TheBombDotCom: Cyanide and Happiness at explosm.net/comics

by Aadam Soorma

Down for a quick laugh and need a break from all the studying, err, Facebooking you’ve been doing?
Look no further than “Cyanide and Happiness.”

The daily web-comic that uses recurring, coarsely drawn characters engaging in senseless, controversial, sometimes offensive acts leading up to awkward punch-line climaxes, is produced by four friends who collaborate to tap into their eclectic, dark senses of humor. First posted in January 2005 as primitively drawn stick figure cartoons, “C+H” has since developed a loyal fan base. More than 37,000 users are registered on the “C+H” forum, which isn’t surprising, considering it is one of the 2,000 most-visited sites on the Web, as reported by Internet statistics company Alexa.

Poking fun at topics like disability, murder, violence and sexual deviancy, “C+H” relies on trademark awkward silence panels in which characters are seen staring at each other blankly. These serve as a crescendo to an indefinite punch-line, made funnier by the figures’ distinguishable expressions.

Contributing artists Rob DenBleyker and Kris Wilson feel that the foursome has worked well together on projects such as “C+H.”

“We all had a hand in it, but Kris had the biggest hand, one of those Styrofoam hands you see at football games,” DenBleyker said.

Matt Melvin and Dave McElfatrick, the other two contributing artists, believe that using a minimalist style helps drive their humor.

“There are some fantastically drawn comics out there, but minimalism works for us and our content in a way that would be detrimental to many others,” Melvin said.

A word of caution: when logging on, it isn’t a bad idea to turn your speaker volume down just a bit, as pop-up ads run rampant. Also, be ready for cheeky flash ads and the occasional removed comic. Think you’ve got what it to takes to make your own “C+H” strip? The writers occasionally accept guest comics as part of week-long theme strips. So whether you’re just browsing around or looking to realize a dream of authoring an R-rated comic strip, check out “Cyanide and Happiness.” It’s guaranteed fun for the whole … well … wait … (awkward silence) …