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A controversial comic book cover featuring an off-model version of Cartoon Network‘s Powerpuff Girls has been pulled ahead of release, following online complaints about it oversexualizing the preteen female superheroes.
The cover, by artist Mimi Yoon, was scheduled to be released as a variant cover for next month’s Powerpuff Girls #6 from IDW Publishing. Earlier this week, retailer Dennis Barger complained on Facebook about the cover, however, asking “Are we seriously sexualizing pre-teen girls like perverted fan fiction writers on the Internet???? Is that what this s*** has gotten to?”
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Following more complaints being added in the subsequent comments section, IDW vp of marketing Dirk Wood stepped in to explain that the 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.”
He went on, “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.”
Comics industry site ICv2 contacted Cartoon Network following Wood’s comment, and were told that “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 yet to comment on her work being pulled.
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