Todd McFarlane, the legendary artist who helped redefine Spider-Man's look after taking over art duties in 1988, is not exactly thrilled with where the character's cinematic journey is heading. The comic book icon recently revealed that he may skip Spider-Man: Brand New Day due to its "silly dialogue". The comments come as anticipation continues to soar for the upcoming blockbuster, which is already shaping up to be one of 2026's biggest releases.

So what made one of Spider-Man's most influential creative voices take such a surprising stance?

Speaking on the Escape Pod Podcast, Todd McFarlane explained that his issue is not necessarily with Spider-Man himself, but with the way many modern blockbuster characters speak. According to McFarlane, the writing often feels artificial enough to make him audibly groan during screenings—a habit that apparently drives his kids crazy.

He can't "stomach the dialogue" because "nobody talks like real human being[s]." McFarlane told Alex Azor and Andrew Parker. 

Whether fans agree with him or not, McFarlane has certainly earned the right to weigh in on Spider-Man. Beyond helping redefine the web-slinger's visual identity, the comic book veteran also co-created Venom alongside David Michelinie, introducing the fan-favourite villain in the landmark The Amazing Spider-Man #300 back in 1988. Today, the creator remains deeply involved in expanding his own Spawn universe, with several major titles and storylines set to undergo significant shakeups later this year.

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Meanwhile, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is showing no signs of slowing down, with every new update only adding to the blockbuster's already sky-high anticipation.

Scheduled to swing into theatres on July 31, 2026, Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks a fresh chapter for Tom Holland's Peter Parker following the reality-altering events of No Way Home. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film brings back Holland alongside Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, while also introducing major Marvel players such as Jon Bernthal's Punisher and Mark Ruffalo's Hulk into the mix. Newcomer Sadie Sink has also joined the cast in a closely guarded role that continues to fuel fan speculation.

Set four years after No Way Home, the story finds Peter living alone in New York after being erased from everyone's memory. While attempting to rebuild his life as a full-time street-level hero, he becomes entangled in a dangerous criminal conflict involving Scorpion and Tombstone, all while dealing with a mysterious mutation that threatens to alter his powers in unexpected ways. Backed by the legacy of the $1.9 billion-grossing No Way Home, industry projections already place Brand New Day among the most anticipated and potentially biggest box office successes of the year.

However, McFarlane's comments have certainly reignited the debate over modern superhero dialogue just weeks before one of the year's biggest blockbusters swings into theatres.

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What are your thoughts on Todd McFarlane's criticism of modern Spider-Man dialogue? Let us know in the comments.