Earlier today, Batgirl writer Gail Simone posted some truly heartbreaking news on her Twitter page:

On Wednesday of last week, new Batgirl editor Brian Cunningham informed me by email that I was no longer the writer of Batgirl.

It is baffling and sad, I will probably have a statement later today or maybe tomorrow.

But I want to give huge, huge thanks to the other creators in the bat-offices, and editors Bobbie Chase and @yourpalsmitty, champions all.

And the biggest thank you of all to you guys for supporting this book so hugely and making it a commercial and critical success.

As Simone said, it is a baffling choice. It would be disingenuous to say that the New 52 Batgirl would have been as successful in the hands of any other writer. Few writers have managed to capture the voice of Barbara Gordon better than Simone and after what she has done for the character and the company over the years, a firing over email seems especially tactless to say the least.

Though there are several rumours floating about the internet as to why Simone was so unceremoniously pulled off the title, including her vocal and public criticism of DC’s editorial decisions, the truth of the matter remains to be seen. Hopefully, light will be shed within the next few days, but regardless of what the cause was, there is certainly no justification for the way Brian Cunningham and DC handled their decision. 

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