When Comics and Controversy Collide: DC Shelves Red Hood Comic Series, Amid Writers' Charlie Kirks Assassination

DC Comics has abruptly pulled the plug on its planned Red Hood series after writer Gretchen Felker-Martin drew backlash for controversial posts on Bluesky. The author had made light of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which occurred Wednesday during a public event.

One post quipped, “Hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie Kirk.” Another read, “Thoughts and prayers you Nazi bitch.” Felker-Martin, who is transgender, had often clashed ideologically with Kirk, a staunch critic of trans rights. Her account has since been deleted, but screenshots of the remarks quickly went viral, sparking outrage and prompting DC to shut down the project.

“DC Comics values its creators and community, and we respect the right to personal expression. However, any comments that may be seen as endorsing violence or hostility are not aligned with our code of conduct,” the publisher said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

Insiders emphasized that Felker-Martin’s posts weren’t the sole reason the series was axed—rather, they were the breaking point. The company’s policy explicitly forbids public statements that appear to celebrate or encourage violence.

Meanwhile, investigators are still searching for Kirk’s shooter. His assassination has shaken both political and media circles, with Comedy Central even pulling a South Park episode that ridiculed him.

Ironically, the debut issue of Red Hood hit shelves the same day Kirk was killed. The comic, written by Felker-Martin and illustrated by Jeff Spokes, was set to relaunch Jason Todd—the onetime Robin turned gun-toting vigilante—into a gritty, ongoing saga. Back in June, Felker-Martin teased the story as one of “sweat, blood, and powder burns… a city rotting from within,” as Red Hood hunted down a mysterious telepath. But now, the series is effectively dead on arrival.