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The story behind “Superstar Comic Artist Calls Out DC Cover Artist for Alleged A.I. Art” is an allegation, not a proven AI finding: Adi Granov criticized Francesco Mattina’s planned Superman variant in June 2024, and DC then removed several unreleased Mattina covers, including the solicited Action Comics #1069 variant.
DC’s July 2024 solicitation catalog had listed Mattina for the variant, but the published Action Comics #1069 later carried different cover credits. The public record establishes the accusation and the publishing changes; it does not establish that Mattina used generative AI or explain DC’s precise reason for the removals.
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Action Comics (2016-) #1069 | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Action Comics #1091A DC | Buy on Amazon | |
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Action Comics #1066A DC | $5.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Action Comics #1010 DC | $5.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Key takeaways
- DC originally solicited Francesco Mattina as the variant-cover artist for Action Comics #1069, scheduled for September 25, 2024.
- Adi Granov publicly alleged that the Superman cover showed generative-AI involvement, pointing particularly to an apparent duplication or malformed extension in Superman’s “S” shield.
- DC removed or replaced several unreleased Mattina covers soon afterward, but DC did not publicly confirm that AI use was the reason.
- The published Action Comics #1069 listing credits a different cover team from the original solicitation.
- No public admission by Mattina, forensic determination, court finding, or definitive DC explanation had established that the disputed cover was AI-generated.
What happened when Adi Granov called out Francesco Mattina?
The controversy began in mid-June 2024, when Adi Granov—an established comic and concept artist associated with Iron Man—criticized a planned Superman variant cover by Francesco Mattina. Granov alleged that the image showed signs of generative-AI involvement and revived earlier accusations that Mattina had copied, traced, or photobashed elements from other artists’ work.
The most widely discussed visual issue was Superman’s iconic “S” shield. Critics said part of the emblem appeared duplicated or malformed, an anomaly they regarded as suggestive of AI-assisted image production. The anomaly was evidence cited in an accusation, not proof of the image’s production method. A visual irregularity by itself cannot establish whether an artwork was generated, AI-assisted, composited, edited, or produced entirely by hand.
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Contemporaneous reporting by The Beat documented Granov’s allegations and the surrounding dispute. Neither Mattina’s public admission nor an independent technical examination establishing AI use was identified in the available record.
Which DC comic cover was at the center of the dispute?
The central image was the planned Mattina variant for Action Comics #1069. DC’s July 2024 DC Connect solicitation catalog listed Mattina as the variant-cover artist for the issue, which was scheduled for U.S. release on September 25, 2024. The same catalog listed Mattina variants for other books scheduled for September 2024.
The solicitation is important because it shows what DC had announced before the controversy escalated; it does not prove that the solicited cover was ultimately printed or that DC endorsed every allegation about its creation. The original listing can be checked in DC’s July 2024 DC Connect catalog.
Collectors looking for Action Comics #1069 should distinguish between the published issue, the originally solicited Mattina variant, and any later marketplace listing. Edition, cover, condition, seller, and whether a listing refers to a genuine variant rather than a standard copy all need to be verified before purchase.
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Yes. Within days of the allegations, DC revised its September solicitations and removed or replaced several unreleased Mattina covers. The changes reportedly affected Action Comics #1069, Superman #18, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #17, two additional Brave and the Bold covers, and two covers for Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1.
Some replacement listings named other artists, while some temporarily identified the cover artist as “TBA.” The Beat’s report on the pulled covers and ICv2’s contemporaneous account of DC’s replacements document the solicitation changes.
Rank #2
- Written by Mark Waid
- Illustrated by Skylar Patridge
Pulling or replacing an unreleased cover established that DC changed its publishing plans. It did not, by itself, establish why DC made the change. The available reporting did not identify a definitive DC statement saying that AI use had been confirmed. The decision could reflect controversy, editorial risk, contractual considerations, production concerns, or some combination of factors.
What changed between the solicitation and the published issue?
The published issue carried a different credited cover configuration from the one announced in the July solicitation. DC’s official Action Comics #1069 issue page lists Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Tomeu Morey, and related credits, and gives the U.S. on-sale date as September 25, 2024. Mattina is not listed as the cover artist for the published issue.
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|---|---|---|
| July 2024 solicitation | Francesco Mattina was listed for a variant cover | DC announced Mattina’s planned involvement in Action Comics #1069 and other September books |
| Mid-June 2024 controversy | Adi Granov alleged AI or AI-assisted imagery | Granov made a public accusation and highlighted an apparent Superman-logo anomaly |
| Revised September solicitations | Mattina covers were removed, replaced, or temporarily marked “TBA” | DC changed the announced cover plans for several unreleased books |
| Published Action Comics #1069 | Different cover credits appeared | The official issue page does not list Mattina for the published issue |
Was Francesco Mattina’s cover proven to be AI-generated?
