One Punch

{{DC Database:Concept Template
 * Image                  = Guy Gardner KTFO.jpg
 * OfficialName           = One Punch
 * Aliases                =
 * Creators               = Keith Giffen; J.M. DeMatteis; Kevin Maguire
 * First                  = {{c|Justice League #5}}


 * Quotation              = One punch! One punch!
 * Speaker                = Blue Beetle


 * HistoryText            = One Punch is a popular cultural meme based on an infamous moment from Justice League International, featuring Guy Gardner. A sub-plot of the series involved Guy frequently challenging Batman for authority, and being harshly denied, which grew into a large conflict between the two. While Batman was clearly the superior, Guy simply refused to let up on his ego and machismo. Hal Jordan 006.jpg This climaxed with Guy challenging Batman to a fight, believing he could take on the Dark Knight even without his power ring in unarmed combat. Hilarity ensues when Batman knocks him the fuck out with a single hit to the face. This leads to Blue Beetle, doubling over with laughter, famously exclaiming one punch! one punch! on the course of the fight. This iconic event has been referenced several times since.

In a later conflict with Hal Jordan for the position of Earth's Green Lantern, Guy was knocked flat once more by Hal's devastating right hook causing Blue Beetle to claim one punch! a second time. Although Guy recovered and the battle went on for quite a deal longer than that, he still ultimately lost the fight.

During Green Lantern: Rebirth the situation is nearly reversed. Hal Jordan is believed to be a supervillain for many years, due to his possession by the evil Parallax entity, and Batman completely refuses to trust him. The constant challenging from Batman and refusal to let him deal with his own problems leads Hal to unexpectedly punching Batman. Catching him off-guard, Jordan absolutely decks Batman in a single blow, causing Guy's respect for him to immediately sky-rocket. Later, in the middle of a team-up, Batman hits Hal with one of his own right hooks, knocking him on his ass once so that they'll be even. After this, they are able to go back to being friends. If only we could all learn to work out our differences this way, the world might be a better place...


 * RelatedText            =

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 * Notes                  =
 * This gag was written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire.
 * Trivia                 =
 * In a column written by Keith Giffen in 2008, he gave his opinion on the increasing popularity of referencing this joke as: "I never thought I'd say this, but enough with the "one punch" already. It was a throwaway bit. Move on. Please."
 * Links                  =
 * Keith Giffen's opinion