One of the big issues burning up the Internet right now is the call by Dan DiDio of DC Comics for someone to win the Naked Suicide Art Competition for the upcoming Harley Quinn #0. I have gotten many messages this weekend about the issue and about my thoughts on it.
Harley Quinn will have her own New 52 title.
What is the Naked Suicide Art Competition?
Somewhere within Harley Quinn #0, we are supposed to see four panels in which the Clown Princess of Crime is either attempting suicide or contemplating suicide. One of the frames, for examples, will show her naked in the bathtub with various small appliance ready to be thrust inside.
Dan DiDio made a call last week for artists to try their hand at this page for possible publication in the issue. Outcry went out because of trying to cover suicide in a humorous format. Add on the fact that this is National Suicide Prevention Week and everything hits the fan.
My Thoughts
I think the Naked Suicide Art Competition is in very poor taste. If the original artist could not do the page, the script should have been rewritten. They could have had the scene take place in a later issue if need be. We have heard countless stories in the last few months about how DC Comics changed something with a script at the last minute, so why couldn’t that have happened here?
On one hand, I know that you cannot truly understand Harley Quinn without understanding her draw towards suicide. It is an aspect which can draw fans towards compassion for her. On the opposing hand, it is something which should be discussed without a tongue implanted in a cheek. The fact that she is able to overcome her suicidal thoughts is something which should be handled seriously so that the message can get out to avoid the draw towards suicide in the first place.
DC Comics wanted to make news during the September War, but the Naked Suicide Art Competition is just another poor reason to make news. Not having enough supply for the demand for 3D covers is also a newsworthy event, but not something DC Comics should be proud of.
As a Harley Quinn fan, I am upset that a smudge would draw down the release of Harley Quinn #0. I am hoping that the backlash over the Naked Suicide Art Competition will finally open some eyes at DC Comics and make those with the ultimate power in the company realize that the publisher is quickly becoming noted for failures instead of successes.
