Cyanide & Happiness

The third best stick figure webcomic in the world. Simple, silly and crude; usually just an average quality stuff in my opinion, but sometimes they score a hit - and when they do, it's a big one.

Factography

Author: Matt Melvin, Rob DenBleyker, Dave McElfatrick, Kris Wilson
Started: 26.1.2005
Updates: Daily (Monday to Sunday)
Website: www.explosm.net/comics

Words

They don't take anything seriously, themselves included, and that's what makes them great. Be it a superhero, a murderer, a rapist, a pedophile, a suicidal coprophage, a child with a drinking problem, or a paraplegic, dyslexic pantomime horse, anyone and/or anything can become a protagonist of this strip. It's not prejudiced against any particular group - it's prejudiced against everyone equally!

There's of course no storyline. A few characters are recurring, as are occasional "theme weeks" (Depressing Week, for example). My personal favorites are the Easter symbol Zombie Jesus and New Year's time travellers. From time to time, the fourth wall gets broken.

Sometimes it gets too primitive, verging on the edge of repetitive boringness. Fortunately, the art of play on words is not a forgotten lore yet. Don't get me wrong, I don't despise jokes based on violence, grossness or anything generally labelable as tasteless. However, I really prefer getting properly pun-ished.

More than words

Sticky!

Merchandise

There is a book, that I know for sure, as I bought one. But I'm kind of confused - it seems like there are two versions of the book, a hardcover (Cyanide & Happiness: I'm Giving You the Finger - got this one) in Europe, and a softcover in US. Different name, different cover, supposedly same content including extra strips drawn exclusively for the book release. WTF? IDK!

And as I'm too lazy to edit the previous paragraph, I'll just add another one: Now there's their second book, Ice Cream & Sadness, which is, curiously enough, the same for both US and non-US market. The extra bonus stuff makes it worth buying again. (I particularly like the Angel Dust strip.)

Miscellaneous

Don't forget to check their animated shorts.