Bill Hicks was the last great social satirist, the true descendent of comedians like Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. His work confronted the hypocrisies of late-20th century American life, divining comedy from the more evil impulses of the government and the mass media while assaulting the soullessness of mainstream culture. A longtime substance abuser, Hicks' monologues addressed issues of expanded consciousness and spirituality rare to the comedy format; for all of the rage inherent in his standup, his message was one of transcendence -- as he frequently reminded audiences, "The truth will set you free." Hicks died on February 26, 1994 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 32. ~ Jason Ankeny