INVINCIBLE Creator Robert Kirkman Calls Andrew Garfield's SPIDER-MAN Sequel “Dogsh*t”
I’m sure that many of you have debated the highs and lows of Spider-Man movies, and here’s a take that pulls zero punches.
Robert Kirkman, the creator of Invincible and The Walking Dead, recently shared his blunt opinion on The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and yeah… he didn’t hold back. But while the film caught some heat, Kirkman still gave credit where it’s due, especially when it comes to Andrew Garfield’s take on the iconic web-slinger.
During an appearance on The Escape Pod, Kirkman addressed the sequel’s reputation and didn’t dance around his feelings:
"I don't like to publicly talk about my opinions on movies. Still, 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2' is dogsh*t. As much as I love Jamie Foxx, I love Andrew — Andrew Garfield is a great Spider-Man. There are aspects to both of those movies that are spectacular, but that movie is a mess."
He’s not alone in that sentiment. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 tried to juggle a lot. Garfield’s Peter Parker faces off against Electro, played by Jamie Foxx, alongside Rhino, portrayed by Paul Giamatti, while dealing with Oscorp’s looming presence and his complicated friendship with Dane DeHaan’s Harry Osborn.
On top of that, there’s Peter’s ongoing search for answers about his parents and his emotional relationship with Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone. It’s a packed movie, maybe too packed, and that overcrowded narrative is a big reason it didn’t land the way fans hoped.
Interestingly, Garfield himself has hinted that what audiences saw wasn’t the full story. In a 2014 interview with The Daily Beast, he opened up about how studio interference reshaped the film:
"I'll tell you this: Talking about the experience as opposed to how it was perceived, I got to work in deep scenes that you don't usually see in comic book movies, and I got to explore this orphan boy — a lot of which was taken out, and which we'd explored more.
“It's interesting to do a postmortem. I'm proud of a lot of it and had a good time, and was a bit taken aback by the response."
That insight. It suggests there may have been a more character-driven version of the movie that never made it to theaters.
Even with all its issues, the film still made money. But it also effectively ended that version of the Spider-Man franchise. The character didn’t stay down for long, though. Spider-Man found a new home in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Tom Holland stepping into the role and bringing a fresh energy to Peter Parker’s story.
Garfield did get another shot, however, returning in Spider-Man: No Way Home alongside Holland and Tobey Maguire. And for many fans, his performance there was a standout, offering a bit of redemption for his version of the character.
Looking ahead, Spidey’s big-screen journey will see Holland return to the role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which swings into theaters on July 31, 2026.