Creator Matt Furie has killed off Pepe the Frog, the character appropriated by racist fringe groups in the heat of the pre-election season last year (see "Fantagraphics, Creator Condemn Use of Pepe the Frog"). In a one-page story in World’s Greatest Cartoonists, Fantagraphics Free Comic Book Day offering, Pepe is shown lying in a coffin, with his friends gathered around.
Pepe originated in Boys Club comics by Furie, collected into a trade paperback released last summer. It was widely used in memes, many of which were initially innocuous. Then the character began showing up in racist messaging and the Anti-Defamation League labeled it as a hate symbol. Fantagraphics Books and Furie condemned its use by racist groups, but now Furie has apparently decided to put the character to rest.

On Free Comic Book Day
Posted by Milton Griepp on May 8, 2017 @ 12:26 am CT

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