Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, dc, kitten, muslim, superman

Superman #713 – The Return Of Kittengate

Published Wed, 13 Jul 2011 11:30:45 -0500

Last updated Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:08:21 -0500

Bleeding Cool reported a month ago on what was dubbed Kittengate, the pulling of Superman #712 from the printers and its replacement with an inventory issue.

Chris Sims of Comics Alliance compared the solicitation and promotion of the original issue and concluded that this was because of the appearance of the character Sharif, a Muslim superhero, encountering Superman on his walk across America.

Bleeding Cool learnt from three very separate and distinct sources connected to DC of a very different version. That a meeting was held in which executives argued with Superman editorial against the initial scene in the comic featuring Superman rescuing a kitten from a tree. As if this was somehow unacceptable in this day and age. And that it was totemic for the state of the pre-relaunch DC comics.

Yes, it sounded ridiculous. But this is the company that pulped a run of Superman because it had Clark drinking a root beer on the cover.

That the replacement was a story about a Superdog, one that itself had been subject to replacement a number of times in the past, seemed like Superman editorial making a point.

As does the opening scene of Superman #713 if very different. Superman is rescuing a cat from a rooftop. And just the one page this time. But enough to make… whatever point is trying to be made. Looks like the execs have moved on…

Who says politics doesn't belong in comics?