explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1012: Wrong Superhero

2026-04-29T06:18:51Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 1012
| date = February 3, 2012
| title = Wrong Superhero
| image = wrong_superhero.png
| titletext = Hi! Someone call for me? I'm a superhero who specializes in the study of God's creation of Man in the Book of Genesi-- HOLY SHIT A GIANT BUG!
}}
==Explanation==
This is following the comic [[1010: Etymology-Man]]. The superhero Etymology-Man returns and, just like in his first appearance, explains the origination of words instead of actually helping. {{w|Etymology}} is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.

In this comic, a group of scientists is in a lab, fighting off a giant mantis and some smaller mantises (which are nonetheless much larger than a typical praying mantis. Compared to the size of the people in this comic, the smaller mantises appear to be 8-12 inches long). One [[Cueball]] is firing a gun and [[Ponytail]] is brandishing a baseball bat, while the giant mantis grabs one Cueball by the leg, dangling him upside down. Behind the table, another Cueball is listening to Etymology Man speak. The joke here is that the scientists called the wrong hero for help. They instead wanted Entomology-Man. {{w|Entomology}} is the study of insects. Instead of calling Entomology-Man, who could probably help with fighting off the mantises, they have accidentally called Etymology-Man, due to the similarities in their names. Etymology-Man can only explain the origin of words, making him useless in this current situation. He also has flight powers that could be used to evacuate the scientists, but as seen in [[1010: Etymology-Man]], etymology takes full priority for him.

In the title text, we find out the scientists accidentally call another superhero focused on the creation of {{w|Adam}} in the Biblical book of Genesis. This might be {{w|Etiology}}-Man (the study of causation and attribution), {{w|Ontology}}-Man (the study of being and existence), {{w|Ethnology}}-Man (the study of human character, with a focus on its formation and evolution). Or perhaps {{w|Anthropology}}-Man or {{w|Anthropogeny}}-Man. "Adam-ology-Man" would be a more direct pun to the first man, himself, but has less of a basis in an actual "-ology" and leaves the creation part of the 'hint' as superfluous. It is also possible that they asked for another hero fighting the mantis, but who came was "man-theology-man" (not manteology-man).

The title text could also be referring to "Ethnogenesology", the study of {{w|Ethnogenesis}}, since "ethnogenesis" has an "n" as required by Etymology-man. However, this Ethnogenesologist is a bit confused because Ethnogenesis does not specifically refer to the biblical book of genesis, but the beginning or "genesis" of any group of people. Perhaps Randall imbued "Ethnogenesology"-man with this misconception to hint that his title had the word "genesis" in it. (after all, Ethnogenesology-man is no etymologist, and surely Etymology-man would be happy to correct him.) Assuming Randall even knew about this word, he might of also known about it's rarity and lack of wikipedia page, as there is only [https://www.rastko.rs/arheologija/vsedov-slavs.html a single google result that uses the word "Ethnogenesology" before 2012, back when this comic was posted.].

==Transcript==
:[A giant praying mantis attacks a team of scientists, along with its legion of smaller-but-still-unusually-large mantises. Two of the scientists fight back, with a gun and a baseball bat respectively, while a third is in the mantis' clutches, held aloft by his foot, his goggles falling off his face. Bullets whiz by the giant mantis' head and a fourth scientist hides behind a desk, on which rests a microscope and an Erlenmeyer flask. A man in a cape approaches the hiding scientist.]
:Etymology-man: Ah, no—you wanted '''''ENTO'''''mology-Man, spelled with an "N". See, it's from the Greek ''entomon'', meaning "insect," which is itself the neuter form of ''entomos'', meaning "segmented" or...
:'''BLAM BLAM BLAM'''

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Etymology-Man]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

Category:Etymology-Man

2026-04-29T06:17:27Z

216.145.71.136:

This series is a take on the traditional appearance of a superhero when a disaster strikes. In this case, Etymology-Man arrives, who apparently has the power of {{w|Etymology}}, the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time. As Etymology-Man is explaining the history of the words "{{w|tsunami}}" and "tidal wave", referencing the {{w|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami}}, the {{w|2011 Tōhoku tsunami}} and the {{w|1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami}}, the water starts rising around them. As the waters continue to rise, he continues to only explain the words, rather than attempting to save them as a superhero should. This, intentionally or unintentionally, is a dig at academics who prefer to talk about issues when taking action is more appropriate. In the second comic, the superhero Etymology-Man returns and, just like in his first appearance, explains the origination of words instead of actually helping.
<noinclude>[[Category:Miniseries]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

1010: Etymology-Man

2026-04-29T06:16:23Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 1010
| date = January 30, 2012
| title = Etymology-Man
| image = etymology_man.png
| titletext = I can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish Aquaman were here instead--HE'D be able to help.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic was followed two comics later by [[1012: Wrong Superhero]]. This comic is a take on the traditional appearance of a superhero when a disaster strikes. In this case, Etymology-Man arrives, who apparently has the power of {{w|Etymology}}, the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time. As Etymology-Man is explaining the history of the words "{{w|tsunami}}" and "tidal wave", referencing the {{w|2004 Indian Ocean tsunami}}, the {{w|2011 Tōhoku tsunami}} and the {{w|1755 Lisbon earthquake}} and tsunami, the water starts rising around them. As the waters continue to rise, he continues to only explain the words, rather than attempting to save them as a superhero should. This, intentionally or unintentionally, is a dig at academics who prefer to talk about issues when taking action is more appropriate.

