Image Apologizes, Misses Point: A Line-by-Line Breakdown of Image Comics’ “Apology”

Following their terribly disgusting stunts of depicting trans violence followed by announcing an issue cover with a lynching front and center, Image Comics spent the day responding “no comment” to anyone who asked why they made the decision to clear such a thing. It was, we see now, to buy them time to publish a fantastically bad apology. It seems they needed time for self-reflection (which is understandable) to draft a thoughtful apology (so far, so good) …only to miss the point of why everyone was angry with their editorial decision (and there’s the rub). So here: a line-by-line breakdown of Image’s apology that, while thankfully rectifies future harm from the cover they intended to publish, misses the point why it was so disgusting in the first place. IMAGE COMICS & HOWARD CHAYKIN RESPOND TO SENSITIVITY FEEDBACK, PULL THE DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA COVER Image Comics and Howard Chaykin would like to apologize over the distress caused by the cover to THE DIVIDED STATES OF HYSTERIA #4. Image Comics and Howard Chaykin would like to apologize you are offended. This is not to be confused with taking responsibility for a failure in our editorial process, but we are sorry you are distressed. This in no way reflects Saga.It’s neither Howard’s nor Image’s intention to inflict pain on anyone already dealing with intolerance or hostility on a personal level. We ALL agree that any form of bigotry is wrong, and this comic exists due to anger and frustration over rapidly escalating …