DC Comics teased this image on social media as a variant cover meant to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, but fans and artists have said the covers reduce their communities to clichés.
(CNN) --
DC Comics' attempt to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month has offended fans.
In June, the publisher previewed several variant covers of new stories starring Latin American characters, which were going to go on sale in September, when Hispanic Heritage Month begins.
However, the illustrations focused primarily on food, drawing criticism from some Latino fans and artists, who felt the covers reduced their communities to clichés.
One of the most popular covers shows superhero Kyle Rayner, a member of the Green Lantern Corps, in space with a bag of tamales in one hand and a flag that reads "Viva México!"
in the other.
Another shows Hawkgirl as a waitress carrying plates of food from the "Cafetería Platanitos Fritos".
Another shows Jaime Reyes as the Blue Beetle flying through the air with heels.
DC Comics and CNN share parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics shared another variant cover to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, which falls from September 15 to October 15.
Edgardo Miranda-Rodríguez, whose 2016 graphic novel "La Borinqueña" explores Puerto Rican history and identity, was among the cover critics.
"So @DCComics thinks these Hispanic Heritage Month covers of their Latino superheroes eating ethnic food is a good idea," he tweeted.
"I've never seen Batman eating filet mignon, Wonder Woman eating a gyro or Superman eating tuna stew, but this is what happens when we're not on the editorial team."
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Samantha King, comics news writer for Screen Rant, called the covers "an utter disappointment that shows a lack of creativity and respect for the community."
"Culture and heritage are about so much more than food," King wrote in a recent article.
"While it's one of the most effective ways to bring people together and begin to build bridges, it shouldn't be the only goal of covers that aim to celebrate so many different cultures."
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At least one of the covers appeared to have been altered from the artist's original vision.
Shortly after DC debuted its Hispanic Heritage Month covers, comic book illustrator Jorge Molina shared a version of the Green Lantern cover sans tamales.
In it, the character Kyle Rayner holds a green lantern and a Mexican flag without the coat of arms.
That version, which according to Molina was unfinished, paid homage to the iconic work "La Patria" by Mexican muralist Jorge González Camarena.
Molina added at the time that the cover should not come to light for "legal issues."
Molina recently appeared to address the controversy again, tweeting that "one has my signature and the other doesn't, go figure."
DC Comics shared a series of food-focused variant covers for Hispanic Heritage Month.
DC Comics told CNN that the cover of Green Lantern with the tamales was not the official one and that Molina's original version would come out on September 20.
Molina confirmed the news on social media on Tuesday.
"It is part of DC's internal creative process to receive and develop multiple versions of comic book artwork from our artists," DC said in a statement shared with CNN.
"Some are released as variant covers, some are never used."
The company did not address criticism directed at the other covers.
While DC has made efforts to address the lack of diversity and inclusion in the comics industry, its failed attempt to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month contrasts with a recent effort by competitor Marvel, which announced a new anthology in its series." Marvel's Voices" that would spotlight Latino superheroes while elevating the work of Latino artists, writers, and creators.
The upcoming "Marvel's Voices: Communities #1" has garnered praise for its careful exploration of its characters' intersecting identities.
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