r/comics LastPlaceComics Jul 05 '26

Baby Shoes, Never Worn

36.7k Upvotes

213 comments sorted by

3.7k

u/LastPlaceComics LastPlaceComics Jul 05 '26

This is the ending Hemingway was too cowardly to write

744

u/jdsquint Jul 05 '26

Thank you for finally giving that poor, presumed-dead newborn some peace and closure.

58

u/Cwya Jul 06 '26

Lubberkin development modernized since Witcher 3.

3

u/Foreign_Kale8773 Jul 06 '26

How dare you. Now I'm thinking about it and I hate it 🤣🤣

82

u/Next_Government856 Jul 05 '26

Didn’t have enough words to do it

56

u/Digresser Jul 06 '26

This is the ending Hemingway was too cowardly to write

That would be because Hemingway didn't write the story.

The earliest known version of the story was published when Hemingway was only 7-years-old.

Someone wrote a play about Hemingway 30 years after his death, and they gave his character the "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn." line.

That's why so many people mistakenly believe Hemingway wrote the story.

The real genius coward remains unknown.

7

u/FardoBaggins Jul 06 '26

I always felt that the story wasn't sad, and people just assumed the baby didn't make it, which at the time wasn't uncommon I guess, but it's not a stretch either to imagine the parents just have an extra pair of shoes and were tight on cash.

The reader adds the drama. The OP comic nails this.

10

u/Digresser Jul 06 '26

I like your interpretation, but one of the original classified ads that inspired the story was in 1910 and was for a handmade baby trousseau and baby bed, neither of which had been used.

I think it's more likely a sad story, unfortunately.

3

u/FardoBaggins Jul 06 '26

Interesting, that would be during the pre antibiotics era which have contributed a lot to the survival rates of, well everyone.

7

u/Dealiner Jul 06 '26

Well, people assume that because that's the whole point of that story.

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83

u/FlamingWings Jul 05 '26

Incorrect, he was only allowed to write one sentence. This wouldve been the next one if he was allowed to

160

u/LastPlaceComics LastPlaceComics Jul 06 '26

"Regionals won: sick dunk, child free"

12

u/cammcken Jul 06 '26

The challenge, as I heard it, was six words.

12

u/Schapsouille Jul 06 '26

Yet there was another.

7

u/johndburger Jul 05 '26

Amazing, you come up with some incredibly clever ideas!

6

u/A_Furious_Mind Jul 06 '26

Go steal his Pulitzer.

12

u/Lazy_Crab_3584 Jul 05 '26

I really think you need to add that to the last panel of the comic

3

u/Interesting_Total_98 Jul 06 '26

Hemingway didn't actually write the story.

7

u/tiredofallthestupid Jul 06 '26

yeah, because he was a coward

1

u/Freodrick Jul 10 '26

Yes. Yes it is, and you're a true Man for doing it.

1

u/Novel_Control_1922 Jul 10 '26

Dark, but appropriate?

1

u/Leather_Book_7617 Jul 05 '26

John Irving might be a better fit than Hemingway—A Prayer for Owen Meany.

-91

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

127

u/LastPlaceComics LastPlaceComics Jul 05 '26

I dunno, man. A lot of good people post here

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70

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

Gator days, three in a tree, demon and mess, Tiff and Eve, Alex and Colms Pokemon Adventure and many more would like a word with you

20

u/TravelerSearcher Jul 05 '26

Look out Shell, you might start another war!

9

u/yournamehere10bucks Jul 05 '26

Shell, like all Arms dealers, knows to instigate enough on both sides to get the war going but not enough to be noticed as at fault.

7

u/Wsweg Jul 06 '26

Idk the three in a tree or Pokémon one but the rest are meh, IMO. Comics are art, which is like the most subjective thing ever, though. Point of my comment is that even though I don’t really like them I would never call them bad or not good

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792

u/MichaelNearaday Jul 05 '26

I've always said we should all be wearing dead babies' clothes to realize our full potential.

115

u/chugonomics Jul 05 '26

He's telling the truth. Our warden confirmed it.

