Once upon a time, Jim Starlin, one of the biggest names in comics and the creator behind iconic storylines like Marvel’sThe Infinity Gauntletand DC’sBatman: A Death in the Family, reflected on the influence fans had on his work and called usDCfans“ghoulish.”Of course, the comment came from a place of affection, and truthfully, he wasn’t wrong.
…Frank Miller even spoke out against it, calling it“the ugliest thing in comics”he had ever seen.
An interview with Jim Starlin forBehind the Panel, conducted by Mike Avila in 2018, has recently resurfaced. During their conversation, the topic ofBatman: A Death in the Family(1988)came up. This is no surprise, as it remains one of the darkest and most significant storylines in Batman’s history.
The arc featured the death of his second Robin, Jason Todd, at the hands of the Joker. While that alone made the story unforgettable, what truly set it apart was the fact that DC allowed fans to vote on whether Jason would survive.In a strange show of democracy, thousands voted for the death of a child.
Spoiler: The Creator Wasn’t Surprised by Jason Todd’s Controversial Fate
The moment in the interview that stood out most was Starlin’s reaction to that vote. He said,“I didn’t find out about it until I came back [from Mexico] and found out that,just as I expected, my ghoulish little fans voted him dead.”The comment was notable, especially because Starlin openly referred to his fans as“ghoulish.”
In this case, the term“ghoulish”referred to the morbid enthusiasm fans displayed in choosing death for a teenager. However,Starlin’s tone and his use of the word“little”made it clear that the comment was delivered with fondnessrather than genuine criticism. He even admitted that the outcome did not surprise him and that it was exactly what he expected.
Only 72 Votes Killed Robin: The Darkest Fan Poll in DC History
Jim Starlin and Frank Miller Both Called Out the Morbid Decision That Created Red Hood
Starlin wasn’t wrong to call out the vote as morbid. Letting fans vote on a child’s death was an unusually dark move for DC. Creators likeFrank Miller even spoke out about it, calling it“the ugliest thing in comics”he had ever seen.Still, as grim as the moment was, it ultimately led to the creation of the Red Hood, a character many fans love today.
It is also worth mentioning that not all fans from the 1980s were responsible for Jason’s death. Starlin noted that the vote was incredibly close. He said,“It was only like 72 votes out of 10,000, so statistically it was next to nothing.”So, were you one of theDCfans who voted forRobinto die?
A DEATH IN THE FAMILYis available now from DC Comics!
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
