ASK SYD

Thats right folks, here's your chance to ask your favourite chain-smoking, working-class alien for his formidable wisdom. There's no question too personal, so go ahead and ask away!

Q: Syd, I've noticed that you smoke an awful lot of cigarettes in these strips. Don't you think you are setting a bad example for young readers everywhere? Love the comic, by the way!-Anonymous

Syd: Young readers? Don't people read warnings anymore?Look, art is a copy of life. My life includes cigarettes. Lots of them. I tried quitting, but I just ended replacing smokes with food and gaining like fifty pounds. It just didn't work out for me. I'll put it to you another way. Let's say we remove cigarettes from the strip. But why stop there? Why not get rid of the swearing too? In fact, we should just remove all humour from the strip so we end up with another "Marmaduke". If it'll make you feel better, let's pretend I'm smoking "Popeye Candy Sticks". Satisfied?

Glad you love the comic!

Send your questions to asksyd@freefallcomics.com.