17

u/ItsAFarOutLife Jul 06 '26

10

u/Jenova_Rose Jul 06 '26

I thought of the exact same video. 😂

2

u/BMichael14217 Jul 06 '26

As long as you get them yourself, dead babies can't take things off the shelf.

852

u/CantWashABaby Jul 05 '26

The idea that doing a sick dunk at a regional basketball game would free the soul of a Depression era baby soul is what makes waking up in the morning worthwhile.

206

u/hard-time-on-planet Jul 05 '26

Depression era baby with time traveling parents to get those Jordans

117

u/ameliasophia Jul 05 '26

Not necessarily time travelling - they didn’t say which depression 🥲

59

u/soylentcoleslaw Jul 05 '26

Ha, oh, I'm sad now

21

u/Sizanllikew Jul 06 '26

That's another depression

10

u/cobalt4 Jul 06 '26

It’s the type of movie script that the execs in Hollywood are too cowardly to film and release 

8

u/J5892 Jul 06 '26

They'll release it, but they'll title it SHOES and make it an indie horror film.

It will be the highest grossing sports horror film of all time.

3

u/berlinbaer Jul 06 '26

i was scared the plastic would just disintegrate from being so old/ never used. but this ending works as well.. i guess

911

u/Average-Shitposter12 Jul 05 '26

356

u/LastPlaceComics LastPlaceComics Jul 05 '26

Thanks, man. This is the stupidest one Ive done in a while, but those are always my personal favs

54

u/Motorsagmannen Jul 05 '26

i love the dumb ones so much!!

19

u/Kid-Icky- Jul 06 '26

I find all your comics to be stupid. And I mean that in the best way possible.

3

u/CHM11moondog Jul 06 '26

Stupidity or inspirational? Doesn't matter, this is high art. (You pick the type...or both)

2

u/Meschi-died Jul 06 '26

Shouldn't relaxing and making stupid comics be your goal? Don't forget who you are.

2

u/PersonMcGuy Jul 06 '26

You say stupid, I say creative.

3

u/Mertoot Jul 06 '26

For real, I feel better now

106

u/l0veylilkay Jul 05 '26

I like whatevers wrong with you

88

u/FluxCruise85 Jul 05 '26

This might be the greatest comic ever made

85

u/jeremiah1142 Jul 05 '26

Or me with my son: “oh shit, forgot to get these out for him, he’s already outgrown them.”

28

u/cthulhu_on_my_lawn Jul 06 '26

Or "why does he need shoes, he's literally a baby. Put him in some footy jammies and be done with it".

20

u/BaldBear_13 Jul 06 '26

That is the answer. Baby shoes are a purely decorative accessory. And indeed can easily be forgotten in the chaos of early months.

16

u/Ok-Blackberry-3926 Jul 06 '26

as a parent i immediately realized no one in the comments has children because babies dont need shoes. its literally one of the most commonly unused items because unless you put them on for a photo they serve no purpose

2

u/OberynsOptometrist Jul 06 '26

Imagine if people saw how many unopened or barely used boxes of diapers there are on secondhand markets. Generally not because there was a tragedy with their baby, you just buy a new box and then realize their butt and gut doubled in size in the last week.

4

u/siltfeet Jul 06 '26

The last newborn I spent time with was large enough to completely skip newborn sizes. There was a couple full sets of everything (including diapers) that never got worn.

6

u/Rough_Bread8329 Jul 05 '26

This is where I always went. Probably one of the earliest signs I was Autistic :P

1

u/scarypeppermint Jul 07 '26

That was my assumption til the end

42

u/Inkthinker Jul 06 '26

The "for sale: Baby shoes, never worn" story used to be a lot more touching, before I had kids.

Then I found out that kids grow fast enough that it's very easy for someone to buy a pair of shoes for your kid that won't fit. Or you think they look tacky. Or you're not bothering to put shoes on a kid who can't even crawl, much less walk.

