🐸 1. Origins: "Boys Club" Comic (2005–2008)$PEPE

Created by: Matt Furie, a comic artist.

First Appearance: Boys Club #1 (2005).

Original Personality: Laid-back, friendly, stoner-type frog among a group of anthropomorphic bros.

Famous line: "Feels good man" – Pepe urinating with a smile, saying this catchphrase.

👉 Pepe was originally a symbol of chill, absurd humor.

---

💻 2. Memeification on 4chan (2008–2014)

Where it spread: 4chan’s /b/ board, Reddit, Tumblr.

Variations appeared: Sad Pepe, Angry Pepe, Smug Pepe, Rare Pepes (collected like trading cards).

"Feels Bad Man" – Sad Pepe became one of the most widespread internet reaction images.

👉 Pepe became one of the most versatile reaction memes.

---

⚠️ 3. Political Hijacking (2015–2016)

Hijacked by: Alt-right groups, including on /pol/ (4chan).

Used to represent controversial political beliefs, white nationalism, and Trump support.

Some Pepes were edited with Nazi or racist imagery.

> ⚠️ In 2016, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) listed Pepe as a hate symbol – though clarified not all Pepes are hateful.

👉 Pepe became a battleground for cultural and political meaning.

---

🎨 4. Reclamation by the Creator (2016–2021)

Matt Furie’s response: Launched campaigns to "Save Pepe" and reclaim his character.

Released “Save Pepe” and later “Feels Good Man” (2020) – a critically acclaimed documentary.

Sued entities using hate-related Pepes without permission (won settlements).

👉 Furie and others tried to restore Pepe as a symbol of peace and humor.

---

🧙‍♂️ 5. Crypto & NFT Era (2021–2023)

Rare Pepes became valuable NFTs (first on Bitcoin Counterparty, later on Ethereum).

PEPECoin ($PEPE) meme token launched (2023), became one of the most popular meme coins.

👉 Pepe became a symbol in the crypto world, echoing his earlier "Rare Pepe" collector status.

---

🌍 6. Global Meme Icon (2023–Present)

In Use By: Protesters in Hong Kong (2019), normie meme pages, Telegram groups, NFT communities, crypto traders.$PEPE