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[Napoleonthechimp]

People over on the CBR forums are having a fairly heated discussion about how this cover promotes misogyny

It's the fucking Joker! He's a severely messed up psychopath for crying out loud!

 

[GringoSuave89]

You're right.

They definitely need a red hood variant with a crowbar.

We kinda already did.

I mean it's just a variant paying homage to the Killing Joke for Joker month. A good one at that.

It's cool looking just cause it's Albuquerque. But it's kinda fucked up. This was a better, non offensive homage, and it's recent.

If you read TKJ, you get it. Done. No one to get pissed, fans get a call back.

 

[StoopKid]

I don't see the problem.

 

[Osu 16 Bit]

I am a regular reader of her book and I love this cover. Very striking. Too bad this is like the second recent gender related controversy for this book.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

Fans voting to kill a sidekick is messed up.

They were probably hoping it would force the writers to make Batman take drastic measures against the Joker for a change lol

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Considering the audience they're trying to get with this new Batgirl isn't putting out a cover referencing that one time she got sexually abused and paralyzed a little counter intuitive?

If anyone read The Killing Joke, you remember

Spoiler

after shooting Barbra he starts stripping her and taking pictures of her naked to torture her father to the point of insanity

. People that don't like it are saying it's putting Barbra with her attacker/

Spoiler

molester

. So I get it.

And comic readers wonder why more people don't want to buy comics.

 

[Plywood]

I am a regular reader of her book and I love this cover. Very striking. Too bad this is like the second recent gender related controversy for this book.

The first being?

 

[CadetMahoney]

I don't see the problem.

The "controversy" is probably faux outrage, manufactured to raise interest, it's standard for Joker to be like that.

 

[Mudcrab]

They were probably hoping it would force the writers to make Batman take drastic measures against the Joker for a change lol

No, it's cause everyone hated Jason Todd.

 

[Messi]

Jason is different, because writers don't bring it up half as much as writers do with Barbra and her situation. It isn't so much that those against the cover don't want her interacting with the Joker at all, they're just tired that every time the two are brought together, this particular attack is always brought up, Barbra is traumatized, rise, repeat.



You'd think, right?

How do you feel about the treatment Harley gets every time Joker is around? Like when he came back after being missing for a long time. First time he sees Harley.

 

[Archaix]

At first, I was like "hm, nothing controversial about that", but then I realized that I also cant really remember any big "male superheroes crying powerless" covers from the past.

Except when holding a dead female lover, of course. Cyclops with dead Jean on the Moon. Spider-Man with Gwen, etc. THAT is expected. But a breakdown of tears out of fear? Unlikely.

So yeah, THIS is not the problem, the problem is that tears usually only are allowed on females. GTFO with that.

Exactly. There aren't very many situations where any male superhero is ever scared for his own well-being.

 

[Skilletor]

What's the problem?

Awesome cover.

 

[Rastafarian42]

That's a dope ass cover.

 

[Osu 16 Bit]

The first being?

http://www.newsarama.com/23011-batg...e-in-the-wake-of-transgender-controversy.html


I didn't understand the outrage over this one either.

 

[ginger ninja]

When you first look at it, you think it's a bunch of fuss over nothing. But then if you really think about it, you do k ow they would never make a similar cover where batman would be demeaned like this, and that does make you question if this is really appropriate.

 

[John Kowalski]

That lady is not gonna have a fun day.

 

[bryanee]

When you first look at it, you think it's a bunch of fuss over nothing. But then if you really think about it, you do k ow they would never make a similar cover where batman would be demeaned like this, and that does make you question if this is really appropriate.

Its a call back to the fucked up shit that happened in The Killing Joke. It makes perfect sense for Batgirl to be scared when the Joker has a gun to her head.

 

[captainpat]

http://www.newsarama.com/23011-batg...e-in-the-wake-of-transgender-controversy.html


I didn't understand the outrage over this one either.

It's very common to portray men in women clothes are deranged so it kinda comes across as transphobic.

 

[GringoSuave89]

The "controversy" is probably faux outrage, manufactured to raise interest, it's standard for Joker to be like that.

Name me another time that the Joker used sex/sexuality to attack someone. Don't worry I'll wait.

How do you feel about the treatment Harley gets every time Joker is around? Like when he came back after being missing for a long time. First time he sees Harley.

I'm not a fan of the way he treats her in general, but it's a dynamic built into her very creation. The Batgirl/Joker connection is one that should have died in the New 52 and instead is brought up every 3 issues (this is hyperbole, but still). And again, his abuse never goes into sex/sexuality territory.

 

[Mindwipe]

And comic readers wonder why more people don't want to buy comics.

Yeah, instead people watch GoT.

 

[Hero Prinny]

i don't see whats controversial about it, its just joker doing his thing. people need to learn how to stop being so whiny and bitching over every little thing

 

[Deleted member 13876]

And comic readers wonder why more people don't want to buy comics.

Indeed. They certainly don't because of this thing a villain did in a 1988 comic. TV learned not to show stuff like that in the 60s and has since not strayed from its righteous path.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

When you first look at it, you think it's a bunch of fuss over nothing. But then if you really think about it, you do k ow they would never make a similar cover where batman would be demeaned like this, and that does make you question if this is really appropriate.

