Salt and pepper go together like… salt and pepper.  (They don’t go together like things, things go together like them!)  We all have salt and pepper in our house, and most of us use them for more than just killing slugs.  But due to their grainy nature, you can’t just keep them in a bowl or throw a pile in your fridge – you need a specially designed salt and/or pepper carrier known to top-level chefs as a “shaker.”

But if you’re using those standard glass 24-hour-diner-in-Jersey shakers, you need to stop!  Have some self-respect, and get a shaker that makes you happy!  Sure, no one needs fancy salt and pepper shakers, you can still get by without them… but you don’t need salt and pepper on your eggs, either, yet something so small can just make the experience more enjoyable.  Isn’t it time you Spice Up Your Salt and Pepper Shakers?

Marvel Superheroes Salt and Pepper Shakers

Earth’s mightiest heroes join together once again, this time to fight a foe worthy of their strength – bland, tasteless food!  (This has Dr. Doom written all over it…)  These hand-crafted and hand-drawn figures of the Marvel Superheroes Salt and Pepper Shakers bring the fight to your dinner table, with Spider-Man and Thor as one unit and Hulk and the Cap as the other!  Excelsium chloride!

Buy the Marvel Superheroes Salt and Pepper Shakers Here

Fred and Friends Salt and Magic

You know how magic wands work: you say an incantation, sacrifice your soul to Satan (if applicable), and then a magic powder falls out of your wand!  That much is just basic, elementary school science – what they never get into is what the powder is.  What if you needed a spell to make your food better?  Then the “magic powder” is no more than common salt!  In which case, the Fred and Friends Salt and Magic are perfectly appropriate.

Check Amazon for the Fred and Friends Salt and Magic Here

Saruman and Gandalf

What better way to symbolize the contrast of salt and pepper than with the eternal battle of good versus evil!  Light versus… gray?  Is that right?  The Saruman and Gandalf shakers are pretty epic.  Dandruff won’t be the only flakes falling from these old men’s heads. You can find more designs featured here.

Check Amazon for the Saruman and Gandalf Here

King and Queen Salt and Pepper Mills

We had to do a double-take to make sure these were actually themed salt and pepper shakers instead of just normal ones.  The King and Queen Salt and Pepper Mills are pretty similar to regular mills, but true chess fans will recognize the difference right away.

Buy the King and Queen Salt and Pepper Mills Here

Superman Vs. Lex Luthor  Set

Man, Superman sure was pissed when Luthor used salt to melt all the ice around his Fortress of Solitude!  With the Superman Vs. Lex Luthor Set, you can reenact that classic battle with Luthor’s salt spraying suit and Superman’s pepper-ray vision (one of his lesser known powers).

Buy the Superman Vs. Lex Luthor  Set Here

Saltepper

They’re both granutaled spices intended to improve the quality of your food – can’t they just get along?  The Saltepper rethinks the separate shakers formula and brings them together as one, where they belong.  Maybe now they can put aside their differences and face the real threat:  oregano.

Buy the Saltepper Here

Creepy Doll Head Shakers

How thoughtless of us – we’re sitting here presenting shakers for normal – perhaps a little nerdy – people, but we forget all about the psychotic killers out there!  What, you assume Kevin Spacey’s character in Seven ate his French fries as-is?  No, he had his own shakers to reflect his personality, like these Creepy Doll Head Shakers.  Mm-mm, we’re getting hungry just looking at them!

Buy the Creepy Doll Head Shakers Here

Spice Up Your Life with These Fantastic Salt and Pepper Shakers

Forget the Dali Lama… If one man has the power to unite the world, it’s Bill Murray. He’s played scientists, mobsters, bank robbers, Garfield, professional bowlers, and perhaps his most challenging role: himself (at least 3 times). He’s shot hoops with Bugs Bunny and dicked around with Dickens. A living legend, the mere mention of his name evokes giddy joy across generations.

That’s probably why his face is plastered on so many products.

Here are 11 take-home idols of… a god. Not the god.

1. Thrill Murray: A Bill Murray Coloring Book

What better way to celebrate the career of our favorite adult child than a coloring book. Thrill Murray mixes interpretative surreal art, cinema nostalgia, and crayons for an experience that can release your inner child while you drink a whiskey.

