Cute Monkey Videos

Argh, that last panel really bothers me-- I spent so much time trying to get the perspective right, but it still looks weird. Whatever. Spent a ton of time getting the minutiae of the wording right on the video titles too, wanting to make sure that words weren't overused, comedic patterns are clearly readable, while making sure that blame is cast on the human in question, not the monkey, for what entails.

Originally, I didn't intend to have the last panel be so sad, but as I was thumbnailing the comic in my head, that just seemed to be where the energy of the comic was going, so I leaned into it, and I hope that comes across. Originally, Mike was going to be wearing a little business suit and briefcase in the last panel, which would have been funny, but only in cute,  traditionally monkey-ish sort of way. I think giving him just really nondescript baggy clothes reads as much sadder; he feels shame for who his, having lost his animal nature, but also doesn't even care enough but clothing to feel happy to wear it, so he just throws on some baggy hand-me-downs out of shame, in stark contrast to the monkey in overalls or whatever we see on TV (who probably also hate wearing that shit.) 

I'm no expert biologist, so I can't tell you psychologically what it does to an ape to give them sugary foods or television; I also can't say whether a monkey would have a better life in the safety and comfort of domestication than in the wilds of nature, amongst peers (though I highly doubt it). So I suppose the broadest thing I can say (with strong confidence) in defense of the message of this comic, were any fans of monkey content to get defensive ("The monkeys like it!!!!"  "No ethical consumption under capitalism bro! Now watch me film this monkey doing blow") is that all animals, but monkeys especially, are living creatures, not toys, and deserve to be treated as such. 

Between this, The Nim Chimsky comic, and the Condom Chimp comic, I have quite the trilogy of comics, don't I? I think I'll call it "The Monkey Tragedies"