C&H: Addressing Serious Societal Issues In A Humorous Way

By Stephen M

Cyanide and Happiness is breaking boundaries with its thought-provoking stick graphic comic targeting various social issues. The webcomic addresses various dark and surreal subjects hardly talked about. It has no taste boundaries. The topics are presented humorously that; their intensity is highly diluted and made to appear light. With this, you can have fun while delving into sensitive matters.

Source: cyanideandhappiness /Instagram

How it Begun

Four cartoonists, Rob DenBleyker, Kris Wilson, Dave McElfatrick, and Matt Melvin worked together to create Cyanide and Happiness in 2005. As they grew, several other contributors joined the train to develop insight and relatable stick graphic comics. Published on the website explosm.net and on Instagram at cyanideandhappiness, the contents come in comics and animated shorts that address diverse subjects.

Source: cyanideandhappiness /Instagram

According to Melvin, he first worked with DenBleyker on a stick figure movie project around 1999 and 2000. At the time, McElfatrick was also creating in the stick figure community. McElfatrick later joined the team, and after him was Wilson. They later started Cyanide & Happiness, with Kris being the brain behind the content style. In 2014, Melvin decided to leave the team.

C&H relies solely on graphic stick figures for both the animations and fan comics in content creation. As of 2012, C&H had over a million views monthly and keeps growing. It also has over 4500 Instagram followers, with many other web viewers. Fans cannot help but to always return for something new to laugh about.

The webcomic receives over a million views every month. Aside from the usual graphic comics and animations, the animated TV show Cyanide & Happiness Show had four seasons. Other spinoffs include two tabletop games and two video games.

C&H won a Streamy Award and has earned nominations in others including Eisner Award.