Could The Killing Joke even get published in today's climate?

[The End]

Regarding the cover change to Batgirl. Apparently, people must now be treated as though they are just a few moments away from psychological crisis. Art is dangerous, provocative, making people too uncomfortable. Didn't comic books already go through with this kind of absurdity with the comic book code?

Assume that The Killing Joke was not released until today - if SJWs got word of the content, could you imagine the drama and the pressure they'd start to pile on in order that content can be changed as they like?

'You can't have a woman be a victim or be vulnerable because that's misogyny. Someone reading might have experienced something similar and it will be 'triggering'.'

People go through ALL sorts of adversities that are dramatized in some form. Working in a job where we take customer comments on what's on the television, I'm telling you that everything and anything can and will be found offensive and/or triggering. That self-harm storyline in that soap? Don't do it because I have been through/know someone that has been through/am concerned about others that have been through this and don't want them to be 'triggered'. I have taken a comment, **** you not, where the viewer was like -

'I know there was a warning before the programme about violent content, I know the programme was on after the watershed, but there still should have been an explicit trigger warning'. I mean it wasn't called a trigger warning but there was a warning, not just before the programme, but before the scene! They warned the viewers TWICE and people still write and call in to complain. You cannot win. You cannot bow to that kind of idiotic pressure and change content to please over-sensitive people that are apparently not a discerning, adult audience.

The fight for free expression and speech is also being fought in video games through the movement GamerGate. 'That video game woman is too sexy - change it!!'

No. People should be able to create what they want without this censorship by mob.

 

[titansupes]

Correct. Political correctness and consequent censorship has become ridiculous.

 

[Cain]

You people just don't get it.

The Killing Joke would be published just fine in today's environment. DC has published stuff that's even a lot more aggressive and in your face than that story in the last 5 years alone.

However it's one thing to be provocative and it's another to come across as crassly tasteless.

That cover was the latter not the former.

For one thing contextually among the rest of the Joker variants for that month which are lighthearted in comparison and don't depict anything more than a harmless crime, standard attack or prank from The Joker. At the most you'd get Joker venom victims. It definitely comes across as something more mean spirited and in bad taste.

I mean compare the following sequence of images and let me know which one completely sticks out like a sore thumb.

Another thing is that particular comic series is lighthearted & tonally positive but also features a heroine who embraces superheroics and does her best to be the most competent hero that she can be.

Here we have the foundations of the book's tone completely shaken up to the point that it lands on the opposite end of the spectrum unlike the other variant covers. On top of that we have the competent heroine who smirks at the face of adversity cowering like an incompetent victim and with tears in her eyes to further accentuate that.

Hell yeah that could come across as pretty jarring especially to people who regularly read that particular title. I'm sure if a Joker variant for Red Hood & The Outlaws featured a similar scenario with Joker hovering over a cowering Jason Todd with a crow bar it would also ruffle feathers. Simply because the tone and content of RH&tO doesn't gel with portraying Jason in that light.

So I see no problem with people not only being offended by it but the artist himself deciding he'd like to have it pulled from publication altogether. Remember it was the artist who made the suggestion and insisted on it to DC not the other way around.

It's not about silencing free speech or political correctness. Quite frankly people ignorantly throw around the PC label so much these days they don't even understand what it actually means. It's about nipping the bud on something that is an inaccurate and regressive portrayal of a beloved character even if it's limited to just a cover and not the actual content of the magazine the cover is printed on.

I say that as someone who is so much for free speech that I have even volunteered with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund on more than one occasion. Bad taste is simply bad taste and I'm glad I live in a society that is still mostly sane enough to comprehend that.

Furthermore I'm someone who completely hates the notion that some creators and fans have that The Killing Joke must always so greatly define every single moment of Barbara Gordon's life. To the point that it becomes a crutch and makes it seem like she was not able to overcome that adverse situation because it never leaves her mind. Or how it promotes the notion that she's pretty much nothing without that story defining her; well I'm glad to see people take a stand against further exploitation of that overrated ass story's narrative.

 

[Travesty]

I totally get what you're saying, Cain. I just don't agree with it. I don't find it tasteless, at all.

 

[shauner111]

Don't take it too serious. It's art. It's fiction. It's a comic book. And there's nothing wrong with being controversial. Who cares about tasteless and tasteful. It's creating controversy? Great. They should be able to do whatever they want.

