DC Comics artist and the creator of Batman: White Knight Sean Gordon Murphy has pulled his cover for Doug TenNapel’s Bigfoot Bill 2: Finger of Poseidon.

Murphy recently announced at the end of February he had done a cover for Bigfoot Bill 2: Finger Of Poseidon and even promoted the IndieGoGo project.

Murphy recently explained he spoke with TenNapel and had the cover pulled because TenNapel has “posted opinions that are anti LGBTQ.”

Related: Dungeons & Dragons Artist Tess Fowler Attacks Batman Artist Sean Gordon Murphy After He Announces Murphyverse Imprint At DC Comics

Murphy wrote on Twitter, “I recently did a cover for a creator. But it’s been brought to my attention that the creator has posted opinions that are anti LGBTQ. I’ve spoken with that creator, and the cover will now be pulled from the project.”

He added, “Anyone who knows me knows I’m a big supporter of the LGBTQ community. From the hard workers at my publisher, to my fellow creators, to the people in my own family.”

Murphy concluded, “I’m sorry if I hurt or upset anyone-I’ve always wanted my work to be about inclusion and about people working together. It’s a major theme in my Batman work. But I can’t be connected to opinions that hurt the LGBTQ community that’s meant so much to my life and my upbringing.”

Related: Former ComicsAlliance Editor Laura Hudson Attacks Earthworm Jim Creator Doug TenNapel

Doug TenNapel Responds

Doug TenNapel responded to Murphy’s announcement explaining that Murphy was pressured by the LGBTQ community and Jim Lee at DC Comics.

TenNapel wrote, “The LGBTQ put pressure on DC and SGM for doing a cover on Bigfoot Bill 2. Sean and I agreed that he should pull the cover. It’s more important than ever that pro-family comic lovers to support my work & rethink DC for attacking my business over my beliefs.”

TenNapel elaborated, “If Christians, free thinkers and pro family people support DC, they are supporting the destruction of my business due to my outspoken faith. The SJWs got a scalp today by having SGM’s cover pulled, and most pay them to do this.”

TenNapel continued, “This has nothing to do with the book. It’s Jim Lee/DC that don’t want SGM to do a favor for a friend that goes against their SJW/LGBTQ brand. This isn’t a fake culture war to get super-chats. This is the real culture war.”

He added that Murphy “held out for about as long as he could.”

Related: “Journalist” Chris Scullion Doesn’t Want Doug TenNapel Involved in Upcoming Earthworm Jim Game

He also noted this type of behavior is “DC’s brand.”

TenNapel then added that “The rainbow has its tentacles so far into these huge corporations that the audience has no idea they’re funding a Marxist philosophy. It’s not new, it’s old. It just takes this long to work it’s way downstream.”

TenNapel reiterated that he does not blame Murphy. He writes, “I don’t blame Sean. I offered that he could pull the cover. It’s hard to be a guy who makes friends choose to either dor a cover or do a multi-million dollar label at DC. Bigfoot Bill 2 is going to be fine, but DC came after my business so I’m not going to be quiet about it.”

TenNapel then declared he would be working on a new cover for Bigfoot Bill 2. “I’ll be working on a new cover for this today! We’re about to cross the $75k stretch goal if you are looking for a great story crafted on the front lines of the culture war.”

Related: Journalist Sophia Narwitz Blows The Lid Off The “Clique” Anti-Conservative Gatekeepers In Games Journalism

TenNapel then detailed the specific comments that had DC Comics and Jim Lee allegedly put pressure on Murphy to cut himself off from the project.

TenNapel stated, “It was specifically that I said Transphobia was a made up word to make people with traditional values seem like they had a mental condition.”

TenNapel then reiterated that the separation was due to Jim Lee. He wrote, “Jim Lee has his job to do and I have mine. He’s doing a lot better than me so I can see why he put his giant jackboot on my tiny business.”

He also reiterated that he and Murphy are still cool.

He also stated, “SGM and I are friends and he is a pro-LGBTQ atheist. His lefty friends demand we put our friendship in the closet. As a conservative Christian I’m find with him working with the gayest of the gays. My values are better than the left.”

Related: Bioshock 2 Developer David Pittman Threatens To End Indie Developer Derek Rumpler’s Career

Jim Lee Responds

DC Comics Publisher Jim Lee denied that he talked to Sean Gordon Murphy about a tweet of Doug TenNapel’s.

He also indicated he doesn’t know what Doug TenNapel is referring to. Lee wrote, “With all due respect, I have no idea what you’re talking about Doug.”

However, TenNapel refutes Lee’s comments. He states, “Sean flat out told me you did, so I apologize if it’s not true.”

He then questioned if Lee called Murphy about the Bigfoot Bill 2 cover. TenNapel asked, “Did you call him the day before yesterday about doing the Bigfoot Bill 2 cover?”

TenNapel would apologize to Jim Lee after a phone call with Murphy.

He wrote, “Jim Lee, Sean Gordon Murphy I owe Jim Lee a public apology. Got off the phone with Sean and clarified that he did not bring up my Bigfoot Bill 2 cover. They were talking about other pressures from SJWs. I’m getting to work today on a new cover. Just needed to clear Jim’s name first.”

While TenNapel apologized to Lee, he would accuse Tess Fowler of pressuring Murphy. He writes, “I’ve been falsely accused of stuff before so I don’t want to do that to him and leave it out there. When you get new information, you go public. But this is due to Tess Fowler and her twitter mob.”

Bigfoot Bill 2: Finger of Poseidon is currently crowdfunding on IndieGoGo. It has raised $74,792 from 833 backers.

What do you make of Murphy’s statement and TenNapel’s response? What about his accusations towards DC Comics and Jim Lee? What do you make of Lee’s response?

**Editor’s Note: This article was updated to include Doug TenNapel’s apology and his accusation against Tess Fowler.**

    • Get My Bounding Into Comics Newsletter

    About The Author

    John F. Trent
    John F. Trent
    Founder and Editor-in-Chief

    John is the Editor-in-Chief here at Bounding Into Comics. He is a massive Washington Capitals fan, lover of history, and likes to dabble in economics and philosophy.