Etymology-Man's explanation in the comic focuses on the historical and linguistic reasons for the use of the term "tidal wave" instead of "tsunami." While "tidal wave" is often corrected as a misnomer, Etymology-Man argues that its historical usage may not have been entirely misguided. He points out that early accounts of large waves, such as those from the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami, described their behavior as resembling a rapid and turbulent tide rather than a breaking wave. This distinction aligns with modern understandings of tsunamis as inrushing surges of water rather than surf-like waves. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake and tsunami devastated much of Lisbon and other coastal regions, with eyewitness accounts describing the ocean withdrawing and then rushing back violently, which could have influenced the term "tidal wave" to describe this tidal-like phenomenon. Etymology-Man suggests that instead of being rooted in scientific confusion, "tidal wave" might have been a descriptive term reflecting the wave's observable form. Furthermore, he notes that before the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami, clear photographic or video evidence of tsunamis was rare. This lack of visual records likely contributed to misconceptions about their appearance, with some imagining tsunamis as tall, surfable waves. The widespread coverage of these modern events clarified that tsunamis are more like fast-moving, chaotic floods, further validating historical descriptions that likened them to tides. Etymology-Man's argument underlines the importance of understanding linguistic evolution and context, suggesting that the rush to replace "tidal wave" with "tsunami" might have overlooked the historical accuracy of the former term in certain respects. While he acknowledges that "tsunami" is now the accepted term, his lecture encourages a nuanced view of language history, even in the face of imminent danger.

Also, the title text is a play on how useless {{w|Aquaman}} is (perceived to be) compared to other superheroes, as his powers — breathing underwater, speed swimming, and communicating with sea life — are very difficult for writers to make relevant, since most stories do not take place underwater.{{Citation needed}} Indeed, in the case of a flood, Aquaman and his aquatic allies would be able to assist with evacuations. (Some depictions of Aquaman do not have control of water itself. Though when equipped with his mystical trident, or magical prosthetic "water hand", could probably also perform useful hydrokinesis to avert significant damage.)

The irony of the situation comes from the fact that Etymology-Man seemingly has the power of flight and could in fact save Cueball and Ponytail if he was not so busy talking about the origin of the word "tidal wave".

Inexplicable is the fact that Cueball and Ponytail both know exactly who this "superhero" is, and ergo presumably realize that what he is telling them is useless, but they don't even attempt to get to safety. There are few possible explanations for this: perhaps they are simply accepting their fate instead of trying to escape, or even that learning cool word facts takes precedence over saving their own lives, or they have been distracted by Etymology-Man's lecture and were caught by surprise by the fast tidal wave.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Ponytail are facing each other, with wavy lines around them to indicate they are experiencing the shaking of an earthquake.]
:Cueball: Earthquake!
:Ponytail: We should get to a higher ground - There could be a tidal wave.

:[A frame-less panel with Cueball and Ponytail, with Cueball taking a pedantic pose and raising a finger.]
:Cueball: You mean a tsunami. "Tidal wave" means a wave caused by tides.

:[A crash is heard, followed by Etymology-Man flying in while wearing a cape.]
:Etymology-man: You know, that doesn't add up.
:Cueball and Ponytail: Etymology-man!

:[Etymology-man takes a pedantic pose.]
:Etymology-man: What ''does'' "tidal wave" mean? There are waves caused by tides, but they're "tidal bores", and they're not cataclysmic.
:It can refer to the daily tide cycle, but that's obviously not what people mean when they say "a tidal wave hit".
:It's been obvious for centuries that these waves come from quakes. So why "tidal"?

:[Panel zooms in on Etymology-man.]
:Etymology-man: Remember that until 2004, there weren't any clear photos or videos of tsunamis. Some modern writers even described them rearing up and breaking like surfing waves [sic]
:Of course, in 2004 and 2011, it was made clear to everyone that a tsunami is more like a rapid, turbulent, inrushing tide - exactly what historical accounts describe.

:[Water begins to rush in. Etymology-man has dropped his arms by his side.]
:Etymology-man: Maybe those writing about Lisbon in 1755 used "tidal wave" not out of scientific confusion, but because it described the wave's form — a description lost in our rush to expunge "tidal wave" from English.

:[The water is now waist-deep. Etymology-man resumes his pedantic pose and continues to drone on, but the others start to panic.]
:Etymology-man: "Tsunami" is now the standard, and I'm not trying to change that. But let's be a tad less giddy about correcting "tidal wave" - especially when "tsunami" just means "harbor wave", which is hardly...

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Earthquakes]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Pedantic]]
[[Category:Etymology-Man]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

1004: Batman

2026-04-29T06:11:28Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 1004
| date = January 16, 2012
| title = Batman
| image = batman.png
| titletext = I'm really worried Christopher Nolan will kill a man dressed like a bat in his next movie. (The man will be dressed like a bat, I mean. Christopher Nolan won't be, probably.)
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is a reference to the comic book and movie character {{w|Batman}}, who is actually wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne, as we see on the left being referenced as "Master Wayne" by his butler Alfred. Batman, in contrast to {{w|Superman}} and other comic book heroes, has no superpowers. The name "Batman" suggests that he is a man who is part-bat, or has bat-like powers, but his only actual connection to bats is that he wears a bat-themed costume -- hence the description, "a man dressed like a bat." Thus, when Batman's connection to bats is made explicit, he loses a lot of his mystique. In addition, using a generic description can lead to the implication that the speaker could be referring to ''any'' man dressed like a bat, not just one specific one.

The stick figure representations of Batman and his nemesis, the Joker, are shown from three different movie scenes of the Dark Knight Trilogy, the most recent ''Batman'' films at the time of this comic. The middle scene comes from ''{{w|Batman Begins}}'', whilst the two flanking scenes are from its sequel ''{{w|The Dark Knight}}''. In each scene the name "Batman" is substituted with the accurate but embarrassing description "a man dressed like a bat." In this way, [[Randall]] is pointing out that Batman commands a lot of respect and fear considering that all he is is a man in a costume.

Then in the title text, Randall expresses his fear that Christopher Nolan (the director/producer/writer of the latest Batman trilogy) was going to kill Batman off in the then-upcoming movie ''{{w|Dark Knight Rises}}''. Of course, Randall substitutes for "Batman" as in the comic. This causes a grammatical ambiguity which Randall points out where the "dressed like a bat" could apply to the "man" or to Nolan. A similar ambiguity explicitly discussed in the title text of [[1087: Cirith Ungol]].

There have been several [[:Category:Substitutions|comics using substitutions]], but this may have been the first.

==Transcript==
:[One panel, depicting three wavy circles. The one in the center is slightly larger, and the ones on either side are higher up. Their edges are touching.]

:[The left circle has Bruce Wayne in the foreground, with Alfred in the background.]
:Alfred: Know your limits, Master Wayne.
:Bruce: A man dressed like a bat ''has'' no limits.