Buy Thrill Murray on Amazon Now

2. Saint Bill Murray Prayer Candle

It’s a seamless transformation to paint Bill Murray as a saint. Almost as if this is his natural state, and the way he looks as a mortal is the illusion. Take a moment to remind yourself that this prayer candle from PurgatoryPenPals is just a joke. We really shouldn’t worship Carl Spackler, right? … Right?

Buy the Saint Bill Murray Prayer Candle Here

3. Regal Throw Pillow

Now that’s more like the version of him we see in our heads. This Regal Throw Pillow Cover (pillow not included) gives the thespian the commanding respect he deserves. From Decorative Arts, who have similar products for Nicholas Cage, Christopher Walken, and more. With all those badges, he’s certainly come a long way since Stripes.

Buy Regal Throw Pillow on Amazon Now

4. JP London Bill Murray Warhol Wall Sticker

Marilyn Mon-who? If you’re going to stick someone’s face 9 times on your wall, make sure it’s one you won’t get sick off. These 19.75″ x 24″ decals come ready for self-assembly in a Warhol-inspired style.

Buy JP London Bill Murray Warhol Wall Sticker on Amazon Now

5. Bill Murray Earrings

Handmade by PistachioMoon, these earrings lend you the charm and charisma of a man known for playing fools. What guy wouldn’t fall in love with a girl sporting the star of Scrooged as an accessory. If you’re skeptical, just look at that smile!

Buy the Bill Murray Earrings Here

6. Pop Zipper Pouch and Makeup Bag

If you see someone with a brown fedora and a whip you think “Indiana Jones.” Hippie hair and a bath robe, “the Dude.” Likewise, you see a red wool hat and a white beard, it’s Steve Zissou, our favorite fake documentarian. This makeup bag combines a pop aesthetic, ironic print copy, and the unmistakable visage of a well-known oceanographer.

Buy Pop Zipper Pouch and Makeup Bag on Amazon Now

7. Stripes Key Holder

John Winger sends you off on your day with this cheerful key holder. Mounted on a lightweight woodblock with secure nail hooks in back, these plaques are available in two different sizes: 5.5″ x 8″ (one hook) or 7.25″ x 10″ (four hooks). For an additional fee, you can even personalize it so that he calls you by name.

Buy the Stripes Key Holder Here

8. Black Bill Lighter

We don’t really understand it, but there’s something about this professional clown that just so… cool. Maybe it’s his No F*cks Given attitude, maybe it’s that we like a guy who makes us laugh, or maybe it’s just how he looks in a suit. Either way, this classy lighter borrows the dignified air of the man who, in Ed Wood, played “the weird one” in a cast full of weird ones.

Buy Black Bill Lighter on Amazon Now

9. Bill Murray 8″ x 10″ Celebrity Photo

For true Murray fans, just his face is enough to inspire awe. This 8″ x 10″ professional quality print shows the face you’ve come to love, without the fluff or zombie makeup. Hang in on your wall, put it in a heart-shaped frame, or use it to make your own original fun Bill Murray product.

Buy Bill Murray 8″ x 10″ Celebrity Photo on Amazon Now

10. I Heart Bill Murray Coasters

Rest your beverage on Raleigh St. Clair’s face! This set of four coasters is etched on quarter-inch cherry wood in Brooklyn, the Mecca of Murray fans. When he’s not saving the world from ghosts, he’s saving your sensitive table surface from unsightly moisture stains.

Buy the I Heart Bill Murray Coasters Here

11. Appreciation Series: Bill Murray Poster

Here it is, the ultimate fan memorabilia of Murray fans, which separates the trend-followers from the true believers. This poster from Amy Blue Illustration lists out the 30 best reasons we love Bill Murray. All of his iconic characters (up to The Grand Budapest Hotel), are here, represented by a small headshot. You have all his famous roles like Venkman and Zissou, but also his lesser known roles. Did you know Murray once played Hunter S. Thompson?

