The Origins of Pepe the Frog and His Author
The Origins of Pepe the Frog and His Author
Introduction
Pepe the Frog, a once innocuous cartoon character, has become one of the most widely recognized and controversial symbols on the internet. Created by cartoonist Matt Furie, Pepe's journey from a laid-back frog in an indie comic to a symbol of various online movements is a story of how digital culture can transform meaning in unexpected ways. This article explores the origins of Pepe the Frog, the life and work of his creator, Matt Furie, and the character's complicated legacy.
The Creation of Pepe the Frog
Pepe the Frog first appeared in Matt Furie’s comic series Boy’s Club, which was self-published in 2005 before being picked up by the independent comics publisher, Fantagraphics Books, in 2006. The comic series, which consisted of four animal-like characters living together as roommates, was characterized by its absurd humor, laid-back tone, and whimsical art style.
Pepe was one of the main characters in Boy’s Club, portrayed as a relaxed and carefree frog with a love for simple pleasures like food, video games, and hanging out with his friends. His most famous line, "feels good man," was originally depicted in a comic strip where Pepe pulls down his pants to urinate with the door open, much to the bewilderment of his roommate. The phrase became an early internet meme, symbolizing a nonchalant and easygoing attitude.
Matt Furie: The Man Behind the Frog
Matt Furie was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1979, and grew up in a suburban environment that would later influence the laid-back and whimsical tone of his comics. After studying art at Ohio Wesleyan University, Furie moved to San Francisco, where he became part of the city's vibrant underground comics scene.
Furie’s artistic style is often described as surreal, blending elements of the grotesque with the playful and the absurd. His work is heavily influenced by the cartoons of his youth, as well as by the underground comix movement of the 1960s and 70s. Furie’s early work, including Boy’s Club, reflected his love for counterculture and his desire to create art that was both humorous and strange.
Pepe the Frog was initially just one of many characters in Furie’s portfolio, but his design—a simple, green frog with large, expressive eyes—resonated with audiences in ways that no one could have predicted.
The Rise of Pepe as an Internet Meme
Pepe’s transformation from a niche comic character to an internet meme began around 2008, when users on the website 4chan started sharing the "feels good man" panel. Pepe’s image quickly spread across the site, with users modifying the character to express a wide range of emotions and reactions. This was the beginning of Pepe’s evolution into what is now referred to as an "image macro," a picture overlaid with text that conveys an emotion or situation.
Over the next few years, Pepe became a ubiquitous presence on forums, social media platforms, and in meme culture at large. He was depicted in countless variations, from "Sad Pepe" to "Smug Pepe" and beyond, each iteration representing different emotional states or internet in-jokes. The simplicity of Pepe’s design made him easy to replicate and modify, which only added to his popularity.
Pepe’s Dark Turn
While Pepe the Frog was originally a symbol of harmless fun, his image began to be co-opted by online communities associated with the alt-right and other extremist groups around 2015. These groups used Pepe in hateful and offensive contexts, which led to the character becoming associated with racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of bigotry.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) officially designated Pepe as a hate symbol in 2016, a move that both shocked and saddened Furie. To Furie, Pepe was always meant to be a peaceful and positive character, and the appropriation of his creation by hate groups was deeply distressing. In response, Furie launched campaigns to reclaim Pepe’s image, including a "Save Pepe" initiative and a series of legal actions to stop the unauthorized use of his character.
Matt Furie’s Efforts to Reclaim Pepe
In 2017, Furie took a significant step to reclaim his character by killing off Pepe in a one-page comic. This symbolic act was Furie’s way of expressing his frustration and sorrow over what Pepe had become. However, Furie did not stop there. He also engaged in legal battles against those who used Pepe’s image for commercial or political purposes without his permission.
One of the most notable cases was against Infowars, a far-right conspiracy theory website that sold posters featuring Pepe. Furie successfully sued the site, and the case was settled with Infowars agreeing to pay a substantial sum to Furie and cease selling the merchandise.
Despite these efforts, Pepe’s image remains controversial. However, Furie’s attempts to reclaim his creation have sparked important conversations about the ownership of internet culture and the responsibilities of creators in the digital age.
Conclusion
Pepe the Frog’s journey from a stoner cartoon character to a symbol of hate is a poignant example of how internet culture can warp and transform meaning. Matt Furie’s story is one of an artist grappling with the unintended consequences of his creation, and his ongoing efforts to reclaim Pepe demonstrate the complexities of navigating intellectual property in the digital age.
While Pepe’s legacy is undoubtedly mixed, Furie continues to be an active and influential figure in the world of comics and art. His work serves as a reminder of the unpredictable ways in which culture evolves, and the challenges that artists face in an increasingly connected world.
