The general theme of this cartoon is the role of drugs in 21st century life. The goal is not to promote the use of drugs, nor to focus on the negative effects of drugs; it is mostly to expose the reader to a more objective outlook on issues that are so often swept under the rug to be ignored or forgotten. This strip is better than many other cheap cliches that surround drug culture already in publication, because it goes beyond just "bad puns" and stale hippy/stoner jokes! It deals with issues of self purpose in life, and maintaining a simplistic, minimalist lifestyle. It also deals with the alienation of being the minority in a world that is so quick to judge. The focus is to expose human nature, helping us laugh at our own hypocrisy and stupidity.
We see the main character, Scud, (who lives on welfare in a dank basement) encounter and deal with the law in his own way. Joints become as common as the dialogue bubbles intertwined with smoke. Animated psychedelic trips are enough to make any reader dizzy! Character relationships include: a dog named Salvador (after Dali), a nagging girlfriend, toking buddies, pot plants that listen to Mozart, old cranky landlords that live upstairs, and even a footless cold war veteran! Common scenarios include: hitchhiking, protesting, spray painting, spitting, fighting, drinking, driving, job hunting, tripping out on numerous chemicals, and of course smoking the herb. Scud even stops to talk to the junkies on the street that most of us would pass by without thinking twice about it, reminding us that it's just plain inhumane to ignore human suffering.
So read the writing on the wall or carved into the bathroom stall.
Maybe Scud did it! Fucking vandal!!
Enjoy the Hot Box!