DC comics has canceled the upcoming Vertigo title ‘Second Coming’ due to pressure from an online petition.
The upcoming DC Vertigo title Second Coming has been canceled by the publisher weeks before the series was due to launch, comic book retailers were told Wednesday.
Orders for the first and second issues of the series — in which Jesus Christ returns to Earth only to be appalled by what has become of his teachings, with humanity more enamored with the superhero Sun-Man — were canceled with notice that “these issues will not be resolicited,” according to an update sent to comic stores. The series, which was intended to run monthly starting March 6, had been targeted by an online petition that described it as “inappropriate” and “blasphemous content.”
On Twitter, Mark Russell — who co-created the series with artist Richard Pace — revealed that the cancellation of the series at DC was his doing.
Yet another in a long line of examples where a very small group gets to effectively make a decision that impacts everyone else. Why not just, i don’t know, decide NOT to read it when it’s published if you find it blasphemous?
This is a title I had no interest in picking up, but it’s ridiculous how this played out. The message is loud and clear about what t do if you don’t want a book to be published.
Too true.
sacred cows can be used as punching bags in a free society, but please, just to add some variety use Mohammed. just for once, use islam. unless you perceive it to be so perfect a religion that it defies satire. just mix it up a bit….just 1 series, just 1. make mohammed a wacky dude or a moronic hippy…that’s why a very small group, American Christians feel the need to complain
This was written for an American audience so I imagine controversy was the plan from the beginning. If they wrote it about Mohammed, most of the audience probably wouldn’t be as familiar with the teachings thus not inciting said controversy.
People may try to write stories similar to this in Muslim nations but then they are publicly beheaded. Let’s not be them.
i read your first 2 sentences and laughed. yeah no controversy at all
How would they know that it was blasphemous? Have they read it?
the pitch for the book. don’t be obtuse
in which Jesus Christ returns to Earth only to be appalled by what has become of his teachings, with humanity more enamored with the superhero Sun-Man
It doesn’t sound like sure fire blasphemy to me. Is there one I’m missing?
yes
I have read the the synopsis, it is disrespectful and makes fun of our Lord and savior. Why would Jesus need to come to earth to learn how to be the the messiah, HE ALREADY IS!
lol
Gretzky is the only Messiah.
maybe. Just maybe.
So I guess this means Preacher could never get published today.
Welp Poyo just started an online petition to cancel all Dan Slott written books. See what happens? I’m joking. All in good fun. ?
Did I? I should if there’s not already one out there.. 😉
I’m amazed people still believe in God.
You forgot the “a” in front of God. 😉
Word is the book’ll be printed under a different publisher, so its not dead dead
I am extremely here for this.
It would do swimmingly under AP. It jives with their genres
The PC environment and the “My way or the highway” attitude in the US is getting way out of hand. Yeah, one can say it is usual those on the left protesting over something and trying to force “their” views, but this shows any small mouthy group right or left can push, push, push until they get their way. I don’t like this. At all. I mean, let them be heard of course but to cancel a series based on one group of people getting uppity? Really?
I’m a Christian.I’m vested in my church so to speak. My wife and I started cancer support ministry within it. We also take in non Christians who may be in need of help as well. We enjoy the community within our church quite a bit. They are awesome people. They helped us like you cannot imagine when my wife was going through cancer a few years back. I have a feeling most within that community would not have freaked out if this comic did/does get published. Some maybe would have rolled their eyes, but that is about it.
With that, I don’t know much else on what this comic would have done outside of what was written above but it seemed very interesting and I would have eat least given it a shot. To be honest, in my opinion “if” Jesus was to return today I don’t think he would be all that happy with a lot of what is going on globally. Just sayin. I doubt very much Vertigo/DC would be dumb enough to paint him in a poor light as well. This country needs to take a step back and take a bunch of deep breaths. Time to push back against special interest groups that tell everyone they are the high ground in the US when it comes to social issues and “morality”. As always, just my opinion.
I’m not religious myself but well said OC_Guy. Especially the “This country needs to step back and take some deep breaths”. It’s just a comic book. If a religious person is offended by such a thing, perhaps they should re-evaluate their own faith or religion if it affects them at that level.
The way I see it is, if ya don’t like it, then don’t read it. The whole blasphemous talk stance does not apply when we live in a country that touts “Freedom of Speech”.
Amen to that! (no pun)
Hehe..
I’m pretty sure the left wouldn’t be the ones overly gaga for Jesus enough to start a petition.
Nope. Pretty sure that would go to the too far right.
If Jesus did come back he would only be about love, compassion and acceptance — none of which find much purchase in the evangelical community today.
