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16[[quoteright:300:[[VideoGame/DayOfTheTentacle https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/explosive_cigar_day_of_tentacle.png]]]]
17
18->''"We three kings of Orient are\
19Trying to smoke a rubber cigar.\
20It was loaded, it exploded --\
21Now we're on yonder star-ar."''
22
23A character gets a "cigar", puts it into his mouth, lights it, EXPLOSION! Another victim of the explosive cigar! This sort of thing commonly occurs in cartoons.
24
25In a comedic work, after the smoke clears, the sap will have [[AshFace a smoke-blackened face]], their eyes will be bugging out in alarm and the cigar will now be a stub with a star-shape of peeled-back cigar paper at the end. In more serious works, the results will typically end up being [[YourHeadAsplode fatal]].
26
27A common variation of this joke is similar to the PoisonedChaliceSwitcheroo: the victim suspects the cigar is "loaded" and insists on swapping cigars with the instigator; unfortunately, the instigator is too clever and had the "loaded" one in the first place, meaning the victim still ends up falling for it.
28
29A form of NonFatalExplosions. Also see AshFace. Compare EatTheBomb. Contrast CigarFuseLighting. See also TaintedTobacco for a more subtle way to kill with a cigar.
30
31----
32!!Examples:
33[[foldercontrol]]
34
35[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
36* ''Franchise/LupinIII'':
37** An early chapter of the original ''Manga/LupinIII'' manga had the title character toss a cigarette at a villain, which then explodes.
38** Occurs to Jigen in ''Anime/LupinIIICrisisInTokyo'' after he picks up the wrong cig.
39** Two examples in the opening of ''Anime/LupinIIIDeadOrAlive'':
40*** The stogie the Warden is smoking while collecting prisoners turns into a smoke bomb that sends the guards into a coughing fit while the Warden takes the prisoners out of the jail in a jeep.
41*** While being chased, the Warden lights up several, and throws them behind to act as grenades against the guards.
42** Double subversion in ''Anime/LupinIIIDragonOfDoom'': Lupin asks the [[OneShotCharacter yearly one-shot villain]] for one last smoke before getting gunned down. He accepts but takes away Lupin's lighter and pack of cigarettes and lets him smoke one of his own cigars. However, when he throws the cigarette pack into the water, [[SmokeOut it explodes and releases a smoke screen, allowing Lupin to escape unscathed]].
43[[/folder]]
44
45[[folder:Comic Books]]
46* In the ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' comics, ComicBook/TheJoker has been known to kill people with exploding cigars loaded with a lethal charge of explosives. One particular use of one single-handedly signaled the end of the HarmlessVillain status he had in the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]], [[NotSoHarmlessVillain back to the monstrous psychopath he was at the beginning and is still known as today]].
47** In one issue of ''ComicBook/DetectiveComics'' he gives a (nonfatal) one to his.. business associate.. [[PsychoForHire Doctor Moon]], who then offers him a cigar in return. The Joker stares for a moment then [[ActuallyPrettyFunny starts cackling]].
48* Franchise/{{Superman}}'s foe the Prankster sometimes uses explosive cigars as well.
49* In the first ComicBook/PostCrisis ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''/''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' CrossOver (in John Byrne's ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' miniseries), female villain Magpie killed a henchman who had failed her by stabbing him with a poisoned needle that paralyzed him. Once he couldn't move, she stuck a dynamite stick into his mouth, lit the fuse and walked away. Her name for this? [[ShoutOut "Happy]] [[WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes Birthday"]].
50** ComicBook/TheJoker has done this too. In both cases, one of the other mooks screamed [[ShoutOut "No! Not Happy Birthday!"]] That said, at least once he forced a cigar into a tied mook's mouth, only to reveal it's a normal cigar as the poor fool pisses himself in fear of this trope happening.
51* In an AlternateContinuity ''ComicBook/BatmanLobo'' crossover, ComicBook/{{Lobo}} kills ComicBook/ThePenguin by giving him an explosive stogie.
