The Pathetic Spidey meme originates from the 1967 Spider-Man animated series, which has become a goldmine for internet culture due to its unique, low-budget animation style. The image features Spider-Man looking down with an expression of supreme disappointment or condescension, typically captioned with the single word 'Pathetic.' This format first gained traction on image boards and Tumblr as a versatile reaction image used to mock someone’s poor performance or questionable life choices. It remains a staple of the '60s Spider-Man' meme genre, celebrated for its vintage aesthetic and hilariously dramatic tone.