Rafael Albuquerque's Batgirl #41 Variant Controversy...

[PWN3R]

So the basics if you're not up to speed:

DC's variant theme for the month of June is Joker themed, meaning all the books that month get some kind of Jokerized cover. This was going to be the one for Batgirl #41:

This was revealed with the June solicitations and the internet ****ing lost its ****. So much so that DC has cancelled the cover.

http://www.newsarama.com/23826-dc-p...-batgirl-cover-after-controversy-emerges.html

I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts. I seriously don't understand this situation. HOW DOES THIS CAUSE SUCH A STIR?

I really hope someone can enlighten me to the other side because I clearly don't get this reaction.

 

[O'Haire]

I think it's a great cover. But I can see why some people are upset.

I wouldn't of pulled the cover though. Would of just had Albuquerque redo her face. Give her a less terrified expression. More of a creeped out WTF look. MAYBE lose the gun as well.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

I think its a great cover! i wouldnt change a thing! its creepy as *()*& and harkens back to its originator "the Killing joke" which to me is still one of the best batman books!
this goes back to when comics had the "comic code". sure the stories were Batman and robin going into space with batmite and family wholesome stories, but in real life heinous crimes were still going on. just because you censor violence in media doesnt mean it will stop in real life. i wouldnt have change it but i know some people who didnt like Green Lantern's girlfriend being put in a refrigerator werent too happy about it!
just my 2 cent since i used the rest for bus fare.

 

[hippie_hunter]

It's a good cover, but it just doesn't fit at all with the current direction of the Batgirl book. If this were the Gail Simone New 52 period for the book I think it would have worked, but with the Fletcher/Stewart period, it's just completely out of place.

 

[The Infernal]

Nothing wrong with the cover. Problem is with people reading something into it that's not there.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

The problem I have is that DC caved to a vocal minority, most of whom wouldn't have been buying the book anyhow.

Plus, it's a variant cover. Don't like the cover? Then buy the regular edition. Preventing others who were interested in getting this variant isn't progression, it's suppression.

 

[Cain]

The problem I have is that DC caved to a vocal minority, most of whom wouldn't have been buying the book anyhow.

Plus, it's a variant cover. Don't like the cover? Then buy the regular edition. Preventing others who were interested in getting this variant isn't progression, it's suppression.

DC didn't "cave" the artist simply asked for DC not to publish this work and they complied.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

He only asked them not to publish due to the criticism he was receiving for it.

 

[Decepticonus]

The problem I have is that DC caved to a vocal minority, most of whom wouldn't have been buying the book anyhow.

Plus, it's a variant cover. Don't like the cover? Then buy the regular edition. Preventing others who were interested in getting this variant isn't progression, it's suppression.

But then I don't have any reason to piss, moan and ***** to DC about misogyny as a 40+ year old single male.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

I hear morons across the internet are sending death threats to people over this. Good grief.

I do find the piece deprotagonizing. Batgirl should be angry and defiant, not crying and terrified and reduced to inaction. And on her own cover no less. If it was a Joker comic it might be a different story. Or if she just didn't look like such a helpless victim. As it is I wince a little when I think of a young girl picking up a comic about her favorite superhero and soaking that image in.

I wouldn't of pulled the cover though. Would of just had Albuquerque redo her face. Give her a less terrified expression. More of a creeped out WTF look. MAYBE lose the gun as well.

Agree.

 

[Gee]

I hear morons across the internet are sending death threats to people over this. Good grief.

I do find the piece deprotagonizing. Batgirl should be angry and defiant, not crying and terrified and reduced to inaction. And on her own cover no less. If it was a Joker comic it might be a different story. Or if she just didn't look like such a helpless victim. As it is I wince a little when I think of a young girl picking up a comic about her favorite superhero and soaking that image in.



Agree.

Spoiler

But since the actual cover is this, there's a good chance she'll see that one instead. Even though DC's monthly themed variants are 1:1, your LCS still has to order them (so technically they can order zero copy). Also, some LCS may have a section or shelf dedicated to variants so they are not always right beside the regular issues.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

But since the actual cover is this, there's a good chance she'll see that one instead. Even though DC's monthly themed variants are 1:1, your LCS still has to order them (so technically they can order zero copy). Also, some LCS may have a section or shelf dedicated to variants so they are not always right beside the regular issues.

