + | :[A view from the Earth's surface with the Death Star in the sky. 3 Cueballs, Princess Leia, and Ponytail are on the Earth's surface.] |
:Voice from Death Star: ...Is everything ok? | :Voice from Death Star: ...Is everything ok? | ||
:Cueball 1: '''''AAAAAAA!''''' | :Cueball 1: '''''AAAAAAA!''''' | ||
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:Offscreen voice: ''Red Alert Red Alert'' | :Offscreen voice: ''Red Alert Red Alert'' | ||
− | :[Another view from the | + | :[Another view from the Earth's surface. There is some type of military encampment surrounded by an open field, with trees and mountains in the background. People are running around on the field, which also contains several currently grounded craft and several flying craft streaming toward the Death Star.] |
:Death Star voice: Hello? | :Death Star voice: Hello? | ||
:Generic field voices: ''Get the fighters in the air!'' | :Generic field voices: ''Get the fighters in the air!'' | ||
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:''Keep firing!'' | :''Keep firing!'' | ||
− | :[A view from inside the Death Star again with Cueball at the control panel and the | + | :[A view from inside the Death Star again with Cueball at the control panel and the Earth in the background windows; various projectiles and explosions can be seen through the window.] |
:Cueball: Can everybody please just chill? We don't even have the laser thing wired up. We— | :Cueball: Can everybody please just chill? We don't even have the laser thing wired up. We— | ||
:'''''BOOM''''' | :'''''BOOM''''' | ||
:''Hey!!'' I ''said'', we... | :''Hey!!'' I ''said'', we... | ||
− | :[Ponytail | + | :[Ponytail and Princess Leia in frame.] |
:Ponytail: We can't get through! We're running out of proton torpedoes! | :Ponytail: We can't get through! We're running out of proton torpedoes! | ||
:Leia: Send every crew to build more torpedoes! | :Leia: Send every crew to build more torpedoes! | ||
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:Leia: ''Build more ships!!'' | :Leia: ''Build more ships!!'' | ||
− | :[ | + | :[Princess Leia now has her fists raised.] |
:Ponytail: That thing is just sitting there. Are you sure we— | :Ponytail: That thing is just sitting there. Are you sure we— | ||
:Leia: ''Keep building ships! Build ships forever! '''Destroy the orb!''''' | :Leia: ''Keep building ships! Build ships forever! '''Destroy the orb!''''' | ||
− | :[A view of the Death Star in space and the curvature of the | + | :[A view of the Death Star in space and the curvature of the Earth off to the side. An enormous torrent of (barely visible) ships is seen streaming from the Earth's surface to the Death Star. The damage to the Death Star is slightly worse.] |
:Generic ship voices: '''''aaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaa''''' | :Generic ship voices: '''''aaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaa''''' | ||
:Death Star voice: What is ''wrong'' with you people? | :Death Star voice: What is ''wrong'' with you people? | ||
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:Cueball: Definitely feeling a little sore. | :Cueball: Definitely feeling a little sore. | ||
:Megan: Yeah, they said you might have some side effects. | :Megan: Yeah, they said you might have some side effects. | ||
− | + | :You lie down—I'll get you some hot tea and a blanket. | |
:[An outside view of the damaged Death Star with ships swarming it.] | :[An outside view of the damaged Death Star with ships swarming it.] | ||
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:[Beat panel.] | :[Beat panel.] | ||
− | :[The Death | + | :[The Death star explodes.] |
− | :[A disheveled | + | :[A disheveled Hairy, Princess Leia, and Ponytail in frame.] |
:[The same frame.] | :[The same frame.] | ||
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:Panel heading: A few months later... | :Panel heading: A few months later... | ||
− | :[Cueball and White Hat walking past each other. Cueball is wearing a | + | :[Cueball and White Hat walking past each other. Cueball is wearing a mask; White Hat isn't but coughs into his elbow.] |
:White Hat: ''Cough cough'' | :White Hat: ''Cough cough'' | ||
− | :[The real Death Star drifts toward the | + | :[The real Death Star drifts toward the Earth.] |
:Death Star voice: We have reached the rebel system, Lord Vader. | :Death Star voice: We have reached the rebel system, Lord Vader. | ||
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:Cueball: ''Aaa'' | :Cueball: ''Aaa'' | ||
− | :[An equally large torrent of ships stream from the | + | :[An equally large torrent of ships stream from the Earth to the real Death Star.] |
:Death Star voice: What. | :Death Star voice: What. | ||
:Various ships: '''''aA AAAAAAA aaa aAAAAAAA aaa''''' | :Various ships: '''''aA AAAAAAA aaa aAAAAAAA aaa''''' | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring face masks]] | [[Category:Comics featuring face masks]] | ||
− | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball | + | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball |
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]] | [[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]] | ||
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] | [[Category:Multiple Cueballs]] | ||
+ | [[Category:COVID-19]] | ||
[[Category:Star Wars]] | [[Category:Star Wars]] | ||
[[Category:Biology]] | [[Category:Biology]] |