Su esplicita richiesta del suo autore, Rafael Albuquerque, la DC Comics ha cancellato la variant cover di Batgirl #41
La variant cover prevista per giugno non vedrà mai la luce a causa delle polemiche “montate” su Twitter (#changethecover), alcuni siti specializzati statunitensi si sotto fatti paladini di questa (assurda) battaglia, criticando aspramente il lavoro di Albuquerque, in quanto la cover in oggetto, a loro parere, evidenziava un momento oscuro della carriera di Batgirl in contrapposizione con la recente direzione ottimista della serie sotto il team creativo composto dagli scrittori Cameron Stewart & Brenden Fletcher e dall’artista Babs Tarr.
Polemiche che non sono piaciute all’artista autore della variant cover che ha chiesto alla DC Comics di cancellare l’uscita prevista per giugno, dichiarando: “La mia intenzione non era quella di ferire o irritare qualcuno attraverso la mia arte. Per questa ragione, ho consigliato alla DC di cancellare la variant cover.”
A seguire le parole dell’artista e la replica della DC Comics
Rafael Albuquerque:
My Batgirl variant cover artwork was designed to pay homage to a comic that I really admire, and I know is a favorite of many readers. ‘The Killing Joke’ is part of Batgirl’s canon and artistically, I couldn’t avoid portraying the traumatic relationship between Barbara Gordon and the Joker.
For me, it was just a creepy cover that brought up something from the character’s past that I was able to interpret artistically. But it has become clear, that for others, it touched a very important nerve. I respect these opinions and, despite whether the discussion is right or wrong, no opinion should be discredited.
My intention was never to hurt or upset anyone through my art. For that reason, I have recommended to DC that the variant cover be pulled. I’m incredibly pleased that DC Comics is listening to my concerns and will not be publishing the cover art in June as previously announced.
With all due respect,
Rafa
DC Comics:
We publish comic books about the greatest heroes in the world, and the most evil villains imaginable. The Joker variant covers for June are in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Joker.
Regardless if fans like Rafael Albuquerque’s homage to Alan Moore’s THE KILLING JOKE graphic novel from 25 years ago, or find it inconsistent with the current tonality of the Batgirl books – threats of violence and harassment are wrong and have no place in comics or society.
We stand by our creative talent, and per Rafael’s request, DC Comics will not publish the Batgirl variant. – DC Entertainment
Guardando la cover, non possiamo che restare delusi, questa inutile e sterili polemica ci ha privato di quello che poteva essere considerato un omaggio all’opera di Alan Moore e Brian Bolland, Batman: The Killing Joke, uscita nel 1988, dove il Joker sparò (e non solo) rendendo per sempre paralitica Barbara Gordon.
