Reimagining the "This Is Fine" Comic Using LEGO Bricks
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As an enthusiastic LEGO builder, I occasionally venture beyond merely constructing sets and reviewing them. For me, the joy of LEGO lies in its endless possibilities; it's not just about assembling new sets but disassembling them to create unique designs. Although I haven't produced many of my own creations (MOCs) recently, I enjoy crafting unusual projects like a synesthesia demonstration, a smart lock, or a mobile phone stand. This time, however, I sought to create something that resonates with many, so I chose to reinterpret a comic strip with LEGO.
The "This is fine" meme originates from a webcomic called Gunshow, created by KC Green. In the initial panels of strip 648, a character named Question Hound sits calmly in a house engulfed in flames, sipping coffee and stating, “This is fine.” Despite his efforts to reassure himself, he begins to melt due to the rising heat. This comic strip was first published on January 9, 2013, and is also known as “On Fire.” The alternative caption on the image reads, “The pills are working,” which further contributes to its title.
It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t encountered this meme in some form, making it the ideal candidate for a LEGO transformation. Additionally, I wanted to explore comic strips as a source of inspiration since I rarely see other LEGO enthusiasts doing the same.
I aimed for a small, straightforward build that was both expressive and relatable, something I could complete in an evening.
The first essential item I needed was transparent fire pieces. I vaguely recalled having some in older sets and found a few during a bulk purchase in 2022. However, since I hadn’t sorted my LEGO in over a year, I had to sift through numerous tubs of pieces. Although it took some time, I eventually located them and discovered I had more than enough.
Next, I needed to create the effect of smoke. After considering several options, I decided against using visible studs in the smoke and opted for inverted round tiles in two shades of grey and black, which I believe adds depth and realism to the smoke's appearance.
For the speech bubble, I creatively repurposed the cloud piece from the Postcard sets. I never expected to utilize them much, but it turns out that with a touch of imagination, any LEGO piece can be repurposed. To illustrate the spreading fire around the table's base, I used a transparent orange chain—an inventive touch, I think.
In total, I employed around 100 LEGO pieces that I already owned, spending about three hours on the build. Not bad for my first attempt!
The Individual Frames...
I didn’t create four distinct frames for this comic strip, as I lacked the necessary pieces for replication. Although I possess over 100,000 LEGO pieces, the variety means I often have only a dozen or so of any specific type. To work around this limitation, I modified the original build for each frame by adding or removing elements and then captured several photos.
In the first frame, I omitted the speech bubble. Our character is simply seated in a chair with some smoke drifting above and a yellow mug of coffee on the table. I have a plethora of these mugs, mainly in yellow and red! For the minifigure, I selected a fairly generic option, ensuring it featured the classic LEGO head. I chose the torso and legs based on color harmony, with green fitting well into the scene. Although the hat isn’t perfect, I used Indiana Jones’ hat from a recent set I reviewed since I didn’t have a smaller one.
The second frame resembles the first, with the addition of a wall. I considered adding real doors and windows or a picture frame but ultimately decided that colored bricks would suffice to suggest their presence. This frame features the iconic speech bubble where the character proclaims, “This is fine.”
In the third frame, the scene shifts significantly. I used various shades of inverted round tiles to create the appearance of thickening smoke and included more fire. Our laid-back protagonist now takes a sip from his coffee and calmly states, “I’m okay with the events that are unfolding currently.”
The fourth and final frame (having skipped two earlier ones where he says nothing) depicts our character engulfed in flames. The comic strip shows him deteriorating, so I chose to merge the two frames, resulting in a skeletal figure wearing a hat, surrounded by fire and smoke. The mug has melted into a yellow puddle on the table—an added detail not present in the original comic but one I thought was fitting.
At this point, he remains in denial, stating, “That’s okay, things are going to be okay.” Spoiler alert: everything was not okay. The house was ablaze, leading to destruction, as an alternative version of this comic clearly illustrates.
Overall, I am quite pleased with the result. After sharing it with a few friends, they all immediately recognized the reference. I even created a comic strip version using Freeform—a fantastic free app from Apple that I'm increasingly using. You can also find it on my Instagram.
This little MOC has inspired me to build more in the future, and I already have two other ideas brewing. I hope to find the time and pieces to realize them soon and share my progress with you all.
Until next time, stay creative and play well!