Fans ‘Disgusted’ By New Marvel Show 30 Seconds In

The highly anticipated Marvel Studios series Secret Invasion premiered on Disney Plus today, and while the actual content is getting pretty fair reviews, Marvel fans are collectively upset about the same thing. Marvel used AI, artificial intelligence, instead of real artists.

Credit: Marvel Studios

The Samuel L Jackson lead show follows Nick Fury as he deals with an invasion of shapeshifting aliens, but viewers are the ones left feeling alienated less than one minute into the show. In the opening title sequence, Secret Invasion unabashedly showcases the use of artificial intelligence. The green and twisted AI images definitely set the tone for a science fiction show about mysterious identities, but real-life artists are not in favor.

Credit: Marvel Studios

In reference to using AI as a tool, Director Ali Selim told Polygon,

When we reached out to the AI vendors, that was part of it — it just came right out of the shape-shifting, Skrull world identity, you know? Who did this? Who is this? We would talk to them about ideas and themes and words, and then the computer would go off and do something. And then we could change it a little bit by using words, and it would change.

While fans can admire Selim’s vision as an artist on this project, they also recognize that human graphic design artists can also change images by “using words.” Sure, the product is not nearly as fast as AI technology, but what’s the cost of cutting out the human middleman? Are AI vendors considered artists?

Credit: Marvel Studios

Social media is arguing between supporting Marvel’s use of AI generated art for the sake of the show’s theme, while others call that a lame excuse. One Twitter user named Kunal fears it dangerously sells “the idea that using AI to replace a real artist is cool.”

See for yourself on Disney+. Secret Invasion is streaming now. But truly, this seems like the real-life beginning of a very meta Marvel plot within a Marvel plot. Humans beware.