ADVERTISEMENT

Some comics don't need an introduction and Channelate by Ryan Hudson falls into this category. However, if you are not one of hundreds of thousands of people who follow Hudson's work online already, consider this your lucky day, because you have just found a webcomic that perfectly balances between dark and funny. Inspired by legendary comics such as The Perry Bible Fellowship and Cyanide and Happiness, Channelate has become pretty legendary too. Hudson posted his first comic in 2008, so has been going strong for over thirteen years regularly serving wry comedy with unexpected endings.

You can also see these cartoon characters come to life with a voiceover in short animations the artist posts on Instagram and TikTok. These animated comics created with Adobe Animate and often voiced by the artist himself are like a few seconds-long versions of animated sitcoms and a unique way to deliver a joke.

We have previously shared Channelate 3 years ago on Bored Panda, so it's about time to showcase the best of what the artist has been up to since then. Let us know which ones you like the most by upvoting and leaving a comment!

More info: Instagram | Facebook | twitter.com | channelate.com | patreon.com | tiktok.com

Hudson told us that he knew he wanted to draw cartoons when he first got the internet at the end of the '90s and stumbled upon a Flash cartoon website.

"As a kid, I had always wanted to be a newspaper cartoonist, but it always seemed like an unattainable goal. When I discovered webcomics, and found that anyone could start one, I decided to give it a go and never looked back."

Since his dream came true, he has turned hundreds of dark jokes into comics over the past decade, and the fun part is that each comic he puts online has a bonus panel with an extra joke we can all appreciate. To support his 'comic factory,' which produces content that is free to read for everyone, he has been freelancing on the side and started a Patreon page with exclusive content.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hudson says his comics are "about making fun of the human condition" with the ultimate goal of making humor.

"Sometimes I hit that on the nose hard. Sometimes I get absurd and goofy. But, the human condition is what I try to orbit around."

To deliver the joke, he uses a simple and recognizable drawing style: "I used to describe my drawing style as stick figures with a weight problem. My characters aren't actually stick figures, but they are generic to some extent.

#4

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Casey Burns
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this one! Anti-bullying should totally be the new kids thing. "Have a nice day Brian. Have a nice day...."

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Hudson said that comedians and comedy writers who nail the human condition, such as the creators of South Park and Rick and Morty, Bill Burr, and John Mulaney, are his "jam" and inspire him to explore relatable everyday and absurd situations from his own perspective. We asked the artist where he gets fresh ideas for new comics:

"I come up with my ideas by playing a one-person improv game. I take a single word prompt and fill three squares as fast as I can. Doesn't matter if the joke is good. I just need to finish it. Do that enough times and you run into a joke!"

ADVERTISEMENT

The artist says that the most challenging part of being a comic creator is making a living from it, but the most rewarding is the ability to make people's days better, which brings him happiness.

"The amazing comments from readers telling me I have made them laugh or brightened their day is what keeps me motivated to keep going."

#8

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Casey Burns
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That got very very dark very quickly. Plus free trauma to that terrified couple. WIN/WIN

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Comics are not the only creative outlet for this multi-talented artist; he also makes original music. You can also see these cartoon characters come to life with a voiceover in short animations the artist posts on Instagram and TikTok. These animated comics created with Adobe Animate and often voiced by the artist himself are like a few seconds-long versions of animated sitcoms and a unique way to deliver a joke. Hudson says people ask how these shorts are made the most, so he actually shows how it's done in a recent TikTok video.

"Animation has been a passion of mine for a really long time," says Hudson. "It takes a lot of effort, which is why it hasn't always been a part of the plan for my comics, but discovering the bite-sized delivery of TikTok made me realize I could do really short animations and have an audience for them. And yes, I would love to do more."

ADVERTISEMENT

Hudson jumped on TikTok's popularity train only a few months ago and exclusively posts his animated comics and answers viewers' trending questions there. His videos are perfect for a quick laugh, and millions of people who watch them are proof of that. His most popular video so far tells a little animated story about how to fix arguments in a relationship (which is also featured in our list) and has been watched 21.6M times.

#17

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
mulk
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1) 10 september 1991 / 2) Mookie Blaylock / 3) 20 july 1964 (RIP...) / 4) don't know...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

If you are looking for more comics that will touch the darker part of your soul and brighten up your day, you can also check out other brilliant artists with a great sense of humor, such as Deliberately Buried Comics, comics by Oscar Samdi, Square Comics, and the most recent comics by Cyanide & Happiness and Perry Bible Fellowship, which inspired Channelate.

#20

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The popular "heart" image is based on the shape of a butt. The actual heart organ is not "heart-shaped" at all... Okay, this sounds confusing :P

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Marianne
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For real, the rule says that a captain has to be the last person to leave his sinking ship, because he is responsible for the safety of all passengers and crew. No need for him to die.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

And if you would like to start creating comics yourself, here's some advice from Hudson:

ADVERTISEMENT

"Do as much art as you can. You need to be bad at things before you can be good at things, so be ok with that. Doesn't mean people need to see every single thing you do while you learn, but make sure you keep doing."

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#28

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jazzy Mc. Jaz
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup.. I say: Sunday and Saturday are week gaps, Monday and Friday are weekends, and Tuesday-Thursday are the week

View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#40

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Nicola Dimigen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, the princaple of Santa is weird. An old man dressed in bright red breaks into your house, and leaves unidentified objects there. Then he steals your food and leaves.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Curiously, I've never experienced this, and I often drink ice-cold stuff.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wrong. Evry day is the death talk day. Death is an endless possibility. Unlike life

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#46

Funny-Dark-Comics-Channelate-Ryan-Hudson-Part-2

ryankhudson Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kim Bush
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it just me or does the one on the left look a lot like Homer Simpson

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu