UPDATE: It has been clarified by our readers that the current arc in the Batgirl series is not centered around a feud with The Joker. As I stated, my familiarity with the series is only foggy at best. The variant comes from a brand-wide celebration of The Joker character’s 75th anniversary and will be featured on variant covers of other DC Comics series. The article remains intact below.
In response to the backlash against a suggestive, controversial variant cover to the upcoming Batgirl #41, publisher DC Comics has canceled the cover at the request of its artist, Rafael Albuquerque.
From Comic Book Resources:
The highly criticized variant cover for “Batgirl” #41 will not be published by DC Comics, CBR News has learned. This move was made at the request of the cover’s artist, Rafael Albuquerque.
“My intention was never to hurt or upset anyone through my art,” Albuquerque, the acclaimed artist of “American Vampire,” said in a statement. “For that reason, I have recommended to DC that the variant cover be pulled.”
The image was released Friday, as one of 25 Joker-themed variant covers scheduled for release in June. Albuquerque’s “Batgirl” variant took inspiration from Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s famous 1988 story “Batman: The Killing Joke,” in which Barbara Gordon/Batgirl was shot and paralyzed by the Joker. It has been commonly interpreted, though not definitively established within the story, that the character was also sexually assaulted.
Before we touch on the response that has developed in the last twelve hours, I want to talk about the cover itself: Holy shit.
In some ways I want to praise it, in other ways I want to outright condemn it. It speaks to how much art can bring about a visceral response, and this is a brilliant example. Exploitative? Unsettling? Good? Bad? I don’t know.
Full disclosure: I haven’t read Batgirl even though I’m repeatedly told it’s one of the best series out in the market right now, but I am roughly aware that Batgirl is colliding with the Joker in her current arc. I am also aware that the current series is bright and cheery, like The Flash series on The CW so I am sure that juxtaposition has contributed to the stark, sharp response to this cover. That said, looking at it and not knowing a hell of a lot of the current Batgirl, it doesn’t tell me much of what I need to know. It’s selling me on the art but not selling me on the book.
There is no question that Albuerque’s skill is top notch, the work’s technical demonstration is fine. But thematically and storytelling-wise, it makes me want to do the human equivalent of hide in a turtle shell. I have played hundreds of violent video games, watched all kinds of horror, slasher and torture porn films and even horrific videos of real-world violence that make their way online for some awful reason or another, and this work still sent a chill down my stomach. It must be the contrasting colors and lighting.
But even if I don’t like it, work such as this should have the right to exist.
Or does it?
Late last night my Twitter feed started buzzing from comics pros, artists, writers and fans alike over the potentially censorship-sensitive controversy. Almost reminiscent of last summer’s GamerGate, there was a sharp divide between readers who feel the cover shouldn’t be pulled and the professionals who produce content and have largely seemed empathetic to the decision. Caught in between are the people — consumers and pros alike — whose nerves were pinched by the suggestive cover.
https://twitter.com/INecari/status/577647939193057280
Like GamerGate claiming ethics in journalism, angry readers are claiming DC Comics are stomping on speech and enforcing censorship. While it’s an easy, almost logical formula to understand, I have to vehemently disagree.
For starters, it was the artist himself who asked the cover be pulled, not DC. Rafael Albuquerque clarified as much on his Twitter:
https://twitter.com/rafaalbuquerque/status/577650683958206466
When an artist “censors” himself, it’s not censorship. That’s an artist being an artist and choosing how they want to be represented. They make the work, they have the right whether or not it lives on. While the work Rafael did is questionable, he must ultimately have the authority to let it live or die.
As a (deluded) filmmaker myself, I have made many projects that I wish would not see the light of day. While I have never created anything within the realm of assault or exploiting trauma, it’s still work I don’t like. Whether it was bad and indicative of growing pains or just work I’m not proud of, I should have the option to choose what I want to exist in the world, shouldn’t I?
Renowned comics author Mark Waid chimed in. Although exhausted and stressed, his stance was clear: it’s not censorship.
And he’s not alone, enter author/activist J. Skyler.
Dozens more are speaking their mind, on both sides.
https://twitter.com/the2scoops/status/577828894780354561
https://twitter.com/richyrichoh/status/577650124597379073
Amid the Twitter debates, I came across a vastly different, fascinating perspective from Dr. Andrea Letamandi, a doctor in clinical psychology who built her career exploring the mythology of Batman.
Keep in mind that Dr. Letamendi isn’t exactly condemning DC or doing anything to make sure DC puts the variant cover back on their schedule. She’s merely expressing disappointment. But it’s a fascinating point-of-view, and it reminds me to not overlook the very reason this uproar exists: the real people who have experienced real, similar trauma.
The debate is still roaring and fresh, and happened in the late hours of the night so forgive me for the lack of collected tweets but you can participate yourself if you’re so inclined.
I’ve come to terms with it and I’m ashamed at how long it nearly took me. (But I also slept, so fuck off.) It’s definitely an unsettling cover and I personally wouldn’t have bought it. That said, I shouldn’t be/am not angry that both an artist and business chose to conduct themselves in a way they deemed fit. I applaud both DC and Mr. Abuquerque for exercising their right and for their empathy to the criticisms laid out to them.
It’s not censorship. End of story.
One last thing: the similarities to GamerGate are only surface-level at the moment, but they’re startling. This retweet I saw from Albuquerque’s feed was very telling:
https://twitter.com/cameronMstewart/status/577656291839119362
Some things I just don’t have words for.