Comic-Con is in hot water with some fans after it used an unfortunate graphic to advertise what would otherwise be an innocuous networking event for up-and-coming gaming professionals.
On the surface, the Twitter post by Comic-Con International looks completely innocent. It advertises a “Gaming Creator Connection” in which participants can look forward to getting “personalized career advice from the pros who are making your favorite games!” However, it is the accompanying poster for the event that social media users are calling into question.
In case you weren’t already aware, the image of the generic gaming controller being used is apparently none other than the third-party Xbox controller that was used as a navigation tool for the doomed Titan submersible. The OceanGate expedition which was poised to explore the ruins of the Titanic ended in tragedy when all five of its passengers died in an apparent implosion.
Though it’s entirely unclear whether Comic-Con’s use of the controller image was simply a terrible coincidence or some kind of tasteless joke, the graphic choice nonetheless rubbed a lot of Twitter users the wrong way.
This latest controversy follows unfortunate news that the usual mainstays of Comic-Con will be skipping out this year, such as Marvel and Universal both dropping out. In all likelihood, this is due to the Writers Guild of America strike combined with a potential Screen Actor’s Guild strike, putting a delay or cancelation on many future movie projects. Other major studios that have dropped out of Comic-Con’s Hall H event include Netflix, HBO, and Sony, according to Fox 5 San Diego. Even though it seemed that Marvel’s absence would have provided a layup for underdog comic book movie studio DC, it appears the James Gunn-led franchise has also dropped out of the event, according to the LA Times.