Rob Liefeld Cuts Ties with Marvel: ‘Kevin Feige Does Not Treat Comic Creators Well’

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The move by Rob Liefeld to cut his ties with Marvel Comics, a relationship that lasted over three decades, signifies the close of an epoch for the man behind legendary figures such as Deadpool and Cable.

Rob Liefeld’s departure was sparked by a chain of incidents that peaked at the New York premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine in July. This event saw him and his family being left out of the afterparty, which was quite different from past experiences. What made things worse was an alleged snub from Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige on the red carpet. In his Robservations podcast, Liefeld described it as an attempt to embarrass, diminish, and defeat him.

This podcast is broken down in 3 sections.

-The glorious presentation of the Superman creators and their credits from 1978

50 years after the distortion of Wolverine’s credits and the ensuing protests within the industry, even reaching as far as Marvel itself.

Or:

Fifty years on from the alteration of Wolverine’s credits and the subsequent uproar in the industry that extended to Marvel Comics.

Both sentences convey the same meaning but are expressed differently. The first sentence focuses on the act of distortion (mangling) as a past action, while the second one emphasizes the passage of time with “fifty years on” and uses the phrase “alteration of Wolverine’s credits” instead.

-The absolute ghosting of myself, my…

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 7, 2025

The problem got worse when Liefeld discovered that photos featuring him with the Deadpool & Wolverine group, which were taken by professionals, had been removed later on. A string of such incidents made Liefeld feel undervalued by Marvel, leading him to believe they no longer appreciated his contributions. “Eventually, you think, ‘I’ve got the message, and the message is unmistakable,'” he said in explanation.

2023 marked a turning point for Liefeld’s relationship with Marvel, as they attributed editor Roy Thomas as a co-creator of Wolverine. This contentious decision angered many industry professionals, including Liefeld, who holds a close connection to the widow of Len Wein, the original co-creator of Wolverine, causing him discomfort.

In June 2024, Liefeld asked Marvel for greater recognition on Deadpool and Wolverine projects, akin to what creators such as Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby have received in recent movies. Through an email, he stated, “Marvel’s handling of creators has not been their forte. Without the realms, the figures, and the ideas that we bring to life – specifically, the Deadpool universe – there would be no films to produce or blockbusters to screen. I am not a one-click solution at Staples; I am the creative mind behind it all.

Within Marvel, it appears that this proposal wasn’t warmly welcomed. Later, Liefeld expressed on Twitter, “My representatives were yelled at today: ‘We are NOT Fox!’ I can relate. Also, they hung up on me.” He thinks this interaction might have played a role in his absence from the Deadpool & Wolverine afterparty.

Historically, Marvel has expressed anger towards creators who leave the company. A prime example is Robert Kirkman, whom they were furious with upon his departure. In response, they abruptly ended the KILLRAVEN series we had finished, even though we had been fully compensated for our work. Unfortunately, their petty behavior hindered them from publishing it, demonstrating a corporate tendency to retaliate in such situations.

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 7, 2025

Furthermore, I wasn’t “cancelled” by anyone. After the release of Deadpool/Wolverine, Marvel has given me various opportunities to work on projects related to CABLE & X-FORCE, but I chose to pass on all of them. And yes, I have proof of that. My latest Deadpool movie is coming out next week. It was made especially for you. Have fun watching it!

— robliefeld (@robertliefeld) February 7, 2025

Rob Liefeld’s association with Marvel Comics has been intricate. Despite being a member of an exclusive circle of well-compensated comic book creators since the 1990s, he has faced allegations of underplaying the roles others played in shaping Deadpool’s character development. However, Liefeld asserts that he advocated for co-creator recognition for both himself and Fabian Nicieza in the first two Deadpool movies. It was Nicieza who introduced the witty, ultra-violent, and fourth-wall-breaking elements that the film versions embody.

Although there were some strained relationships, Marvel still paid tribute to Liefeld in Deadpool & Wolverine, using a humorous nod to his artistic flair. He was even extended an invitation to tour the set in London. However, Liefeld implies that during this visit, he sensed a lack of warmth compared to his pleasant experiences on the Fox-made Deadpool productions.

In his podcast, Liefeld asserted that Kevin Feige has not always been kind to comic book creators, basing this on his own experiences. Although he acknowledges Feige’s occasional praise of creators, Liefeld suggests there is significant potential for Marvel to enhance its connection with comic book artists.

As Rob Liefeld gets ready to unveil his last Marvel collaboration, the fifth issue of Deadpool Team-Up, he looks back on this period in his career with a blend of melancholy and determination. “Not every success can be shared,” he mused, “At times, you must share the failures as well. This one was a misstep.

Leaving Marvel by Liefeld signifies a substantial change in the comic book world, noticeable to both fans and industry analysts. This move ignites conversations about artist recognition and the changing dynamics between comic book creators and movie studios as they adapt their work for the big screen.

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2025-02-07 21:46