bah-4
Explanation
This is an extended comic promoting BAHFest (the Festival of Bad Ad Hoc Hypotheses), an event created by Zach Weinersmith where participants compete to present the most convincing-sounding but deliberately absurd scientific hypothesis.
The comic features a long-form presentation in the style of a BAHFest talk, where a character presents an elaborate pseudo-scientific theory complete with diagrams, charts, and scientific-looking illustrations. The presentation uses the trappings of legitimate academic discourse -- visual aids, logical-sounding arguments, reference to real scientific concepts -- to build up an intentionally ridiculous conclusion.
The humor of BAHFest (and this comic promoting it) lies in the parody of how scientific reasoning can be used to justify almost anything if you start from a sufficiently absurd premise and apply enough logical-sounding argumentation. It satirizes both bad science and the persuasive power of the academic presentation format. The comic ends with an announcement that BAHFest is back, with information about getting tickets.
BAHFest is a real annual event that has been held at venues like MIT, where real scientists and comedians present intentionally bad evolutionary hypotheses in a competitive format. The event embodies SMBC's ongoing fascination with the intersection of rigorous scientific thinking and absurdist humor.