Over the weekend, the social media team at Valiant Entertainment took to twitter and responded to this post that we first brought to you back in February. If you recall, superstar artist — and former Valiant creator — Bernard Chang expressed his reservations about the redesign of Valiant’s signature Asian superhero, Rai. Specifically, the artist criticized the publisher’s decision to integrate the motif of Japan’s World War II-era military flag into the hero’s look.

Thanks to this tweet by @feministallies, someone at Valiant Comics has responded to the controversy that has also been reported across the comics blogosphere, including at sites such as Bleeding Cool and Inside Pulse.

The rest of the twitter exchange can be found after the jump.

@TheNerdsofColor @feministallies we're aware of the motif. It's a story point. All will make sense. Book is more than its cover — Valiant Comics (@ValiantComics) March 8, 2014

@ValiantComics @TheNerdsofColor imagine responding tht way if a hero had a swastika and folks complained.what plot point wld justify that? — Solidarity&Resist (@jeffpollet) March 8, 2014

@feministallies @TheNerdsofColor we can't speak to swastikas but if you read the first arc of Rai we think you'll be pleasantly surprised — Valiant Comics (@ValiantComics) March 8, 2014

@ValiantComics @TheNerdsofColor ah. You didn't read the post then. So, not really a response to the criticism…I'll still check it out! — Solidarity&Resist (@jeffpollet) March 8, 2014

@feministallies @TheNerdsofColor let us know what you think at the end of the first arc — Valiant Comics (@ValiantComics) March 8, 2014