Delve into the rich tapestry of internet culture as we unravel the stories behind some of the most iconic rage face characters in the early meme universe. From “Rageguy” to “Y U No” Guy, join us on a journey through the origins and evolution of these beloved figures who have left an unforgettable mark on the digital landscape.
Rageguy: The OG Rage Face
Bio
Rageguy was the main rage face of a series of crudely drawn comics typically consisting of four panes portraying situations that brought about extreme disappointment, irritation, or displeasure in a particular situation. The result was a fourth pane of Rageguy screaming in anger as a result of events occurring in the first 3 panes. Due to its simplicity, Rageguy has become very popular” even being adapted into the series of webcomics we know as Rage Comics.
History
Rageguy is a “rage face” that originated from a comic strip posted on the popular imageboard website 4chan in August 2008, using a four-panel template provided by the original poster. The image popped up on 4chan’s /b/ (Random) imageboard and was originally drawn in Microsoft Paint (good ole paint). The first three panes described the phenomenon that is the “Toilet Splashback” and led into a depiction of Rageguy screaming with a caption that read “FFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU-” or later referred to as F7U12 by a subreddit board.
Trollface: The Mischievous Meme
Bio
Trollface, also known as “Coolface,” is a rage face with a mischievous smile. It’s often used in comments or forums to imply the look of an internet troll or one who intends to troll another. It’s often used in response to individuals who exhibit “troll-like” characteristics.
History
Trollface was originally created by a guy named Carlos Ramirez, an Oakland-based artist known by his now-deactivated DeviantArt handle Whynne. It was part of a Microsoft Paint webcomic series about the essentially pointless nature of trolling on 4Chan’s /v/ (Video Games) board.
Cereal Guy: The Multi-Purpose Reaction Face
Bio
Cereal Guy is a stick figure rage face commonly used on discussion forums as a multi-purpose reaction face.
History
Cereal Guy originated from a cartoon strip about a long-distance couple’s argument over the phone. The strip was originally posted on the SomethingAwful forums in 2007 by a graphic designer named Bob Averill. The comic strip served as a parody of TV commercials for Reese’s Puffs cereal featuring the tagline “Candy?!… For breakfast? It’s Reese’s!” The popularity of the comic prompted Averill to start his own webcomic series Lego Robot Comics, now known as Plastic Brick Automaton.
Okay Guy: The Pathetic Yet Relatable Rage Face
Bio
Okay Guy is a morose-looking rage face who’s response to provocation by others is always a pathetic “okay”. Okay, Guy is easily one of the softest members in the Rage Comic compilation.
History
The illustration is rumored to have originated on the imageboard 4chan, but no archived thread has been found. The earliest known instance of the face was posted on the Russian Internet humor website Joy Reactor on June 24th, 2009.
F**k Yeah Guy: The Self-Complacent Meme
Bio
F**k Yeah Guy is a self-complacent looking rage face used to express pride or victorious sentiments, like when your pumping gas and it clicks on a full dollar amount. Boss type ish…
History
F**k Yeah was originally posted on 4chan’s /b/ board on February 11, 2010. The character is most commonly used to illustrate triumphant moments in our everyday lives that make us feel dope. Kinda like when you wake up right before your alarm.
Forever Alone Guy: The Face of Loneliness
Bio
Forever Alone Guy is a rage face used to express loneliness and disappointment with life. Creators of this variety of rage comic occasionally alter one word or both of the words “forever alone” for a more humorous effect.
History
Forever Alone is considered one of the first major rage comic spin-off characters to be created after the original Rage Guy. According to various sources, the original comic was uploaded on May 28th, 2010, in a thread titled “April Fools” by a FunnyJunk user named Azuul.
“Y U No” Guy: The Frustrated SMS Shorthand Meme
Bio
“Y U NO” Guy is a rage face using SMS shorthand and carefree grammar as a way to bring someone’s attention to a particular subject or issue.
History
The character’s facial expression, full of frustration and rage, can be found in Gantz Chapter 55: “Naked King” (裸の王様), a Japanese sci-fi manga originally released in February 2002.
“Me Gusta” Guy: The Awkward Pleasure Meme
Bio
“Me Gusta” Guy is a rage face typically used to respond to awkward or disgusting events with the Spanish phrase “Me Gusta.” The illustration was originally used to convey an odd sense of pleasure pertaining to perverse contexts, but the meaning has since broadened to more generally classify a state of simultaneous disgust/pleasure.
History
The colloquial Spanish phrase “Me Gusta” was first adapted into a Rage Comic drawing by an illustrator named Matt Oswald on March 18th, 2010, on 4chan and Reddit. Oswald eventually revealed himself as the creator of the “Me Gusta” face in a Reddit thread on March 8th, 2011. He would later apologize to the internet for Me Gusta Guy in an interview with The Daily Dot.
As we wrap up our journey through the meme universe, let’s tip our hats to these digital icons. From “Rageguy” to “Y U No” Guy, they’ve sparked laughs and conversations across the web, reminding us of the absurdity and joy of internet culture. Though their heyday may have passed, their legacy lives on in the annals of meme history.
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