:[The center circle has a close-up on Batman in his cowl.]
:Off-screen: ''What the hell are you?''
:Batman: I'm a man dressed like a bat.

:[In the right circle is The Joker.]
:Off-screen: ''What do you propose?''
:Joker: It"s simple — we kill a man dressed like a bat.

:[Caption below the panel:]
:My Hobby: Whenever anyone says "Batman," I mentally replace it with "a man dressed like a bat."

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:My Hobby]]
[[Category:Substitutions]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

980: Money

2026-04-29T06:06:34Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 980
| date = November 21, 2011
| title = Money
| image = money.png
| titletext = There, I showed you it.
}}
{{TOC}}Clicking on the image on [https://xkcd.com xkcd.com] takes you to an [https://xkcd.com/980/huge/ interactive] and much larger image. On the interactive image there are two links: one takes you to the [https://xkcd.com/980/sources/ sources and downloads] page where a list of sources and the [https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/money_huge.png full image] can be downloaded.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|The US foreign aid section has a typo---it lists economic/humanitarian aid as equaling military aid when in fact (as of publication) it was much greater. Plus, the boxes have sizes not reflecting the numbers shown, further suggesting that this is a typo [[Special:Contributions/35.151.32.161|35.151.32.161]] 03:57, 6 December 2025 (UTC)

this should be added somewhere}}
{{Quote| I had a huge amount of fun putting the money chart together. It was the first time in a long time that my life’s been stable enough that I’ve been able to really disappear into a project—I’d almost forgotten how enjoyable it can be.|[[Randall Munroe]]|[https://blog.xkcd.com/2011/11/24/money-chart/ Source]}}

This is a [[:Category:Charts|chart]] comic - a type of comic that [[Randall]] does from time to time. He has for instance done [[256: Online Communities|maps of the Internet]] ([[802: Online Communities 2|twice]]!) and other huge visualizations like this chart [[Radiation]] with a similar structure as this chart but with Radiation as the subject. The Radiation chart is most likely the inspiration for this much more comprehensive Money chart.

In this money chart there are five boxes with items on different scales of monetary value denoting prices and values of many things, big and small (with the values contemporary to the comic's release in 2011; most are now more expensive due to inflation). Each scale of dollar increments are different colors. One dollar increments are green - naturally, because American paper money is green. Thousands are orange/red. Millions are gray. Billions are yellow. Trillions are blue. This comic uses {{w|Long and short scales|the short scale}} for naming large numbers (so a billion = 1000 millions = 109 rather than a million millions = 1012 as in continental Europe).

Included in one frame is a small man with a red and white striped shirt, blue pants, a cane and a knit cap. He is known as Wally or Waldo (in the US) from the {{w|Where's Wally?|''Where's Waldo?'' books}}. To not give anything away for those who wish to search for him themselves there will be no spoiler here. But if someone needs a little help... Then by clicking this [[980: Money/Transcript#Billions|link]] you will be directed to the relevant section amongst the five sections where Waldo can be found. (The link will take you to that section of the full transcript page). If you still cannot find him (or give up in advance) then just search the transcript page for Wally or Waldo. There is a [[Header text#Money|unique header text]] for this comic.

The title text is a reference to the phrase "Show me the money!" which originates from the film ''{{w|Jerry Maguire}}''.

===Extra Money pages===
Since this comic is so big and complicated, extra pages have been created to include much more information than is wished for on this main page. These pages are listed here for convenience, but they are also listed in the relevant sections below:
* '''[[980: Money/Transcript]]''' - The full transcript of the entire comic can be found here. It is linked from the [[#Transcript|Transcript]] section.
* '''[[980: Money/Prices in tables]]''' The complete list of every item in the comic.

===Tables with explanations===
====Dollars====
{| class="wikitable"
|Top-left
|The price of various common bills and commodities. The One Dollar Menu is a type of menu at various fast food restaurants. The one dollar bill and ten dollar bill are likely used for reference points. A Starbucks coffee actually ranges in price from $1.95 to $2.15 depending on the location.
|-
|Middle-left
|Pet Ownership. The {{w|ASPCA}} is the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The most expensive animal on this list may seem surprising; rabbits cost an average of 35 dollars more than dogs and 70 dollars more than cats.
|-
|Bottom-right
|Four boxes indicate that the CEO pay has skyrocketed from $490.31 (hourly) to $5,419.97 (hourly) in the same time period in which the average worker's salary has grown 10 cents.
|}

====Thousands====
{| class="wikitable"
|Top-right
|Hogwarts degree: a reference to {{w|Hogwarts|Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy}} from the popular book series by {{w|J. K. Rowling|J. K. Rowling}} about {{w|Harry Potter}}.
One box is the estimated yearly tuition for the school and the next is how much seven years at the school would cost. To get a degree at the school, it takes 7 years (starting at age 11, ending at age 18).
|-
|Bottom
|A reference to the song by {{w|Barenaked Ladies}} entitled "{{w|If I Had $1000000}}" and all the things referenced in the song to buy the love of another person.
|-
|Middle-Right
|A few items on the marriage of {{w|Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton|Kate Middleton and Prince William}}, the major royal wedding of 2011, including:
*a {{w|Wedding dress of Kate Middleton|wedding dress with its own Wikipedia page}} of 3 times the annual per capita income of the average UK person,
*an 8-tier [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381944/Royal-Wedding-cake-Kate-Middleton-requested-8-tiers-decorated-900-flowers.html wedding cake],
*and the flowers for the wedding. These re-appear in the Millions section of the graph, where they also list the costs for the security around the event ($20 million).
|}

====Millions====
{| class="wikitable"
|Left
|Dr. Evil's ransom demands from the film "Austin Powers" corrected for inflation between 1969 and 1997.
|-
|Middle-right
|Another reference to J. K. Rowling, comparing her (actual $1 billion) net worth as an author with her (imagined $82,000) net worth as a rapper.
The magnified 82 orange/red ($1,000) boxes are footnoted "Professional assessment by rapper/geek culture expert MC Frontalot." {{w|MC Front-A-Lot}} is the creator of the subgenre of {{w|hip-hop}} known as {{w|Nerd Core}}.
|-
|Middle
|An {{w|Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor|F-22 Raptor fighter jet}} (valued at $154.5M) is compared to a Velociraptor ($1.9M in production costs for the film Jurassic Park)
|}

