Adult Children Comics A Cartoon Review of Witty Retail Chaos and Life Irony

Adult Children Comics is a cartoon review of modern work-life chaos, existential dread, and the hilarious breakdowns that come with simply clocking in. Created by the endlessly sharp Stephen Beals, this series turns mundane moments into perfect punchlines. Whether you’ve been traumatized by customer service or ambushed by team-building beanbag tosses, this comic will feel a little too relatable.

Stephen Beals is the genius cartoonist behind Adult Children Comics, a strip that began as a sharp take on modern adulthood and evolved into a beloved series for anyone who’s worked retail or tried to survive society without losing their mind. With a style reminiscent of classic newspaper strips but a sensibility that’s utterly now, Beals delivers punchlines with surgical precision.

His characters are jaded yet lovable, his scenarios absurd but somehow… completely normal. Beals has earned praise across cartooning communities for his masterful pacing, expressive faces, and the unique ability to make awkward silences feel louder than shouting. If you’ve ever been stuck in a pointless training session or dealt with a “Karen,” his comics are your therapy.

Why We Can’t Stop Laughing at Adult Children Comics

#1 “Team-Building Torture.”

Forget bean bags—this strip is corporate trauma in four panels.
A training break becomes a hilarious indictment of forced enthusiasm, with Berle summing up every disgruntled employee’s worst nightmare: being volunteered for team-building exercises. It’s snarky, it’s spot-on, and it hits everyone who’s ever held a coffee and prayed for early retirement.

#2 “Commitment Issues… Defined.”

When commitment sounds more like a prison sentence than a life goal, you know you’re in Adult Children territory.
The facial expressions say it all—when someone associates commitment with “incarceration,” Beals lets his characters do the dark thinking for us. A clever social commentary in disguise, this comic skewers modern detachment with a wink.

#3 “Customer Conflict Training, the Sequel.”

The empathy formula? More like the frustration formula.
This strip hilariously illustrates how customer service training rarely matches reality. The comic delivers a perfect loop from theory to chaos, ending with a child ironically mastering the language of corporate gaslighting. Pure genius.

#4 “Feeling… Like This Is Pointless.”

Fill-in-the-blank empathy? Cue sarcasm.
One of Beals’ most laugh-out-loud examples of how logic is no match for real customers. The fourth panel brings it home—when empathy leads to brutal honesty (“You’re feeling crazy because we’re annoying”), you know the training manual just got shredded.

#5 “Packet People Problems.”

Annual training should come with hazard pay.
The over-enthusiastic trainer and dead-eyed trainees set the stage for a masterclass in sarcasm. When someone asks how to get her job, the humor shifts from corporate pain to existential yearning. This one’s a fan favorite for obvious reasons.

#6 “Lobster Logic at Retail Jobs.”

Boiling in retail misery? You’re not alone.
Beals compares retail burnout to slowly cooking a lobster, and it’s disturbingly accurate. It’s the kind of strip you laugh at—and then pause to consider your own questionable work-life balance. (Bonus points for the sleepy dog.)

#7 “Time, Existentially Speaking.”

Can we get this day back at the end of our lives? Nope—and that’s why this comic stings just right.
Philosophical and punchy, this comic turns a slow workday into a deep reflection with a comedic twist. It’s short, sweet, and strangely profound.

#8 “Tesla Sucks, and Other Lies.”

Money can’t buy happiness—but it can apparently buy Teslas and fancy job titles.
This comic delivers class commentary with perfect comedic rhythm. Berle’s sarcasm is peak “down-with-the-man,” and the final jab about sleeping in a Tesla is so millennial it hurts.

#9 “Support That Actually Helps.”

It’s the rare customer who gets it—and Beals captures the shock beautifully.
From policy tantrum to unexpected kindness, this strip flips the usual Karen scenario on its head. The punchline, delivered by a dog no less, is classic Beals misdirection.

#10 “Where’s the Bathroom?”

Bathroom rage meets millennial sass.
Mr. Gump can’t find the restroom, and everyone’s patience is about to burst. Beals expertly escalates the situation, panel by panel, to a final burn worthy of applause: “Let me talk to the girl behind you. She’s nicer.” It’s absurd. It’s brilliant. It’s Tuesday.

Final Thoughts

Adult Children Comics is a mirror we didn’t ask for but desperately needed. Through acerbic wit and expressive art, Stephen Beals gives us permission to laugh at our daily disasters. From retail agony to human confusion, every strip is a lesson in dry humor and emotional accuracy.

Credit to the Artist:
All comics featured in this article are the original work of cartoonist Stephen Beals, the creative force behind Adult Children Comics. His art brilliantly blends subtle expressions and razor-sharp dialogue to poke fun at modern life with style.
→ Official Website: stbeals.com
→ Facebook: facebook.com/AdultChildrenComic
→ Instagram: @adultchildrencomic

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