Apple has banned a comic for containing images of gay sex. Earlier issues, which showed explicit straight sex, are still available.

The new issue of SAGA, by Brian K Vaughn and Fiona Staples, shows a character named Prince Robot IV with a TV screen for a head showing two small images of gay pornography.

The acclaimed series’ 12th issue will not be available through the iOS Comixology app or on iPhones or iPads.

Vaughn said: ‘As has hopefully been clear from the first page of our first issue, SAGA is a series for the proverbial “mature reader”.

‘Unfortunately, because of two postage stamp-sized images of gay sex, Apple is banning tomorrow’s SAGA #12 from being sold through any iOS apps.

‘This is a drag, especially because our book has featured what I would consider much more graphic imagery in the past, but there you go.

‘Fiona and I could always edit the images in question, but everything we put into the book is there to advance our story, not (just) to shock or titillate, so we’re not changing shit.’

Vaughn encouraged fans to donate to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which supports the free speech rights of comic creators.

SAGA #12, which came out on 10 April, will still be available on Comixology and Image Comic’s website.

If you would like to see the NSFW images, you can see them here and here.

UPDATE: Comixology has admitted responsibility for banning the comic. Check out their apology here.