Buy the Appreciation Series: Bill Murray Poster Here

Eat, Drink, and Bill Murray: The 11 Best Bill Murray Products

Wish you could go back to a simpler time, when man didn’t need to concern himself with things like taxes or mortgages… Back in the good old days, all a man had to worry about was filling his belly for the night (and disease, famine, the weather, millions of naturally occurring poisons, other humans, the wrath of the Sun God, bears). And there’s no better way to experience that kind of simplicity than camping – and isn’t that what camping is all about? The great outdoors. The fresh air. The peace and tranquility. The miles of forest separating you from the people with a warrant.

So You’re Going Off The Grid… well, congratulations. First things first, you’ll need some Camping and Survival Gear. Because man is cruel, but Mother Nature is a goddamn sadist.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Mmm, swamp water! Why is everything delicious always bad for you? Just like in Tijuana, drinking the water may be dangerous. But if you have the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter, the world is your malted milkshake just one straw away from being in your stomach.  This thing is better than chlorine for disinfecting water, and a lot more tasty.

Check Amazon for the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Swedish FireSteel Strike Fire Starter

Yeah, after seeing Castaway, we’re not thrilled about starting our own fires.  But when the nearest convenience store is many moons away, getting a lighter might now be an option. While the Swiss have their army knives, the Swedes have their Swedish FireSteel Strike Fire Starter – light your tinder in a few strikes. No frustration, no blood, no Wilson.

Check Amazon for the Swedish FireSteel Strike Fire Starter

4-in-1 Woodsman

Sorry, we take back what we said before… the truth is, this is what camping is about: hacking, slashing, cutting, and pounding! In fact, this is what life is about, and we’re tempted to buy the 4-in-1 Woodsman as a toy instead of a tool.

Buy the 4-in-1 Woodsman Here

Klymit Inertia Camping Mattress

All that running from the law must have done a number on your back, but sleeping bags are a far cry from your posturepedic support mattress. If you’re looking to soften your roughing it experience, the Klymit Inertia Camping Mattress features a body mapping capability that molds to your body.

Check Amazon for the Klymit Inertia Camping Mattress

ZODI Hot Camp Shower

I know what you’re thinking… “But the best part of camping is not showering!” Before you scoff, I want you to consider something:  Week 10, when you’re more pit stain than person. You’ll be glad you packed the ZODI Hot Camp Shower then.

Check Amazon for the ZODI Hot Camp Shower

Tree Tent

You’ve heard the park rangers say to tie up your food in a tree so bears can get to it, right? Well, to a bear, you are also food. Ipso facto, get your ass up in a tree before a bear eats you! The Tree Tent is more than just a tent, or a tree – it’s a home! The 3-meter sphere features a floor plan with a sleeping area, a cooking area, a dining area, and a “mess” area (think about it). We’re going to wait for the version with a foyer and wine cellar.

Buy the Tree Tent Here

Going Off The Grid: Essential Camping and Survival Gear

The bond between us and our dogs and cats is much stronger than that of just mere pets… we prefer to think of them as servants or slaves. Minions, even. And the lesson we learned when we tried to create that race of supermen (don’t ask) was you gotta treat your minions properly.

Just like grown males ages 25 – 40, pets need toys, too. More so, even, since they can’t leave the house as easily as us. It’s important to keep your pets entertained to give them a fulfilling life, and ward off a possible mutiny.  That’s why we’ve compiled this list of Pet Toys – they look so fun, you’ll want to play with them yourself!

Whack-a-Mouse Cat Toy

Whack-a-Mole’s not that hard, it just involves a little agility and a lot of reflexes – which makes it perfect for cats, because either of those traits can fit into the phrase “… has the ________ of a cat.” Replace the mole with a mouse and replace the machine that operates it with a human sucker, and you have a fairground game that cats can play, too. You can’t say that for the Milk Can Ball Toss.

Check Amazon for the Whack-a-Mouse Cat Toy

Cowboy Dog Rider Costume

Sigh… If only we could ride our dog like that… We’ll have to live vicariously through the 8″ plastic cowboy, instead. The Cowboy Dog Rider Costume makes the comings and goings of your dog into a funny joke, and if it tries to shake the costume off, then it’s a free rodeo right in your living room!

