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'Red Hood' Writer Speaks Out on Book's Surprise Cancellation
Product Reviews

‘Red Hood’ Writer Speaks Out on Book’s Surprise Cancellation

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Earlier this week, DC Comics abruptly cancelled its new Red Hood comic from trans writer Gretchen Felker-Martin and artist Jeff Spokes. The decision came after Felker-Martin posted comments and jokes on social media about the assassination of prominent right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, which occurred on the same day—September 10—as the comic’s launch. DC Comics said in a statement that social media posts “that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with [our] standards of conduct.”

Now, in a new interview with the Comics Journal, Felker-Martin opened up about her posts and DC’s decision. She argued that DC had had no issue with her outspoken and sometimes incendiary social media presence when it approached her about doing a comic in 2024.

She recalled how she told the publisher at the time that it would “get between five and a hundred of the craziest people you’ve ever met in your life, screaming for my head and yours.” She went on to say that initially DC had given her “no terms or limitations” on her social media; a DC spokesperson reiterated to io9 the company’s previous stance on not abiding by posts that “promote hostility or violence.”

In the weeks leading up to Red Hood’s launch, past social media posts made by Felker-Martin on charged political topics, including the Israel-Gaza war, resurfaced. Felker-Martin told the Comics Journal that it was at this point that she received pushback on her social media activities; a spokesperson for DC confirmed this to the Comics Journal, saying the company requested Felker-Martin be more mindful of her online statements. Felker-Martin claimed she generally abided by that request until the day of Kirk’s murder.

The author said she stood by her comments about Kirk while expressing sympathy for her Red Hood co-creators, which include Spokens, cover artist Taurin Clarke and editors Arianna Turturro and Rob Levin. “I can only put it down to really just a moment of poor impulse control,” she told the Comics Journal. “Had I thought for another second, of course I would’ve known [that it would be a problem for DC], and naturally, as soon as I had said it, I did know.”

Felker-Martin also stressed that she did not want to work with DC Comics in the future: “I have no desire to be part of any organization that wants to pretend that people like Charlie Kirk are decent human beings who deserve respect.”

io9 has also reached out to Felker-Martin and will update this post if and when we hear back.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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S&P 500 Changes Send HOOD Higher, MSTR Lower
GameFi Guides

S&P 500 Changes Send HOOD Higher, MSTR Lower

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Robinhood (HOOD) stock soared 15% on Monday following the company’s inclusion in the S&P 500, the widely tracked benchmark for U.S. equities. The announcement was made after markets closed on Friday and takes effect with the index’s September 22 rebalance.

The trading platform, which has seen its stock price nearly triple this year, has long been considered a frontrunner for inclusion. It was one of the three largest eligible companies yet to be added to the index.

Meanwhile, shares of Strategy (MSTR) slipped lower after the bitcoin BTC$112,550.55 development company was passed over,despite qualifying for inclusion for the first time this quarter. Strategy posted $14 billion in operating income and $10 billion in net income for the second quarter 2025 — eye-popping figures that met the S&P’s requirements. The source of the profit — a sharp rise in the price of bitcoin — likely didn’t set well with the selection committee, which surely was aware that BTC can also move in the opposite direction.

MSTR was down 1.5% in late morning U.S. action.

Appearing on CNBC Monday morning, Strategy CEO Michael Saylor said he hadn’t expected immediate inclusion. “I don’t think we expected to be selected on our first quarter of eligibility,” he said. “We figured it’ll happen at some time.”

Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer echoed that sentiment, writing that Strategy “does not need S&P’s approval as validation of its operating model, as the market scoreboard has already provided it in emphatic fashion.”

TD Cowen analyst Lance Vitanca called the committee’s decision unsurprising. “Inclusion was never central to our investment thesis, though it remains a potential positive catalyst,” he wrote.

Some observers speculate that the committee may be hesitant to include a company so heavily tied to bitcoin. Vitanca addressed the possibility directly, writing: “To the extent the Committee is instead acting on deeper, philosophical, political, or economic concerns, these may be assuaged over time.”



