feat: switch to single-panel newspaper comic style for article images

Replace photography-style prompts with a comedy writer system prompt
that generates Far Side-style single-panel comic concepts with punchy
captions. The LLM rewriter now outputs a comic scene + caption line,
and the style suffix renders as classic black-ink newspaper comic on
yellowed newsprint.

Includes v3 style migration to auto-replace both the old infomercial
and the short-lived photography style in wp_options. Bumped max_tokens
to 180 to accommodate scene + caption output.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

includes/class-prautoblogger.php

@@ -123,17 +123,26 @@ class PRAutoBlogger {
 			update_option( 'prautoblogger_migrated_gemini_flash_lite', '1' );
 		}
 
-		// One-time migration: replace 90s infomercial style suffix with premium
-		// science editorial style. The old pastiche rendered poorly on Gemini/GPT-5
-		// Image models. Only overwrite if the stored value IS the old default — if
-		// the user customized it, respect their choice.
-		if ( ! get_option( 'prautoblogger_migrated_style_suffix_v2' ) ) {
-			$old_infomercial = 'Style: a screengrab from a 1995 late-night cable TV infomercial';
-			$current         = get_option( 'prautoblogger_image_style_suffix', '' );
-			if ( '' === $current || false !== strpos( $current, $old_infomercial ) ) {
+		// One-time migration (v3): switch to single-panel newspaper comic style.
+		// Replaces both the old infomercial pastiche and the short-lived premium
+		// photography style. Force-update unless the user has a truly custom value.
+		if ( ! get_option( 'prautoblogger_migrated_style_suffix_v3' ) ) {
+			$known_old_prefixes = [
+				'Style: a screengrab from a 1995',       // v1: infomercial.
+				'Style: premium scientific lifestyle',    // v2: photography.
+			];
+			$current = get_option( 'prautoblogger_image_style_suffix', '' );
+			$is_old  = ( '' === $current );
+			foreach ( $known_old_prefixes as $prefix ) {
+				if ( false !== strpos( $current, $prefix ) ) {
+					$is_old = true;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+			if ( $is_old ) {
 				update_option( 'prautoblogger_image_style_suffix', PRAUTOBLOGGER_DEFAULT_IMAGE_STYLE_SUFFIX );
 			}
-			update_option( 'prautoblogger_migrated_style_suffix_v2', '1' );
+			update_option( 'prautoblogger_migrated_style_suffix_v3', '1' );
 		}
 
 		// One-time migration: re-wrap existing encrypted values with "enc:" prefix.

includes/core/class-image-prompt-builder.php

@@ -28,28 +28,33 @@ class PRAutoBlogger_Image_Prompt_Builder {
 	 * code review, not an admin-panel click.
 	 */
 	private const REWRITER_SYSTEM_PROMPT = <<<'PROMPT'
-You are an image-prompt specialist for premium AI image models (Gemini Flash Image, GPT-5 Image).
+You are a comedy writer and single-panel cartoon creator, like Gary Larson (The Far Side) meets science humor.
 
-Given an article title and summary about peptides, supplements, or biohacking, write ONE vivid scene description (2-3 sentences, under 80 words) for a compelling featured image. Emphasize:
-- OBJECTS and MATERIALS: lab glassware, peptide vials, molecular structures, syringes, supplement bottles, biometric devices, microscopes, fitness equipment, test tubes
-- LIGHTING and DEPTH: bright directional studio lighting, selective focus, rich warm/cool color contrasts
-- COMPOSITION: dynamic framing with clear focal point, professional product photography perspective, sense of scale and precision
-- MOOD: scientific credibility paired with aspirational wellness — premium feel, approachable, engaging
+Given an article title and summary about peptides, supplements, or biohacking, create a SINGLE-PANEL COMIC concept. Output TWO parts separated by a blank line:
 
-Avoid:
-- Abstract concepts; show concrete objects only
-- Text, logos, watermarks, or readable labels
-- Detailed human faces (use hands, torso, silhouettes, or exclude people)
-- Multiple competing visual elements; keep the subject dominant
-- Generic stock-photo composition
+SCENE: One sentence describing the visual gag — a funny, absurd, or ironic situation related to the article's topic. Use anthropomorphized molecules, lab-coat-wearing animals, befuddled scientists, gym bros encountering peptide science, supplement bottles with personality, or everyday situations with a peptide twist. Keep it simple — one clear visual joke, 1-3 characters max.
 
