Did you read 'the comics' [='the funnies'] today?
The scene was included for 'comic' effect.
the 'comic' section of the newspaper
(..) I'm sure I don't know! If you weren't so drunk and insulting, I could explain everything. -As it is though-- -If you get out of that chair once more! Of course, the comic figure in all this is the long suffering Mr. Wilkes! Mr. Wilkes, who can't be mentally faithful to his wife... (..)1939 Gone with the Wind