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What In The World Are 'Wega' and 'Maltigi'? The Messed Up Luigi.exe Taking Over Meme Edits Explained
Luigi, the green-suited underdog of the Super Mario universe, has always been the internet’s favorite awkward little brother.
While Mario’s out here stealing the princess and the spotlight, Luigi gets stuck vacuuming ghosts in the criminally underrated video game Luigi’s Mansion. Naturally, this makes him prime meme fodder.
Enter Wega and Maltigi, two memes that crank Luigi’s absurdity to a hundred. A purple-faced Luigi screams into the void as Wega, while transforming into a blood-splattered, sharp-toothed version of himself as Maltigi.
Here's a recap of Luigi's various cursed YTP forms and how they're used in memes online.
What Is 'Luigi's Mansion' And Why Is It So Popular In Memes?
Luigi's Mansion was released in 2001 as a GameCube launch title, giving Mario's brother a rare leading role in which he was tasked with ghostbusting in a spooky haunted mansion. While initially overshadowed by traditional Mario platformers, the game's cult following grew over time, with it even getting a shout-out in the Mario movie.
These memes capitalize on Luigi's exaggerated and comical reactions, as well as his perpetual second-fiddle status.
What Is 'Wega' Luigi, And How Is He Used In Memes?
"Wega" Luigi originates from an edited image of Luigi from Luigi's Mansion with a distorted, hue-shifted and warped expression, often paired with a chaotic scream sound effect. The meme thrives on its absurdity, with Luigi seemingly caught mid-epiphany or breakdown against a neon nightmare backdrop.
Wega Luigi has been used in bait-and-switch meme formats since 2022, and is often seen spammed in the comments section of a Super Mario-related internet post.
Who Is 'Maltigi' And When Did The Evil Luigi Appear Online?
The Maltigi meme depicts a sinister Luigi, often called "Evil Luigi" or "Luigi.exe," characterized by blood splatter, sharp teeth, and pinprick eyes. This version of Luigi also originated as an edit of Luigi's Mansion cover art, this time with a very evil twist.
While the creator of Maltigi is presently unknown, the earliest known GIF featuring Luigi.exe was posted to Twitter / X on March 26th, 2022, by @Flubber_2. The meme then gained popularity through creators like @db_witch and @TheSillySnail, who incorporated Maltigi into humorous edits and YouTube Poops, spreading widely by mid-2023.
For the full history of Wega and Maltigi, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entries here and here for more information.