 

[Decepticonus]

It's a ****ing comic book cover. A COMIC. BOOK. COVER. Yet, people aren't offended by I dunno real horrible, mass murdering, hateful, sociopaths? Like ISIS or something. Nooooo. And it's The Joker. Joker instills fear, especially in Babs.

 

[The Joker]

What the hell was found so offensive about that cover that DC recalled it?

 

[Eddie Dean]

The Killing Joke is pretty bad, so I hope not.

 

[Cain]

As expected, some people don't get it.

Once again contextually it fell out of line not just with the tone of the Batgirl comic book and spirit of the character but the rest of The Joker variants as well.

The Batgirl book also has a large female audience. Seems like it was a bad call thinking a cover option like that would sit well with most of it's readership.

It's not hard to see why it upset people.

 

[Decepticonus]

As expected, some people don't get it.

Once again contextually it fell out of line not just with the tone of the Batgirl comic book and spirit of the character but the rest of The Joker variants as well.

The Batgirl book also has a large female audience. Seems like it was a bad call thinking a cover option like that would sit well with most of it's readership.

It's not hard to see why it upset people.

It is hard because we obviously have spines... they don't. Who cares about tone. They have all kinds of goofy tones for comic variants all the time.
Again it's just a cover variant, how dare one artist decides to take a dark twist. Because all Joker content is silly and Casear Romero-esque?!!? Read TDKR, Death in the Family, Azarello's Joker, maybe seen that Nolan movie, Death of the Family, no?

It's simple, don't buy the variant. They could made themselves heard by just not buying the variant and guess what DC will see this variant is not selling and just pull it.

 

[Travesty]

As expected, some people don't get it.

Once again contextually it fell out of line not just with the tone of the Batgirl comic book and spirit of the character but the rest of The Joker variants as well.

The Batgirl book also has a large female audience. Seems like it was a bad call thinking a cover option like that would sit well with most of it's readership.

It's not hard to see why it upset people.

I totally see all of your points. I've read hundreds of other people make similar points. Again, I get it, I just don't agree with it.

 

[shauner111]

As expected, some people don't get it.

Once again contextually it fell out of line not just with the tone of the Batgirl comic book and spirit of the character but the rest of The Joker variants as well.

The Batgirl book also has a large female audience. Seems like it was a bad call thinking a cover option like that would sit well with most of it's readership.

It's not hard to see why it upset people.

Maybe they just need to grow a pair. Comic book, novel, movie poster...no. I dont understand why people get so upset over any of those things having a darker cover.

 

[Decepticonus]

Maybe they just need to grow a pair. Comic book, novel, movie poster...no. I dont understand why people get so upset over any of those things having a darker cover.

*****ing over the internet gives you power! ... Or so they feel like it does.

 

[Greens]

Wait, DC actually recalled that cover?

Grow some ****ing balls, people.

 

[Cain]

I totally see all of your points. I've read hundreds of other people make similar points. Again, I get it, I just don't agree with it.

Fair enough and I appreciate the civility despite the fact that your opinion differs from mine

This is why I never have any problems responding to your posts and consider you one of the better regular posters on the hype.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

Wait, DC actually recalled that cover?

Grow some ****ing balls, people.

this x1,000,000

unfortunately we currently live in an era where people get easily offended about stupid minor things and start throwing hissy fits about issues they deem "offensive"

over exaggerated and just flat out dumb if you ask me

 

[Bathead]

Yeah, old fart that I am, I really don't see what is so offensive about that cover. The only thing I can think of is that it shows a terrified woman under the control of a deranged killer. I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if it was Robin instead of Batgirl.

 

[Decepticonus]

Yeah, old fart that I am, I really don't see what is so offensive about that cover. The only thing I can think of is that it shows a terrified woman under the control of a deranged killer. I can't help but wonder what the reaction would have been if it was Robin instead of Batgirl.

because apparently women, strong or not CANNOT be controlled by deranged killers. Or the b/s theme going on in how all the other Joker variants aren't dark but goofy. So Joker is not a deranged killer but a clown, like Caesar Romero.

 

[Weapon0]

Ok DC, here's a million dollar publicity idea. Make a limited run of the Batgirl: Joker variant covers and auction them off with all proceeds going to a battered women's shelter charity. You are welcome, you can have that one for free.