Buy the Cowboy Dog Rider Costume Here

Cats Attack Scratching Post

It’s something  every cat owner knows, but none of them want to admit: if your cat were ten times bigger, it would eat you. Just be thankful it is the size that it is, and let it unleash its animalistic fury on other pint-sized objects.  This Cats Attack Scratching Post gives Fluffy its own cardboard downtown Tokyo to terrorize, so maybe it’ll show mercy on your couch.

Buy the Cats Attack Scratching Post Here

Zombie Foot Dog Toy

Dogs leave the darned things on our doorsteps, don’t they? If it’s not their latest hunting trophy, then it’s an undead severed appendage. Zombie lovers will have a lot of fun with this Zombie Foot Dog Toy, and dogs will too because really it’s not hard to entertain a dog.

Buy the Zombie Foot Dog Toy Here

To Scarborough Fair Hats for Cats

Your cat pee somewhere it shouldn’t have? We recommend punishing it by buying it an adorable hat. You’ll love these Hats for Cats from To Scarborough Fair, with a wide variety of styles and motifs. As for your cat… it doesn’t appreciate the subtleties of fashion.

Buy the To Scarborough Fair Hats for Cats Here

Duckbilled Dog Muzzle

A dog with a duckbill looks like a science experiment gone wrong (or right?), but if the platypus can make do, so can Fido. Soften the “BDSM” undertones of standard muzzles with this funny Duckbilled Dog Muzzle. Not only does it effectively prevent your canine from barking or biting, it also prevents him or her from being taken seriously!

Check Amazon for the Duckbilled Dog Muzzle

Shark Nano Pet Bed

Jaws may have scared a generation from swimming in the ocean, but it went right over our pets’ heads! Believe it or not, the best part about the Shark Nano Pet Bed isn’t the badass shark design – the nano technology material is antiseptic and lightweight, meaning this thing is clean, odorless, and easy to move!

Check Amazon for the Shark Nano Pet Bed

Bowser Beer for Dogs

Now you don’t have to drink alone! As you might have guessed, Bowser Beer for Dogs is beer for dogs – the special ingredients (including malt barley) is high in protein and great for shiny coats and joint health. It is non-alcoholic, though, but that’s for the best… you know how Fido gets after he’s had a few.

Check Amazon for the Bowser Beer for Dogs

Pet Toys Fido Would Buy If His Card Wasn’t Maxed Out

Have you ever chosen snoozing over your job?

For some of us, it’s a critical decision we make every single day of our lives. Those first moments in the early morning are a chaotic warzone where your primal love of sleep battles a gradually growing voice of reason. Regular alarm clocks don’t wake us up.  They just make us go back to sleep angry.

We’re not alone. There are many of us who, try as we might, just can’t succumb to the sweet wiles of responsibility.

For people that need extra help getting up, there’s a whole industry of alarm clocks that go the extra mile… to hell! These evil alarm clocks are the last thing we want in the morning, but exactly what we need.

Below, we list the 5 evilest alarm clocks, organized from least to most evil.

Sonic Bomb Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker

If the bed is rockin’… maybe you should get up. The Sonic Bomb Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker ($33.26) is designed specifically for people who sleep through most alarms, not really snoozers. The first assault is a 113-decibel sound blast that dwarves most alarms, coupled with a pulsating light show. But the heavy artillery is the vibrator unit placed under the bed or mattress. This desperate measure works miracles with even the heaviest sleeper.

Buy the Sonic Bomb Dual Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker Now

Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock App

You’re up, but so what? It won’t stay that way for long… unless you get moving. The Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock App (Free App) requires you to walk a certain amount of steps before the alarm turns off. You set up the number of steps you want, and can modify the step sensitivity. And don’t try to cheat! The advanced “shake” detectors will punish disobedience.

Buy the Walk Me Up! Alarm Clock App Now

Screaming Meanie

The Screaming Meanie ($31.95) is another alarm designed to wake up heavy sleepers, except with no pretense of courtesy. The reviews read like confessions from an S&M forum (“it just about blew me out of bed, and all I could think was ‘make it stop! make it stop!'”).

