...you know, I swear, I can just *hear* Didio telling Johns, "Yes, let's get back at the people criticizing our editorial direction by making the character they most hate ONE OF THEM! That'll show THEM!"... without a hint of irony or sarcasm. Then demanding that Johns do it.
This isn't Johns being funny. This isn't even Johns FAILING to be funny. This is Didio using Johns as his ventriloquist's dummy as he basically admits that he really DOES hate the fans...