There's no doubt that the internet and social media have given many artists, especially comics, a platform to share their work and gather an audience like no other. Webcomics were first relegated to individual blogs or DeviantArt trenches, and they now flourishing on sites like Twitter and Instagram.

But to start off fresh in the internet artist ecosystem is no joke, and a lot of smaller creators rely on bigger names in their fields to recognize quality art and boost it when they get the chance. But this natural human and artistic inclination came to be widely satirized when one webcomic artist made it seem as though they were owed likes and retweets indiscriminately.

The fallout from the infamous comic inspired redraws and memes for years after the original scandal, which is practically a decade in meme time. Here's where all the Big Twitter Artist comics are coming from.

Where Did The 'Big Twitter Artist' Comic Originate?

Jokes about big and small artists interacting with and uplifting each other have been a part of the wider conversation taking place among Twitter artists for years, oftentimes with people lightheartedly joking about feeling nervous or proud when people with larger followings interact with them.

In September 2021, artist @Cheesymanfredo posted a four-panel comic featuring a scenario where a bigger artist likes someone's art but refuses to retweet it. The post inspired discussions and debates about what artists "owe" each other on social media apps that can make or break someone's career.

How Did People React To The 'Big Twitter Artist' Comic?

Initial reactions to the post saw people changing the last panel, seemingly in an effort to mock someone for seeing retweets as a right instead of a kindness. X users @Karboardian and @WassNonnam both posted edits of the comic where the "Big Twitter Artist" exacts some kind of comedic violence on his sidekick.

What Are Some More Versions Of The 'Big Twitter Artist' Meme?

In April 2024, a Twitter artist posted a webcomic about how "smol" artists sometimes shower attention on bigger ones, often without reciprocation. This characterization inspired another bout of "Big Twitter Artist" style memes.

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For the full history of "Big Twitter Artist" parodies, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.