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This Is the Weapon of the Enemy / Batman Breaking Gun
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About
This Is the Weapon of the Enemy or Batman Breaking Gun is an exploitable meme format using a panel from a 1986 Batman comic in which Batman snaps a gun in half and says, "This is the weapon of the enemy. We do not need it. We will not use it." The panel gained viral spread online throughout the 2010s as an example of how Batman rarely uses weapons against humans. It was first used as a meme as early as January 2019 and became increasingly popularized over the following years as an object-labeling format.
Origin
In 1986, DC Comics published the four-comic Batman series The Dark Knight Returns.[1] On one page, Batman breaks a rifle in half, refusing to use it. He says, "This is the weapon of the enemy. We do not need it. We will not use it" (shown below).
On January 15th, 2019, Redditor u/Burnnoticelover posted a meme to /r/PersonOfInterest[2] using the panel, garnering over 160 upvotes in five years (shown below). This is the earliest known example of a meme using the panel.
Spread
The panel became the further subject of memes over the following years. On June 19th, 2019, user ISeeAnApple posted an example of the meme to Imgur,[3] garnering over 100,000 views in five years (shown below, left). On September 10th, 2022, X[4] user @chhopsky posted a version of the meme labeling each half of the gun "internet harassment," writing, "in these trying times, please remember," garnering over 300 likes in two years (shown below, right).
On December 4th, 2023, Tumblr[5] user the-alpine-glow posted a version of the meme where Soyjak's face has been edited over the halves of the gun, garnering over 7,300 upvotes in four months (shown below).
On February 10th, 2024, Tumblr[6] user zoeyfromtheinternet posted a version of the meme where Batman snaps the yes Chad meme in half as a response to a user posting, "When a meme is representing the 'bad/wrong' opinion with an image of a drooling person with a dented head, especially contrasted to white people with blonde hair and blue eyes, maybe it's time to reconsider posting or reblogging it. Just a thought," garnering over 40,000 notes in two months (shown below).
Various Examples
Template
Search Interest
External References
[1] Unleash The Fanboy – Quoting 1986’s DARK KNIGHT RETURNS
[2] Reddit – PersonOfInterest
[5] Tumblr – the alpine glow
[6] Tumblr – zoeyfromtheinternet
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