The quickest way to defuse fear or insecurity or anger is usually humor. I think comics figure that out quickly and once you figure it out you think 'Hey if I can do this and get paid that would be kind of cool.'
There's a schizoid streak within the family anyway so I dare say that I'm affected by that. The majority of the people in my family have been in some kind of mental institution as for my brother he doesn't want to leave. He likes it very much.