"She might get lucky and not draw that one" isn't really the point I'm trying to make but whatever. The covers been pulled, whether that was a sound decision or not is up to everyone to decide for themselves.

I personally don't like it because it makes Batgirl look like a wimp instead of an asskicker. But I also don't feel the need to harass people who object to it for whatever reason, nor do I care if someone likes it.

 

[MadVillainy]

I dont get the fuss honestly. When I heard about the controversy, before reading what it actually was I thought it'd be something much worse

 

[Whiskey Tango]

I dont get the fuss honestly. When I heard about the controversy, before reading what it actually was I thought it'd be something much worse

Just wait until next month.

 

[ThePhantasm]

I get why people are upset about the cover. It could be interpreted in a way that glorifies Joker at the expense of Batgirl. She also sheds a tear in the Killing Joke and displays some terror, but its after she's been paralyzed (and she's still pretty defiant too). Its harder to convey that mixture of heroic defiance and human fear in one picture. Honestly I get tired of the Joker hype, as great as the character is.

So I appreciate that this is a homage to the Killing Joke, but it could have been done much better. Should it have been taken down? Eh, I'm ambivalent about that.

 

[The Infernal]

Personally I'm not a fan of switching it for a cover where she looks angry instead of frightened. I think there's something to be said about heroes being more human and vulnerable and not invincible terminators.

 

[MadVillainy]

im really confused by all this. So people are mad that Joker, who caused one of, if not the, most tramatic experience of Batgirl's life, caused her to look scared?

 

[Gee]

Personally I'm not a fan of switching it for a cover where she looks angry instead of frightened. I think there's something to be said about heroes being more human and vulnerable and not invincible terminators.

Exactly and then you have people who complain that DC heroes are too much godlike...

 

[Cain]

That works so much better as a cover because it doesn't betray who the character is in her book.

Even though I found the cover to be tasteless because of context myself I liked the original image as a stand alone. Could've even worked as a panel in some grimdark story like Snyder's Death of the Family or something. It just really doesn't gel not only with the rest of the Joker variants from that month but with the tone of the book it's a cover to.

 

[Cain]

im really confused by all this. So people are mad that Joker, who caused one of, if not the, most tramatic experience of Batgirl's life, caused her to look scared?

Yeah because she has overcome that trauma and no longer fears The Joker especially not the point that she'd shed tears of horror and seem helpless around him. It just really clashes with the characterization of Batgirl today.

 

[Cain]

Honestly I get tired of the Joker hype, as great as the character is.

Absolutely.

 

[Cain]

But I also don't feel the need to harass people who object to it for whatever reason, nor do I care if someone likes it.

Definitely. And then some fanboys wonder why we're usually grouped as a bunch of immature man children by people outside of fanboy circles. It's because a lot of fanboys don't possess maturity and civility when disagreeing amongs themselves and instances like this prove it without fault. It's like they never learned that not everybody would agree with them about everything in life.

 

[PWN3R]

I think the cover was interesting and I love this artist in general. I do agree that it doesn't reflect the current run of Batgirl, but then again it is a variant cover so that really doesn't matter. What I can't comprehend is how this became such a huge thing. I guess I will never understand the internet sometimes.

 

[Cain]

Things go viral all the time. People have the internet on them at all times. Whether in their backpacks or their back pocket. It's not hard to see how it became a forest fire so quickly when you take that into consideration.

 

[Nadal_Fan]

So there has been a lot of controversy over the new Batgirl cover, as well, there were some people who were upset in regards to the DC Bombshell covers which were put out back in 2014. However, there is absolutely 0 controversy about the Justice League #40 variant "Magic Mike" cover. Now I think its hilarious and I will purchase it, however, if this cover had WW, Batgirl, Supergirl who were stripping on the cover I doubt it makes it to production. So my question as a male is why is one allowed and the other is the worst thing ever?? It used to be "I do not like what you have to say, but I will defend to my death your right to say it" now its "I do not like what you have to say and I'm offended change it now or else". After the Charlie Hebdo terror attack everyone stood on their soapbox and screamed creative freedom and freedom of expression even though what they were doing could be considered offensive, it didn't matter. Now a small group considers this offensive and DC is going to fold faster than Superman on laundry day? Give me a break.