A bit more about the new Marvel Swimsuit Special

Flickering Myth's posted more preview pages from Marvel's new take on the swimsuit specials of the early to mid-90s, and unsurprisingly, it appears to begin with standard panel-style story pages, and if I notice correctly, even features the new take on Bucky Barnes that was introduced nearly 2 decades ago? And certainly does feature potential allusions to Al Ewing's aforementioned storyline. If Bucky had to be included in such a story, it should've been in a way more faithful to his original renditions in the Golden Age, if only because I don't consider the newer renditions of the past 20 years to be plausible at all.

Next, in another related article, Screen Rant talks about how this special may be allegedly commenting on the issue of AI employment, which appears to have been used by Roxxon in the tale for copying Captain America:

Steve Rogers is rightfully the most offended of them all and the first to point out that the use of his image, as well as the others, was unauthorized. However, this is not just a comedic angle or a chance to show off superheroes in skimpy bathing suits. It’s a real-life problem faced by creators today, especially those in the comic industry.

The premise of Marvel Swimsuit Special #1 is particularly striking given the real-world context of AI in art. Marvel, like many other publishers, has publicly stated its opposition to the use of AI-generated art in its publications. This storyline, therefore, represents a bold move, directly confronting a sensitive issue that resonates deeply within the artistic community and among fans. It poses questions about intellectual property, artistic integrity, and the potential for AI to be misused for commercial gain or to misrepresent individuals.

The decision to integrate this AI controversy under the pretense of a deepfake swimsuit special is an intriguing choice. Swimsuit issues are often seen as lighthearted and fan-service oriented. By injecting a serious and timely debate about AI into such a context, Marvel may be aiming to draw attention to the widespread issue, suggesting that AI's influence can seep into even the most unexpected corners.

Honestly, is it that necessary to inject commentary about AI into the mix? It could be argued it diminishes the whole premise of the swimsuit specials, which 3 decades ago was simply to set up a simple stand-alone premise of superheroes traveling to a few odd locations where they'd relax in bathing suits, and give various artists the chance to show off their talents in the context. They weren't meant to serve as quasi-political statement years before.

I'll say that the artists whose "splash pages" I've seen so far do exhibit talent, but something tells me their art would be better off if obtained separate from the new swimsuit special rather than buying the whole thing. And it's naive to think Marvel's staff are going to mend their MO that quickly. If they really wanted to prove themselves, they would've left the AI commentary out of the special altogether. And won't include any of the PC creations they've turned out over the past 15 years.