Frank Cho, as well as many other A-list comic book artists, was commissioned by DC Comics to create 24 variant covers for the first year of their twice-monthly titles. In Frank’s case, that was for Wonder Woman.
Infamous in the online for his “outrage” sketch covers, both parodying sexism and criticism of sexism, this was a controversial choice, with many expressing their disappointment. But as the first covers emerged, that disappointment went away.
But possibly not with Wonder Woman writer, Greg Rucka. And, as a result, Frank Cho is walking off the title after its sixth issue – and variant cover.
He tells Bleeding Cool,
All the problem lies with Greg Rucka.
EVERYONE loves my Wonder Woman covers and wants me to stay. Greg Rucka is the ONLY one who has any problem with covers. Greg Rucka has been trying to alter and censor my artwork since day one.
Greg Rucka thought my Wonder Woman #3 cover was vulgar and showed too much skin, and has been spearheading censorship, which is baffling since my Wonder Woman image is on model and shows the same amount of skin as the interior art, and it’s a VARIANT COVER and he should have no editorial control over it. (But he does. WTF?!!!)
I tried to play nice, not rock the boat and do my best on the covers, but Greg’s weird political agenda against me and my art has made that job impossible. Wonder Woman was the ONLY reason I came over to DC Comics.
To DC’s credit, especially [Art Director] Mark Chiarello, they have been very accommodating. But they are caught between a rock and a hard place.
I just wanted to be left alone and do my Wonder Woman variant covers in peace. But Greg Rucka is in a hostile power trip and causing unnecessary friction over variant covers.
Greg Rucka declined to comment. The first three Wonder Woman variant covers by Frank Cho are below, in order.
And the initial sketch art of #3…
You can see there where the line has been drawn…
