![I'm the Upgrade I'm the Upgrade meme format depicting homelander, anthony starr, from the boys season three.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/041/100/cover1.jpg)
I'm the Upgrade
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About
I'm the Upgrade, also known as You're Just a Cheap Fucking Knock-off, refers to a scene from the Amazon superhero television series The Boys in which the character Soldier Boy calls the villain Homelander a "cheap knock-off" of him, with Homelander replying that he is "the upgrade" during the pair's first encounter. In late June 2022, the scene spawned a two-panel exploitable meme format where users labeled Soldier Boy and Homelander with various text and images to portray something as superior.
Origin
On June 24th, 2022, season three episode six, titled "Herogasm," of the superhero television series The Boys premiered.[1] In one scene of the episode, superhero characters Soldier Boy, portrayed by Jensen Ackles, and Homelander, portrayed by Anthony Starr, confront each other for the first time, with Soldier Boy (the star superhero of the 1980s) calling Homelander (the star superhero of the present day) "a cheap fucking knock-off" of him, to which Homelander replies by calling himself "an upgrade" (scene shown below, 0:54 mark).
- You're just a cheap fucking knock-off.
- Oh, no-no-no. I'm the upgrade.
Later that day, Facebook user Lance Levante Govender posted a two-panel JoJo's Bizarre Adventure meme based on the scene that gained over 160 reactions and 12 shares on The Boys Supeposting Facebook[2] group and 220 reactions and 70 shares in JoJo Standposting Requiem group[3] in two weeks (shown below). The user also shared a template for the meme.[4]
![Dio Upgrade STAND POSTING REQUIEM 10 Buddy, you're just a cheap knockoff No. I'm the upgrade.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/625/1cc.jpg)
Spread
Starting on June 25th, 2022, more Facebook users posted memes based on the format on The Boys Supeposting Facebook page. For example, that day, user Amar Nasser posted[5] a Naruto / Jujutsu Kaisen meme that received over 1,200 reactions and 230 shares in two weeks (shown below, left). On June 26th, Facebook[6] user Dwithin Dileep posted a Ben 10 meme that gained over 900 reactions and 90 shares in the same period (shown below, right).
![Naruto vs. Yuji Buddy you're just a cheap f*cking knockoff Oll No. I'm the upgrade. AMAR](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/628/dc5.jpg)
![I'm Literally the Upgrade Boys SUPEPOSTING Buddy, you're just a cheap f------ knockoff DWITHIN No. I'm the upgrade.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/629/33a.jpg)
In late June 2022, the format spread to other meme groups on Facebook, most notably to The Boys Sevenposting. For example, on June 26th, Facebook[7] user Gabriel Aviarre posted another meme based on the format that received over 480 reactions and 50 shares in roughly two weeks, with the user providing another template. The format also found notable popularity in the Pokemon: Pokeposting group. For example, on June 27th, user Ashutosh Kumar posted[8] a meme that gained over 2,300 reactions and 250 shares in two weeks (shown below, right).
![Actual Mexican Food vs. Taco Bell Actual Mexican food You're just a cheap f------ knock off TACO BELL Oh no no no... I'm the upgrade](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/636/4ed.jpg)
![Flygon vs. Garchomp](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/679/221.jpg)
In early July, the format received further spread online, reaching Instagram,[9] Reddit,[10] Twitter[11] and other platforms over the following weeks.
Various Examples
![I'm Literally the Upgrade Boys SUPEPOSTING Buddy, you're just a cheap f------ knockoff DWITHIN No. I'm the upgrade.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/629/33a.jpg)
![The Doll vs. Ranni You're just a cheap f------ knockoff. Oh no no, I am the upgrade.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/691/4c0.jpg)
![Z-Moves](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/684/708.jpg)
![Limewire vs. Spotify mafip.com You're just a cheap f-----' knock off. No. I'm the upgrade.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/631/a03.jpg)
![Wonder Woman vs. Queen Maeve You're just a cheap f*cking knockoff Oh no, I'm the upgrade.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/686/4d7.jpg)
![No I'm the Wrong Franchise GAME BOY COLOR Gotta catch email! U EVERYONE E CRYSTAL VERSION TETTY THE GOD FLEXFER Buddy, you're just a cheap knock-off Nintendo POKÉMON- POKE -POSTING EURO TRUCK SIMULATOR 2 No, I'm the wrong franchise](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/685/5e1.jpg)
Templates
![I'm the Upgrade Template (No Caption)](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/626/fcb.jpg)
![I'm the Upgrade Template You're just a cheap f------ knock off Oh no no no... I'm the upgrade](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/637/20b.jpg)
![I'm the Upgrade Alternative Template You're just a cheap f------ knockoff Oh no no no, I'm the upgrade](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/393/053/7d6.jpg)
Search Interest
External References
[2] Facebook – Lance Levante Govender
[3] Facebook – Lance Levante Govender
[4] Facebook – Lance Levante Govender
[5] Facebook – Amar Nasser
[6] Facebook – Dwithin Dileep
[7] Facebook – Gabriel Aviarre
[8] Facebook – Ashutosh Kumar
[9] Instagram – armed.asian
[10] Reddit – Invest in Soldier boy v Bad product
[11] Twitter – @ZeroTwoMexicana
Top Comments
pocketlint60
Jul 12, 2022 at 05:11PM EDT
MisterZygarde64
Jul 12, 2022 at 06:45PM EDT in reply to