IDW recently launched a comic book series based on the legendary 90s animated series ‘The Powerpuff Girls’, but things have hit a snag. To the right, you can see a cover illustrated by artist Mimi Yoon, presenting the girls… well, kinda grown up. Actually, more than a little grown up.
After complaints, IDW has decided not to publish the cover, which was an alternate cover for issue #6 and would have been distributed next month. Comic book retailer Dennis Barger vented on Facebook over the racy cover, stating “Are we seriously sexualizing pre-teen girls like perverted fan fiction writers on the Internet???? Is that what this s*** has gotten to?”
After Barger’s post gained many responses, IDW’s VP of Marketing Dirk Wood responded that the objectionable cover in question was “actually a Cartoon Network mandated cover, by an artist of their choosing. I think they were thinking of it more along the lines of ‘female empowerment’ than the kind of thing you guys are talking about, but certainly, we’re sensitive to the issues here… Half of the employees have kids here, and we pride ourselves in making comics they’ll enjoy and not give them a warped view of the world (except, you know, in a good way). Anyway, I certainly see your points, and we’ll be sensitive to these things, as I think we mostly have been.”
On the cartoon, the Powerpuff Girls are roughly five years old. Just sayin’.
Wood went on to say, “This particular variant cover for ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ #6 from IDW was done in the artist’s signature style and was intended to be released as a collectible item for comic book fans. We recognize some fans’ reaction to the cover and, as such, will no longer be releasing it at comic book shops.”
Yoon has not commented on her cover or the cancellation of its publication.
What do you think? Obviously, these PPGs aren’t five year olds in skimpy costumes. But is it appropriate to age these characters and present them in a titillating manner? How do you feel about this matter? Comment below!
Source: THR
