Controversy continues to follow the ‘Adventures of Superman’ digital comic series and now the first causality of DC’s decision to hire Orson Scott Card can be claimed. Popular DC artist, Chris Sprouse has officially dropped out of the project due to the immense negative attention Card’s involvement in the series has gained.

In a statement released on May 5, Sprouse, who was scheduled to do the artwork to Card’s story, not only announced his withdrawal from the series but also explained it was due to the surrounding controversy associated with the author’s hiring:

“It took a lot of thought to come to this conclusion, but I’ve decided to step back as the artist on this story. The media surrounding this story reached the point where it took away from the actual work, and that’s something I wasn’t comfortable with. My relationship with DC Comics remains as strong as ever and I look forward to my next project with them.”

Ever since DC Comics announced they had hired Orson Scott Card to write the first two chapters of their digital ‘Adventures of Superman’ comic series, a firestorm of protest has emerged due to the very controversial personal views of the writer himself. Card is very well-known in the LGBT community for his extremem outspokenness against homosexuality and same sex marriages. Protests have been forming ranging from fans planning to boycott the comic series to stores refusing to carry the issues to an online petition calling for Card’s removal from the book.

AllOut.org, the group responsible for the online petition, co-founderAndre Banks applauded Sprouse’s depature saying:

“Chris Sprouse’s decision to not illustrate Card’s writing, should be a sign to other companies, including the producers of Card’s upcoming film Ender’s Game, that there’s no upside in hiring people whose rhetoric goes beyond opinion and into the dangerous territory of extremism.”

DC, on their part, is sticking to their decision to have Card on their payroll. In a statement responding to Spouse’s exit, DC stated, “We fully support, understand and respect Chris’s decision to step back from his ‘Adventures of Superman’ assignment. Chris is a hugely talented artist, and we’re excited to work with him on his next DC Comics project. In the meantime, we will re-solicit the story at a later date when a new artist is hired.”

‘Adventures of Superman’ is set to be an anthology style series and is scheduled for a digital debut on April 29 with the first two stories to be penned by Card. However, due to Sprouse’s unexpected departure, the comic book giant has had to push back Card’s contribution to a later date. In its place will be a story by Jeff Parker and artist Chris Samnee about Superman’s first encounter with his arch enemy Lex Luthor as their first installment.

Currently, DC is looking for another artist to fill Sprouse’s place. If other artists in the comic community feel as strongly as Sprouse, there’s a good possibility that Card’s stories may never get to print.

 

Source: USA Today