DC Comics Cancels "Batgirl" Joker Variant at Artist's Request

[Cipher]

Don't be puzzled. You're the sane one here.

Ideally content would be subject to the same, or more, scrutiny, but covers are what companies put out to sell the books. They get the most attention and are rather fairly viewed as tone-setters.

DC knows three times as many people are going to see a cover compared to an inside-page; what they choose to run on them does make a statement.

[macattack]

Censorship sucks.

Making death threats to an artist just because you don't like his/her work is pathetic and evil.

Agreeing to the demands of such pathetic, evil individuals is possibly the most disturbing thing of all (because you're just encouraging them) ... Don't reward bad behaviour!

My thoughts exactly. That's the bigger problem to me than the cover itself. I think the cover is in questionable taste (I'm using it as an avatar briefly to prove my point, just like I used Charlie Hebdo as a Twitter avatar briefly) but I feel this was the absolute worst outcome and sets a highly questionable precedent that could cause greater issues over time. And likely, eventually, stifle various forms of expression.

[Sousa]

Oh my goodness, the Joker is evil and has done terrible things! How dare this artist make reference to it! What's next? Changing blood red for green blood now? Joker uses a paintball gun instead of a real one? Christ sakes , so pointless to get worked up over it and its a shame because it is a great cover

[Starchild]

What's funny is that if there was a variety cover that paid homage to DITF, no one would even care.

[cranger]

When I saw that new cover, I blanched; no way I'm going to let my daughter read THAT. I'm glad they're going to pull it back.

Read what? It is a variant cover that you do not need to buy. There is a regular cover available for your daughter and everyone else who does not like the variant, as is the case with all variants.

Still, I find it kind of weird that the last issue Batgirl ends with scenes from The Killing Joke from Batgirls memories displayed on a computer monitor if the writers feel Batgirl portrayed as a victim in that manner is not with the tone of the book.

[Luke Cage]

If I read this right, pretty much in agreements on all sides.

The cover was distasteful, though I'm sure not in any way Albequerque intended -- just one that highlights one of the ways in which the publisher and talent can/should be more aware of the messages they send about different genders. Had Barbara shown some signs of resisting, this might have been a non-issue.

Of course any threats to the artist are beyond the pale, and rather more shameful than the cover gaffe. That's never okay.

There was nothing distasteful about this cover. It's a picture of a sadistic murderer tormenting a hero. It's kinda what they do. Batgirl is standing there with a creeps arm over her shoulder holding a gun. She's not bound and naked, or being brutalized.

And exactly what message should the publisher be sending about different genders? That female characters can't handle the baddies? That they need to be coddled and not exposed to the same things as the male characters? People ask for equality for characters, but they blanch in the face of the sadistic nature of the Joker. It's okay for Bruce, Dick, and Jason Todd (R.I.P.). but not Barbara?

[Vinsanity]

I think a large majority of the people that get up in arms about stuff like this and that spiderwoman variant from last year aren't actually readers.

The loudest people are the most negative people on social media. I mean you should see the death threats celebrities and normal people get. Heck I got death threats by saying LeBron's defensive intensity has diminished by quite a bit since his first season at Miami.

[Sacred Knight]

There was nothing distasteful about this cover. It's a picture of a sadistic murderer tormenting a hero. It's kinda what they do. Batgirl is standing there with a creeps arm over her shoulder holding a gun. She's not bound and naked, or being brutalized.

And exactly what message should the publisher be sending about different genders? That female characters can't handle the baddies? That they need to be coddled and not exposed to the same things as the male characters? People ask for equality for characters, but they blanch in the face of the sadistic nature of the Joker. It's okay for Bruce, Dick, and Jason Todd (R.I.P.). but not Barbara?

[Lightengale]

The censorship makes me twitch, but I do get making an executive decision that it simply doesn't jive with the current tone. I don't like it, I don't necessarily agree with the reasoning either, but I get that it is a business decision.

However, how many OK'd it to go out for solicits? Did Stewart object before the controversy?

[macattack]

The loudest people are the most negative people on social media. I mean you should see the death threats celebrities and normal people get. Heck I got death threats by saying LeBron's defensive intensity has diminished by quite a bit since his first season at Miami.

I got a death threat AND a dox threat over a certain other social media controversy that for the sanity of all involved here I shall not name.

There are always people like that out there. You can't let them have control. And yet, like a slippery slope, that's what's happening. Like no one in Hollywood will touch North Korea anymore after the whole fiasco with The Interview, or the Spider-Woman cover likely putting an end to the classic Jessica Drew costume, and now this. It's getting more numerous, and it's getting worse.

[Stormcrow]

[Cipher]

And exactly what message should the publisher be sending about different genders? That female characters can't handle the baddies?

That's actually exactly the message this cover sends, and why so many people took umbridge with it.

^Re: above: Really glad to hear that. Hopefully he saw value in the negative reactions to this cover an chose to pull it based on solidarity with some of the complaints. Again, I don't think anyone (hopefully) imagined that he meant to cause harm with this cover; but as far as contributions to an overall scene, intentions are irrelevant.

[DevilsGambit]

what i'm puzzled is..why are covers ,usually variants, getting removed while some questionable content in some books rarely get a mention..

because people judge a book by its cover all the time. They could give a shite what actually in it. The last time I actually heard anyone make a fuss over content in an actual book was Red Hood and the outlaws. The infamous panel of starfire that was deemed somewhat porny.

[Scymiral]

Read what? It is a variant cover that you do not need to buy. There is a regular cover available for your daughter and everyone else who does not like the variant, as is the case with all variants.

She's a little collector, which makes me happy. That she's collecting something besides My Little Pony makes me happy. As a parent, I don't want that cover in her hands, and it bothers me that I can't trust the new, all-ages format to remain safe for all ages. I want my daughter to love comics, not to be afraid of them.

Still, I find it kind of weird that the last issue Batgirl ends with scenes from The Killing Joke from Batgirls memories displayed on a computer monitor if the writers feel Batgirl portrayed as a victim in that manner is not with the tone of the book.

Yeah. I wasn't happy about that. I had to deflect questions about The Killing Joke.

[Scymiral]

This is a relief. Criticism is one thing, and I'm not sad to see this cover go away. Threats, on the other hand, are never okay.