Opinion: Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Controversy

By Anthony Bergamini

on June 23, 2026

As Marvel gears up to release the landmark Amazing Spider-Man #1000, controversy has emerged surrounding the issue’s primary cover. When the issue was first announced, Marvel revealed a promotional image that also served as the main cover, featuring pencils by John Romita Jr. and paints by Paolo Rivera.

The cover presents a unique perspective of the wall-crawler, viewed from beneath his feet as he shoots webs forward from both hands. His legs are bent as though he has just leaped into the air, while his shoulders are noticeably scrunched toward his head. Taken together, the image contains elements that some readers may appreciate and others may find less appealing. Art is inherently subjective, and this cover quickly became a divisive topic on social media, attracting significant criticism.

It is worth noting that the original pencils for the image were later shared. While the final version does not differ dramatically in terms of structure, the penciled artwork feels more representative of Romita’s contemporary style. There is no question that the composition itself is unconventional, and many fans may not view it as the ideal depiction of Spider-Man for such a milestone issue. However, pairing Romita’s work with Rivera’s painted finish appears to be a major factor behind the negative reaction. This is not to suggest that either artist lacks talent; both are legends in their field. Rather, it seems that the combination of their styles, coupled with the painted presentation, is what has fueled the controversy.

Following the release of the promotional cover and the ensuing criticism, Marvel remained silent and offered no public comment on the matter. From a business standpoint, this was likely the smartest course of action. The company had little incentive to add fuel to the fire and would rarely choose to publicly undermine its creators unless a more serious controversy were involved. In this case, the backlash centered solely on a piece of artwork and nothing more.

That changed on Friday, June 19, 2026, when Marvel released additional information about the landmark issue along with several variant covers. One notable omission, however, was the original John Romita Jr./Paolo Rivera cover, which appeared to have been replaced by a new A Cover from Pepe Larraz.

Marvel issued no official statement regarding the change. Instead, it seemed content to quietly remove the original cover in favor of Larraz’s far less controversial alternative. This is not to say that Larraz’s artwork is lacking, in fact, it arguably resembles the type of A Cover many readers expected and is an excellent piece in its own right. The concern lies in how Marvel chose to handle the situation, particularly given its longstanding relationship with both Romita and Rivera. While an artist’s stature should have no bearing on the level of respect they receive, it nevertheless feels strange for Marvel to quietly pull a cover created by such a prominent creative team.

More importantly, the situation raises questions about precedent. Had Marvel felt the cover was unsuitable, the appropriate decision would have been to reject it before making it the centerpiece of the book’s marketing campaign. Instead, the image became synonymous with Amazing Spider-Man #1000 before seemingly being removed without explanation. By doing so, Marvel risks shifting the blame onto the artists rather than acknowledging its own role in approving and promoting the cover. Regardless of intent, either outcome could be viewed as insulting to Romita and Rivera, and it would not be surprising if the incident strained their relationship with the publisher.

Just when it appeared that this dramatic saga had reached its conclusion, solicitation information began suggesting otherwise. Recent listings indicate that Pepe Larraz’s newly advertised Cover A may actually be a variant cover, while the original John Romita Jr./Paolo Rivera piece remains the true A Cover after all.

If that proves to be the case, what exactly is Marvel trying to accomplish? Is the company acknowledging its mistake and restoring the original cover to its intended position, or is this simply another attempt to quietly manage a controversy that could have been avoided from the very beginning?