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Tom King Reprises Batman and Robin Meme in a Horrific Way in Batman #71 (SPOILERS)

In 1965's World's Finest #153, we get a story in an alternate reality in which an obsessed Batman believes that Superboy and Superman are responsible for the death of his father. The story, The Clash Of Cape And Cowl written by Edmond Hamilton, pencilled by Curt Swan, inked by George Klein and edited by Mort Weisinger featured this page.

In the decades since, it has generated the meme of Batman striking Dick Grayson as Robin. In June 2008, an anonymous post to image sharing site SFWChan used that panel, flipped, with new language.

This was then reblogged on Tumblr and on Ebaumsworld as it began to go viral. A Batman Comic Macro Generator website was launched, which allowed users to customized the speech bubbles in the comic panel (no longer works, but this does). In 2010, the "Batman Slaps Robin Comic" Facebook page was created to highlight notable examples and by 2012, YouTuber TheSeanWardShow uploaded a video of a man dressed in a Batman suit yelling "my parents are dead!" at pedestrians in Toronto, Canada, receiving millions of views. This would go on to inform the version of Batman used in The LEGO Movie and LEGO Batman. And on that same year, the /r/BatmanSlap subreddit was launched

It couldn't be easier. But in the years since it has become a bit of an old and dated meme, an old reliable. And perfect for Tom King to pick up and bring back into the fold of DC canon.

As the Batgang are brought together from their various continuities.

Or not.

And Batman does his pow-wows with Bane.

Or not. And the idea that all of this may be in Batman's mind rears its head.

Or not.

It doesn't end well.

Unless you are generating memes, that is.

Then it's the best day ever. And now its canon – such as canon can be, given that Batman is clearly still in his Knightmares. I mean, it would explain the reoccurrence of memes at least… Say I wonder if they'll use the embedded tooth trick again?

BATMAN #71
(W) Tom King (A/CA) Mikel Janin
"The Fall and the Fallen" continues! Will it be father and son working together, or tearing each other apart? When it comes to the Waynes, expect a little of both. In the quest to get Bruce Wayne to hang up the cape and cowl, Thomas Wayne is going to have to use a little tough love. Only, not all the muscle behind it will be his own. In Shops: May 15, 2019 SRP: $3.99

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