COMICS: Do You Find This BATGIRL Cover Controversial?

COMICS: Do You Find This BATGIRL Cover Controversial?

Whether you do or don't, DC Entertainment has decided that they're changing the cover to Batgirl #41 before it reaches your local comic shop. Is this the right move or should creative freedom trump all?

News
By MarkJulian - Mar 17, 2015 07:03 PM EST
Filed Under: Comics

Many comic book fans and professionals are in a uproar concerning DC Entertainments' decision to scrap plans  for their "Killing Joke" inspired variant cover for Batgirl #41.  Outspoken social media users  who found fault with the cover were verbally assaulted on twitter, facebook, tumblr, etc to such an extent that artist Rafael Albuquerque requested DC change the cover.  The Washington Post, Paste and The Guardian all wrote pieces, deriding DC for their intentions to publish the cover which they argue celebrates Batgirl's role as a physcially assaulted and sexually abused victim in Allan Moore's 1980 Batman tale.  While most applauded DC's decision, other artist and writers were disappointed with DC, citing creative freedom and surmising that in today's social and politicial climate, "The Killing Joke" would never even get made.  Others point to the fact that this retreat will lead to future incidents where social media outrage will arrest creative freedom and dictate content.  There's currently a movement on Twitter, supporting the variant cover under the hashtag of #SaveTheCover.

Batgirl #41 will be released in June.

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MisterBatfleck
MisterBatfleck - 3/17/2015, 7:10 PM
NO, 'buncha oversensitive pussies today I swear to God.
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 3/17/2015, 7:11 PM
Why is it controversial? Because of the gun?
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx - 3/17/2015, 7:11 PM
"Do You Find This BATGIRL Cover Controversial?

No, I don't. The cover is actually quite beautiful, and it's sad that a collection of sensitive individuals got this taken down.
TheEpicJuicebox
TheEpicJuicebox - 3/17/2015, 7:12 PM
It's a cover with the Joker how it too extreme for people, there are way worse things out there besides a fully clothed batgirl looking frightened
chriskrispy
chriskrispy - 3/17/2015, 7:13 PM
Way I see it, "The Killing Gun" (And most of Alan Moore's work) is highly influential to all of comics. Hell, this story essentially defined what the Joker is today and a reference to such a classic work isn't a big deal. It's not trying to do anything other than that. Honestly people need to grow the [frick] up.
Nickk
Nickk - 3/17/2015, 7:14 PM
This might be my new avatar No it should not be taken down
sameoldthing
sameoldthing - 3/17/2015, 7:15 PM
NOT controversial for a cover at all.
Now if he was wiping another fluid substance across her face...might be a problem.
MisterBatfleck
MisterBatfleck - 3/17/2015, 7:16 PM
How are people crying about Joker keeping someone at his mercy when HE HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING FOR THE PAST 75 YEARS!?
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx - 3/17/2015, 7:17 PM
#NewProfilePhoto
JamesMann
JamesMann - 3/17/2015, 7:17 PM
To quote a friend:

"This is why I post the ridiculous mockery of SJW's, feminists, and white knights. Progression is something I do want to see. I want to see the LGBT community being treated with respect, I want to see the women in my life to be seen as equals and treated fairly, I want people to stop prejudice against skin color. Complaining about a picture of fictional characters is not what helps. They spend their time stopping the moot and insignificant, but fail at the bigger picture. SJW's and white knights need to [frick] off, and stop taking the enjoyment of others away just cause they're weak spirited."
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 3/17/2015, 7:17 PM
No difference.
Mothchild
Mothchild - 3/17/2015, 7:18 PM
I'm not seeing the controversy.

Is is because he has his arm around her and she's crying?
JamesMann
JamesMann - 3/17/2015, 7:20 PM
I also find it disturbing that the same communities that called for this images removal are the same who have been fetishizing the Joker for years.
four20smoke
four20smoke - 3/17/2015, 7:20 PM
@ sameoldthing

What, like milk or something?
LuBeTHiGhWalK3R
LuBeTHiGhWalK3R - 3/17/2015, 7:21 PM
Don't see what all the bitching is about. That cover is badass but as MisterBatfleck so eloquently pointed out there are far too many pussies out there nowadays...
MarkyMarkRises
MarkyMarkRises - 3/17/2015, 7:21 PM
No. The Joker is a [frick]ing villain, and villains do terrible things. That doesn't mean it's promoting rape, it means it's being realistic.