52* A ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' section that suggests things to do in case of living in the world of ''Film/TheDayAfter'' has one thing being giving one of these cigars to somebody who is pro-nuclear war.
53* In Creator/WilhelmBusch's ''Literature/MaxAndMoritz'' (1865), Max and Moritz maliciously stuff their teacher's meerschaum pipe with gunpowder.
54* In ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'', it's done with Abdullah, the SpoiledBrat son of the one Arab sheikh.
55** The early 1990s animated series also featured Abdullah pulling this in the episode "Land of Black Gold." He even pulls it on Captain Haddock!
56* ''ComicBook/TinusTrotyl'' often does this with both cigars and cigarettes. When someone actually pulled the trick on him though, [[DisproportionateRetribution he really didn't take it well]].
57* Happened as a ChekhovsGun in a ''ComicBook/BuckDanny'' story, where it was ''not'' played for laugh. [[PluckyComicRelief Sonny]] gave [[TheHero Buck]] one of these before a mission, which Buck decided to smoke once the mission was over. He ended up being captured, and the bad guy guarding him decided to steal his cigar and smoke it in front of him. The explosion gave Buck the distraction needed to overpower him.
58* In a ''ComicBook/GastonLagaffe'' comic, his coworkers decide to prank him as a retaliation for all the trouble he regularly causes them by giving him an explosive cigarette. Too bad their stressed-out boss decided to light his own cigarette from Gaston's, and inhaled so hard he pulled the explosive inside his own...
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder:Fan Works]]
62* Frisk pulls this prank on Muffet in [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/8801389 this]] Undertale fanfiction.
63* In the ''Fanfic/EmpathTheLuckiestSmurf'' story "Smurfette's Dark Side", Jokey gives one to Brainy, who questions whether the cigar has [[FantasticDrug smurfnip]] in it at first.
64[[/folder]]
65
66[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
67* ''WesternAnimation/Madagascar3EuropesMostWanted'': Variant in the end of the "Firework" musical number -- when the American Promotor offers the circus a tour contract, he, the monkeys (in their guise as the "[[TotemPoleTrench King of Versailles]]") and his bald eagle all smoke bananas like cigars. The eagle's explodes harmlessly, causing the Promotor and top monkey to laugh hysterically.
68* Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''Series/WaltDisneyPresents'' episode "Mars and Beyond" part 2: "Mars in Pop Culture" has a segment where a SexySecretary is kidnapped by Martians. She eventually changes into a superheroine and defeats the Martians by giving them exploding cigars.
69* ''WesternAnimation/YellowSubmarine'': a big, pugilistic monster is thwarted when the sub fires a cigar into his mouth, then, converting to a lighter, obligingly lights it. A few peaceful bars of Bach (itself a ShoutOut to the then-popular ad for Hamlet cigarettes), then, Ka-BOOM!
70[[/folder]]
71
72[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
73* An odd one is smoked in ''Film/AprilFoolsDay'', as it takes quite a while before exploding.
74* ''Film/BigBusiness'' ends with Creator/LaurelAndHardy slipping an exploding cigar to the antagonist that just wrecked their car (of course, they did wreck his house).
75* Weaponized in ''Film/BulletInTheHead''; Luke, the most badass of the heroes, have a packet of Havana cigars with him containing C4. During the nightclub shootout, in more than one scene he'll light his cigars, take a puff, and throw it at mooks with devastating effects.
76* When ''Film/GingerMeggs'' was made into a live-action film, there was one scene where the local bruiser (he was noticeably older than the kids) was tricked into smoking one such cigar. All the kids watching him knew what was going to happen and could be seen drawing back. The result was the typical smoke-blackened face and the character keeling over in surprise but no other damage.
77* ''Film/PoliceAcademy6CityUnderSiege'' sees the Wilson Heights gang offer a cigar to their silhouetted mastermind, and fall about laughing when it goes off, complete with his shadow hat lifting off his head briefly. Probably because, when it goes bang, [[SpecialEffectsFailure you can actually see the silhouette of the stick raising said hat!]]
