You Kill Me

Blue background and black text with a color illustration of a light-skinned man with his eyes closed and tongue out. He has flames emerging from his back, holes in his body, knife in his chest, rope around his neck, and axe embedded in his head. 

The image seen here reflects a dark slapstick humor typical of mid-century novelty art: a cartoon man humorously depicted as being ‘killed” in exaggerated ways, such as with an axe, rope, knife, fire, and gunshots. While the visuals are violent, they aren’t meant to be morbid; instead, they play on the phrase “you kill me,” meaning “you’re hilarious.” This kind of wordplay and absurd humor was popular on joke items, especially in 1966 when this particular button was made, likely for dime stores, fairs, and amusement arcades. Many of these buttons were made in Japan for export to the U.S. novelty market by companies, such as the Topps Company, Inc., which produces trading cards and other collectibles.