mugging
Explanation
The Joke
A mugger threatens someone and demands their valuables, but the victim turns the tables by revealing his financial situation is actually terrible. He explains that the majority of his wealth is tied up in his home, he is strictly speaking a debtor when you consider his mortgage, and a financial advisor would consider his liquid assets essentially worthless. When the mugger asks about his wallet, the victim explains he is renting his apartment (so has no home equity), and his student loans are not yet paid off. The mugger offers a hug, and the victim declines, saying he does not want to get used to the experience of personal comfort.
The Humor
The comic plays on the gap between the appearance of middle-class comfort and the reality of modern personal finances. The mugger assumes his victim has something worth stealing, but the victim's detailed breakdown of his financial situation reveals he is essentially worth less than nothing -- a situation familiar to many millennials and young professionals burdened with student debt and high living costs. The final line about not wanting to get used to "personal comfort" adds a layer of dark humor, suggesting the victim has so thoroughly internalized his financial precarity that even a free hug feels dangerously indulgent.
References
The comic touches on common themes in discussions about millennial economics, including the student debt crisis, the difficulty of home ownership, and the distinction between net worth and liquid assets.