78* In ''Film/RoadToMorocco'', Hope and Crosby escape from the Sheik by putting gunpowder into, not cigars, but cigarettes.
79* ''Film/TheTallBlondManWithOneBlackShoe'': Francois' pal Maurice, a practical joker, hands out a couple of exploding cigars -- one of which, late in the picture, goes off in an ashtray during a tense MexicanStandoff between four men, [[BlastOut all of whom promptly shoot each other]].
80* In ''Film/VForVendetta'', Stephen Fry's sketch involved an exploding cigar being smoked by the tyrannical dictator of the United Kingdom.
81* A variant appears in ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'', where Tanaka gives Film/JamesBond a case of cigarettes that shoots a projectile when lit. Bond ends up using them to foil Blofeld's plan to start World War III.
82[[/folder]]
83
84[[folder:Literature]]
85* An exploding cigar is used as a murder weapon in the Literature/NeroWolfe novella ''Instead of Evidence''. Aptly enough the victim is the president of a novelties company.
86* In the Creator/PeterDavid novelization of ''Film/SpiderMan2'', a villain called Jack-All attempts to use one on Spider-Man in a getaway attempt, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard but it ends up backfiring]].
87[[/folder]]
88
89[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
90* An exploding cigar packed with a lethal charge of black powder was used as a murder weapon in the ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' episode "Child's Play". It showed the guy's jaw blown off. [[spoiler:And the victim ''wasn't even the intended target.'' The real target was a joke shop owner by the name of "Laughing Larry", who's infamous in-universe for his shoddy merchandise. A few decades before, when the perp was a child, he and his best friend pooled their allowances to order a cardboard submarine from Larry. The perp was somewhat disappointed, but still set the assembled boat out on a small lake, but it sank soon after, with the perp's best friend (who couldn't swim and drowned) inside.]]
91* On an episode of ''Series/DeadliestCatch'', Edgar Hansen loads a cigarette that is given to his brother (and captain) Sig. Thankfully the charge is small, so it doesn't do anything more than give Sig a bit of a scare.
92* In a reference to the attempt on UsefulNotes/FidelCastro's life by the CIA, the exploding cigar was tested as one of their weapons in the "KGB vs. CIA" episode of ''Series/DeadliestWarrior''. Despite the small size of the explosion, the fact that its point blank makes it instantly lethal as most of the foe's face is burnt and destroyed.
93* A variation on ''Series/GetSmart''; An episode featured gadgets known as "Bazooka Butts". You light it up, take one puff and throw it at your target. (Two puffs would [[YourHeadAsplode blow your head off]].) It came in a pack where half of the cigarettes were Bazooka Butts, and the other half were real cigarettes. [[HilarityEnsues They were completely indistinguishable from each other.]]
94* On ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', Barney uses an exploding meatball sandwich as a means of getting back at Marshall. However, he spent months perfecting it since the early versions tended to blow the heads off the test dummies and Barney is not that evil.
95* In an episode of ''Series/{{MASH}}'', the camp is visited by an old friend of B.J.'s who is an incorrigible practical joker. As he leaves, he offers B.J. a cigar. B.J., anticipating this trope, takes the cigar out of the man's mouth instead. He responds with "Come on, an exploding cigar? That's kids' stuff" and leaves. A short while later, the cigar explodes.
96* In an appearance on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', Harry Anderson did a trick where he lit a piece of paper on fire and turned it into a cigarette. He said, "This stuff's dynamite", as he lit the cigarette. After a couple of puffs, the cigarette exploded and Harry remarked, "This stuff ''really is'' dynamite" and tossed it away.
