The Road to Hell is the 11th book in the Life in Hell series, representing a collection of cartoons published in 1991-1992. The cartoons alternate between the characters Akbar and Jeff vs Bongo the bunny. Some consist of 9-16 small panels, and a few consist of a single, full page panel. Most are minimalist drawings; all are intentionally strange. With Bongo, we see a world through juvenile eyes – a world that is commonly confusing or frightening. The fez- wearing Akbar and Jeff typically have eyes only for each other, except when someone else captures their mutual love interest.

Bongo enters the living room to see an enormous pile of wrapped gift boxes, and his parent cringing on the couch. Says Bongo pointedly ”I suppose you think this will buy my affection.”

Akbar asks Jeff: ”Do you ever think deep thoughts?” Jeff thinks, and answers, in successive panels. “Today is tomorrow’s yesterday.” “Yesterday is tomorrow’s day before yesterday.” “This year is last’s year’s next year.” “Now is later’s awhile ago.” “Forever is forever forever.” “Here is over there’s back thisaway.” and finally ” “The answer to your question is not yet.” ”

Occasionally there’s a political message. Bongo is in class, doing the obligatory classroom salute to the flag: “I pledge impertinence to the flag waving of the unindicted co-conspirators of America. And to the republicans for which I can’t stand, one abomination, underhanded fraud, indefensible, with liberty and justice, forget it.” To his teacher’s angry glare, he whispers: “just kidding”

And in a full panel filled with hundreds of bunnies who are glaring at Bongo, he asks: “Is being politically correct really that important to you?”

This collection is like the others that I’ve read. You might like them or not like them. But you probably won’t love them or hate them. Some you won’t “get…” maybe a lot of them. You also might be indifferent. Or, maybe not. ( )