Last week DC Comics announced Adventures of Superman, a new digital-first series set to tell out-of-continuity stories about the Man of Steel, with a rotating creative team that features some of the more talented and popular names in comics. Normally this sort of news would be met with near universal acclaim, but the inclusion of science fiction author Orson Scott Card has proven to be a point of contention for many fans. Scott, a highly outspoken opponent of marriage equality who supports the criminalization of homosexuality, is currently set to write the first two issues of the new series. Card's involvement in the project has led some petitioners to call for a boycott of the publisher until Card is removed from the series, and at least one retailer has already said he will not carry Card's issues when they are put into print.

LGBT magazine The Advocate reached out to DC Comics for comment, and reported that the publisher is standing by its decision to hire Card.

A DC Comics representative gave the following statement to The Advocate:

"As content creators we steadfastly support freedom of expression, however the personal views of individuals associated with DC Comics are just that - personal views - and not those of the company itself."

So while the publisher is distancing itself from the views of Card -- who in 2009 joined the board of directors for the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage and believes marriage equality would lead to the end of civilization -- it would seem they do not plan on removing the writer from his duties on this new Superman series.

This is not Card's first foray into comics. His previous comic work includes the miniseries' Ultimate Iron Man in 2005 and the sequel Ultimate Iron Man II in 2008 for Marvel Comics, and adaptations of his novels Wyrms and The Tales of Alvin Maker series for Dabel Brothers Publishing. Marvel has also done comic book adaptations of his Ender's Game novels.

Adventures of Superman #1 is set to debut April 29th.