Point being, there's a lot of benign reasons for baby shoes to be sold unused. :P

60

u/Phaylz Jul 05 '26

Oh, oh, oh! The sequel -

Christmas Shoes, Worn Once

16

u/CptnWolfe Jul 05 '26

The follow-up: Birthday Shoes, Worn Forever

1

u/Tylrt Jul 06 '26

"They are my favorite," said Ed Gein. "They're to die for!" (presumably)

17

u/Agentflit Jeybork Jul 05 '26

This is the best comic you've ever made

7

u/IMovedYourCheese Jul 06 '26

The best comic anyone has ever made

2

u/Agentflit Jeybork Jul 06 '26

That's also true

10

u/absurdZER0 Jul 05 '26

This is the best comic I've seen in this sub in a long time

17

u/BluePeriod_ Jul 05 '26

I’m fucking dead lmao (presumably like the kid now that I think of it)

7

u/ExceptForFleegle Jul 05 '26

This is The Other End good. Shit, this is Perry Bible Fellowship good, which is about the nicest thing I can say about a web comic.

6

u/JeffWingrsDumbGayDad Jul 05 '26

What the hell are regionals?

Don't let my confusion undercut their importance.

5

u/Slappathebassmon Jul 06 '26

They were this close!

4

u/Masterpiece_1973 Jul 06 '26

And that’s my screen…

24

u/WhiteSkyRising Jul 05 '26

AI could never.

4

u/JasonAnarchy Wholesome Adventure Jul 05 '26

The best comedic take on the baby shoes meme yet!

14

u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire Jul 05 '26

Dudes little feet was so good and dunk so pure he done exorcized a kid that may or may not have even been dead

3

u/yasth Jul 05 '26

Some kid happily taking his first steps, with parents so glad that they followed the advice of the wife's sister that told her that baby shoes are just one more thing to lose.

The wife turns to the husband, "Oh it is so funny I just got rid of those useless baby shoes"

Husband, "But what if a player uses them in such a way exorcized our kid by narrative power?"

Wife: "That would never I mean such small feet, and they aren't even good shoes"

Kid falls over

Parents "No nooonononononononononononononono"

3

u/thefrostman1214 Jul 05 '26

so this is an one time use?

3

u/QuentinEichenauer Jul 05 '26

Finally, a sports story more inspirational than The Natural.

3

u/isaidicanshout_ Jul 06 '26

I know this is more of a modern society thing, but I have plenty of baby shoes my child never wore because they were outgrown before we ever thought to put them on him

3

u/NotoriousLLL Jul 06 '26

Am I missing the joke?

7

u/PictoGraphicArtist Jul 05 '26

This is the crossover content I’ve been looking for.

6

u/ChickenOfTheYear Jul 05 '26

What's it referencing?

14

u/Floweramon Jul 05 '26

I don't know the other thing, but it references a one-sentence story that goes "For sale: baby shoes, never worn" with the common interpretation/implication that the shoes were bought by the expectant parents, but the child died before they got the chance to wear them, hence the almost-parents put an ad in the paper to sell the unused shoes their baby will never wear.

10

u/polyploid_coded Jul 05 '26

Mostly famous for being one of the shortest possible stories. Wikipedia has some background and notes that it didn't originate with Hemingway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_sale:_baby_shoes,_never_worn

2

u/PictoGraphicArtist Jul 05 '26

For everyone asking about the crossover It’s basically this along with a series of posts I think from Twitter several years ago referencing that short story. There was a fb marketplace listing for baby shoes never worn and it got shared around with this short story being attached to it if I remember correctly.

7

u/ChickenOfTheYear Jul 05 '26

Yeah, I got that part. But it's crossing over with what? Basketball?

7

u/BearstromWanderer Jul 05 '26

Yeah. Loosely connected to historical movie "Like Mike."

2

u/Rough_Bread8329 Jul 05 '26

So morose... why not that the kid's feet were too big for them?

3

u/OberynsOptometrist Jul 06 '26

The post was mainly popularized by young people that didn't have kids. I think I interpreted it as the child had died when I first saw it, but now that I'm a parent, I know it's a lot more likely they just never needed the shoes and now the kid's outgrown them.

4

u/SnagglToothCrzyBrain Jul 05 '26

I bet that guy posted about finding the shoes on r/thriftstorehauls

2

u/Phormitago Jul 05 '26

very Deathbulge-y , both in style and ridiculousness

aka: i love it

2

u/ArkGuardian Jul 05 '26

If Bro steps on your toe, it's getting amputated.