No. The available evidence supports saying that Mattina was accused of using AI, or that the cover was suspected of being AI-generated or AI-assisted. The evidence does not support stating as an established fact that Mattina used generative AI on the disputed cover.
No public admission from Mattina was identified. The available record also contains no public technical analysis by DC, an independent forensic examiner, or a court determining that the cover was generated with AI. DC did not publicly explain that the covers were removed because AI use had been confirmed.
This distinction matters because accusations about image provenance can have professional and legal consequences. A duplicated symbol or other anatomical or graphic error may justify questions about an image, but it does not reveal the complete workflow that produced the image. A careful account should therefore separate four facts: Granov made the allegation, DC changed its solicitations, the published issue used different cover credits, and the underlying production method was not publicly adjudicated.
What earlier accusations surrounded Mattina?
Coverage of the 2024 dispute also referred to longstanding accusations that Mattina had copied, traced, or photobashed elements from other artists’ work. Those allegations formed part of the context Granov invoked, but the available sources do not establish that every earlier accusation was independently proven or formally adjudicated.
Rank #3
- Written by Joshua Williamson
- Illustrated by Rafa Sandoval
The responsible description is that Mattina had previously faced accusations of plagiarism or photobashing—not that all such accusations were findings of fact. The distinction is especially important when discussing a living artist’s reputation and when the central AI allegation itself was not confirmed by a public forensic or legal determination.
Why did the controversy matter to the comics industry?
The dispute landed in a broader debate about disclosure, consent, and authorship in comic-book illustration. Publishers, artists, and readers have questioned whether companies should disclose AI assistance, whether generative systems may reproduce elements of artists’ work without permission, and whether commercial covers should meet a human-authorship standard.
The copyright question is related but not identical to the Mattina controversy. The U.S. Copyright Office’s guidance on copyright and artificial intelligence distinguishes human-authored expressive contributions from material generated by AI. That policy context does not determine how Mattina created the disputed cover and does not constitute a ruling on the DC incident.
Did DC later adopt a position against AI-generated comic art?
In October 2025, DC president and publisher Jim Lee reportedly told retailers at New York Comic Con that DC would not support AI-generated storytelling or artwork. The Beat reported Lee’s retailer-day remarks, and Tom’s Guide also covered DC’s later position.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThat statement came more than a year after the Mattina controversy. It is best understood as subsequent company policy or leadership messaging, not as proof that DC concluded in 2024 that Mattina’s covers were AI-generated. A later policy can illuminate the industry’s changing standards without resolving the facts of an earlier dispute.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is Francesco Mattina doing now?
DC’s current talent page continues to maintain a Francesco Mattina profile and lists a substantial historical body of cover work. The existence of that profile does not prove that DC endorsed the disputed covers or that Mattina had active DC assignments after the controversy.
Rank #4
- Written by Brian Michael Bendis
- Illustrated by Steve Epting
Separately, Image Comics’ release listings show Mattina continuing to receive comic-related cover or publication credits through 2025 and 2026, including work connected with the Spawn line. DC’s talent profile and Image Comics’ creator release listing establish continued public listings, but neither source resolves the 2024 allegations.
What can be stated with confidence?
The strongest documented development is not that a visual anomaly conclusively proved AI use. The strongest development is that DC had solicited Mattina variants, Adi Granov publicly alleged AI involvement, and DC subsequently removed or replaced several unreleased covers. The published Action Comics #1069 used different cover credits.
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The most accurate summary is therefore: Adi Granov accused DC cover artist Francesco Mattina of using AI or AI-assisted imagery on a Superman variant, after which DC pulled or replaced several solicited covers. The sources establish the accusation and the publishing changes, but they do not establish a confirmed AI finding or explain DC’s precise reason for the removals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Francesco Mattina’s Superman cover proven to be AI-generated?
No. Adi Granov publicly alleged AI or AI-assisted imagery, and critics pointed to an apparent irregularity in Superman’s “S” shield. No public admission, independent forensic finding, court determination, or definitive DC statement confirmed that the cover was AI-generated.
Which Francesco Mattina covers did DC pull?
DC removed or replaced several unreleased Mattina covers from revised September 2024 solicitations. The reported changes included covers for Action Comics #1069, Superman #18, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #17, and Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1.
Who created the published Action Comics #1069 cover?
The published issue used a different cover configuration. DC’s official Action Comics #1069 page credits Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Tomeu Morey, and related contributors, and does not list Mattina for the published issue.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: DC’s removal of the solicited Francesco Mattina covers is documented; definitive proof that the disputed Superman cover was AI-generated is not. The published Action Comics #1069 carried different cover credits, while the allegation and its broader authorship implications remained unresolved in the public record.
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