Editing 31: Barrel - Part 5

{{comic
| number    = 31
| date      = November 16, 2005
| title     = Barrel - Part 5
| before    = <big><big><span class="plainlinks">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060529063505/http://xkcd-drawings.livejournal.com/?skip=20#:~:text=11%3A54%20am-,Barrel%20%2D%20Part%205,-The%20ferret%20got Original title</span>]: '''Barrel - Part 5'''</big></big>
| image     = barrel_part_5.jpg
| titletext = Too good not to happen.<br><br><span class="plainlinks">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060529063505/http://xkcd-drawings.livejournal.com/?skip=20#:~:text=11%3A54%20am-,Barrel%20%2D%20Part%205,-The%20ferret%20got Original caption</span>]: The [http://www.xkcd.com/ferret.html ferret] got to fly, in the end!
}}

==Explanation==
This was the thirty-third comic originally posted to [[LiveJournal]]. The previous one was [[28: Elefino]], and the next one was [[32: Pillar]].

This gives a happy ending to the [[:Category:The Boy and his Barrel|The Boy and his Barrel series]], with the flying ferret from [[20: Ferret]]. The humor is derived from the juxtaposition of two unlike elements - in this case, the contemplative and even dark nature of the series being resolved through the timely intervention of a comical flying animal. The ferret could also be interpreted as a symbol of hope and following one's dreams, since in its original appearance, its powers of flight were just a dream. However, the dream becomes reality to save a child from an endless sea of hopelessness.

This is the last in a six-part series of comics whose parts were randomly published during the first several dozen strips. The series features [[Barrel Boy]], a character that is different from what would quickly become the xkcd [[stick figure]] style. The full series can be found [[:Category:The Boy and his Barrel|here]]. After Randall released the full [http://liveweb.archive.org/web/20070207052159/http://www.xkcd.com/barrel.html The Boy and his Barrel] story on the site, it became clear that the original comic [[20: Ferret]] was also part of the series. The comics are listed in the order chosen by Randall:
* [[1: Barrel - Part 1]]
* [[20: Ferret]]
* [[11: Barrel - Part 2]]
* [[22: Barrel - Part 3]]
* [[25: Barrel - Part 4]]
* [[31: Barrel - Part 5]]

The original caption included a link to [[20: Ferret]] the second comic in the series. The link is now defunct, but there's an [https://web.archive.org/web/20070207052159/http://www.xkcd.com/barrel.html archived version].

==Transcript==
:[A boy is grasping on to a piece of driftwood in an ocean.]

:[A zoomed out view of the boy still grasping on to a piece of driftwood in the ocean.]

:[A ferret with some airplane wings and an airplane tail flies above the ocean.]

:[A shot of the ocean, now empty.]

:[The lying ferret is carrying the boy to safety.]

:[The ferret carrying the boy is now in the distance with the sun on the horizon.]

==Trivia==
This is the last comic that kept its original title after being transferred to [https://xkcd.com xkcd.com].

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Posted on LiveJournal| 33]]
[[Category:First day on xkcd.com]]
[[Category:Checkered paper]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:The Boy and his Barrel|06]]
[[Category:Comics sharing name|Barrel 06]]
[[Category:Ferrets]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Barrel Boy]]