Earlier today, Top Cow mogul Matt Hawkins asked a question on social media:

Comic pros, how much do you concern yourself with whether your religious or political views might stop people from buying your work? — Matt Hawkins (@topcowmatt) November 30, 2016

It's one that's pretty relevant today, with the political climate in the world as heated as it is. It prompted a response from superstar artist Greg Capullo, who tweeted:

I just feel, for the most, that fans don't want to hear about it from us. They prefer we provide them the escape that we all need from that. https://t.co/hqT8rsbYDb — Greg Capullo (@GregCapullo) November 30, 2016

+, I know that my fans all have their own preferences. And speaking out from an opposing view causes bad feelings. My goal is entertainment https://t.co/hqT8rsbYDb — Greg Capullo (@GregCapullo) November 30, 2016

This prompted the following response:

I think that art is about more than escapism. All art is infused with our beliefs, our personal politics. Some more than others. https://t.co/L1R7Cbjp40 — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

I also think it's easier to have this stance when you are make and/or white. Many artists of color cannot escape politics as easily. https://t.co/L1R7Cbjp40 — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

Also that's more than one type of fam, though comics tend to be directed toward [white] boys and men, the audience is much more diverse now. https://t.co/L1R7Cbjp40 — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

I also think that is okay to make your audience think. Or laugh. Or whatever. Depends on your goals. But you can't please everyone. https://t.co/8ltprQV3sj — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

Not to mention, the choice to be apolitical IS a political choice, but don't let that get out. https://t.co/6XFlIwCBtw — F O X Y⚡♈🔥🌹 (@FoxyJazzabelle) November 30, 2016

exactly. I think this is a white dude though, so he probably doesn't have to think about it as much. — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

And right about here, things went south.

If we weren't Bleeding Cool, the tabloid scourge of the comics world, we would probably point out that this is unfortunate, because the subject matter we were starting to get into is important. It isn't always easy to have a conversation about privilege, largely because, if you are the person being accused of having it, there's an almost instinctual urge to reject the conversation and take a defensive stance. After all, if one has privilege, then doesn't that invalidate all of one's accomplishments and diminish all one's struggles?

The answer, of course, is "no," or so we would say if this were a more thoughtful piece on a more nuanced website. But it's so easy to take it that way. In a parallel universe where this were anything other than another ghoulish article recapping a fruitless Twitter flame war where nobody learns anything at all in the end, we could all strive to see that, while criticism may be uncomfortable, it needn't be considered an attack. It can be a good thing, a healthy thing, or maybe even just an expression of a different viewpoint that one may not have previously considered.

Unfortunately, you are, in fact, reading this on Bleeding Cool in a Fanboy Rampage column, so you know how this one actually ends. Capullo took offense and made a series of tweets which he then deleted before making more tweets about the deleted tweets, some of which he then deleted as well. The result: all out Twitter war.

We've done our best to piece it together using screencaps of the deleted tweets:

Well, that escalated quickly.

You have the privilege of not having to. I, and many others–women and people of color– do not have that luxury. https://t.co/fS69Le8xv7 — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

And this statement is completely untrue. There are many issues that affect only certain groups in certain context, such as sexism and racism https://t.co/fS69Le8xv7 — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

I dont think you do. You have the luxury of distance. It's not as simple as loftily proclaiming yourself a humanist. https://t.co/NpboRnOMzc — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

No. You're wrong. I don't ever get to do that. I'm a black woman in America, and I'll always be treated as such. That's colorblind nonsense. https://t.co/zCu3W3IXIM — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

Empathy is a great goal. But i dont get to choose how people treat or perceive me. And that's a part of my experience as a black woman. https://t.co/zCu3W3IXIM — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

You misunderstand the nature of racism. And i must have followed you at random. My TL is pretty well curated but sometimes folks slip thru. https://t.co/emHCFbxaFS — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

That's almost exactly what you said. I have no reason to lie, it's on my timeline lmao https://t.co/NlKVeUg1Oj — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

Yall, this is whose creating comics. Im arguing about politics and representation and racism, and he accuses me of racism. pic.twitter.com/tFdrOgX7IE — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

And that's a bunch of men, mostly white but there's non white ones, claiming im trying to trap him. Yall the whole argument is on my wall. 😂 — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

Men, white men in particular, see themselves as victims. And we should be thankful, as women, for the crumbs they allow us. — femi 🍒🚲 🏳️‍🌈 (@thotscholar) November 30, 2016

https://twitter.com/GregCapullo/status/804002938477748224

https://twitter.com/GregCapullo/status/804003655171133440

Now, is their any wonder why I don't discuss religion or politics here? I even got attacked for not doing so. Just imagine if I did! 💥💥💥 — Greg Capullo (@GregCapullo) November 30, 2016

Can anyone imagine what that might look like?

Fanboy Rampage was a blog by Graeme McMillan dedicated to the funniest, most ludicrous and most inappropriate comic book back-and-forths online. McMillan has moved on now, becoming a proper journalist for the likes of The Hollywood Reporter and Wired but he gave permission to Bleeding Cool to revive his great creation. When you consider that, after all this time, nobody has really ever learned a god damn thing from any of it, it's kind of depressing, isn't it?