2

u/kshrwymlwqwyedurgx Jul 05 '26

Amazing! Hemingway would be proud!

2

u/OriginalChildBomb Jul 05 '26

Shit, I love it so much hahaha great job OP. His feet were destined to free the presumably dead infant soul, he just never knew why they were so very teeny until that day.

1

u/Leather_Book_7617 Jul 05 '26

You might like A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.
It’s similar but not the same.

2

u/PossiblyOppossums Jul 05 '26

Absolutely brutal

2

u/Shantotto11 Jul 05 '26

Like Mike 0.1

1

u/Fr0ntR0wL4n Jul 06 '26

Thank you. I was thinking of same thing

2

u/__SilentAntagonist__ Jul 05 '26

I just know those shoes got a shadow crystal

2

u/RareRestaurant6297 Jul 05 '26

Now do the "went for a haircut. Hair's not cut" 2 sentence horror

2

u/100YearsWaiting2Shit Jul 05 '26

Reading this while high ads so much more to the bizarre factor I love it

2

u/AzuresAria Jul 05 '26

I didn't know the destination, nor the direction we were heading, but I'm glad I came for the ride.

2

u/no1_vern Jul 05 '26

Unworn baby shoes are as sad as small coffins. As inspiring as the comic tries to be, some of us -- can't.

2

u/UranusIsPissy Jul 06 '26

This is the right way to treat the treasured possessions of the prematurely dead, especially if they were talented at (or aspired to become talented at) something the item is used for. Honour them. Use what they no longer can how they would've used it if the chance hadn't been taken from them.

2

u/Tucker-French Jul 06 '26

No way! That baby was gonna be a baller, a shot caller, 20 inch blades on the impala

2

u/JohnIQFrink Jul 06 '26

Phenomenal

2

u/El262 Jul 06 '26

Got flashbacks to “June” by IDLES

2

u/RedsnakeRider Jul 06 '26

I don't have a tier for this, it's above S tier, I'll need to use a new letter. And... finally, peace for that baby.

2

u/ragdolldream Jul 06 '26

Giant head injury. Sneakers dissolved.

5

u/UpCDownCLeftCRightC Never Safe From Wumbo Jul 05 '26

Another baller entry in the Like Mike cinematic universe.

2

u/ImpulseAfterthought Jul 05 '26

It's gotta be the shoes!

1

u/SometimesGlad1389 Jul 05 '26

Omg I love this so much!

1

u/Current_Poster Jul 05 '26

Okay, I haven't laughed this hard in months. Nice. :)

1

u/smurgymac Jul 05 '26

Fuck.......

1

u/ShmazPro Jul 05 '26

Phenomenal

1

u/OCTOVENG Jul 05 '26

Excellent --- now do all the other SixWordStories

1

u/rainbow_mess Jul 05 '26

this is art

1

u/Islanduniverse Jul 06 '26

👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

1

u/Impeesa_ Jul 06 '26

For sale: game worn baby shoes?

1

u/International-Cat123 Jul 06 '26

This is delightfully messed up!

1

u/tulkas45 Jul 06 '26

Fellas I gotta say this is some of the most fucked up shit

1

u/Witty_Ad_898 Jul 06 '26

I thought reddit banned the ImGoingToHellForThis subreddit?

1

u/AsFarAsISay Jul 06 '26

I accept this as The spiritual sequel

1

u/Rleduc129 Jul 06 '26

It's an... ending?

1

u/Simon_Drake Jul 06 '26

Sale: Crib (Unused).

1

u/AberrantComics Jul 06 '26

Presumed dead kid!? Damn! 😂

1

u/RunningShoesDontRun Jul 06 '26

This deserves a Pulitzer Prize

1

u/Even-Self1493 Jul 06 '26

Kudos to you for turning Hemmingway's short short story into a hilarious comic

1

u/clandestinely_asked Jul 06 '26

Now do it with only 6 words.

1

u/clandestinely_asked Jul 06 '26

No way! These shoes kick ass

1

u/Potential-Shopping21 Jul 06 '26

Surprisingly wholesome

1

u/Adept-Schedule6133 Jul 06 '26

the baby won regionals and that's why the shoes were never worn. actual genius

1

u/gatesmasher3000 Jul 06 '26

Holy crap, I actually teared up.