====Billions====
{| class="wikitable"
|Top-Left ((Fictional)Billionaires section)
|{{w|Carlisle Cullen}} is from the {{w|Twilight (series)|''Twilight'' series}} of books and movies. He is a vampire and adoptive father of {{w|Edward Cullen|Edward}}, {{w|Emmett Cullen|Emmett}} and {{w|Alice Cullen (Twilight)|Alice Cullen}}, as well as {{w|Rosalie Hale|Rosalie}} and {{w|Jasper Hale}}. He was born in the 1640s and amassed his wealth through many years of compound interest and investments.
|{{w|Scrooge McDuck}} is a cartoon character from many {{w|Disney}} properties including the afternoon cartoon, ''{{w|Duck Tales}}''. Scrooge McDuck has a "money bin" full of coins and other sorts of collectibles that he routinely [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMU2NwaaXEA goes swimming in].
|{{w|Bruce Wayne}} is {{w|Batman}}. {{w|Batman}} is {{w|Bruce Wayne}}. He is portrayed in many comic books, graphic novels, TV shows and movies by many different actors.
|{{w|Artemis Fowl II|Artemis Fowl}} is an Irish child prodigy and a ruthless master criminal from the {{w|Artemis Fowl (series)|eponymous book series}}. He uses his intelligence to build his family fortune through crime.
|}

====Trillions====
{| class="wikitable"
|As Randall already indicated in the transcript, this is the block for world, continent and nation finances. The numbers are really huge. There are no jokes in here (apart from the fact that Randall tried to make the shapes of the GDP look like the continent), likely because financial values this large aren't funny to start with.
|-
|GDP is {{w|gross domestic product}}, the market value of all goods and services produced in a nation.
*The major chart in the center shows the development of the GDP in the world since the 1940s. So far the US GDP has always grown, except for a small reduction in the early 1980s, a flat line around the 1991 global recession and a flat line in the second half of the naughts. The world-wide GDP is growing more rapidly, but is also much more volatile.
|-
|In the middle of the box, it shows the worth of all gold ever mined in 2011 prices. This is important because of the concept of the {{w|gold standard}}, a concept where monetary values are linked to the value of gold. As indicated in the top-right of the box, both the EU and the USA have more debt than the total value of all gold in the world.
|-
|{{w|Derivative (finance)|Derivatives}} are a complex financial instrument where one is not trading in something tangible, but in derived values - like options. Derivatives thus are dangerous as one trades in concepts instead of values. Critics claim that derivatives are at the base of the 'economic bubble'.
*The growth of the derivatives market size is incredible - more than doubling every four years. The derivatives market thus is much larger than the GDP of the entire world.
*We get a reference to [http://landartgenerator.org/blagi/archives/127 a proposed project to power the world] by erecting massive solar farms out in the deserts. The area of Texas alone would be enough to match almost all of our modern power costs (though the people who live in Texas wouldn't enjoy being displaced).
|}

==Transcript==
:'''[This transcript is only reproducing text visible on the [https://www.xkcd.com/980/ front page comic]. For the full transcript of the [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/money_huge.png huge image], see [[980: Money/Transcript]].]'''

:[Title panel at the top left has one large heading, and then it is possible to read the first and third out of five lines (but not for instance the second line which is just the word "almost"):]
:'''Money''' 
:A chart of 
:all of it 
:[Below this there are 5 large panels, each with a series of plots, comparing the values of various things. The only clearly visible text is the title of each panel written in white on black background at the top of each panel] 
:[The first section covers single coffees up to the hourly salaries of CEOs. It is located below the title panel and there are a lot of green groups marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Dollars'''
:[The next section discusses values from around $1000 to $1,000,000, including a dissection of the song If I had $1000000. It is located directly below the Dollars section and has mainly orange groups (but also some green) marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Thousands'''
:[The third section focuses on $1,000,000 to $1,000,000,000, with a large section on campaign contributions of American political presidential campaigns, values of expensive works of art, and J. K. Rowling. It is located to the right of the Thousands section below the Billions section and there are a lot of gray groups (but also some orange) marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Millions'''
:[The fourth section gets into larger scale finances, profits of various sectors, costs of natural disasters, and net worths of the richest people on the planet. Also, Donald Trump. It is located to the right of the Dollars section and above both the Millions and Trillions section and has mainly yellow groups (but also some gray and red) all marked by unreadable text. There are, however, a few large headings that can be read:]
:'''Billions'''
:Education
:The Economic (...?)
:US household income
:Federal budget
:[In the last panel global financial status is described. It discusses derivatives, liquid assets, public debt by nation and GDP by continent, culminating with the total economic production of the human race to date. It is located below the Billions section to the right of the Millions section and has mainly cyan groups (but also one yellow) all marked by unreadable text.]
:'''Trillions'''
:'''[For the full transcript of the [http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/money_huge.png huge image], see [[980: Money/Transcript]].]'''

==Trivia==
* Randall usually posts new comics at around midnight Eastern time, but this comic was posted at about noon. The reason is that it was difficult to get it all finished in time, as was explained in the [[Blag]] post titled [https://blog.xkcd.com/2011/11/24/money-chart/ Money chart] released three days later. This post also states that this was the first big project he undertook after his [https://blog.xkcd.com/2011/06/30/family-illness/ fiancée was diagnosed] with breast [[:Category:Cancer|cancer]].

* This comic used to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20211215032232/https://store.xkcd.com/products/money-poster available as a poster] in the xkcd store before it was [[Store|shut down]].

* Randall misspelled "communicat'''i'''on" as "communication" in the section on campaign donations, on the right of the "Millions" quadrant. This hasn't been fixed.

* This is the first xkcd comic featuring [[Donald Trump]].

