They had access to NBCs deep pockets, amply filled by many corporate advertisers. Rich Burlew has the people who visit his site and actually notice he is doing a fundraiser rather than immediately clicking to the newest comic (like I did,) and their resources are somewhat less than, say, Sony or Old Navy. Really, if raising that much money that way that fast was unremarkable we would not be talking about records (and, yes, I realize it is for the comic category alone, but that illustrates my point: For a one month webcomic fundraiser this is unprecedented.)

Think of it this way: With the help of his show AND Jon Stewarts, Stephen Colberts super PAC raised $1.02 million between the end of September and the end of January. Order of the Stick has raised $1.09 million in one-fourth that time. Even with tangible incentives that is pretty amazing.

The comment about Japan was just a casual Weird Al reference (specifically, to "Eat It") because, like I say, I am not making the "how could people spend so much money so frivolously when the world has such widespread dire needs?111" argument.