But Batman has never been in a similar situation to Barbara...his traumatic event was when he was a child, and his whole character is living through that. I can hardly think of any male heroes who have similar relationships with popular villains, mainly because they were already heroes before they met same villains.

Besides, not everyone has to be a emotionless baddy beating machine. Vulnerabilities and fears don't make someone weaker

 

[Osu 16 Bit]

When you first look at it, you think it's a bunch of fuss over nothing. But then if you really think about it, you do k ow they would never make a similar cover where batman would be demeaned like this, and that does make you question if this is really appropriate.

They wouldn't because Batman isn't the same as Batgirl. Babs isn't like Bruce Wayne. She isn't a stone cold badass and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. She is still a hero.

If Wonder Woman was in this position then it'd be super weird.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

The Joker is a mass murdering psychopath is he not? Surely invoking disgust would mean the writers and artists have done an effective job with the portrayal of the character.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Why is this so horrible compared to all the other Joker Barbara covers in the last 25 years?

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

At first, I was like "hm, nothing controversial about that", but then I realized that I also cant really remember any big "male superheroes crying powerless" covers from the past.

Except when holding a dead female lover, of course. Cyclops with dead Jean on the Moon. Spider-Man with Gwen, etc. THAT is expected. But a breakdown of tears out of fear? Unlikely.

So yeah, THIS is not the problem, the problem is that tears usually only are allowed on females. GTFO with that.

Yep. The cover's awesome, but her crying and looking like that says a lot. It's worth a discussion, at least.

i don't see whats controversial about it, its just joker doing his thing. people need to learn how to stop being so whiny and bitching over every little thing

Man, what do you think you're doing right now with this post after just looking at an OP?

 

[captainpat]

Why is this so horrible compared to all the other Joker Barbara covers in the last 25 years?

Probably because of the audience this Batgirl book is supposed to be going for.

 

[Angelus Errare]

I'm usually pretty gungho on better treatment of female characters in comics. But really the people complaining need to actually know what they're talking about.

The cover makes complete sense when you realize

Spoiler

Joker crippled Barbara by shooting her and she developed PTSD of sorts afterward.

 

[Stinkles]

What's wrong ? It's the joker torturing someone in the bat familly, like he always did. Stop making this an gender issue

.

 

[Neoxon]

I don't see the problem.

 

[Ikuu]

Probably because of the audience this Batgirl book is supposed to be going for.

I thought variants were aimed at collectors?

 

[Spaghetti]

on the surface level it's creepy

factoring the killing joke vibes, even creepier.

but that's the intent. controversial? i dunno.

 

[Delta Assault]

...I don't get it.

People are upset that the Joker is doing something bad?

 

[anaron]

lol I had a feeling this would illicit some sort of reaction

 

[Sparkedglory]

There's nothing wrong here. C'mon people

 

[Memento Mori]

Name me another time that the Joker used sex/sexuality to attack someone. Don't worry I'll wait.

Does sexually harassing Batman count?

 

[Kinyou]

It's brutal, but I love it. The joker is all fun and games until he isn't.

 

[Osu 16 Bit]

It's very common to portray men in women clothes are deranged so it kinda comes across as transphobic.

Right, I get that, but in this context the character wasn't trans and Batgirl wasn't like outraged or freaked out he was a man.

 

[anaron]

it's an obvious reference to him crippling babs so she looks justifiably terrified


Jesus

 

[GringoSuave89]

Why is this so horrible compared to all the other Joker Barbara covers in the last 25 years?

I don't think there's been one that came close to this level. Again, the part everyone forgets, her body/sexuality (being naked) was the major aspect of the attack. I don't think any cover has been so obvious of that connection until now. The covers to Batgirl #14-17 are nowhere near that particular subject.

Does sexually harassing Batman count?

Haha no
Plus that was more played more comedic

 

[CadetMahoney]

i don't see whats controversial about it, its just joker doing his thing. people need to learn how to stop being so whiny and bitching over every little thing

Pretty much, all I see is that he's got a gun and is scaring a hostage. A far more controversial cover would be. . .

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

Name me another time that the Joker used sex/sexuality to attack someone. Don't worry I'll wait.

What...I can name tons of times Poison Ivy has used the same to attack someone. Or Harley. Or Catwoman.

 

[Kinyou]

I don't think there's been one that came close to this level. Again, the part everyone forgets, her body/sexuality (being naked) was the major aspect of the attack. I don't think any cover has been so obvious of that connection until now. The covers to Batgirl #14-17 are nowhere near that particular subject.

How does this cover evoke sexuality? She's fully dressed

 

[Maintenance]

Also the joker is Michael Jackson in that pic

The Joker is being such a smooth criminal in this picture.


On topic: liked it, great cover.

 

[anaron]

Pretty much, all I see is that he's got a gun and is scaring a hostage. A far more controversial cover would be. . .

see this is just flat out rapey

 

[not_so_special]

everything its mysoginistic,racist and xenophobic now...good job tumblr warriors

 

[Loofy]

And comic readers wonder why more people don't want to buy comics.

People love that kind of stuff though.

 

[Maximo]

I think some people are fucking stupid. Not in an opinionated, based on your perspective, sort of way, but in an objective, "you're actually a dumbass" sort of way

Yeah Im going with this answer.

 

[Artorias]

That cover is fucking awesome.

This. That is fantastic artwork.