20 Years Among the World’s Most Popular Comics – “Cyanide and Happiness” Returns to Lithuania
The most popular internet comics of all time? When asked this question online, nine out of ten times you’ll see “Cyanide and Happiness” among the answer options. Known for their iconic black humor and twisted plots, these comics are daily followed by tens of millions of fans worldwide who dream of meeting the creators in person. To the joy of fans in Lithuania, after being charmed by Vilnius once, the comic’s co-author has decided to return once again.
Reached Out Himself
Rob DenBleyker, one of the co-authors of “Cyanide and Happiness,” announces a new fan meeting date in Lithuania – May 25-26, 2024, during the biggest popular culture event in the Baltic countries, “Comic Con Baltics”.
“Rob’s visit in 2019 became a sensation. Thousands of people visited his booth – they talked, discussed their favorite comics, got autographs, and even took selfies together. Most interestingly, the author’s fascination with the event, the people, and our country was no less. He became an active follower of the event, engaging in all our news and activities. He left Lithuania in love with both the culture and the gastronomy. He even once reached out asking to share the name and recipe of a dish he tried here”, says Tomas Vievesis, one of the organizers of “Comic Con Baltics”.
Last fall, Rob DenBleyker reached out expressing his desire to return once again. The author’s wife will accompany him.
“The “Cyanide and Happiness” phenomenon hasn’t faded. On the contrary. The humor of the authors continues to invite laughter aloud, and the new comic plots appearing daily have managed to unite over 20 million followers from different countries worldwide. The news of Rob DenBleyker’s return has sparked a wave of excitement among fans of popular culture in the Baltic region”, says T. Vievesis.
More than Comics
Debuting in 2005, “Cyanide and Happiness” comics, created by Kris Wilson, Rob DenBleyker, Dave McElfatrick, and Matt Melvin, depict simple characters in dark or even existential situations. Upon their debut, the comics shook social media with their unpredictable plots, always accompanied by a dose of black humor.
The primitive illustration style, reminiscent of the “Microsoft Paint” program, adds uniqueness to the comics.
The enduring popularity has allowed “Cyanide and Happiness” to expand to other platforms: creating books, an animated series on “YouTube”, video and board games, and a mobile application. The new ideas of “Cyanide and Happiness” have received significant support on platforms such as “Kickstarter” or “Patreon” – fans have already contributed nearly 5 million USD for the creation of the series, games, and other products.
Actors from “Harry Potter” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” Will Attend
The co-authors of “Cyanide and Happiness” will arrive in Vilnius this spring – on May 25-26. Fans can meet the creator at the popular culture event “Comic Con Baltics 2024,” which will take place at “LITEXPO” in Vilnius.
Rob DenBleyker is not the only global star eagerly awaited by fans at the event. Also visiting will be stars from the “Harry Potter” films – Natalia Tena and Devon Murray, “Marvel” actor Sean Gunn, actress Natasha Halevi, online comic stars “Natural Habitat Shorts,” “Nobody Sausage,” and Nathan W. Pyle, creator of the “Strange Planet” comics.
“Comic Con Baltics” in Vilnius will take place for the sixth time. Spanning over 20,000 square meters and attracting 30,000 visitors last year, the event will invite attendees to immerse themselves in the universe of popular culture. Visitors will find the latest computer games and technologies in the exclusive “Baltics Gaming Expo” space, the largest cosplay contest in the Baltic countries will take place here. Also, the announcement of the upcoming films, the “Meet Lithuanian Film Industry” platform, inviting participation in discussions with prominent representatives of the Lithuanian film industry known worldwide, an interactive family area, the “Artists Alley” bringing together nearly a hundred popular culture artists annually, a space offering many curiosities from vendors, impressive decorations from the world’s most famous films and series, and many other attractions.
The first day of the event – Friday, May 24th – will be dedicated to schools. Students will be able to attend the event for free with a Culture Pass.