-Output ONLY the scene description — no preamble, explanation, or quotes. Do NOT include any style direction; that is appended separately.
+CAPTION: A short, punchy caption or speech bubble line (under 15 words) that delivers the punchline. The humor should be dry, nerdy, and accessible — the reader should chuckle even if they only half-understand the science.
+
+Rules:
+- The joke MUST relate to the article's actual subject matter, not generic science humor
+- Characters can have simple cartoon faces (round heads, dot eyes, expressive eyebrows)
+- Keep the scene physically simple — few objects, clear staging, easy to read at thumbnail size
+- The caption should work as a standalone joke even without the image
+- No logos, watermarks, or branding
+- Output ONLY the scene and caption. No preamble, no explanation.
+
+Example output format:
+A muscular gym bro stares in confusion at a tiny vial while a peptide molecule with arms and legs flexes next to him, clearly outperforming him.
+
+"I've been doing this wrong for three years."
 PROMPT;
 
 	/**
-	 * Max tokens for the rewriter response. Scene descriptions are short.
+	 * Max tokens for the rewriter response. Comic concepts need more room
+	 * for the scene description plus the caption punchline.
 	 */
-	private const REWRITER_MAX_TOKENS = 120;
+	private const REWRITER_MAX_TOKENS = 180;
 
 	/**
 	 * OpenRouter provider for LLM calls. Null until first use.
@@ -220,15 +225,11 @@ PROMPT;
 	 * @return string Synthesized visual prompt concept.
 	 */
 	private function synthesize_visual_concepts_fallback( string $title, string $supporting_text ): string {
-		$prompt = "A visual representation of: {$title}";
-
-		if ( '' !== $supporting_text ) {
-			$snippet = strlen( $supporting_text ) > 150
-				? substr( $supporting_text, 0, 150 ) . '...'
-				: $supporting_text;
-
-			$prompt .= ". Context: {$snippet}";
-		}
+		// Fallback produces a simple comic concept when the LLM is unavailable.
+		$prompt = sprintf(
+			'A cartoon scientist in a lab coat looking bewildered while examining something related to: %s. Caption below reads: "Science is full of surprises."',
+			$title
+		);
 
 		return trim( $prompt );
 	}

prautoblogger.php

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ declare(strict_types=1);
  * Plugin Name:       PRAutoBlogger
  * Plugin URI:        https://peptiderepo.com/prautoblogger
  * Description:       Monitors social media for trending topics, generates SEO-friendly blog posts using AI, and publishes them on a daily schedule with full cost tracking and self-improvement metrics.
- * Version:           0.2.8
+ * Version:           0.2.9
  * Requires at least: 6.0
  * Requires PHP:      7.4
  * Author:            PeptideRepo
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
 | and limits without magic strings.
 */
 
-define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_VERSION', '0.2.8' );
+define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_VERSION', '0.2.9' );
 define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_DB_VERSION', '1.1.0' );
 define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_PLUGIN_FILE', __FILE__ );
 define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_PLUGIN_DIR', plugin_dir_path( __FILE__ ) );
@@ -59,14 +59,12 @@ define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_DEFAULT_EDITOR_MODEL', 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite' );
 define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_DEFAULT_IMAGE_PROVIDER', 'openrouter' );
 define( 'PRAUTOBLOGGER_DEFAULT_IMAGE_MODEL', 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-image' );
 
-// Default style suffix appended to every image-gen prompt to create a
-// cohesive visual brand across all article images. Updated 2026-04-18
-// after switching from FLUX.1 to Gemini/GPT-5 Image models — the old
-// 90s infomercial pastiche rendered poorly on the new models. Users may
-// override via Settings → Images → Style Suffix.
+// Default style suffix appended to every image-gen prompt. Updated
+// 2026-04-18: single-panel newspaper comic style. Users may override
+// via Settings → Images → Style Suffix.
 define(
 	'PRAUTOBLOGGER_DEFAULT_IMAGE_STYLE_SUFFIX',
-	'Style: premium scientific lifestyle photography, professional laboratory setting with warm studio lighting, shallow depth of field, color-graded for wellness branding in rich golds and deep teals, high-end editorial quality.'
+	'Style: a single-panel newspaper comic in classic black ink on white paper, simple clean linework like The Far Side or B.C., slightly yellowed newsprint texture, hand-drawn crosshatching for shading, bold panel border, caption text in a clean sans-serif font below the panel, warm and humorous tone, visible in a newspaper comics section.'
 );
 
 /*