97* ''Series/{{Westworld}}'': The Man in Black [[GetIntoJailFree gets himself arrested]] and offers his captor a cigar in exchange for a light. The man [[KickTheDog confiscates two of the cigars and refuses the light]]. Turns out the Man in Black has a match on him; he uses his last cigar to blow the lock, finds himself confronted by his captor who then loses his face when the cigar he's smoking explodes as well.
98[[/folder]]
99
100[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
101* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' tries these at one early point. Dogbert tries to tell him that they're meant to be given to other people, but Dilbert responds "It's too late, I'm hooked."
102[[/folder]]
103
104[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
105* Happens to JustForFun/StatlerAndWaldorf on ''Series/TheMuppetShow'' when they discuss explosions (and whether they're funny).
106[[/folder]]
107
108[[folder:Radio]]
109* In ''Radio/TheGoonShow'' (which is, after all, a kind of audio cartoon), sticks of dynamite will frequently get mistaken for candles or cigars. Usually it's Bluebottle who gets hurt by them. Just occasionally they'll invert the gag by having somebody pretend the dynamite is a candle or cigar. Guess who comes off worst in those situations as well?
110[[/folder]]
111
112[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
113* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' has the AntiVillain team CLOWN, who see pulling generally harmless pranks on others as their mission in life. In a touch of seriousness, their writeup in the supplement ''Classic Organizations'' includes one of their founding members who left the group after losing an eye to one of exactly these.
114[[/folder]]
115
116[[folder:Video Games]]
117* In ''VideoGame/DayOfTheTentacle'', you have to give UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington an explosive cigar so that you can swap out his dentures with a pair of chattering teeth (ItMakesSenseInContext).
118* The plot of ''VideoGame/JumpStart3rdGrade'' involves the villain making inane changes to history, [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong which you have to correct]]. One of her changes is making it so dynamite was invented for use as an exploding cigar.
119* ''{{VideoGame/Overwatch}}'': inverted; Junkrat's Bad For Your Health victory pose has a lit stick of dynamite in his mouth held like a cigar.
120* ''VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves'': the rat enemies in Paris provide a variation on this trope; they throw bombs disguised as cigars at you and use them as weapons.
121* ''Videogame/StayTooned'' uses this gag often.
122* A box of them appear in ''VideoGame/{{Toonstruck}}'', in the Wacme Outlet. If you ask for a demonstration, it causes the top of Warp's skull to launch towards the ceiling and then fall back in place. [[AmusingInjuries Warp is perfectly fine afterwards]].
123[[/folder]]
124
125[[folder:Web Animation]]
126* ''WebAnimation/LoboWebseries'': In "Market Day", Lobo puts this in Tubo's mouth and detonates it.
127[[/folder]]
128
129[[folder:Webcomics]]
130* Sam Starfall used this particular prank in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}''. It started when Helix accidentally alerted him to the fact that [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1600/fc01524.htm exploding cigars were a thing that existed]]. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted Florence's help in making some (which she rationalizes as making sure they're not actually dangerous), with the intent of giving them to the Mayor. It took a while, but she [[http://freefall.purrsia.com/ff1800/fc01783.htm eventually tried to smoke them.]]
131* In [[http://web.archive.org/web/20161226085418/http://danmazur.livejournal.com/16275.html this]] ''Webcomic/{{Palindramas}}'' strip, it's PlayedForDrama. [[ThatMakesMeFeelAngry Sort of.]]
132* Played straight in the gag webcomic ''Webcomic/TiffanyAndCorey'' [[http://tiffanyandcorey.blogspot.com/2018/06/exploding-cigar.html complete with Tiffany having an]] AshFace.
133[[/folder]]
134
135[[folder:Western Animation]]
136* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': in "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE23BewareTheCreeper Beware The Creeper]]", the Joker gives Ryder one the second time he attempts to escape from the vat of acid.
137* WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts:
138** This happens to WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} at the end of "No Smoking", he is so [[MustHaveNicotine desperate for a smoke]], that he doesn't even care about the AshFace, but just stands there blissfully inhaling the smoke.