What, do you want him to give her flowers and chocolates?
James99201
James99201 - 3/17/2015, 7:21 PM
Man if that's the case Fifty Shades of grade should go or any movie in Hollywood that depicts women being sexually assaulted. Its a real thing that happens in the world and its scary its not like if we stop talking about it and writing about it it just goes away. Just stupid people are to sensitive nowadays and its getting old quick.
yonny616
yonny616 - 3/17/2015, 7:21 PM
Overly sensitive SJW's that had nothing better to do.
JamesMann
JamesMann - 3/17/2015, 7:23 PM
This was the spark complaint that lead to this.

"So I ask, in all seriousness, what in the world was DC thinking when commissioning the above Joker variant cover? To have Batgirl looking terrorized by a man who abused and crippled her, while the gun is pointing south, is a gross sexualization of trauma. The only way to make it more exploitative would’ve been to rip her costume to expose cleavage."
DeusExSponge
DeusExSponge - 3/17/2015, 7:23 PM
SJW strike again! Let's all forget about Momoa's obvious joke and unite against the true enemy: the SJW's!
SpiderFraud
SpiderFraud - 3/17/2015, 7:23 PM
Stuff like this gets me pissed off. I don't understand how people could make such a big deal about this.

Dc should of told them to...
MisterBatfleck
MisterBatfleck - 3/17/2015, 7:24 PM
@LuKeTHiGHWalK3R
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 3/17/2015, 7:26 PM
What has happened to the world we live in....
SymbioteJoker
SymbioteJoker - 3/17/2015, 7:26 PM
What's controversial? The fact that we get a glimpse of the normal, human reaction to the person who crippled her both mentally and physically? Grow up. This isn't the "woman in the fridge" crap.
SauronsBANE
SauronsBANE - 3/17/2015, 7:27 PM
You...you guys do realize all of your favorite superheroes would identify themselves as "SJWs", right?

I personally don't see the harm in this cover (though anything that depicts or even HINTS at sexual abuse shouldn't be made lightly of), but don't go off on "SJWs" or feminists or "white knights". That shit just makes you look immature and ignorant.

It's also important to realize that the artist himself made the decision to pull the cover. Not DC, not some publisher. The artist. That flies in the face of people who are calling this "censorship".
Butthole
Butthole - 3/17/2015, 7:29 PM
The Generation of Pussies. Everyone's a f*cking victim.
yonny616
yonny616 - 3/17/2015, 7:31 PM
Clonemenace
Clonemenace - 3/17/2015, 7:31 PM
The original complaint is WAY over thinking things. I'm more convinced the older I get that people can find ANYTHING insulting and/or "exploitive." Unbelievable. More proof that these type of people want everyone to stop enjoying art and entertainment if it is something they disagree with in some form or function. Highly frustrating and sad in equal measure.
Tars
Tars - 3/17/2015, 7:33 PM
That moment when you realize that if books like Watchmen, Killing Joke, or DKR had been published today they'd be censored beyond belief
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 3/17/2015, 7:34 PM
Not at all. I didn't even know it was controversial until my cousin told me just a few hours ago.
JamesMann
JamesMann - 3/17/2015, 7:35 PM
@DrDoom is summing it up very well.
JamesMann
JamesMann - 3/17/2015, 7:35 PM
@yonny616
SauronsBANE
SauronsBANE - 3/17/2015, 7:35 PM
@DrDoom I'm not sure if you think my comment was aimed specifically at you, but just in case, it wasn't.

That said, I totally agree about the death threats and threats of violence. In fact, that's one of the biggest reasons I was against this cover getting pulled in the first place. That shit is awful and indefensible.

But at the end of the day, it was the artist's decision to pull this. He made that choice, and he even said that he was wrong to create it in the first place. We might disagree, but it's pretty hard to argue with the artist's own opinion of his own work.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 3/17/2015, 7:36 PM
Bunch of [frick]ing pussies in this world I swear.
James99201
James99201 - 3/17/2015, 7:37 PM
I
HATE
PEOPLE!!!!
AND
THIS
P.C.
WORLD
xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx - 3/17/2015, 7:37 PM
"I'm aware the artist asked for it to get pulled.

I know it's not censorship, that's why I didn't use that word.

However, it is social pressure that affects creative expression, and a whole bunch of people whining about a non-issue created a vitriolic internet discussion that devolved into threats of violence, which made the artist decide to ask the cover to get pulled.

My point is that people getting angsty about something not worthy getting angsty about makes crap like this happen."
^^^
THIS. [frick]ING. COMMENT.
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