Brevity is the soul of wit.
This comic has 20 panels.
Find me a five minute long joke or a feature length movie with only one joke in it.
It shouldn’t take 20 panels to tell a joke.
I don’t think they told “a joke”, nor intended to. This was a humorous exchange as well as a commentary on human nature. My day is better for having read it.
Bill Watterson is one of the greatest comic artists ever, and even he said (paraphrased) “I enjoy a funny conversation more than just one punchline”.
Another great person, Empricorn said “let people enjoy what they like”.
It shouldn’t take 20 panels to tell a joke.
Seems like it’s not telling a joke, but instead making a statement about Humanity.