139--->'''Narrator:''' Give man enough "rope", and he'll hang onto his habit.
140** In the [[WesternAnimation/ChipAndDale Chip 'n' Dale]] short "The Lone Chipmunks", Chip and Dale replace outlaw WesternAnimation/{{Pete}}'s cigarette tobacco with gunpowder. This winds up backfiring when Pete tosses the resulting loaded cigarette away, where it explodes near the 'munks.
141* ''WesternAnimation/DangerMouse'': In "The Invasion of Colonel K", [[ThePrankster Funny Bone]] forces cigars on DM and Penfold, despite their protestations that they don't smoke. The cigars immediately explode in their faces.
142* In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZOgh9UUelA&t=305s "Circus Time"]] DriveInTheater intermission, the 5-minute spot has a clown fall victim to an exploding cigar (starting at 5:19 in the video).
143* In a ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' episode, "The Laughing", Dexter turns into a were-clown. When Dee-Dee answered his joke question, he gave her a cigar, which exploded in her face.
144* ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'': In the ChristmasEpisode, while Eddy is searching the closet in the beginning, there is a box labelled "exploding cigars".
145* ''WesternAnimation/FlipTheFrog'': The short "Room Runners" ends with Flip getting the better of the cop chasing after him by giving him a cigar that explodes after he lights it.
146* Played with in the 1969 ''WesternAnimation/TheInspector'' cartoon "French Freud", where the Inspector is aware someone is out to get him at the start, due to the numerous mishaps occurring to him. At a restaurant, he catches on and is afraid to smoke his after-dinner cigar, as it may be an exploding one. He tosses it out the window, and sure enough, it blows up. So he sticks with his "trusty old pipe", which [[DoubleSubversion also ends up exploding]] when lit.
147* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes''
148** In "WesternAnimation/BallotBoxBunny", WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, campaigning for mayor, is giving away cigars to the voters. Yosemite Sam commandeers them, whereupon Bugs substitutes a box of exploding cigars for them. HilarityEnsues.
149** "WesternAnimation/RabbitsKin" has Pete Puma offering an exploding cigar to Bugs. Bugs, knowing a trick cigar when he sees one, puts it away and then pulls the old "one lump or two on your tea" gag on Pete (a RunningGag in the cartoon), after which he gives Pete his own cigar and lights it for him.
150** In ''WesternAnimation/MississippiHare,'' Bugs Bunny gives Colonel Shuffle a cigar following a duel. Following the AshFace, Bugs shoves a banjo in the Colonel's hands and makes with ''Camptown Races'' (Foghorn Leghorn's usual choice of song).
151** In ''WesternAnimation/BacallToArms'', directed by Creator/BobClampett, the wolf steals a cigarette from Creator/LaurenBacall, and Creator/HumphreyBogart shoots him dead and smokes it-- and it explodes (naturally), turning Bogey into a blackface caricature who says in an Eddie Rochester voice, "My oh my! I can work for [[Series/TheJackBennyProgram Mr. Benny]] now!"
152** ''WesternAnimation/TheUnrulyHare'' has Elmer's rifle bent backwards, so when he tries to shoot Bugs, it goes behind him and hits two bullseyes Bugs is holding up. He shoves a mess of exploding cigars in Elmer's mouth and lights them ("You win, Doc!").
153** ''WesternAnimation/ThePrizePest'' has Porky offering a cigar to Daffy to appease him so he won't turn into the schizoid monster he pretends to be. He accidentally gives Daffy an exploding cigar.
154** ''WesternAnimation/ABearForPunishment'': Junyer Bear fills up his Paw's pipe for him for Fathers Day.
155-->'''Junyer''': [reading off can label] G-U-N-P-O-W-D-E-R. Dahhh, tobacco!
156** In "Dr. Devil and Mr. Hare", after Bugs tricks him into believing he's a father, the Tazmanian Devil [[ProudPapaPassesOutTheCigars gives him a cigar]]. While the "baby" turns out to be a bomb, Bugs discovers that Taz gave him a trick cigar.
