Batgirl Writer Cecil Castellucci on AI in Comics: “It Can Only Copy”
We spoke with acclaimed writer Cecil Castellucci about one of the biggest debates in comics, publishing, and entertainment. That is, the rise of AI-generated creative work. Castellucci didn’t hold back. When asked whether AI can create comics, she argued that it can only copy and regurgitate work it has been trained on. For her, there is a major difference between human creators being inspired by past art and AI systems producing work based on material taken from artists, writers, and publishers.
The conversation covered artist compensation, whether a royalty system could make AI more acceptable, and why the current situation is so complicated. Castellucci also pushed back against the idea that new creators should avoid comics because of AI. Her answer was surprisingly encouraging. She believes that becoming an artist has always been difficult, and people with the drive to create should still do the work.
One of the most memorable parts of the interview came when Castellucci showed her experimental project, I Am the Comic Book, a human-made comics anthology published on her arm through temporary tattoos by different artists. It became a perfect example of the kind of strange, personal, human creativity she believes AI can’t truly replace.
The interview is passionate and blunt, offering a strong creator-focused perspective on AI, comics, and the future of art.
The interview took place at Montreal Comiccon 2025.
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