Faster then a speeding bullet Marvel Comics has reversed its decision to introduce Princess Diana as a mutant superhero in its popular monthly X-Statix comic, a spinoff of The X-Men series.
The comic book publisher released a statement Thursday saying, "upon reflection, the company has decided to remove Princess Diana and all references to the Royal Family from the five-part X-Statix series."
Earlier this week, Marvel had announced that the late Princess of Wales was to be featured in a storyline called Di Another Day, with the first book going on sale September 10.
No further explanation was given for the sudden about-face.
According to original reports, Diana was to be revived from the dead and on the run from a pack of Eurotrash mutants as part of a satirical take on fame and pop culture.
The X-Statix team is a band of media-savvy heroes who prefer being celebrities to crime fighters.
There was no specific word on Diana's powers, but X-Statix mastermind Peter Milligan had said she would be a perfect fit because she was "someone famous for being famous."
"At a glance, Diana may not resemble the flying, teleporting, lethally oscillating characters that populate my comic, but the strange power she exerts from beyond the grave certainly makes her a valid subject to explore," Milligan told Reuters. "And, of course, she looks great in Spandex!"
Buckingham Palace was not amused at the news. A spokesperson for the royal family called the comic "utterly appalling," telling London's Daily Mail that the planned book was a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death."
Attempts to reach the palace on Friday were unsuccessful.