DC Cancels ‘Red Hood’ Comic Book Series Amid Controversy

Gretchen Felker-Martin is a Massachusetts-based horror author, film critic, and comic book writer known for their distinctive contributions to contemporary horror and speculative fiction. They gained notable recognition with their debut novel *Manhunt* (2022), which was named the No. 1 Best Book of 2022 by *Vulture* and also received accolades from *Esquire*, *Library Journal*, and *Paste* for its gripping portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world where a virus transforms individuals with high testosterone into savage creatures. The novel explores themes of survival, gender, trauma, and societal violence through its trans-led protagonists navigating a hostile environment marked by persecution from trans-exclusionary radicals. Felker-Martin’s subsequent novels include *Cuckoo* (2024), which appeared on the *USA Today* bestseller list, and *Black Flame* (2025), continuing their focus on body horror, gender, and violence. Beyond novels, their work spans short stories, columns, and criticism, published in outlets such as *TIME*, *The Outline*, *Nylon*, and *Polygon*. They describe their writing as centered around “sexual revulsion, body horror, and how violence fits into our lives,” embracing themes that challenge conventional narratives. In addition to their literary career, Felker-Martin is the writer for the ongoing *Red Hood* comic book series at DC Comics. Their role as a comic writer has brought them into public attention beyond the literary community, including controversy over public comments, which DC Comics stated were inconsistent with their conduct standards. Felker-Martin is recognized for their candid engagement with issues of gender, queerness, and identity both in their fiction and public discourse, maintaining a relevant and provocative presence in horror literature and comics as of 2025.

Charlie Kirk is a prominent American conservative activist and the founder of Turning Point USA, a national student movement dedicated to promoting free markets and limited government. Born in 1993, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at the age of 18, alongside Bill Montgomery. The organization has grown significantly, with a presence on over 3,000 high school and college campuses across the U.S. and more than 650,000 lifetime student members[2][3]. Kirk has been a prolific media presence, appearing thousands of times on various platforms, including Fox News and The Washington Post. He was named to the Forbes "30 under 30" list and became the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He also served as the opening speaker at the 2020 RNC[2]. In addition to his activism, Kirk is an author, having written several books, including "The MAGA Doctrine," which became a best-seller on Amazon and The New York Times. His most recent book, "Rightwing Revolution," was released in 2024[2]. Kirk's involvement in politics extends beyond Turning Point USA. He was active in Bruce Rauner's successful 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Illinois. Rauner, who later became a financial supporter of Turning Point USA, praised Kirk's activism[3]. Kirk's activities have been controversial, drawing both support and criticism. Recently, Kirk's life was tragically cut short, and the FBI is investigating his death, offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible[3]. Despite the controversy surrounding his views and actions, Kirk remains a significant figure in conservative American politics.