Zach Galifiankis is a comic’s comic.  He’s the Bela Fleck of comedians. 
  The genius of his work is not so much in his understanding of what makes a crowd respond as it’s what makes other comics respond.  I believe that it’s more important for him to get the approval of peers than it will ever be from an audience.  This becomes obvious with his continual willingness to risk image and career to test what he truly believes to be funny to people that understand performing and comedy.  If he left his methods and beliefs by the wayside and just focused on what every other comic strives to become he would immediately be a consumer success.  He never has, and he never will.  That to me makes him a valent and brilliant comic, but probably a very tortured one as well.  The great ones always are. 
  If I’m wrong, then this guy is on a whole nother level I can’t even fathom.  Either way, he’s the best I’ve seen in a long time.