DC Comics Artist Backs Out Of Superman Project Over Anti-Gay Author Controversy

NEW YORK, NY | The illustrator for the new DC Comics Adventures of Superman digital comic anthology has backed out of the project as a result of an outpouring of public criticism over the company's decision to hire anti-gay author, activist, and National Organisation For Marriage board member Orson Scott Card to pen the story line. 

Graphic Artist and illustrator Chris Sprouse was slated to illustrate the issue written by Card and co-author Aaron Johnston.

In a statement released Tuesday, Sprouse said;

"It took a lot of thought to come to this conclusion, but I've decided to step back as the artist on this story. The media surrounding this story reached the point where it took away from the actual work, and that's something I wasn't comfortable with. 

My relationship with DC Comics remains as strong as ever and I look forward to my next project with them."

The company released a statement late Tuesday offering their support of Spouse's decision to withdraw;

"We fully support, understand and respect Chris's decision to step back from his Adventures of Superman assignment. 

Chris is a hugely talented artist, and we're excited to work with him on his next DC Comics project. In the meantime, we will re-solicit the story at a later date when a new artist is hired."

The media firestorm first erupted last month when it was announced that Card would author a "Superman" digital-first, slated to debut in April. A petition was then created on the website AllOut.org asking DC Comics to drop Card from the project. That petition has accumulated over 16,000 signatures.

Scheduled to launch April 29, Adventures of Superman is a digital anthology of 10-page Superman short stories featuring the works of various creators that will be collected in print issues beginning in May.

USA Today reported that due to the creative change, the Card story will not appear in the first collected issue out May 29. Instead, it will feature a story by writer Jeff Parker and artist Chris Samnee, as well as a tale by Jeff Lemire and one by writer Justin Jordan and artist Riley Rossmo.

DC Comics is also looking for a replacement illustrator for Card's story.