551: Etch-a-Sketch
| Etch-a-Sketch |
 Title text: Surrounded by boring mysteries. |
Explanation
Cueball notices that if you draw a lot on an Etch-a-Sketch, the aluminum powder in it can be cleared from enough of the screen to allow a view of the interior (as seen here).
Cueball then proceeds to clear a window into the device, which shows him that there's a girl inside whose job is to act as the stylus for the Etch-a-Sketch. She suggest that they be friends, and little hearts pop up.
It then becomes clear that this is just a fantasy, and the reality is that the lines get drawn by a stylus moving on a simple arrangement of rods. Sighing, Cueball clears the Etch-a-Sketch by shaking it, and proceeds to draw something else.
The title text notes that the mysteries surrounding us are much more boring than we dream they are.
Transcript
- [Cueball is playing with an Etch-a-Sketch.]
- Cueball: Hey. If I draw enough lines, I can see what's behind the screen.
- [Close up on the Etch-a-Sketch's screen.]
- Cueball: Oh man, almost...
- Etch-a-Sketch: Hi!
- [Head of Megan appears behind the Etch-a-Sketch screen.]
- Megan: You're cute!
- Cueball: Wha—
- Megan: I'm the one who draws when you turn the knobs. It's lonely in here.
- Cueball: It's lonely out here too.
- Megan: I'm glad you found me, then!
- [Panels start to break away into thought bubbles.]
- Megan: Let's be friends, and never be lonely again.
- [Three hearts are shown, one of which looks like it was drawn with an Etch-a-Sketch.]
- Cueball: *sigh*
- [Etch-a-sketch shows what is behind the glass; it is just the mechanics of the machine.]
- [Cueball shakes etch-a-sketch.]
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I always thought he was shaking the Etch-a-Sketch in anger at finding out what was actually inside as opposed to what he thought was inside. Zowayix (talk) 02:21, 23 December 2013 (UTC)
I just thought the same actually; and "proceeds to draw something else" is just plain wrong, because the story ends before that. 141.101.99.73 12:27, 12 December 2014 (UTC)
Did someone else notice Megan looks like being in 3D? 162.158.90.212 13:40, 7 October 2015 (UTC)
Randall is always clear about showing when a character is angry or frustrated, with either smoke coming off the head, or an aggressive pose, or clenched fists, etc. None are present in this comic, so read the "*Sigh*" in the panel two panels before the erasing and you can see he's just disappointed and now hiding the letdown. 173.245.54.55 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)
before reading i thought it was just a barred window like 'you cant go there' 05:22, 19 March 2021 (UTC)05:22, 19 March 2021 (UTC)~
Megan having hands is just creepy. Beanie (talk) 13:50, 31 March 2021 (UTC)
Sometimes it is better to leave the mystery unsolved. -- The Cat Lady (talk) 22:01, 16 August 2021 (UTC)
The device isn't really "pink", it's red like a new, fresh brick. In fact, #FF0000 is closer to real life pinks than the color featured in this comic is. 172.70.250.17 07:09, 11 October 2022 (UTC)
Why does he fantasize about having sex with an Etch-a-Sketch? Well if you look at comic #230 "Hamiltonian", you will realize that he wishes to jot down his ideas while participating in sexual intercourse. User:Earless Mimikyu (talk) 05:17, 18 March 2023 (UTC)
