The image quickly began to circulate on Chinese social media site Weibo and the messaging app WeChat, with many suggesting the image was a reference to the ongoing political protests in Hong Kong, which has seen scores of masked people take to the streets and the prominent use of Molotovs, and therefore DC's support for the protestors.

Since the image was posted, Weibo and WeChat has seen a wave of negative comments about the art and there have been calls for a boycott of DC. One Weibo user wrote, "If DC really wants China, they wouldn't have done this."

Later Thursday, the image was removed from DC's social media accounts.

The removal of the image, and the reporting of its removal, led to DC facing a backlash in U.S. and elsewhere, particularly Hong Kong, as people on Twitter and Instagram accused the company of censorship and kowtowing to China, likening DC's capitulation to recent China-related controversies faced by Hollywood studios and the NBA.

On Twitter, @meigi_elf wrote, "Really disappointed on @DCComics. Just because of China citizen comment few word of Hong Kong democracy, DC choice to del the post on IG....China is affecting US freedom!"

Another Twitter user wrote, "Whether or not @DCComics supports the #HongKongProtests is a matter of lesser significance here. The question we should be asking is: Why should we allow our values and our opinions be dictated by China?"

See some of the other reaction on Twitter.

Really disappointed on @DCComics

Just because of China citizen comment few word of Hong Kong democracy, DC choice to del the post on IG....

China is affecting US freedom!@POTUS @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/uAUaNXQwX7 — C.M.C (@meigi_elf) November 27, 2019

such a shame @DCComics censored its own post & decided to knee to #China after too many Chinese Communists complain with their fragile hearts SO LAME. Another American company knee to Communist China #ChineseExpansion #USA #NBA#HongKongProtest #HongKong pic.twitter.com/U0dpxImO8P — Poppyoflondon (@poppyoflondon) November 27, 2019

@DCComics you are a coward for bowing down to China smh pic.twitter.com/4T3CaRgjBU — Clayton Piacentini (@claytalian) November 28, 2019