https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=Victoryatseaexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-17T11:44:30ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1560:_Bubblegum&diff=991001560: Bubblegum2015-08-05T05:11:40Z<p>Victoryatsea: </p>
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<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 />
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==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|First draft.}}<br />
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This comic spoofs the iconic line from the action movie "They Live", where the armed protagonist, upon entering a bank, states that "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I am all out of bubble gum." 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). <br />
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Former wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, who played the protagonist in "They Live," recently died. This comic is a tribute to him.<br />
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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.<br />
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The title text is another variation of the line, with meta-humor. The speaker states that he is here to say 16 words and chew bubble gum, but reaches 16 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 either end "and I'm all out of words", or "and I'm all out of both".<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript}}<br />
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{{comic discussion}}</div>Victoryatsea