2009-12-05
Explanation
This comic parodies Batman and his gadget-naming conventions. In the first panel, Batman swings through the air shouting "Bat-Rope!" as he uses a grappling line. In the second panel, Batman tells Commissioner Gordon: "Man, this works great. I wonder if we could use it to fight crime." The third panel, labeled "Earlier...," reveals the origin of the Bat-Rope: a woman telling Batman "So, we need to talk about our relationship."
The joke is that Batman invented the Bat-Rope not for crime-fighting purposes, but as an escape tool to flee from an uncomfortable relationship conversation. The flashback structure delivers the punchline by revealing that the impressive superhero gadget was born out of a very mundane, relatable desire to avoid "the talk." It plays on the stereotype that men will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid serious relationship discussions -- in Batman's case, literally building a rope-swinging device to physically escape the conversation.
The votey panel shows a can of "Paternity Repellant" labeled "Also Handy," suggesting Batman has an entire line of gadgets designed not for fighting crime but for avoiding adult responsibilities and relationship commitments.