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]
[[Category:Playpen balls]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]
[[Category:The Lion King]]
[[Category:Harry Potter]]
[[Category:Ghostbusters]]
[[Category:Twilight]] 
[[Category:Disney]] 
[[Category:Superheroes]] 
[[Category:Climate change]] 
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]
[[Category:Comics with xkcd store products]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]
[[Category:Money]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Donald Trump]]
[[Category:Minecraft]]
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]
[[Category:Comics featuring politicians]]
[[Category:Comics with citations]]
[[Category:Jurassic Park]]
[[Category:Comics with custom header texts]]

700: Complexion

2026-04-29T05:10:03Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 700
| date = February 10, 2010
| title = Complexion
| image = complexion.png
| titletext = Why do all my attempts at science end with me being punched by Batman? (P.S. benzoyl peroxide soap works great.)
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] suffers from {{w|acne}}. Like many others afflicted with the same condition, he uses skin care products designed to treat acne. Unlike most other people, he does his own controlled trial by using them on only one half of his face and measuring the effects; the blemishes on the treated half of his face are noticeably diminished, while the untreated half remains the same, allowing him to isolate the effects of the cream versus the effects of time.

He convinces his friends to try the same experiment with different treatments so they can find out which works the best. In order to properly randomize the trials, he flips a coin. However, because half of his face is "scarred" (with acne blemishes), he's flipping a coin, and appears to be threatening someone with acid, he's mistaken for the Batman villain {{w|Two-Face}}. (Two-Face flips a coin to decide whether his victims will live or die, and was badly burned by acid on exactly one half of his face.) Cueball is subsequently punched by Batman; {{tvtropes|NoodleIncident|the title-text implies that this has happened before}}.

{{w|Salicylic acid}} and {{w|benzoyl peroxide}} are both chemicals known for their skin care effects (salicylic acid in particular is also used to treat {{w|psoriasis}}).

==Trivia==
The version of Batman depicted appears to be Christian Bale's character from the Dark Knight trilogy thanks to the wrist blades and unique cowl shape. Two-Face appeared in the second film, which was released two years prior to this comic.

==Transcript==
:I get frustrated trying to judge whether acne creams are having any effect. In the spirit of a controlled trial, I used one on just half my face for a few weeks.
:[A graph shows pimples vs. time, with two lines: one remains steady, and one is declining.]

:It was cool seeing the effects so clearly, so I got some friends to try different treatments in an impromptu study.
:[Cueball looks in a mirror, sees a half-pimpled face, and applies a treatment.]

:[Cueball is talking to Ponytail and Megan, each with some pimples also.]
:Cueball: Okay, you try the salicylic acid first.
:Ponytail: Wait, we should randomize the trials. Got a coin?

:Cueball: Okay, call it. Heads, she gets the-
:(Off-panel): YOU!

:[Batman runs into frame and punches Cueball. The coin goes flying.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

663: Sagan-Man

2026-04-29T05:03:53Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 663
| date = November 16, 2009
| title = Sagan-Man
| image = sagan-man.png
| titletext = They laugh now, but within 10 years the city's entire criminal class will have quit to work on space research.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Carl Sagan}} was an advocate for science, space and {{w|SETI}} (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence). He wrote the book ''Contact'', which was later made into the movie by the same name. While Sagan did not emit anomalous radiation in his lifetime,{{Citation Needed}} he did receive acclaim in the field of radiology, namely for using radiation to synthesize amino acids from simpler chemicals.

This comic is parodying {{w|Spider-Man}}, in which Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider to become Spider-Man. In this comic "a radioactive Carl Sagan" turns the person into "Sagan-Man". Apparently, Sagan-Man is able to stop thieves in their tracks by blowing their minds with inspiring scientific facts.

The title text implies that Sagan-Man's vivid imagery inspires the entire "criminal class" to give up their anti-social ways and turn to space research.

==Transcript==
:[A yellow box extends across the top of the first 3 of 5 panels, introducing Sagan-Man:]
:Bitten by a radioactive Carl Sagan in 1995, Sagan-Man possesses the powers and abilities of Carl Sagan.
:[A Cueball-like character is standing on the left side of the panel, with a victim off-panel to the right.]
:Victim (off-panel): Help! Thief!
:[The Cueball-like character spins around, turning into Sagan-Man with a blue cape appearing on his back.]
:[Sagan-Man runs to the right towards the direction of the victim.]
:[Sagan-Man encounters the thief, who is holding a purse.]
:Sagan-Man: Hey, you!
:Thief: What?
:[Sagan-Man and the thief are now standing facing each other.]
:Sagan-Man: Do you realize just how crazy it is that we've ''BEEN TO THE MOON?''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Comics with a Spanish translation]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

575: Tag Combination

2026-04-29T03:03:27Z

216.145.71.136: wanted to add something about nonbinary people but i couldnt figure out how to word it, so have a vaguer now-technically-correct phrase instead

{{comic
| number = 575
| date = April 29, 2009
| title = Tag Combination
| image = tag combination.png
| titletext = I love Eileen / and want you to love her / When you're around / I'm one floor above her / If you could see / just how much I adore her / Oh, that pretty red dress / I'd do anything for her / (Too ra loo ra too ra loo rye ayy)
}}

==Explanation==

Song tags are a form of file {{w|metadata}} used to categorize music. Tags will typically describe the content and genre of the song, and many music organization programs and services will allow users to find all songs that contain a particular tag; so when a user searches for "Country breakup music," they will receive a list of {{w|Country music|country}} songs about breaking up.

In this comic, [[Cueball]] tests [[Megan]]'s claim that she can make a song name for any set of tags by coming up with a collection of mostly unrelated words: "{{w|lesbian}} {{w|voyeurism}} {{w|one-hit wonder}} {{w|Mashup (music)|mash-up|}}." A {{w|lesbian}} is a woman who is sexually interested in other women. {{w|Voyeurism}} is the act of watching someone else do something sexual, generally without their knowledge. A {{w|one-hit wonder}} is a band that had "one big hit" before fading from the public eye forever. A {{w|Mashup (music)|mash-up}} is when someone takes two previously unrelated songs and makes a third song that's a mix of both of them (a recent example of which would be [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82LCKBdjywQ this Gangam Style/Ghostbusters theme mashup]). In response, Megan immediately replies with one song title that looks like it would fit the tags well. When Cueball asks for a second example, Megan gives him a new example for the same set of tags, which is really impressive.

