Spider-Man Artbook Sparks AI Backlash Over $50 Concept Image

1 articles · Updated · The Direct · Aug 21

$50 copies of the Spider-Man: Brand New Day artbook triggered backlash after fans spotted apparent AI glitches in the concept piece “Big City, Little Spider.”
Warped taxis, distorted building shapes and a misshapen fire escape led viewers to suspect generative AI use, while the rest of the published concept art showed no similarly obvious signs.
The controversy lands as Marvel remains sensitive to AI criticism after Secret Invasion’s AI-generated intro and recent layoffs in its visual development team, where fans had already feared automation.
Broader Hollywood unease has grown even as filmmakers and VFX executives describe AI as a potentially useful tool, with unions already winning guardrails on digital replicas and AI-written scripts.