On January 3rd, DC Comics released issue four of The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing in which the titular character became pregnant. Some online said the move made the Joker 'trans now' and the issue's writer, Matthew Rosenberg, has a long history of left-wing social justice activism, including writing comics about trans issues.
Before he wrote about the Joker, a man, getting pregnant, he wrote issue 17 of Marvel's Uncanny X-Men in 2019, where the character Rahne Sinclair, a mutant who can transform into a werewolf-like creature, was murdered by a group of men after she rebuffed their advances. After transforming into her wolf form, the men said she tried to "trap" them in an attack that was accused of stoking "trans panic" by left-wing outlets.
The Marvel mutant was beaten by a group of men "using the language and imagery of transmisogyny" according to left-wing publication The Mary Sue, which said, "If anything this event reminds us how important it is to incorporate trans authors and creators when telling trans stories."
Another left-wing comics outlet, The Beat, wrote at the time, "The death in Uncanny X-Men #17 is a trans panic murder, and it's not okay."
Rosenberg immediately apologized on Twitter and wrote, "I just want to say that I am listening to all the criticism and taking it in. I want to let other voices lead the conversation here. With that said, I do want to apologize to people hurt by our story. That was never, ever our intention."
"Also, if you've been reading our book and enjoying it, or disliking it I guess, I'd urge you to consider making a donation to @TransLifeline and help support the vital work they do," he added, providing a link to the trans rights organization.
In reference to Rosenberg's new "pregnant Joker" storyline, detransitioner Oli London wrote, "DC Comics goes WOKE Batman character 'Joker' gets pregnant and gives birth in a new comic, despite being a male character. I know it's a cartoon but come on @DCComics kids read your comics and this sends the wrong message. Men cannot get PREGNANT."
The issue centers on the Joker pursuing the hero Zatanna, a woman who has magic-based powers and can cast spells by speaking in reverse. The Joker wants to mate with Zatanna for the purpose of producing a powerful offspring, but she rejects the Clown Prince of Crime's advances and punishes the villain by cursing him to become pregnant with his own son. After the Joker deals with the distended stomach that is a hallmark of pregnancy and asks for a "good OB-GYN," he vomits up a brownish goop that, akin to the villainous character Clayface, turns into a small boy version of the Joker.
The small boy and the adult male then look at each other and share the same uncomfortable thought: "He's so handsome."
Robby Starbuck wrote on Twitter, "In the new Joker comic he gets pregnant and gives birth. Yep, the Joker is trans now. At least the character is the joker because a pregnant woman thinking they're a pregnant man is the definition of a joker. Who else is sick of this lunacy?"
Comics creator Ethan Van Sciver wrote, "DC Comics is getting weirder and weirder, allowing more perverts and fetishists to make grotesque filth out of their classic characters."
Comics commentator Jester Bell wrote, "I don't know how much longer I can do this."
In her accompanying video, she also said "Someone with general decency doesn't want to read this," later adding "I don't want to be exposed to some writer's disgusting fetish."
In 2018, Rosenberg had tweeted, "Trans people's rights are human rights."
Rosenberg's left-wing activism on Twitter extended beyond issues of gender ideology. In 2020, the comic writer tweeted after the death of George Floyd, "I will not be posting pictures of people of color being beaten or killed by the state. They are easy enough to find if you still doubt it. I will not be posting pictures of uprisings. Protect the identity of all protesters. But I will sporadically be posting about ways to help."
"All I ask is that you think about helping. Think about other people. Practice empathy always. Practice compassion always. Question authority always. #BlackLivesMatter always," he added.
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