Frank Miller's Superman vs. Spider-Man Variant Cover Has Ignited The Internet

3 days ago 14

Published Feb 5, 2026, 4:58 PM EST

Patrik Walker is an Emmy Award–winning writer who covers all things Comics & Superheroes. His work can also be found at the Dallas Cowboys, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports, among other outlets. One of the most respected names in his field, he is also a diehard enthusiast of all things comics, anime, gaming and movies — thriving in spaces where discussions involving those or similar topics reign supreme.

Just because something feels like a great idea doesn't mean everyone, or nearly anyone, will agree. This week, Marvel Comics and DC Comics enjoyed a magnificent reveal of their one-shot crossover event headlined by Spider-Man and Superman, the two respective franchise golden boys, for Spider-Man/Superman #1, and the sound you heard as you drove by your local comic book store was glee and the noticeable cha-ching of preorders being placed.

After all, Marvel and DC didn't simply unveil one cover, but upwards of 19 variants that feature the work of a list of renowned talent that's longer than a CVS receipt, but not all the work was praised and appreciated.

One in particular is drawing more ire than adulation for Frank Miller, the acclaimed hand that once did enduring work for Batman (and others, including creating Elektra), not to mention his cinematic contributions to films like Sin City, Robocop (2 and 3) and 300. But none of that is saving Miller for what some fans view as an unnecessary forcing of the Dark Knight onto his variant cover for Spider-Man/Superman #1 — social media being the opposite of kind (read: scathingly brutal) toward the cover.

"No thanks. I get that he's going for 'his style', but this looks so half-assed," said one Batman fan. "For a variant cover that you're likely paying extra for, I'd want something that actually looks cool." That feedback being followed up by someone who gave Miller his roses for work done in yesteryear, but not so much lately: "Miller cooked generational content that became core parts of Batman's history, twice, then became the most annoying comic book artist and writer in history."

The feedback didn't get much better from there, but some did find the cover likeable — others viewed it as simply tolerable — as the reviews continued to rain in on X (formerly known as Twitter) and other social media outlets.

"Do you think he showed the draft with no Batman then, at the last minute, before submission, [Miller] added his little Batman so they had to include him?" pondered one user, before another conceded to seeing it through a more comedic scope: "As much as his art style has waned, I'd still buy this one. Spider-Man looking like, 'WTF are you wearing?'"

Frank Miller 'Forced' Batman into Spider-Man/Superman #1?

The blowback being received by Miller is testament to an inevitable truth of comic book art. What was once viewed as ahead of its time, design-wise, will eventually become dated and, if the artist refuses to adapt their style, for whatever their reasoning might be, fans will begin to question why, or worse, they'll turn on those they once admired as new styles and animation become the standard-bearer for the space.

For example, consider how acclaimed artist Jock set the internet on fire this week for a much different reason than did Miller. The former unleashed a Daredevil #1 cover that could rightfully be placed in the Louvre — it is that awe-inspiring. And this isn't to say Miller's work in the past could ever be discounted, but if he cares to understand the criticism of his Spider-Man/Superman #1 variant cover, look no further than Jock's Daredevil #1, and work backwards from there.

"If it wasn't so distinctly Frank Miller, one would think it was a bad photoshop," added another poster on X (formerly known as Twitter), twisting the knife that much more. The great news is that, given a total of nearly 20 cover options, and the unreal arcs contained in Brad Meltzer's one-shot, one controversial cover from Miller won't be enough to detract from what's to come when Superman and Spider-Man, and so many others, cross paths this Spring.

Spider-Man/Superman #1 is scheduled to hit local comic book shops in April 2026.