This loudmouth comes with three settings of audio levels similar to a vacuum cleaner, a lawnmower, and a full-throttle chainsaw. Many alarms only claim to hit 120 decibels, but real customers confirm this was one, unfortunately, really does.

Buy the Screaming Meanie Now

Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) Alarm App

Don’t be fooled by the cutesy name of the Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) Alarm App (Free App). It’s nickname of “The World’s Most Annoying Alarm App” is more accurate.

This user-friendly, user-hating technology only shuts off when the sleeper completes mild tasks. The most common is taking a picture in a specified location (where you first register the app), so for example, it won’t shut off until you take a picture of the toilet. Other options include a number of shakes and brain-waking arithmetic.

Buy the Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) Alarm App Now

SnūzNLūz Wifi Donation Clock

Last, we arrive at the evilest alarm clock in the world. The games are over, and this clock is not f*cking around. Instead of relying on gimmicks like loud noise or tasks, the SnūzNLūz Wifi Donation Clock ($39.99) uses psychological — and financial — warfare. Every time you snooze, it donates $10 or more to a charity/non-profit you hate.

While alarm clocks that shred your real money turned out to be illegal, this one uses a wifi connection to your bank account in order to waste your money responsibly. You choose the donation amount (at least $10) and recipient — anyone from the Republican Party, PETA, or your neighbor with the loud dog. This is the only clock that gets in your head to wake you up from the inside out.

Buy the SnūzNLūz Wifi Donation Clock Now

5 Evil Alarm Clocks That Will Force Snooze Addicts to Wake Up

Animals are so cute! And what’s better than picture of one animal? A picture of two animals, morphed together into an ungodly abomination that would make the Human Centipede scientist jealous. Hence, the photoshopped hybrid animals trend.

Thanks to Photoshop, us humans no longer have to use our imaginations. If we want to see a owl-koala or a duck-turtle, then we just have to open our favorite photo editor and play a little god during our coffee break. We’ve collected 26 of our favorites and posted them below.

Delightful, terrifying, and strangely educational. Don’t forget to name your favorite in the comments now.

Photoshopped Animal Hybrids that may live in your Nightmares

Despite the bugs, the manual labor, and the soul-withering heat, for some strange and unknown reason, we love gardening. There’s just something about backseat driving with Mother Nature, telling her what plants should go where because, after all, it’s your land now.

But, as with all struggles of mankind versus nature, the only real advantage we have are tools. Whether a shovel fashioned out of rocks and sticks, or an app that hires a professional gardener, tools can make the difference between garden and a bunch of plants.

This summer, enjoy these 10 lawn and garden tools to turn your yardwork into yardplay

1. Black & Decker Alligator Lopper

Just look at it! Good thing you’re a gardener so you have an excuse to buy such a cool-looking machine!

The Black & Decker Alligator Lopper ($67.00) takes all the fun of a chainsaw, shrinks it, and gives it clamping jaws. Logs and branches up to 4 in. tremble in fear at the sight of its 4.5 amp motor. Perfect for tree pruning, large plant sheering, and zombie attacks.

Buy the Black & Decker Alligator Lopper Now

2. Togetherfarm Blocks

Maybe they’re not Legos, exactly, but the Togetherfarm Blocks ($74.99) make up for it by being specifically attuned to gardening. Made from recycled, food-grade plastic, these Lego style blocks allow creative gardeners and their children to build plant containers however their imaginations want. You can use them for raised flower beds or protection against weeds, and there’s even built-in allotments for trells.

Buy the Togetherfarm Blocks Now

3. GreenWorks Cordless Pole Saw

Think you can trim those high-up tree branches by tying your chainsaw to a long pole? I’d advise against it — I lost an uncle that way. Instead, take advantage of the GreenWorks Cordless Pole Saw ($148.99). It operates on a battery and charger so you don’t have to worry about wires or extension cords, and the aluminum shaft extends up to 8 feet. It’s also equally effective for shorter trees within 8 feet of your living room window.

