'Batgirl' 41 Cover: Twitter Reacts To Controversial Barbara Gordon, Batman's Joker Variant Being Axed!

DC Comics announced the upcoming variant cover for Batgirl #41 was being pulled before the upcoming issue could reach stores in June. Twitter took sides in the heated argument over the controversial depiction of Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon's daughter, and Batman's nemesis, The Joker. 

According to Entertainment Weekly, DC Entertainment announced it was pulling a variant cover for the June Batgirl issue. The cover features a terrorized Batgirl at the hands of Joker. In an homage to The Killing Joke, the variant references the moment the prince of crime shot Barbara at point blank range, violated her, and left her crippled. There was an outcry from both sides, fans who find the cover inappropriate and activists arguing censorship.

In MStars' 2014 New York Comic Con interview, co-writer Brenden Fletcher described the tone of the Batgirl series, "I think what we're trying to do is help Barbara find her true north again. She's really been beaten down. She's really had been mired in darkness for a number of years. She's pulled herself out of that as best she can. But, she doesn't know how to be herself anymore. This first arc we're writing is really about helping her find that place again where she's comfortable and happy and can be the best Barbara Gordon, while being the most incredible Batgirl that she can be."

In an interview with Bleeding Cool, artist Rafael Albuquerque who asked the cover be removed himself, explains why it was the right decision, " I took the initiative. I see many people commenting on freedom of expression and that I gave in to pressure. I have always defended minorities. I think is the right and moral thing to do. I do not think a comic that aims to raise women´s self-esteem should have an image that may suggest otherwise. In another comic, maybe that image made sense. Not for the current Batgirl comic. Freedom of expression also means not saying what you do not want to say, and it was exactly the right that I exercised here."

Check out what Twitter had to say:

 @DavidBruno tweets, "@SaveTheCover @TXPQwicksilv3R @DCComics Oh, man the variant is awesome! See...I don't see a weak Bat Girl, I see a messed up Joker."

@CaptGam adds, "I was not upset by the cover of Batgirl#41 BUT I understand why others were & I support the decision to recall it."

@katiefarris argues, "The batgirl 41 variant cover is an artistically fantastic interpretation of the relationship between batgirl & the joker in one of the best"

Ms. Marvel scribe @GWillowWilson mentions, "Batgirl is not a hero on that cover. She's a victim. She's terrified. She's being physically restrained. It looks like a snuff film."

@BTdocs points out, "One might argue the BATGIRL #41 cover (wrongly) implies trauma recovery is not possible, dismissing resilience and post-traumatic growth."

Arist @RayDillon shared this piece and writes, "My response to the #Batgirl / #Joker Cover Controversy - #Superman / #Doomsday | #Comics #Art #Illustration #DCcomics" 

Readers, which side of the argument are you on?