guides
What Is The 'Down Boy, Arf' Meme And Where Did It Come From? The Viral 'Archie Comics' Panel Explained
An old Archie Comics panel that's been spreading online since 2021 has now become one of the biggest redraw memes of the year so far.
The panel features the character Veronica telling Archie to sit down like a dog and Archie obeying without hesitation. Now, the same situation is being applied to a wide array of other characters from many different IPs.
So where does the original comic panel come from exactly and how did it become such a big meme? Here's what you need to know about the "Down Boy! Arf!" meme making the rounds online.
What Is The ''Down Boy' 'Arf'' Meme?
Back in 2021, Tumblr user drmonkeysetroscans, who posts scans from retro comic books, posted a panel from an unknown Archie Comics publication that shows Veronica treating the titular character like a dog.
She tells him, "Down boy!!" and Archie, always desperate for her attention, obeys. He even says, "Arf!" like a dog would.
Unfortunately, it is not clear which comic or comic series the panel comes from. There are multiple Archie offshoots, such as Betty & Veronica, that the panel could originate from aside from the iconic original series.
Regardless, the panel garnered viral spread across social media over the next few years, first being used as a meme in 2024 to describe the plot of the manga and anime series Chainsaw Man.
How Is ''Down Boy' 'Arf'' Used In Memes?
Since 2024, the meme has only continued to spread on sites like X / Twitter, Reddit and TikTok.
Mostly, the meme is used as a redraw format in which artists use the panel as a base and replace the characters with those from another fandoms, often using characters that might fit the same dynamic between Archie and Veronica in the original scene.
The trend became notably popularized on TikTok in early March 2025 under a Russian original sound after user @banamel_ posted a redraw referencing the Dog Man series. Since then, the meme has also become prevalent on X.
For the full history of "'Down Boy' 'Arf,'" be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
