Beyond "Think, Mark!", Do You Know the Origins of These Viral Memes from American Comics?

Recently, with the broadcast of Image Comics' Invincible animated series on Amazon Prime, it has not only sparked a heated discussion both domestically and internationally, but also led to the proliferation of various elaborate and viral "Think, Mark!" memes across social media platforms.

Even among those who haven't watched the Invincible animated series, the power of memes has successfully and effectively promoted this superhero work. But do you know which works these upcoming viral internet memes originated from, and the stories behind them?


"Think!"

The recently viral "Think!" meme originates from the final episode of Invincible Season 1, when the protagonist, Invincible Mark, discovers that his father, Omni-Man, is actually a Viltrumite sent to conquer Earth, leading to a fierce battle between father and son.

Omni-Man, while brutally beating Mark, exclaims, "Think, Mark! You'll outlast every insignificant, pathetic being on this planet!" While this scene is heartbreaking, it has now become a hilariously viral meme for netizens. Image/Screenshot from Amazon Prime


Grant Gustin Next To Oliver Queen's Grave

Shortly after the conclusion of the CW's DC series Arrow, Grant Gustin, who plays The Flash, shared a behind-the-scenes photo from the final episode of the show's last season on Instagram, depicting him flashing a peace sign in front of Green Arrow Oliver Queen's grave.

This highly mischievous photo was immediately embraced and widely shared by netizens, becoming one of the most popular internet memes in recent years.

Image/Instagram @grantgust (Original image deleted)


Spider-Man Pointing Memes

The "Spider-Man Pointing" meme has not only been viral online for years but also made an appearance in the 2018 animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Furthermore, in 2020, Funko POP even released a physical collectible of the "Spider-Man Pointing Memes."

In reality, this Spider-Man meme originated from the 1967 animated TV series Spider-Man, specifically the episode "Double Identity." The episode features the thief Charles Cameo impersonating Spider-Man to steal valuable artwork. However, when the real Spider-Man arrives, both the genuine and imposter Spider-Men point at each other, each claiming to be the authentic one.

This episode not only became one of the classic iconic scenes from the 1967 Spider-Man animated TV series but also one of the most famous memes today.


Batman Slapping Robin Meme

For some reason, DC Comics' most iconic scene, "Batman Slapping Robin," saw a resurgence in popularity in 2020. Netizens often elaborate on this meme, replacing Batman and Robin in the image with certain phenomena or figures to deliver a resounding slap. But do you know which iteration of Robin is depicted in the image?

The "Batman Slapping Robin Meme" originates from World's Finest Comics #153 in 1965, which tells a hypothetical, non-canonical story of "What if Batman wanted to kill Superman?" In this universe, Bruce Wayne's father was not killed in Gotham but rather in Smallville by a mysterious individual with superpowers. Consequently, Superman became Bruce's prime suspect, and to seek revenge, Bruce donned the Batman persona to increase his chances of getting close to Superman.

Image/DC Comics

At this point, Robin, Dick Grayson, not only discovered Bruce's vendetta against Superman but also tried to explain to Bruce that "Superman couldn't possibly do such a thing." Enraged, the Caped Crusader furiously slapped Dick, even erasing his memories of being Robin and sending him to an orphanage.

This meme scene even became a secondary creation by Taiwanese artist Jasonz Artwork


"Don't Leave Me!"

While the pain of "Batman" Bruce Wayne losing his parents is tragic, it has also become a rather dark humor running gag within DC Comics. In Superman/Batman #1, to save Batman, who had become radicalized by Silver Banshee's psychic attack, Superman summoned the deceased Wayne couple before Bruce.

Seeing and hearing his long-deceased parents appear before him, Bruce rushed forward to embrace them tightly. However, as it was merely an illusion, the Wayne couple vanished before Batman's eyes the next second. Simultaneously, Batman regained his sanity amidst his grief, re-evaluating his original purpose for becoming a superhero. Image/DC Comics