THE DARK KNIGHT RISES – AND FALLS: DC Removes Batman’s Penis in ‘Batawang’ Controversy!

The recently-released series, Batman: Damned always promised to be controversial – as the flagship of DC’s new ‘Black Label’ imprint, it threatened the reading public with higher levels of violence and adult themes than had been previously noted outside of the ringfenced Vertigo line, which generally never dealt with the mainstream DC super-hero Universe.

True to the promises, Batman:Damned’s first issue generated controversy a-plenty, but not because of the violence, nor the blasphemous themes which permeate the book.

Instead, maidenly shriekings are resounding in the USA because of … Batman’s cock.

Yup. In-story, Batman arrives back in the Batcave, and strips down for a medical scan via the Bat-Computer’s internal sensors. Brucie’s been in the habit since the late 70s of going commando in the Batcave, for meditation, medical reasons, or presumably just for the hell of it,  but this time the Bat-Knob is – discreetly, and shadowily – visible in a few panels, in a purely non-sexual context. (He also has a bit of a traumatic breakdown and crouches nude in the cave snivelling, but for Batman, that’s… Tuesday.)

This has caused shock and outrage, because obviously, from the reactions presented, no-one in the United States of America either has, or has ever seen, a penis.

There have been calls for the book to be banned (good luck finding copies!) and DC, in a display of spinelessness not seen since the Elseworlds 80 Page Giant controversy, has censored the digital copies available on the Comixology app, and ordered that second printings of the issue should have deeper shadows should be placed over the offending area. DC’s justification is that the nudity is “not additive to the story” – whereas, contextually, it actually serves to emphasise the disturbed Batman’s vulnerability and humanity. But of course, such matters must be set aside when censorious cretins chorus.

In the meantime, the lucky fans who pre-ordered the issue before becoming aware of ‘Cockgate’ – or fleet-footed flippers who hied around to comics stores as soon as they got a whiff of the offending member – are averaging $50 or more for uncensored first prints on eBay.

Congratulations, DC: a response truly worthy of your new ‘Mature’ line.

Below, for historical reasons, we attach the offending panels, saving y’all £40 or so. You’re welcome. Brace yourselves…