I Think We're Gonna Have to Kill This Guy
| Meme | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms: | I Think We're Gonna Have to Kill This Guy, Steven |
| Date Started: | 2023 |
| Related: | |
| See Also: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
"I Think We're Gonna Have to Kill This Guy" is a redraw art meme based on a panel from a comic parodying Steven Universe. The meme generally consists of two characters standing side-by-side, with the left character declaring that they need to kill an unspecified "guy" (Hitler in the original comic), to which the right character responds with shock, glee, or some other emotion.
Origin and spread
The meme is based on a four-panel comic strip by Haus of Decline posted to Twitter in April 2023.[1] In the first panel, a mock title card reads "Steven Universe vs. Hitler." In the second panel, Steven asks, "What if you could change your mind, Hitler?" In the third panel, Hitler stares down at Steven scornfully, evidently unmoved. In the fourth panel, Garnet tells Steven, "I think we're gonna have to kill this guy, Steven," to which Steven replies, "Damn."
This comic lampoons Steven's tendency to try to first resolve conflict with villains on the show through communication and non-violence.[2] It is likely intended as a metacommentary on the practical difficulties of combatting systemic violence and oppression (such as Nazi Germany's in WW2) through purely non-violent means.
The fourth panel quickly inspired redraws featuring characters from other fandoms.[2] On December 9, 2023, Twitter user @g4teway31 posted a tweet with the comment, "if you're sad this is a sign to draw your two biggest comfort characters as the steven meme."[3][2] The artist included a version of the meme featuring an OC with Lagoona Blue from the Monster High franchise.[2][3] This set off a wave of new interpretations of the meme, often featuring crossover character duos verging on crack.
Examples
- doom crossing by Ami-Dark (Doomguy & Isabelle)
- good grief by harlequinides (Astarion and Snoopy of Peanuts)
- Me pulling one of my 50 Astarion drawings out for this meme by _Tonestar_ (Astarion and Hatsune Miku)
- The crossover no one asked for - 1 by Icyachr (Gale and Sampo of Honkai: Star Rail)
- In a similar vein by leonthecowboy (Gale and Gonzo of Sesame Street)
- Jason Todd was a particularly popular subject of this meme within the Batman fandom
- by melucomarket featuring Nightwing
- by lucywucy126 featuring Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle)
- by cirrocula featuring Bubbie the whale from The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
- by peppergh0st featuring Snoopy
- by TinyRaptor featuring Bandit Heeler from Bluey
- by sreppub featuring Winnie-the-Pooh
- by artpocalypse featuring Baba from Baba Is You
- Art by nanakemi (Makima and Madoka of Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
- Art by _osulan (Yoru and Hatsune Miku)
- Art by FunnisMonkis (Piccolo and Diddy of Donkey Kong)
- It Appears We'll Have to Kill This Guy, Jack-O by ScrimbloCrimblo (Clive and Jack-O of Guilty Gear)
- Art by flamingopunch (Alear and Sommie)
- damn by merylemons (Frederick and Chrom)
- I love Corrin but I don't think she'd make it through three houses by TheBakaretsu (Byleth and Corrin)
- Unused Peri e Xander Support Conversations by lordgeniejulius (Peri and Xander)
- Art by Kiora06 (Shamir and Shiver of Splatoon)
- literally what is this by Lorav02 (Freddy and Jesse Pinkman)
- The meme is funny by Tharkflark12 (Freddy and Sora of Kingdom Hearts)
- Had to do this meme lol by Raidak5 (Freddy and Kim Kitsuragi of Disco Elysium)
- That one cheer up meme going around lmao by HimboinLimbo (Bonnie and Kratos of God of War)
- I think we're gonna have to kill this guy, Slayer by raypalcharts (Crowley and Doomguy)
- Kid Icarus Uprising by Karbuitt (Pit and Palutena)
- https://twitter.com/softbewitcher/status/1737834678470811691#m Kairi and Winnie-the-Pooh
- https://kisaakiya.tumblr.com/post/737217156386832384/two-silly-guys-and-i-wanted-to-do-that-silly-meme Kairi and Sakamoto Ryuji from Persona 5
- https://twitter.com/ArtMidknight/status/1737152918556389822#m Sora and Bayonetta, both characters in Super Smash Bros
- Comfort Character meme thing, because I couldn’t resist by LowBudgetGhost (Samus and Kermit of Sesame Street)
- i care for them so much actuallyArchived July 26, 2024, at Archive.today by foog (BadBoyHalo and Foolish Gamers)
- Funny how both my comfort characters are related to flowers :,)Archived July 16, 2024, at Archive.today by Cici (GoodTimesWithScar and BadBoyHalo)
- The most epic crossover ever by K0T0H1KA (Ash and Hatsune Miku)
- I think we're gonna have to kill this guy, Veigar by 8xviktor (Gengar and Veigar of League of Legends)
- Putting two queens together for a meme by _NoVaNoah (Serena and Riza of Fullmetal Alchemist)
- Art by kianamaiart (Team Rocket)
- I think we're gonna have to kill this guy by QuinoaHyphen (Wobbuffett and Brook of One Piece)
- Art by Emmanuel Asiegbu (Daphne and Doug) of the eponymous show)
- Twitter meme trend by Thalychan7 (Sonic and Pikachu of Pokémon)
- Art by SlamGrene (Sonic and Setsuna of Pretty Cure)
- Art by 9474S0UL (Metal Sonic and Bubbles of Powerpuff Girls)
- If it ain't real, I'm gonna riot by NorArts (Shadow the Hedgehog and Keanu Reeves)
- K, here's mine by BeckyMastery (Miguel and Hello Kitty)
- I think we're gonna have to kill this guy by JBugNG (Papyrus and the Roblox avatar)
- I'm crying why did I do this ;-; by sleepy_cheeky (Sans and Bluey of the eponymous show)
Gallery
Version by dilfpassing with Astarion (Baldur's Gate III) and Rarity (My Little Pony).
Version by Nintendo-Nut1 with Banjo Kazooie and Geno (Super Mario RPG).
Version by MadamMonarch with The Lamb (Cult of the Lamb) and Rayman.
Version by funktoonmix with Felix the Cat and Kirby.
Version by TheMandarinEternal with Magolor (Kirby) and Springtrap (Five Nights at Freddy's).
Version by Calmomila with Kovu and Kiara of The Lion King.
Version by subbyfool with Reigen Arataka and Kageyama Shigeo of Mob Psycho 100.
Version by CandyComics567 with Bubbles (Powerpuff Girls) and Glamrock Freddy (Five Nights at Freddy's)
Version by RaishaGS with Rick (Rick and Morty) and Lincoln (The Loud House).
Version by Lady3clipse with Shadow (Sonic the Hedgehog) and Glamrock Freddy (Five Nights at Freddy's).
Version by prismtheartweird with Mysterion (South Park) and Ragatha (The Amazing Digital Circus).
Version by AMVCartoons with SpongeBob SqaurePants and Crash Bandicoot.
Version by cybies with PUPPY (Ruiner) and Pizza (Chicory: A Colorful Tale).
External Links
References
- ^ Original tweet by @hausofdecline on Twitter
- ^ a b c d Philip Hamilton, "Where Does The 'I Think We're Gonna Have To Kill This Guy, Steven' Meme Come From? The Viral Redraw Trend Explained", Know Your Meme, 15 December 2023
- ^ a b Tweet by @g4teway31 on Twitter