A big and proud moment for the memer society as one of the most popular Batman Slap meme used in comics and that too in the weirdest way possible in Future State’s Catwoman
The meme where Batman slaps Robin has been one of the top class meme templates for memers since 2008. Those were the good times when there were some quality memes on the internet unlike today when pretty much every clip from a movie or TV show quickly becomes popular as a meme template and goes viral on the internet. Recently, DC used the same meme where Batman Slaps Robin, in Future State’s Catwoman #2.
Future State’s Catwoman #2
In Future State’s Catwoman #2 by Ram V and art by Otto Schmit, Selina Kyle still hasn’t given up her notorious alter ego Catwoman, even when the Magistrate has been dominating Gotham City. Though in contradiction to her prior actions when she was involved in illegal activities, she now inspires people to unite and stand up against the Magistrate. She plans on breaking in on an advanced train that was transporting six criminals and two vigilantes for rehabilitation.
Among the prisoners was Batman’s former nemesis Onomatopoeia, whom Selina is planning on recruiting in order to help her take out the guards on the train. What she doesn’t plan for was finding her ex-fiancée and former Batman, Bruce Wayne as one of the prisoners being transported.
The Use Of The Amazing Meme
Battling the guards on the train, Catwoman gets exhausted and passes out amidst her plan. Because she put in such immense effort, she starts to hallucinate while being unconscious. She imagines an open casket funeral for Bruce where she admits her fear of failing those who depend on her, her lack of hero experience, and how she could use some help. Afterward in her hallucination, a dark figure Batman appears and starts to haunt her, implying that she would suffer the fate of her fiancée and die alone while trapped in the dark. The dark figure starts telling her that Batman is alive and that she should stand up and fight all while slapping her.
Unfortunately, when reality hits her hard and she gains consciousness, she discovers that the dark figure slapping her whom she thought to be Batman is actually Onomatopoeia. The colors used in the scene and Batman actually saying slap indicates that this was an intentional act by the artists. It’s almost like the artists attempted some sort of humor to ease up the seriousness in the situation.
However, it was somewhat unnecessary because the whole point of a meme is to create some comedy, but after this scene in the comic, things take a deadly serious turn when Catwoman threatens to harm the reformed villain if he strikes her again. The creators’ attempt at humor was ruined by Catwoman’s cold reaction. But it was still fun to see such a memorable reference once again.