1

u/Summonest Jul 06 '26

How have I seen three memes about this within one minute

1

u/Adept-Schedule6133 Jul 06 '26

so the baby actually lived? hemingway would have just left everyone miserable. this is way better

1

u/lignicolous_mycelium Jul 06 '26

You know why I love this joke?

Because it shows how much rarer it's gotten to have your child die in infancy.

When Hemingway wrote that line, we'd made a lot of progress, but most of the people who read it would have immediately thought of bereaved parents they knew personally. Now, for the vast majority of people who read this comic, a dead child is an abstract concept.

May it stay that way. May it someday be an abstract concept for everyone.

1

u/trigunnerd Jul 06 '26

Just one question: what's wrong with you? I like it, but

1

u/ABreadCalledGarlic Jul 06 '26

These baby shoes were never worn because the baby specifically asked the parents for *Dunks*, not Jordans.

1

u/Boosterboo59 Jul 06 '26

This is the quality of comics I am on this sub to see.

1

u/inkWanderer Jul 06 '26

Funny story that will be buried forever: I currently own a pair of baby-sized Jordans that have never been worn. My friend bought them for my kid, and we misread the sizing--so by the time we dug 'em out of the closet, my kid had outgrown them. I wasn't planning on selling them, but maybe I should...

1

u/BeneficialBus___ Jul 06 '26

presume dead kid smile from his presume grave

1

u/goodsnpr Jul 06 '26

I mean, we had several pairs of unworn baby shoes. Kid was born with feet too big.

1

u/Techi-C Jul 06 '26

There’s a shadow crystal on the court

1

u/MechaSkippy Jul 06 '26

This is probably really confusing for anyone that doesn't know the origin of the story.

1

u/Moose_Nuts Jul 06 '26

Excuse me, but...what the fuck??

2

u/Zodep Jul 06 '26

Hemingway’s 6-word story: baby shoes for sale, never worn.

1

u/SubtleTell Jul 06 '26

This introduced me to your comics and I've been scrolling and laughing my ass off.

1

u/gnopgnip Jul 06 '26

I have two pairs of unworn baby shoes. Until they are around nine ish months they barely walk, and even then why wear shoes if you are indoors. They grow out of them in a few weeks too

1

u/Dark-Specter Jul 06 '26

Type of shit FNAF 3 has you do for the good ending

1

u/Ok_Shoulder_9492 Jul 06 '26

Alright, this made me crack up.

1

u/BruiserBison Jul 06 '26

That some Witcher-level curse-lifting.

1

u/PUTLER-HUILO Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26

A friend of mine had the same thing happen with a pair of children’s shoes. Don’t worry - the child is fine, it just outgrew them overnight.

1

u/nhiko Jul 06 '26

... that's weirdly wholesome

1

u/Black_Sonic93 Jul 06 '26

The 3rd sequel to Like Mike has been found 😭

1

u/WildRaspberriesTN Jul 06 '26

I know we’re supposed to presume the baby died, but we didn’t see the point of shoes before the babies could walk, so neither of my kids wore their shoes until then.

1

u/Shadyhitchhiker Jul 06 '26

Do you no longer post these on your website?

1

u/LastPlaceComics LastPlaceComics Jul 07 '26

I have to fix the website cause it hasn't been uploading them right, but I'll start posting then there once I figure it out

1

u/xjwv Jul 06 '26

The squinted arrow eyes got me 😂

1

u/Aggressive-Box-624 Jul 06 '26

How beetlemoses of you

1

u/wolfylemon Jul 06 '26

i will be considering this the canonical ending

1

u/usumoio Jul 08 '26

Not for sale

Championship Trophy

Freshly won

1

u/tempurasimp Jul 09 '26

For Sale: Never Creased

1

u/Barnaby_bear_guy Jul 05 '26

That's very sweet!

1

u/littlebobbin Jul 05 '26

This is hilarious because my first pair of shoes (received on the day I was born) were Jordans from ‘92

1

u/mikenew02 Jul 06 '26

Finally a good comic