Marvel Faces Backlash Over Secret Invasion's AI Credits as The Boys Producer Mocks: Is Technology Taking Over?

Stephan Fleet, the producer and VFX supervisor of The Boys, has humorously responded to Marvel's use of AI technology in creating the opening title sequence for the Secret Invasion series. The show, which is loosely based on the Marvel comic book arc of the same name, recently premiered on Disney+. However, the revelation that artificial intelligence was employed to produce the images in the title sequence has sparked widespread criticism. In light of this, Fleet took to Twitter to share his own light-hearted perspective on Marvel's controversial use of this emerging technology.

Posting what appears to be a bizarre and unsettling AI-generated portrayal of Antony Starr's Homelander, The Boys producer jests about being "ahead of the curve in designing lifelike VFX using AI." The surreal and distorted depiction of The Boys' top Supe serves as a direct dig at some of the more unsettling visuals showcased in Marvel's recent opening sequence.

How The Boys’ Use Of VFX Surpasses Both Marvel and DC

Despite starting as a parody of popular superhero franchises like those currently produced by Marvel and DC Studios, The Boys has quickly emerged as a remarkable success for Prime Video. In 2022, The Boys even secured the 11th spot as the most streamed show across all platforms. Although it didn't surpass the viewership records set by shows like Wednesday and Stranger Things, it did manage to outperform Marvel's Loki, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk, as well as DC's Peacemaker, making it the most-watched superhero show of the year.

The Boys has not only surpassed the same franchises it satirizes in terms of audience numbers, but it has also proven its ability to deliver cinematic quality visual effects. This comes at a time when major superhero brands are struggling to achieve realistic CGI. While DC Studios is facing criticism for the lackluster visual effects in The Flash, Marvel also recently faced similar critiques for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In contrast, The Boys manages to achieve impressive results with far fewer resources compared to these studios.

Earlier this year, The Boys received a nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode at the 21st Visual Effects Society Awards, specifically for its shocking season 3 opening episode. Notably, the Timothy the Octopus scene in season 3 also garnered significant acclaim for its clever use of a combination of practical and computer-generated effects instead of relying on a live animal. With the upcoming fourth season of The Boys and the new spinoff series Gen V on the horizon, it is clear that Prime Video's popular parody is making all the right moves while the major superhero franchises face stumbling blocks.

Source: Stephan Fleet/Twitter