2012 in Review: The Great Comic Book Controversies

Members of the comics community, for those who don’t now, really like to argue.Part of it might be the serialized nature of many of comics’ most beloved characters, which makes every person sure that they know the way a character is “supposed” to be and that the version they loved when they were young was the definitive take on so-and-so. That certainly contributes.Perhaps part of it is that the comics community is so small and insular these days, that anytime some big argument springs up, fans and professionals alike know someone involved and feel like they’re therefore invested in the outcome.Whatever it is, many of the biggest stories of the year revolved around various debates, controversies and arguments–both small-scale and large–that went on in the comics industry in 2012. So we figured, like any other “best of 2012” list, it was worth taking a look back at some of the more surreally entertaining fights we found ourselves in this year.Liefeld vs. Kirkman, Liefeld vs. Newsarama, Liefeld vs. DC, Liefeld vs. the D-ListIt seemed that every time you turned around in 2012, veteran creator Rob Liefeld was getting into it with somebody on Twitter. And while this is absolutely true of any number of creators (Mark Waid, Gail Simone, Scott Lobdell and many others can be seen fighting on there pretty regularly), it seemed that this year, Liefeld’s feuds took on a legendary quality. Fighting with Scott Snyder and others over his critiques of DC’s editorial policy, announcing breakups with Robert Kirkman and DC Comics via Twitter, and then blasting Marvel for putting “D-list” talent on Deadpool within hours of a hot new creative team being named…it seemed as though he was just mowing people down as quick as they crossed his path. Even Prophet writer Brandon Graham got in on the fun, blasting Newsarama for their poor treatment of Liefeld during an interview.But as many enemies as Rob made with his frankness, he made as many supporters. Not like…Tony Harris vs. WomenWith only about a month remaining in the year, artist Tony Harris took to Facebook to complain about what he perceived as a problem with “fake fangirls” online and at conventions–women who dressed in skimpy clothes and “teased” unsuspecting fanboys. The Internet blowback from the cosplay community and many others was swift and furious, with Gail Simone succeeding in getting “Cosplay Appreciation Day” to trend on Twitter the next day.