Surprise Poster Swap At BC Theatre: Spooderman Arrives

Sometimes, the most memorable cinematic moments aren’t found on the big screen, but in the unexpected corners of local cinema history. In Prince George, British Columbia, a simple request for posters turned into a viral marketing blunder, demonstrating how quickly an employee’s creativity can turn into a global phenomenon.

The mishap began at the Famous Players Six theatre where Drake Landon, a 19-year-old employee and aspiring artist, found himself in a unique position. Due to a shipping error, the cinema never received the official posters for Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Instead of waiting, Landon stepped up to fill the void with art. When asked by his manager to create a replacement poster, he didn’t draw the official hero; he drew something far more irreverent. Landon decided to create a derpy meme version of Spider-Man, affectionately dubbed “Spooderman,” tying the costume design directly to the film’s aesthetic.

“I said I can draw actual Spider-Man, but I’m not gonna argue, I’ll draw Spooderman,” Landon told reporters. He noted that his artistic choice reflected the look of Spidey from Brand New Day.

Adding a touch of self-deprecating humor to the creation, Landon added a candid message underneath his artwork: “Sorry! We never received the real posters! Sorry for any inconveniences!”

This spontaneous creation quickly escaped the theatre walls and exploded across the internet. The poster became an instant hit, quickly rising to become a top-upvoted post on the r/marvelstudios subreddit.

The online reaction was immediate and enthusiastic, turning the theatre’s minor mistake into a celebrated piece of internet art. The viral spread led Landon to post on the same subreddit, revealing that the theatre management had forced them to remove the poster.

Despite the removal, Landon was not defeated by the situation. He confirmed that while he had to comply with studio requests, he planned to take his creative work further. He intends to copy and print a limited number of “Spooderman” duplicates or create entirely new re-drawn versions.

In the grand scheme of Marvel’s history, forcing the removal of Spooderman might be one of their most amusing blunders—a testament to how quickly an employee’s joke can achieve global stardom and shake up the world of comic book fandom.