Spider-Man Brand New Day Artbook Controversy Grows Over Possible AI-Generated Artwork

Movie tie-in artbooks are usually a celebratory victory lap, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process once a blockbuster has already hit theaters. They’re meant to showcase artistry, not raise uncomfortable questions about how that artistry was actually made.

That’s exactly the situation unfolding around the newly released companion book for Marvel’s latest Spider-Man installment. Weeks after the film’s theatrical debut, the artbook has hit shelves carrying plenty of behind-the-scenes concept work meant to highlight the visual craftsmanship behind the movie.

Instead, one specific piece of art has ignited a wave of backlash. Fans have raised concerns that generative AI was used in a concept illustration titled “Big City, Little Spider,” created by artist Scott McInnes, and the visual evidence pointing toward that conclusion has been difficult to ignore.

The most obvious giveaway appeared in the piece’s depiction of New York City traffic, where strange warping and distorted shapes showed up on several buildings throughout the image. Most notably, two taxis in the artwork appeared oddly shaped, seemingly warping into each other despite driving in entirely different directions.

A fire escape stairway on one of the buildings showed similar signs of distortion, with strange shaping that closely resembles the kind of visual glitches generative AI tools produce when struggling to fill in missing details. These are the exact kinds of artifacts that have become recognizable red flags for AI-generated imagery across the internet in recent years.

According to a closer examination of the rest of the artbook, “Big City, Little Spider” appears to be the only piece showing these obvious warning signs. The remaining concept art throughout the book does not display the same telltale warping or distortion found in this particular illustration.

That distinction matters for how fans and critics are processing the controversy. Rather than pointing to a broader pattern of AI usage across the entire book, the backlash has centered specifically on this one image, with McInnes himself having previously contributed to the development of Sony’s other Spider-Man film projects.

Generative AI in entertainment production has remained a deeply contentious topic across the industry, with concerns ranging from job displacement for artists to questions about authenticity in officially licensed creative work. An artbook is meant to celebrate the human artistry behind a film’s visual development, making any perceived AI involvement feel especially at odds with the product’s entire purpose.

For a project as high-profile as the newest ‘Spider-Man’ installment, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and marking Tom Holland’s fourth outing as the web-slinger, scrutiny around any creative shortcuts was always going to be intense. Fans invested in the franchise’s visual identity have shown little tolerance for anything that might undercut the perceived craftsmanship behind official tie-in merchandise.

Neither Marvel nor the publisher behind the artbook has issued a public response addressing the AI concerns surrounding the piece. Until an official statement clarifies exactly how “Big City, Little Spider” was created, the controversy is likely to keep circulating among fans who have already flagged the artwork’s unusual visual quirks.

For now, the backlash serves as another reminder of just how closely audiences are scrutinizing officially licensed creative content for any hint of AI involvement, especially when it comes attached to a franchise as beloved and heavily marketed as this one.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!