This is the cover that was pulled from Batgirl #41. There are many articles explaining the situation, but this is a post about how in many ways it is wrong to be forced to pull the cover.
After some stupid feminist posted on tumblr how the cover was promoting "sexual violence." Now, to a REAL fan, we see that is based on the popular book, The Killing Joke. Now, that is the book where Barbara Gordon is shot, survives, but spends a great deal of time in a Wheel Chair. Now, where's the sexual violence part? Though it is never confirmed, people say it promotes sexual violence because it was a time period where Barbara was raped. That led to a string of angry Twitter goers to say "change the cover" even if it wasn't the official cover, but a variant that only a few people would actually get.
What we do know FOR SURE was the fact that Joker took naked pictures of Barbara after she was shot and the Joker showed it to her father, who he also stripped naked.
People are never satisfied it seems when it comes to Barbara. First, they are mad that the New 52 reboot didn't include Barbara's time as Oracle. And that's a no-no. I guess Babs can't get shot, survive, AND heal to continue being a hero. I understand that she was a figure for the handicapped community, but she had her time as Oracle before the New 52.
On the other hand people also argued that the cover wasn't "kid friendly", for Batgirl is more light-hearted now and aiming towards a younger audience. And I would like to say again, it was a VARIANT cover. Not many kids buy variants. Collectors my age and older would.
Now what do you see in this cover? This is the official cover for Batgirl: Endgame that comes out today. She is wiping away the blood or makeup that joker put on her. She is ready to kick ass and fight again just like she did so many times before!
What I don't get is why people always want to point out the negative experience. That's like pointing to a woman out in open and saying, "Hey she got raped." Instead of going quietly up to her and saying, "I'm glad you survived, and I'm glad you're doing okay now." Why do we need to point out the negatives in life? Why can't we celebrate the fact that Batgirl is a badass hero that doesn't need saving from a group of feminist. If you put these two pictures in a story, you'll see what I respect Barbara for, and what she represents.
After this incident, I now have a problem with feminist... If a woman drew the pulled cover it might have been a different story. But Albequrque, out of respect to the same people who THREATENED HIM, asked DC to pull the cover. You don't threaten a man for being allowed to exercise his right to expression, his freedom of speech. Have the feminist become communist? Have they become the same as terrorist? I thought feminist cared most about having the same rights as a man and not to abolish a mans rights while freely using there's. We've become a society where you are wrong if you are a man. I'm saying this as woman. Some feminist have lost their original cause, being equal to a man is no longer enough it seems. You threatened a man because of art, if that isn't wrong I don't know what is.
But congrats feminist of Twitter and Tumblr. You got your wish, now I am happy with either cover. But I'm sure the slight change in expression will quiet you down. The truth about the actions behind this cover is suddenly it wasn't about feminism anymore, it wasn't about a sexual crime anymore, it became cyber bullying, it was rights that were stripped from a man, and how everyone is seen as a victim and not as a hero.
I don't see my post about the issue changing anyone's minds, but I do see a problem.