Gretchen Felker-Martin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Period | 2016–present |
| Genre | Horror fiction,science fiction,film criticism |
Gretchen Felker-Martin is an American horror author and film and TV critic. She wrote the novelsEgo Homini Lupus,Manhunt,Cuckoo,Black Flame andChimera.
Gretchen Felker-Martin grew up in ruralNew Hampshire.[1] She moved toWorcester, Massachusetts, in 2007.[2] She istransgender and usesshe/her pronouns.[1]
Felker-Martin had film and TV criticism published in outlets such asPolygon andTime,[3][4] and self-published several horrornovellas starting in 2016.[5] Felker-Martin'sscience fictionhorror novelManhunt was published on February 22, 2022, in the U.S. byTor Nightfire.[6]Manhunt appeared on best-of-year lists in multiple publications, including appearing at No. inVulture's list of "The Best Books of 2022".[7]Roxane Gay selected it as one of the "25 Most Influential Works of Postwar Queer Literature", writing, "This is the kind of book thatqueer writers have been desperate to write forever and are rarely given the opportunity to".[8] TheLos Angeles Review of Books wrote, "Felker-Martin's horror novel cunningly weaves trans determinism, war, and trauma together in an effort to locate joy, empathy, and pleasure in a world on fire."[9] In October 2024,Lilly Wachowski announced that she is adaptingManhunt into a TV series with Felker-Martin.[10][11]
Her novelCuckoo was published on June 11, 2024.[12] In its first week it entered theUSA Today best-seller list,[13] and it was chosen as one of the "Best Horror Books of 2024 (So Far)" byVulture.[14]Publishers Weekly wrote, "Laying bare grief, terror, and the tenderness that makes it all matter, this is horror at its best."[15] Also in June 2024, she wrote a short story in issue No. 41 ofHarley Quinn.[16]
In June 2025,DC Comics announced that Felker-Martin would write aRed Hood ongoing series for mature readers.[17][18] When DC Comics approached Felker-Martin in early 2024, she said she warned editor Arianna Turtorro that "as soon as you hire me, you're going to get between five and a hundred of the craziest people you've ever met in your life, screaming for my head and yours".[19] The announcement of the series was met with criticism from thepolitical right, including figures associated with thealt-right harassment campaignComicsgate.[19] The criticism spread to larger outlets closer to the release date, with theAlgemeiner Journal highlighting Felker-Martin's reaction to theOctober 7 attacks (when she said "You cannot subject human beings to brutal conditions under which no hope for a meaningful future exists and then blame them for violent action taken to correct this state") and otheranti-Zionist comments,[20] which Felker-Martin described as being when DC first raised concerns.[19]
On 10 September 2025, DC announced that they had canceled theRed Hood series just one day after its debut, following posts made by Felker-Martin onBluesky regarding theassassination of Charlie Kirk including "Hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie Kirk" and "Thoughts and prayers you Nazi bitch". DC said that the posts were "inconsistent with DC's standards of conduct".[21][22] DC refunded retailers for every issue of the book that they had reserved for sale, including copies of the first issue that had already sold.[23]
In an interview withThe Comics Journal, Felker-Martin stated that when DC called her to inform her that this was "something that DC andWarner Brothers couldn't stand behind or defend", she stated, "I said that I've listened to Charlie Kirk being an overt Nazi for years of my life, and I had no regrets for what I said about him", also saying that "it just didn't strike me as an especially hot flashpoint".[19]Marie Javins, DC Comicseditor-in-chief, said "Gretchen's choice to continue her rhetoric despite this feedback was her own. Our decision to cease publication was a result. She is a passionate and talented writer, and DC wishes her the best with her future work."[24] The comments also led to Felker-Martin's Bluesky account being suspended for a week,[24] having previously been suspended for wishing ill ofJ. K. Rowling.[25] Author Roxane Gay expressed her support of Felker-Martin. Following the suspension of her account, Felker-Martin expressed a desire to keep a lower profile on Bluesky when she returned.[24]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
