Some background on this comic:

Transcript:

On the left is the first version of this cartoon, which, after completing, I felt contained a fundamental error in showing the action. The second version implies what is about to happen, thereby heightening both the tension and (hopefully) the humor.

anyone else think this seems fundamentally cruel? i can’t help but imagine myself sitting there, hearing the bubbling, watching the chefs’ glee

That lobster looks remarkably happy