Marvel pulls down 'Invincible Iron Man' cover after criticism over sexualisation
Los Angeles: Marvel and Midtown Comics have pulled the "Invincible Iron Man" cover after fans criticised the artwork for "sexualising" its teenage superhero.
It's widely known that Riri Williams aka Iron Hart is still a teenager, but J Scott Campbell's variant cover features the 15-year-old heroine in not-so-age appropriate way, Twitterati claimed, reported Aceshowbiz.
Kampala Khan is 16. RiRi Williams is 15. Only one is drawn like a teen though. #TeensThatLookLikeTeens pic.twitter.com/XUBScnhj3M
— Akua-Isis (@AStylishJedi) October 20, 2016
"Is this how people see 15 year old black girls? I keep seeing these cover variants for Riri Williams and maybe 2 or 3 she has looked 15," one user wrote.
Riri Williams is 15 years old. Unfortunately, it seems some comic artists have never laid eyes on a young teenager... pic.twitter.com/hUxKhaGbxc
— Donna The Dead (@MildlyAmused) October 19, 2016
Teenage Riri Williams vs. teenage Ms. Marvel
— Joshua (@JournoJoshua) October 19, 2016
Look at the difference in how their bodies are drawn pic.twitter.com/LDz8bP4P0h
Another user said, "So, apparently, body shaming is completely acceptable as long as the person being shamed is fit and attractive," crediting @JScottCampbell. Campbell responded, "Ha! Nope, nope. Sitting this SJW whine-fest out. Not taking their bait this round."
Is this how people see 15 year old black girls? I keep seeing these cover variants for Riri Williams and maybe 2 or 3 she has looked 15. pic.twitter.com/zlCGJ1maFt
— MistyKnightsTwistOut (@Steph_I_Will) October 19, 2016
The artist defended himself by explaining that he was told to draw the cover based on the earliest artwork of the comic book series.
"This is the character I was asked to draw, people understand that, right? Is it THAT different?" he wrote, adding the hashtags, "#nonconroversy #movealong."
I gave her a sassy "attitude"@lilpochaco "sexualizing" was not intended. This reaction is odd. The crop-top was in the existing design.
— J. Scott Campbell (@JScottCampbell) October 20, 2016
Marvel later took to Twitter to share a few additional drawings which showed Williams in more "appropriate" way.
Get a new look at Riri Williams from artist @St3Caselli for the upcoming "Invincible Iron Man" #1! pic.twitter.com/klILRWfJH2
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) October 20, 2016
