In case you’re scratching your head over the reference in my latest cartoon, I’ve borrowed from KC Green’s classic webcomic meme, “This is fine.” You’ve probably seen it— a cartoon dog sits with a smile, coffee in hand, as the room blazes around him. This image has become a shorthand for coping with disaster, or at least pretending to. Given Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s recent assurances that we have little to worry about with Trump’s return to power, I found this to be a fitting way to convey the gap between reassuring words and the high-stakes reality at our doorstep.

Green created “This is fine” back in 2013 as part of his Gunshow series, and it quickly went viral for its humour and relatability. The dog, later named Question Hound, became a symbol for anyone quietly facing chaos, making it one of the most enduring internet memes of the past decade. Green has mentioned that the comic was a way to channel his own mental health struggles at the time, and while it’s taken on a life of its own, he’s embraced how others relate to it.

As someone who’s had my own work recycled and repurposed—my “4 Waves”cartoon, for example—I get the complications of seeing your creation take on new lives and meanings. So, in the tradition of tipping my hat to the original creators I draw from, I’ve credited Green with “apologies to KC Green” at the bottom of my piece. This is the first time I’ve done a parody of his work, but as with my previous adaptations of classic art like Gillray’s “Plumb-pudding in Danger,” it’s a nod to a timeless image that speaks volumes. In this case, it’s about capturing the surreal feeling of being told, “We’re fine,” while the flames say otherwise. (Sound up for the animated version)