Rob Liefeld, co-creator of Deadpool, has formally severed ties with Marvel, and he’s not holding again about why. In a latest episode of his Robservations podcast, Liefeld shared that his expertise with Marvel Studios, significantly below Kevin Feige’s management, left him feeling disrespected and sidelined.
Liefeld describes the breaking level as a collection of dismissals that culminated on the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, the place he and his household weren’t invited to the afterparty. However his frustrations began lengthy earlier than that.
Liefeld’s points with Marvel started in early 2023 when “the corporate made the controversial determination to alter the credit on Wolverine, awarding co-creator standing to editor Roy Thomas.
“The character was created a long time earlier than Liefeld labored in comics, however he’s near Christine Valada, the widow of late Wolverine co-creator Len Wein, who was upset with the choice.”
Then, in June 2024, Liefeld despatched an electronic mail to Marvel asking for particular credit score on Deadpool & Wolverine. He didn’t request any cash, simply acknowledgment and entry to occasions.
In that electronic mail, he expressed his frustration with how Marvel treats creators: “Marvel’s remedy of creators has by no means been their power.
“With out the worlds, the characters, and the ideas that we create — and on this particular case, the world of Deadpool — there are not any movies to shoot. No blockbusters to distribute…
“I’m not the simple button at Staples. I’m the human creativeness behind all of it….Comedian e book creators can not proceed to be relegated as afterthoughts. That is straightforward to deal with. Except I attain out to deal with it, it is going to by no means manifest.”
Liefeld by no means obtained a response.
Quick ahead to the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, the place issues took a extra private flip. “He additionally felt snubbed by Disney brass, together with Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, whom he says was close to him on the crimson carpet however didn’t acknowledge him.
“And there was one other obvious slight: Liefeld stated he posed for skilled images with creatives on the Deadpool & Wolverine staff, however later was advised by his publicist that these images have been deleted.
“He believes they have been solely taken as a courtesy and never meant for use, although different images, that includes Liefeld alone in addition to along with his household, appeared as a part of Disney’s Getty press portal from the occasion.”
On X, he wrote: “Not a lot as a single handshake. Classless.” And on Robservations, he put it bluntly: “Kevin Feige doesn’t deal with comedian e book creators properly. That’s my private expertise.”
Liefeld did acknowledge that Marvel flew him out to London for a set go to through the movie’s manufacturing, however he stated he “started to really feel unwelcome” and selected to not elaborate additional.
When requested if Feige may enhance his relationship with comedian creators, he responded merely: “Do I believe [Feige] can enhance his relationship with comedian creators? Sure.”
Liefeld’s final Marvel Comics mission, Deadpool Group-Up #5, drops on February 12, marking the top of his work with the corporate. Reflecting on the expertise, he admitted:
“You possibly can’t at all times share your hits. Generally you must share your misses. This one was a miss. It was essential for me to do the podcast, so folks may hear my voice. You didn’t hear anybody who was offended. At instances, it was exhausting to cover how unhappy I used to be.”
With Liefeld stepping away from Marvel he’s ensuring folks know precisely why.
By way of: THR
