A Batman image offended China. Its removal has angered fans worldwide
[URL="https://qz.com/1759009/batman-image-offends-china-dc-comics-removal-of-it-angers-fans/"]A Batman image offended China. Its removal has angered fans worldwide[/URL]
DC Comics needs a superhero to save it from itself. The pop-culture giant is in political hot water over a drawing that’s been linked in mainland China to Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests and is now at the center of a global debate about state censorship and corporate complicity in chilling free speech.
The image in question, which DC removed from various social media accounts it runs, is undeniably compelling. [URL="https://cms.qz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-30-at-12.49.53-PM.jpeg?quality=75&strip=all&w=410&h=230"]Created by artist Rafael Grampá for writer Frank Miller’s graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child, to be released on Dec. 11, the drawing shows a youthful superhero holding a Molotov cocktail. In the background are the words: “The future is young.”[/URL]
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Chinese social media users took offense at what they said was a clear reference to pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong (and) sparked a backlash against DC that the company tried to quell by taking down the image without any explanation.... The self-censorship only angered fans around the world, who questioned DC bowing to pressure and urged it to go in the opposite direction.