Megan's first title, "I Wish That Stacy's Mom Had Jessie's Girl" is a ''mash-up'' of {{w|Jessie's Girl|"Jessie's Girl"}} by {{w|Rick Springfield}} (see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYkbTyHXwbs video] on YouTube), and {{w|Stacy's Mom|"Stacy's Mom"}} by {{w|Fountains of Wayne}} (see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLfasMPOU4 video] on YouTube), the latter was a ''one-hit-wonder'', whereas Springfield has had several other hits. (The song Stacy's Mom was referenced in comic [[61: Stacey's Dad]]).

The second title, "When You Come on Eileen I Touch Myself" is a ''mash-up'' of {{w|Come On Eileen|"Come on Eileen"}} by {{w|Dexys Midnight Runners}} (see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVxcwe7EcaY video] on YouTube), and {{w|I Touch Myself|"I Touch Myself"}} by {{w|Divinyls}} (see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv-34w8kGPM video] on YouTube). Both of these are one-hit wonders (at least in the US; Dexys had more hits in the UK). Note that "Come on, Eileen" means "Hurry up, Eileen", and that "to come on someone" means to ejaculate on someone. Since the song is about lesbian sex, come on someone may mean have an orgasm while being on someone.

For other random connections see [[305: Rule 34]].

===Title text===
The title text is a set of potential lyrics to Megan's second title. [[Randall]] borrowed the rhyme scheme, phrasing, and subject matter from the first eight {{w|stanzas}} of "I Touch Myself" with additional subject matter inspired by "Come on Eileen." The final stanza is the chorus lead-in from the latter.

The lyrics suggest a changed relationship between the characters. In the original "I Touch Myself", the female singer touches herself (masturbates) when thinking about her lover (of unspecified gender); instead, she now does this while a new third character makes love to her beloved, Eileen, while the singer overhears them (as a voyeur) from the apartment above.

Here are the lyrics for [http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-touch-myself-lyrics-the-divinyls.html I Touch Myself] and [http://www.metrolyrics.com/come-on-eileen-lyrics-dexys-midnight-runners.html Come on Eileen]. Below in the table the mashed up lines are shown. As can be seen most of the text is from "I Touch Myself":

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Mashed up line
! Line from "I Touch Myself"
! Line from "Come On Eileen"
|-
| I love Eileen
| '''I love''' myself (1st line).
| Come on '''Eileen''' (1st line).
|-
| and want you to love her
| I '''want you to love''' me (2nd part of 1st line).
| No line - the '''her''' is now referring to Eileen.
|-
| When you're around
| '''When you're around''' (11th line).
| No line.
|-
| I'm one floor above her
| '''I''' want you '''above''' me (2nd line).
| No line - the '''her''' is now referring to Eileen.
|-
| If you could see
| A fool '''could see''' (15th line).
| No line.
|-
| just how much I adore her
| '''just how much I adore''' you (2nd part of previous line).
| No line - the '''her''' is now referring to Eileen.
|-
| Oh, that pretty red dress
| There are many '''Oh''' in this song, but also in the other.
| '''That pretty red dress''' (30th line).
|-
| I'd do anything for her
| '''I'd do anything for''' you (16th line).
| No line - the '''her''' is now referring to Eileen.
|-
| (Too ra loo ra too ra loo rye ayy)
| No line.
| '''(Too ra loo ra too ra loo rye ayy)''' (11th line).
|}

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are talking.]
:Cueball: So you can come up with a song title fitting any tag combination?
:Megan: Try me.

:[Cueball and Megan are talking.]
:Cueball: Lesbian voyeurism one-hit wonder mash-up.
:Megan: "I wish that Stacey's Mom had Jessie's Girl."

:[Cueball and Megan are just standing there for a beat panel.]

:[Cueball and Megan are talking.]
:Cueball: Well, that was one, but-
:Megan: "When you Come On Eileen I touch myself."
:Cueball: Okay, wow.

== Trivia ==

Both song names that Megan produces are in {{w|iambic pentameter}}, suggesting that Megan's hobby has the flavor of Cueball's in [[79: Iambic Pentameter]].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Homosexuality]]
[[Category:Sex]]

273: Electromagnetic Spectrum

2026-04-28T18:41:34Z

216.145.71.136:

{{comic
| number = 273
| date = June 6, 2007
| title = Electromagnetic Spectrum
| image = electromagnetic spectrum.png
| titletext = Sometimes I try to picture what everything would look like if the whole spectrum were compressed into the visible spectrum. Also sometimes I try to picture your sister naked.
}}

==Explanation==
This panel is a play on the {{w|Electromagnetic spectrum}}, showing a large piece of the spectrum and examples of phenomena that absorb or emit light along the spectra. Such spectra are commonly used in physics or astronomy education contexts when discussing the nature of light. This comic extends it to absurd lengths by including examples that may be variously hyper-specific, humorous, or non-EM phenomena.

The first two scales at the bottom show the wavelength λ (in meters) and the frequency f (in Hertz) of the wave. The values are related as λ=c/f, where c is the speed of light. The last line showing Q(Gal²/Coloumb) is nonsense; Gal ({{w|Gal (unit)|galileo}}) is a unit of acceleration (1 cm/s²), and Coloumb is a likely typo for {{w|Coulomb}}, the SI unit of electric charge. Photons do not have acceleration in the traditional sense of the word, and are electrically neutral (thus carrying no charge).

In 1887, the {{w|Michelson–Morley experiment}} proved for the first time that the {{w|aether theory}} was wrong. The year (1897) cited underneath the comic title may be an incorrectly-dated reference to this experiment. Nevertheless, after that time, many physicists like {{w|Hendrik Lorentz}} or {{w|Joseph Larmor}} were still working on some aether theories. {{w|Albert Einstein}}'s theory of {{w|Special Relativity}} in 1905 helped explain the theoretical basis for the lack of aether and was a definitive step in discarding previous work.

