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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