Content © 2008 David Wolfe and Phantagrafix
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PARANOIA HIGH
Before Paranoia High became the familiar webcomic we know it as today, it had already morphed through the ages in various cartoon form to accommodate the times and media of the moment. From the mid 1920’s to today, Paranoia High has managed in almost chameleon-like manner to blend into the social scene of each new generation. Writer Dale Wiles and cartoonist David Wolfe formed a partnership that first landed on the nations porches with a strip about a salty high school sailor.
1920’s - “Pop-High”. It was 1925, and Dale says “Let’s make Dave a sailor! And make Dale a blood sucking parasite! And every week they’d have adventures and merry mix ups. Dave would sail the ship and Dale would collect welfare! And they would solve clues with their dog!” Dave’s catch phrase “I yam what I yam and I yam a yam” became a part of American culture and every child in the nation wanted to smoke a pipe and pick fights.
1930’s - “Paranutt & Deff”. Times were changing and the world was no longer interested in the antics of a high school sailor and his buddy. Instead, they wanted to see the antics of a high school golfer and his buddy. Thus was born Paranutt & Deff. Trading sailor garb and bowler hat for white gloves and moustaches, wise-cracking Paranutt and his welfare recipient pal Deff kept America smiling nonchalantly.
