New York City – In a swift backlash to escalating political tensions, DC Comics has axed its new “Red Hood” series after just one issue, severing ties with transgender writer Gretchen Felker-Martin over inflammatory social media posts celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The decision came hours after the comic’s September 10 debut, coinciding with the fatal shooting of Kirk, 31, during a speech at Utah Valley University. Felker-Martin, acclaimed for her 2022 novel Manhunt – a post-apocalyptic tale of trans survivors battling zombie-like foes – posted on Bluesky: “Hope the bullet’s OK after touching Charlie Kirk,” and “Thoughts and prayers you Nazi b*tch.” The remarks, since deleted amid a temporary account suspension, targeted Kirk’s well-documented anti-trans rhetoric, including slurs and calls for violence against the community. Screenshots spread rapidly online, drawing condemnation from Kirk’s allies and bipartisan figures decrying any glorification of violence.
DC, in a statement to retailers, announced refunds for all copies of Red Hood #1 and halted future installments planned for October and November. “Posts or public comments that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with DC’s standards of conduct,” the publisher said. Insiders revealed the cancellation was the “final straw,” following prior concerns over Felker-Martin’s provocative style, but Kirk’s death tipped the scales. The series reimagined Jason Todd, the vigilante antihero, in a gritty, mature-rated narrative blending horror and Batman lore.
Felker-Martin, unrepentant, addressed the fallout on her Patreon: “I had no regrets” for the “glib joke,” citing years of enduring Kirk’s “overt Nazi” invective. In an interview with The Comics Journal, she lambasted DC for exploiting her “transgressive horror” cachet only to abandon her when politically inconvenient. “I have no desire to be part of any organization that wants to pretend that people like Charlie Kirk are decent human beings,” she said.
The saga unfolds amid national grief over Kirk’s death, with memorials from Berlin to Capitol Hill and FBI probes into potential accomplices. Turning Point USA decried the posts as “hate speech,” while LGBTQ+ advocates like the Human Rights Campaign noted Kirk’s history of inciting threats. As comics navigate cultural minefields, Felker-Martin’s ouster highlights the perils of personal fury in a polarized era, where one tweet can topple a deal and deepen America’s wounds.
