Eventually You Gotta Inhale
August 24th, 2023 Barry Posted in Barry's favorites, Fat Acceptance | No Comments »
As far as I know, I’m the only political cartoonist who regularly does cartoons about fat acceptance! If you like that these cartoons exist, and can spare it, please support my Patreon. A $1 or $2 pledge really helps!
TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON
This cartoon has nine panels, arranged in a three by three grid. The cartoon has two characters. The first character is a fat woman with a pixie haircut and glasses, wearing a polka dot shirt and a skirt. Let’s call her “DOT.”
(I don’t know if I’ve EVER seen anyone in real life wear a polka-dot shirt, but Bill Watterson sometimes drew adult characters in polka-dot shirts, and as longtime readers know it’s my firm opinion that if Watterson did it then it by definition is good cartooning).
The second character is a thin character with curly hair, wearing a button-up shirt with large black buttons. Let’s call her CURLY.
PANEL 1
Dot has her hands raised – open hands facing inward, a tiny bit above elbow height, which is so much the go-to for cartoonists trying to show a character explaining something that the cartoonist Joe Matt once drew this pose with a caption arrow pointing towards the hands saying “Good ol’ explaining hands.” Curly is cheerful and smiling, and holding one hand out with palm down in a dismissive gesture.
DOT: DIETS DON’T WORK! Studies show that for nearly everyone the weight comes back.
CURLY: Nonsense! Eat less and you’ll lose weight! That’s physics!
PANEL 2
Dot continues explaining, now using a pointing finger, while Curly eagerly leans forward, hands clasping each other, and her eyes replaced with dollar signs.
DOT: While I reply, could you hold your breath? I’ll pay you $1000 if you do it till you faint!
CURLY: $1000? Okay!
PANEL 3
Dot continues explaining; Curly is holding her breath and looking confident.
DOT: Physics says you can do it… if you don’t breathe in, oxygen can’t get to your system, and you’ll pass out.
PANEL 4
A close-up of Curly, still smiling, with her cheeks puffed out, but her eyes are widening. Dot speaks from off-panel for this and the following three panels.
DOT: But this is about biology, not physics. Right now, your brain is sending chemical signals to your body saying “inhale!”
PANEL 5
Curly is still smiling, but she’s obviously straining a bit to keep holding her breath.
DOT: The same thing happens when you diet. The brain thinks you’re starving and sends out signals saying “you’re hungry! EAT!” It’ll send those signals for years if it has to.
PANEL 6
Curly isn’t smiling and doesn’t look confident. She’s still holding her breath, but has balled her hands into fists and is trembling.
DOT: The brain also releases hormones to make your body hold onto more fat. we evolved that way to get through famines.
PANEL 7
Curly has her hands on her cheeks now, and is trembling a lot more, and her eyes are huge and almost popping out.
DOT: And a tiny fraction of people lose weight forever! But for most people, no matter how much willpower they’ve got, eventually…
PANEL 8
In the foreground, Dot looks – let’s face it – a bit smug as she smiles. The panel is mainly taken up by Curly, who has opened her mouth hugely and is gasping. A huge sound effect, drawn so that the letters are converging towards Curly’s open mouth, says “GASP.”
PANEL 9
Dot is back to explaining hands, but with one forefinger pointed up. Curly has turned her back on Dot, arms folded, and has a sour grapes expression.
DOT: THAT’S biology! See my point?
CURLY: Screw THIS! I’m getting a lung bypass!