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Google Pixel Watch 4 hands-on
Product Reviews

The Google Pixel Watch 4 might look similar to its predecessor, but the changes under the hood could make a big difference

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Google Pixel Watch 4: Two-minute review

Google has released its latest crop of hardware at its Made by Google 2025 event, including phones, earbuds, and its next-generation smartwatch, the Google Pixel Watch 4. Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 or Apple Watch Series 10, the latest generation of the Pixel Watch 4 is less about earth-shattering changes and more about refinements to a working formula.

Google is sticking with the now-iconic and really quite lovely polished pebble circular build that comes in two sizes – the addition of a 45mm option alongside the 41mm model was the big change last year. That means more choice for you if the Pixel Watch sparks your interest, and ultimately lets you get the one that’s the right size for your wrist.

Google is also mostly sticking with the same prices as last year (there’s a small increase for the 45mm version in Australia). And despite the outward similarities there are some significant upgrades here, including a healthy dose of AI smarts powered by some new silicon, a forthcoming AI coach that’s part of a larger Fitbit rollout, replaceable parts, a refreshed user interface, and a new domed display that’s physically raised to the touch.

  • Google Pixel Watch (Black) at Amazon for $75

Google Pixel Watch 4: Specifications

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Component

Google Pixel Watch 4

Price

Starting at $399 / £349 / AU$579

Dimensions

41 x 41 x 12.3mm / 45 x 45 x 12.3mm

Weight

31g / 36.7g without straps

Caze/bezel

Recycled aluminum

Display

320ppi always-on display AMOLED with up to 3,000 nits brightness

Operating System

Wear OS 6.0

Processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 processor with an ML coprocessor

Memory

2GB of RAM

Storage

32GB

GPS

GPS (Dual-Frequency), Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS

Battery life

Up to 72 hours with battery saver enabled or up to 40 hours with always-on display enabled

Connection

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, LTE

Water resistance

WR50, IP68

Google Pixel Watch 4: Dome sweet dome

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

The first thing I noticed during my hands-on time with the Pixel Watch 4 was that the display itself is not flat like on the Pixel Watch 3. Sure, we’ve seen smartwatches on which the display slopes down the sides towards the watch case, such as the Apple Watch Series 10, but the glass display here is actually domed to the point where, as you swipe across the screen, you’ll feel the surface rise or lower.

This makes the sides of the display and the graphics appearing on the edges even more sloped, a feature the new Material 3 Expressive interface uses in its animations. However, it also noticeably increases the thickness on your wrist. The domed 360 Actua display still looked rich and vibrant with crisp text or numbers, and it got considerably brighter in the demo room, which wasn’t brightly lit. Google says it can hit up to 3,000 nits, a jump of 1,000 nits compared to the Pixel Watch 3.

The third-generation Pixel Watch got a larger display than its predecessor, and the fourth-gen model goes bigger again, with 16% smaller bezels and 10% larger active display area, which Google says is made possible by the domed display.

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

I think the physical touch and interaction with the watch might take some time to get used to, but the new design delivers a theoretically more durable surface – as is the case with some dome shapes – and more space to hit touchpoints or see items presented on your wrist is certainly a win. It’s something I’m eager to spend more time exploring, and it enhances what I described in my Pixel Watch 3 review last year as the ‘polished pebble’ effect of the Pixel Watch’s looks.

The Pixel Watch 4 still boasts Corning Gorilla Glass to protect against drops or scratches, and the rest of the build here is aerospace-grade aluminum. It’s also water-resistant up to 50 meters. Another major change this year is a redesigned back, which has resulted in the moving of the charging ports in order to make this smartwatch repairable and serviceable.

Yes, you’ll notice several screws, which allow the battery to be replaced for a more sustainable design. This isn’t something that’s common for major smartwatch brands, as most devices are sealed units, so it’s a welcome step in the right direction from Google.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

This also means a pretty significant change in charger design, as you’ll no longer place this on a proprietary puck with prongs as you would the Galaxy Watch, Apple Watch, or any Pixel Watch before this. The Pixel Watch 4 charges on its side in a dock, and if you’re charging it on a nightstand this should make it easier to use the smartwatch as a small alarm clock – it’s even perfectly positioned so that you can tap the crown to snooze.

