2013-08-24
Explanation
This is a long-form comic about zombies and the concept of consciousness and parasitism. It opens with what appears to be a philosophical lecture or presentation about how organisms can be controlled by parasites -- a reference to real-world parasites like Toxoplasma gondii, which can alter the behavior of infected hosts. The comic features green-skinned zombie-like creatures attending what seems to be some kind of gathering or lecture.
The comic plays with the idea that zombies are not simply mindless undead but rather hosts being controlled by parasites, drawing a parallel to real parasitology. The characters discuss and debate the nature of their condition, with the humor arising from zombies having a self-aware philosophical discussion about whether they are truly conscious or merely being puppeted by organisms in their brains. The situation mirrors real scientific debates about free will and the extent to which parasites and microorganisms influence human behavior.
The votey panel instructs the reader to "Now, go Google for Toxoplasma gondii" -- directly pointing to the real-world inspiration for the comic. Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that infects rodents and alters their behavior to make them less afraid of cats, thereby facilitating the parasite's transmission to its preferred host. Studies have also suggested it may subtly influence human behavior, making this a perfect subject for SMBC's brand of science-infused humor.