Thomas bottling smoke up, I see – seriously funny? (5-5)

I believe the answer is:

tragi-comic

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'seriously funny?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'thomas bottling smoke up i see' is the wordplay.
'thomas' becomes 'tom'.
'bottling' indicates putting letters inside (bottling is a kind of containing).
'smoke' becomes 'cigar' (smoke can mean a cigar).
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'see' becomes 'C' (the word for the letter, according to Chambers).
'cigar' written backwards gives 'ragic'.
'tom' placed around 'ragic' is 'tragicom'.
'tragicom'+'i'+'c'='TRAGI-COMIC'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for tragi-comic that I've seen is " Containing both sad and funny elements".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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