Tricky the Clown originated as a primary antagonist in the Madness Combat flash animation series created by Krinkels, known for his relentless pursuit of Hank J. Wimbleton and his reality-bending powers. The character saw a massive resurgence in 2021 following his inclusion in a popular Friday Night Funkin (FNF) mod, which introduced him to a new generation of fans. This era birthed the 'Tiky' meme—a low-resolution, simplified version of the clown often accompanied by the word 'Cookie' or high-pitched screeching sounds. The meme thrives on surrealism and the hilarious contrast between Tricky’s terrifying canonical strength and his nonsensical internet persona, making it a staple of gaming and animation subcultures.