Google is also taking advantage of these charger and design changes to speed up refueling. You can now charge the Pixel Watch 4 from 0% to 50% in just 15 minutes, and Google is promising longer battery life for both sizes – up to 30 hours for the 41mm and up to 40 hours for the 45mm. Your mileage will, of course, vary depending on usage, but it’s a good step beyond the Pixel Watch 3.

Google Pixel Watch 4: A faster experience

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

While I only spent about half an hour with the Pixel Watch 4, it felt like a modern-day smartwatch that was responsive and zippy fast. Under the hood it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platform and a next-gen ML CoProcessor, both of which ensure that the new Material 3 Expressive interface design runs well here. It was easy enough to swipe between tiles, and I especially liked the more vibrant nature of the colors, which you can, of course, customize. Overall, this watch feels speedy compared to previous years.

Google’s new Smart Replies feature looks like a welcome innovation, especially if you’re tired of suggested replies that often lack context and are unsuited to the conversation. The Pixel Watch 4’s silicon can power an on-device large language model to generate appropriate suggested replies based on what a message says.

I even tested it with a message that referenced delays on my local train service, and the Pixel Watch 4 delivered an appropriate response. It took a few seconds, but it’s much better than the list found on previous Pixel Watches, the Galaxy Watch, or the Apple Watch.

We’ve already seen Gemini arrive on-wrist courtesy of the Galaxy Watch 8, but Google is serving up something special for its watch, and that’s a ‘raise to talk to the AI assistant’ functionality. Simply raise your wrist, and a glowing bar appears at the bottom of the display, which indicates that Gemini is listening and that you can start your request. You don’t need to say ‘Hey Gemini’ – Google has us pretty well trained in that department – and it worked well in a short demo, quickly pulling up the weather.

(Image credit: Future/Lance Ulanoff)

While I didn’t get to try any of the health and activity features, Google’s shipping the Pixel Watch 4 with a familiar suite that includes general activity, heart-rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and sleep tracking. You can also take an ECG or Electrocardiogram, and there’s an improved Skin Temperature sensor for more accurate readings. You can also track over 40 workouts with the Pixel Watch 4.

The real big potential leap, though, is a promised ‘personal AI health coach’ that’s powered by Gemini and set to arrive at some point in October as a preview in the United States at first. It should go beyond ‘Workout Buddy’ on the Apple Watch and some AI features on the Galaxy Watch, but we don’t know exactly what it entails just yet. Google is promising it to be a coach of sorts that bases recommendations on your health data and that you can chat with, maybe something similar to that of Oura Advisor.

It’s shaping up to be a pretty strong smartwatch, and while the Pixel Watch 4 doesn’t usher in a tremendously radical redesign, it’s mostly about polishing and the addition of a healthy dose of AI functionality – something that Google is a big fan of. It’s likely that you don’t need to rush out for it if you already have a Pixel Watch 3, but those with an older model may want to consider an upgrade. We’ll be back with more once we’ve had time to put it through its full paces and see how the changes perform in the real world.

Google Pixel Watch 4: Pricing and Availability

If you’re looking to upgrade from, say, a Pixel Watch 2 or 3, maybe another Android smartwatch, or even getting your first one, there is a wait for when you’ll actually receive a new Pixel Watch.

Google is taking orders right now for the Pixel Watch 4 – it begins on August 20, 2025 – but the smartwatch won’t officially launch until October 9, 2025. That’s when the first shipments should arrive, depending on demand, and when you’ll find it available at retail locations.

Unlike other gadgets that have seen price hikes year over year, the Pixel Watch 4 sticks with the same price as the Pixel Watch 3. Meaning it’s priced at $349 / £349 / AU$579 for the 41mm Pixel Watch 4 with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, or $449 / £449 / AU$749 for cellular connectivity. The larger, 45mm Pixel Watch 4 is $399 / £399 / AU$669 for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, or $499 / £499 / AU$839 for connectivity.

Beyond accessing the internet with the cellular connectivity model, you’ll also need to spend more to get emergency satellite functionality on the Pixel Watch 4. There isn’t an extra monthly or annual cost – at least for two years, that’s what Google provides out of the box – but it needs to make use of the bands found in the cellular version of the watch. That could be a reason alone to get it right there.

Google Pixel Watch: Price Comparison



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