Ep 21. Three Men and a Comic Book

Bart, Milhouse, and Martin pool their funds together to purchase the first issue of Radioactive Man comic book, but their greed and selfishness leads to a falling out. The episode opens with Bart at a garage sale, where he comes across a rare and valuable issue of Radioactive Man. He has only $5, so he calls upon his friends Milhouse and Martin to add to his funds to purchase the comic book. They all agree to share custody of the comic book and read it together. However, their plan falls apart soon enough.

The boys gloriously carry their comic book to the Springfield Park, where they plan to find a quiet spot and read it together. Once they find their spot, they dive into the comic book with full enthusiasm, narrating the story of Radioactive Man throughout. The boys even imagine themselves as heroes while playing in the park.

As the trio bond over their shared love of comic books, they realize that they are in possession of something valuable. They discuss selling the comic and buying various things they've always wanted. Martin suggests that they invest in the future and wait for the value of the comic to rise. However, Milhouse refuses to wait; he wants the comic, and he wants it now.

The boys organize an auction for the comic, but none of them wish to relinquish possession. The auction begins with Martin's offer of $15, which is soon met with Bart's $20. Milhouse, who never had $20, begins to throw tantrums as he feels left out. Martin steps up his bid with an offer of $25, but Milhouse manages to raise $35. Bart, however, isn't one to let go of his prized possession, so he decides to raise the stakes by offering $50. In turn, Milhouse raises his bid to $120, and Bart backs out.

In the end, the comic book tearfully gets divided into three pieces among the boys, and each walks away with their piece. All three pieces ultimately get ruined in their attempts to make up for the loss of a full comic book, showing the irony of the boys' greed for the comic. The episode concludes with Homer and Marge discussing the lesson learned by the boys, and how greed and selfishness can ruin even the best of friendships.

Overall, the episode Three Men and a Comic Book is yet another example of the series's timeless ability to connect with its viewers through its themes of friendship, loyalty, and growing up. The triumphs and pitfalls of childhood accurately reflect the conflicts that kids face when trying to balance desire with altruism. This is an entertaining and hilarious episode that is sure to be enjoyed by fans of all ages.