Crumb loves to use his satirical touch to strip … people naked. He gets them all—from the spiritualist who would give it all up for a good lay to the inept politico who spouts off about revolution while using his girlfriend as a footstool. He goes after hucksters who prey on the frightened and confused, the self-righteous leaders who claim they have The Only Answer or hold the secret to The True Way.

For Crumb, there is no true way, no simple all purpose solution. He sends his characters looking for meaning in life. They try everything: sex, drugs, vegetarianism, religion, spiritualism, politics, despair, gurus, and soaking in bathtubs. But they generally only get ripped off, a case of V.D., or badly wrinkled skin for their trouble. At worst, they are raped or killed. At best, they learn that single minded solutions don't work and that seeking...