The wavelength starts at high values on the left and decreases in a {{w|logarithmic scale}} to the right. As a result of the inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength, the frequency scale starts at low values and increases logarithmically. Both scales are labeled with powers of ten and with {{w|metric prefix}}es. For frequencies above 100 {{w|tera-}}Hertz, it just says "other entertaining Greek prefixes like {{w|peta-}} and {{w|exa-}} and zappa-." The last prefix should be {{w|zetta-}} (denoting a factor of 1021), but is intentionally mislabelled, referencing musician {{w|Frank Zappa}}. The nonsense ''Q'' parameter does not change monotonically with either frequency or wavelength. On the scale, there is 17, an unlucky number in Italy. Next to it, Randall seems to offer an alternative, 117. After that, {{w|pi}}, a mathematical constant, is followed by another 17 and then by 42, the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. Then, there is {{w|Golden Ratio|phi}}, another mathematical constant, followed by e to the pi minus pi, a joke referencing [[217: e to the pi Minus pi]]. To make this scale even more absurd, Randall adds -2, 540^50, 12 and 11² to the end of the scale.

;Other waves
Three drawings of other types of waves than the electromagnetic type:
* Slinky waves by a coil. These can be either longitudinal or transverse waves, depending on the manner in which the Slinky is driven. Notably, Randall has drawn the Slinky as tangled up; if you've ever played with a Slinky, you know how frustrating it is to untangle it.
* The human audio spectrum (from 20 Hz to 20 kHz). The "high-pitched noise in empty rooms" refers to {{w|tinnitus}}. This was later referenced to in [[1590: The Source]].
* "{{w|Wave (audience)|The Wave}}" in a stadium, a transverse wave phenomenon that travels through people.

;Power and Telephone
"{{w|CIA}} (Secret)" is a joke about all the wiretapping on phones and such.

;Radio and TV
"Shouting car dealership commercials" is a reference to the massive and often extreme advertising for car retailers. {{w|Ham radio}} is a private amateur radio used for communication. "Kosher radio" is playing with the ambiguousness of the word HAM. {{w|Kosher}} is a Jewish law for food, and it states, amongst others, that Jews are never allowed to eat meat from the unclean pigs - so no ham! Some frequencies of famous FM broadcast stations. "99.3 The Fox" is a modern rock station in {{w|Vancouver}}, {{w|British Columbia}}. "101.5 The Badger" is a classic rock station in {{w|Madison, Wisconsin}} (home of the University of Wisconsin, whose mascot is a badger). "106.3 The Frightened Squirrel" is not a real station, but makes a play off of the animal names commonly used as nicknames for either radio stations, programs, or hosts. The rays controlling {{w|Steve Ballmer}} are nonsense, but may reference real {{w|Balmer series}}, a set of transitions in the hydrogen atom that produce photons in the optical and ultraviolet light range. AM {{w|Amplitude modulation}}, VHF {{w|Very high frequency}}, and UHF {{w|Ultra high frequency}} are frequency ranges approved for commercial broadcasting companies. "Cell phone cancer rays" is playing with the belief of many people that mobile phones may cause cancer. Aliens belong to a range slightly higher than the frequencies used by human communications. So they can't hear us. Cell phones as a cause of cancer was later referred to in [[925: Cell Phones]].

;Microwaves
{{w|SETI}} is the "Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence" project trying to find messages from aliens. Most genuine astronomical research in this area concentrates in the microwave and radio regimes. Since aliens work at different frequencies on this diagram, that might explain why there has of yet been no positive results from SETI. {{w|WIFI}} is the standard for wireless computer communications. FHF is probably "Fucking high frequency;" it is not an abbreviation for any broadcasting frequency ranges and lies above the (real) V(ery)HF and U(ltra)HF. {{w|Gravity wave}}s are a phenomenon in fluid dynamics, and distinct from {{w|Gravitational wave}}s. Neither is related to electromagnetic emission. Brain waves could be a reference to {{w|Neural oscillation}}. {{w|Sulawesi}} is an island in the Indian Ocean that belongs to Indonesia, whose shape has several wave like features.

;Toasters
This is a pun on the microwave oven, which emits light at its namesake frequencies to cook food. It also takes a stab at people who claim that microwaved food is dangerous, by pointing out that toasters also heat food using electromagnetic radiation, of frequencies just higher than microwaves. (The actual spectrum of a toaster goes all the way into visible frequencies.)

;IR (infrared)
{{w|Infrared}} belongs to heat. The reference to {{w|Superman}} covers his heat vision power, which has been used many times within the canon. American comedian {{w|Jack Black}} starred in a proposed scifi/comedy television show in 1999 titled "{{w|Heat Vision and Jack}}", which covered the adventures of an astronaut and his talking motorcycle.

;Visible light
At the bottom, it is split into "visible light" and "visible dark." While dark is the opposite of light in many grammatical contexts, in the physical sense it only reflects the absence of visible photons. The human visible spectrum is shown by all colors, including {{w|octarine}}, the color of magic on the fictional {{w|Discworld}} (in the books by {{w|Terry Pratchett}}). On top, there are two {{w|absorption spectrum|absorption spectra}}, hydrogen and helium. These are the two most common elements in the Sun, and their presence in the Sun's outer envelope and Earth's atmosphere does block some small frequencies from the Sun. Next come two cases of {{w|Absorption (chemistry)|absorption}} in the chemical/technical meaning. {{w|Depends}} is a brand of underwear for adults experiencing urinary or faecal incontinence. The color is consequently yellow. {{w|Tampax}} is a brand of tampon. The color is, therefore, red.

;UV (ultraviolet)
{{w|Ultraviolet}} light cannot be seen by humans. No entries here.

;Miller Light
{{w|Miller Lite}} is a lager beer. "Light beer" typically has a lower alcohol content and calorie count, although it is also usually a light color for beer.

;Empty section
One section is reserved for "Main Death Star Laser". In ''{{w|Star Wars}}'' the Death Star was a space station with a green laser cannon powerful enough to destroy planets. (It is unclear why its spectrum is well outside of the visible range.)

;Censored under {{w|Patriot Act}}
No entry because it's censored; this is a humorous exaggeration of how much authority the government can supposedly exercise under said bill.

;X-rays
Potatoes absorb and reflect radiation waves the same way humans do, because their chemistry and water content is very similar to the human body. Look here: [http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2012/12/24/boeing-wifi-potatoes/1789109/ Boeing uses potatoes to improve Wi-Fi signals]. Mail-order x-ray glasses refers to {{w|X-Ray Specs (novelty)|a novelty item}} based on an optical effect, not actual x-rays. {{w|Google Glass}} did not exist at the time when this comic was created.