Buy the GreenWorks Cordless Pole Saw Now

4. Bird Photo Booth 2.0

You’re not the only one who enjoys your garden, you know. Bird-watchers don’t have to try nearly so hard with the Bird Photo Booth 2.0 ($59.95). This bird-feeder, up-close camera combination satisfies both your curiosity and the bird’s megalomaniacal vanity.

This Kickstarter favorite can work one of two ways: You can let the motion-sensor camera do all the work, or place your iPhone or Android smartphone in the weatherproof case and control the shots via an included Bluetooth remote. No more of those second-rate, amateur photoshoots for your starlet starlings.

Buy the Bird Photo Booth 2.0 Now

5. GrowOya Irrigation Pot

You have to water the garden how often!? Every day!? Jeez, if I knew gardening was so much work, I would have just gone to the supermarket for tomatoes.

If you’re one of those gardeners that hates going outside, interacting with your plants, or gardening in general, the GrowOya Irrigation Pot ($24-30) is just what you need. Just bury this porous clay pot up to the neck in your garden and fill it with water. The natural time-release will keep your plants hydrated on a schedule, cutting your your watering time. Make sure you get the right size for your garden.

Buy the GrowOya Irrigation Pot Now

6. Bigfoot Boot/Shoe-in Slipper

Just because you’re gardening all day doesn’t mean you’re outside all day. Sooner or later, there will be something you need indoors, even if just the bathroom. That’s when the Bigfoot Boot/Shoe-in Slipper ($34.50 – SALE) is perfect. These shoes for your shoes protect your floors from whatever dirt and mud you’ve collected when gardening.

Buy the Bigfoot Boot/Shoe-in Slipper Now

7. ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent

We’re on the verge of inventing microscopic robots that carry medicine inside our bloodstreams — are you still using hay-filled scarecrows to chase away pests? The ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent ($54.00) uses motion-activated technology to repeal animals like deer, rabbits, raccoons, and more up to 1,200 feet away. Ecological and cruelty-free, the device uses a simple spurt of water to enforce your garden’s boundaries.

Buy the ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent Now

8. Parrot Flower Power

Gardening? There’s an app for that. If your favorite part of gardening is sitting on your couch and playing on your phone, the Parrot Flower Power ($59.99) is just what you need.

You just have to leave the couch for a few seconds to plant the sensor in the desired area, and then check your phone to see the status of your plants. The app will tell you if your plants have enough sunlight and water, plus whether the temperature and soil nutrients are adequate. How did farmers grow anything before smartphones?

Buy the Parrot Flower Power Now

9. Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Tool Pouch

Activities that involve getting on your knees aren’t usually recreational, but hey, neither are ones that involve digging holes, so gardening is just special. Still, if you want to save some wear-and-tear and your body’s most valuable joints, the Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Tool Pouch ($26.99) can help.

Providing cushiony support why your serve your almighty plant overlords, this kneeler also comes with a hand tool pouch to keep everything you need nicely organized in front of you. And what if you’re dealing with slightly higher plants? Simply turn it upside-down and it becomes a chair.

Buy the Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Tool Pouch Now

10. Misty Mate Keepin’ Cool 6 Portable Misting System

You’ve been out working on your lawn and garden all day, when suddenly you realize, “OMG, it’s freakin’ hot outside!” You need to take a break in the shade and cool off, and that’s where the Misty Mate Keepin’ Cool 6 Portable Misting System comes in handy.

Using a pre-assembled system of 6 misters, this life-saver creates a blanket of mist that extends 10 feet. Mist is not playing around — this device has been proven to reduce the ambient temperature by up to 30 degrees. Attach it to your patio fascia and enjoy the view of your garden in the way nature intended: surrounded by an artificial cloud of water.

Buy the Misty Mate Keepin’ Cool 6 Portable Misting System Now

10 Lawn and Garden Tools for Feeling Superior to Nature

Disney has made a fortune by not preparing kids for reality. One of the appeals of Disney movies is escaping to a fantasy world where candlesticks talk, carpets fly, and every character has their own quirky animal sidekick. That’s all fine and good until the same Disney characters become parents. Once the Prince knocks up the Princess, and things start getting real.