157-->'''Bugs:''' I just wonder if he's as dumb as he looks.
158* A WesternAnimation/{{Tex Avery MGM cartoon|s}}, ''Wags to Riches'' (remade in the 1950s as ''Millionaire Droopy''), has Spike trying to kill Droopy by offering him a regular cigar while the gas line is open. Droopy can't get the lighter going, so Spike lights it for him and BOOM! (Droopy, of course, is gone by then.) Frustrated, Spike decides to smoke the cigar anyway. It explodes. [[OverlyLongGag And then the lighter explodes.]]
159* ''Westernanimation/TheMask'': The Mask periodically uses them, resulting in {{Ash Face}}s for the victims.
160** In the first episode, once Stanley turns into the Mask and the {{Cranky Landl|ord}}ady is shouting at the ruckus he is making, he fills her mouth with those.
161-->'''The Mask''': Ssssmokin'... will kill you! *kaboom*
162** In a later episode, the Mask shoves a handful into Lieutenant Kellaway's mouth, leaving his entire face covered with ash when they go off.
163* In the ''WesternAnimation/MrMagoo'' cartoon "Magoo's Express", two Eastern European spies board the same train as Magoo, smuggling a new explosive inside a cigar. Magoo ends up in possession of said cigar, and has just lit it when the porter tells him that he's not allowed to smoke in the car, so Magoo tosses it out the window. A hobo picks it up and tries it, but doesn't like the taste and throws it back on the train, where it explodes right where the spies are sitting.
164* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow'': Ren and Stimpy are given these in "Circus Midgets".
165* ''WesternAnimation/RockyAndBullwinkle'' had Bullwinkle handling what he believed to be a "Dee-na-mee-tay" brand cigar.
166** In an ''Aesop & Son'' cartoon, the jackrabbits who are digging for gold constantly give the mule, who runs the water shop, explosive cigars for water.
167[[/folder]]
168
169[[folder:Real Life]]
170* ''Website/{{Snopes}}'' mentions [[http://www.snopes.com/history/american/grantcigar.asp a legend]] of Ulysses S. Grant involving one.
171* The CIA actually tried to do this in one of its innumerable attempts to assassinate UsefulNotes/FidelCastro. It failed, like all the other attempts to kill Castro, who was too ProperlyParanoid.
172* Creator/DaveBarry remembered a practical joke called a "load", a chemically-treated sliver of wood that was pushed into a cigarette and exploded when the fire reached it. "Everyone had a great laugh except the smoker, who was busy wondering if his heart was going to start again." Barry decided that it would be a much more effective way to make people quit smoking to put a load into one in 20 cigarettes. Unsurprisingly, they're [[http://www.prankplace.com/exploding-cigarette-loads-p/cj-1550.htm still available]].
173* Creator/DrewCarey told a story in an interview once how his ''Drew Carey Show'' costar Ryan Stiles got a hold of one of the producer's favorite cigars and filled it with six or seven loads before hiding the cigar back in the box. Nothing happened for about six months, until the producer, Carey and Stiles were in Carey's trailer talking and the producer happened to light the loaded cigar. What brings this story to hilarity is the conversation Carey recalls them having as the cigar was lit:
174-->'''Producer (who has no idea what's about to happen):''' So the show's been quite successful so far, have things blown up for you yet?
175-->'''Drew:''' No, not yet.
176-->'''Producer (lighting cigar):''' Don't worry, they will!
177-->'''Cigar: BOOM!!!'''
178* [[http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/demoulin/trick_loaded_smokes.htm Sold]] back in the day by the [[http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/demoulin/index.htm DeMoulin Brothers]], makers of fine and disturbing InitiationCeremony paraphenalia.
179* This even happens to [[http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57379260-10391704/electronic-cigarette-explodes-in-mans-mouth-causes-serious-injuries/ electronic cigarettes]].
180[[/folder]]

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