It seems as if the comic book community can’t go a few months anymore without a controversy splitting it down the middle.

This time it’s about a variant cover for Batgirl #41, which was planned as part of a series of Joker-themed covers for June. The cover, by Rafael Albuquerque, is an homage to the legendary 1988 book The Killing Joke by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland, in which Barbara Gordon is shot and crippled by the Joker (it has been implied that the character was also sexually assaulted, but that has never been confirmed by anyone involved with the book). It’s a dark, grim image that perfectly captures the tone and feeling of a seminal work.

But as soon as the image was revealed, many criticized it and called for it to be removed, with the hashtag #ChangeTheCover quickly trending. One of the most vocal opponents was current Batgirl writer Cameron Stewart, saying the cover does not reflect the new, positive direction the book has adopted since he, Brenden Fletcher and artist Babs Tarr took over creative control of the title.

After days of internet uproar, Abuquerque released a statement asking for DC to pull the cover, saying in part:

My Batgirl variant cover artwork was designed to pay homage to a comic that I really admire, and I know is a favorite of many readers. ‘The Killing Joke’ is part of Batgirl’s canon and artistically, I couldn’t avoid portraying the traumatic relationship between Barbara Gordon and the Joker. For me, it was just a creepy cover that brought up something from the character’s past that I was able to interpret artistically. But it has become clear, that for others, it touched a very important nerve. I respect these opinions and, despite whether the discussion is right or wrong, no opinion should be discredited. My intention was never to hurt or upset anyone through my art. For that reason, I have recommended to DC that the variant cover be pulled. I’m incredibly pleased that DC Comics is listening to my concerns and will not be publishing the cover art in June as previously announced.

DC responded by agreeing to pull the cover, which should have been the end of it.

But of course, it wasn’t.

Almost as quickly, the hashtag #SaveTheCover appeared on social media with some fans wanting DC to change course and release the cover. The thinking was that this was a variant cover after all, and if you didn’t like it, just don’t buy it. Plus, some feared what this would mean for the future of art in comics. Would this happen every time a very vocal minority didn’t like something? What about artistic expression?

There are valid points on both sides of the argument, and while I fall squarely with the #SaveTheCover camp, I can see why Stewart wouldn’t want this particular image used after working so hard to change Batgirl’s image among readers, especially the young female demographic Batgirl is aimed at now.

The problem is by doing that, it’s as if he is trying to brush away the importance of The Killing Joke on Batgirl’s history. And it’s safe to say that without that story, there would be no Batgirl title for us to argue about in the first place

People forget that, before The Killing Joke, no one cared about Barbara Gordon. Most people’s memories of the character had more to do with the 1960’s television show and Yvonne Craig than anything that was done with her in the comics. People didn’t care about Batgirl, plain and simple.

After The Killing Joke, Barbara Gordon was all anyone could talk about. She became a hero in the truest sense of the word, overcoming what happened to her to become uber-hacker Oracle and having more of a positive impact on the world than she ever did as Batgirl. It’s why when DC announced the new Batgirl series as part of the New 52 and it was revealed it would be Barbara Gordon under the cowl again, it upset a lot of fans. Many didn’t want to see Oracle and what she represented become a forgotten part of DC history.

Barbara Gordon and the Joker will forever by linked by the events of The Killing Joke. There is no escaping that, no matter what Stewart, Fletcher and Tarr may try to do. They can make the book as positive and youthful as they want, but The Killing Joke and, in some ways, the Joker, will always be in the background lurking there, a nightmare that just won’t go away. The sooner they realize this and embrace it, the better it will be for both Batgirl and Barbara Gordon, because to act like The Killing Joke doesn’t exist is to limit the stories that can be told with the character.

Every great hero has a story the comes to define him or her for all time. For Spider-Man it was “The Death of Gwen Stacy.” For Iron Man it was “Demon in a Bottle.” For Batman, is was “A Death in the Family,” and for Batgirl, it was The Killing Joke. This variant cover does nothing but celebrate that and make us remember what it was like to read that classic story for the first time.

Thanks to the internet, the Batgirl #41 Rafael Abuquerque variant cover will live on forever — much like The Killing Joke itself — long after whatever image replaces it is forgotten.