“Sexualised” Image of The Powerpuff Girls Withdrawn by Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network has withdrawn their comic cover for The Powerpuff Girls, after it was criticised for “sexualising” pre-teen girls. The popular TV network told ICv2 that it would be pulling the comic cover that depicted the famous animated heroes as older and dressed in tight-fitting attire. "Are we seriously sexualising pre-teen girls like perverted writing fan fiction writers on the internet?” wrote comic retailer Dennis Barger, who posted the cover on Facebook. "Is that what this s**t has gotten to? Disgusted." "They are wearing latex bondage-wear mini dresses, which on an adult would be fine but on the effigies of children is very wrong," wrote Barger of the comic cover. "I think I am more disappointed than anything else that we are pandering to a very small perverted segment that unfortunately exists and will consume this cover, I supported the brand without question … that ignorance has changed." Vice president of marketing at IDW Publishing, Dirk Wood, who chimed in on the conversation, said that the cover had been commissioned by CN with the artist of their choosing, and not his publishing company. "I think they were thinking of it more along the lines of 'female empowerment' than the kind of thing you guys are talking about, but certainly, we're sensitive to the issues here," he said. "We love making comics for kids, and always want them to be appropriate." ICv2 contacted Cartoon Network Enterprises concerning the controversial cover and received the following reply, stating that the cover would not be released: "In conjunction with our licensing partners, Cartoon Network Enterprises from time to time works with the artist community to reimagine and reinterpret our brands using their talents and unique points of view. "This particular variant cover for The Powerpuff Girls #6 from IDW was done in the artist’s signature style and was intended to be released as a collectible item for comic book fans.  We recognize some fans’ reaction to the cover and, as such, will no longer be releasing it at comic book shops." Below, the original opening theme to the animated series. http://youtu.be/4mmCMUPCNgE