;Gamma/Cosmic rays
Blogorays are emitted by the {{w|Blogosphere}}; apparently only Randall can detect them. Sinister Google Projects: {{w|Google}}, despite having a motto "don't be evil", has such significant power that it is a frequent target of conspiracy theories.

;Title Text
Randall likes to speculate what the world would look like if humans could see radio waves, gamma waves, etc. Such a thought experiment would be pretty abstract due to the total lack of a frame of reference (since everything outside the visible light spectrum is by definition invisible and thus beyond human optical perception), but for many people, that's also what makes it enticing. Randall immediately turns this profound train of thought around with a crude joke that he wants to know what the viewer's sister would look like in the nude, an activity for which x-rays would be useful.

==Transcript==
:[Everything is one big panel.]

:The Electromagnetic Spectrum

:These waves travel through the electromagnetic field. They were formerly carried by the aether, which was decommissioned in 1897 due to budget cuts.

:Other waves:
:*Slinky waves [Cueball and Megan hold the ends of a tangled slinky.]
:*Sound waves [There is a snippet of a frequency band. Between 20 Hz and 20 KHz is labeled "Audible Sound." Towards the top is a line labeled "That high-pitched noise in empty rooms."]
:*The wave [A row of people does a wave.]

:[Three parallel scales are across the bottom. The first is lambda (m), ranging from 100Mm to 100fm; second is f (Hz), which starts at 1 Hz and reaches 100 THz about 2/3 of the way along, after which the labels read "other entertaining greek prefixes like peta- exa- and zappa-;" last is Q (Gal²/Coloumb), whose labels are 17, 117, pi, 17, 42, phi, e^pi-pi, -2, 540^50, and 11². Above the scales and lined up accurately with the first two are the following:]

:*Power & Telephone (100Mm to 1km)
:*Radio & TV (1km to somewhere between 1m and 10cm); above that are many boxes showing subranges (AM, VHF, UHF, 24/7 NPR pledge drives, a very thin band for the space rays controlling Steve Ballmer, 99.3 "The Fox," 101.5 "The Badger," 106.3 "The Frightened Squirrel," cell phone cancer rays, CIA, ham radio, kosher radio, shouting car dealership commercials.)
:*Microwaves (a bit more than 10cm to a bit more than 1mm); it also has subranges (aliens, just below SETI, wifi, FHF, brain waves, sulawesi, gravity)
:*Toasters (about 1mm to about 100 micrometers)
:*IR (about 100 micrometers to somewhere between 1 micrometer and 1 nm); above that is a bell graph labeled "Superman"s heat vision," with a motorcycle driving up the left side labeled "Jack Black's Heat Vision."
:*Visible light (and, under it, visible dark); above that is a bell graph labeled "sunlight." There's a breakout chart above it showing the visible spectrum from 700nm (red) to 450nm (violet). There's an arrow pointing to where octarine would be, somewhere off to the side. Above that are bars showing the absorption spectra for hydrogen, helium, Depends(R) (yellow only), and Tampax(R) (red only).
:*UV (about 100nm to about 10nm)
:*Miller Light (a thin bar around 10nm)
:*An unlabeled section with a thin line above it showing the frequency of the main death star laser
:*A blocked-off portion labeled "Censored Under Patriot Act."
:*X-rays (from about 1nm to about 10pm); a line above shows the frequency of mail-order x-ray glasses. Somewhere vaguely above the 10pm mark is a potato.
:*Gamma/cosmic rays (10pm and smaller); above that is a bar marked Sinister Google Projects that also trails off into higher frequencies, and blogorays, which are slightly lower.

==Trivia==
This comic used to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20220125023401/https://store.xkcd.com/products/signed-prints available as a signed print] in the xkcd store before it was [[Store|shut down]].

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:SETI]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Your sister]]
[[Category:Comics with xkcd store products]]
[[Category:Aliens]]
[[Category:Comics with a Spanish translation]]
[[Category:Superheroes]]

231: Cat Proximity

2026-04-28T18:00:46Z

216.145.71.136: it was merged a while back

{{comic
| number =231
| date =March 5, 2007
| title =Cat Proximity
| image =cat_proximity.png
| titletext =Yes you are! And you're sitting there! Hi, kitty!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the use of "{{w|baby talk}}" when speaking to pets, especially {{w|cats}}. A person's voice becomes {{w|falsetto}} and {{Wiktionary|cooing}}, vocabulary becomes simplified, and phrases are repeated, such as "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." The chart shows that a person's apparent intelligence decreases, and that the {{Wiktionary|inanity}} (i.e. uselessness or emptiness) of their statements increases, the closer they get to a cat. Most people act like this when they're playing with cats or trying to call them over to them. Thankfully, being close to a cat doesn't actually cause any decrease of intelligence in normal circumstances.{{Citation needed}} In [[1535: Words for Pets]], [[Randall Munroe|Randall]] mentions again how people often talk strangely to their pets. Typing "<code>cat</code>" in [[unixkcd]] will print "You're a kitty!", a reference to Cueball's line in the comic.

The title text continues [[Cueball|Cueball's]] obvious statement (and thus inane/useless point made) from below the graph.

==Transcript==
:[A graph with the x-axis labeled, and the scale indicated from left to right:]
:Far
:Human proximity to cat
:Near
:[Two curves are drawn and labeled, first the one starting on top, which then veers downwards and crosses the other as that curve veers upwards.]
:Intelligence
:Inanity of statements

:[Below the graph, Cueball is seen standing at three distances from a cat that is drawn to the far right. The two first Cueballs are just standing, one below far, the other in the middle, and the last is standing close to the cat (below near) with his hands up, and he is speaking.]
:Cueball: You're a kitty!

==Trivia==
*This comic used to be [https://web.archive.org/web/20220125023401/https://store.xkcd.com/products/signed-prints available as a signed print] in the xkcd store before it was [[Store|shut down]].
*This comic, along with its title text, was previously the image used for {{tvtropes|CutenessProximity|Cuteness Proximity}} on TV Tropes before it was determined to be redundant with {{tvtropes|CutenessOverload|Cuteness Overload}} and merged.
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Cats]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Comics with xkcd store products]]