Comics-Twitter Experiencing Palpitations over Heather Antos's Criticism of the Joker Movie

An Error of Over Attributing Significance and Influence to Minor Figures in the Comic Book Industry: Heather Antos

  

Heather Antos is an Editor for Valiant Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Chinese-financed company DMG Entertainment LLC.  On Thursday September, Antos tweeted out criticism of the upcoming Joker movie from Warner Brothers (owned by ATT).  Antos tweeted:

 "It was not that long ago when a socially isolated disgruntled white man who felt "wronged" by society quite literally dressed up as the Joker and shot up a movie theater in Colorado."Antos is presumably referring to the mass shooting on July 20, 2012 at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater during a screening film The Dark Knight Rises.

Tweet from Heather Antos.

Antos was the center of some social media criticism and unwanted attention on July 28, 2017 when as an assistant editor for Marvel Comics she tweeted - a "selfie" in celebration and honor of Marvel Comics's  Flo Steinberg. The reaction to the selfie and the subsequent responses by fans and detractors, with #MakeMineMilkshake , and the ensuing meta-discussions arguably galvanized the #Comicsgate "movement" on Twitter and Youtube.







Richard C. Meyer from the Diversity and Comics Youtube Channel, was particularly critical of Antos, and she featured highly in a "Dark Roast" video where he lambasted her, he later apologized for some of his word choices and insults in the video.

Media briefly reported on the phenomena generally focusing on the most vitriolic comments and classifying it as harassment. The Headline from the Telegraph read "Female Marvel Comics editor harassed online for milkshake selfie".


Before and after the milkshake selfie there is little mention of Antos in the general media apart from mentions when she was hired as an editor for Valiant Comics. Antos is not a particularly significant figure in broader culture.

Valiant Comics according to the most recent sales data from Comicron.com July 2019 - Valiant Comics had total sales of approximately $186,000 to Comic Books Stores. This was less than 0.5% of the total value of Direct Market sales for July 2019.









 Ironically Valiant's number one-selling comic book for July 2019 was titled "Killers", and the comic does present graphic acts of violence and murder.  Valiant's parent company DMG Entertainment is producing a movie based on Valiant's most well known character Bloodshot. The film will star Vin Diesel and will presumably feature graphic violence.













Summary:

Much of Heather Antos' influence and attention appears to be based on provocative comments made on Twitter, and the subsequent reaction to them from comics fans or commentators on social media. Antos' fame or infamy appears predicated on comic fans being unable to self-regulate their emotional reactions to Anto's comments and respond articulately. 

Demonstrably Antos only has significance (apart from moderate influence within a small market segment) - when she is subjected to hostile criticism that can be highlighted because of it's offensive tone. 

Antos' own company will soon be launching a movie which by its nature will feature violence as a central theme, with an actor Vin Diesel, who has built a career as an action-star.  If Antos voices similar criticism prior to the release of the Bloodshot Film, it is likely that a press release will be issued shortly thereafter announcing her departure from Valiant.