Earlier this year, Buzzfeed and artist Paul Westover posted these funny glimpses into the unsettling reality of our favorite Disney characters as parents.

What If Disney Characters Were Parents?

If nothing else, The Checkout is known for its class. We’re a sophisticated consumer goods blog. We appreciate the finer things. We watch movies with subtitles. Our distinguished palettes can detect the subtle differences between wine and “wine product.”

That’s why we want to share one of our favorite acquired tastes, classic art. Unfortunately, the generation today can’t appreciate the nuances of aesthetics without writing misspelled, grammatically tragic quips all over it. So, the best we can do is offer you classic art memes.

For months, our art history department has been pouring through archives in the Louvre, the Met, and Tumblr. We’re now proud to present our gift to the world: the 13 Best Classic Art Memes.

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13 Best Classic Art Memes

In 1988, one of the greatest comic book writers of all time penned the origin story of one of the most popular villains of all time in a graphic novel vignette from one of the most popular comic titles of all time.

Winner of the 1989 Eisner Award for “Best Graphic Album,” The Killing Joke was a seminal Batman graphic novel that put forth the origin of the world’s favorite villain the Joker, set as the flashback in one of the most haunting and disturbing stories in comic’s history. And the whole thing was written by Alan Moore, the genius writer of Watchmen responsible for bringing the sophistication and maturity of fine literature to “picture books.”

After decades of being lauded as one of the must-read comics of all time, The Killing Joke is now being made into an animated movie… R-rated and faithful to the book.

The straight-to-DVD animated movie brings together many of the voice actors from the Emmy-award winning Batman: the Animated Series, which earned its place on every official “best cartoons of all time” list. Among the returning actors are Kevin Convoy as Batman and the cult favorite Joker, Star Wars‘s Mark Hamill.

I finally caught my favorite villain! Bats nabs Joker pic.twitter.com/CSL4o6JaHi

— Kevin Conroy (@RealKevinConroy) January 10, 2016

The script was written by comic veteran and Eisner-award winner Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Batman: Gotham Knight), and directed by Emmy-award-winner and go-to man for animated comic series Sam Liu (Batman: Year One, The Batman). At the helm is the kingpin of the DC animated universe, producer Bruce Timm, co-creator of Batman: the Animated Series.

Warner Home Video already confirmed that it will be the first animated DC film to receive an R rating, and the second Batman movie to be R-rated after the special Batman v Superman extended cut. The adult rating will come as no surprise to those that have read the novel; they already know its grisly content pushes the borders and makes even the most steadfast readers squirm.

“From the start of production, we encouraged producer Bruce Timm and our team at Warner Bros. Animation to remain faithful to the original story — regardless of the eventual MPAA rating,” says Warner Bros. Animation president Sam Register. “We felt it was our responsibility to present our core audience — the comics-loving community — with an animated film that authentically represented the tale they know all too well.”

“Faithful to the origin story.” Could there be any sweeter description for the film adaptation of such a beloved comic? Timm has stated earlier that his team needed to “add a lot more story” to turn the 48-page comic into a full-length film, but considering the level of talent on the project, that’s hardly a bad thing.

The Killing Joke movie will make its world debut to the lucky souls at San Diego Comic Con in late July 2016. A digital copy (Digital HD) will be available to buy on July 23, but collectors will have to wait until August 2 to order the DVD or Blu-Ray.

Extra features on the Blu-Ray include:

• Batman: The Killing Joke – Madness Set To Music featurette, a documentary with behind-the-scenes footage that explains the making of the film’s most powerful (and sadistic) scene.
• Many Shades of Joker: The Tale of The Killing Joke featurette, exploring the distinctive artistic style of The Killing Joke.
• Two separate standalone animated Batman episodes: “Old Wounds” from The New Batman Adventures, and “Christmas with The Joker” from Batman: the Animated Series.
• A limited edition Joker figurine (Deluxe Edition only).

The Killing Joke is available now for pre-order in DVD, Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital HD Combo Pack, and the Deluxe Edition Combo Pack. It’s the perfect cure the next time you’re having a bad day…

Preorder Batman: The Killing Joke Now

Finally, The Killing Joke Movie We Deserve AND Need