https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Timflanexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-18T16:46:57ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1560:_Bubblegum&diff=991551560: Bubblegum2015-08-05T19:03:13Z<p>Timflan: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1560<br />
| date = August 5, 2015<br />
| title = Bubblegum<br />
| image = bubblegum.png<br />
| titletext = I came here to chew bubblegum and say no more than eighteen words ... and I'm all out of<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|First draft.}}<br />
<br />
This comic spoofs the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/quotes iconic quote] from the action movie "{{w|They Live}}", where the armed protagonist, upon entering a bank, states that "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum." This implies that the protagonist will soon fight the inhabitants of the bank, as he cannot do the other objective he came there for (chewing bubble gum). This phrase was also used by the title character of the video game ''{{w|Duke Nukem 3D}}'' and is often mistakenly believed to have originated in it. Furthermore the phrase has itself been parodied by British comedy ''IT Crowd'', and by ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' in the episode 521 "Santa Clause" ("Ho-ho-ho! I'm here to kick butt and lick candy canes, and I'm all out of candy canes!")<br />
<br />
Former wrestler Rowdy {{w|Roddy Piper}}, who played the protagonist in "They Live," died five days prior to the publication of this comic. This comic may be a tribute to him.<br />
<br />
In the comic, [[Beret Guy]] stands in the open doorway with a strong light behind him, a typical pose in action movies when someone is dramatically entering somewhere. However, in this instance, Beret Guy claims that he is here to "chew bubble gum and make friends". He then offers a stick of gum to both [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]], making it clear he intends to do both of his stated objectives. This is expected from Beret Guy, who is usually quite naïve about the world/beings that surround him.<br />
<br />
The title text seems to be a slight dig at the trope of a laconic hero who utters only a few gnomic words, as in the They Live scene. It is another variation of the line, with meta-humor. The speaker states that he is here to say 18 words and chew bubble gum, but reaches 18 words before he is able to finish his sentence. Thus, readers are left in ambiguity as to whether or not he is also out of bubble gum, as the line could end "and I'm all out of words", "and I'm all out of gum", or "and I'm all out of both". Strangely, though, [[Randall]] has not preserved the number of words in the original film quote: there are 16. There would be 18 if 'bubble gum' (which occurs twice) were taken as two words, but in the comic, it is clear that Randall takes it as one.<br />
<br />
Beret Guy has previously indicated he has a finite number of words he can say in [[1493: Meeting]].<br />
<br />
In [[1110: Click and Drag]] Megan, walking out on to a platform on the left side of the tower Burj Khalifa, says "I came here to chew bubblegum... And I'm all out of bubblegum" to which Cueball walking with her replies "That's a shame" (see [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/1n2w.png picture here].)<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
:[Beret Guy stands dramatically silhouetted in a doorway.]<br />
:Beret Guy: I came here to chew bubblegum and make friends!<br />
<br />
:[Beret Guy, in normal lighting, looks at Megan and Cueball]<br />
:(dramatic tense silence)<br />
:Beret Guy (offering a stick of gum): Want some gum?<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]</div>Timflanhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1560:_Bubblegum&diff=991541560: Bubblegum2015-08-05T18:59:49Z<p>Timflan: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1560<br />
| date = August 5, 2015<br />
| title = Bubblegum<br />
| image = bubblegum.png<br />
| titletext = I came here to chew bubblegum and say no more than eighteen words ... and I'm all out of<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|First draft.}}<br />
<br />
This comic spoofs the [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096256/quotes iconic quote] from the action movie "{{w|They Live}}", where the armed protagonist, upon entering a bank, states that "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum." This implies that the protagonist will soon fight the inhabitants of the bank, as he cannot do the other objective he came there for (chewing bubble gum). This phrase was also used by the title character of the video game ''{{w|Duke Nukem 3D}}'' and is often mistakenly believed to have originated in it. Furthermore the phrase has itself been parodied by British comedy ''IT Crowd'', and by Mystery Science Theater 3000 in the episode 521 "Santa Clause" ("Ho-ho-ho! I'm here to kick butt and lick candy canes, and I'm all out of candy canes!")<br />
<br />
Former wrestler Rowdy {{w|Roddy Piper}}, who played the protagonist in "They Live," died five days prior to the publication of this comic. This comic may be a tribute to him.<br />
<br />
In the comic, [[Beret Guy]] stands in the open doorway with a strong light behind him, a typical pose in action movies when someone is dramatically entering somewhere. However, in this instance, Beret Guy claims that he is here to "chew bubble gum and make friends". He then offers a stick of gum to both [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]], making it clear he intends to do both of his stated objectives. This is expected from Beret Guy, who is usually quite naïve about the world/beings that surround him.<br />
<br />
The title text seems to be a slight dig at the trope of a laconic hero who utters only a few gnomic words, as in the They Live scene. It is another variation of the line, with meta-humor. The speaker states that he is here to say 18 words and chew bubble gum, but reaches 18 words before he is able to finish his sentence. Thus, readers are left in ambiguity as to whether or not he is also out of bubble gum, as the line could end "and I'm all out of words", "and I'm all out of gum", or "and I'm all out of both". Strangely, though, [[Randall]] has not preserved the number of words in the original film quote: there are 16. There would be 18 if 'bubble gum' (which occurs twice) were taken as two words, but in the comic, it is clear that Randall takes it as one.<br />
<br />
Beret Guy has previously indicated he has a finite number of words he can say in [[1493: Meeting]].<br />
<br />
In [[1110: Click and Drag]] Megan, walking out on to a platform on the left side of the tower Burj Khalifa, says "I came here to chew bubblegum... And I'm all out of bubblegum" to which Cueball walking with her replies "That's a shame" (see [http://imgs.xkcd.com/clickdrag/1n2w.png picture here].)<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
:[Beret Guy stands dramatically silhouetted in a doorway.]<br />
:Beret Guy: I came here to chew bubblegum and make friends!<br />
<br />
:[Beret Guy, in normal lighting, looks at Megan and Cueball]<br />
:(dramatic tense silence)<br />
:Beret Guy (offering a stick of gum): Want some gum?<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]</div>Timflan