sneak up

Not surprisingly, we find a lot more quotable anthropology, philosophy, or theology in Cathy," "Calvin and Hobbes," "The Far Side," or "Doonesbury" than "Batman" or "Brenda Starr." The reason for this seems fairly simple to me--the things we joke about or lampoon are often the very issues we feel the strongest about, and not infrequently humor, whether light or biting, is the only way we know to sneak up on the really important questions of life.

The art-parables of the funnies don't just sneak up on us because they're humorous but also because they look so unimportant.