CitizenGO created the petition to DC. This is copies directly from their “About Us” page listing their goals:
“Rationality. CitizenGO differentiates itself from other groups in seeking truth by way of reason. It does not resort to ideological dogmas or formulas to communicate the causes on which it acts. Everything CitizenGO proposes has its basis in science, law, and anthropology. Interest groups should see that CitizenGO is a rational organization that acts and communicates reasonably.”
Clearly they missed the “Hypocrisy” category.
There was the same uppity when Jesus hates zombies the prequel to Abraham Lincoln vampire slayer came out, but it actually got printed.
Seems everyone is on edge these days as to try not to offend….everyone. Impossible task if you ask me. There is always somebody out there that gets mad at something.
We dont mess with your bible. Please dont mess with our comics. Geez. There was n awesome book written by Christopher Moore titled “Lamb- The gospel according to Biff, Jesus’ childhood friend” if anyone ever gets bored of reading comics.
I find its cancellation sad, regardless of the quality of the book. This makes a mockery of the freedom of expression.
warning I am going to go off ona rant . as this is what I am talking about .the whole p.c. culture makes me sick to my stomach .can America as a nation stop being such a bunch of wussies??in todays p.c. climit would classic comics like preacher,american jesus,the sandman&lucifer be made?didn’t those a-clowns over at one millon moms try and get the show lucifer canceled?as a practing catholic I belive in one idea and one idea alone.use the golden rule and treat people the way you would like to be treated yes I am not a perfect person .however I was looking forward to this book.i really think as a nationa nd asa socity America is going to hell in a handbasket. p.c. and everyone is way to sensitive and way to triggered . sorry to go off but can people stop getting upset by stupit stuff this is a comic book.would have been agreat comic book . but thanks to a small group of closed minded a-holes. and I mean no disrespect when saying like to Christians get offended by everything?as it doesn’t take much does it? what happened to the America where the streets are paved with gold?where we can study and believe in a god of our understanding?this is not 2019 but we live in 19854 read the book it is happening little by little and one millon moms can k.m.f.b.a.
I feel like we are living in Ghostbusters 2 where everyone is angry and polarized.
Pretty much.
Damn, if issue One had come out and then DC killed it, it might have been a Contender for Spec of the Year .. nothing like some free controversy to heat up a book ..
I’ll add :: If Jesus Penis had a reveal, then, we’re talking about some real Money ..
If someone doesn’t like it they shouldn’t buy it. Who are theytell control what other want to read? Boo to DC for caving.
Cool. Now it will show up on Kickstarter with 15 variant covers before going to press with an Indie. Honestly this shit ticks me off. I’m a big indie reader and primarily because I like more mature themes that the big two won’t touch. DC is messing this all up. It was on Vertigo which last I looked was for MATURE readers. Clearly those bitching about a comic book shouldn’t be reading it anyways. They had so much potential with Black Label too. It was the stories I wanted to see and the silhouette of Wayne dick ruined that. Come on man.
I’m not religious but how could someone at dc go like “hey the bat Weiner didn’t cause any drama so let’s make a book about JC!” Seriously sometimes I /facepalm at some of this.
It’s the Batgirl/Joker cover all over again. DC is really starting to get on my nerves.
With the rights reverting to the creators I am 99.9% sure another publisher will eagerly scoop it up and it’ll sell even more copies now with the bragging power of, “The comic too controversial for DC/Vertigo.” In the end this may help it whilst only making DC look bad.
There’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?
This book didn’t cought my attention when it came out as I don’t care for religious books, but now with all this buzz, I want a copy lol…
There you go. Our Own Personal Jesus wants a copy (please tell me you are all old enough to catch that reference)
Im old enough, but the reference was over my head.
I wasn’t going to buy this buy this book, as interesting as it sounded, but now I’ll definitely if it gets picked up
Boo to DC for wussing out. Got spooked by Batmans wiener, they also were suppOwed to have nude scenes of Harley in White Knight but they got cold feet and put the word bubbles over her….now this….
Meanwhile They’ll put a book in the kids toy isle of Walmart with Lois lane getting offed a half dozen times in violent ways.
Loosing some respect, DC.
Depeche Mode Personal Jesus.
Wrote Mark Russell a message on his Facebook page suggesting Ahoy as a potential publisher. My LCS thinks Image will gobble this up and pay handsomely. D.C publisher is in hot seat, do I lose my job and market share over dicks, tits and Jesus?
Ahoy would be a good spot for them.
Man DC is afraid of their own shadow nowadays!
DC’s flaccid backbone strikes (slaps) again